Abstract: A trick rope toy having a stem (14) which has one end affixed to a continuous loop (12). The other end of stem (14) is affixed to a swiveled handle unit (16) which includes a handle (18) a cylindrical tube (20) and fastener (22). The user rotates the handle (18) in a circular motion causing loop (12) to rotate in horizontal plane. The stem (14) is of a more flexible material than the loop (12) and the stem (14) and loop (12) are joined in a lightweight connection so as not to disturb the over-all balance of the loop (12).

Abstract: A non-insulated printed circuit board jack includes an outer stepped drawn shell member, and a stamped contact member disposed within the shell for receiving an electrical conductor. The shell member has at one end a minor diameter portion which is freely receivable in an aperture in the printed circuit board. Intermediate its length the shell includes an integral flexible retaining portion which is generally polygonal in cross-section having alternating corner portions and side portions. The corner portions are resistively receivable in the printed circuit board aperture such that when the shell retaining portion is inserted into the aperture the inner circumference of the aperture forces the corner portions of the shell inwardly, and causes the outward expansion of the side portions, whereby the shell retaining portion tends to conform to the configuration of the printed circuit board aperture. By this arrangement, an interference or snug fit is achieved between the connector and the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A structure for interlocking relatively thin sheet material with a relatively heavy member, such as, for example a hub member with a sheet metal fan blade structure and the like to provide a rigid durable interlocking connection therebetween, in which, in the example given, the hub member is provided with an annular sleeve which extends through a bore in the central portion of the fan blade or other member, the hub member having an upstanding flange in the form of an annular shoulder spaced rearwardly from the free end of the sleeve and of greater diameter than the latter, with the shoulder being radially spaced from the sleeve by a groove having a radial width approximately equal to the thickness of the sheet member.

Abstract: A non-rigid mechanical coupling for coupling a head assembly of a feed-through fitting to a slotted wiring conduit inserted in an opening formed in the floor of a building, wherein an apertured conduit flange is provided with plural tabs extending radially inwardly into plural slots formed in a common transverse plane in the conduit such that the conduit flange tabs are loosely retained in the conduit slots to provide a non-rigid mechanical connection therebetween.

Abstract: A method of making a pneumatically operated actuator having a pneumatically operated movable wall interconnected by a feedback tension spring to a pilot valve positioner that is adapted to pneumatically operate the movable wall of the actuator in relation to a pneumatic signal directed to the positioner, the method including the steps of loosely projecting one end of the spring through an opening in the wall after the other end of the spring has been interconnected to the pilot valve positioner and pulling on the one end of the spring while directing a predetermined pneumatic signal to the positioner so that the wall will assume a position thereof relative to the one end of the spring and the actuator that corresponds to the predetermined pneumatic signal whereby the one end of the spring can be secured to the wall while the wall is in that position thereof and the spring is in the pulled condition thereof that caused the wall to move to such position.

Abstract: A connection for joining the edges of a roof sheet to the wall of a railway car without the use of fasteners such as rivets or welds. The connection is weather-tight and includes an interlock feature which effectively carries the loading encountered during operation of the vehicle. A modified version of the interlock forms a trough for channeling water towards the ends of the railway car.

Abstract: In a fence structure comprising upper and lower horizontal rails between which fence panels are disposed each of the fence panels is connected to each of the rails by a jointed structure, the jointed structure comprising a resiliently deformable V-shaped lip a first limb of which is presented by the fence panel and the second limb of which has a free edge, with the lip disposed, with the second limb resiliently deformed towards the first limb, within a recess in the associated rail. The lip is in contact with a bottom wall of the recess with a space provided between this bottom wall and the second limb of the lip, the free edge of which is in biting engagement with one side wall of the recess at a spaced distance from the bottom wall thereof, with the first limb of the lip in bearing contact with the other side wall of the recess.

Abstract: A tube-to-plate connection includes a plate defining an aperture where the tube is to be attached to the plate, the portion of the plate surrounding the aperture including a flange extending away from the plane of the plate and providing, at its distal extent, a lip which projects radially inwardly toward the axis of the aperture. The end of the tube lies generally against the lip to prevent movement of the tube longitudinally further through the plate. The flange includes an opening for receiving a radially deformed portion of the tube side wall adjacent the end of the tube to prevent rotation of the tube in the plate. The flange and tube end include portions adjacent the lip which are flared to prevent movement of the tube longitudinally out of engagement with the plate.

