Abstract: A single piece wire winding tool for winding a first part of a wire about a second part of the wire while providing a loop in the wire intermediate the first and second wire parts. One of the contemplated uses is that of making wire leaders for fishing tackle. The tool has a longitudinal axis, a slotted end defined by cheeks with their inner surfaces being the sided of the slot, and a hole formed with its axis perpendicularly skew to the tool's longitudinal axis and extending through the cheeks and therefore opening through the slot. The method aspect of the invention relates to the manner of using the tool to accomplish the desired winding of the wire. The wire to be wound has the first part laid in the slot and extending beyond the slot to provide the remainder of a leader. The second wire part is inserted through the hole and extends for a relatively short distance beyond the hole.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for free form sewing in which the workpiece is being sewn on a sewing machine having a plastic sheet or panel secured to the sewing machine work surface which has a coefficient of friction in any of several ranges which are all considered to be low friction coefficients. Depending upon the plastic material used, the coefficient of friction of any particular material may be in the range of 0.02 to 0.20, or in smaller ranges of coefficients of friction. The objective in using the method or mechanism is to permit the workpiece being sewn by free form sewing to be moved more easily with less frictional resistance by the hands of the sewing machine operator. Various plastics usable include various types of Teflon.

Abstract: A storage and display unit for prepaid telephone calling cards, collectible cards, and the like which is made, at least in a major part, of a substantially transparent plastic having a reasonable amount of impact resistance to breakage, the unit being combinable with other units to assemble larger units, the unit providing one or more bins holding cards that are for sale, with the cards in view through the transparent portions of the unit, and arranged to have a key-lockable cover to at least deter unauthorized removal of cards. The unit also provides for display of a card's face to indicate the type of card in each card bin. The display can be arranged to be on the front or back of the unit, or both. When on the back, the unit is best oriented so that the display card seen through the transparent unit back is facing customers, and the locked cover is facing the clerk or other salesperson who has a key and is authorized to remove cards for sale.

Abstract: Methods and processes of making and assembling key assemblies each having a key blank, a transponder, a transponder holder and a key head section cover molded to encapsulate the transponder and at least part of its holder. If a logo is desired on the finished key, it may be provided on one or both sides of the key head section cover, or on a transponder holder which is molded about a part of the key head section.

Abstract: Key assemblies each having a key blank, a transponder, a transponder holder and a key head section cover molded to encapsulate the transponder and at least part of its holder. A logo may be provided on one or both sides of the key head section cover, or on a transponder holder which is molded about a part of the key head section. In one embodiment, the transponder holder is premolded, after which the transponder is inserted in it and resiliently held in place by resilient parts of the holder. The transponder and holder subassembly is then slid into a generally U-shaped key head with the legs defining the sides of that key head sliding in open channels formed by legs of the holder which are moved against the resilience of the cantilever mounting of the legs to the transponder mounting section of the holder.

Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and release mechanism is latched when the hood striker engages the latch portion of the mechanism as the hood is moved to its closed position. The mechanism is actuated to release the hood striker by a pushing action on the cable or strand movable in the sheath of a cable assembly rather than by the typical pulling action on current hood releasing mechanisms. The pushing action is obtained with actuation of a hood latching and releasing control, by movement of a handle which operatively pushes on the cable or strand, transmitting a longitudinally compressive force rather than a longitudinally tensional force to the latch mechanism and moving that mechanism to the striker-released position. Release of the control permits one or more springs to cause the control handle to be returned to its position wherein the latching and release mechanism is ready to again be latched to the hood striker.

Abstract: A clip assembly for holding a towel, sheet or the like relative to an item such as a chair, table or bed so as to prevent undesirable movements thereof relative to such item due to wind, occupant movements, or tilting or upsetting of the item. The clip assembly in all forms has a clip having sections each having a handle at one end and toothed gripping formations at the other end, the clip sections being pivotally movable relative to each other about a pivot axis and being spring biased by a spring to continually urge the handles arcuately apart and the toothed gripping formations arcuately toward each other. The clip assembly is arranged to be able to be attached to a suitable portion of such item as well as to grip the towel or sheet material.

