Abstract: A connecting linkage is provided between two structural members which includes a pinned connection to allow rotation of one structural member with respect to the other and which permits adjustment and alignment before locking the device in position without the need for drilling a precisely positioned hole for the pin in the structural member. An oversized hole is formed in one of the structural members and the pin is placed through the hole. A first support plate having pin-sized holes is then placed over each end of the pin followed by a second pair of support plates also having pin-sized holes. The assembly is then moved with respect to the first structural member as permitted by the oversized hole around the pin into a desired position. The second pair of support plates are then welded to the second structural member and the first pair of support plates are welded to the first structural member. If desired, the pin may be welded to the second pair of support plates.

Abstract: The frame has at least two hollow bars extending at right angles to one another and at least one connector, which connects the two hollow bars to one another at a distance from one another. The connector has a locking body as well as an expanding means in which the locking body engages an undercut groove of one bar with a head part and a front-side hollow space of the other hollow bar with a foot end. The locking body has a clamp-shaped design. The expanding means has an eccentric bolt, which expands the two legs at right angles to their longitudinal direction between the two hollow bars, thereby detachably connecting a head end and a foot end of the locking body to the associated hollow bar by clamping.

Abstract: A security mailbox in which the conventional single door, rural mailbox is provided with a high strength enclosure and a latching lock so that when engaged the door of the mailbox may only be opened by a key. The door may also be held in a closed but unlocked position by a sliding magnetic catch that holds the door closed without engaging the latch but allows the door to be manually urged into the fully locked position. In the closed but unlocked position the door may be manually opened by the postal carrier. The postal carrier may manually close the door so that it moves past the closed but unlocked position and engages the latching lock in the fully locked position. A dual function mounting bracket is provided which has both a set of aligned holes for mounting the mailbox to a metal post with bolts and a set of offset holes for mounting the mailbox to a wooden post with screws.

Abstract: A vehicle sunshield includes a folding blind shaped and sized to substantially cover a vehicle rear windscreen. An array of parallel transversely extending spars support the blind at spaced intervals. A guide track is mounted vertically towards the center of the windscreen between upper and lower edges thereof. Carriages supporting the spars are mounted slidably to the guide track, so as to allow the blind to be guided between a folded position in which the windscreen is unshaded and in the deployed position. A remotely operable drive motor is provided for driving the blind up and down along the guide track. The invention includes a similar sunshield for covering a vehicle front windscreen.

Abstract: Various systems for attaching flexible fabric material to rigid vanes in the construction of window coverings are disclosed. The various systems for attaching the fabric material to the vanes create varying aesthetic patterns while providing long-term durability. The systems described can be used to connect single or double sheets of fabric material to the faces of rigid vanes while enabling the vanes to be oriented vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: A security gate for positioning within an area way such as a doorway. The gate includes a support structure defined by a frame and a flexible panel supported by the frame. The frame includes horizontal members and vertical members detachable engaged with the horizontal members. One end of the horizontal members includes a lock assembly including a pivoting linkage defining a parallelogram structure for facilitating firm engagement of the horizontal members with opposing sides of the doorway.

Abstract: An electrical sunshade assembly includes a tubular mounting unit adapted to be secured in an automobile adjacent to a window of the latter and formed with a longitudinally extending slot. A pinion is disposed rotatably in the mounting unit and is driven to rotate in opposite first and second directions. Two racks are disposed movably in the mounting unit on two sides of the pinion. Each rack meshes with the pinion and has a connecting end portion. Rotation of the pinion in the first direction causes the connecting end portions of the racks to move away from each other, while rotation of the pinion in the second direction causes the connecting end portions to move toward each other. A screen unit is located adjacent to the slot of the mounting unit and includes a sun screen and an axially rotatable roller which is biased to wind the sun screen normally thereon.

Abstract: A universal anchor for securing electrical connectors to a motor vehicle includes a body portion and a stem portion extending downwardly from the body portion. The stem portion is constructed and arranged for being secured in an opening in a motor vehicle. The body portion includes a first mount having a first upper surface and a pair of parallel, spaced apart rails disposed the lateral sides of the first surface. A first locking member is disposed on the first upper surface and between the rails for being engaged by locking means on a connector to be mounted thereon. The body portion also includes a second mount defined by an elongated portion projecting from the first mount and having a second upper surface formed thereon and a flange is mounted along each lateral side of the second upper surface. Second and third locking members are disposed on the second mount and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An overhead door apparatus utilizing a torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism. The counterbalancing mechanism includes a worm drive ring-shaped gear winding mechanism for setting the appropriate torque or number of winds in the spring. A counting mechanism is provided to indicate to the installer the number of winds being given to the spring. Means are also provided for accommodating spring growth and contraction during winding and unwinding using the winding mechanism and during normal raising and lowering of the door. A spring clip gear retainer is disclosed for preventing rotation or creep of the worm drive gear and spur gear during normal raising and lowering of the door. A second embodiment is disclosed allowing more universal interchangeability of components between the left and right sides of the door system, easy snap-in assembly, and including a telescoping spring cover. Each embodiment includes a spring winding counter.

