Abstract: A hitch assembly is disclosed which readily attaches itself to the bumper of an automobile and simultaneously secures the cross bar or draft bar of the hitch in a manner which requires no threading devices to obtain the securing action. In fact the securing action is by the simple movement of a lever into an over centered position on the hitch assembly and this in cooperation with two chains thereof, one attached to the upper margin and the other attached to the lower margin of the bumper or possibly the frame of the car securingly clasps not only the hitch assembly to the bumper but the draft bar to the hitch assembly. Preferably hitch assemblies are provided one at each end of the cross or draft bar. Thus with "snaps" of each lever into over center position the bumper hitch is secured to the automobile awaiting for connection of the trailer tow bar thereof for coupling to an awaiting trailer.

Abstract: A workman's platform comprising a wheeled base, scissors linkage having plural sets of lever arms and a deck vertically movable by the linkage. All ends of the linkage arms are longitudinally movable on the base and deck. An upper centering link is pivoted at one end to the mid-point of the deck and at the other end to the mid-point of an upper lever arm. A lower centering link is similarly connected to the deck and to a lower lever arm. The adjacent ends of the lever arms are off-set and pin-connected, the lever arms being in spaced,parallel relation when the linkage is retracted. A single vertically movable actuating element is connected to the pivot pin of the lower set of lever arms.

Abstract: A truck mounted crane has a front end including a cab, engine and front steering wheels, with rearwardly extending frame members. A crane is carried rearwardly of the truck cab, and has a rotatable upper works including a crane cab at the front and laterally centered, a boom support rearwardly of the crane cab, and laterally centered, and a boom pivoted on the boom support and extending forwardly over the crane cab. A rear end includes a rear frame made of tubular frame members which receive the front frame members therein.

Abstract: A horn shaped multi-inlet pipe joint for connecting a vertical pipe or pipes to a horizontal main pipe. The pipe joint comprises a horn shaped body in which a clearance is formed for diffusing drainage from the pipes and a chute surface is provided for collecting the diffused drainage and leading it to the main pipe, and a cap having a plurality of openings to which the vertical pipe or pipes, a cleaning access lid or lids and the like are attached.

Abstract: Apparatus for directly controlling the power delivered to an electrically heated furnace atomizer for use in atomic spectroscopy and thus for controlling the temperature of the furnace by utilizing dimensional changes produced in the furnace due to thermal expansion and contraction to produce electrical signals that are used by means of a feedback control to control the electrical input to the furnace.

Abstract: Moulding apparatus for moulding an open-top bowl-like shell, such as a boat hull, comprising:(a) a flexible form layer adapted to form a moulding face for the shell,(b) template means defining an edge around a curved part of the shell, and(c) containment means adapted to form together with the form layer a fluid tight container,the arrangement being characterized by the provision within the container of further template means corresponding in shape to a contour or surface portion of the curved part of the shell, the form layer being drawn down to overlie and be supported by the further template means when the container is evacuated.

Abstract: A device for terminating the rotary movement of a driven shaft following an adjustable predetermined number of revolutions, with one or more switch disks arranged coaxially adjacent and provided with notches of their outer circumference, said disks being driveable by the shaft, with a plurality of switch disks with different rotational speeds, and with a switch arm resting on the outer circumference of the switch disk(s), said arm dropping into the notch and/or (in the case of a plurality of switch disks) notches, when the latter correspond in their angular position, thus shutting off the drive to the shaft.

Abstract: A lock in which a bolt is slidable by rotation of a pivoted handle connected to the bolt by a toggle link pin-connected to the bolt and handle. The handle is channel-shaped in cross section, and conceals and protects the bolt and toggle link in the locked position. The handle moves through 180.degree. between locked and unlocked positions. A key operated barrel lock has an exterior detent through which the bolt passes, in the release position of the barrel lock, and the bolt has a recess which receives the key-operated barrel lock in the locked position thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a stretchable foil around goods to be packed, comprising an upper supply roller for a packing foil with a hold-down and stretch beam and a lower supply roller for a packing foil with guide and stretch means. Clamping, sealing and cutting means are provided for effecting a seal and cutting the tensioned foil wrapped around the goods, wherein the lower clamping means with the lower guide and stretch means are adapted to effect a differential tension in the lower foil web in such a manner that the tension in the foil web between guide means and goods to be packed is considerably greater than between guide means and clamping means. A method of wrapping in which a differential tension is effected in a lower foil web in a package wrapping operation between the goods and a guide, and between the guide and a clamp.

