Abstract: A foldable automobile shade for use in an automobile prevents sunlight from entering the automobile. The shade comprises a storage accessory having at least one a pocket or chamber, at least one mounting strap used to mount said storage accessory to a visor of said car; a pleated screen operatively connected to the storage accessory near a bottom of the storage accessory and a closure which maintains said screen in its folded position.

Abstract: A ladder drum for a venetian blind, a venetian blind assembly utilizing a ladder drum and a method of assembling a venetian blind. The ladder drum includes pairs of slots for securing ladder lace cords. Each pair of slots includes a first slot that retains but does not grip the cord and a second slot for gripping the cord.

Abstract: A ladder for a truck fitted with a pivotal tailgate, the ladder comprising a first leg portion pivotally coupled to a second leg portion, where at least one of the leg portions is fitted with at least one rung. An upper end of the first leg portion is pivotally attachable to an upper portion of the tailgate and a lower end of the second leg portion is pivotally attachable to a lower portion of the truck. When the tailgate is in its closed position, the first leg portion and the second leg portion continuously extend in a first operable position and opening the tailgate facilitates deploying the ladder into a corresponding second operable position.

Abstract: The operation of a roller blind occurs via a ball cord and a pulley. The ball cord may be wound several turns around the pulley, in that oblong axial tracks have been provided in the pulley. Thereby the winding may be preserved without jamming between the windings. Greater forces may be transmitted to the pulley than in case of known constructions.

Abstract: A retaining bracket structure for a cordless continuous folding blind including a pair of flexible retaining brackets. Each of the two flexible retaining brackets, of plastic materials, is made up of a pressing plate protruding at the middle section thereof, a pair of C-shaped clamping arms symmetrically extending at both sides of the pressing plate thereof, and a pointed hook bending inwards at each end of the C-shaped clamping arms thereof. In operation, the pressing plate of the flexible retaining bracket is applied from a front of the blind to abut against an upper side of the continuous folding blind collected from bottom to top at a desirable position, and the C-shaped clamping arm are bent downwards to extend backwards at the underside until the pointed hooks clamp from a rear of a top of the collected continuous folding blind.

Abstract: An upright display stand for mounting a hanging display tray erected from a corrugated paperboard blank. The display stand includes rectangular front panel having a locking slot for engagement of a transverse brace with the upper edge of the front panel including spaced apart notches for the engagement of hooks on the back of the hanging display tray. The display stand also includes a first integral side panel and a second integral side panel of generally triangular configuration and a rear panel. The upper end of the rear panel includes an integral brace section which folds downwardly and inwardly to engage the locking slot formed in the front panel to create the transverse brace. The display stand, when fully assembled, is generally rigid and stable and well suited to support a hanging display tray.

Abstract: A window system includes an out-swinging window having an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The viewable portions of the interior surface are made of a first material. The window system also includes a jamb. The out-swinging window is pivotally attached to the jamb. A screen assembly is removably mountable to the jamb on the interior surface of the out-swinging window. The screen assembly further includes a frame portion with a viewable portion made of the first material. In some embodiments, the window system further includes a finish strip positionable between the screen of the screen assembly and the frame of the screen assembly and a set of instructions regarding the window system.

Abstract: A retaining structure for a cordless continuous folding blind includes an upper beam, a continuous folding blind attached to the bottom of the upper beam, and a retaining plate fixed at opposing ends of a bottommost slat of the continuous folding blind via a fastening agent or seamed to the bottommost slat. The retaining plate has an extending section protruding outwards at each outer edge of the bottommost slat and a flexible counterweight stick securely fixed at an inner central section. The retaining plate is selectively bent and folded inwards to abut against a predetermined number of collected slats of the folding blind to locate the blind in a predetermined position.

Abstract: A ladder stand-off includes a beam and two arms fixedly connected to the beam at two spaced apart points between the two ends of the beam. The two arms extend outward from the beam so as to be angularly divergent with respect to each other. A contact element is pivotally connected to a second, outer end of each arm. This arrangement allows the ladder stand-off to be used with flat, curved and corner surfaces. In one embodiment, the ladder stand-off is sized so that the distance between the fixed ends of the arms is less than the width of the ladder, while the distance between the outer ends of the arms is equal to or slightly greater than the width of the ladder. Furthermore, the distance between the outer ends of the arms is less than the length of the beam.

Abstract: The present spools are shaped as flared cylinders. In one embodiment, the spools have a minimum circumference at a center, and maximum circumferences at outer portions thereof. In another embodiment, the spools flare from a maximum diameter adjacent a first side wall to a minimum diameter adjacent a second side wall. In another embodiment, the spools taper from large diameters adjacent first and second side walls to a minimum diameter at a point between the side walls, wherein the point is offset from a midpoint between the side walls. In another embodiment, the spools are subdivided by at least one partition.

