Sliding Part Or Wedge Patents (Class 24/136R)
  • Patent number: 5402840
    Abstract: The slats of a venetian blind are divided into upper and lower portions by the installation of a divider, comprising a spacer and a retainer, which serve to shorten the working length of the tilt adjusting ladders on either the inside or outside of the blind, altering the tilt of the slats of the lower portion so as to be more closed or more open with respect to the slats of the upper portion, depending upon the adjustment of the tilt control ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventors: Aaron Jortner, John F. Bryan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5392496
    Abstract: A cable clamping mechanism (10) having first and second jaws (24, 26) for clamping a cable (12). First and second backstops (20, 22) are fixed to a top plate (18) on opposite sides of the jaws. A first wedge (52) is slidably mounted between the jaws and the second backstop. A second wedge (56) is slidably mounted between the top plate and the first wedge. A hydraulic cylinder (60) slidably forces the second wedge across the first wedge, thereby forcing the first wedge against the jaws to clamp the cable therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Newnes Machine Ltd.
    Inventor: Emeric W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5383259
    Abstract: An apparatus having a collet piece in a casing for attaching to a shock cord (or rubber or rubber composite cord or strap) anywhere along the length of the cord. The substantial change in width of a circular or flat shock cord as it is stretched is used to make the width of the cord narrow. When the cord is narrow it freely moves through a passage in the collet piece unit. When the cord is released to its fully relaxed width, the cord's width is wider than the greatest width of the passage through the collet piece and casing unit. The compression on the cord creates a frictional holding force between the collet piece, casing unit, and the shock cord. A tapered opening is provided in the casing so that when the cord is pulled in one direction while the casing is held, the frictional force causes the collet piece to slide along the tapered opening thereby reducing the width of the passage through the collet piece and casing unit to grip and hold the shock cord in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: David B. McIntire
  • Patent number: 5369849
    Abstract: The present invention is a cable gripping unit having: a casing provided with a central circular shell bore having a tapered portion terminating in a cable receiving open end and inwardly projecting stop means spaced from the cable receiving end; a gripping member within the casing and movable longitudinally thereof comprised of jaw retaining means and jaw segments; spring means engaging the gripping member and the stop means yieldingly urging the gripping member towards the cable receiving end within the tapered portion of the shell; and the jaw retaining means being circular and concentric with the shell bore and provided with a plurality of retaining slots within each, of which a respective jaw segment is disposed with the jaw segments in circular arrangement defining a cylindrical jaw bore; and the jaw segments being radially movably disposed in the retaining means so that upon the spring means yieldingly urging the gripping member toward the cable receiving end the jaw members within tapered portion defi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Fargo Mfg. Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert V. De France
  • Patent number: 5369851
    Abstract: A clamp (1) serves for formwork panels (2) arranged in-plane, side by side, to be connected at the webs (3) running round their edges and has for this purpose two clamping jaws (4) which urge these edge webs (3) together and can be swivelled relative to each other and to a mount (8) with the aid of a wedge (7), the mount simultaneously constituting the abutment for the wedge (7). The clamping jaws have for this purpose points (6) of application for the wedge face (7c) averted from face (7b), which points of application (6) are spaced from the swivel bearings (5) of the clamping jaws (4) and are under a lever arm. These points of application (6) are suitably arranged at the inner end of an elongated and guiding slot (10) which is open towards the opposite side and also affords lateral guidance for the wedge as it moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Paschal-Werk G. Maier GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Merkel
  • Patent number: 5365641
    Abstract: The cord stopper comprises: a plug having a plug head, a neck projecting centrally from a rear surface of the plug head and a plate-like cord clamp attached to a distal end of the neck substantially perpendicularly thereto; a socket having centrally in its bottom a recess and a pair of sidewalls located on opposite sides of the recess, the recess having a depth greater than the thickness of the cord clamp for receiving the cord clamp, the sidewalls having two pairs of cord thru-holes, the pair of cord thru-holes of one of the sidewalls being axially aligned with the pair of cord thru-holes of the other sidewall for threading therethrough a cord; and moving means located between the plug and the socket for moving the cord clamp forwardly and backwardly in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Watanabe, Akishige Utazu
  • Patent number: 5364407
    Abstract: Apparatus for connecting the ends of a suture stitch includes a piston and cylinder combination with one end of the suture secured to the cylinder. The other end of the suture initially includes a needle for penetrating two tissues to be approximated and then passing the needle and its attached suture through aligned openings in the cylinder sidewalls. The portion of the suture passing through the cylinder is trapped therein by the depression of the piston to engage the bottom inside surface of the cylinder which locks that end of the suture in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Wayne L. Poll
