Abstract: A stop member for limiting the range of adjustment provided by a positioning device. The positioning device is of the type wherein a piston is adjustable to various axial positions within a cylinder. The stop member has the form of a cup, coaxial with the cylinder and affixed to a portion of the piston rod which extends beyond the end of the cylinder, with the open end of the cup facing the cylinder. The diameter of the cup is sufficient to permit the end of the cylinder to advance into the cup as the piston is moved into the cylinder. The cylindrical wall of the cup is provided with axially-spaced slots. A stop element is inserted transversely to the axis through one of the slots and extends across the space within the cup to block the advancement of the cylinder into the cup, thereby limiting the relative movement of the cylinder with respect to the piston. In one embodiment, the stop element has a U-shape with its legs passing on opposite sides of the piston rod when the stop element is inserted.

Abstract: Telescoping parts which are adapted to be secured together by a snap ring centered by special metallic spring construction which yieldably holds the snap ring in optimum position to facilitate the telescopic assembly of the two parts.

Abstract: A walk-behind rotary tiller includes a vertically adjustable drag stake releasably held in a selected position through means of a lock member having the form of a ring segment and mounted such that it may be pivoted upwardly and displaced forwardly to release the drag stake for vertical adjustment to another desired position and then displaced rearwardly and rotated downwardly to retain the drag stake in its new position.

Abstract: A latch unit for a pair of rectangular telescoped bed frame rails having overlapped side walls with aligned openings therein. The latch unit consists of a hollow rectangular body of one-piece, non-rigid construction, preferably yieldable plastic material, telescoped over the telescoped rails.

Abstract: A walker which includes side sections interconnected adjustably by a transverse connector formed of telescopically interfitting parts. The walker has legs with both coarse and fine length adjustments, with the coarse adjustments being provided by detents receivable selectively in different apertures in coacting parts, and with the fine adjustments being provided by threadedly interconnected elements.

Abstract: A quad cane includes a stabilizing device for improving the strength and rigidity of the cane. The stabilizing device comprises a collar having an interior opening therein and a wing screw which is threadably received in a hole which communicates the interior opening of the collar to the exterior thereof. The collar is drive fit over the exterior hollow sleeve of the upper portion of the quad cane in such a way that the threaded hole is located opposite an aperture in the sleeve. By rotating the threaded wing screw downwardly it is possible to impinge against the inner tubular member and immobilize the outer hollow sleeve relative to the inner tubular member of the cane. The stabilizing device is typically used in conjunction with a spring-loaded push button which serves to help adjust the height of the quad cane.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved wand for connecting a vacuum cleaner suction nozzle having an electric motor therein to a suction hose. A wand of this type normally serves as both a rigid handle for manipulating the nozzle and as a conduit for the passage of air from the nozzle to the hose. In addition, the present wand is provided with a sheath of preferably electrical insulating material for retaining an electric cord for supplying current to the motor in the nozzle from conductors carried by the suction hose.

Abstract: An adjustable leg assembly for use in any leg supporting application advantageously utilizing leg adjustability. The assembly includes a channel member, a telescoping member and a resilient spacer member. The resilient spacer member is fixed to the telescoping member and slidably mounted on the channel member. The telescoping member normally extends from one end of the channel member and can include a positive locking member engageable with the channel member at selected positions of adjustment. The resilient spacer member guides relative sliding movement while preventing direct contact between the channel and telescoping members. The assembly includes a pressure plate to urge the resilient spacer member into firm engagement with the channel member at selected times to frictionally secure the channel member to the telescoping member.

Abstract: An adapter is employed to assist in the releasing of spring-loaded pushbuttons of the sort frequently associated with invalid equipment. The adapter comprises a collar, a plunger which passes through a hole in the collar, and a pressure plate connected at one end of the plunger. In the preferred embodiment the adapter is employed to release a pushbutton that locks an inner tubular telescoping member with respect to an outer tubular member. The collar is provided with an interior opening which may be force fitted into position around the outer tubular member. When correctly aligned, the plunger is located directly opposite the pushbutton to be depressed. By applying force from the palm of the hand to the pressure plate it is possible to depress the spring loaded release button and thereby unlock the telescoping members.

Abstract: A first member relatively movable with respect to a second member has a latching mechanism which comprises a pin in a first aperture in the first member in alignment with a second aperture in the second member. The latching mechanism includes spring biasing means for biasing the pin into engagement and lever cam means pivotally connected to an end of the locking pin, and link means against a bearing surface of the first member for retracting the pin against the force of the spring biasing means to disengage the pin from the second aperture. The spring biasing means is contained within a spring housing which is in one embodiment removably mounted on the first member by fasteners such as bolts, and the second embodiment by welding to a guide block mounted on the first member. A control mechanism including a control cable attached to a bell crank which is actuable by means of a shaft manually rotatable by means of a control lever serves to actuate the lever cam means to engage or release the locking pin.

