Abstract: A passive vehicle safety belt system having a belt transfer member that is moved between restraining and releasing configurations along a guide rail by a drive device that includes a racked wire comprising a connector for joining the casing for the drive wire to the guide rail having two parts defining an elongated retaining portion that are joined to clamp the casing within a longitudinally disposed socket. A plurality of closely spaced, annular grooves help in holding the casing in the socket. The halves clamp the sleeve in the bore. A clasp portion is joined to the retaining portion and is disposed in the guide rail. Resilient ears are received in holes in the guide rail to lock the retaining portion to the guide rail.

Abstract: Means for attaching boards on a base, e.g. on a wall or ceiling, comprising U-shaped fixing pieces located between the edges of the boards and engaging therewith, and T-shaped profiled strips which cover the joints between boards. The U-shaped fixing pieces carry spikes directed obliquely towards the base and permitting the middle leg of the T of the profiled strip to be introduced without exertion into the U channel of the fixing piece, but which resist the pulling out of the profiled strip.

Abstract: A power equipment unit (2) comprises a housing (4) having an active element (6), a drive unit (14) for the active element (6) and an upwardly extending handle assembly (16). Handle assembly (16) comprises upper and lower handle tubes (18 and 20) which are rigidly clamped together by semi-circular sleeves (42) and (44). Threaded fasteners (48) clamp the sleeves together around the mating ends (30 and 32) of the handle tubes with the fasteners (48) being located entirely outside of the handle tubes. Lugs (46) on each of the sleeves (42) and (44) extend inwardly through aligned apertures (34 and 36) in the mating ends (30 and 32) of the handle tubes (18 and 20) but stop short of interferring with a power supply cord (26) extending downwardly through the tubes (18 and 20).

Abstract: Apparatus for joining a pair of flanged beams in an end-to-end relationship includes a pair of end plates each welded to an end of a corresponding one of the flanged beams. Each of the end plates has a notch therein which is aligned with the notch in the other plate and the end plates juxtapose. A clamp having a body portion which mates with the notches in the end plates, and having a radial flange on each side of the body portion, is secured with the body portion in the notches. The radial flanges of the clamp presses against the end plates to lock the plates securely together.

Abstract: There is provided a combination of a universal mudguard for motor vehicles and at least one clamp for attaching the flap to the fender fold of the vehicle. The mudguard comprises a main body flap, an adapter protrusion at the top thereof to align the mudguard flap with the contours of the vehicle chassis, and an upper edge on the main body flap which joins with an inner edge of the adapter protrusion. The clamp has an open end, which is engageable with the said upper edge of the main body flap and an adjacent portion of the fender fold, and a closed end spaced from the open end. The improvement in the clamp is that of having generally two parallel clamping jaws held together by at least one bolt, the closed end having a crosspiece projecting from one of the jaws and abutting the other jaw, and at least one jaw at the open end having at least one bent over corner end area wherein the direction of the bend is toward the other jaw.

Abstract: A cable suspension system for a rotary drum is disclosed which includes cable tension adjustment features providing dynamic load equalization, traction control and variable load distribution. The system includes an endless cable and at least one set of axially aligned support sheaves suspending the drum at its dynamic center of gravity. The system further includes devices for connecting wire rope in endless loops which incorporate load bearing, adjustment, and flexure features minimizing wear of the wire rope.

Abstract: A joint for tubular structural elements, particularly for the jointing of the structural elements of hose carriages, is disclosed, in which two identical prismatic bodies are matchable with each other in two upturned mutual positions. Each body having a blind-hole seat for receiving the end of one tubular element and a central through-half-seat at the matching surface for receiving a half of another tubular element. The axes of the blind-hole seat and of the half-seat of each body form orthogonal skew lines. Fixing means for clamping the two matching bodies traverse the tubular elements inserted in the seats.

Abstract: A clamp device for gripping a cable or rope has two essentially semi-cylindrical jaws with longitudinal channels in their flat faces. The jaws can interlock at one end for pivotal movement relative to each other so as to bring the channels into register with each other, defining a cavity in which a rope or cable may be gripped, the jaws being clamped together by for example a screw clamp device engaging the ends of the jaws opposite the interlocking ends. The screw clamp device may serve for the attachment of hooks, eyes or shackles to the clamp device.

Abstract: A reinforcing rod splice for connecting reinforcing rods in end to end relation including a pair of hollow steel tubes and a coupling or sleeve, the tubes being mounted on the ends of the reinforcing rods. The tubes being deformed on the inner surface to conform to the deformations on the rods and deformed on the outer surface to provide a connection for the coupling or sleeve. The coupling or sleeve having an inner surface conforming to the deformations on the outer surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: This application disclosed a modular stairway system for circular structures or other structures having non-linear walls. The invention comprises a plurality of first stringer means, a plurality of first connecting means for joining the first stringers, a plurality of second stringer means horizontally spaced from and parallel to the first stringer means, and a plurality of adjustable second connecting means for adjustably joining the second stringers such that the first and second stringers conform to the curvature of the structure. A plurality of stairs are horizontally interposed between the first and second stringers, and a stair mounting means for securing the stairs to the first and second stringers are provided.

