Abstract: A lead screw is coated with Teflon to protect the screw from a high humidity atmosphere and to eliminate the need for lubricants which would tend to collect corrosion products and form a grinding compound. A nylon nut is used in combination with the Teflon coated screw since the nylon deforms to load all of the threads whereby the Teflon coating is not peeled off.

Abstract: An outer collar on a power takeoff yoke sleeve locks against an inner collar to rotate the yoke and sleeve in a first direction to align splines within the sleeve with splines on a power takeoff stub shaft. Cooperating teeth between the inner collar and the outer collar permit the outer collar to rotate freely in the opposite direction. The outer collar surrounds the inner collar and detent operators and the small end of a ball which protects the yoke from unintentional contact. The outer collar is grasped and is slightly turned to align the yoke splines and stub shaft splines while pushing the outer collar toward the stub shaft to slide the sleeve over the stub shaft. The stub shaft pushes a detent holdout longitudinally and releases the detent to move inward into a groove on the stub shaft. A heavy spring on the sleeve pushes a detent operating and locking device axially to move the detent inward into the groove in the stub shaft.

Abstract: A self-adjusting assembling arrangement, where a shaft can be properly and quickly fitted within a cylindrical body member, which becomes resiliently supported on the shaft. The body member may form part of a rotatory piston member eccentrically mounted within a cylindrical casing, or of a wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for releasably connecting first and second space objects, such as a spacecraft and a space vehicle, in predetermined spaced relationship. The apparatus comprises at least one probe member (10) mounted on the first object (1), having an elongated shank portion (11), the distal end of which is provided with a tapered nose portion (12). At least one drogue assembly (20) is mounted on the second space object (2) for releasably capturing the probe member 10 upon the first and second objects (1 and 2) being brought into close proximity with each other.The drogue assembly (20) may comprise a housing (21, 28) which carries a cone subassembly (40, 41) having inwardly tapered conical surfaces (42, 43) for receiving the probe member (10).

Abstract: A device for detachably fastening an element having a first aperture onto a support panel of a motor vehicle having a second aperture. The device includes a bushing insertable into the second aperture, which bushing includes an exterior flange and resilient legs which cooperate to fix the bushing to the support member. The device further includes a plug which is insertable through the first aperture and into the bushing. The plug has a conically tapered bulge which cooperates with an elastic constriction in the bushing to fix the plug relative to the bushing and therefore the element relative to the support panel.

Abstract: A ball joint having an annular bearing member made of a plastic and mounted in an inner space of a socket and slidably embracing a head portion of a ball stud. A plurality of grooves are formed in the outer peripheral surface of said bearing member contacting the inner surface of said inner space of said socket so as to extend in the axial direction of said ball stud. A multiplicity of minute convexities and concavities are formed in the spherical inner surface of said bearing member facing said head portion of said ball stud.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement includes a fastener driver head and a mating tool drive socket. The fastener driver head comprises a substantially circular disc-shaped base portion, a plurality of frustoconical portions integrally formed with the base portion and concentrically located within one surface thereof. A plurality of ribs are integrally formed with the base portion and alternating with the frustoconical portions and extend axially outwardly of both the base portion and the frustoconical portions. Each of the ribs extends from a line parallel with and spaced above a given diameter of the base portion to an outer periphery of said base portion. A mating drive tool has a recessed driving head or socket substantially complementary with the fastener head for closely interfitting engagement therewith.

Abstract: The present invention provides it possible to finish studding the bolt in one process without drilling on the caulked panels in the processing of studding small bolts on thin steel plates such as steels for automotive body, for example, and also provides, at the same time, the structure of the bolt whereby the physical requisite desired after caulking are extremely stabilized and advanced.

Abstract: A wedge-and-bolt connector assembly for adjustably fixing a stud to a slotted thin-walled structure or the like, and especially for use in a scaffolding or shoring system to connect braces to vertical support elements or stanchions when the latter have outwardly opening T-slotted channels formed therein, which assembly includes a stud (advantageously having a T-shaped head adapted to be received in the channel) and a shank extending through the channel slot away from the head. The shank has a bearing surface thereon facing the stud head; and a tapered wedge is slidably mounted on the shank for engaging the bearing surface, thereby to urge the bolt head against the shoulders of the channel and firmly secure the stud to the support element. The wedge preferably has a longitudinal slot through which said T-bolt is loosely mounted. The free end of the stud may include an extension having a toggle thereon or other illustrated modifications for securing the brace to the stud shank.

Abstract: A one-piece sheet metal insert for use in anchorage and fastening applications. The insert is designed to provide sufficient resistance to axial pull-out loading when utilized in relatively soft material workpieces such as structural foam plastic. The insert is also configured to take the clamp load between its collar and internal thread ribs thereby preventing tensile and compressive forces from being applied to the workpiece material surrounding the insert which commonly cause creep to occur.