Abstract: A storm protector (20) to be attachable over a window (21) or other opening of a building (22) includes a header (26), a bottom sill (25) and side frames (23, 24) extending between the ends of the header (26) and the sill (25). The header (26) carries a tube (53) which has one end of a curtain assembly (27) attached thereto. The curtain assembly (27)is biased by a spring (54) to be normally coiled on the tube (53), but the curtain assembly (27) may be manually moved along the frames (23, 24) to the sill (25) to cover the window opening (21). A bar (31) is formed at the other end of the curtain assembly (27), and the bar (31) carries a guide and lock assembly (110) which rides in and can engage at least one of the side frames (23, 24) to guide and selectively hold the curtain assembly (27) at any selected position along the side frames (23, 24). A tensioning assembly (32) is positioned in the header (26) and, without disassembling the protector (20), it may be accessed to adjust the tension of the spring (54).

Abstract: A prefabricated wall and roof unit for easy and cost efficient home construction. The wall unit is formed of a steel frame, a molded external panel formed into the shape of traditional building materials and features, and a layer of insulation material. The wall unit may be assembled in a quality controlled off-site factory.

Abstract: A torso harness for reducing injury from a fall from a utility pole. The torso harness has a segment of elastic cordage having a first end and a second end. The torso harness also has means for securing the first end to a support device in the utility pole and means for securing the second end to a technician's safety belt. The segment of elastic cordage stretches to decelerate the technician during a fall from the utility pole.

Abstract: A device (10) which assists a person (P) in working on the engine (E) of a vehicle (V) includes a base member (11) which rests on the ground and has a socket (17) extending upwardly therefrom. A post assembly (23) includes a stem portion (24) which is selectively positionable within the socket (17). The stem portion (24) is provided with a plurality of opposed spaced apertures (27), and a pin (28) is inserted through a selected of the opposed apertures (27) and through apertures in the socket (17) to adjust the height of the device (10). A step (29) is carried by the stem portion (24) at a selected height by a pin (31) received through the selected apertures (27) and through apertures in a flange (30) carried by the step (29).

Abstract: A support device may be used by a technician when performing elevated line work, for example. The support device may include a shaft having a first end and a second end and threads disposed at the first end of the shaft for use in securing the device to a pole. The support device further may include at least one rigid support member disposed on the second end of the shaft for supporting an object from the device and a pusher attached to the second end of the shaft and adapted to drive the support device into the pole. The pusher may include a driving end adapted to receive force applied from a piston of a powder driven tool, an extension portion extending from the driving end and contacting the support device.

Abstract: An emergency stairway escape apparatus permitting wheelchairs to egress a multi-story building via a stairway comprises a ramp platform of sufficient width to cover at least half of each stair tread and of sufficient length to span from an upper landing to a lower landing of said stairway. A latch is mounted to an outward wall for impinging the ramp platform in a stowed position and releasing the ramp platform to a deployed position. A plurality of hinges are used for affixing an edge of the ramp platform to the outward wall and permit an arcuate release of the ramp platform to a deployed position. A motion retarding reel is mounted to an upper landing wall, the reel comprising high strength cable outwardly dischargeable in a linear manner and self-retracting, the cable comprising a hook attachable to a wheelchair, the reel controlling ascent and descent along the ramp platform.

Abstract: A partition system which includes a hollow body, plastic panel, a connector link member, a plurality of inserts for the panel, a trim element for mounting to the panel, a leveling member for adjusting the orientation of the panel relative to a floor surface, a friction ring for cooperative engagement with the connector link member, and a plurality of fasteners for mounting the inserts, the connector link member, and the trim element to the panel. The panel can include a first face surface, a second face surface, a pair of opposing ends, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a shear wall wherein the first and second face surfaces are connected together. The panel can be formed in a blow-molding process. A pair of connector link members can be joined together to define a connector link assembly for joining a pair of panels together. The connector link assembly is adapted to allow the joined panels to be oriented with respect to each other over a range of angles.

Abstract: A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of DVD boxes or containers in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired DVD is moved to the top fan-out region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two DVD boxes in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of DVD selection. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.

Abstract: An antibandit shutter includes a closed frame made up of a lower housing, an upper head and two side mullions defining a space which can be opened or closed. The opening or closing is effected by a plurality of elongate slats adapted to move from a retracted position within the confines of the lower housing to an expanded and raised position substantially closing off the space. The slats are guided along the mullions of the frame by a raising mechanism formed from a plurality of crossed first and second lever arms in the form of a lazy tongs mechanism, where the first lever arms are formed by the edges of the slats and the second lever arms are formed from slave levers.

Abstract: In a spring-loaded curtain mount, the mount includes a pole interface at a proximal end, a compressive mechanism, and a head at a distal end. The pole interface is adapted to receive the end of a standard length adjustable pole or a painter's pole. The compression mechanism is disposed between the proximal end of the mount and the head. The mount includes a coupling device adapted to receive a portion of a curtain. During installation, the curtain mount is coupled to the end of an extension pole and the length of the pole is adjusted such that the combined length of the pole and mount is slightly longer than the distance between the floor and ceiling. At ground level, a portion of the curtain is attached to the head of the curtain mount. The curtain and mount are raised to the ceiling and the mount and pole are compressed between the floor and the ceiling. This compressive force operates to urge the head toward the ceiling, securing the mount in place.