Abstract: A locking fastener assembly for axle bearings and the like is free spinning during tightening and removal and is positively held against rotation after installation. The assembly is engageable with an axially slotted male threaded member and includes a nut with female threads and a flange end. A retainer washer includes spaced fingers formed around the nut flange for rotatably supporting the washer at the flanged end of the nut. The washer includes a tab received in the slot of the male threaded member permitting the nut to move axially but not to rotate on the male threaded member. When the nut is engaged by a wrench, the wrench releases a flexible and resilient locking clip to permit the nut freely to rotate. After the assembly has been threaded onto the male threaded member, removal of the wrench frees the locking clip and a lock finger is received in a space between fingers of the retainer washer positively to prevent further rotation of the nut.

Abstract: A method for producing captive washer wheel nuts. The washer and nut body are formed as a single piece, greatly simplifying and reducing the number of separate manufacturing steps, such as threading and forming bearing surfaces on the washer and nut body. An axially symmetric frusto-conical groove at an oblique angle to the axis of symmetry is formed in the nut-washer blank. The groove is sufficiently deep to be closer to the axis of symmetry than a small-radius concave feature on the underside of the washer. Upon application of axial compression, the washer separates from the nut body along a frusto-conical fracture surface defined between the bottom of the groove and the concave feature on the washer. The orientation of this fractured surface causes the washer to be captured to the nut body.

Abstract: A device for automatically securing a cargo container to a support such as a deck of a vehicle or a second container with which the first container is to be stacked. The device includes a base having a projecting shear block received in the locking opening of the container. A head rotates between an unlocked or loading position in which the head moves through the locking opening and a locked position in which the container is secured. Automatic entry and release are provided by a spring within the base biasing the head to the locked position but permitting movement to the unlocked position when torque is applied by engagement of the container with a cam surface on the head. Visible indication of the locked position and positive locking of the head in the locked position may be provided.

Abstract: The base mold is made from a single sheet of plastic material and is adapted to receive a specimen and either (1) a tissue processing cassette, or (2) an embedding ring. A fluid/solid fixation material is poured into the base mold and allowed to solidify in order to fix the specimen to and adjacent an outer bottom surface of the cassette or the embedding ring while the cassette or embedding ring is being supported by the base mold. The base mold includes a cassette/embedding ring supporting panel and a tissue receiving receptacle integral with and depending from the supporting panel. The base mold further includes a support formation integral with and depending from the cassette supporting panel. The support formation extends at least part way around the receptacle and includes a lower edge disposed in one plane to provide a sturdy supporting edge for supporting the base mold on a planar surface.

Abstract: An expandable modular storage system for holding slides and cassettes comprises storage compartments formed by a first wall element of C-shaped transverse cross-section having a pair of parallel facing walls integrally joined by a web or side wall normal thereto. The outer edge portions of the C-shaped elements are slidably interconnected with additional C-shaped elements along the opposite edges of the side wall to provide additional storage compartments as needed and a last compartment in a row is closed with a generally flat wall element having opposite edges slidably interconnected with the free outer edges of the walls of the last C-shaped wall element in a row. The storage system may include any number of rows of modular compartments and the rows are stacked vertically and interconnected with joining elements.

Abstract: A container for handling, transportation and storage of microscope slides includes a plurality of individual microscope slide-receiving compartments. Each compartment includes a plurality of rounded protuberances extending upwardly in each individual compartment for contacting a lower surface of the microscope slide to space the microscope slide upwardly from an inner surface of the compartments and a plurality of rounded protuberances extending downwardly from one or more cover members to restrain vertical slide movement while maintaining longitudinal and lateral spacing of the microscope slides. The container includes one or more plastic cover members having a generally planar surface overlying the plurality of microscope slides when the cover is in a closed position including a plurality of downwardly extending rounded protuberances within each of the slide-receiving compartments for vertical restraint of each microscope slide with minimum contact against the specimen-receiving face of each slide.

Abstract: Tissue cassette apparatus includes a removable, hinged cover separate from the cassette base wherein the cover is easily attachable and detachable from the base without being frangible. The removable cover includes a hinge member portion mateable with a cooperable hinge member portion on the cassette base structurally formed so that the hinge member portions cannot be separated when the cover member is closed on the base, but easily can be separated when the cover member is in a predetermined, opened position. The cover member is rotatable about the hinge member to an open position permitting placement of a specimen within the cassette base and to a closed position containing a specimen within the cassette base such that the cover member can be removed from the cassette base by elastic flexing of the hinge member without substantial damage to the hinge member.

