Ball Or Roller Patents (Class 24/115L)
  • Patent number: 5715578
    Abstract: A plastic handle about two inches long has a longitudinal slot sized to receive a rubber band. After the rubber band is inserted into the slot, a locking pin is inserted into the first end of the rubber-band loop which has been inserted in the slot. The rubber band is then pulled back through the slot, thereby locking the plastic handle, rubber band, and locking pin into a bundle tie assembly. The second end of the rubber band is wrapped around an extension cord, rope, or the like and snapped around the plastic handle of the first end of the rubber band. The bundle tie assembly self-tightens to quickly and neatly secure the extension cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Albin Eugene Knudson
  • Patent number: 5655327
    Abstract: A purse seine link (10) having a roller head (30) attached to body (20) by head pivot (32). Latch mechanism (22) allows for one step release of roller head (30) to release cable (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Myron Henry Wardell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5592721
    Abstract: A holder for flexible sheet material providing a substantially horizontally oriented housing containing convergent parallel walls forming an interior passageway with an opening. Contained within the housings' passageway are several spaced cylindrical rods with removable handles attached and exposed through the opening of the housing. The relationship between the diameter of the rods and the opening between the convergent walls is such that the rods can not pass through the opening and exit the housing. Sheet material moved into the opening in an upward direction between the inside front of the housing and the rods is secured by pulling on the handles attached to the rods to activate the wedging action. The sheet material can be removed from the holder by moving the handles vertically within the passageway to allow the sheet material to slip freely out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Hal M. Zeller
  • Patent number: 5593040
    Abstract: A pallet holds one or more circuit boards for processing. A pallet opening for receiving the circuit board has grooves at one side to retain an edge of the circuit board and rotary clips at the other side to receive and hold the opposite edge of the board. Each clip is a disk which is mounted for rotation about a central axis and is constrained to two angular positions by a detent. A notch in the disk receives the circuit board when in one position and clamps the board against a seat when in the other position. The notch is deep enough to allow the board to be shifted laterally for alignment with test apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Shelton, Kyle R. Street
  • Patent number: 5542776
    Abstract: A connector device freely secures a hydraulic hose to a wireline and comprises a generally cylindrical clamping body having an axial passage therethrough. The clamping body is formed having first and second semi-cylindrical body members which are permitted to pivotally move between an open and a closed position. A clamping assembly secures the first and second body members in the closed position. A closure assembly releasably and freely attaches the cylindrical clamping body to the wireline. The closure assembly includes a plurality of rotatably-mounted rollers surrounding the enclosed wireline W and provides substantially frictionless relative movement of the connector device along the wireline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Graeme E. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5359962
    Abstract: A spar-buoy pen includes a net that is held open by a single elongated, substantially vertically oriented center spar. The pen of this invention includes either a fixed center spar or a floating spar buoy that is substantially vertically aligned. Several pairs of radially disposed lines extend outward from the center spar at two locations that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another along the length of the center spar. A net is fitted over the radial lines such that the opposed top and bottom sections of the net are held apart from each other by the lines. The ends of the radial lines distal from the center spar are attached to anchor assemblies that urge the lines away from the center spar to hold the net in the open state. The net is further constructed so that a small portion of the top section of the net is located above the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Nor'Eastern Trawl Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary F. Loverich
  • Patent number: 5337459
    Abstract: A clamp includes a U-shaped member having a pair of legs, with each leg having a cavity in the side of the leg facing the other leg; and a clutch for receiving and restraining the legs of the U-shaped member. Pads are attached to the insides of the legs for clamping an article between the legs to deter the theft of such article. The clutch includes a housing defining a pair of longitudinal channels for respectively receiving the legs of the U-shaped member and a chamber between the channels, with the chamber being open to the channels; two bails disposed for movement within the chamber; a highly magnetically attractive plunger disposed within and at one end of the chamber; and a spring for biasing the plunger to move into such contact with the balls as to force the balls against respective inclined surfaces disposed at the other end of the chamber for respectively guiding the balls toward different channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Security Tag Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis L. Hogan
  • Patent number: 5288088
    Abstract: A wire gripper which facilitates insertion of a wire and which retains wires of varying thickness. The wire gripper includes a first member biased towards a second member so that the first and second members are tangent to one another until a wire is inserted. An inserted wire rests on a receiving member beyond the point of tangency of the two members. The two members are resiliently urged together to prevent the inserted wire from leaving the wire receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Axis USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Luciano Santandrea, Massimo Lombardi
  • Patent number: 5263528
    Abstract: The window blind cord lock disclosed has a pair of transverse cord accommodating channels which are angled downwardly from each other toward the outside of the cord lock. A fixed locking element and a moveable locking element are disposed selectively in one or the other of the channels, both being oriented substantially vertically upright. The angular disposition of these elements permits pendulum manipulation of the cords and prevents the cords from bunching up between the locking elements. The color coordinated cap covers the visible portions of the cord lock and is held in place by novel interlocking formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: CHF Industries
