Abstract: A universal one piece restraint bracket particularly suited for use with wire rope or cable for transverse, longitudinal and combined transverse and longitudinal seismic bracing systems for supporting an object. The bracket is generally L shaped to define a flattened apertured central portion with two wing portions generally at right angles to each other, apertured at their free ends and joined to the flattened central portion, each wing being elevated or upwardly bent away from the plane of the central portion. Aircraft type cables or wire rope connect the bracket to an adjacent support structure with the central portion of the bracket being secured to an object to be supported, whereby the bracing system acts in tension only so as to dampen earthquake loads and forces and thus is not subject to compression loads. A single bracket accommodates a wide variety of seismic bracing, and the bracket is configured for stacking with another bracket where necessary.

Abstract: A method for quickly and easily attaching and removing a sign from a rope. The sign has a split-T portion defining flexible arms. The arms are bent to allow the rope to slide through transition slots to ultimately enter rope engaging channels. The arms are then released so that the transition slots have a width which restricts passage of the rope, thereby confining the rope to the rope engaging channels. The deflecting portions of the arms are located near the center of the sign to correspond with the natural position of a person's thumbs when holding the sign. The sign allows a new method for attaching a sign to a rope to be used, in which both arms are simultaneously bent from the center of the sign to insert the rope in the rope engaging channels.

Abstract: The snugger bugger slack adjuster is a handle comprising of two mating shell halves containing three parts. A plunger-button, a prong and a spring. The manually operable prong has two upward tines set at 45 degree angles. These tines are set in opposite directions so that when a line is in place, the tines will embed themselves deeply into the lines. When the plunger button is depressed, the prong will disappear into a chamber in the handle allowing the line to move freely. The release clamp is seated within in the handle halves such that the button extends upward through an aperture provided in the handle. When so seated, the spring bears against the underside of the prong, driving it upward which brings the line-engaging tines into contact with a portion of the line that passes through the handle. When so seated the line-engaging tines bear against the lines within the handle and they are unable to be advanced when the plunger-button and prong is in an unbiased position.

Abstract: A length adjusting device for fastening straps of a mask includes an oblong elastic thin plate with a plurality of stepped hook portions. One strap of fastening straps of the mask is to be detachably fitted at a base end portion of the elastic thin plate and another strap of the mask is to be engageably fitted on the stepped hook portions. The elastic thin plate may have a piercing hole at its base end portion, into which the strap of the mask is to be detachably fitted, and/or have opposing hook portions which opposingly project from both its upper and lower sides and incline toward the base end of the elastic thin plate. The piercing hole may have a cut and the cut may extend slantingly toward a tip side of the elastic thin plate.

Abstract: A molded booster seat has an upper back portion and a lower seat portion connected to an integral hinge. The upper and lower portions are pivoted about the integral hinge toward each other to form a rigid body, and cooperate to form a plurality of mortise and tenon joints. The upper and lower portions are locked in the rigid body configuration by a pair of side plates and a pair of locking rods extending through the seat between the side plates. The booster seat also includes an adjustable belt positioner that is configured to move between a plurality of different adjustments. The upper and lower positions are located to accommodate the fall range of sizes of children of a child sitting in the booster seat. The booster seat further includes indicia for indicating height limitations of a child sitting in the seat. The indicia can be labels attached to a seat cover disposed on the seat.

Abstract: A quick release hitch for attaching a tow line to an object comprises a flat plate body having a first opening at a first end for attachment to a connector, and a second opening at a second end through which a tow line may be inserted, a first pair of side notches, each notch of the first pair opening to one side of the body and extending transversely into the body toward the other notch of the first pair, each notch of the first pair being formed to receive the tow line, and a second pair of side notches, each notch of the second pair opening to one side of the body and extending obliquely into the body toward an opposite one of the first pair of side notches, each notch of the second pair narrowing inward and being formed to receive and secure the tow line when the tow line is inserted through the second opening and wound around the body and extended through the first pair of side notches before being extended through one of the second pair of notches.

Abstract: A screen room enclosure for use with an RV having an awning rail and an awning coupled to the awning rail, the enclosure comprising a side panel having a top edge, a first cord coupled to the top edge and having a first engagement means at an end adjacent the awning rail, and a first channel clip comprising a planar section having a slot engageable with the first engagement means, and a non-planar section engageable with the awning rail.

