Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and transporting an invalid from a wheelchair to a bed or other location and back including a sling suspended from a motor driven winch for raising and lowering the sling. The winch is suspended from a motorized traverse mechanism for reciprocably moving the winch and sling along a horizontal track attached to the ceiling of a room for transporting the invalid.

Abstract: A connector for securely connecting prefabricated sections consisting of horizontal and vertical frame members interconnected into a unitary structure by the connector consisting essentially of a body arranged to slidably fit into a connector-receiving cavity adjacent one end of a vertical member, a threaded extension arranged to be entered into a threaded orifice carried at the junction of a pair of abutting horizontal members and means, such as a grub-screw, for tightening the body in said cavity in the assembled position of the furniture structure.

Abstract: An area of soil having an initial low bearing strength, such as an alluvial or sandy area, or an area formed by hydraulic fill, is compacted to provide an improved area of high bearing strength by forming a plurality of granular particulate (e.g., crushed stone, pebbles or sand) columns in pre-compacted holes in the area. The pre-compacted holes are formed by vibratorily driving a hollow probe having openable closure means set in closed position at its lower end, vertically downwardly to form each vertical hole, the soil around the probe thus being compacted. Thereafter, the probe is vibratorily extracted and granular particles are passed downwardly through the probe with the adjustable closure means open. Desirably, the granular material is compacted, i.e.

Abstract: A somewhat channel shaped elongated connector element interconnecting an upwardly extending backsplash element with a counter top along the rear edge thereof includes a lower flange abutting the lower surface of such counter top, a web section having a lower portion thereof abutting the rear edge of such counter top, and an upper flange positioned in a groove provided in the rear surface of such backsplash element. The connector element upper flange is not as thick as the groove in which it is positioned except at spaced intervals along the length thereof where protrusions are provided thereon; the thickness of such connector element upper flange added to the depth of such protrusions being greater than the width of such backsplash element groove. The "press-fit" of such protrusion carrying connector element upper flange within such groove strongly connects such backsplash element with such connector element.

Abstract: A collapsible cupboard or cabinet, for the storage of tools and household implements, which can be made available in kit form. Such cabinet comprises a rear wall provided on its front top and bottom edges with at least one horizontal groove; two horizontal shelves or plates which are provided with means for fastening said plates to the rear wall, for instance in the form of profiled edges which can be detachably inserted in said grooves; and two sidewalls which can be attached thereto at right angles from the outside on each side and which can be detachably fastened at least along their top and bottom edges to the narrow sides of the shelves. The sidewalls have recesses at their front vertical edges for detachably receiving hinge elements to which leaves of the door can be detachably fastened.

Abstract: A piling rig comprises two sound-reducing enclosures arranged one over the other. In use the bottom enclosure is arranged around a row of piling and the top enclosure surrounds the piling hammer as it moves along the row of piling for pile-driving or pile-extraction purposes.

Abstract: A method of, manufacturing refrigerating units (equipment), such as refrigerating and refrigerated showcases, store fixtures and the like, including forming walls, partitions and/or panels having a layer of plastic foam formed in situ. Standard modular elements are produced, each constituting a portion of a wall, bottom or upper portion of the unit to be constructed. Each element is provided with respective stepwise tiers formed along its two longer edges and along its two shorter edges with respective outwardly extending protuberances formed from the layer of plastic foam. The modular elements are assembled along their longer edges, at least some of the shorter edges also being in contact. Units made by the method are described.

Abstract: Hardware for a reversible kitchen cabinet shelf includes upper and lower molded or stamped plates which are attached respectively to the upper and lower panels of a cabinet. The plates include an arcuate track and a transverse guide slot which is generally perpendicular to the front edge of the cabinet. Followers attached to the top and bottom of a shelf unit for the cabinet cooperate with the arcuate track and slot whereby the shelf construction may be pivoted and reversed with respect to the cabinet enclosure.

Abstract: Compact shelving consisting of a cluster of elongated, upstanding stacks of shelves juxtaposed side by side are accessible by mounting each elongated stack on an elongated carriage having rear rollers guided in elongated floor tracks coextensive in length and width with the stack and hidden thereunder. There are plastic tired wheels under the front of the carriage so that the carriage and stack can be moved, endwise on a track out of the cluster to expose the open side shelves. Front shelves increase the storage capacity. A removable crank on the front end, through twist-belt power transmission, advances and retracts each stack.

Abstract: A housing for a self-supporting interior structure of electrical or electronic apparatus has a front panel and a casing formed of two U-shaped casing members detachably connected with one another via side spacing members. The side spacing members are formed such that lateral depressions extend inwardly from the side spacing members and extend along the depth of the apparatus for accommodating guide elements such that the housing containing the apparatus will slide into a rack. Use of such depressions permits close vertical spacing of adjacent apparatus housings in a rack and also functions as a handle for transporting individual housings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a stabilized and hardened layer, by which extensive and deep-layered zones of clay, silt, and/or sand (hereinafter referred in as "Weak Soil Layer") in such places as rivers, lakes, marshes, harbors and/or the sea may be easily turned into stabilized foundation ground necessary for civil construction, the surface layer of said weak soil layer being partially or wholly turned into stabilized foundation ground at or to a fixed depth by stabilization treatment of said weak soil layer with a solidifier agent including cement.

