165results about How to "Increased ease of installation" patented technology

A system and method for joining floor planks includes two or more planks wherein each plank includes a tongue, a groove, and optionally a shoulder, and optionally a protruding lip, that provide a mechanism for connecting two or more planks together. The tongue can be on the opposing side of each plank from the groove. The groove can be defined between a first flange extending along a first edge of the plank and from one side of the plank, and a second flange extending distally beyond a distal edge of the first flange from the first edge of the plank and from a second side of the plank opposite from the first side. The tongue can be S-shaped to form an interlocking relationship with the groove.

A current sensing module for disposal proximate a conductor is disclosed. The current sensing module includes a housing having a first section and a second section that together define an opening for receiving the conductor therethrough. The second section is in operable connection with the first section. The current sensing module further includes a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) based current sensor disposed within the first section proximate the opening for receiving the conductor.

A mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly. In one embodiment, a substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly having a non-rigid thin-sheet component includes the thin-sheet component which has selected plan area and shape, a backer having a plan shape and area substantially similar to the thin-sheet component, and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component, the riser elements being configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component.

A rack including a rail for supporting a computer module and a grounding element electrically coupled to the rack and positioned to electrically contact a computer module inserted in the rack such that the grounding element provides a path to ground. The grounding element can be an arcuate bracket attached to the rail to make contact with a side of the computer module. The grounding element can be a conductor extending from the rack and positioned to make contact with a side of the computer module. The rack can include a wider section which provides a cabling channel and a member on the rack for mechanically coupling the rack to an adjacent rack. The rack can include at least one passage for allowing a cable to pass through the rack to an adjacent rack and a cable organizer for maintaining placement of at least one cable routed through the passage.

A light fixture mount capable of securing an outdoor light to a support surface. The device includes a first support that is adapted to co-act with a second support so as to hold the light fixture in a stable and supported position until the light fixture is secured to the support surface in a permanent relationship. This is accomplished by providing on one of the supports at least one catch that engages the opposing support so as to support the weight of the fixture in a stable position while fasteners are installed to secure the fixture to the support surface.

Disclosed herein is a level comprising a horizontal component comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end; a first vertical component comprising an end joined to the first terminal end of the horizontal component, wherein the first vertical component is attachable to a first vertical side of a jamb; and a second vertical component comprising an end joined to the second terminal end of the horizontal component, wherein the second vertical component is attachable to a second vertical side of a jamb; wherein the level squares, levels, and plumbs the jamb. Further disclosed herein is an assembly comprising two levels disposed on a jamb such that the sides of the jamb are held rigid and secure, and the angles of the jamb are held at a constant angle to increase the ease of installation of the jamb.

A vinyl pull cap having a texturized grip surface is provided comprising a tubular vinyl dip-molded tubular member having a closed end and an open end, with the tubular member having an outer second texturized dip-molded vinyl surface layer covering at least a portion of said tubular member comprising particles of a size and in an amount sufficient to provide a texturized outer vinyl surface.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays with improved aesthetics and efficiency that can replace a conventional roof surface structure. These BIPV systems can utilize photovoltaic PV roof tiles defined as glass tiles having photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the roof tile. Such PV roof tiles can include one or more lapping features for interfacing with adjacent tiles and features for electrically connecting multiples tiles within a course to an external power optimizer. Such PV roof tiles can utilize stamped glass that is stamped to define these features within an integrated glass tile and can further include texture, striations on the glass tile and/or color matched back layers or various other components to obscure visibility of any embedded solar cells and provide a more pleasing appearance.

A filter element includes a filter media having opposite first and second faces, and an outer face extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicular from the first face to the second face. An undulating sealing element is directly bonded to the outer face at a location closer to and offset from the first face. The undulations of the sealing element define an offset region of the outer face of the filter media from the first face, the offset region being defined by an amplitude of the undulations. The filter element may be incorporated into a filter assembly including the filter element enclosed by a filter housing. The sealing element may be made of urethane and be compressible within a mating groove in the filter housing.

