Abstract: A threaded shaft and retaining nut assembly having a shaft 4 with a first thread of a first hand along the shaft 4, and a second thread of a second hand opposite to said first hand along the shaft 4. The second thread at least partially overlaps said first thread. A tubular member is screwingly engageable for winding the shaft 4 into and out of the tubular member 3. A retaining nut 10 is screwingly engageable with the second thread for winding the retaining nut 10 back and forth along the shaft 4. In use, the second nut is engageable against an end of the tubular member 3 to prevent unintentional winding of said shaft. A locking member 12 is engageable with the tubular member 3 and the retaining nut 10 to effect a non-rotatable coupling between said tubular member 3 and retaining nut.

Abstract: A locknut system having a projecting screw threaded member with a first external thread. A nut is mountable on the projecting screw threaded member by means of a corresponding thread. A second different screw thread is formed on the projecting screw threaded member. The second screw thread is of a different hand or a different pitch from the first screw thread. A locking member has a screw thread for engagement with the second screw thread of the projecting screw threaded member and has an engaging surface which can be brought into abutting contact with a corresponding engaging surface on the nut by mating the thread of the locking member with the second thread of the projecting screw threaded member. A coupling member operates to couple the locking member and the nut to substantially prevent relative rotation there between.

Abstract: A wheel nut assembly includes a stud (1), a main wheel nut (4) mountable on threads (3) provided on the stud, and a retaining nut (6) engageable with threads (5) provided on the stud to prevent accidental loosening of the wheel nut (4). The threads of the wheel nut (4) and the threads for the retaining nut (6) are of opposite hand. A cap (11) is slidably mounted on the retaining nut (6) and biased into a first position by a spring (16). The cap (11) includes multi-hexagonal profiles (12, 14) for engaging hexagonal profiles (13, 15) provided on the retaining nut (6) and on the main wheel nut (4). Accordingly, in the first position, the retaining nut (6) and the main wheel nut (4) are rotationally locked to each other and because of the opposite hand of the respective threads it is not possible to remove the retaining nut. To release the retaining nut (6), the cap (11) is grasped and pulled to the limit permitted by the spring (16) to permit rotation of the retaining nut (6) and removal thereof.

Abstract: A self-leveling support includes a first stile (1) and a second stile (2), a first leg member (6) and a second leg member (7), each having an elongate element adapted to move longitudinally relative to one of the stiles (1, 2), a spacer (3) adapted to secure the stiles (1, 2) substantially parallel to each other, and a cross member (8) adapted to pivot about a pivot pin (9) acting in a guide (10) in the spacer (3) substantially midway between the stiles (1, 2), the cross member being connected at each end to a respective portion of the leg members, angular movement of the cross member about or with the pivot pin causing one leg member to move outwards relative to its respective stile while the other leg member moves inwards relative to its respective stile.