Abstract: A tube-to-plate connection includes a plate defining an aperture where the tube is to be attached to the plate. The portion of the plate surrounding the aperture includes a plurality of fingers extending away from the plane of the plate and projecting radially inwardly toward the axis of the aperture. The end of the tube lies generally against the radially inward projections of the fingers to prevent movement of the tube longitudinally further through the plate. The tube side wall includes a radially deformed portion adjacent each finger to prevent rotation of the tube in the plate. The fingers and the tube end include portions adjacent the radially inward projections of the fingers which are flared radially outward to prevent movement of the tube longitudinally out of engagement with the plate.

Abstract: A propulsion unit for driving water craft, particularly those of the floating lounge type, is disclosed as including a fin made from a flexible material with a first end formed to define a foil into which the lower end of an oscillatory drive member projects downwardly in a fixedly secured relationship and with a second flexible fin end that extends from the foil end to provide a flapping movement through the water upon oscillation of the drive member in order to propel the water craft. Movement of the drive member through the water is facilitated by the foil shape of the first fin end which is also more rigid than the second flexible end so as to increase the moment arm about the drive member where the flexible flapping movement is concentrated. Flexible sheet plastic is preferably used to form the fin with a folding operation at a score line to define the foil shape.

Abstract: A tubing connection comprising an elongated opening in a first tube member and a pair of opposed slots cut in the end of a second tube forming a pair of tabs which are flattened and inserted through the elongated opening. The tabs are spread to conform with the inside contour of the first tube member and a tubular insert is press fit between the spread tabs. A perforation is punched through the first tube member at a location such that it penetrates one of the spread tabs and the tubular insert. The perforation is indented locking the tab to the first tube member to prevent rotation giving a strong rigid connection.

Abstract: A structural joint for joining two elements comprises a malleable deformable flange on the first element and an elongate arcuate recess in the second element. The recess is adapted to receive the flange and allow the flange to be deformed therein into at least a portion of a coil where the entrance to the recess is less than the size of the formed coil. The recess is characterized in having a leg, the extremity of which defines one side of the recesses' entrance. The flange has next to it a tongue portion where a gap defined between the flange and tongue portion is of a size adapted to receive the leg of the recess in a manner to provide an interference fit between the tongue portion and the leg. The leg of the recess has an overturned part which overlies a portion of the coiled flange and has an abutment which abuts a side of the tongue portion. A method for making such structural joint is disclosed.

Abstract: An insert of a material to be electrically and thermally insulating enters into and is joined to a socket-shaped metallic base which in turn is fastened to a structure through a hole in the structure. The base is undercut, and the hole in the structure is filled when the base is fastened to the structure. An embossed lip on the socket is deformed inwardly to attach to a shoulder on the insert when the insert is bottomed in the socket.

Abstract: A box section including a rim portion formed from an elongated strip appropriately shaped and interconnected at opposite ends thereof by means of interengaging tab portions adapted to be bent over one another and received within adjacent depressions of the opposite tab member in such a manner that a variety of decorative and functional coverings, including those of a relatively thick nature, may be applied to such box section without interfering with the construction thereof including its desirable visual and strength characteristics.

Abstract: A clutch assembly has a central driving plate fixed to a hub and a pair of interconnected lateral plates arranged on each side of the central plate, one of which carries friction linings. A number of corresponding windows are formed in the driving plate and in the lateral plates which receive coil springs which form a torsionally-resilient torque-transmitting connection between the central plate and the lateral plates, and the lateral plates are interconnected by integral feet formed on one or both of the plates from the material removed to form the windows therein.

Abstract: A method of forming a structural joint between a first and a second rigid element, the first element having at least one flange extending from a face thereof and having an outer end, the second element having at least one elongate groove which is substantially arcuate in cross-section provided on a face thereof, each groove having opposed edges which define an elongate opening of a dimension to permit entry of a flange into the groove, comprises placing the outer end of at least one flange into the elongate opening of the at least one groove. Then by applying sufficient external force to the first and second elements, relative movement between the elements results and the distance between the opposing faces thereof is decreased, the flange being deformed within the groove to form a portion of a coil therein having a width which is greater than the width of the elongate opening. The degree of coiling of the flange within the groove may be varied along the length of the joint.