Abstract: Disclosed is a strain grommet for firmly holding one end of an electric cord. The grommet consists of a cylindrical body adapted to be opened and closed freely by means of an open cut therein and a hat-shaped fitting body. In use, the cylindrical body is fastened around the slit end of the cord and the unraveled portion of the covering braid is laid back over the outer surface of the cylindrical body. The hat-shaped fitting body is then pressed down over the cylindrical body thereby immobilizing said spread covering braid between the outer surface of the cylindrical body and the inner wall surface of the holding body.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for thermoforming two or more plastics sheets simultaneously, to form in one operation a double-walled cup, or a composite walled cup, or a plurality of single-walled cups. The sheets are moved and heated simultaneously, the portion not being thermoformed being kept apart, permitting economy of scrap remelting. The thermoformed portions can be kept apart by pressure between the sheets, which can serve to hotform the sheets against respective mould surfaces, or air pressure can bond the sheets together. Existing machines need substantially only an additional clamping plate, heater, and compressed air passing through a radial port in a clamping plate, to incorporate the invention.

Abstract: A system for multipackaging at least three adjacent rows of containers with a resilient plastics-material multipackaging strip in a continuous procedure. The strip comprises a plurality of elongated bands of at least three in number transversely of the strip, and each band is capable of encircling one of the containers when properly stretched and projected over a container. The bands of the strip are so formed that stretching of all of the bands into shapes substantially complementary to the containers occurs when merely the side marginal edges of the strip are stretched apart. The machine and method comprises an endless series of single pairs of jaws or force applying means which successively enter the apertures of the side bands of the strip, and transversely stretch all of the bands across the strip into shapes substantially complementary to the container shapes. The machine receives at least three adjacent rows of containers continuously therethrough.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for use in producing an accurate tension indicating fastener unit of the type including a rotary fastener member, a conical-like spring washer preassembled thereto and gauge member preassembled between the bearing surface of the fastener and the spring washer so as to be pinched therebetween upon compression of the washer under a predetermined load. The invention is also concerned with a method of accurately calibrating such a fastener unit.

Abstract: A molding machine into which nested stacks of preforms or parisons at ambient temperatures are loaded, which denests and applies the preforms individually onto complementary shaped mandrels in the machine. The preforms are made of a thermoplastic material, such as polystyrene, and the mandrels of the molding machine are internally heated to heat each parison as the machine is intermittently rotated. The mandrels are circumferentially mounted about a carriage in the machine and the carriage rotates about a horizontal axis. When viewing the machine at the side at which the carriage rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the preforms are individually applied to the mandrels at the three o'clock position by a loading mechanism. From the three o'clock position around and to the six o'clock position each preform is being heated on its mandrel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molded plastic fastener for plate like members which is formed of synthetic resin having a suitable resiliency. The fastener is formed with a first portion including a groove through which an edge portion of a plate like member is inserted and within which the member is resiliently held and a positioning member for preventing the member from moving in the groove and a second portion including an anchor leg for anchoring the device to a support structure.

Abstract: A combined visual and electronic liquid indicator which may be used as a battery hydrometer is disclosed. An outer housing of a generally cylindrical shape receives a centrally located elongated light transmitting viewing rod. The lower portion of the rod extends into a channel at the lower end of the outer housing. A float is retained in the channel by a retaining cage. A second generally cylindrical inner member which fits over the rod and into the outer housing has a light sensor and a light detector secured at its lower end across diametrically opposite portions of the float channel, and the outer housing and the inner member are then sealed together.

Abstract: A machine and method for applying an apertured carrier to containers to form a carrier pack are disclosed. The machine includes a lug wheel which draws a carrier web from a stock and positions the carrier web at a preliminary station. A plurality of angularly spaced pins are mounted on each side of a pinwheel, and these pins engage secondary carrier apertures formed at locations spaced apart from the primary apertures. As the pinwheel turns, a spreader cam forces the pins axially apart to transversely deform the carrier without substantially deforming it in a longitudinal direction. So oriented, the carrier is forced over a plurality of containers to form a pack. A plow then positively disengages the carrier and containers constituting the pack from the pins.

Abstract: Reshaping of a nestable plastic container of substantially uniform wall thickness into a non-nestable container of substantially uniform wall thickness by substantially uniform radial and axial enlargement thereof. The nestable plastic container is heated below its rim portion to a predetermined temperature where the nestable container is readily deformable, the thus heated nestable container then being fixedly supported in a mold cavity having a non-nestable inner wall configuration, and subsequently expanding the nestable container against the non-nestable inner wall configuration of the mold cavity by differential fluid pressure to form a non-nestable container product.