  • Patent number: 5361461
    Abstract: A preloadable cord lock for gripping a cord, such as an elastic shock cord, includes a pair of telescoping members having apertures defined therethrough. The telescoping members are biased so that their respective apertures are not aligned. The lock can be preloaded to a condition where the apertures are aligned for feeding a cord through the apertures. The preloading mechanism may then be disengaged which will cause the telescoping members to be urged to a position where their apertures are not aligned by the bias of the device, thereby pinching and locking the cord in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: National Molding Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph Anscher
  • Patent number: 5351366
    Abstract: An improved end clamp for a multi-strand aramid rope has an outer sleeve formed with an internal bore having a taper of between 11/4 degrees and 13/4 degrees. A tapered wedging plug having a taper of between 21/4 degrees and 23/4 degrees is inserted into the sleeve bore and compresses separated equi-spaced strands of the rope therebetween in essentially tangential contact. An annular clearance space is formed between the larger end of the sleeve bore and the larger end of the tapered plug and has an area substantially equal to or slightly less than the area of the aramid material of the rope whereby the separated strands of the rope are in abutting engagement throughout the annular clearance space to increase the holding capability of the clamp. The ratio of the tapered plug length to the diameter of the uncompressed rope varies from about 9 to 1 and 11 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Esmet, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5347689
    Abstract: A self locking rod seal includes a plurality of stamped sheet metal tapered frustro-conical segments which mate in a tapered frustro-conical bore of a steel housing. The segments are identical and include a projection upstanding from a recess in each of two opposing shoulders. The projections are received in the recess formed in an opposing shoulder of the other segment. The recesses receive the projections of the different segments in interengaging relation so that axial displacement of one segment requires axial displacement of the other segment. A spring urges the segments against the tapered bore of the housing. The segments in one embodiment have cantilevered radially resilient fingers which grip a rod in the bore thereof when the rod is slid in one direction and which release the rod when the rod is slid in the opposite direction. The rod has a flag at one end which with the seal lock a hasp therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: E. J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: George Georgopoulos, Richard C. Dreisbach
  • Patent number: 5336846
    Abstract: A cable clamp for holding a cable suspended from a support comprises a shell member having a mouth opening for the passage of the cable and first and second elongated inner abutment surfaces against which first and second portions of the cable received through the mouth opening are adapted to bear. The shell member also has a planar wall and a side opening defined by elongated walls which extend transversely to the planar base wall. A movable wedge is attached to the planar base wall for limited guided movement and retention within the shell member. The wedge is attached to the shell member by a tongue, which projects outwardly from the base wall and into a guide slot formed in a side wall of the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Isaac Sachs
  • Patent number: 5325746
    Abstract: A lockable wire guide control handle for grasping and manipulating a wire guide. The control handle includes an elongated member and a thumb slide positioned in a retention channel formed in the distal portion of the elongated member. The proximal portion of the elongated member is cylindrical having an enclosed passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, which is offset for passage of the wire guide therethrough. The distal portion of the elongated member includes a dovetail-shaped retention channel, the bottom surface including an inclined slot for positioning the wire guide therein. The thumb slide includes a mating dovetail-shaped tenon positioned in the retention channel. Extending from the flat surface of the dovetail-shaped tenon is an inclined projection for fixedly positioning the wire guide in the inclined slot. The inclined slot and projection have a variable, uniform spacing therebetween for fixedly positioning various diameter wire guides therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Cook Incorporated
    Inventor: Burton A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5322132
    Abstract: A drop wire clamp assembly is disclosed which is particularly suited for clamping twin or "figure eight" drop wires having a conducting line and adjacent a support line. The support line is sandwiched between bail housing and a slide wedge assembly. The conducting line is cradled along an elongated side of the bail housing. Guiding assemblies at each opposite end of the bail housing hold the support line in center alignment with a gripping surface, which is located in the bail housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: George J. Franks, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5308026
