Abstract: A device for retaining bedclothes in position on a bed by use of one or more bands transversely encircling a mattress and a band extending around the foot end of a set of box springs to hold a top sheet and/or other item of bedclothes having a retaining flap in a fixed position at the foot of the bed. The band can be elastic or non-elastic.

Abstract: A torque tube for an aircraft wheel and brake assembly is characterized by an annular, substantially cone-shaped, radially-extending backplate flange having a plurality of stiffening ribs which extend axially inboardly as radial extensions of various key surfaces, the key surfaces being adapted for engagement with alternating disks of a brake disk stack of the assembly. The stiffening ribs exhibit an axial dimension as may be defined by a pair of acute angles, a first acute angle establishing an outboard straight line surface of revolution which is continuous about the outboard end of the tube while a second acute angle establishes an inboard straight line surface of revolution in only the areas of the stiffening ribs. The backplate flange exhibits an axial dimension between the ribs as may be defined by a third acute angle which establishes a straight line surface of revolution between the adjacent ribs.

Abstract: A removeable reading rack for mounting on the front face of an instrument console of an exercise machine. The rack is made of two spaced apart upwardly extending frame members each having an upper hook portion for engaging the top edge of the exercise console and an up-turned lower hook portion for engaging and supporting the lower edge of a book or other reading material. The lower hook portions of the spaced apart members are both pivotally connected to a horizontal frame member so that the rack can be folded compactly for transporting or storage when not in use.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for use on and carried by a powered vehicle for laying out and taking up a long length, wide width flexible sheeting material as may be used to cover a sanitary landfill site, the apparatus having a framework adapted for mounting engagement on the vehicle and characterized by a pair of transversely extending arms which carry a journalled arbor assembly between them. The arbor assembly is powered for rotational motion and is controlled by an operator in a manner to either load a flexible sheeting material onto a mandrel of the arbor assembly or off-load flexible sheeting material from the mandrel as the vehicle travels over a ground surface area.

Abstract: A friction clutch includes a hub and driven plate assembly in which three carbon driven plates (60, 61, 62) are mounted on a hub (8), the hub (8) has radially outwardly extending splines (18) thereon and the driven plates have radially inwardly extending teeth (64) for engagement with the splines (18) such that the hub can slide axially relative to the driven plates (60, 61, 62) when the driven plates are held axially by driving plates (72, 74, 76, 78). Roll pins (30, 36, 38, 40) are each held in holes through two adjacent splines such that the roll pins are between the driven plates (60, 61, 62) and limit axial movement of the hub relative to the driven plates.

Abstract: The master cylinder comprises a body 10 formed with a bore 13, a piston 19 slidable in the bore to discharge hydraulic working fluid from the bore and an annular reservoir 17 for communication with the bore 13 and which is concentric with the bore. The reservoir contains a flexible diaphragm 30 which separate fluid in the reservoir 17 from ambient air. The use of the concentric reservoir 17 and diaphragm 30 makes the master cylinder particulary compact and suitable for use in a pre-filled clutch release system of a vehicle.

Abstract: A rotary tool for performing surface finishing operations such as sanding, grinding, buffing, polishing and others. The tool has a rotary spindle with a shank portion at one end of which is retained by a rotary chuck of a power source. A portion of the spindle at the opposite end has a flexible planar surface finishing member attached to it in such manner that the member lies in a common plane with the longitudinal axis of the spindle. The finishing member is preferably made of multiple flexible layers fastened together by a centrally located eyelet. The finishing member bends when rotated against a flat or curved surface to be finished and sweeps in a linear direction across the surface. This tool is especially useful for deburring holes and is self centering when inserted in a hole.

Abstract: This invention provides a soil conditioning apparatus having a shaker screen assembly that is mounted for operation on the dump bed of wheeled load-carrying vehicles. The shaker screen assembly may be adapted to operate either electrically or hydraulically using available systems on the vehicle and to operate with multiple soil conditioning screens to provide multiple stages of soil conditioning. The conditioned soil materials are deposited directly into the vehicle bed for transport to and dump-delivery at the site or location where it is needed, and this, without having to remove the apparatus from the transporting vehicle.

Abstract: A friction material facing (20) and carrier (11) assembly in which the facing (20) is secured to the carrier (11) by a plurality of concentric circular stripes (24A, 24B, 24C) of adhesive (24). Each stripe (24A, 24B, 24C) is interrupted at a single point on the circle to form a gap (25A, 25B, 25C) between the beginning and end of each circle of adhesive. The end of one circle may be joined to the beginning of the adjacent circle so as to form a continuous stripe of adhesive (24) from the inner margin to the outer margin of the facing (20).

