Abstract: An accessory box comprises a front and two sides. Each side is provided with a resilient lug which comprises a main portion which extends rearwardly to a vertical abutment and a clip which extends rearwardly from the main portion. When the accessory box is slid into a recess the vertical abutment engages the side wall of the recess and the clip maintains the accessory box in the retracted position. The accessory box can be withdrawn when the resilient lugs are pressed towards one another.

Abstract: A scroller jig saw has a pivoted locking lever spring biased into engagement with a rotatable scrolling control assembly to lock the latter, and therewith the saw blade, against rotation. A cam, preferably rotatably mounted on the scrolling control assembly, is manually movable between a scrolling position in which it holds the locking lever out of engagement with the scrolling control assembly and a non-scrolling position in which the lever is free to be spring biased into locking engagement with the scrolling control assembly.

Abstract: A novel and improved cover assembly for an air moving device such as a fan or air conditioner mounted in a wall or ceiling for drawing air therethrough. To prevent cold air from leaking through the device, the improved cover assembly is detachably connected by magnetic means to the rim of the device. The cover assembly is made of insulating material and has a plurality of recesses or channels formed on the internal side thereof extending in spaced relation to each other from the outer edge of each of the inner recesses so that a wide range of rims can be served by one size cover assembly. Depending on the rim size or shape (rectangular, square or circular) the cover assembly can be "fitted" to any rim in question by removing the excess material at the appropriate line of perforations.

Abstract: A fixing in a wall is made by drilling a hole, inserting the pin of a nozzle mounted on a hot melt gun into the hole and injecting molten polypropylene into the space between the pin and the hole. The polypropylene is allowed to solidify and the nozzle is removed leaving a wall plug ready for the insertion of a screw.Three embodiments of a nozzle especially adapted for use in this process are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for charging a plurality of sets of rechargeable electric batteries incorporated in respective portable appliances. The system comprises, in combination: a DC constant current generator circuit (C) having first and second output terminals (13, 14); and a plurality of bases (E.sub.1, . . . , E.sub.x, . . . , E.sub.n), each base comprising: mechanical link means; means for receiving the body of a portable appliance containing a rechargeable battery set; first and second electrical output connection elements (CO.sub.x1, CO.sub.x2) for connection to the terminals of a rechargeable battery set when associated therewith for charging; and electrical link means (I.sub.x1, I.sub.x2 ; O.sub.x1, O.sub.x2) for connecting the output connection elements (CO.sub.x1, CO.sub.

Abstract: A support for an electric heating element comprises a former of generally cylindrical shape, made of a heat resisting material and having a longitudinal core from which extend spaced ribs that support an outer wall. Portions of the outer wall and of the ribs are omitted along a helical path around the core to provide a mount for an electric heating element. A heating element assembly including the support and the heating element is mounted in a hot air gun.

Abstract: A cultivating tool comprises a housing, an electric motor mounted within the housing, a pair of soil working members which project from the housing, an elongate shaft connected at one end to the housing, and a handle at the other end of the shaft. The soil working members are of generally lamellar construction and arranged to be reciprocated relative to one another transverse to the direction from which they project from the housing and in adjacent parallel planes. The tool handle incorporates a switch with a lock off mechanism. In normal use of the tool the soil working members penetrate into soil to be cultivated and disturb the soil.

Abstract: In a housing (22) for a right-angle grinder (20), a pair of clamshell sections (24) and (26) are joined along a midplane (28). The interior of the housing (22) is formed with a motor case (34) and a gear case (36). Clamshell section (26) is formed with a rib (76) in a peripheral edge (72) thereof and is nested in a groove (58) formed in a peripheral edge (56) of clamshell section (24) to form an interlock for the housing (22). Slots (78) and (80) are formed transversely through the rib (76) along two spaced paths of the interlock to preclude a flowable lubricating substance from creeping from gear case (36), along the two spaced paths of the interlock to the motor case (34).