    Inventor: Bakulesh N. Patel
  • Patent number: 4914961
    Abstract: Device for fastening a vibrating wire to a component of a meter. The device comprises a body having two prongs and two cylindrical, conical, prismatic or wedge-shaped retainers made of electrically insulating material. The retainers are in contact with the prongs on one side and, due to the clamping action of the prongs, hold the full width of the wire by friction on the other side, insulating it electrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Wirth Gallo Messtechnik AG
    Inventor: Johannes Wirth
  • Patent number: 4893810
    Abstract: A quick release collar for a weight lifting barbell includes a collar body, an axially movable sleeve and a plurality of radially movable balls which are cammed into frictional engagement with the bar. A tension ring rigidly attached to the sleeve has a tapered inner surface portion which controls the radial positions of the movable balls. A coil spring biases the sleeve and tension ring toward a locked position in which the movable balls securely engage the bar. The collar is easily unlocked with one hand so that it can be slipped off the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventor: Scott H. Lee
  • Patent number: 4830340
    Abstract: A rope grip apparatus for use in the field of tying down cargo in delivery trucks, construction, tying down aircraft, mountain climbing, farming, ranching, boating or other similar uses where rope is used and is typically tied in knots to secure articles while in transit, use, or storage. The rope grip apparatus includes a rope-receiving member having a hingeably secured and latchable rope-gripping member. The functional elements of the rope grip apparatus include a springed latch, and a plurality of ratcheted, grooved pulley rollers. In using the apparatus, a rope is threaded between the grooved pulley rollers located within the rope-receiving member and the rope-gripping member and unidirectionally clamped therebetween by latching the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Willie Loree Franklin
    Inventor: Gerald M. Knitig
  • Patent number: 4762318
    Abstract: An exerciser that includes a stretchable tension member connected to an adjuster mechanism which permits the tension member's length to be varied as desired by the user. The adjuster mechanism, in preferred form, includes a housing that defines a cavity open through a port to atmosphere. A free end of the tension member is looped around a latch pin within the cavity, both ends of the loop extending through the housing's port. The latch pin, which is accessible to a user from exteriorly of the housing, is movable within the cavity away from the port when it is desired to adjust the tension member's length, and is movable within the cavity toward the port when it is desired to lock the tension member at the desired length. The cavity includes wedge shaped interior walls that flare away from the port, and that cooperate with the pin and the tension member's looped end, to establish the locking position of that looped end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: `totes`, incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford E. Phillips, Roy J. Bertacchi
  • Patent number: 4656698
    Abstract: An arrangement for gripping end regions of an elongated flexible element extended between support surfaces, comprises a casing having an interior passage, and an inner conically-shaped wall, and a movable sleeve mounted for axial movement relative to the casing. The sleeve has an axial channel through which the element is inserted, an outer conically-shaped body, and at least one radial hole in the outer body. At least one gripping member is mounted in the radial hole of the sleeve. The radial dimension of the gripping member is larger than the radial length of the radial hole. The gripping member is movable from a non-gripping position in which the gripping member is located outside the channel, to a gripping portion in which the gripping member is pushed by the inner wall to extend into the channel for gripping the inserted end region of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Arakawa & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Arakawa
  • Patent number: 4507830
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid-action holder for sheet-like objects.While there is no lack of means for affixing sheet-like, nonrigid or semi-rigid material to wall or other surfaces, the application of such means--nails, drawing pins, adhesive tape, staples and the like--is not only time consuming, but the very act of applying such means, and frequently also the removal thereof, is liable to cause damage to both the wall surface and the sheet-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventor: Israel Dahan
  • Patent number: 4392555
    Abstract: A fall protection safety device is disclosed which is suitable for use in environments wherein suspended particulate matter is present. The device comprises an elongated tubular housing having an upper end guide block with a centrally located opening therein and a lower end guide block with a centrally located opening therein. The lower guide block has a plurality of openings spaced apart from and around its centrally located opening. A safety line is threaded within the tubular housing and movement thereof is prevented by camming a line-gripping ball and cage arrangement associated with a piston upwardly within a conical bore of a wedging ring. The piston has a centrally located opening through which the safety line is threaded and a serrated outer surface adjacent to and circumscribed by the inner surface of the elongate tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Inventor: J. Nigel Ellis
  • Patent number: 4389059
    Abstract: A seat belt webbing guide (100) for directing seat belt webbing material (120) from a retractor to a shoulder belt (130) includes a one-piece cover and housing (10) in which a lightweight load bearing wire loop (60) is disposed in a substantially triangular shaped configuration. The bottom portion of the wire loop is maintained straight by a tubular element (75) and an idler roller (80) surrounding the tubular element (75) enables the webbing material to extend partially around the roller (80) through the loop opening with a low friction rolling engagement. The roller (80) is mounted in a recessed area (86) of the housing (10) between two upright end flanges (90) which laterally retain the webbing. The ends (62, 64) of the wire loop (60) opposite the roller (80) are introduced from opposite directions into a length of wall tubing (70) and arranged to overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 4362288
