Abstract: A sectional door including, a plurality of panels pivotally joined to each other, the panels including a facer having a front surface, a first joint member and a second joint member extending rearwardly of the facer, a pair of end stiles received at lateral extremities of the panels and placed in supporting relation thereto, the stiles having a recess adjacent one of the joint member, a hinge receiver located adjacent the recess and a hinge pivotally coupled to one of the panels at the hinge receiver and fastened to another of the panels at the end stile, wherein the recess provides a clearance for pivoting movement of the hinge and the storage or stowage of door components.

Abstract: A foldable stairway ladder for use in accessing items includes a structure that can be conveniently folded to reduce the amount of space taken up by ladder when not in use. The ladder consists of a stairway section connected to a platform, in turn rotatably connected to a support. The foldable ladder is also provided with a manually operable folding system adapted to fold the stairway section and support relative to each other. Additionally, the support may have a member capable of extending the length of the support, thus facilitating the ease by which a use can fold the stairway ladder.

Abstract: A plurality of elongated shutter slats of extruded rigid plastics material have co-extruded cores of rigid plastics foam material, and injection molded plastic end caps are attached to opposite ends of each slat. The end caps have elongated flat base portions and retention lugs with head portions integrally connected to the base portion by reduced neck portions. The lugs of the end caps are retained within undercut channels in extruded metal side rails. In one embodiment, each end cap is secured to a slat by screws extending through two retention lugs and into the foam core. In another embodiment, the end caps are secured to hollow slats by integrally molded bosses which project into cavities within hollow slats and are cemented to the walls of the slat.

Abstract: An overhead garage door having the appearance of a set of light-transmitting doors, such as French doors. The garage door includes arrays of light-transmitting panels on the door arranged to simulate light-transmitting doors, moldings, doorknobs, and hardware for connecting the garage door to a garage. The door may be formed from a plurality of sections arranged in a stack and pivotally connected to adjacent sections. The garage door may be formed from a kit having a plurality of door sections with light-transmitting panels mounted thereon and hinges for connecting the sections. The garage door may also be formed from a retrofit kit for modifying an existing garage door to have the appearance of a set of light-transmitting doors. The light-transmitting panels permit visible light to enter a garage and may be translucent. The panels may be made of polycarbonate acrylic.

Abstract: A sheet dispenser and a method of making a sheet dispenser is disclosed. A carton may be adapted for storing and displaying stacked sheet materials, such as napkins, paper towels, facial tissues, and other absorbent products that may be used in home or a commercial setting. A carton or napkin holder may comprise a one-piece blank which is adapted to be folded, resulting in a carton having a bottom panel, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The sidewalls may be secured in place by fixing them to the bottom panel.

Abstract: A rappel device is used in rapidly descending from a height using a rope and then quickly disengaging from the rope. The rappel device comprises a body having a rim which defines a rope opening therein. The body is further adapted to be affixed to a harness. A lock extends across the rope opening. The lock frictionally engages a rope extending through the rope opening. A retracting mechanism manually releases the lock from engagement with the rope. The retracting mechanism is biased to a secured position whereby the lock is engaged with the rope. The retracting mechanism, when actuated, manually releases the lock to an open position whereby the rope is quickly released from the lock.

Abstract: A termination arrangement for a horizontal lifeline cable (4) for use with a structure (6) includes an elongate stocking (14) of woven wire form surrounding an end section of the cable (4). The stocking (14) has a first end (22) adapted and arranged for secure connection to the structure (6), and a second end (28) secured to the cable (4). Tension applied to the cable results in elongation of the stocking (14) and contraction onto the cable so that the cable is securely gripped by the stocking.

Abstract: A modular ladder assembly includes at least two ladder assemblies, each assembly having first and second parallel stiles and a plurality of spaced apart rungs disposed between the first and second stiles, the plurality of rungs being perpendicular to said first and second stiles. The first stiles of the at least two ladder assemblies are mechanically connected together and at least one adjustment assembly is mechanically connected to the second stile of one of the at least two ladder assemblies and a second end of at least one adjustment assembly is mechanically connected to a second stile of a second of the at least two ladder assemblies so that the at least two ladder assemblies and the at least one adjustment assembly have a triangular shape when viewed from a plane perpendicular to the first and second stiles of the at least two ladder assemblies.

Abstract: An improved coupling mechanism for adjacent panels of a sectional door, the panels including facing, adjacent edges; the coupling mechanism including at least one recess formed in or disposed adjacent to the facing edge of each panel, and also including at least one pliable hinge member having a body portion, and expanded regions at each end of the body portion, which are received within and movable within the facing recesses to provide for the relative movement between the facing edges of the panels as the door moves between blocking and unblocking positions.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a magnetic sealing system for urging opposing sides of a cover toward the lateral margins of a portal to promote sealing of the sides of the cover to the lateral margins of the portal. The magnetic sealing system biases the opposing ends of a first or second rod directly toward the lateral margins to effect a proper seal.

