Abstract: An axle-to-beam connecting member for a beam type axle suspension, the member comprising an axle housing capable of rigidly retaining an axle therein, an elastomerically bushed beam housing for retaining a beam therein and an elastomerically bushed pin connection for pivotally connecting the member to the beam, the pin connection being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the beam from the beam housings.

Abstract: A minicar which can be folded into a smaller size, when not in use, is provided. The minicar is comprised of two main frames which are connected by a parallelogram linkage system. The minicar is unfolded and folded by swinging one of the frames in an arc with respect to the other frame. A separate linkage system is attached to the parallelogram linkage system to fold and unfold the rear wheels of the minicar. The rear wheels swing in an arc when the minicar is being folded or unfolded. The minicar has two stable states, the folded state and the unfolded state. In the unfolded state, one frame member is above and offset from the other frame member and the wheels are in the operating position. When the minicar is in the folded state, one frame is almost directly above the other frame and all the wheels are almost completely under the top frame. The minicar also comprises a foldable enclosure which folds into layers when the minicar is not being used.

Abstract: A hoist mechanism that more effectively uses its hydraulic capacity is comprised of a first and a second pair of lifting arms connected at a first pivot point, a hydraulic cylinder connected to said lifting arms, and a pivoting stop means that coordinates movement of the two pair of lift arms. During the initial lifting action of the hoist, the mechanism achieves the advantages of a double arm type hoist by causing the first pair of lifting arms to remain stationary while the second pair of lifting arms rotates around the first pivot point. After the second pair of lift arms reach a predetermined angle with the stationary first pair, the stop means are engaged in a way to cause both pair of lift arms to move upon further lifting action of the hoist, thus achieving the advantages of a scissors type hoist from this point on.

Abstract: A lift axle suspension wherein the mechanism for lifting the axle includes a pivotal connection located below the longitudinal frame member of the vehicle and a pair of plates, one pivotally attached to the pivotal connection and the other rigidly attached in the suspension, an air bellows located between the pair of plates and a link member functionally attached between the axle and pivotally attached plate such that expansion or retraction of the bellows lifts the axle and the opposite operation allows the axle to be lowered.

Abstract: Blends of polybutylene and a conjugated diene butyl rubber can be cured by ionizing radiation to form products with excellent resistance to set, sufficient melt flow properties to be re-workable as a plastic after curing and which exhibit significant strength characteristics.

Abstract: An improved ball return mechanism for a game like golf which includes a pressurizable ball receiving chamber for receiving a ball once played through a hole in a target area, a conduit extending between the hole and the chamber, a door separating the conduit and the ball receiving chamber, a source of fluid under pressure, an electrical device for admitting upon receipt of a signal the fluid under pressure into the chamber in an amount sufficient to drive the ball from the chamber to a return area, and an electrical switch for sensing the presence of a ball in the chamber and thereafter generating a signal to said fluid admitting means to admit fluid under pressure into the chamber. Upon entrance of a ball into the chamber, the chamber is closed off and pressurized, the ball is then ejected from the chamber by the pressure with enough force to send it to the return area.

Abstract: A mechanism for aligning an axle using a beam suspension connected at its ends to the vehicle and intermediate its ends to the axle, the mechanism including a saddle connector for the axle and beam which allows the axle to be rigidly connected before alignment and the beam to be slidably retained therein and a plate rigidly connected to the saddle connector and extending to a location proximal the beam. The method including the step of being able to first rigidly connect the axle to the suspension at a location capable of doing so, and thereafter aligning the suspension after installation on the vehicle by merely sliding the beam in the saddle connector and ridigly attaching the portion of the plate proximal the beam to the beam, thereby to secure the alignment.

Abstract: The improved apparatus has, in combination with a relatively long shaft and a two-blade propeller means fixed at one end thereto, a kicker bar in the form of a flat longitudinal bar also fixed to the same end of the shaft and disposed perpendicularly thereto. The bar protrudes outwardly from both sides of the shaft a distance that is preferably no greater than the distance the propeller means protrudes outwardly from the shaft.

Abstract: Provided is an amusement device whereby prizes, coins or tokens are dispensed through an elongated chute onto a platform area. A reciprocating blade pushes the prizes, etc., forward, eventually dispensing one or more over the edge of the platform to the player. A timed trap door mechanism whose actuation is both audible and visible to the player prevents tilting of the device to obtain prizes without winning them. The chute is constructed so that a significant degree of skill can be employed to optimize the number of prizes, etc., dispensed and thus, won by the player. The use of coins or tokens other than those of a predetermined size are rejected from the chute back to the player.

