Abstract: A fire ladder includes as opposite sides a pair of elongate flexible cables in the form of interwoven strands of wire. Hollow tubes flattened and scored on their upper surfaces extend rigidly between the cables to provide the ladder rungs. The rungs have initially open ends into which looped portions of the cables are inserted. One side wall of the rung is then crimped inwardly and pressed against the opposite wall to firmly clamp the cable within the rung. Hook-like arms secured to the ends of the cables serve to suspend the ladder from a window sill and may be folded by means of a hinge structure to a collapsed storage position occupying little space. A spring located within the hinge arms maintains the hook-like support arms spaced apart during use, while stops prevent the arms from pivoting excessively.

Abstract: An automatic drip coffeemaker includes a removable, top mounted reservoir which delivers water in accurately controlled quantities to a small water tank. From the tank, the water flows through a tube to a heater well in which it is heated to boiling, thereby causing it to overflow the well. The hot water then flows a short distance to a spout located above a basket and spreader assembly through which it passes prior to entering a carafe which is heated by a warming plate. A control circuit serves to control the brewing and heating cycle. The water heating system also finds application for other purposes such as heating liquids for tea or soup.

Abstract: A motor driven can opener includes a pivotal hand lever assembly which may be removed from the can opener frame. A latch on the frame engages an edge portion of the hand lever to retain the lever on the frame throughout its normal operating range. A plate on which a can cutting element is carried is mounted to slide on the forward surface of the lever. A tab projects from the plate and catches on a hardened steel pin of the frame to hold the hand lever against the actuator of a rotary switch which maintains the motor in its energized condition during shearing of a can lid. When the can shearing is completed, the tab releases from the pin to automatically deenergize the motor.A manual crank may be employed as an alternative to electrical power. The motor is removed from the drive train when the crank is employed and brought back into the drive train when the crank is removed.

Abstract: A rotary type electrical switch includes one housing section having a plurality of lugs and another housing section having resilient brackets which snap into engagement with the lugs to assemble the housing. The stationary electrical contacts comprise leaf spring elements which are held in place within the housing by bridge members. A spider member electrically connects selected contacts in response to manipulation of a shaft on which the spider is carried.A second embodiment eliminates the lugs and resilient brackets and holds the housing sections together with spring clips which surround portions of one housing section and engage shoulders of the other housing section.

Abstract: A power operated can opener includes a feed wheel that is driven by a shaft carried on a pivotal yoke, with the shaft being driven by an electric motor through reduction gearing. A pawl is pivoted to a rock plate which is in turn pivoted to a spring loaded lever mounted on the can opener frame. The pawl is operated by a pair of push buttons and associated linkage which energizes the motor as the pawl is pivoted against the feed wheel shaft. Orbiting pins carried outboard of the shaft axis are engaged by the pawl to effect movement of the feed wheel toward or away from the can cutting element between a can shearing position and a can release position.A roller carried on the rock plate is moved against the shaft to lock the feed wheel in can shearing position. The spring loaded lever provides a cushioning means which increases the thrust of the feed wheel and thus improves the efficiency of the initial piercing of the can end.

Abstract: An electrically powered can opener includes a can cutting element carried on a mounting plate which is pivoted to the can opener frame. An operating lever is connected to the mounting plate for limited pivotal movement beyond which the plate and lever pivot unitarily on the frame. A notched area on the hand lever becomes engaged against a catch member on the frame to retain the lever in place when it is brought into position to shear a can lid. The lever is held against a plunger switch which maintains the motor in its energized condition during shearing of the can lid. After the completion of the shearing when the operating thrust is no longer present, biasing forces acting on the lever disengage it from the catch member and release the plunger for automatic shut off of the motor.

Abstract: A power operated can opener includes a hand lever which pivots on the can opener frame to carry a cutting element into and out of cutting position. A can feed wheel is carried on a motor driven shaft which is supported for limited vertical movement within a tapered, elliptical bore in the frame. A spring biased switch control lever is pivoted to the back of the frame in contact with the feed wheel shaft. When the cutting element is moved against the lid of a can, the downward force on the feed wheel displaces the shaft downwardly and pivots the switch control lever against the motor switch to initiate rotation of the feed wheel before the can lid is pierced by the cutting element.

Abstract: A compact, electrically powered can opener with power pierce has a compound piercing lever comprised of a pivotally mounted hand lever and an interconnected, removable cutter mounting plate. The cutter mounting plate is removably and pivotally connected to the frame by a pin member latching combination. A first pin member extends rearwardly from the cutter mounting plate and is received in a suitable aperture in the can opener frame to pivotally attach the cutter mounting plate thereto. A cooperating latching combination, comprised of a latch arrangement located between the cutter mounting plate and the can opener frame and a slotted frame aperture which cooperates with a second, rearwardly extending cutter mounting plate pin, firmly maintains the cutter mounting plate in correct alignment with respect to the frame as the cutter mounting plate pivots, precluding axial separation therebetween throughout a major portion of the pivot arc.