Abstract: A spacer for use in maintaining inner and outer concrete form walls at a specified uniform spacing. The spacer includes a screw shaft having a right hand threaded portion and a left hand threaded portion; a first nut threadably mounted on the left hand threaded portion; a second nut threadably mounted on the right hand threaded portion; a first spacer plate secured to and extending downwardly from the first nut; a second spacer plate secured to and extending downwardly from the second nut; and a stabilizer and stiffener assembly including a male guide structure secured to the first nut and including a rod extending generally parallel to the screw shaft and a female guide structure secured to the second nut and defining a socket telescopically receiving the free end of the rod.

Abstract: A tire mounting apparatus for mounting a flexible tire on a rim includes a robot having at least one articulated joint and a wrist. The robot is moveable with at least three degrees of freedom along a selectable one of a plurality of programmable predetermined paths. A central processing unit selectively executes any one of the plurality of paths stored in memory. A bead mounting tool is attachable to the wrist of the robot for movement along the selected one of the plurality of programmable predetermined paths of the robot. The tool is orientatable with at least three degrees of freedom independent of the selected one of the plurality of programmable predetermined paths. A workpiece support positions the rim in a predetermined location with respect to the robot and positions the tire in a predetermined orientation with respect to the rim. A signal is generated and sent to the robot corresponding to a size of the rim and tire combination to be assembled.

Abstract: An outside door handle assembly for a motor vehicle. The handle assembly includes a housing mounted in the door and a handle having a grip portion and an arm portion extending inwardly from one end of the handle for passage through an opening in the handle for coaction with a latch release mechanism positioned within the door. An annular resilient member is mounted on the arm portion proximate the juncture of the arm portion and the grip portion.

Abstract: A wire harness protector comprises a trough having front and rear walls, a bottom wall, and a cover attached to the trough by a living hinge. The front wall of the trough has one or more locking tab sockets with lateral tab-receiving openings. At least one locking tab is connected to the front edge of the cover by a tab living hinge in alignment with the socket on the trough. Guide blocks are provided on the cover to automatically align the cover to the trough and each locking tab with each associated socket when the cover is closed on the trough. Each locking tab can be independently moved on its own living hinge into the front-facing lateral socket opening to independently lock all of the tabs on the cover in their sockets.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrofitting a vehicle for removing spent oil from an oil pan reservoir installed in an access aperture located in a floor bottom of the oil pan reservoir. The device includes a low profile quick connect nipple having a first end threadably sealing into the access aperture and a second end releasably engagable with a mating fitting positioned on an externally located fluid delivery device and further having a fluid tight closure when the second end is disengaged from the fluid delivery device. The apparatus has a center throughbore having a movable member therein. The movable member includes a stem and a circular flared portion. A retainer clip is securely attached to an upper end of the stem. A ring configuration has a center through aperture for receiving the stem and radial connections extending to the periphery of the throughbore. The ring configuration centers the stem and defines a stop for the movable member when the retainer clip contacts the ring configuration.

Abstract: A high production multiple station endforming machine mounts a plurality of work stations upon an indexable rotary head whereby rotation of the head permits the work stations to be indexed between loading, operational and unloading positions. The workpieces are locked in jaw members operated by an over-center linkage wherein the position of the linkage is controlled by expansible chamber motors.

Abstract: A sliding sunshade for placement in a sunroof frame along the perimeter of an opening in a roof of a vehicle. The sunshade includes a planar rectangular panel and bow-shaped spring located at each corner of the lateral edges of the panel. The planar panel and springs are integrally connected and molded from plastic as a single unit. The springs slide in the frame when assembled in the sunroof for maintaining a rattle-free condition of the panel.

Abstract: An improved tailgate for use on a vehicle and pivotally connected to a cargo area of the vehicle. The tailgate has an inner surface exposed to the cargo area and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface. The tailgate has a center open area defined by an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges. Tubular bars extend within the center open area and connected to at least two of the edges. The bars are positioned such that an exposed surface of each bar is planar to the inner surface of the tailgate to provide a level surface when the tailgate is in the horizontal position to provide a working surface.

Abstract: A vibration damping insert adapted to be positioned within the hollow tubular shaft of a golf club. The insert includes a central rod member sized to fit within the hollow shaft of the club and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins extending radially outwardly from and substantially coextensive with the rod member, with the fins sized and configured to engage the inner tubular surface of the shaft. The fins form a part of an annular outer body separate from the central rod member and formed of a material having a durometer hardness less than the durometer hardness of the central rod member. The central rod member and annular outer body are preferably formed in a coextrusion process.

Abstract: An epidermal scrubbing device intended for use by human beings comprising a rigid plastic base having integral suction cups for attachment to a shower wall. Insert molded into the base is a polypropylene plastic scrubbing surface characterized by a two-dimensional array of soft, smooth surfaced, plastic nubs having a height on the order of ½ of an inch. Where desired, a column of slightly higher nubs may be added for scrubbing, for example, the spinal area.

Abstract: A percutaneous access device implantable beneath the skin of a patient includes a turret assembly containing current limiters, electrical contacts and fluid couplings and includes a sealing device having a small screw fastener at the bottom of the turret assembly. A screwdriver is provided configured to have access through a required air inlet passage to provide rapid removal and replacement of a new turret. The screwdriver includes a shaft having an eccentric drive socket. A handle has a roller clutch bearing pressed in place to allow the handle to freely turn clockwise to tighten the screw but locks the handle to the shaft for screw extraction in the counterclockwise direction. A driver captively engages a fastener for assembling a first part having a shoulder to a mating fitting having an aperture.

Abstract: A self-wringing ratchet mop is disclosed to comprise an elongate handle including at least one channel provided along a discrete length thereof, a tubular member slidably and rotatably disposed on the handle, and a mop swab connected to the handle and the tubular member. The tubular member has a wall including at least one pawl formed therein. The at least one pawl is engageable with the at least one channel to resist rotation of the tubular member in a first direction about the handle, and the at least one pawl is further flexibly moveable out of engagement with the at least one channel when the tubular member is rotated in a second direction about the handle. And when the at least one pawl is positioned along a length of the mop handle other than the discrete length, the tubular member is freely rotatable in both the first and second directions about the mop handle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring stack gas emissions wherein a probe including temperature and pressure indicating transducers is sequentially located at predetermined positions within a smokestack and the output of such transducers is fed into an electronic data logger for retention therein. The data logger includes a light hand held module having a liquid crystal display and start/reverse/advance pushbutton switches whereby the data logger can be remotely controlled. The invention eliminates the necessity of using two operators to record the desired information and significantly reduces the cost of producing accurate evaluation of stack gas emissions.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly that provides a constant level of least restricted fuel flow through the fuel filter assembly during the useful life of the filter media by utilizing the least possible amount of filter media to provide the least possible pressure differential over the filter media while also providing a constant level of fuel additive by exposing an amount proportional to the filter media required for the least possible restricted fuel flow. The fuel filter assembly utilizes a vertically upward housing that houses a filter media and a fuel additive. The fuel level slowly rises in the housing as the filter media becomes obstructed with contaminants and as the fuel additive dissolves over the life of the filter media. The top portion of the housing is made of a transparent material so that the level of fuel may be easily determined, thereby allowing for an accurate and simple assessment of the useful life of the filter media and the fuel additive.