Abstract: The balloon closure device of the present invention includes an integrally formed flat seal portion and removable tab portion (made of biodegradable material) and a loop of string or other type of line. The loop of string may be wrapped neatly around the tab portion, which eases handling of the device before it is used to seal a balloon. Once the device is used to seal a balloon, the loop of string may be used to secure the sealed balloon to the user's wrist without requiring the user to tie a knot.

Abstract: A line connecting device includes first and second end portions adapted to be connected respectively to first and second line portions for interconnecting the line portions. The connecting device is formed of a rigid, generally planar body. The line connector second portion has an elongated slot of a length at least as great as twice the radius of the second line portion and has second and third slots opening in an opposite direction and extending along respective, mutually diverging axes. In use, the second line portion may be looped twice through the first and second slots and once through the third slot, the first and second slots preferably having substantially constant widths for aligning adjacent loops of line. In one embodiment, the first end portion is of S-shaped configuration having a tang portion which projects generally toward the second end portion of the connector. In one embodiment, the connector is free of line-receiving apertures or eyelets.

Abstract: A sheet metal spring clip made from a resilient metal rectangular strip which is bent at various locations intermediate its top and bottom edges to cause sections of the clip to lie one above the other in a spaced relationship. The clip has a pair of connected elongated apertures each having unbroken walls normal to flat top and bottom surfaces, which walls serve as bearing surfaces at opposite sides of each of the two connected apertures for mounting of the clip preferably on a vertical support. Spaced handles similarly directed permit the resilient clip to be squeezed for positional alignment on the support. The clip further includes an edge slot in communication with a third elongated aperture, which aperture has similar walls and serves to provide bearing surfaces for retention of a bar normally disposed with respect to the support, after the clip has been positioned at a desired elevation.

Abstract: A malleable clip for reversible application to a power line which connects a power tool to a power source to alter the angular relationship and/or offset distance of the power tool with respect to the power line. Malleable clips comprise one or more malleable links adjustably coupling a plurality of adjacent circumferential clips end-to-end. The malleable links have lateral bending compliances which may be substantially unequal. One or more resilient links may also be present between adjacent circumferential clips in a malleable clip. The lateral bending compliances of the resilient links, if two or more are present, may be substantially unequal. Malleable clips may additionally comprise adjacent circumferential clips adjustably coupled by substantially longitudinally fenestrated malleable links which facilitate adjustment of the link lateral bending compliance.

Abstract: An electric unit is powered by an external electric power source through a flexible wire plugged into a socket of the external electric power source, and the flexible wire is wound around a retractable winder after the flexible wire is pulled out, wherein the wire-winder is retracted into a space occupied by the electric unit so that the occupied space is decreased without impairment of the external appearance.

Abstract: Rope Fastening Device including a generally flat member having a rope passage slot formed therethrough. The end portions of the device is shaped into rope attachment posts which are utilized to loop portions of the rope thereabout.

Abstract: A device for rapidly wrapping a bundle of newspapers or magazines to be recycled, consisting of a fiberboard plate having a hole with a string-receiving slit through its major surfaces, and arcuate recesses on opposite edges of the plate, each recess having a string-receiving slit. A string is looped through the hole and around an adjacent edge of the plate, and tied near one end of the string. To wrap the bundle, the other end of the string is passed around the bundle and through the hole, wedged into the corresponding slit, and then passed by each arcuate recess and wedged into each of the corresponding slits.

Abstract: A drop wire clamp useful for double-stranded figure eight cable is provided with a trough and an apertured plate descending from one end of the trough so that the clamp can be suspended from a suitable support. The trough is dimensioned to accept the cable without threading and without compression on the signal-carrying portion of the cable. The cable is retained in the trough by wrapping separated semi-rigid support strand around the trough.

Abstract: A metallic clip, to fasten two ends of latex surgical tubing under tension when used as a ligation element especially as in the castration of animals, provides a cylindrical tubular element defining an axially aligned slit through its periphery, with each side portion adjacent the slit defining angulated slots extending spacedly inwardly from a first end of the clip in a diverging fashion, to receive tubing ends. The clip defines an outwardly extending alignment protuberance inwardly from the second end of the clip in a position diametrically opposed to the peripheral slit. For use two latex surgical tubes are passed through the clip channel and one end portion of the tube is inserted in each slot. After tensioning the tubing, the clip is mechanically deformed, preferably by a tool created for such purpose, to bend each body portion between the slot and the slit inwardly to fasten each adjacent tube portion between that clip portion and the opposite side wall of the clip.

