Abstract: A support which includes two or more pole sections hingedly interconnected by a hinge permitting the support to be folded for storage purposes. At least one of the pole sections has a pair of portions disposed in telescopic relation for sliding movement providing a fast coarse adjustment to the length of the support. The sliding movement is lockable at various relative positions by a quick release coupling which, upon locking the sliding telescopic movement, converts to a screw thread fine adjustment for changing the length of the support. A releasable lock mechanism is also provided for locking the pole sections when they are in line in an end-to-end position.

Abstract: A female pipe joint end 3 has a circular groove 11 and a rectangular circular groove 9 in its expanded inner periphery, and a mating male pipe joint end 6 has a tapered insertion edge 5 and a circular groove 7 in its outer periphery. The side wall of the groove 7 nearest the pipe end is perpendicular to the pipe axis; the opposite side wall is tapered. A packing seal 10 is disposed in the groove 11, and a continuous, relatively rigid locking ring 4 of synthetic resin is disposed in the groove 9 and snap fitted into the groove 7 during assembly. The ring 4 may have a bevelled lip 13, stepped inner and outer peripheries 15, 16, 17, or axial grooves 14 or holes 14' therethrough.

Abstract: A steering linkage includes a housing which movably supports a sleeve member within a housing bore. The sleeve carries a socket which receives a stud and the stud extends through openings in the sleeve member and the housing. A flexible boot sealingly engages the stud and the housing to retain lubricant within the housing bore and keep out contaminants. As the stud is movable relative to the housing and sleeve member openings, the stud carries a resilient ring opposing the flexible boot to prevent the flexible boot from coming in contact with the sleeve and housing openings, thereby preventing the flexible boot from being pinched by the movable parts within the housing bore. The resilient ring is larger in diameter than the sleeve member opening and is disposed substantially within the housing opening.

Abstract: A lightweight and compactible tent structure comprising a single support member preferably having an inverted U shape and preferably being fabricated from a section of inflatable plastic tubing, stake receiving loops affixed to the ends of the support member for anchoring the support member to the ground, a guy line extending in one direction from the support member, and a protective surround attached at one of its ends to the support member and extending therefrom in the direction opposite the guy line, said protective surround tapering at its extended end to engage the body of the camper who reposes in the tent structure whereby the weight of the camper's body engaging the surround coacts with the supporting force of the guy line and the anchoring force of stakes placed in the ground through the support member's stake receiving loops to hold the tent structure in a fixed upright position.

Abstract: A means and apparatus for connecting resilient conduit is provided in which a first section of resilient tubing of internal dimensions sufficient to slide over the conduits and having two grooves, one spaced from each end of the internal surface of the section with each groove containing resilient gasket material substantially filling the groove to form a gasket around the conduit is slid into place so that the conduits to be connected are juxtaposed within the first section of tubing between the gasketed grooves. An encasing tubing is placed around said first section of tubing at least overlying the resilient gasket material. A pair of split metal clamping rings with one ring adjacent each end of the first tubular section and joined by a plurality of spacer bars united at each end to the clamping rings is fitted over the encasing tubing in relation to apply pressure on the encasing tubing when the split rings are united in clamped position.

Abstract: A locking apparatus has first and second assemblies each containing an inclined plane. The inclined planes contact one another at a locking position and releasably fix the first assembly to the second assembly. The apparatus includes means for urging one of the inclined planes into the other at a force sufficient for maintaining the inclined planes in contact one relative to the other during movement of one assembly relative to the other and during wear for maintaining locking contact and compensating for the wear.

Abstract: The folding cane apparatus includes a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs which are attached together at the apex of the cane by a short common pivot rod. Both the front and rear pairs of legs include an inner tubular member telescoped into an outer tubular member so that the height of the cane may be adjusted. The outer tubular member of the front pair of legs is a continuous metal tube which also forms the handle of the cane. The structure of the cane provides for improved strength and stability, yet allows the user to collapse the apparatus to a relatively flat and storable size.

Abstract: A shelter comprises at least two sets of arched support ribs with the support ribs of each set being pivoted by the adjacent ends thereof upon a common locus and having one set of support ribs over spanning the other set at an angle to each other. Some of the intersections are secured together and a flexible cover is secured over the support ribs. By situating the end support ribs in a plane at an angle to the supporting surface upon which the shelter is erected, substantially triangular openings are defined which can be used for access if required.

Abstract: A corner clip for securing fins for a window product which extend outwardly from the sides. The corner clip is in the form of a base plate having two generally perpendicular legs each of which is defined by an inner and an outer side. Lips extend upwardly along the inner side of each leg and channels extend along the outer side of each leg. The lips engage a slot formed between the clip and the window product and the channels engage the edges of the fins. The length of each channel on each leg is at least as long as the length of the engaged portion of the lip.

Abstract: Building components are disclosed for constructing of frames, enclosures, and the like, comprising hollow edge struts all of uniform cross section, with the ends of each edge strut providing a female joint. Interlocking members are provided having a central member with a plurality of legs extending outwardly from the central member and at fixed angles to each other, the legs each defining a male member adapted to be inserted in said female joint. The legs have locking clip recesses formed therein in at least two adjacent surfaces of the legs, the locking clip recesses spanning substantially the entire width and length of the surfaces of the legs. An abuttment shoulder is formed at the central member and end of the locking clip recess which the edge strut butts up against when installed.

