Abstract: A leaf spring system, in particular for influencing a least one body operating or comprising one or more contacts of an electric switch, with a frame aperature and at least one leaf spring which can act on the at least one body. The leaf spring system comprises a supporting frame for receiving the leaf spring in the frame aperture thereof. The spring is supported at one end and has another projecting free end whereby the one body to be influenced by the spring action is accommodated between this other end and the supporting frame. The dimension of the body in the frame aperture is greater than the distance between the edge of the supporting frame and the free end of the at least one leaf spring when the latter is situated essentially in the plane of the supporting frame. The supporting frame is secured against movement relative to the leaf spring and body. The invention further relates to electric switches provided with such a leaf spring system.

Abstract: A jack with a switch, the body of which is formed of an insulating material and has formed therein a plug receiving hole and a switch housing portion extending from the back of the body in parallel to but separated by a partition wall from the plug receiving hole. The partition wall has a hole through which the plug receiving hole and the switching housing portion communicate with each other. In the switch housing portion there are disposed a fixed contact piece and an elastic movable contact piece which constitute the switch. A separator is interposed between the movable contact piece and the partition wall, and an actuating projection formed at the tip end portion of the separator protrudes into the plug receiving hole through the hole made in the partition wall. By inserting a plug into or pulling it out of the plug receiving hole, the actuating projection is driven to effect ON/OFF control of the fixed and movable contact pieces of the switch.

Abstract: A mechanism for accumulating and storing mechanical energy, wherein the energy is used to close the primary contacts of a circuit breaker. The energy can be input to the mechanism manually or by means of a motor. The mechanism includes a series of linkages which function to utilize the energy to close the primary contacts. These linkages also function to maintain the closing force upon the primary contacts, while also functioning to allow rapid contact opening when desired.

Abstract: A stabilizing system for use in joining flanged pipe sections together in an underwater environment including at least one flange stabilizing element having a back plate portion with a support portion affixed thereto and extending orthogonally out therefrom a distance substantially in excess of the thickness of one flange, providing laterally spaced lines of support adjacent to the front of the flange at different vertical positions along its width defining a curved support tray area consistent with the curvature of the flanges of the pipe sections to be joined. At least one stub also extends orthogonally out from said back plate portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the bolt holes of the flanges.

Abstract: A switch housing in which a cylindrical hollow body of the housing has attached wing elements, each in the form of a partial cylinder and resiliently movable radially and circumferentially of the body, varying the overall transverse dimension of the housing so that the housing may be removably inserted into cavities of various sizes or non-uniform bore, with the wing elements biased to exert outward force against the interior of a cavity. The wing elements may define exterior threads to aid in retention of the housing in a cavity, and a head of the housing preferably defines a chamfered radially extending flange to limit insertion of the housing, and grooves to aid in removing the housing from a cavity.

Abstract: A shower apparatus designed specifically to accommodate wheelchair-bound persons and invalids, which shower apparatus is characterized by a rotatable seat support having one end attached to a telescoping column and the opposite end carrying an upright seat pedestal which receives a rotatable seat for supporting the occupant. The telescoping column is located outside of a shower enclosure and is designed to facilitate selective pivoting of the seat pedestal and seat into and from the shower enclosure. A latching device may be provided outside of the shower enclosure for locating and securing a wheelchair adjacent to the shower enclosure and the wheelchair may be specially designed to receive the rotatable seat and facilitate transfer of a person from the wheelchair to the seat, into the shower, and back to the wheelchair.

Abstract: A switch plate cover for a wall switch having a switch actuator is disclosed. The cover comprises a generally elongated panel folded substantially about a transverse fold line to form an outer member and an adjacent, inner member. The outer member includes a graphic representation having an aperture extending through the outer member. The cover further comprises a slot disposed along the fold line. A slide is disposed between the outer and inner members and extends through the slot. The slide includes a tongue extending outwardly through the slot. The tongue includes an opening for receiving the switch actuator. The slide moves between first and second positions in response to actuation of the switch between respective on and off switch positions. The slide further includes a first graphic indicia aligned with the aperture when the slide is in one of the first or second positions.

Abstract: A head support for supporting the head and the neck of a user in a comfortable position above a sink or basin during hair rinsing or treatment which support has a U-shaped frame with spaced-apart bendable supports which are engageable with the edge or rim of the sink. A perforate headrest plate is supported on the frame and is transversely concave. A support extends from the plate engageable against an interior wall of the sink to adjustably position the device with the frame generally horizontal. In an alternate embodiment, a detachable bonnet may be secured to the frame and placed about a portion of the head of the user.

Abstract: A fill valve (36) has a main valve (34) with a control chamber (44) for controlling the on and off actuation of the main valve. A tube (58) is in fluid communication with chamber (44) and extends into the water at the fill level (46) in tank (10). The flush valve (64) is connected to tube (58) such that upon actuation it raises tube (58) and lowers the pressure in chamber (44) to turn on the main valve (34) independent of whether the water level in tank (10) drops below its fill level (46) to direct water from the main valve to a rim wash conduit (28).

Abstract: A key cap of a keyboard is guided at a frame 2, covers a switching element and a luminous element 5 and is provided with an operation section for the switching element 4 and with a transparent symbol zone 18 before the luminous element 5. The key cap consists of a flexible, transparent flat foil 8 fixed with a marginal section 9 at a frame 2. As operation section a body 15 is injection-moulded to the foil 8 at a distance from the marginal section 9. The foil 8 forms a joint section 21 between the marginal section 9 and the body 15, the printed symbol zone 18 being provided for between the body 15 and the joint section 21.