Abstract: A rope fastener includes a body having a pair of parallel apertures slidably receiving two adjacent rope segments defining a loop. The fastener further includes an abutment lug disposed in line with the longitudinal axis of the body. The abutment lug has a first portion extending generally vertically from a second end of the top surface of the body and a generally planar second portion which is connected to the first portion and which extends toward a first end of the body. The first portion may include lateral grooves which receive the loop. The abutment lug is engaged by the loop by folding over the rope to form an attachment loop.

Abstract: A chalking string retainer for holding one end of a chalking string at the edge or corner of a surface to be marked with the string. The retainer comprises a plate with a bracket shaped in the form of a V depending from the plate. There is a first hole near the apex of the V through which the string passes and at which the string is knotted and there is a second hole on said plate through which the string also passes for pulling.

Abstract: A clothing containment ring includes a rigid outer annulus and an inner ring liner formed of a non-skid friction producing material such as rubber, leather or the like. The inside wall of the annulus on which the liner is attached is formed to be generally planar in the axial direction (and of course generally circular in the circumferential direction). With this construction, gathered clothing can be inserted into the ring and thus maintained in the gathered or bunched condition by the ring.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a device which allows small animals to be tethered by a leash in vehicles and which allows the handler to quickly attach and detach the animal's leash to a car safety belt keeper member.

Abstract: A knotless cordage coupler for releasably securing a pair of cord ends to one another. The coupler in one construction comprises a planar member including a pair of rope end receiving apertures formed along a longitudinal axis of the member. A plurality of staggered wedging notches extend inward along the peripheral edges of the coupler to receive a wrapped cord end and maintain the rope ends in secured parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis. In another construction, a tubular body includes opposite wedging notches and an open flange for receiving the tag end.

Abstract: An adjustable cable mounting bracket for automobile bodies is formed as a unitary structure in which a barbed locating member and a partially cylindrical backing member are hingedly connected to a slotted adjusting member to be folded into position where the resulting bracket assembly is rotatably mounted in an automotive body panel and provides for circumferential and axial movement of a portion of a flexible conduit or cable received in the bracket in snap-fit relationship.

Abstract: Hook adapted to be easily, quickly and securely attachable on both ends of an elastic cord which is used to tie objects up is disclosed; the present hook is structured to have two symmetric round ends, i.e., the right cord-fixing end and the left hook end, with a relatively large through-hole placed on the latter and three smaller through-holes disposed on the former with one of which being cut open for ready disposition of part of the elastic cord in knotting operation, and there is also provided with a hook member projectingly extended from the left end with the concave thereof facing to the right.

Abstract: A hanger for suspending armored cable from a vertical wire holds the cable to one side of the wire and includes a sharp edge that engages the wire on the side opposite the cable; a force is applied to press the sharp edge against the wire to prevent the hanger from slipping down along the wire. In other aspects, the hanger is supported from only a single location on the wire; the hanger includes a slot into which the wire may be slipped to reach a position where the wire is grasped by the hanger; and the cable holding portion of the hanger includes a rib to seat in the helical groove of the armored cable.

Abstract: There is disclosed fishing gear which includes a device for suspending an object, such as fish hook, weight or chum basket, from a trot line, wherein the chum basket is made up of molded plastic body sections secured to one another at their enlarged ends.

Abstract: A rappelling tool having at least two essentially orthogonal tabs projecting from a ring. The first tab has an aperture by which it is connected to a rappeller's waist belt or seating apparatus carabiner. The second tab, essentially orthogonal to the first is provided for slidably retaining a rope that has been wound about it. The invention allows a threading of a rope thereto without the necessity of disconnecting it from the user. Horn-like projections from the second tab provide the facility for wrapping the rope about the tab, thus securing the rappelling user in a static condition during decent.

Abstract: A device for mending a broken cord in a sports net. The device includes a pair of ferrules having deformable flaps that can be crimped onto the broken cord ends. The ferrules can be connected with each other by a flexible cord element gripped by sleeves on the ferrules, by a rigid connecting strip, or by a flexible cord element threaded through openings and gripped by the flaps crimped onto the broken cord ends. In the latter case, the broken cord ends are threaded through the openings and knotted to enhance the security of the connection.

Abstract: A rope guard and rope bundle keeper includes an elongate, flexible body having lateral edges extending between two ends. The body has a slit at each end; the slits extend inwardly away from the lateral edges in directions perpendicular to the length of the body. The body is made of a flexible, protective material, such as thick leather. As a rope guard, the body is placed between the tie down rope and the item to be protected in a region where the rope changes direction. The rope lies against the top or outer surface of the rope guard in the region between the two slits but passes through the slits to help maintain the rope guard in place. As a rope bundle keeper, the body is wrapped around the rope bundle so that it circumscribes the bundle. The two slits are inserted one into the other so to maintain the body in a ring-like, rope bundle keeper orientation.

