Abstract: A low consumption toilet fixture (10) has a bowl (20), a tank (16) having a central exit (43), a waterway passage extending from the tank to the bowl (20) and an angled trap (22) that has a bottom well (24). The downstream end (34) of the trap (22), inlet (42) of the waterway, and well (24) all bisect a central vertical reference plane which divides the toilet into two halves. The angled trap has an intermediate upper section (30) which is laterally offset with respect to the inlet (42) of the waterway (21) and has a height greater than a lower wall (50) of the horizontal leg (44) of the waterway that extends from the central inlet (42). The waterway (22) has an exit opening into the well (24). The exit has an upper groove (49) and notch (51) directing water into the bottom of bowl (20). The well (24) is canted laterally and forwardly downwardly with respect to the central vertical reference plane.

Abstract: An emergency push-button comprises a housing and a support rigidly connected to a movable actuation knob and axially movable therewith. The support acts on a releasing mechanism, operated by rotation of the knob about an axis parallel to the movement direction of the movable slider. The button further includes an axially movable member provided with at least one retaining tooth, which, upon lowering of the movable knob, rotates about an axis parallel to the moving direction of the knob, compelling the retaining tooth to release at least one protrusion provided on the housing and, once the movable member has cleared through a tripping action, it also rotates in a tripping manner carrying the retaining tooth to the position under the protrusion, preventing the movable member from moving back to a raised position thereof. The release of the retaining tooth may be obtained just through a rotating movement of the knob in a reversed direction with respect to the retaining movement.

Abstract: A single pole, single throw switch for flashlights and other low amperage circuits is enclosed in a dielectric housing having an electric circuit contact fixed therein, the switch being selectively actuable by moving a threaded portion of a first electrode into and out of a complementarily threaded portion of a second electrode. Relative motion of the electrodes is achieved by manually rotating a cap-like part of the housing to which the first electrode is fixed. Voltages that can be accommodated by the switch are limited by the associated I.sup.2 R effects of contact resistance during switch actuation. Various components of the switch are fixed in the dielectric housing by friction, tongue and groove fasteners, and screws to facilitate servicing and repair.

Abstract: A brightly colored semi-trapezoidal car trunk carrier tray made of plastic having a plurality of compartments some of which are adjustable in size by use of inclined insertable slats, some compartments having restraining modules for stabilizing the position of large or odd sized articles, spaced hangers on at least one side of the tray, a fastener and a recessed magnet on the bottom of the tray and sectionalizing the tray to make it smaller or larger.

Abstract: Pivotal movement of a switch actuator drives a finger projecting from the actuator against a convexly bowed leaf spring, depressing an intermediate portion of the leaf spring to an unstable concave condition. The leaf spring resists the actuator movement, initially with an increasing force but changing to a decreasing force at a predictable point in actuator movement to provide tactile feedback at an operator affixed to the actuator. The leaf spring is a flat beam. The spring foce and point of changeover can be readily and predictably varied during manufacture by selecting springs having different widths, thicknesses or other variable parameters. A modular block holds the spring in the bowed condition and is positioned relative to the actuator finger by a support plate. The actuator finger drives the spring against a conductive rubber block, compressing the block against spaced conductors on a printed circuit to complete the circuit.

Abstract: A slide selector switch mechanism for use within slide switches for controlling electrical circuits includes a detent spring centrally connected to a slide actuator member and to opposite ends of a movable bridging contactor. The detent spring provides contact pressure for effecting adequate pressurized electrical engagement of the contactor with underlying fixed terminal contact elements. The detent spring also functions as a separate actuating member for causing pivotal movement of the bridging contactor.

Abstract: An index rotary switch includes a housing, stationary contact members, a rotor contact member, and a pushbutton-operated actuator device. The stationary contact members are disposed within the housing for defining an infinite number of alternately achieved on-and-off positions. The rotor contact member is disposed for rotation within the housing for wipingly engaging the stationary contact members. The rotor contact member is formed with a rectangularly-shaped flat portion and a plurality of resilient L-shaped arms extending downwardly from respective edges thereof. The L-shaped arms have arcuate-shaped contacts formed upon their free ends so as to wipingly engage the stationary contacts. The actuator device is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected to the rotor contact member for sequentially rotating the rotor contact member so that the arcuate-shaped contacts alternately index with respect to the on-and-off positions upon successive actuations of the actuator device.

Abstract: A support assembly for luggage racks, door handles and the like including an extruded one piece elongated tubular support member fabricated from a plastic material, the support member being disposed between attachment members at each end thereof for securing the support assembly to a mounting surface upon which the luggage rack, door handle and the like is mounted. An insert member can be disposed within the support member for additional strength thereof, where the insert member can be constructed in may different shapes for bearing against inner walls of the support member. In one embodiment, the support assembly is a rail member for a luggage rack, and includes the support member being disposed between end clips at each end thereof, the end clips being secured to the trunk lid of an automobile. In another embodiment, the support assembly is a door handle, where the support member is disposed between attachment members at each end thereof, the attachment members being secured to the door.

Abstract: An electrical contact mechanism for low power circuits includes a pair of movable contacts which can be pressed against fixed contacts. The movable contacts are mounted on a conductive bridge which is movable by a slider. The motion of the movable contacts is imparted in two directions, of which one is parallel to a motion direction of the slider carrying the conductive bridge, and another direction is approximately perpendicular with respect to the first direction due to a wedging action between the movable and fixed contacts which are positioned obliquely to the direction of movement of the slider.