Abstract: A clamping or connecting device for detachably connecting two plates disposed with respect to each other at an angle which may be selected within a large range of angles. The clamping device comprises two clamping jaws connected to each other by bolt means and forming bearing seats on opposite sides of the bolt means, the bearing seats having cylindrical inner surfaces for receiving cylindrical clamping bodies which are rotatable in their bearing seats about a respective axis approximately perpendicular to the bolt means as long as the clamping device is in an unmounted state, the clamping bodies consisting of two separate clamping elements the cross sectional area of which is in the form of a segment of a circular surface so that each clamping element has an arcuate and a plane side surface portion. The clamping elements consist of a hard material, such as metal or a hard plastic material.

Abstract: A means and apparatus for connecting resilient conduit is provided in which a first section of resilient tubing of internal dimensions sufficient to slide over the conduits and having two grooves, one spaced from each end of the internal surface of the section with each groove containing resilient gasket material substantially filling the groove to form a gasket around the conduit is slid into place so that the conduits to be connected are juxtaposed within the first section of tubing between the gasketed grooves. An encasing tubing is placed around said first section of tubing at least overlying the resilient gasket material. A pair of split metal clamping rings with one ring adjacent each end of the first tubular section and joined by a plurality of spacer bars united at each end to the clamping rings is fitted over the encasing tubing in relation to apply pressure on the encasing tubing when the split rings are united in clamped position.

Abstract: A first plate is provided and a second plate is disposed generally normal and secured to the first plate centrally intermediate opposite marginal portions thereof with the second plate projecting outwardly from a first side of the first plate and disposed normal to a path extending between the opposite marginal portions of the first plate. An elongated abutment member including opposite end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the opposite end portions is provided and the end portions of the abutment member are offset to one side of the intermediate portion thereof. The intermediate portion of the abutment member has a central opening formed therethrough and the second plate includes an elongated endwise outwardly projecting mounting portion on its outer end remote from the first plate.

Abstract: An extension for a wooden utility pole is provided in which a novel bracket is secured to the flattened top of an existing pole. A projecting center shaft extends from the bracket to be received within matching center bores provided in the utility pole, a wooden extension pole or both. Threaded fasteners and metal straps complete the interconnection between the existing pole and the extension pole.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for installing or replacing each of a plurality of cables, each of which is in the form of a loop extending over one of a plurality of sheaves and below a generally horizontally disposed kiln or drum for suspending said kiln or drum from said sheaves for rotation, while the other sheaves and cables support said kiln or drum. Such apparatus includes a connector releasably connecting terminal end portions of said cable for forming said loop, and elements cooperating with such connector and cable for effecting the releasable connection between said portions of each cable, and the seating and tensioning of each newly installed cable to take a share of the load equal to that of each of the other cables while said load is carried by the other cables.

Abstract: A lightweight bar comprising a hollow, elongated member having channels within and extending along its faces, said member being composed of sheet material formed into the required configuration of the member and having a pair of edges joined together to close the cross section of the member.

Abstract: A reusable device is presented for effecting a mechanical connection between two elements that are substantially coaxial, the elements subject to traction stresses with reference to each other, and the elements disconnectable beyond a specific traction threshold. The device includes a casing, with a first half and a second half, integrally connected to one of the elements, the casing having a cavity formed between said halves, and said casing comprising elastic material. The other element includes a bulge comprising, for example, a spherical swivel joint that is received in the cavity, the portion of said halves adjacent said cavity separable as the bulge passes into the cavity.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method and construction for joining the ends of concrete reinforcing bars which permits the development of both tension and compression in the bars. A joining member compressively engages adaptor members integrally joined to the ends of the bars and reacts any forces tending to separate the bars, and further permits transmittal of compressive forces therebetween.

Abstract: A fire hydrant is designed to break away at the point of the coupling between the upper and lower standpipes when hit by a moving vehicle or the like, to reduce the chance for damage to the hydrant, the vehicle and possibly to the occupants of the vehicle. A valve push rod extends from a valve operating nut at the top of the hydrant down to operable connection with a hydrant valve so that the valve can be opened when water is to be delivered through the hydrant. To provide a breakaway connection for the push rod, a semi-cylindrical frangible coupling sleeve connects an upper valve rod section to a lower valve rod section in about the same horizontal plane as the upper and lower standpipes are coupled to each other. Then when the upper standpipe is broken away from the lower standpipe, the frangible coupling sleeve will also break, allowing separation of the upper valve rod section from the lower valve rod section without substantial danger of damage to the hydrant.