Abstract: Portable lift structure for moving a support platform between a comparatively dry position above the surrounding deck of a liquid spa tank to a wetting position in the spa tank including two longitudinally extending structural members pivotally connected at corresponding top ends thereof to be moved between a portable and operating positions, one structural member serving as a mast to be removably mounted in the spa tank deck and the other as a platform mount, to be pivoted from above the surrounding spa tank deck to a position above the spa tank and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder and piston to a wetting position.

Abstract: A switch plunger is covered at its exposed end with a serrated cap which is ratchetable over the end of the plunger. The plunger is axially slidable within a housing upon which is mounted a selectively operable locking pin. The locking pin may be actuated during installation of the switch so as to fix the relative position of the plunger within the housing during installation. This initial setting of the plunger within the housing also aligns a pair of electrical contacts mounted on the plunger with cooperating circuitry mounted within the housing. The switch is initially installed and calibrated simply by engaging the lock pin with the plunger and inserting the switch within an aperature formed in a cover or housing and abutting the cap with a switch actuator.

Abstract: A push-button rachet mechanism switch is converted to a rotary wiping action for a moveable contact which includes one or more axial extending contact members. The moveable contact selectively engages one or more radially spaced fixed contacts and continuously engages a common conductor for selectively coupling the common conductor to one or more of the radially spaced fixed contacts to which other conductors are coupled.

Abstract: A pad for cleaning and polishing a wide variety of surfaces is disclosed. The pad includes two outer sheets made of filament material, an inner sheet made of elastic material and sandwiched between the two outer sheets, and two mesh sheets, wherein said inner sheet and said outer sheets are sandwiched between said mesh sheets. The filament material is rugged enough to effectively remove contamination that is firmly adhered to the surface to be cleaned, yet it is also fine enough to avoid damage to delicate surfaces and to be suitable for polishing purposes. Also, the elastic material is flexible enough to allow the filament material to be forced through the gaps in the mesh sheets and into contact with the surface to be cleaned and/or polished.

Abstract: An enclosure for encapsulating a wheel, where the wheel includes a tire and wheel rim. The enclosure has a cylindrical shape with a cylindrical side wall and circular end closures whose inner diameter and inner height are greater than the size of the wheel, thus forming a cavity within which the wheel may be placed. The enclosure is separated into two parts on the cylindrical side wall along an elliptical parting line, including: front and rear container halves. The elliptical parting line of the rear container half forms a mounting shelf in the lowermost cylindrical side wall upon which the wheel may rest, and also forms a wheel accessible opening in the upper-most cylindrical side wall for easy removal of the wheel.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a carriage (2) which carries on one face a working head (8) for a tool such as a milling tool (18). The working head is fully rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the carriage by means of a drive (10) acting on a gear (11) and is held in a bearing (9) and supported by a rotating shackle (12). The milling tool rests on a shaft (17); a mounting flange (19) makes it possible to use various types of tools, and in particular wheel-type tools. The shaft (17) is driven by a hydraulic motor (16). The working head (8) comprises a feed cylinder (13) wherein is located the hydraulic motor (16) just mentioned and the shaft (17) and which can be radially extended with regard to the pipeline (1). On the bearing (9) a holder (7) with a television camera is attached.

Abstract: A denture brushing device comprising a container having an open top, a base and an essentially cylindrical cross-section with a denture receiving portion of reduced cross-sectional area adjacent the base of the container. A support member to support dentures to be cleaned is located in the denture receiving portion. A container lid adapted for threaded engagement with the container is provided, the lid having a manually rotatable brush extending therethrough such that when the lid is fitted on the container the brush extends into the container to contact dentures in the denture receiving portion. Rotation of the brush acts to clean the dentures, the denture receiving portion preventing the dentures from rotating with the brush.

Abstract: A shower or bathtub drain system (10,60) in which a sealing ring (16,16') is fastened to one end of a strainer body (32) or shoe (64) and inserted through the drain hole (14,58) in the bottom of the shower or bathtub from the space below the bottom surface. The sealing ring (16,16') is of a resilient material and has an upper flange (18,18') for overlapping the surfaces (20,62) at the edges of the drain hole. The installation is completed from the space above the bottom plate member (12,56) of the bathtub or shower by positioning a clamp ring (40,68) over the sealing ring flange (18,18') and then pulling the clamp ring (40,68) toward the strainer body (32) or shoe (64) by screw connectors (52,78) inserted through holes (48,80) in the clamp ring (40,68) and threaded in holes (50,76) in the strainer body (32) or shoe (64).

Abstract: The flush valve adapter (32) has a tubular body with a lower threaded section (36) which engages a connection ring (70) permanently mounted to an upper section of jetway (72). A seal is created between the tank (10), flush valve adapter (32) and jetway (72). The adapter (32) has an upper threaded section (40) which engages a bottom threaded end (30) of a standard flush valve. A coaxially spaced sealing ring section (48) has a groove (62) that seats an O-ring (64) that seals against the bottom section (30) of the flush valve to create a seal therebetween. A lock nut (78) is also threaded onto section (30) and abuts against top shoulder (41) of the adapter (32) to lock the flush valve into place onto the adapter member (32).

Abstract: An adjustable shoulder carrying strap for carrying a flashlight comprises an elongated main shoulder strap for extending over a shoulder, a first flashlight case gripping strap secured at its mid portion to one end of the shoulder strap transverse thereto and having complementary hook and loop fastening means on opposite ends thereof, an end strap having a take up buckle on one end thereof and to the other end of the shoulder strap, a second flashlight case gripping strap secured to the other end of the end strap transverse thereto and having complementary hook and loop fastening strips on each end thereof for detachably securing around the body of a flashlight, and a gripping inner surface on the first and second gripping straps for gripping the outer surface of a flashlight body.