Abstract: The invention relates to a washer having a screw-thread formed in a central bore thereof to enable the washer to be screwed onto a screw-threaded member the washer being adapted for tensioning itself against a surface when screwed up against the surface for increasing friction between the washer and the screw-threaded member; and at least one portion of the washer providing an inwardly extending edge frictionally engageable with said surface when the washer is screwed up against said surface for inhibiting unscrewing of the washer relative to the surface.

Abstract: A toolholder has a shank with a tapered body which is adapted to fit into a complementary socket in an end face of a machine tool spindle. A blind bore in the body is engageable by holding means for holding the shank in the socket. A first axial section of this bore is threaded for engagement with a threaded member of one kind of holding means such as a pulling rod or a set bolt coacting with pulling means. A second axial section of the bore is enlarged to form an annular groove for engagement by an expansible head of a pulling member of an alternative kind of holding means. An encoder ring is removably fixed at the toolholder. Each time the tool is exchanged the encoder ring is replaced by an encoder ring corresponding to the new tool.

Abstract: A large area wall element of lightweight sandwich design for prefabricated buildings has a weatherproof outer layer which is formed by facing panels which are fixed to a foamed plastic layer by means of an adhesive layer in which fiberglass matting is embedded, the foamed plastic layer being glued to the supporting structure of the wall element. This wall element can be fabricated completely at the factory and transported from there to the construction site. It offers good thermal insulation and good weatherproofing. Through selection of the facing panels, a wide variety of effects can be achieved. In particular, facing panels of stone or stoneware, including brick, are suitable. The impressing of a masonry wall can be achieved by means of bricks. However the facing panels can also be arranged in distinct areas defined by means of wooden elements arranged in the form of framework.

Abstract: A device is provided which helps rehabilitate and exercise the hand. In doing so, it indicates the progress being made, thus providing positive mental reinforcement, encouraging further improvement in the rehabilitation process. The device, which is blow molded from translucent plastic, includes a hollow conically shaped chamber having formed integrally therewith a handle and a bellows device connected via an orifice to the chamber. Fluid of a chosen color is provided in the chamber. Upon squeezing, the fluid is ejected in proportion to the force applied from the chamber into the bellows, thereby giving the patient a visual, positive indication of his progress. A series of devices requiring progressively increasing squeeze forces may be formed by using different fluids, conduit sizes and/or wall thicknesses. This provides a system for full rehabilitation.

Abstract: Provided is a brace for preventing a truck body from falling when raised above its chassis for maintenance, inspection or servicing. The brace includes a support column, one end of which is pivotally connected to a body longsill and the other end is retained by a release mechanism located on the body for holding the column in riding position. Provided on the chassis is a retainer for securely retaining the column when it extends between the body (when raised) and chassis as a brace to prevent the body from falling. A stop is provided for limiting the pivot angle of the column. The brace is installed in supporting position without an operator having to locate any portion of his body under the truck body while raised. This is accomplished by actuating the release mechanism to release the column. The body is then raised from remote control location and the column pivots until it abuts its stop mechanism which locates the lower end of the column above the retainer on the chassis.

Abstract: A smoking device is provided which includes a base having compartments for holding tobacco or the like and a lighter. At one end of the base is a rotatable, longitudinally extending and hollow burning chamber having an elongated longitudinal opening in one side thereof and having relatively small orifices in either end. A lighter is positioned in one of the compartments of the base so that its flame when lit, extends adjacent one of the orifices in the burning chamber. The other orifice in the chamber has located proximal thereto, a rotatable smoking stem provided with an orifice which may be aligned with the chamber orifice by appropriate rotation of the smoking stem. Further rotation of the stem disengages its orifice from alignment with the chamber orifice and locates the stem in a storage compartment in the base. The rotatable burning chamber may be rotated about its longitudinal axis so as to align the elongated opening therein with the tobacco compartment for loading the chamber.

Abstract: Polydiene sheet material useful as a body supporting member such as a cast or splint, heat softenable at a higher than body temperature, but slowly recrystallizable or hardenable below about 40.degree. C., treated by distributing throughout the substance small pores, perforations or surface irregularities as by foaming all or only one surface portion of the sheet material, particularly texturing, knurling, pocking or cratering the surface to be placed adjacent to the body member to be encased to allow moisture and/or air transfer away from the enclosed body surface.