Abstract: A collapsible headgear includes rib members having somewhat spherical inner ends that fit into radial sockets in a hub, thus enabling the rib members to fold from a collapsed condition, in which they lie along the hub axis, to an erected condition in which they project from the hub. The movement from one condition to the other is produced by a collar and struts that extend between the collar and the rib members. The struts are connected at their outer ends to the rib members by clevises, and have generally spherical inner ends that fit into radial sockets in the collar. Consequently, when the collar is moved upwardly toward the hub, the struts are driven outwardly, and the struts in turn drive the rib members to their erected positions. A cover extends over the rib members, and the cover, rib members, and struts, when erected, are supported above the user's head by supports which extend downwardly from the struts and at their lower ends are fitted with a headband.

Abstract: In combination a tiltable collapsible umbrella and a table, the umbrella collapsible into a storage member underneath the center of the table.

Abstract: An improved umbrella structure having a unique handle that permits the umbrella to be staked into the ground, right side up, when desired by the user. The handle, in preferred form, includes a pin having a stake-like point at one end and a threaded shank at the other end, and a cap that can be threadedly connected with the shank. In the stake position, the pin is threaded into the umbrella's handle so that the stake-like point is exposed, and the cap is inserted in the user's pocket. In the storage position, the pin is threaded into the umbrella's handle so that the stake-like point is received in a storage cavity defined in that handle, and the cap is threaded onto the pin so as to protect the threaded shank and establish an aesthetically pleasing contour to the handle.

Abstract: A tent structure of light-weight reinforced plastic sheet covers the hatch of a barge for weather protection of contents. The cover is stored in compact form aboard the barge for quick erection by a winch system when use is required. The array is secured over the coaming by fastening the cover to the deck at a series of positions with claw hook and chain assemblies. By erecting stored ridge poles to extend above the coaming, the cover thereover provides a pup-tent form which sheds water as a roof, permits loading above the coaming level, and permits loading or unloading in foul weather from the side. Very light-weight reinforced plastic permits a low cost throw-away type assembly with little manpower necessary for erection and produces maximum cargo capacity pay-load and lower maintenance cost by replacement of heavier steel hatch covers.

Abstract: A flexible joint for use in suspension systems and the like has a rigid cylindrical member, a resilient bushing encompassing the inner member, a split casing having opposed semi-cylindrical surfaces holding the bushing under compression toward the inner member and secured together in bushing-compressing relation, and rigid extrusion barriers preventing compression induced extrusion of the bushing into partings between the casing parts. Configuration of the extrusion barriers complements the compression loading of the resilient bushing by the surfaces of the casing parts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fitting for the detachable connecting of two structural parts which abut perpendicularly to each other, particularly cabinet parts, having a preferably cylindrical or partially cylindrical holding piece which can be inserted into a recess, open towards one surface side, in a first structural part, and having a connecting piece which can be anchored in a recess of the second structural part as well as on the holding piece. The connecting piece in the second structural part can be anchored relative to the connecting piece by displacement of the holding piece.

Abstract: The invention relates to means and methods for rendering fire-safe, or more fire-safe, steel or like pipework which is lined with a plastic or like liner. At joints in such pipework, the liner is brought out over the flange face to form the actual seal. Consequently, the liner is vunerable to fire or other forms of external heat at the joints.In accordance with the present invention, a metal ring is provided around the periphery of the liner at each joint to protect the liner from fire. The metal ring is not intended to provide a complete seal if the seal between the liners should fail, but it does prevent any large escape of the contents of the pipework.The ring may take various forms and may be, for example, a resilient ring of either U-section or M-section. Alternatively, the ring may be of flat-section and may slide on lips formed on inserts arranged between the flanges and the liners.

Abstract: A unitary self-contained kit of components is readily attachable to a sliding door without modification of the door to effect gravity actuated closing. The kit includes a guide channel and pulley that are simply adhesively secured to an outwardly facing surface portion of the door at the rear of the door. A weight is slidably confined within the guide and hangs from a line entrained over the pulley and connected to a hook on the doorway lintel. Included in the kit is a universal wheel and bracket assembly that can be readily mounted on many different types of doors.

Abstract: A plurality of modular dual arch arrangements are aligned to provide the frame for a shelter. Each dual arch module constitutes first and second arches having their bases spaced from one another and leaning towards one another so that their crests rest against one another. The two arches are hinged to one another at their crests by a hinge. A fabric membrane is positioned over the arches and held in tension through various turnbuckles which attach the membrane to the bases which support the arches. A plurality of longitudinal fabric support bands are stretched longitudinally across the plurality of arches and held in tension to provide further support for the membrane.

Abstract: A high pressure, antigalling, thread interference pipe connection for use with well pipe includes pin and box members, the thread pitch lines of which are curved at the entrance of the box member and at the nose of the pin member so that sharp corners on the threads at the end of one member do not engage the threads of the other mating member and, also, so that pressure due to thread interference is built up in a smooth fashion over several threads rather than as a sharp pressure spike created by the first threads of one member engaging the threads of the other mating member. In addition, the pitch diameters of the threads of the pin and box members are selected so that makeup of the pin and box members occurs only on full height threads.