Abstract: A modular assembly applicable to building constructions combines fire-safety sprinkler system piping, heating and cooling system heat exchangers, and lighting system fixtures and communication system wiring into an integrated unit installation. A channel which defines an enclosed duct for the passage of air is mounted in association with sprinkler system piping while a condensate pan is mounted in association with heating and cooling system heat exchangers. An air diffuser is positioned vertically between the channel and pan to direct environmental and make-up air about the heat exchangers for conditioning and a lighting fixture is positioned below the condensate pan. The channel, pan, and lighting fixture are all in standardized lengths and are maintained in a vertical alignment below the sprinkler system piping by a plurality of brackets, straps, and fasteners, various of the brackets being mounted over the channel and piping while others are mounted below the pan and lighting fixture.

Abstract: A decorative decal system for louvered devices such as venetian blinds dr mini-blinds which uses a series of easily removable adhesive backed decal strips for application to louvered blinds or windows. Each decal strip contains a segment of a decorative design or other indicia and when all segments are applied to series of louvers in a blind the group of decal strips forms a unitary pattern on the blind.

Abstract: A beverage carbonator having a pitcher shaped carbonation vessel which is detachably pneumatically connected to a reaction vessel in which carbon dioxide is produced by releasing internally stored water into a carbon dioxide generating chemical and passing the carbon dioxide into the carbonation vessel where it is dissolved into a liquid beverage. The carbonation vessel can be reconnected to the reaction vessel to recarbonate the unused portion of the beverage after it loses carbonation over a period of time and then disconnected for pouring the remainder of the beverage from the carbonation vessel.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate (10) having a hub (11) and friction facings (14, 15) which face in opposite directions. The friction facings are mounted on respective coaxial annular carrier plates (16, 17) which are rotatable about the hub (11) and are secured back to back with each other by the stop pins (22) which pass through aligned holes (26, 27) in the two carrier plates (16, 17). The holes (27) in at least one carrier plate (17) being enlarged to enable that carrier plate (17) to move rotationally relative to the other carrier plate (16), said relative rotation being resisted by springs (28) acting between the two carrier plates.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid Pressure-operated actuator comprises a first cylinder assembly having an output which operatively carries a second cylinder assembly such that an axial output force is effected from an output shaft of the second cylinder assembly, the output from the second cylinder assembly is a fast forward output stroke which is followed by a greatly increased high pressure force generated by the first cylinder assembly and effected through the output shaft of the second cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A covering material for underwater objects such as boat hulls or water intake pipes. The covering includes a waterproof coating such as adhesive or paint containing capsicum derivatives such as cayenne pepper or oleoresin capsicum, with the coating applied to the outer surface of the object to be protected, to repel marine organisms which might otherwise attach themselves to the object. In some applications copper material may also be applied to the coating.

Abstract: An adapter ring which screws onto a gas tank fill fitting to cover the standard threads on the fitting and provided customized non-standard threads to prevent suppliers without matching fill hose couplings from connecting their supply hose outlet fittings to the fill fittings of tanks which they are not authorized to use. The adapter rings are fastened in place with a thread damaging member which will damage the threads on the fill fitting if there is an attempt to unscrew the adapter ring.

Abstract: A composite collar for surrounding a golf tee shank and protecting it from being broken or damaged by being struck by a golf club. The collar has an inner tubular cushioning member of soft cushioning material which fits on a golf tee shank and an outer tubular resilient cover of harder material than the inner mamber to withstand the initial high impact of being struck by a golf club. The outer cover member may be a bright color for high visibility.

Abstract: A thermal energy transfer apparatus and a method of making such apparatus by helically wrapping multiple layers of spaced apart thermally conductive wires on a fluid conducting pipe to provide an open mesh-like configuration with exposed surface areas to transfer heat or cold to the surrounding atmosphere from fluid passed through the pipe. The wire is secured by welding or other suitable means to prevent it from becoming unwrapped. The mesh-like configuration can also be made by concentrically wrapping thermally conductive screen around the pipe and securing it in the wrapped configuration.

Abstract: A multiplate clutch assembly comprising a cover (10), drive plates (14), driven plates (16), diaphragm spring (20) and a fulcrum ring (24) located on the side of the spring away from the cover. The fulcrum ring (24) is a flat ring with an integral annular bead (31) in which the spring pivots with a plurality of integral spacers 26. The ring (24) is secured to the cover (10) by the spacers by a plurality of fasteners (28) each of which secures a single spacer to the cover.