Abstract: A line lock for a rotary clothes dryer includes a locking block having a socket which is positioned over an end of, and engages, an arm of a rotary clothes dryer, a plurality of apertures extending through the block, at least one of the clothes lines extending through an aperture, and a flexible line tie extending through another of the apertures, and being tied to the clothes line thereby locking the clothes line to the locking block.

Abstract: A connecting terminal of electrically conductive material is in the form of a flat plate having first and second tabs which are stamped from the plate and bent upwardly from the same surface of the plate. The first tab is reversely bent to overlie the plate in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto for receiving an insulated wire and the second tab is disposed at an acute angle to the plate and is directed opposite to the first tab for anchoring the free end of the wire to the terminal. The first tab is provided with an elongated slot in the bent portion thereof so that on subsequent clamping of the wire by the application of pressure by opposed electrodes and the passage of current through the electrodes, the insulation will be burned off the wire under the first tab. The elongated slot allows for the escape of gasses and burned insulation material so as to insure a good electrical connection between the conductive core of the wire and the terminal.

Abstract: A rigid tie capable of being removably mounted on an end portion of an elongate pliable member such as a bungee cord that has a resilient core covered with a woven fabric, with the tie when so mounted serving as an anchor. A pair of the ties may removably engage opposite end portions of a pliable member to form an endless loop that is adjustable as to length by sliding the pair of ties towards or away from one another. A single tie if desired may be utilized to removably join the end portions of two elongate pliable members together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holder device for electrical cords or flexible leads, especially in rooms for dwelling and working. The device comprises a plate (1) provided with at least one flange (2) projecting therefrom, with a coating of self-adhesive material (4) applied to the plate on the same side as the flange and downwards thereof. The holder device is intended for mounting on skirting (6) so that the flange (2) constitutes guidance and location means while applying and attaching the plate to the skirting by means of the self-adhesive coating. The portion of the plate upstanding from the flange is intended, together with the opposing wall surface (7) and the upper edge of the skirting, to form a trough-like section for laying a cord (11) and/or retaining the appropriate cord portion.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a unitary clip of ductile sheet metal in the form of a peripherally continuous elongate rectangular frame which is bent at its longitudinal midsection. The frame defines a window between its bent longitudinal legs, such that after inserting a loop-defining fold of cable, dropwire or the like through the window, the longitudinal ends of the frame may in a simple operation be crimped toward each other and into compressionally clamping engagement with adjacent regions of the folded cable, thereby also frictionally engaging to each other the adjacent regions of the folded cable.

Abstract: The described modifications of tie connectors are adapted to receive a rope, strap, chain, or other flexible tension member. A portion of the connectors establishes the alignment of the unit with respect to the line of tension, and another portion is provided with a laterally-open converging slot functioning as a jam cleat.

Abstract: A novel one piece anchor is described for adjustably tethering a rope suspended boat fender against the side of a boat so that the boat fender will be appropriately positioned with respect to the level of a dock against which the boat may be moored. In the preferred embodiment, the novel anchor comprises a substantially elongate member of uniform thickness, one end of which is differentiated into a hook, and the other end of which is rounded. A number of apertures appropriately defined therethrough, at least one of which is disposed near the rounded end thereof receives a rope which is threaded from one side of the anchor through an intermediate aperture, and then around one of the longitudinal edges of the anchor for theading from the same side into a second aperture located near the remote end of the anchor. Once threaded, the intermediate portion of the rope disposed between the two apertures is movable between positions engaging either longitudinal edge of the anchor.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening damaged automobile frames or bodies utilizing a rigid structural ramp capable of supporting a vehicle. A preferably hydraulic power source capable of imparting alternatively a compressive or a tensile force to the damaged frame or body is adjustably mounted on a wheeled post which slidably travels a continuous track circumventing the ramp. The ramp is provided with improved chain anchoring openings. A chain can be used for a applying tensile force to the frame directly or indirectly to the frame by connecting a chain first to the anchoring opening, then to the damaged frame, and then to the hydraulic power source.Using two wheeled posts on the continuous track, a rotatable, pivotal, cross bar can be attached at its respective end portions to the wheeled posts. With the power source mounted on the cross bar, repairs can be made to the roof, or interior portions of an automobile (see FIG. 10).