Abstract: A valance corner wherein a first panel (10) is pivotally joined to a second panel (12) by a hinge (38). Panel (10) includes fingers (40 and 42) that engage a valance return (52) and panel (12) includes fingers (44 and 46) that engage a valance headrail (58). A detent (60) includes plates (62) with barbs (67) and planar members (64) with grooves (68). The grooves (68) receive the barbs (67) to maintain panels (10 and 12) in predetermined angular relationship.

Abstract: An improved awning assembly for a recreational vehicle has the awning rolled around a roller tube and stowed against a wall. Support arms pivot upwardly to a stowed and latched position parallel with the roller tube and pivot downwardly therefrom. The support arms are attached to hooks or a latching assembly on the vehicle. Rafter arms slide in a channel at the wall and are positioned to tension the awning. The awning provides a compact and attractive assembly in the stowed position and is easily erected by one person.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable window treatment comprising a control mechanism and a window covering portion that contains art glass that provides the appearance of stained glass. Manipulation of the control mechanism positions the window covering portion and defines an amount of a window adjacent to the window treatment that is covered by the window covering portion. Specifically, the vertically adjustable window treatments illustratively include: a horizontal blind mechanism, a roller shade, a roman shade, and a shutter with rotatable vanes. Such vertically adjustable window treatments provide a stable environment into which art glass can be incorporated without breakage and without interfering with the normal operation of the window treatment. As such, these window treatments combine the beauty of art glass with the flexibility of vertical adjustability.

Abstract: A sheet molded compound (SMC) which is a fiberglass reinforced composite material, produced in a sheet format, for forming a door, is disclosed. The material includes strands of oriented chopped fiberglass in combination with a resin, filler paste, and desirably an inert material such as talc in concentrations to and including up to approximately 40% of the composition. The SMC is subjected to matched molding, male and female, into a configuration in which one-half includes the window recess, a track for the same, the track being conformed by virtue of an offset for a screen as well. The entire door, is subsequently filled with foam to secure the two halves together. A closer recess, pocket for a lock, and screen and window mounting means are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sun shield for covering a plurality of windows defining at least one substantial angle. The sun shield has a flexible frame which is easily collapsible for storage. Encompassing upon the frame is an opaque flexible material which blocks sunlight. Coupled to the flexible material encompassing the frame is a flexible flap which can shield windows defining a substantial angle with a window shield by the defined frame and encompassing material.

Abstract: An overhead door apparatus utilizing a torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism. The counterbalancing mechanism includes a worm drive ring-shaped gear winding mechanism for setting the appropriate torque or number of winds in the spring. A counting mechanism is provided to indicate to the installer the number of winds being given to the spring. The ring-shaped gear is a spur gear which is formed integrally with the fitting or cone which attaches by way of a threaded connection with one end of the spring. Means are also provided for accommodating spring growth and contraction during winding and unwinding using the winding mechanism and during normal raising and lowering of the door. A spring clip gear retainer is disclosed for preventing rotation or creep of the worm drive gear and spur gear during normal raising and lowering of the door.

Abstract: A venetian blind with individually adjustable slats. Each slat has a multilayer decorative slat extensions mounted in a slat extension holder. The individual slat extensions are mounted directly above one another in the unextended position. Each slat can be individually adjusted in length by sliding the slat extensions in opposite directions. The slats in the blind can be extended to allow the blind to be used on windows of varying width. Each slat can be individually adjusted to allow the blind to be used interchangeably on rectangular windows or on odd shaped windows such as arched windows. The cords used to control slat position and the cords used to raise and lower the slats are mounted on the edge of the slats which do not have holes.

Abstract: A vehicular apparatus adapted for removing fluids including snow and/or ice and de-icing liquids from a surface as the apparatus traverses the surface. The apparatus comprises: a first container for receiving a first portion of the fluids removed from a zone of the surface; apparatus for collecting and transferring the first portion of the fluids from the zone to the first container; a second container for collecting residual fluids remaining on the zone of the surface after the first portion is removed; apparatus for impinging water at high pressure on the zone of the surface to loosen the residual fluids or make them airborne; and an air sweep connected in fluid communication with the second container for drawing or sweeping the loosened residual fluids and water into the second container concurrently with impinging high pressure water on the surface.

Abstract: The expansion dowel includes an expansion sleeve (1) and an expanding member (5). The expansion sleeve 1 is provided with a bore (2) tapering in the setting direction as well as with open ended longitudinal slots (3). The expanding member (5) has a blind bore (6) open towards the setting side and has a lug (7) projecting from same at its opposite end, wherein the cross-sections of lug (7) and blind bore (6) are matched in such a way to one another, that a rated break point or failure point is formed. The force dependent response of this rated break point leads to a force dependent expansion while maintaining the driving or advance travel (X).

Abstract: An improvement in clear plastic film indoor window insulation kits. The improvement provides a way to open and to close roller window shades or venetian blinds attached to inside window frames after a sheet of clear plastic film has been stretched across the window and secured to the window's casing. The plastic film indoor window insulation kit has reinforced ports which allows roller shade and venetian blind controls to be operated through the reinforced access ports, without removing or damaging the clear plastic film.

Abstract: A support system for use in adjusting the incline of exercising equipment such as treadmills is disclosed. The system includes a pair of linked support legs pivotally mounted to one end of the equipment's frame. A length-adjustable gas spring is pivotedly associated with the linked support legs and the treadmill. Control means are provided to adjust the orientation of the spring, thereby controlling the elevation of the exercising equipment and hence its incline.