2051 results about "Rest position" patented technology

A joint for connecting two adjacent flooring panels together in a substantially vertical manner includes a rotatable locking member made of plastic, metal or another resilient material. The rotatable locking member is located within a groove or opening of one flooring panel and the second flooring panel has a tongue shaped to mate with the rotatable locking member. Upon installation, the rotatable member rotates and locks around the back of the tongue via a groove above the tongue. The rotatable locking member includes a resilient arm which is bent away from its initial rest position upon installation, so that when the rotatable locking member locks onto the tongue, the resilient arm is bent providing a biasing force which holds the panel securely in position.

A lancing device (10) is disclosed that includes a main housing (12) having an internal surface enclosing a portion of a lancing mechanism. The lancing mechanism includes a lancet holder (36) attached to a shaft (38) and a drive spring (42) surrounding a portion of the shaft (38). The lancing device (10) also includes a movable housing (14) adjacent the main housing (12). The moveable housing (14) has an internal surface enclosing a portion of the shaft (38) of the lancing mechanism. The enclosed portion of the shaft (38) has a retainer (40) and a secondary spring (46) surrounding at least a section of the shaft (38). The secondary spring (46) is adapted to move the movable housing (14) from a cocking position to a resting position. The secondary spring (46) is further adapted to move the lancing mechanism from a puncture position to a resting position.

An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument including an actuating device having an actuator surface. The actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating device in an actuated position from a rest position for actuating a surgical tool. The actuator surface comprises a radially collapsible cage having a plurality of interdigitating actuating pads. Each pad is movable in a radial direction.

The present invention provides a hand-held analysis instrument for analyzing a body fluid. The instrument comprises a housing with a housing opening to which a body part, in particular, a finger, can be applied to generate a puncture wound, an analysis unit for analyzing a sample of a body fluid obtained at the puncture wound, and a piercing unit including a lancet and lancet drive for generating a puncture movement of the lancet. The piercing unit, including the lancet drive, is movable between an operating position and a rest position, the piercing unit being located at the housing opening in the operating position in such a manner that by means of the lancet a puncture wound can be generated in a body part pressed against the housing opening, and the piercing unit being remote from the housing opening in the rest position in such a manner that the space in front of the housing opening is free for the analysis unit, so that it can be moved into a position for receiving blood. An operating device is used for actuating a functional mechanism of the piercing unit. The piercing unit is decoupled from the operating device in one of its two positions and is coupled to the operating device in the other position.

A display device (30), particularly for use as a menu board in a restaurant or the like. The device (30) has at least two rotatable roller members (31 or 32) located in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship. Carrier means (38) is provided, tightly supported by and rotatable about the rollers (31 and 32) and adapted to receive at least one display means (36) thereon. Each of the carrier means (38) and said display means (36) are constructed at least partially of substantially flexible and translucent material. Illumination means (37) are provided behind at least a portion of said carrier means (38), to illuminate a viewing portion of said carrier means (38) and said display means (36) thereon. Preferably, each display means each display means (36) is sized and shaped to fit between a pair of adjacent rollers such that one or more discrete rest position(s) is/are automatically identified after said display device (30) is rotated, whereby, in said rest position(s), one of said display means (36) is centrally positioned between a respective pair of rollers (31 or 32). Alternatively, but also preferably, the carrier may be designed to be of different thicknesses, such as by providing a cutout. Alternatively still, alignment tabs may be provided. A tensioning device is also preferably provided to ensure that optimum tension is provided to the carrier during use. This is configured in such a manner that assembly/disassembly of the device is readily facilitated.

A joint for connecting two adjacent flooring panels together in a substantially vertical manner includes a rotatable locking member made of plastic, metal or another resilient material. The rotatable locking member is located within a groove or opening of one flooring panel and the second flooring panel has a tongue shaped to mate with the rotatable locking member. Upon installation, the rotatable member rotates and locks around the back of the tongue via a groove above the tongue. The rotatable locking member includes a resilient arm which is bent away from its initial rest position upon installation, so that when the rotatable locking member locks onto the tongue, the resilient arm is bent providing a biasing force which holds the panel securely in position.

A camera (17) mounted on a rear view minor housing (5) of a vehicle (1), which captures a plan view image of the ground on one side of the vehicle for display on an in-vehicle visual display unit (13) is calibrated to correct for offset of the camera (17) from an ideal position. During calibration an image of a reference point (34) on the vehicle (1) is captured as the mirror housing (5) is swiveled from a rest position to an operative position. The offset of the actual position of the image of the reference point in the captured image from its ideal position is computed, and a look-up table is prepared, which indicates the position at which pixels of subsequently captured image frames should be located to produce image frames with offset correction.

Apparatus and method for delivering a predetermined quantity of content from a pressurized container include a container for housing a pressurized gas and a content; a valve for releasing content from the container; a metering chamber in fluid communication with the container and the valve and having an upper wall and a lower wall, the metering chamber defining a volume proportionate to a predetermined quantity of content to be delivered; and a movable partition comprising a seal positioned in the chamber and capable of moving from a first resting position to a second sealing position, the sealing position sealing fluid communication of the chamber with the valve. When the valve is opened to deliver content from the container, the movable partition moves from a first resting position to a second sealing position.

