Abstract:
A wall-mounted storage device for lifting and storing an object includes a stand adapted for mounting the device on the wall. An arm is pivotally connected to the stand and has an attachment for the object. An anchor member is also pivotally connected to the stand. A damper is connected between the anchor member and the stand. The damper is adapted to extend when pulled upward by the pivoting anchor member. A lockable spring is connected between the anchor member and the arm. The device includes a trigger mechanism adapted to unlock the spring when the object is attached to the aim. When the spring is unlocked, the spring is adapted to extend to push the arm upward. When the spring is locked, the pivoting anchor member and the extendible damper cooperate to enable the arm to be manually lifted. The damper provides a controlled descent when the arm is lowered.
Abstract:
An improved coin holder for the storage, display and protection of graded coins and other valuables is disclosed. Various tamper-resistant and tamper-evidencing features of the coin holder discourage and prevent fraudulent attempts to obtain access to replace graded coins with those of lesser quality, or tamper with coin grading certificates sealed with the coin in an inner element. Additional features discourage and make difficult the wholesale counterfeiting of the coin holder itself. The coin holder may be partially disassembled to obtain direct, unobstructed access to the coin contained therein, while maintaining the integrity of the grading certificate retained in the inner element along with the coin. The device introduces greater security and certainty into the process of marketing graded and increasingly valuable numismatic items. With minor modifications, the present invention may be used to secure grading small and medium-sized valuables for transport, grading and sale, such as diamonds, jewels, jewelry, stamps, and the like.
Abstract:
A "membrane"-type keyboard includes a resilient foam layer having an array of holes therein with the layer being sandwiched between first and second flexible membranes having electrical conductors thereon which are arranged to complete a circuit associated with a hole when the first and second membranes are moved toward each other. Embodiments including dome-shaped areas in the first flexible membranes provide for "tactile feedback" and additional foam layers enhance the operating characteristics of the embodiments. The method generally entails determining the operating parameters of a desired keyboard and simply changing the relative density and/or thicknesses of various layers and flexible membranes in the keyboard to obtain radically variable paremeters, as for example, the location of the "makepoint" of the switch at various positions between the start and end of "key travel."
Abstract:
An improved container for the storage, display and protection of collectable items such as graded coins, stamps, jewels and other valuables is disclosed. Display of the collectable items is enhanced by an optical element which provides reflective means for viewing the item indirectly. A reflecting prismatic ring is preferred to provide viewing of the periphery of a cavity or the collectable item enclosed therein. In a second embodiment where two or more components may completely enclose the cavity, various tamper-resistant and tamper-evidencing features are further incorporated in the container design to discourage and prevent fraudulent substitutions of collectable items, modification of grade and value certificates enclosed therewith, or counterfeiting of container components.
Abstract:
An open shipyard feeder for supplying a consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun. The feeder includes a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end and which supports the feeder on an underlying surface. The frame further includes a spool support means connected to the frame near the rearward end and which rotatably retains the wire spool relative to the frame allowing the spool to rotate about a spool axis. The feeder includes a wire advancing mechanism mounted on the frame for paying wire from the spool on the spool support to the welding gun. The feeder further includes a control box on the frame near the forward end. The feeder frame is rigid yet light weight and can support the wire feeder on a wide range of underlying surfaces while still being easily transportable.
Abstract:
A welding kit to provide a welder with information and instructions concerning particular types of welds and the formation of such welds. The welding kit includes a welding instruction manual and several metal sheets that include a plurality of pre-cut metal pieces. The metal pieces are used to form one or more welding projects with instructions provided by the instruction manual.
Abstract:
A keyboard having a plurality of keys thereon, with each key being moveable from a rest position along an actuation path having a makepoint therealong, whereby completion of an electrical circuit is effected by moving a key with a predetermined force along its actuation path to its associated said makepoint. Each of the keys has means for restoring it towards its rest position. At least one of the keys is designated as a special key and it has warning means associated therewith and positioned with respect to the special key and keyboard so as to increase the force (above the predetermined force) required to actuate the special key. The increase in force provides tactile feedback to an operator of the keyboard before the special key's associated makepoint is reached to thereby warn said operator that he is about to actuate the special key. The warning means is made of resilient material, has a general, washer-like shape, and is positioned under the key cap of the special key.
Abstract:
A wall-mounted storage device for lifting and storing an object includes a stand adapted for mounting the device on the wall. An arm is pivotally connected to the stand and has an attachment for the object. An anchor member is also pivotally connected to the stand. A damper is connected between the anchor member and the stand. The damper is adapted to extend when pulled upward by the pivoting anchor member. A lockable spring is connected between the anchor member and the arm. The device includes a trigger mechanism adapted to unlock the spring when the object is attached to the arm. When the spring is unlocked, the spring is adapted to extend to push the arm upward. When the spring is locked, the pivoting anchor member and the extendible damper cooperate to enable the arm to be manually lifted. The damper provides a controlled descent when the arm is lowered.