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved cable clamp construction for telecommunication cables such as coaxial cables made from continuous filaments of optical glass fibers which are surrounded by an annulus of aramid material and contained within an outer plastic jacket. In order to provide intermediate gripping action on the continuous cable without its interruption, the gripping action must be carefully controlled and distributed over a relatively sizable intermediate area of the cable to prevent damage to the fragile fibers of the cable over a long useful life in varying climatic conditions. The gripping clamp is comprised of a limited number of components which are capable of surrounding and gripping the cable without undue flexure, the clamp being comprised essentially of a separable sleeve member and a separable plug member, both of which have tapered surfaces to positively secure the cable with compressive forces over a localized area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Esmet, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5306885
    Abstract: The invention provides a clamping device which removably secures a body to a cable, the clamping device comprising a toothed, tapered cable gripping insert which fits into a stepped, tapered recess slot in the body. The cable gripping insert is retained in position by a T-shaped latching bar on the top of the insert which fits into transverse grooves in the body on either side of the recess slot. A clamped cable exits the recess slot at right angles to its entry, providing pivoting action. The cable attaching device is particularly suited for use with an attachment for use with a float switch assembly. Such an attachment may be used as a weighted pivot for a float switch or alternatively as an unweighted float for extending the range of an existing float switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: S. J. Electro Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gene Utke
  • Patent number: 5289613
    Abstract: An end cover for a cord comprises a clinch, a pull member, and a cap. The clinch grips a side portion of an end portion of the cord. The pull member has a handle so that the handle is able to be pulled to pull the cord into the cap, with the clinch engaging the side portion, whereby the end cover is retained on the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: Michael L. Kohl
  • Patent number: 5243739
    Abstract: A self locking cable end termination socket assembly has a one-piece tapered wedge as a locking device for a cable that fits into a housing with two parts that are locked together. The wedge and a cable looped over the wedge fit within an interior opening in the housing. When the cable is tightened, the wedge tightens against surfaces defining the opening in the housing and wedges in place. The two housing parts include a saddle and a cap which fit together and are held in a fixed position with interlocking members. The cap has a knock-off lug that, when hit with sufficient force, such as by using a weight on an end of a cable to form a pendulum ram, will release from the saddle, making removal of the wedge and the cable greatly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Inventor: Don F. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5233730
    Abstract: A cable grip for improving the performance of cable bolts for ground support comprises a segmented wedge defining a cone, each segment having an inside cavity adapted to conform to a circumference of a cable and serrated grooves cut into said inside cavity to grip the cable, and a sleeve consisting of a plastic cone conforming to the conical shape of the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Noranda, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Milne, Alain Gendron
  • Patent number: 5228653
    Abstract: Tension clamp of the type including a sheath provided with an anchoring element and a tapered cavity inclined at a slight angle. In the cavity is a slidably mounted, transversely movable core including a single jaw having an abutting face against the cable. A part of the cavity of the sheath serves as a cradle for the cable and has a substantially semicylindrical cross-section with a radius matching that of the cable. A shell is provided between the part of the cavity of the sheath serving as a cradle for the cable and the cable. The shell is connected axially to the single jaw so as to follow its lengthwise movements, namely those parallel to the cable, but which is displaceable perpendicular to the lengthwise movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Malico
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Libert
  • Patent number: 5229178
    Abstract: The combination of a shock cord including a shock cord loop at an end thereof, a serving tightly disposed about the shock cord immediately adjacent to the shock cord loop, and a binding tightly disposed about the serving and connected to the serving and shock cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Martin S. Zemitis
  • Patent number: 5226620
    Abstract: Tension clamp having a sheath provided with a tapered cavity inclined at a slight angle, opened by a lengthwise slit in which is slidably mounted a transversely movable core having a single jaw. An abutting face of the jaw facing a cable is equipped with a bar having a serration in a free face. A bearing face of the single jaw abutting a tapered bearing part of the cavity and the tapered bearing part have matching semicylindrical cross-sections and a common lengthwise axis. The tip of each serration is sloped such that its point of contact with the cable is offset toward a bottom of the cavity opposite lengthwise slit, relative to a diametral plane which contains the axis of the bearing face of the jaw and the axis of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Malico
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Libert
  • Patent number: 5226216
