138results about How to "Eliminate slack" patented technology

A retractable leash device is comprised of a housing with a handle, and a leash wound around an internal reel. The reel is biased by a spring to automatically retract the leash. A momentary unidirectional lock in the housing is arranged to be normally disengaged from unidirectional teeth on the reel. When the momentary unidirectional lock is actuated, the reel is engaged by a ratchet to prevent rotation in the release direction but permit rotation in the retract direction. A toggle lock in the housing is movable between an unlocked position away from the reel, and a locked position between cogs on the reel. A geared rotation damper is engaged with a concentric gear on the reel to limit retraction speed. A clip attached to the housing may be clipped around the leash when the leash is wrapped around a fixed object.

Methods of the present invention relating to an identification card printer include a method of calibrating a ribbon sensor for detecting transition portions between adjoining panels of a ribbon and a method of calibrating tension in a ribbon. Identification card printers in accordance with embodiments of the invention include a sensor positioned downstream of a printhead relative to a feeding direction of a ribbon; support for a printhead that is moveable between print and withdrawn positions; a swing frame supporting a first roll of a ribbon for rotation about an axis about which the swing frame pivots; an adjustable card guide in line with a print path; and a card bender including a pinch roller assembly having first and second rollers, axes of rotation of which are aligned in a plane that is non-perpendicular to a card path.

In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and / or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.

An upright suitcase includes a front section and an opposing rear section, each having an outer panel and a circumferential wall with a bottom edge and a plurality of free edges. The bottom edges are hingedly connected for movement of the opposing front and rear sections between an open position, in which access to the opposing sections is provided, and a closed position, in which all of the edges of the two circumferential walls are in juxtaposition. A zipper closure engages the opposing sections and selectively holds the free edges of the circumferential walls in juxtaposition. A divider panel is positioned within the upright suitcase to at least partially divide the opposing sections from each other when in the closed position. The divider panel has one end flexibly tethered to the rear circumferential wall and is movable into and out of the rear section. Slack connectors connected to the rear circumferential wall are positioned to selectively and flexibly connect the free end of the divider to the rear circumferential wall. Retainer straps connected to the rear section are positioned to engage the divider and draw it toward the outer panel of the rear section.

The present invention relates to a gun trigger actuator which converts a manual trigger to an optionally mechanical trigger in lever action rifles, such as the Winchester Model 94 lever action rifle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fulcrum which is pivotably mounted on a pivot pin to the trigger guard portion of the rifle lever just below and forwardly of the tip of the trigger. The fulcrum pivots on the trigger guard from a passive off position to an active firing position and can optionally be employed to mechanically fire the gun by exerting force on the trigger, thereby actuating the trigger, when the lever is rotated to a closed position. The present invention may also includes a trigger shim which is installed in the receiver in front of the trigger to eliminate slack in the trigger and properly fix the trigger in position in relation to the fulcrum. The present invention may also include an enlarged finger opening in the lever in order to accept a user's wrist or arm. This allows the gun to be employed by a person with limited or no use of their fingers or hands.

In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and / or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.

The system embodying the invention is employed to cool the interior of a normally closed area such as a garage or storage area, and / or to remove any noxious fumes or undesirable odors from inside the garage by moving outside air into the garage and providing means for that inside air and the fumes or odors in it, if any, to be removed to the outside ambient atmosphere. The system includes one or more fans installed in the upper section of the garage door, and the garage door is opened or closed by moving it in any well-known manner either by rolling it's hinged panels upward to a horizontal position from its normally-closed vertical position, or, when it is a solid door, tilting the entire garage door so that it is substantially horizontal instead of vertical and is located above the garage floor a sufficient distance to drive vehicles that will fit into the garage though the door opening. Those fans have a power cord that extends from a power supply position generally near the garage door opener that is secured to the garage ceiling and powers the garage door from its closed position to its open position, and vice versa, and that power cord is also secured to the garage door in the vicinity of the fan or fans used to move air into and out of the garage when the garage door is closed. The power cord is spring-urged to minimize its relatively free section between the power source and the place where it is secured to the garage door in the vicinity of the fan or fans where it provides power to the fan motor or motors when desired and appropriate. In the preferred embodiment the power cord is wound on a reel that is spring loaded to urge the reel in the rotational direction to wind the part of the power cord that is between the reel and the fan motor or motors, keeping the relatively free section of the power cord in tension so that it does not form any dangerous hanging loops when the garage door is moving from its open position to its closed position. There are also lesser desirable alternatives to apply a spring-loading to the power cord to keep it sufficient tension that it does not form such loops when the garage door is being opened.