An apparatus for securing wire harness terminal connectors to the underside of an electrical junction block in a blind assembly operation. The apparatus includes a flotation bracket with chambers for receiving the connectors in a mechanical snap-fit in which the connectors are free to float up and down over a limited range within their respective chambers. The connector-containing bracket is next placed in a lower cover, which then fits over the underside of the junction block. Bolts rotatably mounted in the junction block are located to automatically engage captive nuts held in the connectors. As the bolts are subsequently threaded through the captive nuts, the connectors are drawn up in the bracket chambers from a lower rest position to an upper electrical engagement position where the terminals in the connector are placed in electrical engagement with bus bars in the junction block. Upper stops in the chambers prevent the connectors from moving beyond the electrical engagement position and damaging parts of the junction block, bus bars, connectors and terminals.

A blood sampling device includes a lancet having a skin piercing member disposed at an end thereof. The lancet is slidable within and releasably engaged with an elongated lancet guide that remains stationary with use of the device. A shell is axially movable relative to the lancet guide between a rest position and an actuate position, with the lancet being spring loaded within the lancet guide by movement of the shell from the rest position to the actuate position.

A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member. Each of the splines forming the basket includes a length of spring wire disposed therein to provide conformal forces causing the splines to conform to the surfaces being inspected.

A case for a portable electronic device includes a base plate, a device securing mechanism operable to hold the electronic device adjacent to the base plate, and a stretchable strap connected to the base plate. The strap is biased toward a rest position, wherein the strap lies substantially flush with the base plate. The strap is configured to be stretchable between the rest position and a stretched position away from the back of the base plate to allow a user's hand or other item to be placed between the strap and the case.

Electromagnetic motor with a piston that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include a piston internal or external the stator. The piston includes one or more magnetic flux producing elements in all embodiments, with some embodiments having a ferro-magnetic plate on either side of the flux producing element. Further, in all embodiments the stator includes three magnetic flux producing elements with either two coils with one or more magnets therebetween or with the two coils and a coil magnet substitute therebetween. All embodiments provide positive piston return to a center at rest position. In all embodiments the piston is centered with respect to the stator resulting from either magnetic interaction between the piston and stator magnets, or between the piston magnet and the stator magnet substitute coil.

A method of providing an interface comprising receiving contact information indicative of points of contact between fingers of at least one hand and a surface. The method further comprising mapping onto the surface a plurality of interface elements each corresponding to a key on a keyboard, each element being assigned to one of a plurality of groups, each group having an associated one of the fingers for activation of the elements in the group, wherein each group is mapped to the surface in accordance with contact information for the associated finger. Another aspect of the inventive include recurrently receiving the contact information and recurrently mapping each group to the surface in accordance with the contact information for the associated finger so that the group tracks the resting position of the associated finger.

Electromagnetic motor with a slider that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include slider internal or external the stator. Slider includes one magnetic flux producing element in all embodiments. Internal slider embodiments stator includes a minimum of three magnetic flux producing elements and a maximum of four such elements. External slider embodiments stator includes two magnetic flux producing elements. All embodiments provide positive slider return to center at rest position. In internal slider embodiments the slider is centered within the stator resulting from either: a combination of a repelling force from a single magnetic flux producing element in opposition to gravitational pull on the slider due to its weight; or equal and opposite repelling forces on opposite sides of the stator from a magnetic flux producing element on opposite sides of the stator all three elements in longitudinal alignment with each other.

An optical device with a deformable membrane including an anchoring area on a support helping to contain a constant volume of liquid in contact with one of its faces, a substantially central area, configured to be deformed reversibly from a rest position, and an actuation mechanism displacing the liquid in the central area, stressing the membrane in parts situated between the central area and the anchoring area. The actuation mechanism includes plural thermal or piezoelectric actuators of micro-beam type, distributed at the periphery of the membrane, the micro-beams including at least one fixed part joined to the support and at least one moving part coming into contact, on an actuation, with the membrane in an area situated between the central area and the anchoring area.

A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of to the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.

An implantable prosthetic joint has a first component for attaching to a first bone and a second component for attaching to a second bone wherein the first and second components are connected in an articulating manner to provide the motion of a prosthetic joint. The joint includes at least one spring to provide compliance to the prosthetic joint. The at least one spring is preloaded in the artificial joint such that the spring is not allowed to move to a completely relaxed position. This preloading of the spring allows the maximum deflection of the spring to be used for shock absorption because the spring does not deform substantially when the implanted prosthetic joint is moved from an at rest position to a loaded or standing position. The prosthetic joints according to the present invention can include artificial hips, knees, shoulders, ankles, and intervertebral discs.

A separate section is introduced between the sleeve and the body of any garment such as a jacket, parka, wind shirt, or shirt of any type to isolate, to a considerable extent, the motion of the sleeve from the main body of the garment. This isolation of movement is accomplished by shaping the edges of the separate section and the adjoining edges of the garment body and the sleeve in such a way that excess fabric is available between the sleeve and the body of the garment regardless of which direction the arm is moved. In particular, excess fabric is available to accommodate the volume of the shoulder joint when it moves upward from a rest position as the arm is raised. The result is that the wearer can move the arm over a very wide range of motion with much less movement of the main body of the garment and much less movement of the sleeve cuff up and down the arm than with other methods of sleeve attachment.