Abstract: A wheel handling apparatus has an upright frame movably supporting a carrier connected to a wheel holder and a power unit for operating the wheel holder. A winch mounted on the carrier is used to move the carrier along the frame. The wheel holder has a body rotatably mounted on the carrier and a cone head connected to the power unit. The body supports arms that are moved into engagement with a wheel when the head is moved by the power unit into the body.

Abstract: An expandable joiner is used to secure tubular frame members of a pickup truck box rack in end-to-end relationship. The joiner is adaped to be located in adjacent end sections of the tubular members. The joiner has a longitudinal channel separating a pair of jaws. The jaws have adjacent spaced surfaces providing the longitudinal channel. Each spaced surface has a plurality of longitudinal grooves therein. Screws threadably engage the jaws longitudinal grooves to expand the joiner to releasably couple the frame members in end-to-end relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading the bead of a pneumatic tire from a rim has a double acting piston and cylinder assembly that moves to an extended spread position and a retracted position. The piston and cylinder assembly has a cylinder, a piston slideably disposed in the cylinder and a piston rod connected to the cylinder. A first jaw connected to the piston rod is adapted to engage the rim supporting the tire. A second jaw is secured to the cylinder for engagement with the bead of the tire. A rod and tube guide structure connected to the first jaw in the cylinder maintains the jaws in longitudinal alignment during the extension and contraction of the piston and cylinder assembly. A control valve mounted on the cylinder has a pair of valving members interconnected with a pivoted beam so that the valving members function together to selectively move the jaws to an expanded spreading position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A rack assembly having a plurality of tubular members adapted to be mounted on a pickup truck box. The sides of the rack assembly taper upwardly and outwardly to increase accessibility to items contained in the truck box. A plurality of tubular joiners located within adjacent end sections of the tubular members releasably couple the members in end-to-end relationship. The outer surface of each joiner has a circumferential annular groove intersecting at least one longitudinal groove adapted to cooperate with an inwardly extended tab provided on one of the end sections to lock the tubular members together.

Abstract: A machine for quickly and efficiently rolling carpet runners or mats after laundering, for storage, transport and reuse. The machine includes a set of belts (23) for upwardly inclined travel and an interesting set of belts (26) for generally vertical traveling. An assembly of arcuate fingers (28) cooperates with the belts to guide the leading edge of a carpet runner (27) into the beginning of a roll so as to assist in formation of a tight compact roll of carpet. An electric motor (20) is provided for driving the belts (23,26). Upon completion of the carpet roll, air cylinder (34) and crank arm (36) are provided for retracting the finger assembly to permit the carpet roll to roll down the inclined belts (23) for removal from the machine. Stop arms (37) are provided to retain the rolled carpet. Control switches actuated by foot pedal (44) and buttons (54 and 55 ) are provided for the belt drives, finger assembly, raising and lowering and extension and retraction of the stop arms (37).

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector system for structural frameworks which comprises a strut element (14) having one end connected to the end of a beam member (16). The strut element (14) has an axial bore (26) with the head portion of a bolt (36) retained therein. The shank (40) of the bolt extends outwardly from the strut element for threaded engagement with a correspondingly threaded aperture of a dodecahedral node (12). A drive nut (42) is fixed to the shank of the bolt and used for rotating the bolt so that the shank is screwed into the node (12). A set screw (46) passes through the strut element (14) to impinge upon the head of the bolt thereby preventing rotation of the strut element with respect to the bolt. A hollow metal rod (54) extends through the end of the beam member (16) and aligned apertures (52) in the end of strut element (14). The ends of the rod are riveted to secure the strut element to the beam member.

Abstract: A machine for quickly and efficiently rolling carpet runners or mats after laundering, for storage, transport and reuse. The machine includes a set of belts for horizontal travel and an interacting set of belts for generally vertical travel and guide means for directing the leading edge of a carpet runner from engagement with the horizontal belts to engagement with the vertical belts. An assembly of arcuate fingers cooperates with the belts to guide the leading edge of a carpet runner into the beginning of a roll and to assist in formation of a tight compact roll of carpet. Power means are provided for driving the belts. Means are provided for retracting the finger assembly from a completed rolled carpet runner. Controls are provided for the drive and retraction means.