Abstract: A debris collecting apparatus includes a debris conduit (2) one end of which is an operating end (4) and the other end of which is a collecting end with a collecting bag (6) attached thereto. An impeller (8) discharges air into a straight part of the conduit. A switch arrangement is provided to switch the air flow between first "vacuum" flow in which air discharged from the impeller induces an air flow in the debris conduit (2) from the operating end (4) to the collecting end and a second "blowing" flow in which air is discharged from the impeller through the operating end.

Abstract: A battery charger for charging an electric battery pack has a supply rectifier connectable to the battery pack via a thyristor. A thermistor is mounted on a mechanical structure and brought into thermal contact with a cell of the battery pack to measure the temperature thereof. Comparators control the firing of the thyristor in dependence on the state of the thermal conductive relationship between the thermistor and the cell and also upon dependence of a correct electrical connection between the thermistor and the battery pack.

Abstract: A stator assembly of an electric motor includes a lamination stack, a field coil, an end cap having a plastics body fixed to the lamination stack, a brush box made of electrically conducting material, mounted on the plastics body, housing brushes resiliently biased towards the axis of the assembly, and a plurality of electrical conductors in the form of strips of predetermined configuration located on the plastics body for making electrical connections between components of the motor. The electrical conductors include a first conductor extending from the brush box; a second conductor extending from a termination of the field coil and a conducting means, which incorporates an inductance, connects the first and second conductors. The inductance in the connection is altered by altering the inductance of the conducting means. The first conductor is wrapped around the brush box to give a good and reliable electrical connection.

Abstract: A surface treatment attachment for a power tool, for example a sanding attachment for a hand-held power drill, has a body which can be secured to the power tool to be rotated thereby and which is arranged to receive a treatment head (e.g. a sanding disc). With a view to enabling a consistently improved performance to be achieved under a variety of conditions, structure is provided for selecting the degree of eccentricity of the treatment head relative to axis of rotation of the body of the attachment. The degree of eccentricity may be continuously adjustable within pre-set limits and, advantageously, the attachment includes an arrangement for accommodating a tilting movement of the treatment head.

Abstract: A motor driven lawn scarifier or cutter has a body which houses the motor and the scarifying/cutter assembly and also wheel or roller mountings. With a view to simplifying manufacture and assembly of the tool and eliminating corrosion problems, the body is moulded in one piece from plastics material and is shaped to provide a chamber (34) for the motor (50) and a forward chamber for the scarifying/cutter assembly (4). A roller (6A), located in a rearward chamber in the body, is mounted in openings (23) in the sides of the body and wheels (5) are mounted in openings (24) at the front of the body. A cover (8) which is also moulded in one piece from plastics material closes the motor chamber (34).

Abstract: Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment of the invention, a roller has a core comprising plurality of relatively hard and rigid segments fastened together in a stack and rotatably mounted to a shaft. The roller core has internal baffled passageways established by grooves in abutting faces of segments, so that, when paint is supplied to a cavity in the center of the stack, it will depart through these passageways in the roller in a controlled manner. A diaphragm seal assembly is provided to prevent leakage of pressurized paint. A replaceable sock-like cover is received on the roller stack and secured by end retainers. The roller can be easily and completely disassembled for cleaning.

Abstract: A functional unit for a motorized electrical appliance consists of a supporting block, an electric motor, power take-off means and means for supplying electric current to the motor. The various elements are assembled on the supporting block and therewith comprise a readily assembled, low cost sub-assembly adapted for use in a variety of appliances.A method of assembling the functional unit and the application of the unit to a hand-held cordless vacuum cleaner are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment of the invention, a roller has a core comprising plurality of relatively hard and rigid segments fastened together in a stack and rotatably mounted to a shaft. The roller core has internal baffled passageways established by grooves in abutting faces of segments, so that, when paint is supplied to a cavity in the center of the stack, it will depart through these passageways in the roller in a controlled manner. A replaceable sock-like cover is received on the roller stack and secured by end retainers. The roller can be easily and completely disassembled for cleaning.