Abstract: A pulley is provided with a bi-ended, hollow tube bearing, bracket mounting assembly. The bearing tube is slit from one end to the other, and one of the lips thus formed is displaced inwardly in chordal relationship to the balance of the bearing along all or a portion of the bearing axial length. This displaced lip catches drippings from a lubricant-impregnated bushing, and returns them to the bushing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to extremities for decorative mouldings, mounted on decorative mouldings of metal or synthetic material and fixed on a support by means of clips co-operating with orifices formed in the said support.The end-piece, according to the invention, forming the extremity of the decorating moulding mounted on a support, is essentially characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a unit made of one piece and comprising, in combination, a head in two parts, the first of which constitutes the finish of the moulding at its extremity, while the second forms the reception member for the extremity of the moulding and a clip for fixing the second part of the head on the support of the moulding, constituted by a panel of pre-determined thickness provided with a corresponding orifice for receiving the said clip.

Abstract: A display container with a bubble portion mounted on a base portion and adapted for easy access to products contained therein without destruction of the container. The base portion includes a flap and tab connected in seriatim at one extremity thereof, this construction being folded back beneath the remaining portion of the base and allowing the tab to protrude through the base in a position to support the bubble portion.

Abstract: An integral multifinger contact with each finger being capable of flexing independently of one another while maximizing the number of independent finger contacts along a given contact line. The method involves the shearing of finger portions and elongating these portions during the shearing operation to provide a positive clearance between adjacent edges of the fingers. One embodiment of the invention being directed to a contact member particularly adapted for a rotary potentiometer while another embodiment has particular use in a linear potentiometer.

Abstract: A screw type anchor device for securement into masonry structures. A sharp crested helical thread, preferably with tapering crest diameter, is formed along the shank and helical protuberances forming guide means are spaced along the shank between adjacent convolutions of the helical thread. Notches are formed on the crests of the helical thread along the length of the shank to facilitate embedment of the crests in the walls of a performed bore in the masonry structure.

Abstract: A multifinger contact device is produced by a series of deforming stations which compress the fingers into die cavities decreasing the width of the fingers while severing the adjacent fingers from one another, by deforming the adjacent fingers first in one direction and then in the other to decrease the formation of burrs. A subsequent forming station may be utilized to confine the entire periphery of the finger so as to form opposing longitudinal edges on adjacent fingers into noncontacting curved surfaces.

Abstract: A self-penetrating fastener for clamping and retaining tubing or the like to a support surface in spaced relationship thereto. A pin member is formed with a recess beneath the head and adjacent the shank of the pin. A flexible channel shaped liner is carried on the shank so that the liner is forced upwardly of the shank, responsive to the driving of the fastener, into and following the contour of the recess to diminish the throat dimension of the recess and substantially surround the tubing received and clamped therein with a single driving impact from a tool.

Abstract: An outer cap for association with a conventional externally knurled screw closure cap and serving as a safety overcap converting the same to a double cap safety closure for sealing threaded bottles and other containers with contents which might be harmful to children; with the outer cap constructed for trapped association with the inner cap for permissive free rotation relative thereto but provided with internal knurling and an adjacent relieved or slotted area permitting inward flexing of the adjacent knurled wall of the overcap into engagement with the external knurling of the inner cap upon selected pressure applied by an adult to effect rotation of both caps in unison, such as the unscrewing direction, for authorized access to the contents of the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nestable type articles, and more particularly to nestable containers designed to counteract the jamming or wedging of telescopically associated or stacked containers. The invention is particularly useful for one-piece thin-walled plastic containers of the type used in vending machines and comprises a unique wall formation for urging or guiding adjacent identical containers in a nested stack into different rotational positions to insure a positive and substantial stacking abutment between adjacent containers. An embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein includes a one-piece, thin-walled plastic container having a sidewall diverging generally upwardly from the bottom, said container being equipped with novel stacking means comprising upper internal and lower external circumferential stacking sections formed by a series of axially spaced abutments and recesses. The abutments and recesses extend generally axially and radially.

Abstract: Disclosed is a screw grommet which is used to bolt an object to a plate or the like. The unique structure of a screw grommet according to this invention permits frictionless insertion of the leg of the grommet in an aperture of the plate and at the same time, positive engagement with the circumferential edge of the aperture of the plate.

Abstract: A one-piece bracket for retaining a rectilinear terminal block or the like in a stand-off position above a support panel. The bracket includes means for insuring aggressive gripping of the terminal block by the bracket.