Abstract: In a lighting system having lighting fixtures including end plates and a method of assembling same with rigid conduit connectors therebetween, each end plate is formed with at least one alignable key hole thereon having a substantially circular Archimedean spiral circumference and each conduit connector comprises a tube having a substantially circular Archimedean spiral surface configured to be longitudinally slidably received in each key hole in one given angular orientation and to provide a friction-tight fit in the key hole in response to rotation of the tube around its longitudinal axis is one direction from said one given angular orientation.

Abstract: A plastic fastener comprising a head portion to be contacted with a given panel, a leg portion to be inserted through a fitting hole bored in the panel, a plurality of fin-like engaging projections disposed in the stepped manner in the direction of the length on the outer surface of the leg portion is improved so as to be inserted in its correct posture through the fitting hole and brought into fast attachment without any play to the panel. The improvement is accomplished by providing the leg portion with at least two guide ridges having at each terminal edge thereof an engaging ridge.

Abstract: A coupling for clamping metallic scaffold tubes has two levers pivotally mounted on a common hinge and arranged to be locked by a wedge when they surround the scaffold tube. One of the levers is provided with a second hinge pivotally supporting a yoke which in turn supports the wedge. The thickened formations are provided on two opposite faces of the bars constituting the yoke, the formations preventing the wedge which is formed of sheet metal from slipping out of the yoke.

Abstract: A drill screw having a drilling section with a thread form thereon in which truncated thread crests taper inwardly and thread roots taper outwardly as they progress in the direction of the tip. The drilling section further includes a flute having a chip deflecting surface to facilitate metal removal during installation. The screw preferably has machine threads which extend to portions of the drilling section which are adjacent to the flutes. Because of the position and configuration of the threads, the screw of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with hard supports.

Abstract: A joint for interconnecting a main pipe and an auxiliary pipe of a framework structure. The joint is adapted to envelope the main pipe and to be fixed thereto and is provided with an expanded portion. The auxiliary pipe is adapted to be fixed to the expanded portion of the joint so that the main pipe and the auxiliary pipe are connected to each other through the joint.

Abstract: A knockdown metal shelving assembly is disclosed. Upright frame members providing vertical series of equidistantly spaced keyhole slots are interconnected by horizontally extending shelf supports. Interconnection portions of the shelf supports are punch pressed to provide tablike projections that are inserted and retained in associated keyhole slots in the frame members. Each tablike projection includes an arcuate load-bearing portion that rests in contiguous relationship throughout its extent on a corresponding arcuate edge along the bottom of the keyhole slot. That portion of the keyhole slot receiving the load-bearing portion of the tablike projection is slightly undersized to provide an interference fit for lockably retaining the projection in the slot.

Abstract: A one piece connector for attaching a supported member such as a wood joist or beam to a supporting member or header in a sloped and/or skewed relationship including a back plate, side support members for attachment to the supporting members, a seat for registration with the end of the supported member, seat sides attached to the lower position of the supported member and tab members attached to the upper end portions of the supported member at their side faces.

Abstract: A coupling for coaxially joining pipe or rod sections employed with an earth boring drive unit includes telescopically interengageable male and female members having mating irregular cross sectional portions drivingly cooperable to transmit torque between said members and releasable locking means carried by said members to lock them against axial separation from each other, such locking means including an outwardly biased latch pivotally mounted in a pocket on the exterior of the male member and an inwardly opening recess on the interior of the female member into which the latch moves and lockingly engages when the members are telescopically interengaged for transmitting axial tension loads through the coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding an elongted shaft, e.g., a mill roll within a sleeve, e.g., mill chuck sleeve comprises first and second collar portions capable of being removably joined together and affixed to the shaft; a spacer adapted to be placed between the joined collar portions and the sleeve in abutting relation to the end of the sleeve; and a plurality of both first and second bolts adapted to pass through holes in the first and second collar portions, respectively, to contact the spacer, thereby maintaining the abutting relation between the spacer and at least a portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming any selected one of a plurality of different articles of furniture, such as seating, storage, and sleeping units comprising a plurality of panels each having inner and outer faces terminating in a perimetrical edge, and mechanism for detachably coupling any selected number of the panels together in angular relation such that the perimetrical edge of each panel is positioned inwardly of the outer face of an adjacent angularly related panel and the outer face of each panel is positioned outwardly of the perimetrical edge of the adjacent angularly related panel to provide outwardly opening openings adjacent the adjacent perimetrical edges of adjacent panels. One aspect of the invention includes a coupling for coupling adjacent angularly related panels to form outwardly opening openings at the adjacent ends of adjacent panels.