Abstract: A unique garment which may be worn intermittently or continuously by paraplegics provides means for readily attaching the garment and the paraplegic to a lifting device in a manner which encumbers only the mid and upper torso, leaving the lower torso unencumbered by the lifting device. The paraplegic may thereby be lifted by the lifting device with the use of the vest onto and off of a water closet as from a wheel chair or other device and because the vest only encumbers the upper and mid torso, and the lower torso is unencumbered, the lower garments may be easily removed and put on while the paraplegic hangs by his vest.

Abstract: A static neutralizer which emits ions without emitting light to the environment. The static neutralizer includes a body of insulating light absorbing material, having a cavity therein, with points of ion emitters located in the cavity. A passage leads from the cavity to the exterior, permitting flow of ions from the body and preventing passage of light from the ionizing points to the exterior. A metal sleeve surrounds the insulating material body with a peripheral edge of the metal band and the ionizing points preferably lying in a common plane. A source of electric potential, preferably alternating, is connected to the ion emitters, and the metal sleeve is connected to ground. Preferably, the connections are provided by a shielded cable having an inner conductor connected to the ion emitters, an outer, flexible woven wire shield connected to the metal band, and a light impervious, insulating layer on the exterior of the woven shield.

Abstract: A multiple-stitch zigzag stitching device for a sewing machine comprises a vertical swinging member rotatably supported on a base and adapted for rotation upon vertical movement of a needle bar on the sewing machine, and a horizontal swinging member rotatably supported by the base and carrying a ratchet wheel to which a cam is eccentrically attached. A fabric holding member is connected to the horizontal swinging member for horizontal rotation therewith. A locking member has one end connected to the vertical swinging member and another end engaged with the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel on which a number of teeth are provided. Vertical rotation of the vertical swinging member causes horizontal reciprocatory movement of the locking member to rotate the ratchet wheel intermittently to thereby rotate the eccentric cam, so that the horizontal swinging member is rotated horizontally to permit horizontal reciprocatory movement of the fabric holding member.

Abstract: An extensible outrigger construction comprises a tubular housing secured to a vehicle frame, having an outrigger beam telescoped into it. The outrigger beam comprises upper and lower horizontal plates with semicircular cut-outs at their ends to receive the cylinder of the jack; a pair of vertical flange plates have surfaces on a diametral plane of the cut-out. A cap includes upper and lower horizontal plates with semi-circular cut-outs, and vertical flange plates engaging the first mentioned flange plates, the holding cap being secured by bolts through the flange plates. The jack cylinder has an upwardly facing shoulder that engages the bottom surfaces of the lower beam plate and the lower plate of the holding cap. The cylinder of the jack has a chamfer which seats in a corresponding chamfer of the top plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning hollow bodies, in particular removing scale, incrustations and suchlike deposits from the inner wall of a vessel or a tube. The deposits are removed by a milling or boring operation.

Abstract: A method of playing a stringed musical instrument of the guitar family by tapping the strings. The musical instrument has, for example, a fretted fingerboard, a plurality of tensioned strings and string tensioning means, sound amplifying means; there is a first group of melody tuned strings and a second group of bass and chord strings. The strings of the first group are tapped by the fingers of the right hand and the strings of the second group are tapped by the fingers of the left hand. The fingers of both hands are used to tap bass, chords and melody simultaneously.

Abstract: A device for cleaning the surfaces of foods comprising a watertight housing with a door, a drum movable into the housing through the door, the drum being rotated by a motor, the drum containing perforated baskets each having a movable wall to engage and hold products therein against movement, and means for rotating the movable wall in selected position.