    Abstract: A shock absorbing cable anchor for mobile equipment has an open-ended sleeve or housing with a slot along one side thereof through which an electrical cable may be inserted, with both ends of the cable passing through one of the open ends of the sleeve and the cable defining a loop or bight portion projecting out of the other open end of the sleeve. The sleeve is tapered from said one end to the other open end and is larger in width at said other open end. A wedge shaped complementally to the sleeve is inserted through said other open end of the sleeve and presses the cable outwardly against the sleeve sides to prevent the cable from being pulled out of the sleeve. A spring device is connected between the sleeve and an anchor point to resiliently support the sleeve and cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventor: Herman Allen
  • Patent number: 4340997
    Abstract: A rope clamping device having two opposing clamping elements with teeth which are mounted above a bearing surface for varying the distance therebetween to allow a rope to be inserted and removed it is configured so that the distance therebetween is reducible in response to a tensile force applied to the rope to press the clamping elements thereagainst. The clamping elements comprise rollers mounted with their axes of rotation subtending an acute angle therebetween. The rollers are mounted for free rotational movement around their axes and for longitudinal displacement therealong to alter the distance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Inventor: Gunther M. Voss
  • Patent number: 4238108
    Abstract: An improved flow control device for regulating the flow of fluid through flexible tubing wherein the flow control device utilizes a rotatable member with trunnions positioned to be captively guided and rotated along guide surfaces. The rotatable member is easily inserted into the clamp body yet once it is placed therein it is difficult to remove without excessive force. The clamp body affords a rigid structure with the opposing walls being fixed at their ends yet are flexible enough to afford entry of the rotatable member into the clamp body for placement of the trunnions in the guide surfaces. In one embodiment, a ramp means is provided through an infeed section wherein the ridge portions forming the ramp merge with the guide surfaces so that when the trunnions of the roller move up the ramp and onto the guide surfaces, an outward flexing of the clamp wall is effected with a retention of the trunnions on the guide surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Andrew J. Muetterties
  • Patent number: 4164223
    Abstract: An instrument for use with surgical procedures such as for clearing and disloding the contents of chest tubing, catheters, common duct T-tubing and IV tubing and the like. A pair of rollers are mounted on shafts which are hinged together at one end. A cylindrical handle is mounted on an opposite end of one shaft and an opposed thumb rest is mounted on the end of the other shaft. The hand of a user grasps the handle and thumb rest for moving the rollers into and out of engagement with opposite sides of the tubing. The instrument compresses the tubing and is moved any desired distance along its length for propelling tubing contents or creating suction within the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Inventor: Hamza I. Munib
  • Patent number: 4096807
    Abstract: A cargo control restraint shield for use in the container of a trailer truck for weather protection of the cargo, compartmentalization of the cargo and for restraining the cargo and holding it in place. Cables are secured within the container at the upper and lower corners thereof so as to extend from the rear to the front of the container in a taut fashion. Clamps are received on the cables and are movable thereon from front to rear of the container. A flexible rectangular sheet of vinyl material has hooks mounted at the four corners thereof. Two of the hooks are secured to the clamps and two are secured to the lower cables. The clamps lock on the cables against movement of the vinyl sheet away from the cargo but may be released by long levers which hang downwardly from the cables. Long handles are attached to the hooks which are secured to the clamps and may be used to lift the hooks off of the clamps or to place the hooks on the clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1978
    Inventor: Ernest F. Woodward
  • Patent number: 3984081
    Abstract: A vertically elongated hollow rectangular box with vertical walls and an open top and bottom has a downwardly and rearwardly extending slot in one side wall. The forward edge of the slot bears a series of arcuate rearwardly facing notches cut into the housing. A removable bar rides in the slot, and bears a knob exterior the housing. When a flexible tube or hose is placed along the rear wall in the interior of the housing, the bar gradually contricts its diameter as the bar is moved downwardly in the slot. The notches keep the bar in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.
    Inventor: Carolyn Lee Hoganson
  • Patent number: 3960149
    Abstract: A flow control device for accurately regulating the flow of fluid through flexible tubing. A pivotal platen is employed in conjunction with a roller which upon rotation along an intersecting axis with a length of tubing will effect a squeezing or compressive action on the tubing but with the compressive force being applied over a wide area of the tubing so as to not effect a distortion of the tubing after the compressive force is discontinued. The flow control unit can be utilized as a clamp in that it can completely disrupt the flow of fluid through the tubing yet it is highy adapted to being used as a flow control device in conjunction with a parenteral administration set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Albert Frank Bujan
  • Patent number: 3948362
    Abstract: A safety device comprising a runner which can be threaded onto a suspended safety line and houses a linegripping member movable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition and an operating member which provides externally of the runner an attachment point for a personal safety belt and is operatively associated with the line-gripping member to cause movement thereof towards locked condition responsive to sudden downward acceleration of the attachment point; with the improvement that the operating member comprises first and second link members pivotally attached to the runner, and a bar member pivotally connected to the link members to form a parallel linkage, and that the attachment point is disposed at least as high as the level of the top of the runner housing when the runner is oriented for use on a vertical line with the operating mechanism in its runner-free position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Barrow Hepburn Equipment Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Charles Greest