The invention resides in the innovative use of deposition techniques in deformable mirrors. The use of deposition techniques allows contact pads for electrodes to be located wherever convenient. When applied to bimorph mirrors the invention enables both electro-restrictive layers to become active, increasing the stroke of the deformable mirror whilst retaining temperature insensitivity. A controllably-deformable mirror according to the invention comprises a deposition layer; a first electro-rest...

A deformable fastener is provided. The fastener includes a first member having a cavity and a second member sized to be rotatably attached within the cavity. The fastener further includes a protrusion disposed on either the first or second member for locking engagement with a corresponding portion of the other of the first or second member when the first member is attached to the second member. The protrusion is sized and configured to deform both an inner and outer surface of the corresponding ...

A deformable mirror includes a deformable section on which a reflecting surface and a COM electrode are formed, a fixing section which fixes the deformable section, a driving and sensing electrode (driving force generating unit) which has a plurality of driving and sensing electrodes provided facing the COM electrode, and which drives the deformable section by applying an electric potential difference between the COM electrode and the driving and sensing electrode, and a capacitance detecting ci...

A kingpin is provided for use on a trailer in a system with the tractor linked to a trailer. The kingpin includes a shank and a selectively deformable head, whereby during a trailer rollover event, the kingpin head deforms allowing the link between the tractor and trailer to be broken and the tractor to remain upright.

A deformable mirror (10) with an at least quasi-continuously deformable optically effective surface (12) has a floatingly supported mirror plate (11) which is positioned along its edge by a portion of the adjusting members (14.1), whereas the other portion of the adjusting members (14.2) locally individually deforms the mirror plate (11) for the purposes of wave front correction. In that respect all adjusting members (14.1, 14.2) are fixed to the rear side (13) of the mirror plate (11), with a c...

A deformable wrench for applying torque to a nut engaging a threaded fastener includes a wrench body having a center portion with at least one wing portion extending therefrom. The wrench body is formed from an elastic material and a socket aperture extends through the central portion between spaced upper and lower surfaces thereof. The socket aperture is configured to cooperate with the profile of the nut to permit rotation relative to the fastener by applying force to the wing portion of the w...

The invention is a semi-resilient exercise grip that has a non-resilient particulate core surrounded by a resilient rubber covering. Within the core there is also a dry lubricant such as talc that allows the particles to move over each other without damage. The outer covering may consist of a single thick latex layer, a thin latex layer surrounded by a thick rubber layer or a number of thin latex layers. The semi-resiliency of the grip enables a user to deform the grip and thereby change its sha...

A novelty toy including a flexible bladder in any desired shape having a sealable filling stem for receiving a moldable filling medium such as a cohesive mixture of hollow or solid microspheres and water, wherein after being filled with the filling medium the filling stem is sealed and pushed into the flexible bladder.

A deformable mirror has a first deforming portion that has a reflection surface, a second deforming portion surrounding the first deforming portion and has lower mechanical stiffness than that of the first deforming portion, a fixing portion fixing a peripheral portion of the second deforming portion, deformer for acting on the first deforming portion to deform the first deforming portion and second deforming portion, and restrictor for restricting deformation in a main deforming direction of a ...

A deformable member can be used in a well tool for use in downhole oil/gas wells. In one embodiment, a deformable member (46) is described which is deformable between undeformed and deformed positions, and comprises a generally hollow cylindrical body (48) defining a wall (50). The wall (50) includes three circumferential lines of weakness in the form of grooves, with two grooves (52, 54) provided in an outer surface (56) of the member wall (50), and the other groove (58) provided in an inner su...