    Abstract: A clamp assembly with a releasable bail for securing and suspending cables, drop wires or the like that utilizes a locking structure cooperating with an aperture in a tail of the clamp assembly to secure and lock the releasable free end of the bail to the clamp assembly. Preferably, the locking structure is a foot segment and head at the end of a leg of the bail with a reduced portion permitting passage of the foot segment from an entry portion along a connecting portion to locate the head at a lock portion. Additionally, the other leg of the bail can be slideably attached utilizing an interlocking structure that reduces bail deformations during installation. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for assembling the cable clamp assembly wherein the first and second legs are assembled and attached to the tail, and also providing a method for simultaneously forming the reduced portion of the second leg and a deformed region in the tail to capture the first leg in the tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventor: William M. Pizzi
  • Patent number: 5224245
    Abstract: A retainer assembly for retaining cords, strings or the like in position comprises a cylindrical tube having holes, a resilient locking means mounted in the tube and a pair of end taps and having a through bore. The locking means has arcuately inwardly bent upper and lower wing members defining therebetween slits. The end taps each have an arrow-headed portion adapted to be received through and locked inside of the slit of the locking means and a tapered portion resiliently engageable in the slit and movable between the upper and lower wing members to bring the bore into and out of registry with the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matoba
  • Patent number: 5197166
    Abstract: A cord closure for securely retaining flexible cord, drawstrings, and the like in a selected position includes a plunger member, a compression spring, a retaining ring, and a body housing. There is provided means for initially holding the plunger sub-assembly in a pre-assembled position with the spring being compressed so that the holes of the plunger member and body housing can be readily aligned for insertion of a cord. Once the cord is threaded through the aligned holes, the plunger member is depressed downwardly and released to allow the spring to expand and urge the plunger member to move up axially, thereby locking the cord between the plunger member and the body housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence P. Meier, Kurt H. Lundstedt
  • Patent number: 5195219
    Abstract: A cord clamp for a lampholder includes at least two tongue elements which are mutually, reciprocally and relatively movable, and between which a cord can be gripped with the aid of a clamping keeper member. The tongue elements are laterally movable in relation to each other, with their base arranged at an opening in the end portion of the lampholder. The base portion is in sliding engagement against the end portion, and the other free ends or top portions of the tongue elements are adapted to extend through an opening in a disc-shaped top portion of the clamping keeper member. The clamping keeper member further includes hooked snapping tongues projecting from the disc-shaped element which cooperates with complementarily formed locking grooves on the lampholder. The keeper member, in its position fully thrust over the tongue elements and the end portion of the lampholder, achieves a permanent snap fastening of itself as well as secure positional fixation of the cord in the lampholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Artilux AB
    Inventor: Goran Hurtig
  • Patent number: 5193252
    Abstract: A preferably palm-sized cleat which is generally oval in shape defines a passageway for a line to pass completely through the body of the cleat. The body of the cleat has mutually resilient sides which bias internal structure in the body into a locked mode in which the line is gripped by the internal structure and will not slide through the passage way. When the sides of the body are squeezed together, the line is freed and will move freely in either direction through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Oswald C. Svehaug
  • Patent number: 5186520
    Abstract: A tethering device for securing a child safety seat to an automobile seat with an automobile seatbelt. The tethering device has a cap, a base, and a wedging mechanism rotatably mounted to the base such that a wedging portion extending upwardly from the base towards the cap will move from a passive position that does not positively grip a seatbelt to a second active-locked position which does positively grip the seatbelt between a wedging surface of the wedging portion and an inside surface of the cap. The tethering devices are secured to each side of the child safety seat at a generally 45 degree angle to the base of the child safety seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventors: Lenwood C. Whitaker, Inge F. Whitaker, E. Leonard Pate
  • Patent number: 5176341
    Abstract: An airship yaw line tractor comprising: a yaw line connector for holding and releasing the yaw line of the airship through remote control; a winch for winding and unwinding a cable connected to the yaw line connector; and a control unit for automatically controlling the tensile force of the cable extending from the winch to the yaw line connector and automatically releasing the yaw line held by the yaw line connector in an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Ishikawa, Keiji Nakamura, Takao Suzuki, Noriaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 5170538
    Abstract: A theater rope connector for terminating a fine fiber rope such as typically used in patron control. The connector comprises two injection molded plastic components, the first being formed to have a hook or other structure for attaching the connector to a suitable fixture and toothed legs for penetrating and thus securing the rope. The other component comprises a sleeve adopted to fit over the first component and thereupon press the toothed legs into the rope, securing them in place. The sleeve also has a flange at one end adapted to mate with a peripheral recess on the first component, thereby maintaining the two components in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Peter J. Zarembo
