Abstract: A cord connector for releasably connecting multiple operating cords for a window covering. The cord connector has at least two side members supported for pivotal movement relative to each other between a closed condition in which the side members are in sidewise adjacent relation and an open condition in which at least upper portions of the side members are laterally spaced apart. Jaws on side members provide downwardly facing shoulders for engaging cord stops on the operating cords and the jaws have jaw edges operative when the side members are in the closed condition for laterally confining portions of the operating cords superjacent the stops to positions in which the cord stops engage the downwardly facing shoulders. The side members have lateral cord abutment portions spaced above the cord retaining means and arranged to form segments of a closed cord abutment loop dimensioned to loosely surround the operating cords at the upper end of the cord connector when the side members are in the closed condition.

Abstract: A lockable ball joint apparatus including a ball and a ball receiving cavity and at least one annular clamp ring in the casing extending around the ball. The clamp ring has a spherically concave inner clamping surface engaging the outer surface of the ball and a frusto-conical outer surface. An annular cam extends around the clamp ring and has a frusto-conical inner surface engaging the frusto-conical outer surface of the clamp ring. The annular cam is formed on an annular piston and springs are provided for moving the annular piston and cam axially in a first direction to diametrically compress the clamp ring into clamping engagement with the ball, and fluid pressure is applied to the annular piston for moving the annular cam means axially in a second direction to release the clamp ring from clamping engagement with the ball.

Abstract: A jack of the type having inner and outer legs and a screw for extending and retracting the inner leg relative to the outer leg. The screw is mounted on a base fixed to the outer leg for rotating and limited endwise movement between the upper and lower positions relative to the base such that the screw and inner leg can move downwardly to the lower position when the inner leg is out of ground engagement and the inner leg moves the screw toward the upper position when the leg engages the ground. A rotary drive member is mounted for rotation relative to the base about the axis of the screw and a transmission mechanism responsive to rotation of the drive member drives the screw at a high speed ratio when the screw is in the lower position and at a low speed ratio when the screw is in the upper position.

Abstract: A device for clamping an axially movable rod comprising a housing having a cylindrical inner wall and end walls that slidably support the rod. A pair of annular rod clamp rings in the housing having inner clamping surfaces for engaging the rod and frusto-conical outer surfaces, and a pair of annular pistons in the cylinder having an inner surface engaging the outer surface on the annular rod clamp rings and an outer surface slidable in the cylindrical inner wall of the housing. The pistons have spring receiving cavities radially intermediate the inner and outer surfaces thereof and the springs disposed in the cavities for moving the pistons axially in a direction to clamp the rod. A fluid pressure chamber is provided in the cylinder for actuating the pistons in a direction to release the rod.

Abstract: A venetian blind headrail and bracket system in which the headrail has a downwardly extending light block panel along a rear edge of the bottom wall, a front upper rim on the front wall and a rear upper rim on the rear wall. The mounting bracket includes an upwardly opening front notch for receiving a lower edge of the front upper rim and a downwardly opening rear notch spaced rearwardly from the front notch for receiving the rear upper rim, and a support ledge spaced below the rear notch for engaging a lower edge of the light block panel to support the headrail in a mounted position on the bracket with a clearance between the rear upper rim and the base of the rear notch. The rear notch has a width sufficiently less than the outer width of the rear upper rim to have an interference fit therewith when the headrail is in the mounted position on the bracket.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus having an upper cooking platen mounted on a support arm for swinging movement between a lower cook position and a raised position. The upper platen is mounted on the support arm for limited floating movement and upper platen adjusting mechanism is provided which engages the lower platen at a plurality of spaced points and which is adjusted by a single manually operated control. Upper platen lift assist mechanism has pressurized gas cylinders arranged so that the gas cylinders do not exert substantial upward or downward force on the upper platen arm when the upper platen is in a cook position, and assist raising the upper platen when the platen support arm is lifted out of the cook position.

Abstract: A carbonator comprising a casing defining an elongate chamber having a helically grooved inner wall and an elongate inner body disposed in the chamber and having a cylindrical outer surface contacting radially inner crests on the helically grooved inner wall to form a helical flow passage therewith. Liquid to be carbonated is supplied to the helical flow passage adjacent one end thereof and an outlet communicates with said helical flow passage adjacent a second end. The inner body has an inner gas chamber extending only along a portion of the length of the helical flow passage, which portion is formed of micro-porous material for diffusing carbon dioxide gas from the inner chamber into the liquid in the helical flow passage.