A single-mode fiber of increased core size consists of a “few-mode” fiber, of core size sufficient for guiding up to three high-order modes in addition to the fundamental mode, by interposing perturbations of such spacing along the fiber, as to selectively couple any such high-order modes to (unguided) cladding modes, thereby rejecting all but the fundamental mode. Unwanted coupling of the fundamental mode, leading to added fiber loss, is minimized by appropriate refractive index profile design.

A method for providing electronic communications between nodes of a vehicle includes electronically connecting a plurality of gateway nodes to one another via a wired backbone. A first and second of the gateway nodes are electronically connected to the wired backbone. A plurality of sub-network nodes are wirelessly communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of gateway nodes. A plurality of first sub-network nodes are wirelessly communicatively coupled to the first gateway node. A plurality of second sub-network nodes are wirelessly communicatively coupled to the second gateway node. A message is transmitted from a selected first sub-network node to a selected second sub-network node by using a data routing technique. The data routing technique includes the selected first sub-network node wirelessly transmitting the message to the first gateway node. The first gateway node receives the message and, in response thereto, the first gateway node broadcasts the message on the wired backbone. The second gateway node receives the message on the wired backbone and, in response thereto, the second gateway node wirelessly transmits the message to the selected second sub-network node.

A garage door opener is provided with a drive mechanism formed by a chain that runs in a track. The track is mounted on the platform of a mounting support that is hinged to the vehicle entry wall of a garage directly above the garage door opening. The track includes a track opening directed straight out from the vehicle entry wall. The track extends in a curve from the track opening toward the vehicle entry wall, along a first proximal straight section that lies parallel to the vehicle entry wall, around a one hundred eight degree bend, and along another distal straight section that is located parallel to and spaced from the first, proximal section. The chain is formed with large links having flat upper and lower plates. Each link has a hinged side and an unhinged side and the links are joined together at their corners along their hinged sides. The chain can only be bent in an arc that is concave inwardly toward the hinged sides of the links. A reversible drive mechanism drives the chain so that as the garage door is opened, the chain links emanate in straight linear alignment with each other from the track opening and function as a push rod that forces the top of the garage door inwardly toward the interior of the garage. When the garage door is closed, the links of the chain will flex about their corner connections and thereby follow the chain track on the platform. As the garage door approaches a closed position, a lift mechanism is actuated that rotates the platform upwardly through a small arc to allow the top of the garage door to pass therebeneath.

An auxiliary fuel tank system connected to a main tank of an aircraft having a refuel input assembly. The auxiliary fuel tank system comprises an ejector system operatively connected to the refuel input assembly, a forward tank operatively connected to the ejector system, and/or at least one aft tank operatively connected to the ejector system. The forward and/or at least one aft tank transfer fuel to the main tank using gravity.

Heddles for use within a harness frame of a weaving machine are provided. Each of the heddles includes a body formed from a liquid crystal polymer resin. The body forms at least one rod slot enabling engagement with a harness frame. The body also has an eyelet section with the eyelet section forming a yarn eye through which a yarn is capable of passing.

An electrical sub-metering system for making available information associated with power consumption is disclosed. The system includes an electrical panel board configured to distribute power to a plurality of circuits, means for measuring voltage of each circuit, a module including means for measuring current flow, a hub in signal communication with the module and the means for measuring voltage, and a data collector in signal communication with the hub. The hub is configured to collect the information associated with power consumption from the means for measuring voltage and the module, and the data collector is configured to collect and make available to a user the information associated with power consumption for each circuit. The module is in signal communication with the hub via a single communication link, the single communication link having a plurality of communication paths.

A wall furniture mounting device includes an elongated mounting rail having a wall anchor plate, with a plurality of apertures, a hook section, and a support section. The plurality of apertures is configured into a pattern so that each aperture is uniquely identifiable quickly via visual inspection. The pattern repeats along the mounting rail at an interval equal to the distance between wall studs.