The invention provides a variable propeller device for a wind motor blade, which comprises a drive unit and a transmission gear which drives the blade to rotate, wherein the drive unit such as a hydraulic cylinder or a feed screw nut can generate linear propulsion to drive a push-and-pull rod in the transmission gear to perform linear movement; the push-and-pull rod drives a first flexible element and a second flexible element which are coated on the tail of the blade; and the first flexible element and the second flexible element drive the blade to rotate, so as to realize variable propeller. When the number of the blades of a wind motor is more than two, a linkage frame can be arranged between the drive unit and the push-and-pull rod of the transmission gear, and drives the transmission gear to perform linear movement, so as to realize synchronous variable propeller of various blades.

A machine and method for horizontally stretching and exercising the human body, specifically the human frame or torso. The machine comprised a bed, table, or platform having three main sections: an upper stationary section upon which user's upper body is physically attached, an actuated lower section which receives the user's lower body, and a slack section, including an upright projection, disposed at the end of the lower section of the bed, table, or platform. A strap or similar device is connected between a pelvic harness worn by the user and the upright projection of the slack section. While lying atop the upper and lower sections of the machine, the user self-actuates movement of the lower and slack sections of the machine away from (or towards) the upper body, thereby causing the strap to pull upon (or loosen from) the user's trunk or midsection. Because the user's upper body is physically attached to the stationary upper section of the machine, the user's trunk is effectively stretched and exercised by outward movement of the strap to the extent desired by the user.

A resettable combat vehicle restraint system prevents secondary impacts within the vehicle cabin during crash, mine blast, or rollover events by positioning the occupant within a load attenuating seat to best survive the dangerous event. The preferred embodiment of the restraint system includes a five point restraint, webbing retractors for each lap and shoulder belt with the capability for both reversible and pyrotechnic pretensioning, an active headrest, and a crash recognition module to electrically activate the pyrotechnic pretensioners and to electrically modulate the actions of the reversible pretensioning retractors and the active headrest.

Electronic necklace—headset for mobile electronic device in the form of a neck loop or necklace and a pair of wired headphones, where the headphone cords attached in close proximity to the back of electronic necklace and additionally connected together in the suboccipital node, located in the position of the device on the surface of the cervico-occipital region of the user to fix headphones and its cords, which reduces the slack of the cords and streamlines their excursion, creating conditions for continuous wear electronic necklace, including under the clothes, does not change the appearance of the user, allows to control an electronic necklace on touch over clothing, and inoperative can accommodate headphones shot and its cords in the back of the electronic necklace without having to remove the entire device.

A leash system for controlling the slack in the leash to prevent the animal from becoming entangled in the leash. The leash system has a spool mounted wire controlling the effective length in the leash by forming a loop in the leash to absorb any slack. If the animal pulls away from the person and additional leash length is required, wire can be automatically played out from the spool so that the loop can be opened to provide the required slack. Similarly, the wire will automatically retract to reform the loop and absorb the slack the leash once the animal moves back toward the person such that the effective length of the leash remains relatively taut.

Electronic necklace—headset for mobile electronic device in the form of a neck loop or necklace and a pair of wired headphones, where the headphone cords attached in close proximity to the back of electronic necklace and additionally connected together in the suboccipital node, located in the position of the device on the surface of the cervico-occipital region of the user to fix headphones and its cords, which reduces the slack of the cords and streamlines their excursion, creating conditions for continuous wear electronic necklace, including under the clothes, does not change the appearance of the user, allows to control an electronic necklace on touch over clothing, and inoperative can accommodate headphones shot and its cords in the back of the electronic necklace without having to remove the entire device.

An automated reel for use by divers comprises a battery-operated motor in communication with a take-up reel through a gearing arrangement, where the activation / de-activation of the motor is controlled by a tension-sensing mechanism. In operation, when the mechanism senses that there is “slack” in the safety cord, the mechanism will turn “on” the motor, which will then cause the reel to rotate (via the gearing arrangement) to wind up the slack safety cord. Once tension is restored on the line, the mechanism will turn “off” the motor. A manual override switch may be included for situations where the diver desires to retain control of winding / unwinding of the safety cord. A line leveler arrangement may be used in conjunction with the reel so as to evenly distribute the safety cord across the extent of the reel.