Abstract: A parking brake operating mechanism having a brake apply pedal arm module and a housing module pivotally mounted on a vehicle. The housing contains a linearly movable toothed rack operatively connected to one end of the pedal arm for movements by that arm and operatively connected at its other end to a front brake cable which is operatively connected to one or more vehicle parking brakes to be tensioned for parking brake application, a pawl member having a pawl tooth selectively engaged with a tooth of the rack to lock the rack in a brake applied position, and a pawl release mechanism which when activated moves the pawl tooth out of engagement with the rack tooth, permitting the rack and the pedal arm to be returned to the parking brake released position by the brake apply tension in the brake cable.

Abstract: A vehicle parking brake operating mechanism having an arcuately movable brake handle arcuately rotatably mounted on a pin secured to a fixed mounting bracket, a cable reel assembly having a reel section attached to the brake handle and a hub section arcuately rotated on a sleeve bushing which is received on the pin in slidable but non-rotatable relation therewith, and a cable take-up spring in the cable reel assembly reel section having one end attached to that reel section and the other end attached to the a portion of the sleeve bushing which extends through the cable reel section as well as through the cable reel assembly hub section. The bushing is of lesser specific gravity than the pin and primarily withstands only bearing loads from the hub section to the pin and torsional loads exerted by the take-up spring. The pin is subjected to cantilever loads as well as bearing loads. The pin is preferably made of steel while the bushing is made of a suitable plastic or light metal alloy or powdered metal.

Abstract: Latching mono-stable brakes which are held disengaged from braking surfaces by the energization of electromagnets, and are engaged with the braking surfaces by deenergization of the electromagnets and the magnetic forces of permanent magnets. The brakes are particularly applicable to linear braking in such vehicles as elevators, trains, trams, cable cars and the like. They may also be applicable to vehicle brakes which act on rotating braking surfaces. They may be actuated in response to excessive speed, particularly when installed in vehicles such as elevators. They may be unlatched as needed by reenergization of the electromagnets.

Abstract: Braided line splices and methods of making such splices using an inverted sleeve formed from a part of the braided line sheath, the steps forming the sleeve being at least a part of the method. The sleeve is formed by inverting it (turning it inside out), and then running a braided line part through the sleeve, tensioning the sleeve and having it grip the line part within the sleeve. Variations include making eye splices, both slipping and non-slipping; belt or loop splices, both slipping and non-slipping; and butt splices. Kits may be packaged which provide the necessary items and information to complete such splices.

Abstract: A vehicle body pillar has a cavity therein through which air flow creates undesirable noise and in which moisture and fluids such as water are not to be collected. An expandable sealant plug is inserted therein and retained in place by one or more extractable retainers. The sealant material forming the plug is later expanded and cured under controlled conditions, sealing the cavity so as to prevent the flow of air through it. The expanded sealant also effectively blocks the intrusion of fluids such as water, minimizing corrosion within the pillar. The extractable retainers are then removed and permanent retainers used to hold moldings or the like in place. The sealant also seals the permanent retainers. In other instances, the same type of extractable retainers used with the expandable sealant may be used with a hot melt sealant which, when melted, provides sealing for the later-installed permanent fasteners and the apertures through which they extend.

Abstract: A mono-stable brake system having a mono-stable magnetic array composed of one or more permanent magnets and one or more electromagnets, the stable brake system condition being the brake applied mode in which the magnetic array is magnetically latched by permanent magnet power, without any electromagnet power, to a rotatable member being braked. To release the brake, the permanent magnet field strength is neutralized or at least decreased by appropriate energization of the one or more electromagnets until the magnetic array is moved by magnetic force away from the rotatable member being braked. The brake is preferably in a vehicle braking system, and particularly a trailer braking system, in which the electromagnets are kept energized at all times when the brake is released for trailer movements. The amount of brake application in the service braking mode is controlled by decreasing the magnetic field strength of the one or more electromagnets in accordance with the braking action demand placed on the system.

Abstract: A magnetic latching mechanism and method having permanent magnets and electromagnets arranged to alternately magnetically latch one member to either of two other members using the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets. The magnetic flux of the electromagnets is used to modify the permanent magnetic flux to cancel its magnetic latching to one of the other members and attract the one member to the other of the other members so that the one member is moved to disengage from the one member and engage that other member. The electromagnets are then deenergized and only the permanent magnets' magnetic flux magnetically latches the one member to that other member. The process is reversed to move the one member back into latching engagement with the member with which it in disengaged, magnetically released, relation. The mechanism is disclosed as being used to actuate and release parking brakes by acting on a parking brake actuating arm to move, latch and release that arm.