  • Patent number: 5159861
    Abstract: A lockable wire guide control handle for grasping and manipulating a wire guide. The control handle includes an elongated member and a thumb slide positioned in a retention channel formed in the distal portion of the elongated member. The proximal portion of the elongated member is cylindrical having an enclosed passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, which is offset for passage of the wire guide therethrough. The distal portion of the elongated member includes a dovetail-shaped retention channel, the bottom surface includng an inclined slot for positioning the wire guide therein. The thumb slide includes a mating dovetail-shaped tenon positioned in the retention channel. Extending from the flat surface of the dovetail-shaped tenon is an inclined projection for fixedly positioning the wire guide in the inclined slot. The inclined slot and projection have a variable, uniform spacing therebetween for fixedly positioning various diameter wire guides therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Cook Incorporated
    Inventor: Burton A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5148579
    Abstract: A cable hook comprises a body member having a longitudinal channel of generally rectangular cross-section formed therein for receiving a portion of a cable against one wall thereof, a cable clamping member laterally movable in such channel and having an inner surface engaging the cable and a longitudinally double-tapered inverted V-shaped outer surface, a transverse aperture extending through the channel, and a wedge member insertable in such transverse aperture and having a vertically tapered surface for driving the cable clamping member against the cable in the channel and a transversally double-tapered surface mating the longitudinally double-tapered surface of the cable clamping member to provide oppositely acting wedging surfaces generating increased clamping action during pulling of the cable in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Wire Rope Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: William Dyck, Harry Jones, William Jordan
  • Patent number: 5142745
    Abstract: A drop wire clamp is disclosed having dimples disposed in longitudinal rows along the length of the shim. Alternatively, transverse ridges may be formed on the shim instead of dimples. Furthermore, the shim may be held captive within the shell so that the shell is a convenient one-piece unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Diamond Communication Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thim Setty, Gene Coll
  • Patent number: 5137517
    Abstract: A device for gripping a medical shaft such as a guide wire or catheter tube has two operative components: a body member with a longitudinal slot for receiving the shaft and an insert member slidably received in the slot of the body member. The body member and insert member have opposed, generally parallel shaft engagement surfaces which extend longitudinally along the shaft on each side thereof. Moving the insert member longitudinally relative to the body member activates a slide arrangement which moves the opposed surfaces laterally toward one another to grip the shaft therebetween while remaining generally parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol Loney, Richard C. Mattison, David B. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5127135
    Abstract: An improved conductor clamp adapted to securely clamp conductors having various sized diameters. The clamp includes a first pair of generally rectangular bar clamping members movable in a first direction toward each other and in an opposite direction away from each other. Each of the first pair of clamping members have a pair of parallel generally V-shaped grooves extending the length of the member with a conductor contact portion provided therebetween. A second pair of opposite clamping members is positioned intermediate the first pair of clamping members. The second pair of clamping members each include a tail portion and a head portion having a conductor contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Steven W. Mann
  • Patent number: 5121525
    Abstract: A cable clamp shim, wherein a side part thereof is bent at a right angle to the remainder thereof, with the slit being in the remainder portion for holding the sleeve of the clamp, so that the side part of the shim fits closely to the outside surface of the sleeve and thereby eliminates possibility of injury to the worker by the edge of the shim, and improves the positioning security of the shim in the clamping arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Inventor: Masahiko Okura
  • Patent number: 5119529
    Abstract: A cable hook for securing a cable comprises an elongated body member having a longitudinal aperture generally rectangular in cross-section formed therein and provided on one sidewall with two oppositely tapered surfaces, a cable receiving slot formed between an outer surface of the body member and the aperture for laterally inserting a portion of a cable into the aperture against one wall opposed to the tapered sidewall, a second aperture extending through the body member at approximately right angle to the first aperture, first and second wedge members located in the longitudinal aperture and each provided with an inner surface adapted to engage the cable and an outer tapered surface matching one of the tapered surfaces in the longitudinal aperture and adapted to slide thereon, and a third wedge member insertable in the second aperture and having tapered surfaces for driving the first and second wedge members in opposite direction along their associated tapered surfaces for clamping the portion of the cable