Abstract: Telescopic device includes a plurality of elongated members disposed one within the other in a fully telescoping condition thereof and including an innermost member, an outermost member and at least one member intermediate thereto, the members being displaceable in longitudinal direction relative to one another in a predetermined sequence, stop means for limiting travel of the members relative to one another, the at least one intermediate member being formed at a wall region located at one end thereof with a recess penetrating therethrough, a locking member disposed in the recess and having a dimension greater than the thickness of the wall region, one of the innermost and outermost members being formed with a depression at the end thereof located, in the fully telescoping position of the members, adjacent the other end of the elongated intermediate member, the locking member, in an extended condition of the intermediate member with respect to the one of the innermost and outermost members, being partly recei

Abstract: An improvement in mining tools of the rotary and replaceable type which includes a retainer in the form of a double ball spring detent to provide axial retention, easy removability, and to permit ready rotation of the tool in a collet while preventing the build up and impaction of dust which will inhibit rotation or removal.

Abstract: A golf cart and club assembly which can be collapsed to occupy only a fraction of the volume of conventional, commercial bag and club assemblies.

Abstract: A wheeled portable luggage carrier is equipped with a telescoping handle assembly which is movable between extended and retracted positions. The handle assembly comprises a pair of telescoping tube assemblies, and each tube assembly includes lower, intermediate, and upper telescopingly related tubes. The lower ends of the intermediate and upper tubes carry lock buttons which can extend through openings in the upper ends of the lower and intermediate tubes, respectively, to releasably lock the tubes in an extended position. The lock buttons are released by a pair of upper and lower release bars which extend between the tube assemblies adjacent the upper ends of the lower tubes.

Abstract: The tool comprises a plurality of tubular telescoping sections of insulating material arranged in a series. Each of the sections, except a most rearward end section, has a forwardly facing annular exterior shoulder at its rearward end and each of the sections, except a most forward end section, has a rearwardly facing annular interior shoulder at its forward end. When the tool is fully extended for use, each rearwardly facing shoulder engages a forwardly facing shoulder and radial apertures in the sections are in alignment. A pin support located within the rearward end of each section except the most rearward section contains a pin which is biased outwardly by a compression spring through the aligned apertures thus locking the sections in their extended positions with respect to each other. The pins, aligned openings, and shoulders are relatively positioned so that pulling forces are opposed by the shoulders and not the pins.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a man-transportable anti-tank rocket launcher tube aving cooperative mating parts on the inner and outer telescoping launcher tubes. This mechanism prevents the relative longitudinal and rotational movement of the inner tube to the outer tube when the tubes are either in the extended or retracted positions.

Abstract: A man transportable rocket launcher including a pair of telescoping secti, launch tubes, which are telescoped to a short length for transporting and extended to a longer length for launching of the rocket. A locking device is provided for maintaining the launch tubes in the extended condition for rocket launching.

Abstract: A crutch construction for underarm and forearm crutches, wherein the handgrip is mounted, at least in part, forward of the longitudinal axis of the crutch, and the arm support is mounted, at least in part, rearward of said longitudinal axis. The arm support is adjustably mounted for movement at an angle within a range of about 5.degree.-20.degree. to said longitudinal axis. The thrust line of the crutch is located slightly forward of the longitudinal axis of the crutch. The handgrip is substantially centered relative to the thrust line of the crutch, and the longitudinal axis of the handgrip is substantially normal to said thrust line. The arm support is laterally adjustable relative to the handgrip for proper palm placement and wrist angulation and to enable to the user of the crutch to apply a forward rotational bias to the crutch sufficient to hold the arm support securely and comfortably against the arm of the user, but insufficient to render the crutch unstable.

Abstract: A universal brace for use in bracing a wide variety of members, such as corner joints of furniture and the like, and being characterized by a versatile and adjustable construction, as follows. A body member of two telescoping sections is provided. Rows of transversely extending apertures are formed through each of the sections for providing access passageways through each of the sections disposed at approximately 90.degree. with respect to each other and are positioned for respective alignment of said apertures and said passageways of the sections by adjusting the relative telescopic positions of the sections. A body locking pin is removably inserted through any desired set of aligned apertures and passageways for locking the sections of the body member in desired adjusted length. Devices are provided on the ends of each of the sections of the body member for contacting the members to be braced.