Abstract: A snow chain and bracket combination for mounting to a vehicle wheel. The bracket includes a first wall which extends through the wheel between the wheel rim and spider. Each chain extends radially around the tire and has opposite ends connected to the opposite ends of the bracket by means of spring-biased clips. The bracket extends inwardly from the rim and is mounted by a lug nut onto the wheel spider. The bracket abuttingly engages additional lug nuts to prevent relative motion between the wheel and bracket.

Abstract: A bobber stopper for use with a slide bobber includes a substantially flat, flexible member having three spaced-apart holes therein extending from one end of the member to the opposite end. The fishing line is passed back and forth through these three holes in a weaving manner such that the hole edges and related frictional forces retain the stopper on the fishing line in a desired location while still permitting the bobber to be manually moved along the line. The stopper is large enough so as not to pass through the center clearance hole of a slide bobber yet small enough to easily pass through the line clearance hole of a casting or spinning reel. Associated with such bobber stoppers is a dispenser which includes a center annular ring disc and a plurality of stoppers detachably joined thereto in an evenly spaced, outwardly-radiating, circular array. Once the fishing line is threaded, the stopper is able to be torn free of the disc and utilized as described.

Abstract: A bag closure for polyethylene bags of the "pony-tail" variety is disclosed. The closure is reusable, easy to manufacture and use, prevents the bag from inadvertently opening, and is amenable to printing thereon. It comprises a base portion and a tongue portion formed thereform and integrally connected thereto. Adjacent the connection between the base and tongue portions the tongue has a pair of opposed neck areas and the minimum width of the opening in the base portion created by formation of the tongue portion is substantially equal to the minimum distance between the neck areas. In use the bunched bag sides are trapped between the tongue and base portions, the base portion is bent around the bunched bag sides and the tongue portion is drawn or pulled through the opening until the adjacent edges or the opening lockingly engage the neck areas of the tongue when the bag is fully encompassed. The closure can be released to permit opening of the bag and can be re-locked to again fully close the bag.

Abstract: A harness securable about a user's torso is suspended from a fixed horizontal support through a system of pulleys providing a mechanical advantage in displacing the harness in the vertical direction. A pair of cords having one end anchored with respect to the pulley system and other end depending from the pulley system terminate in a pair of hand grips, respectively. Downward movement of the hand grips produces an upward movement of the harness in correspondence with the mechanical advantage provided by the selected combination of pulleys. Thereby, the user can raise himself and perform various exercises by exerting a downward force on the pair of hand grips equivalent to a fraction of one's own weight, which fraction is dependent upon the selected mechanical advantage.

Abstract: A rope spinning toy is provided having a spindle which can be grasped at either end and wherein one portion of the spindle is longer than the other and can be shortened by the user so that as the user becomes more expert, the spindle can be shortened. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an improved form of loop closure or honda is also provided which permits a light weight cord such as venetian blind cord of small diameter to be used to simulate certain rope-spinning feats that are customarily performed only with a heavier rope or lariat.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting tie-down ropes permitting the securement of rope segments in various angular relationships to one another. First and second members of the device each define multiple inset areas having an irregular surface for embedded engagement with the rope when the latter is tensioned. Pivot means couple the members to one another to permit the interconnecting of ropes throughout a wide range of angular relationships to enable securement of a load or load cover.

Abstract: An article-holding, double-sling kit comprising four strips of thin, flexible material. Each one of a longer pair of strips contains a plurality of apertures along its entire length and through which hanging line is interlaced. One of these longer strips contains at least two parallel slots, proximate its center, through which the second is interwoven in crossed configuration. These strips are flexible in one direction and substantially rigid in the 90.degree.-opposite direction. Of the second pair of strips, shorter than the first pair, each containing a plurality of apertures, a first is foldable upon itself and serves as a slide to gather the double-sling hanging lines proximate to the article; the second shorter strip functions as a cleat through the apertures of which the four ends of line are reversibly interlaced to form a hanging loop.

Abstract: A knot-tying device for securing a loop in a line or cord between the free end and an intermediate portion of the line comprising a rigid tapered body member having a plurality of apertures, one aperture adjacent the apex of the body and the other substantially in the center of the body. An intermediate portion of the line is looped through the center aperture and secured about each tapered side. The free end of the line is coupled through the apex aperture, thus forming a loop in the line between the free end and the intermediate portion of the line. The divergent body prevents accidental disengagement of the intermediate line portion.