A rotary connector device includes a fixed body, a rotation body, and an inhibiting structure. The fixed body includes a first fixed body portion and a second fixed body portion disposed facing each other with a space being defined between the first fixed body portion and the second fixed body portion. The first fixed body portion and the second fixed body portion are coupled at a coupling portion. The rotation body rotatably is assembled to the fixed body. The inhibiting structure is configured to inhibit foreign matter from entering the space through the coupling portion. The coupling portion is exposed to an outer surface of the fixed body.

A coupler apparatus for coupling electrical signals between an actuator and an end effector is disclosed. The end effector is disposed at a distal end of an elongate articulated positioner and used to position the end effector for performing surgical operations. The articulated positioner has a central lumen and the apparatus includes an elongate body sized to be slidingly received within the central lumen of the articulated positioner, at least a portion of the body being operable to flex during movement of the articulated positioner. The apparatus also includes a plurality of electrical conductors extending through the body, and a plurality of proximal electrical contacts disposed at a proximal end of the body for removably connecting each of the electrical conductors to respective electrical signal lines at the actuator.

An electronic hinge system is provided, including a first component and a second component. The first component may include a first enclosure, a first substrate extending within the first enclosure, a first connector, and a plurality of curved elements disposed in the first connector. The first substrate may have electrically conductive elements and microelectronic devices electrically connected with the electrically conductive elements. The curved elements may be electrically conductive and spaced apart from one another. Each curved element may be electrically connected with a respective one of the electrically conductive elements of the first component. The second component may include a second enclosure and a second connector disposed at an end of the second enclosure. The first connector may be configured to mate with the second connector, such that when the first component is engaged with the second component, the first connector is rotationally coupled with the second connector.

Improvements in machine walls to construct a building or house is disclosed. Adjacent side of the wall sections are tapered and dovetailed that lock-in-place. The dovetails are spaced to reduce the height that one section must be lifted to engage in an adjoining wall section. The footers/base plate will also have integrated earthquake or hurricane hold-downs in the footer/base plate that aligns and can be secured from the foundation to the wall sections. The connection of the wall section to the foundation to have counter flashing at the concrete insert and the wall-to-wall sections can be self-flashed. The wall sections can have GPS locators for positioning the wall sections. Plumbing and electrical conduit creating circuits that can be integrated into the walls and are connected sealed or bonded together.

Improvements in machine walls to construct a building or house is disclosed. Adjacent side of the wall sections are tapered and dovetailed that lock-in-place. The dovetails are spaced to reduce the height that one section must be lifted to engage in an adjoining wall section. The footers/base plate will also have integrated earthquake or hurricane hold-downs in the footer/base plate that aligns and can be secured from the foundation to the wall sections. The connection of the wall section to the foundation to have counter flashing at the concrete insert and the wall-to-wall sections can be self-flashed. The wall sections can have GPS locators for positioning the wall sections. Plumbing and electrical conduit creating circuits that can be integrated into the walls and are connected sealed or bonded together.

An adaptive connector comprising a contact jack and a lamella comb, wherein the lamellae of the lamella comb electrically contact the contact jack, characterised in that the contact jack is connected in a mechanically inseparable but movable manner with the lamella comb. The contact jack can be pivoted relatively to the lamella comb with an angular range of more than 2 degrees while maintaining contact between the contact jack and the lamellae of the lamella comb, and/or the contact jack can be moved translationally relatively to the lamella comb in at least one direction within a translational range of more than 1 millimetre. Moreover, an adaptive connector comprising two or more adapter elements that are electrically separate from each other. Each adapter element comprises a connection jack or a connection lamella device at each of two ends of the adapter element, the connection jack or connection lamella device of one end being electrically connected to the connection jack or connection lamella device of the other end. The adapter elements are connected with each other in a mechanically inseparable but movable manner. Any of the adapter elements can be pivoted relatively to at least one other of the adapter elements with an angular range of more than 4 degrees and/or any of the adapter elements can be moved translationally relatively to any other of the adapter elements in at least one direction by more than 2 millimetre. Finally, a system comprising the adaptive connector and a counter connector.

An adaptive connector comprising a contact jack and a lamella comb, wherein the lamellae of the lamella comb electrically contact the contact jack, characterised in that the contact jack is connected in a mechanically inseparable but movable manner with the lamella comb. The contact jack can be pivoted relatively to the lamella comb with an angular range of more than 2 degrees while maintaining contact between the contact jack and the lamellae of the lamella comb, and/or the contact jack can be moved translationally relatively to the lamella comb in at least one direction within a translational range of more than 1 millimetre. Moreover, an adaptive connector comprising two or more adapter elements that are electrically separate from each other. Each adapter element comprises a connection jack or a connection lamella device at each of two ends of the adapter element, the connection jack or connection lamella device of one end being electrically connected to the connection jack or connection lamella device of the other end. The adapter elements are connected with each other in a mechanically inseparable but movable manner. Any of the adapter elements can be pivoted relatively to at least one other of the adapter elements with an angular range of more than 4 degrees and/or any of the adapter elements can be moved translationally relatively to any other of the adapter elements in at least one direction by more than 2 millimetre. Finally, a system comprising the adaptive connector and a counter connector.

A connection system to facilitate the mechanical coupling, and the transfer of electrical power between, trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The connection system can include a mechanical coupling system having a guiding surface and a guiding slot on a first trunk section and a guiding protrusion disposed inside a second trunk section. Insertion of the first trunk section into the second trunk section and thus contact of the guiding protrusion against the guiding surface can cause the first trunk section to rotate relative the second trunk section until a predetermined rotational alignment is reached, aligning electrical contacts of first and second electrical connectors, each of which is attached to an outer wall of a respective trunk section. The electrical contacts of the first and second electrical connectors can establish electrical communication between the first and second electrical connectors, and thus between the first and second trunk sections.

A connection system to facilitate the mechanical coupling, and the transfer of electrical power between, trunk sections of an artificial tree is disclosed. The connection system can include a mechanical coupling system having a guiding surface and a guiding slot on a first trunk section and a guiding protrusion disposed inside a second trunk section. Insertion of the first trunk section into the second trunk section and thus contact of the guiding protrusion against the guiding surface can cause the first trunk section to rotate relative the second trunk section until a predetermined rotational alignment is reached, aligning electrical contacts of first and second electrical connectors, each of which is attached to an outer wall of a respective trunk section. The electrical contacts of the first and second electrical connectors can establish electrical communication between the first and second electrical connectors, and thus between the first and second trunk sections.

A flat cable assembly for a rotary connector device includes a first lead block, a first flat cable, and a second flat cable. The first lead block includes a first lead block body and a first conductor that includes a first exposure surface exposed from the first lead block body and is attached to the first lead block body. The first flat cable includes a first cable end portion connected to the first exposure surface so as to extend from the first exposure surface in a first direction. The second flat cable includes a second cable end portion connected to the first exposure surface so as to extend from the first exposure surface in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.