Abstract: A dual wheel caster assembly consisting of an arcuate central horn carrying an axle with projections on either side of the horn that rotatably receive wheels. The axle has recesses that receive annular projections on the wheels for the purpose of retaining the wheels in position.A vertical opening in the horn receives a vertical pintle having a portion projecting upwardly from the horn adapted to be received in an associated piece of furniture. This pintle has two spaced thrust surfaces, a lower one adapted to directly engage the plastic horn and the other one adapted to engage a one piece plastic bearing.The two thrust surfaces are spaced such that the lower thrust surface initially carries most of the load until a certain amount of wear causes the load to be distributed between the two thrust surfaces from the associated piece of furniture.

Abstract: A pipe coupling, e.g. for use in irrigation pipelines, having releasably connectable male and female coupling coupling elements which are connected so as to be able to swing relative to each other about either or both of two axes extending transversely of the coupling elements and perpendicular to each other, whereby the elements are free to undergo universal relative angular movement when attached together. For this purpose one element is encircled by a loosely fitting ring, pivotally connected to that element by lugs at two diametrically opposite positions, and the other element has a pair of hooks, at diametrically opposite positions, which releasably engage sockets on the ring which lie on a diameter of the ring perpendicular to a diameter on which the lugs lie. The lugs may engage a pair of diametrically opposite seats on the one element, or an annular track in which case the couple elements are free to undergo relative rotation as well as relative angular movement.

Abstract: A plurality of arched rib supports is provided with each rib support being pivoted at the upper end or apex thereof so that the lower end portions may move towards one another. A flexible cover is secured to the rib supports and the lower ends are normally mounted upon a common locus so that the shelter can be opened in the form of a partial torus. When it is to be stored and/or transported, the rib supports are folded together to overlap one another, detached from the means pivoting same on a common locus and then the ends are moved towards one another so that they overlap with the gores of the flexible cover being between adjacent hoops. This reduces the overall size of the rib supports, and facilitates handling of the collapsed shelter.

Abstract: At least one of the splined members of the splined coupling has its splines modified so that they have maximum thickness in an intermediate part of the splines and progressively decrease to the ends of the splines. The resulting profile is such that, upon application of a given torque, the pressure produced in the zones of contact between the interengaged splines is substantially constant throughout the interengaged length of the splines.

Abstract: This invention relates to a disposable umbrella and more particularly to a foldable umbrella fabricated of relatively rigid sheet material.

Abstract: A tent which serves both as a sleeping unit and as a shelter for a two-wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle or motor-cycle is designed in the form of a penthouse mounted against one of the sides of the vehicle. A vertical wall extends alongside the vehicle and the double roof of the tent is designed to cover the vehicle so as to form an awning on the other side of this latter or to extend downwards along the side opposite to the tent.

Abstract: A canopy device, especially for aircraft bridges, adapted to cover between two through-openings which are orientable into alignment with one another and located each in one body the first one of which carries the canopy device and includes the first opening which is generally vertical, and the second body is a craft of varying shape, including the second opening. The canopy device has a front portion which is movable into engagement with the craft to provide a weatherproof passage between the openings. Protective pads are pivotally mounted to the side of the canopy facing the craft and the uppermost pad pivots in forward-downward direction due to gravity, whereupon the next pads will follow successively into engagement with the craft.

Abstract: A shelter construction includes a series of upstanding posts secured to the ground, and a group of tensile lines interconnecting the upper portions of the posts for supporting a thin flexible sheet of imperforate material overlying the group of tensile lines. The sheet is attached to the tensile lines, and the periphery of the sheet is fixed to the ground. The posts are arranged in a plurality of concentric imaginary rings, and they are of different heights with groups of the posts of substantially the same height being arranged along the same rings and being arranged with posts of progressively shorter heights along the rings with progressively increasing radii to enable the shelter to assume a dome shape.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for dispensing fuel, e.g. gasoline, from a reservoir tank into a consumption tank as in an automobile. The system incorporates two fluid flow channels, first a channel for liquid fuel and second a return line for fluid vapors. The channels include flexible hoses extending from a pump to a dispensing nozzle with rotatable or swiveled couplings. The couplings include two mating members affixed together to provide a fluid seal and relative rotation to accommodate swivel movement. One coupling member includes a fastening section which may be threaded to affix the coupling to a rigid structure, e.g. pump or nozzle. Also, the one member includes a somewhat cylindrical section defining an external, concentric groove for receiving a ring of nylon-like material. The cylindrical section of the one member is telescopically received within the other member which defines an internal groove for locking engagement with the nylon-like ring.

Abstract: A sun-shield comprising a canopy assembly adaptable for connection to each of a variety of back-pack frames, said frames being supported on a back-packer's back, waist and shoulders. Said assembly having a canopy support frame including vertical support rods, back-pack frame adaptors, right angle members, and a coupling for interconnecting the frame adaptors and right angle members comprising the lower portion of the sun-shield to the canopy assembly comprising the upper portion of the sun-shield. Opaque canopy means, attached to the canopy support frame, prevents the transmission of light through the canopy. Foldable flap members are attached to the canopy means along the edge thereof. The canopy means is positioned to be horizontal, above and displaced from the back-packer's head for blocking out sunlight incident thereon. Said canopy support frame is easily removable from said coupling for separate storing.