Abstract: A shortenable umbrella with blades carrying the umbrella canopy, the blades being shortenable by telescoping and/or folding, wherein the innermost blade parts are pivoted on a crown secured on the shortenable rod assembly. The blades are horizontally pivotable by a fork means and a slider means such that each outermost blade part is foldably articulated on the adjacent blade part by a control rod which acts on an extension of the outermost blade part. The umbrella is characterized in that the inner end of each control rod engages in back of the associated fork with direct contact and is articulated on a guide member which effects a guiding of the control rod on a limited path along the fork.

Abstract: An insulated tent comprising an externally supported inner tent and an outer fabric wherein the outer fabric comprises interchangeable end sections, door sections and a roof section. The outer fabric is supported by the tent support structure at the top and by conventional means at the bottom. Various combinations may be utilized attaching the outer door sections including flys, canopies and the like to the edges of the outer roof and end sections. Modular systems containing an insulated pavilion and insulated room modules are also included.

Abstract: An angle-shaped support member consists of a unitary element formed into a pair of legs extending normally to one another and interconnected at their adjacent ends by an outwardly extending rectangularly shaped box section. The opposite ends of the legs from the box section each have an outwardly directed flange. The flanges and walls of the box section have axially aligned openings through which bars can be fitted. The openings in the flanges and walls are offset laterally relative to one another to avoid any interference between the bars which extend through them.

Abstract: A portable enclosure useful as a temporary shelter that is attachable to a permanent shelter having side bars attachable to the permanent shelter and a cross bar attachable to the side bars at the ends remote from the permanent shelter. Side panels are slidably attached to the permanent shelter, the side bars and vertical bars which in turn are attached to anchors and to the cross bar. A removable roof is attachable to the side bars to cover the enclosure.

Abstract: Extruded bars or columns of a set of structural members are each formed with a central passage and with at least one longitudinal groove having a restricted orifice. A connector member has a body portion secured in the passage of one member and two catches mounted on the body portion and projecting into the groove of another member. One catch has a leading, enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion trailing the head portion. An operating device on the body portion includes a single, manually operable drive shaft and two motion transmitting eccentrics respectively connecting the shaft to the two catches for moving the catches inward and outward of the groove orifice in timed sequence so that the neck portion of the one catch together with the other catch laterally secures the catches in the orifice while the enlarged head prevents accidental withdrawal of the catches from their locking position.

Abstract: A concave-convex structure is composed of a plurality of pole or rod elements including at least two series of rows of such rods, the rods of each row being substantially parallel to one another. The rows are intersecting, but are uniform in respective orientation. The rods are stabilized at the intersections by fittings which permit relative sliding movement of restricted degree. These fittings are secured to a flexible membrane or body portion.Modification of the fittings to provide multiple layer body portions is achieved through the application of spaced layers of material.

Abstract: A tool joint for drill pipe which is particularly well adapted for large diameter drill pipe, comprises a pin section and a box section. Each section of the tool joint is adapted at a first end to be attached to the drill pipe by welding, or threads, as is conventionally done. The principal part of the tool joint is of larger diameter than the pipe and includes a plurality of longitudinal, circumferentially-spaced tongues and grooves in the form of a jaw clutch. The tongues in the pin section match the grooves in the box section and vice versa. Means are provided to polarize the tongues and grooves so that they fit together in only one angular position. A tubular extension on the second end of the pin section is adapted to fit into a bored opening or socket in the second end of the box section. O rings or other means, are provided to seal the tubular extension into the bored opening.

Abstract: An equalizing arrangement for a low temperature line having at least one rigid inner tube used for the conduction of a cryogenic medium which contains at least one tubular compensating element for the equalization of length changes in which an expansion device is associated with the compensating element permitting the length of the compensating element to be preset as a function of the inner tube temperature to prevent forces from acting upon the terminations connected to the low temperature line during a cooling process.

Abstract: A tent and storage compartment therefor are mounted on the top of a van or similar vehicle. The storage compartment comprises a shallow box of approximately the same width as the van but with a length somewhat less than the length thereof and includes a base and a top hinged to the base. A pair of poles having a length approximately equal to the width of the compartment are pivotally connected to the top adjacent each front corner and rest in the front corners of the base to hold the top open. Right and left side support poles are pivotally connected to the front corners of the base and extend outwardly away from the van. The side support poles are jointed together at the other ends thereof by a connecting pole. Cables are connected between the top and the remote ends of the side poles to support the side poles in a horizontal position. Appropriately shaped tent material covers and is suspended from the cables and poles to complete the tent.

Abstract: A walking cane for the blind, visible during the day or night, having an elongated tubular main shaft of light conducting material with a ground engaging tip secured to one end and a tubular handle to the other end. A cover of translucent white light transmitting material envelops most of the outer surface of the shaft and outer surface of the handle, but a portion of the shaft above the ground engaging tip is exposed to provide a window for the emission of light. This window may be dyed with a red translucent material. A solid rod of light conducting material resides within the tubular shaft and has a roughened outer surface portion which diffuses light directed axially along the shaft toward the exposed portion of the shaft. A spirally wrapped layer of pliable light transmitting plastic film envelops the rest of the outer surface of the rod and diffuses the light toward the white cover.