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Wire Rope Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Sydney P. Kaye
  • Patent number: 5096022
    Abstract: A flag-locking mechanism for an external halyard flagpole having a pulley affixed near the top thereof and a halyard which runs over the pulley, the flag being carried on the outside run of the halyard, the locking mechanism including a housing constructed to be affixed to the flagpole near the top thereof beneath the pulley through which is threaded the inside run of the halyard, a locking pin moveable in the housing and toward an inside face of a wall thereof whenever the inside run of the halyard is moved upwardly, such frictional movement of the locking pin being capable of squeezing such inside run of the halyard between itself and the housing wall to arrest further movement of the halyard, an attachment to the locking pin for exerting a downward pull thereon to move same from its lock position into its unlock position including a cable disposed in the interior of the flagpole and extending downwardly therein to a level near the ground where it can be accessible, the lower end of the cable being fastened
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Charles E. Bowers
    Inventor: Charles E. Bowers
  • Patent number: 5050273
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a suspending wire for cable clamps having a quite simple and easily operable construction and providing with a rear end portion fixed onto the cable clamp and a fore end portion forked into two of the same length to be twisted once each other to assume a constant twisted form due to their own elastisity in order to define a ring-like portion at the fore end portion, said constant twisted form being rendered enable to be untwisted easily by the ordinary worker's finger end operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Masahiko Okura
  • Patent number: 5022125
    Abstract: The clamping assembly comprises a body having an elongate passage which, in use, receives an elongate object to be clamped, and which has two mutually facing inclined surfaces, and a pair of wedge-shaped jaws movably mounted in said passage to move between a first position in which the jaws clamp said object and a second position in which they release the object. Two sets of rollers form respective rolling paths for corresponding ones of the jaws, with the rollers in each set being supported and rotatably mounted in respective mounting frames capable of sliding movement relative to the corresponding jaw and relative to the body. A compression spring is interposed between each jaw and the mounting frame of the corresponding set of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Cibeles International, Inc.
    Inventor: David Biass
  • Patent number: 5020192
    Abstract: A device for use in tying down an object with respect to a fixed reference point is disclosed which has one end fastened to an object such as a tree or a pole, and the other end fastened to a fixed stake or other immovable reference point, with the length of the tie down being adjustable to allow it to be pulled tight between the object and the reference point and quickly and easily secured to act as a support retaining the object in position with respect to the reference point. The tie down of the present invention has a handle which may be pulled to tighten the tie down once it is properly positioned, thereby making the tightening operation both convenient and easy, and allowing greater tension to be placed in the tie down of the present invention without requiring greater effort to do so. The tie down utilizes a locking process which is both easy and simple to accomplish by a single person, and once secured, the tie down will remain solidly locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Al Gerlach
  • Patent number: 5018251
    Abstract: A cable anchorage for anchoring a submarine cable wire strength member comprises conically tapered parts (2,4,5), at least one of which has a surface (2C, 4B), roughened by tungsten carbine grit evenly distributed over and firmly bonded to the surface, prior to assembly of the parts of the anchorage. The grit size is chosen so that a sufficient locking mechanism is achieved but the grit indentations in the wire strength member are not deep enough to weaken the wires (3B, 3C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventor: Charles J. Brown
  • Patent number: 5016306
    Abstract: A gripper device for holding a flexible flat sheet around an elongated form such as a cord, rope, protruding edge or the like. The device is formed in the preferred embodiment with an inner hinged gripper which is positioned around the elongated form such as a protruding edge on a bed mattress. An outer clamp is formed in a C-shaped configuration and slides over the inner hinged gripper. To apply a force or pressure on the gripper, a tapered surface is formed on the outer side of the inner gripper and on the inner side of the outer C-shaped clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventors: Gerald J. Grivna, Robert N. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5015023
    Abstract: An automatic, lockable, and releasable range-taking cable connection for use in pole line application utilizes a pair of spring loaded gripper elements movable on inclined planar surfaces within a housing, with the gripper elements connected to a retractor mechanism that translates rotational motion of a retractor into axial movement of the grippers to release the same from the cable. A rotatable locking sleeve or cap is used to secure the gripper elements in locked position when in normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Inventor: Gaddis G. Hall
  • Patent number: 5008981