A safety belt includes a length adjuster for securement of one end of a belt webbing, with the length adjuster being constantly biased in a direction of retraction of the belt webbing. A locking mechanism, when rendered effective, inhibits the length adjuster from turning in a direction of protraction of the belt webbing and is operatively connected to a control unit which, when activated, applies a locking function to inhibit the belt member from being pulled out of the retractor and being retracted, thereby preventing a lengthening and shortening of the belt webbing. Operatively connected to the control unit is an actuator which is constructed to allow an occupant, upon actuation, to override the locking function and thereby render the locking mechanism ineffective to enable the occupant to adjust a length of the belt webbing.

An instrument for attaching a driver shaft to a screw assembly using a thrusting motion. The instrument has a main shaft, a locking tube, and a driver shaft. The locking tube is slidably mounted within the main shaft and the driver shaft is slidably mounted within the locking tube. The locking tube is configured to urge a jaw assembly of the instrument into a tensioned engagement with a body member of the screw assembly. A locking mechanism is also included and is configured to lock the driver shaft in a fixed position relative to the locking tube. The locking mechanism may be configured to lock the driver shaft with respect to the locking tube after a distal end of the main shaft engages the screw assembly using the single action.

A cable system A includes a cable 3 for connecting a base device 1 and a travelling body 2, a reel device 10 mounted on the travelling body 2, a motor controller 40 for controlling a motor 15 of the reel device 10, and a rotary encoder 16 (rotation sensor) for detecting rotation of a reel 12. The motor controller 40 basically makes the motor 15 free, when the reel 12 is rotating in an unreeling direction, and basically applies a rotational torque in a reeling direction to the reel 12, when the reel 12 is rotating in the reeling direction. Furthermore, even if the reel 12 is rotating in the unreeling direction, if an unreeling speed of the cable 3 exceeds a travelling speed of the travelling body 2, the rotational torque in the reeling direction is applied to the reel 12. Slackening of the cable 3 is thereby prevented.

The invention discloses a winding method of a cable winding and wrapping belt. A cable winding and wrapping machine is used for winding a cable. The method comprises the following operation steps that A, two annular lining plates of the cable winding and wrapping machine are arranged on the cable in a penetrating manner through central holes of the lining plates, each adjusting shaft is adjusted, and a roller is connected with the outer edge of the cable in an abutting manner; B, the position of a shifting rod in an arc-shaped groove of a fixed plate is adjusted, and a walking rolling angle b of the roller is set; C, a flexible protection belt is wound on a core shaft with a tensioning device, the position of a sliding block in a sliding groove of the adjusting plate is adjusted, and the swing angle a of a rolling shaft is set; D, a tensioning nut is adjusted to extrude a second friction piece through a damping spring, an inner blocking piece enables a flexible protection belt roll to extrude one side of a first friction piece, and tensioning force is applied to the flexible protection belt roll; and E, the flexible protection belt released out of the core shaft winds the cable. Compared with the prior art, the method has the beneficial effect that the problems that existing cable winding packaging is poor in stability and high in cost are solved.

The present invention provides a passenger conveyor which can operate reversely. The passenger conveyor can reduce the number of elements, makes that a chain flab absorbing device and a chain flag detecting device are installed in the narrow space of passenger conveyor in designing, and facilitates the installing operation. In the passenger conveyor according to the invention, a common elastic body (25) is used for pushing sliding components (22A, 22B) to cause that the sliding components (22A, 22B) respectively contact the driving chain (19) which enters the side of driving trolleys (11A-11C) of pressure clamping movable handrail (5) and the driving chain (19) at the coming-out side of driving trolleys (11A-11C) with sliding contact. Furthermore chain flab detecting devices (27A, 27B) which detect the displacement amounts of sliding components (22A, 22B) for detecting the flab of driving chain (19).

A cable system has a cable connecting a base device and a travelling body, functions of the cable at least including transmission of signals, a reel device disposed on the travelling body, the reel device having a reel onto which the cable is to be wound, a motor that drives the reel and a rotation sensor that detects a rotation of the reel, a motor controller that controls the motor of the reel device; and an acceleration sensor that is disposed in the traveling body and detects an acceleration in a vertical direction, the motor controller basically opening a motor drive circuit for driving the motor or bringing a supply current to the motor to zero when it is determined that the reel is rotated in an unreeling direction for unreeling the cable based on sensed information from the rotation sensor.

A conveyance apparatus includes: a supply unit rotatably supporting a roll member around which a sheet is wound in form of a roll and configured to supply the sheet from the roll member; a motor for rotating the roll member; a roller pair configured to convey the sheet supplied from the supply unit while pinching the sheet; and a control unit configured to set the torque of the motor according to sheet information related to the sheet when taking up the sheet on the roll member by driving the motor while the sheet is pinched by the roller pair being stopped.