Abstract: A composite molded plastic article includes a metal nut insert adapted to be molded in place within the body of plastic material. The nut insert is adapted to be mounted on a pin projecting into a mold cavity of the mold used in forming the article. The nut insert includes a central bore extending between a pair of parallel, planar faces of polygonal outline and defining along the edges thereof a first pair of substantially planar, opposite side edges which angularly intersect a second pair of opposite side edges having a longitudinally extending groove therein and/or a parallel rib between the parallel, planar faces of the nut insert.

Abstract: A container pedestal for supporting and securing a cargo container having a catch opening on a vehicle such as a rail car. The pedestal includes a base defining a platform for supporting the container. A pivotal latch lever is biased by a spring into a latched position wherein a latching nose on the lever registers with a latch recess in the container. The latch nose is contacted by the container for pivoting the latch lever from the latched to a released position when the container is raised or lowered. The latch lever can be manually locked, yet self-entry automatic loading can be carried out in the locked condition. A line contact between the latch lever and the spring provides reliable and consistent latch operation due to a uniform spring lever arm length.

Abstract: A container pedestal for supporting and securing a cargo container having a catch opening on a vehicle such as a rail car. The pedestal includes a base defining a platform for supporting the container. A pivotal latch lever is biased by a spring into a latched position wherein a latching nose on the lever registers with a latch recess in the container. The latch nose is contacted by the container for pivoting the latch lever from the latched to a released position when the container is raised or lowered. The latch lever is mounted for vertical movement as well as pivotal movement, and interfacing locking surfaces are provided on the latch lever and on the pedestal base for preventing pivotal movement of the latch lever out of the latched position when the latch lever is in an upper position. The spring biases the latch lever upwardly to maintain the locking surfaces normally in engagement so that, when the latch lever is in its upper position, the container cannot pivot the latch lever.

Abstract: Fastener assemblies for mounting a workpiece such as a hub centered wheel rim include a threaded fastener and a clamp washer. The fastener includes a body having a thread structure and a structure engageable by a tool for tightening of a threaded joint to urge the fastener assembly against the workpiece. The clamp washer includes a central aperture surrounding the thread structure and interposed between the fastener body and the workpiece. A pair of cooperating bearing surfaces are formed on the inner end of the workpiece and the outer side of the clamp washer, and a clamp surface is defined on the inner side of the clamp washer. When the fastener assembly is tightened against the workpiece, the bearing surfaces comprise continuous annular spherical zones having common centers and radii of curvature to the end that the bearing surfaces are in intimate wide area face-to-face contact and the clamp surface is in flat area contact with the workpiece regardless of the squareness condition of the threaded joint.

Abstract: A device for quickly releasing tension in a load securement element such as high tension banding used to secure loads to railroad flat cars. The device includes a tubular housing within which a slide member is movable between set and released positions. Attachment devices for connection to the band or element and to a support are carried by the housing and slide member and are separated when the slide member moves from the set to the released position. A lock pin carried in the slide member engages the hosuing for locking the slide member in the set position, and also for guiding the movement of the slide member in the housing. A release element on the housing is readily movable in the transverse direction, as by striking with a hammer, to release the lock pin and permit the slide member to move from the set position. A bright colored surface on the slide member visible through a window in the housing indicates the position of the slide member.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners such as pierce nuts is formed from a metal blank with no scrap resulting from the provision of a spacing between adjacent nut bodies, and without the difficulty and expense incident to attaching nut bodies to connecting elements. The body portion of a laterally flanged blank is severed in the transverse direction to separate nut bodies from the blank without fracturing the flanges. The flanges are severed in the longitudinal direction to form severed longitudinally extending flange segments integral at both ends with unsevered flange segments. When the flanges are straightened, the stretching of the severed flange segments resulting from shearing provides a spacing between adjacent nut bodies in the strip. The strip includes spaced apart nut bodies interconnected by continuous lateral flanges. The flanges include unsevered lateral flange segments integral with both sides of each nut body, and severed flange segments integral at both ends with the unsevered flange segments.