Abstract: A roll up door assembly for covering a door space comprising a rubber sheet having vertical side edge portions with a front lock strip secured to the front surface and a rear lock strip secured to the rear surface of each vertical side edge. The front and rear locking strips are staggered with respect to each other in the transverse direction of these strips. The sheet is coilable on a barrel mounted above the door. The staggered orientation of the lock strips assists in the tracking of the sheet during coiling on the barrel. A pair of vertically extending door guides each define a vertical slot oriented and sized to accept a respective vertical side edge portion for guided vertical movement therein. Each door guide assembly has a windbar attached thereto, positioned to narrow the opening of the slot such the narrowed opening has a smaller width than the total thickness of each side edge portion of the sheet.

Abstract: A shade includes a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material and a membrane. The shade includes a strap coupled to two ends of the membrane.

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.

Abstract: A lace-like structure of a hive-shaped Venetian blind comprises a blind body made up of a plurality of wave-like arc slats paired up into oval-shaped blind units in cross section. Each wave-like arc slat has a pair of extended flanges disposed at the front and rear sides thereof. Rollers with lace-producing convex edges disposed thereon are adapted to clamp tight the extended flanges thereof and synchronically seal up the pair-up wave-like arc slats via ultrasonic welding art with lace-like patterns cut at the extended flanges thereon via the lace-producing convex edges thereof. Thus, via the lace-producing rollers, the blind body thereof are automatically and synchronically assembled in ready and speedy manner to provide a Venetian blind with lace-like patterns disposed at the front and rear sides thereof in beautiful display.

Abstract: Structure for maintaining a sliding window sash at an intended position with respect to a frame within which the sash moves. The structure serves to retain the sash at a position along an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the window frame. An inwardly facing surface of the frame has formed therein an elongated trough which extends generally parallel to a direction of intended sliding movement of the sash. A blade is mounted within a cavity in the sash and disposed for pivotal movement between a first position, wherein the blade is retracted within an outwardly facing surface of the sash, and a second position, wherein the blade is extended through the outwardly facing surface of the sash into the trough defined within the inwardly facing surface of the frame. The blade is normally biased to the second position, but it can volitionally be retracted to the first position to enable tilting inward or removal of the sash from the window frame.

Abstract: A bracket to hold a boarding ladder to a boat. A quick release mechanism for both the ladder and the bracket itself are disclosed. A mounting plate is substantially flush with the side of the boat. The bracket slides down into the mounting plate and latches into place. The bracket accepts the upper bar of a boarding ladder and closes a latch over the bar, holding the ladder in place. To remove the ladder, a latch at the top of the bracket is lifted and the ladder can be easily pulled free. To free the bracket from the mounting plate after the ladder has been removed, the latch is lifted and the bracket can be lifted out.

Abstract: A screen element for motor vehicles having a piece of flat material extending in a surface area. The piece of flat material has strands which are inherently stiff to enable the flat material to stand alone without a frame. The strands also provide primary stability for the screen element. A frame on at least one edge area of the piece of flat material provides secondary stability for the screen element.

Abstract: A curtain assembly contains a long cloth. An upper extending portion has a plurality of parallel and equally spaced first folding portions, a plurality of first supporting portions, and a plurality of first rings. The first folding portions are seamed to be as a bag. The second folding portions are seamed to be formed with left and right bags for receiving the second supporting portions. A flexible cloth sleeve is placed between each two bags. A plurality of second rings are seamed to be between the left and right bags. A stopper is combined to the top portion and is controlled by a rope unit so as to stop the cloth at a predetermined position. When second ends of the control ropes of the rope unit move upwards, the second rings of the lower extending portions will overlap so as to form a sector area.

Abstract: A display system includes the combination of an free-standing cardboard box and a display board adapted to display retail products in such a manner that product is displayed for the consumer without taking up shelf space. The box has a rectangular bottom wall and four upstanding walls defining an upwardly open interior chamber for displaying elongate products such as rolls of wrapping paper. The box may be a portion of the shipping box that which the rolls were shipped in to the retailer. The display board is adapted to hang from an upper rim of the box using a pair of S-hooks which extend through holes adjacent an upper edge of the display board and over the upper rim. The display board includes a plurality of adhesive strips for releasably securing complementary products thereto for display with the elongate products in the box, such as adhesive tape dispensers for use with the wrapping paper.

Abstract: An energy absorber comprises a housing (1), a store (15) of plastically deformable material (8) mounted in the housing and having an endstop (27), an attachment (3) for attaching the energy absorber to a structure, another attachment (10) for attaching the plastically deformable material (8) to a structure, and the housing mounting a pair of spaced pins (5, 6) around which the deformable material (8) from a coil is plastically deformed in different directions in a sequential manner to absorb energy. The endstop (27) limits the plastic deformation.