Abstract: A counterbalancing mechanism (10) for a door (D) movable between a dosed position proximate a door frame (12) and an open position displaced therefrom including a pair of drums (100, 100) for reeving lengths of cable (C) thereabout which are affixed to the door (D), shafts (70) for freely rotatably mounting the drums thereon, a pair of brackets (60, 60) mounted in spaced relation on the door frame, one of the brackets supporting each of the pair of shafts, a drive tube (30) extending between the pair of drums and being non-rotatably affixed thereto, a coil spring (80) positioned interiorly of the drive tube, said coil spring having one end (82) thereof non-rotatably affixed to the drive tube and the other end (81) non-rotatably affixed to the shaft, and a tension adjusting mechanism (110) for normally restraining the shafts and for effecting rotation of the shafts to selectively adjust the torsional forces in the coil spring.

Abstract: An improved packaging handle is provided which consists of a strap member with a structure for adhering the strap member to a top surface of a package. A component for grasping is located at the center of the strap member, so that a person can carry the package with one hand therefrom.

Abstract: A handle adapted for replacing a heater and blower system removably located in a central opening defined a top enclosure of a countertop oven. The handle comprises a mounting system for removably attaching the handle to the top enclosure in order to replace the heater and blower system when the heater and blower system is removed. The handle enables a user to remove the top enclosure from the bottom enclosure by lifting up on the handle when the handle is installed in the top enclosure. In this manner, the countertop oven may be converted to a food server comprising the handle, the top enclosure, and the bottom enclosure.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet and an access door with a front and sides. A door handle includes an elongated base portion extending along one side of the door and an elongated grasping portion overlapping and spaced forward of the door front. A first recess is formed on the door side of the distal edge of the grasping portion of the handle and a second recess is formed on the door side of the handle and spaced from the first recess. An elongated liner of soft feel, wear resistant material is received in the recesses and extends across the grasping portion.

Abstract: A hinged connector for joining a first structural member to a second structural member in a support structure, comprising first and second metal connector members each having a base portion for attachment to a respective structural member and a tab integral with the base portion. Each base portion includes an integral upset gusset welded to the tab of the respective connector member to add support to the tab and add stiffness to the connector member.

Abstract: The hinge (1), designed for suspension members (2 and 3), is provided with a flexible mechanism comprising a pair of joining components (4, 5), intended to be attached to corresponding suspension members (2 and 3) and connected to each other by means of the levers (6 and 7). The levers (6 and 7) are mounted with a freedom for reciprocal motions in parallel planes around rotation axles (8,9' and 8', 9) disposed on the joining components (4, 5). The levers (6, 7) have an equal length between their rotation axles (8,9' and 8',9) whereas the locus of points, formed at a turn of the joining components (4 and 5) relative to each other by the intersection of the longitudinal axes (F1 F2 and F3 F4) of the levers (6 and 7) on a plane parallel to the plane of the lever movements, is an elliptical curve.

Abstract: A locking device for pivotally interconnecting a closure to a support and locking the closure in an open position relative to the support. The interlocking device interconnects the closure and support about a vertical axis, so that the closure can pivot about this axis and open and close relative to the support. The interlocking mechanism includes a locking mechanism having two engageable locking ratchet members. One ratchet member is fixedly coupled to the closure, and the second ratchet member is coupled to the support for movement along the vertical axis. The locking mechanism also has a spring which biases the ratchet members together into engagement with each other. Both ratchet members have compatible teeth with a ramping surface and a stopping surface for limiting the pivotal movement of the closure to a first direction and locking the closure in an open position. The releasing mechanism disengages the ratchet members, which allows the closure to be closed.

Abstract: A swivel wheel assembly which is easy to assemble and convenient for use includes a tube plug inserted into a tube leg, a pivot pin inserted into the tube plug and a rotary member rotatably secured on the pin. The rotary member supports a shaft and pair of wheels. By using a hard material for the pin, a softer material for the rotary member and a still softer material for the tube plug, friction is reduced. The plug, pin and rotary member are assembled without the use of fasteners. The rotary member includes a resilient flexible member with a key received in a circumferential groove of the pivot pin.

Abstract: A hand tool includes at least one handle connected to a tool head in a secure and stable manner to accommodate loads incurred during normal use, wherein the handle is adapted for quick and easy removal and replacement. The tool includes a mounting tang projecting rearwardly from the tool head and having a handle adapter at a rear end thereof. The handle adapter defines a rearwardly open socket for slide-fit reception of a front end of the handle. At least one clamp is provided for securely but releasably clamping the handle front end within the adapter socket. In the preferred form, the handle is constructed from a lightweight fiber resin composite material and has an adapter cuff mounted on the front end thereof for mating slide-fit reception into the adapter socket.

Abstract: An improved hinge connector for pivotal glasses temples is equipped with a hinge mounted onto a glasses frame and a pivot connector having a deep hole disposed at the rear portion thereof; -shaped block in which part of the pivot connector is housed; a spring and a rivet pin having a rivet head and a pole which is led through the spring with the pole having a number of grooves at the front end thereof. The front end of the pole is inserted into the deep hole of the pivot connector and is forged into permanent engagement with the pivot connector, and the spring is limited in place between the rivet head and the end of pivot connector and the end of the -shaped block whereby the temples of a glasses can be outwardly extended in excess of 90 degrees without breaking or damage.