Abstract: A railroad hand brake includes a spring clutch interposed between an operating hand wheel and a gear drive for the chain drum. The clutch includes a spring cooperating with a control drum and with an output drum connected to the gear drive. An input element is rotated by the hand wheel in a forward direction to energize the spring so that the input element, the control drum and the output drum rotate as a unit to take up the brake load. A ratchet and pawl prevent reverse movement of the control drum in order to maintain the brake load applied when the hand wheel is released. When the hand wheel is rotated in the reverse direction, the input element tends to deenergize the spring, and the brake load is gradually released with a clutch action characterized by small input force and little wear. A quick release element operable with a small manual force abruptly uncouples the spring from the load drum in order to free the load quickly while the input element and hand wheel are stationary.

Abstract: A locking fastener such as a threaded nut, bolt or screw includes a body portion with a flange at the workpiece engaging end defining a bearing surface. Segments of the flange are rendered rigid by brace structure associated with the body portion of the fastener. Locking teeth project from the bearing surface in resilient segments of the flange located between the rigid segments. Upon tightening of the fastener against a workpiece, substantial clamp loads are imposed by the rigid flange segments while engagement of the teeth with the workpiece causes axial deflection of the resilient segments so that loss of clamp load and decrease in release torque due to tooth embedment is prevented.

Abstract: A fastener such as a threaded nut, bolt or screw includes a body portion with a bearing surface at the workpiece engaging end defined at least in part by a flange. Segments of the bearing surface defined by the flange are flexible and resilient so that upon tightening of the fastener against a workpiece or other element, deflection of the resilient segments provides a spring action to compensate for developed looseness or loss of tension. Other segments of the bearing surface adjacent the flexible segments are rendered rigid by the body portion of the fastener and by brace structure associated with the body portion to the end that substantial spring forces are achieved.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners such as pierce nuts is formed from a metal blank with no scrap resulting from the provision of a spacing between adjacent nut bodies, and without the difficulty and expense incident to attaching nut bodies to connecting elements. The body portion of a laterally flanged blank is severed in the transverse direction to separate nut bodies from the blank without fracturing the flanges. The flanges are severed in the longitudinal direction to form severed longitudinally extending flange segments integral at both ends with unsevered flange segments. When the flanges are straightened, the stretching of the severed flange segments resulting from shearing provides a spacing between adjacent nut bodies in the strip. The strip includes spaced apart nut bodies interconnected by continuous lateral flanges. The flanges include unsevered lateral flange segments integral with both sides of each nut body, and severed flange segments integral at both ends with the unsevered flange segments.

Abstract: A tiedown winch for securing a load such as an automobile to a transporting vehicle such as a railroad car includes a housing slidable in a track carried by the transporting vehicle. A chain for securing the load is wound on a drum journalled in the top and bottom walls of the housing for rotation around a vertical axis. The housing includes end walls, each of which is provided with an opening so that the chain can extend from the housing in either direction. The openings are arranged tangentially with respect to the drum and are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing so that rotation of the drum in a single direction can wind the chain along a direct path through either opening. A locking bolt substantially shorter than the width of the housing is carried by one end wall to engage the track for retaining the winch at a selected position along the track.

Abstract: A tool for applying fasteners to a workpiece includes a housing and a punch reciprocally mounted in the housing. The punch includes an elongated slot through which a feed plate that is slideably mounted within the housing passes. A cam stop member is rotatably and slideably mounted in the housing and biased to engage the punch. The punch includes a first surface to rotate the cam such that a punch engaging edge is positioned against the punch. A second surface is defined on the punch at a predetermined distance spaced from the first surface and is engaged by the edge of the cam at an incomplete stroke of the punch. A third surface on the punch is spaced a predetermined distance from the second surface. The third surface rotates the punch engaging surface of the cam away from the punch at the completion of a full stroke allowing return of the punch to its normal position.

Abstract: A tiedown winch for securing a load such as an automobile to a transporting vehicle such as a railroad car includes a housing slidable in a channel track carried by the transporting vehicle. A chain for securing the load is wound on a drum journalled in top and bottom walls of the housing for rotation around a vertical axis. Both end walls of the housing are provided with openings so that the chain can extend from the housing in either direction, and the openings include contiguous segments in the bottom wall to decrease the height of the housing. The top wall or cover of the housing is hinged for access to the drum, and a single locking mechanism is provided for the cover and for securing the housing against sliding in the track. In an intermediate position, the locking mechanism permits the housing to slide freely while the cover is held closed.