Abstract: A drawer slide having a pair of parallel slide members, one of the slide members having a roller at the end opposite the roller of the one member.The slide members are channel-shaped and oppositely arranged, with the roller of one slide member received in the channel of the other slide member, the rollers carrying each respective slide member. A resilient tab is lanced out of one of the slide members adjacent an end. When the slides are installed in a drawer or cabinet, one slide member is attached to the side of a drawer while the other slide member is attached to an adjacent part of the desk or cabinet drawer opening. The tab is turned inwardly of the slide member opposite the slide member having a roller at that end. The free end of the tab is at the free end of the slide member from which it is lanced out; and, when the slide members are retracted, the tab frictionally and yieldingly engages a part of the adjacent roller to take up any play between the two slide members.

Abstract: Known furniture systems of the knock-down type are provided with improved connecting elements; i.e., hinge fixing plates, drawer slides, shelf supports and facing strips, which facilitate assembly and fabrication increase stability and durability, and refine the appearance of the cabinet. The improved hinge fixing plate includes bearing bosses so arranged and structured as to accept conventionally available hinges in such manner as to permit adjusting of the cabinet door overhang. The improved drawer slide includes a longitudinal open-end rear slot and a transverse or vertical open-bottom forward slot spaced therefrom; the two slots cooperating to form an improved installation means. The shelf support bracket attaches to the side edge of a partial shelf having the ear section cut off to provide clearance for a lighting fixture. The shelf bracket uses countersunk holes to provide clearance between the heads of the attaching screws and the adjusting side walls.

Abstract: The base construction comprises base rails along each side and each end, with each of the rails having the shape in transverse cross section of an upwardly open channel with the outer leg of the channel having a height greater than the inner leg, and the inner leg having a horizontal flange projecting inwardly from along the top of the inner leg, and separate pan means forming the bottom walls for both the outdoor air flow section and the separate indoor air flow section, each including a horizontal wall and an upturned flange along each edge, the pans nesting in the frame formed by the rails, the assembly thus formed being secured together by spot welding the upturned flanges to the outer legs, and the horizontal walls of the pans along their margins to the inwardly projecting horizontal flanges of the rails.

Abstract: A tight-fitting corner construction is provided for use between adjacent, integrally connected parts of a common panel. A specially configured, three-sided miter groove is formed between the panel parts, and the panel is folded to close the groove and to form a corner between the panel parts. An overhanging lip is provided on one of the panel parts along one side of the groove. When the panel is folded to form a corner, the lip is brought into overlying engagement with inner surface portions of the other panel part to effect a thorough, tight-fitting closure of the groove. The panel preferably comprises a hollow, elongated plastic member which is used to form the sides and back of a drawer frame. Snap-acting locking devices are carried in hollow portions of the panel adjacent the corner locations to lock the panel in its folded configuration. A drawer front carries connectors which project into hollow portions of the drawer sides.

Abstract: An easily assembled and disassembled free-standing modular furniture unit which may be particularly adapted for use in hospital pharmacies or the like. The unit comprises a lower section which includes a self-supporting, generally parallelepiped-shaped container having top and bottom walls, and an upper section. The top wall of the lower section has at least a pair of spaced holes therethrough, and the bottom wall includes upwardly exposed brackets which are vertically aligned with the top wall holes. The unit includes at least a pair of upright support posts carrying the upper section at their upper ends and extending slideably downwardly through the top wall holes in snug, supportive relationship with the holes. The bottom ends of the posts are releasably secured to the brackets. By upward removal of the posts from the holes in the lower section, the upper and lower sections may be disconnected and may be readily replaced with other furniture sections.

Abstract: An attachment for conventional beds whereby a bed is made to tilt, rotating generally about the centerline of a person lying in the bed, the attachment including a pair of stanchions, each stanchion having a stirrup pivotally connected thereto, each stirrup having cups for receiving the feet of a bed, and a tilt control means for shifting the stirrup with respect to the stanchion, the stirrup rotating about the pivotal axis which is generally aligned with the centerline of a person lying in the bed.

Abstract: The combination of a marine structure having a foot disposed in the bed of a body of water and first means for reducing and preventing scours of the bed at the foot of the marine structure with the foot in place, second means mounting the first means for general vertical sliding movement along the foot, the first means having opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion being more remotely spaced from the foot than the second end portion in a first in-place operative position of the first means, and the second means mount the second end portions of the first means for the latter sliding movement.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for the corners of innerspring assemblies comprising spaced parallel parts disposed diagonally across the top and bottom sides of the innerspring assembly, spring members at the opposite ends of the spaced parallel parts disposed between the top and bottom sides which yieldably resist displacement of the top and bottom sides relative to each other and clips fixing the structures to the top and bottom sides of the assembly. The spring members are torsion springs comprising a coil and angularly disposed arms and these are disposed with the arms situated in the planes of the sides and ends of the assembly. Optionally, the top and bottom parts are longitudinallly adjusted to vary the distance between the spring members.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for supporting a document-holding cartridge in a position that permits the documents to be read easily. The cartridge is held on its spine in a position reversed from its normal document-supporting position and means are provided to keep it from tipping sideways by appropriately engaging one of the cartridge hooks by which the cartridge is held in its normal upright position.