Abstract: A lock having depending sides with holes therein is snap fit attached to a rocker actuator by causing the sides to straddle the actuator and the holes to receive beveled lateral tabs on the actuator, the holes being longer than the tabs to permit and define sliding movement of the lock on the actuator. Four feet depend from the depending sides of the lock within a housing opening in which the actuator is pivotally mounted to abuttingly align with corresponding abutments in the housing on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the actuator, preventing rotational movement of the actuator when the lock is in a first position with respect thereto under the bias of a compression spring. The actuator is released by sliding the lock against the bias of the spring to move the feet radially offset from the abutments, thereby permitting rotational movement of the actuator in either direction, actuating corresponding switch contacts.

Abstract: A handle, with a transverse hole through the upper end; a connector made of wire formed in a loop; a gripper consisting of a tubular element, with limited yieldability and having a transverse hole therethrough at one end; the elements of the connector are fitted in the holes in the handle and gripper.

Abstract: A switch assembly having a pair of spaced parallel contact strips disposed in a housing with integral connector terminal portions thereof extending exteriorly of the housing. One of the contact strips serves as common bus and the other is divided into discrete individual contact portions and has surface portions thereof configured to provide detents integrally therewith. A wiper member bar is pivoted on the housing and has a shorting bar thereon spring biased against the contact strips to effect a switching action as the bar is moved along the strips.

Abstract: A microswitch, comprising: a casing consisting of a base casing half and a cover casing half; a plurality of terminal pieces received, at their intermediate parts, in slots provided in the base casing half and extending substantially perpendicularly from a surface opposing a corresponding surface of the cover casing half; a contact mechanism accommodated in a cavity in the casing and electrically connected to the terminal pieces; and a push-button member elastically supported by a spring member and projecting out of the casing for actuating the contact mechanism by movement of the push-button member; the terminal pieces being provided with projections extending from their leading edges, and the slot being provided with a recess for receiving the projection; wherein the slot comprises an external part and an internal part which is narrower than the external part, and a projecting length of the projection is larger than a depth of the internal part.

Abstract: A mounting system for a car telephone apparatus, by the aid of which a holder of an operating component of the apparatus, a separate holder, etc. can be mounted on a vehicle wihtout using any tools, comprises a mounting shoe (1) provided with flutes (2,3) and a partly grooved central portion, and a mounting piece (6) is provided with flanges (16,10) fitting said flutes (2,3) and a plate spring (8) for engaging the grooved central portion and thereby securing the coupling of the mounting shoe (1) and the mounting piece (6).

Abstract: A cargo carrier for use on the outside of a vehicle having a trailer hitch receiver includes a tub, a rigid bracket for supporting the tub, and a pair of tail lights on the rear of the tub. The bracket is adapted at the lower end for insertion into the receiver for supporting the carrier without attachment to the bumper or frame of the vehicle. At the upper end, a rigid, flat plate is connected to the bracket for supporting and stabilizing the tub. The bracket is shaped to position the container elevated above the height of the receiver and spaced rearwardly apart from the vehicle to accommodate a spare tire.

Abstract: A device for the detection of rotation having a hollow, pillbox shaped cylinder, a solid baffle positioned within the cylinder for directing the flow of mercury, at least two metal contacts within the cylinder, a non-mercury center rod contact, and mercury contained within the cylinder. The baffle is attached to a wall of the cylinder and extends radially inward therefrom. The baffle extends for a distance approximately equal to a radius of the cylinder. The first and second metal contacts are positioned on opposite sides of the baffle. A third metal contact is attached to the cylinder and extends inwardly therefrom distal the first and second metal contacts. The non-mercury center rod is positioned along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder.

Abstract: A readily disassembled carrier includes a frame having projecting arms that are telescopically engaged with mated tubular pieces attached to the chassis of the vehicle with which the carrier is to be used, and an assemblage of removable panels that cooperate to form a container on the frame. Projecting blocks are provided to limit insertion of the arms into the tubular pieces, and sockets on the frame seat the ends of posts provided on the panels, inserted downwardly thereinto, with flanges on corner bracket pieces slipping into one another for interengagement of adjacent panels.

Abstract: A switch operator is provided that is capable of field retrofit installation by being affixed to manually operable switchgear to provide power operation thereof. The switch operator includes provisions for connecting the drive output of the switch operator to a switch-operating shaft of a manually operable switch within the switchgear. The drive output provisions of the switch operator include a selectively operable decoupling arrangement which is operable without the need for tools. The switch operator also provides for manual operation without the need for decoupling or the disconnection of parts. The drive output of the switch operator is defined at an output shaft of a motor/gear train. Two coaxially arranged levers, an operator drive lever and a switch drive lever, are selectively coupled to transmit the drive output of the switch operator to the switch-operating shaft. A manual drive connection is affixed to the output shaft which is rotatable to provide manual operation via a handle.

Abstract: A fuel filler pipe assembly is provided which controls the release of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank so as to limit the amount of fuel vapor released into the atmosphere. The assembly includes an outer tube which is partitioned into two conduits--one for carrying fuel to the vehicle's fuel tank and the other for carrying fuel vapors to an onboard vapor capture device. Passage of fuel vapors to the vapor capture device is controlled by a valve which itself is controlled by the attachment and detachment of a fuel filler cap to the assembly such that attachment of the cap causes the valve to close while detachment causes it to open. In certain preferred embodiments, the assembly includes a second valve for preventing the passage of substantial quantities of liquid fuel to the vapor capture device.

Abstract: A switch apparatus for an electrical machine comprises a keyway and a removable key. A spring-loaded protrusion on the key prevents direct insertion of the key into an "ON" position, and communicates with a guideway for movement of the key between the "OFF" and "ON" positions. The key is directly removable from both the "ON" and "OFF" positions simply by pulling, to deactivate the machine in an emergency or accident. Unauthorized and accidental operation of the machine may be prevented by control of the key.