Abstract: A self-capturing articulating chest handle including a handle bar of terminal length containing a hand grasping portion, a pair of legs extending downward from the terminal ends of the handle bar, a pair of links, defined by spaced-apart first and second ends, pivotally attached at the first ends to the terminal ends of the legs, outboard thereof, to allow the handle to be swung thereabout, a bracket for mounting against a vertical surface including a pair of mutually spaced-apart ears extending outward therefrom, a first device for pivotally inter-connecting the second link ends to the ears and including an extended element located inboard from the connection interior the links, and a second device formed in the handle bar for fastenable receipt therein of the extended element when the handle is swung downward from a carrying position and rotated about the links into overlapping arrangement therewith and the folded handle legs and links swung further downward against the vertical surface.

Abstract: The legs of a swivel caster assembly horn are mounted to a pair of horizontally-spaced beam plates which are pivoted to the legs ahead of the swivel axis. The caster wheel is mounted on an axle behind the swivel axis. A pair of urethane springs is mounted to the horn legs ahead of the pivot axis. A bolt across the front ends of the beams receives collars, each collar having a threaded transverse aperture which is screwed onto threads on the lower ends of bolts whose upper ends have heads with flanges which bear downward on a spring cap plate bearing downward on the tops of the springs, whereby the load on the caster horn is applied by lever action to the springs which are pre-loaded by the collars screwed onto the bolts.

Abstract: An extendable hinge is provided including a hinge base attachable to a vehicle, a panel bracket attachable to a vehicle body panel such as rear gate or trunk lid, and a hinge member pivotally attachable to the hinge base and slideably attachable to the panel bracket. The hinge base and the hinge member include a "camelback" bend for increased strength. The panel bracket is configured with a low profile and the hinge member is configured to slideably receive the panel bracket so that a minimum amount of space is consumed and further so that the panel bracket can be slideably moved within the hinge member from an extended position which facilitates painting to a retracted position which positions the vehicle body panel for optimal aesthetics. Flanges on the hinge member and the panel bracket define integral stops that engage to limit the panel movement at the extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A stay generally indicated at 10 comprises a base 11, a window support 12 and a link 13. The link 13 is releasably and pivotally connected at 20 to the base 11. The connection at 20 is formed between a projection 22 and an end cap 23, which defines a through passage 25 for receiving the projection 22. The end cap 23 has an annular projection 26 which is dimensioned to snap fit into a circular groove 27 in the projection 22.

Abstract: A front wheel assembly for a stroller includes a frame attaching member and a wheel attaching member. The frame attaching member includes a sleeve adapted to be securely attached to a front leg of a stroller and defining a through hole with upper and lower ends. A pair of diametrically opposed flexible tongues are formed on the upper end of the through hole with their distal ends radially extending over the through hole. The wheel attaching member includes a wheel seat adapted to mount a pair of front wheels of the stroller and a snapping member projecting upwardly from the wheel seat for releasably engaging with the flexible tongues. A number of flanges are formed around an outer periphery of the snapping member and are in rotational contact with the inner periphery of the through hole.

Abstract: A caster includes a U-shaped caster horn having a top web portion and two contiguous downwardly-extending leg portions to define a unitary, U-shaped member providing a wheel accommodating space. A wheel is rotatably supported in the space such that the caster horn partially covers the wheel, The caster horn features a fouling-resistant bearing cup integrally formed thereon for receiving and retaining a bearing assembly, which secures one end of an structure-supporting stem. A swivel cap with a hole formed in the center thereof is placed over the cup while allowing an opposite end of the stem to protrude therethrough. A brake mechanism supported by the caster horn may be operated to inhibit or prevent rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: An improvement in a hinge arm fastening plate which includes a spacer preferably formed of plastic material and suitable to provide horizontal position adjustment of the hinge arm fastening plate relative to a supported door.

Abstract: A hydraulic buffer hinge for a door comprising a hydraulic buffer mechanism having a piston and a piston rod supported on a spring and received inside a hydraulic oil container to slowing down the return stroke of two swinging plates when the door, onto which the swinging plates are fastened, is closed.

Abstract: Two screws are threaded into two holes in a hinge arm which is adapted to be assembled with a base plate by shifting the arm longitudinally to cause the screws to slide into two U-shaped slots in the plate, the slots permitting longitudinal adjustment of the hinge arm. One of the screws may be turned to adjust the inclination of the hinge arm relative to the base plate while the other screw serves to lock the arm to the plate.

Abstract: A non-mortised door hinge is formed of a large and a small hinge leaf pivotally interconnected about a pivot pin, the smaller leaf being of substantially the same size and shape as a central cut-out in the larger leaf for nesting within the cut-out area of the larger leaf to form a hinge of single leaf thickness. At least one of the upper and lower peripheral edges of the smaller leaf taper away from the corresponding upper and lower margins of the cut out area for increasing the clearance therebetween with increasing distance from the pivot pin. The hinge has horizontally slotted screw holes on one leaf and vertically slotted screw holes on the other leaf. The slotted holes are used to attach the hinge to a door and frame using screws, while permitting subsequent alignment of the door in its frame. At least one round (non-slotted) hole is also provided on each leaf to accept a setting screw.