Abstract: A window shade assembly comprising a header, a bottom rail and expansible and contractable shade means attached to the header and bottom rail, and lift cords attached to the bottom rail and extending upwardly to the header and through a cord lock on the header and having lift cord operating portions extending downwardly from the cord lock means for raising and lowering the bottom rail, the lower ends of the operating portions of the lift cords are detachably mounted on the bottom rail to be raised and lowered with the bottom rail to reduce cord dangle and the detachable mounting is arranged to allow the lower end of the operating portion of each lift cord to detach from the bottom rail and separate from the operating portions of the other lift cords when the lower end of the lift cord is subjected to a tensile force in a direction away from the bottom rail, for child safety reasons.

Abstract: A venetian type window blind having a wand which is rotatable to control tilting of slats and lift cord operating mechanism on the wand for raising and lowering the blind and locking the blind in adjusted positions. The venetian blind lift cords extend into a lengthwise cord passage inside the wand and the lift cord operating mechanism includes a lift member mounted for movement along an outer side of the wand and lift cord, an engaging member in the cord passage for moving the lift cords to raise and lower the blind in response to movement of the lift member along the wand. The operating means includes lock means for locking the lift cord engaging member at selected positions along the wand.

Abstract: A window blind of the type having a headrail, bottom rail and an expandable and contractable shade between the headrail and bottom rail. An elongated wand has an upper end mounted on the headrail and a flexible operating cord is formed into an endless cord operating loop and guided by loop guides in a closed loop path extending through the headrail and the wand passage. Lift cords are attached to the bottom rail and extend from the bottom rail into the headrail and the lift cords are connected to the endless operating loop. A cord lift handle member is mounted for movement along an outer side of the wand and has cord grip mechanism for gripping a portion of the endless cord operating loop to move the operating loop in a direction to raise the bottom rail when the handle member is moved in one direction along the wand. A cord lock is provided for releasably retaining the bottom rail in selected raised positions.

Abstract: A hydraulic system having a first bucket leveling circuit for controlling leveling of the bucket during raising of the boom and a second bucket leveling circuit for controlling leveling of the bucket during lowering of the boom. The second bucket leveling circuit includes a motor-type flow divider having first and second shaft connected motor sections. Controls are operative when the boom control valve supplies fluid under pressure to the rod end of the boom cylinder for passing fluid from the piston end of the boom cylinder to the inlet of the first and second sections of the motor-type flow divider, and for preventing passage of fluid from the piston end of the boom cylinder to the inlet of the first flow divider.

Abstract: An adjustable curtain rod mounting bracket comprising: a wall bracket member and a rod bracket member which are frangibly interconnected to facilitate packaging and assembly. The wall bracket member has wall attachment flange at the rear end on a panel portion and the rod bracket member has a rod support flange at the forward end of a panel portion, and the panel portions of the bracket members are disposed in end-to-end relation with the forward end of the panel portion of the wall bracket member integrally joined along a break-away line of weakness to the rear end of the panel portion of the rod bracket member.

Abstract: A valve of the type in which a movable valve member is spring loaded to a normally closed position and operated to an open position by a fluid pressure responsive actuator and wherein the valve closing spring and pressure responsive actuator are enclosed in a removable actuator casing. A spring compressing mechanism is provided which is adjustable to a first condition in which a valve closing spring and pressure responsive actuator are allowed to operate the valve member in the normal fashion and to a second condition in which the spring is compressed sufficient to relieve closing pressure on the valve member and enable safe disassembly of the actuator casing and spring.

Abstract: A valve of the type in which a movable valve member is spring loaded to a normally closed position and operated to an open position by a fluid pressure responsive actuator and wherein the valve closing spring and pressure responsive actuator are enclosed in a removable actuator casing. A spring compressing mechanism is provided which is adjustable to a first condition in which a valve closing spring and pressure responsive actuator are allowed to operate the valve member in the normal fashion and to a second condition in which the spring is compressed sufficient to relieve closing pressure on the valve member and enable safe disassembly of the actuator casing and spring.

Abstract: A support rod assembly for drapery panels in which an elongated horizontal rod is mounted by upper wall brackets on a wall for horizontally supporting an upper portion of a drapery panel and at least one vertical rod is mounted at its upper end on an upper bracket and mounted at its lower end on lower wall bracket for vertically supporting a portion of the drapery panel. The support rod assembly preferably includes front and rear vertical rods that are supported on the upper and lower bracket with the front vertical rod disposed forwardly of the rear vertical rod so that a drapery panel horizontally supported on the horizontal rod can be drawn around the front vertical rod and connected to the rear vertical rod. The wall brackets are preferably adjustable to vary the spacing of the horizontal and vertical rods relative to the wall or other supporting surface. Vertical rods can be provided on only one end of the horizontal rod in some installations and on both ends of the horizontal rod in other installations.