    Abstract: A clasp for the cords of a bola tie comprising two mating shell halves and a manually operable spring biased clamp disposed between the shell halves to provide an enclosed clasp which is releasable and which provides improved external appearance and mechanical function. The inner surfaces of the clasp which engage the tie ends are smooth non-abrading convex portions of toroidal-like surfaces and clasp the tie ends around an extensive part of the periphery of the cord and along extended portions of the cord. Although firmly clasping the cord ends the clasp may be forced along the cord ends without manually releasing the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Inventor: Joseph P. Smithson
  • Patent number: 5003672
    Abstract: An organization including a shock cord defined by elongate elastomeric cord including a rigid hook member mounted to each terminal end of the cord with the including a body fixedly secured to the cord and a hook directed downwardly overlying the body. The cover assembly includes a conical cover including a tapered neck portion wherein the neck portion surroundingly and slidingly engages the elastomeric cord to permit overlying covering of the hook member during periods of non-use to prevent snagging of the cord upon undesirable objects.Modifications of the invention include a cover assembly formed of a sponge fluid absorbent material including a conduit member to permit allocation of fluid into the cover to insure ease of slidability of the cover relative to the cord as well as providing a protectant about the hook member to prolong longevity of the hook and cord during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Ovid Randall
  • Patent number: 4993123
    Abstract: A two part rope lock for hooking over the railing of a boat, having a hanger member with a pair of transversely arranged guide hooks at upper and lower ends. A channel is formed by two outstanding flanges at the back of a leg of a rail-engageable hook between the guide hooks for passage of a rope therethrough. The flanges include inclined slots for the slidable non-pivotal attachment of a cam wedge second member that moves at an inclined angle toward the leg of the hanger member. Both the hanger member and the cam wedge member include serrated surfaces so that when the cam wedge is slid downwardly a rope may be clamped therebetween. The rope lock is adjustable by one hand so that the rope may be adjusted to be gripped at different positions, such as for use with a bumper guard attached to a depending end of the rope for placing the guard at different locations on the hull of a boat as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas J. Siwek
  • Patent number: 4967824
    Abstract: An improved equalizer for gripping two or more cords of a shade is described. The equalizer of the invention comprises a molded body member having a tapered inner channel into which a molded insert member fits. The cords are placed within the channel through a gap formed in one wall of the body member, and are clamped against a rear wall thereof by the insert member. As the insert member is inserted more fully into the body member, the cords are compressed between the insert and the rear surface of the body member, and the insert is permanently wedged into the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Terry Akins
  • Patent number: 4962575
    Abstract: The present invention is a hand position securing device for use by morticians when embalming and positioning a body for display in a casket. The device consists of a wristlet in the form of an elongated material strip provided with an aperture and grommet therefore to secure a cord to the wristlet strip. One side of the wristlet strip is provided with female joining material and the other side of the strip is provided with male joining material so that the wrist of the body may be encircled with the wristlet. The two wrists having been thus bound can be joined in a fashion that will not show when the body is clothed by lacing the cords together. It is then impossible for the hands to depart from the desired folded position of composure as the result of the force of gravity and/or vibration from movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Inventor: Bernard A. Yonke
  • Patent number: 4939821
    Abstract: A drop wire clamp assembly sandwiches an insulated drop wire between a housing bail and an elongated pressure pad which is pressed by a slide wedge assembly against the pad. The pressure pad has a side tab which extends into a capturing aperture in the wall of the housing to guide the pressure pad for movement along the height of the side wall of the housing, and allows tilting motion thereof, without allowing the pad to drop out of an open channel formed in the housing bail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Inventor: George J. Frank, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4935993
    Abstract: A jam cleat for holding a rope under tension is disclosed. The cleat comprises two converging surfaces between which a roller is located. The rope is inserted between the roller and first of the converging surfaces. When the rope comes under tension friction between the rope and the roller causes the roller to roll along the second converging surface and thereby grip the rope with a wedging action. Devices are disclosed for forcing the roller to release the rope. One such, device is a lever which is optionally pivotably mounted on the cleat. In one example the cleat comprises a base and a body embodying the converging surfaces and the roller and slidably mounted on the base. The body can be moved along the base by the rope as it comes under tension and the base is provided with an abutment which is brought to bear on the roller during this movement and forces the roller to release the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventor: Charles C. Bree