Abstract: A fluid flow sensitive valve mechanism, including a valve member and a valve positioning device, positioned in a valve chamber between first and second inlet-outlet ports controls opening and closing of a third inlet-outlet port in response to flow of fluid to and from the valve chamber through two or more of the ports. The valve member has a planar platform section and a valve body section extending from one side of the planar platform section. The first inlet-outlet port connects with the valve chamber through a surface engageable by one end of a valve member planar platform section. Fluid flow impingement acts on various valve mechanism surfaces so that when fluid flows from the first port into the valve chamber the valve mechanism is moved to close the third port. It keeps the third port closed so long as there is thereafter no fluid flowing from the second or third port into the valve chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure actuating system has a master cylinder pivotally mounted to the dash panel in line with the actuator pedal, a remotely mounted hydraulic fluid reservoir assembly positioned at the high point of the system for selfbleeding, and an actuating device actuated by pressurized fluid generated by actuation of the master cylinder. The reservoir assembly uses a fluid flow valve mechanism to control its connection with the fluid passage of the system. Several types of reservoirs are disclosed, including a siphon tube arrangement and various flexible bag arrangements. The reservoir volume is contained in minimum space by using a sidesaddle reservoir arrangement. Indicator arrangements are also disclosed which when actuated indicate actuation and release of the master cylinder in one instance and the amount of fluid in a flexible bag reservoir in another instance.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure actuating system has a master cylinder pivotally mounted to the dash panel in line with the actuator pedal, a remotely mounted hydraulic fluid reservoir assembly positioned at the high point of the system for self-bleeding, and an actuating device actuated by pressurized fluid generated by actuation of the master cylinder. The reservoir assembly uses a fluid flow valve mechanism to control its connection with the fluid passage means of the system. Several types of reservoirs are disclosed, including a siphon tube arrangement and various flexible bag arrangements. The reservoir volume is contained in minimum space by using a sidesaddle reservoir arrangement. Indicator arrangements are also disclosed which when actuated indicate actuation and release of the master cylinder in one instance and the amount of fluid in a flexible bag reservoir in another instance.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated friction clutch actuating system for releasing the clutch includes a pressure operator, an actuator mechanism, which mechanism is shown as including a housing having a pair of telescopic pistons acting on a force transmission member and reacting through the actuator housing on an end wall of the clutch housing. The force transmission member has a U-shaped recess through which the clutch output shaft and the bearing retainer pass so that the force transmission member is in force transmitting engagement with the clutch throw out bearing while the system is in its operative position in the clutch housing. The actuator pistons act on the force transmission member when pressurized to move the throw out bearing to release the friction clutch through its belleville spring.

Abstract: A fitting having members threaded together to a desired position is provided with an arrangement for locking the members against relative rotation so as to maintain the members within a predetermined angular range of rotation relative to each other which encompasses the desired position. The locking arrangement includes longitudinally extending recesses in the outer surfaces of the fitting members which are axially aligned, and an insert which is fitted in a set of axially aligned recesses to lock the members against relative rotation. The recesses are keyhole shaped. The insert is also keyhole shaped in cross section, or is cylindrical. The insert may be made of suitable plastic such as nylon, or may be metallic. When the insert is of a material that is resiliently deformable, it may be laid over and then pressed into the recesses. A metallic or other less deformable insert, such as a rod or wire segment of safety wire, piano wire, etc.

Abstract: A vehicle body pillar has a cavity therein through which air flow creating undesirable noise and in which moisture and fluids such as water are not to be collected. An expandable sealant plug is inserted therein and retained in place. The sealant material forming the plug is later expandable under controlled conditions. It is preferably expandable under temperatures of about 275.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. over a period of time. Preferably during the electro-coated paint baking and curing operation, the sealant is exposed to appropriate temperatures for sufficient time to expand the sealant about 800% and cure it, sealing the cavity so as to prevent the flow of air through it. The expanded sealant also effectively blocks the intrusion of fluids such as water, minimizing corrosion within the pillar.