Abstract: This invention is a container storing a lens magnet on an end of a stem extending from a cap of the container, the magnet being made of soft silicone material.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement on the conventional baker's peel. The device is equipped with an elongated handle and lever actuated clamping means which enables the user to remove a hot baking pan from an oven while the baked goods thereon can remain in the oven for browning. The peel also functions in a conventional manner to enable the removal of the hot baked goods from the oven after sufficient browning.

Abstract: This all pneumatic vacuum gripper which utilizes a fluid amp sensor senses an object when the object comes in contact with vacuum cup. This activates the main venturi vacuum generator which provides the vacuum force necessary to `grip` the object to be lifted. An external release signal cuts the vacuum `off` to release the object. Vacuum power is generated only when lifting the object thus saving energy and also minimizing ambient noise. Sensitivity of pick-up level is also adjustable. The preferred embodiment of the all pneumatic vacuum gripper utilizes fluid logic sensing and processing, senses an object when the object comes in contact with the vacuum cup. This activates the main venturi vacuum generator which provides the vacuum force necessary to "grip" the object to be lifted. The fluid logic circuit automatically locks the vacuum in the suction cup while turning "off" the power supplied to the main venturi after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A demolition and compaction track shoe and assembly for a crawler vehicle track includes a central opening and diagonally oriented demolition blades protruding sufficiently outwardly to be primarily useful in demolishing large rocks, home appliances, and similar materials of a type generally encountered in a land fill site. The diagonally oriented demolition blades cooperate with transversely disposed grouser blades to obtain a smoother riding, stable, self-cleaning track. The grouser blades extend only part way across the track shoe in a manner leaving a lateral spacing or gap between the adjacent ends of the grousers so as to provide a scissoring action on debris captured between adjacent grousers of adjacent track shoes in the track.

Abstract: A wheel trim retention system is disclosed herein which incorporates an anti-rotation clip which is adapted to be secured to the peripheral portion of a wheel trim and to cooperatingly engage portions of a vehicle wheel so as to prevent relative rotation between the wheel trim and the vehicle wheel. The anti-rotation clip comprises first and second portions each of which are adapted to engage and be compressed between generally opposed surfaces of the vehicle wheel whereby the force of engagement of one of these surfaces with the vehicle wheel is increased by the action of the engagement of the other of these surfaces within an opposed portion of the vehicle wheel. The first of these portions includes circumferentially spaced radially outwardly turned end portions which are adapted to engage a radially inwardly facing surface of the vehicle wheel so as to inhibit relative rotation between the trim member and wheel.

Abstract: A lifting device is provided for rapidly coupling and uncoupling a floating load, such as a boat, when it is set afloat or raised from the water. It includes essentially a hook secured to the load and a coupling element connected by cables to a lifting appliance. The concavity of the hook is turned downwards. Its section is trapezoidal and tapers towards its tip. The coupling element includes two arms whose facing walls are slanted and guide the hook towards the central housing. Springs, disposed laterally in the housing, come to bear against the lateral slanting faces of the hook and prevent it from leaving again.

Abstract: A ball retriever includes a pair of ball engaging members pivotally mounted on a base affixed to an elongate handle. The ball engaging members are driven closed about a ball being retrieved by a cam carried by a locking pin axially displaced upon contact with the ball. The upper ends of the ball engaging members are urged into a cam groove by leaf springs to prevent opening movement of the ball engagement members. Ball release is effected by manual displacement of the cam from intermediate the upper end of the ball engaging member.

Abstract: A combination ski and boot bag which includes a centrally located elongated ski compartment for containing a pair of skis and poles, and which further includes a pair of laterally disposed, horizontally spaced boot compartments secured to opposite sides of the central portion of the ski compartment. Strap means are provided on the upper side of the central portion of the ski bag to facilitate hand carriage of the ski and boot bag.

Abstract: A positioning device for a hoisting bank with a plurality of horizontally adjustable gripper means, such as vacuum cups, for groupwise handling of cargo units, such as paper rolls. The hoisting bank is of a kind including one or more guiding arms adapted for contacting the cargo units in the group to be lifted enabling the crane operator to adjust, if necessary, the center distance between the gripper means relative to the center distance between the cargo units prior to that the gripper means are positioned on the cargo units. In accordance with the invention at least one of the guiding arms (24) is provided with sensors (40, 30, 32) adapted for upon contacting an adjacent cargo unit (20) or units (20,20) and in dependence upon the outer contour of the cargo unit in question, to effect automatic extension, respectively retraction of the center distance of the gripper means (12) in dependence upon the center distance between the cargo units (20) in the group.

Abstract: A service tray for holding food and drink which can be held in one hand. The tray has a bottom which defines an arcuate gripping edge along a portion of the periphery of the tray bottom. The edge is dimensioned to permit a user of the tray to grasp a beverage container between the thumb and index finger of one hand of the user. The user's remaining fingers support the underside surface of the tray bottom which thereby enables the user to firmly grip the tray. The tray is also provided with an upwardly extending C-shaped sidewall which bounds and adjoins the remaining portion of the tray bottom's periphery. The sidewall serves to prevent articles having been placed on the tray from sliding off of the tray. Construction of the tray is such that it can be manufactured in one step without subsequent machining or cutting steps.

Abstract: A conveyor system which receives stacks of articles in an upright position, such as boxed tape cassettes, which are deposited in stacks on a first endless belt, carried to a transition area where they are picked off one at a time, turned ninety degrees and deposited on another endless belt which carries them to locations for sorting and storage.

Abstract: Improved lifting tongs are provided which are particularly suitable for use in lifting heavy sections of cylindrical pipe. The lifting tongs are comprised of first and second opposing jaws and first and second mounting plates which are respectively rigidly joined to the first and second jaws. The mounting plates are arranged in mutually overlapping parallel disposition in spaced separation from each other. First and Second crank or cam levers are interposed in the gap between the mounting plates, and are rotatably secured relative thereto. The crank levers have cam lobes which act against corresponding cam surfaces on the jaws to force the jaws together with about a 4 to 1 mechanical advantage when the tongs are lifted.

Abstract: A piston-operated robotic gripper system has gripper means including a piston mounted within a cylinder for movement between a first position and a second position, with the piston operatively linked to move grasping means between a first retracted position and a second extended position corresponding to the first and second piston positions, respectively. Conduit means are connected to first and second sides of the piston to introduce pressurized fluid into the cylinder on the first side of the piston to cause the piston and grasping means to move to their first positions and to introduce pressurized fluid into the cylinder on the second side of the piston while exhausting the fluid from the cylinder on the first side of the piston to cause the piston and grasping means to move to their second positions.

Abstract: A disconnectable locking clamp disconnectable from an overhead cable onto which it is locked, the clamp having a body with a fixed jaw and a movable jaw and in which the support surface (11) of the fixed jaw (3) has, on the one hand, a first cylindrical surface (14) complementary to a corresponding surface (15) of the cable, and, on the other hand, the end (6) of the fixed jaw (3) has a second surface (16) which is an extension of the first surface (14) and which is spaced from a corresponding surface (17) of the cable.The invention also covers methods of disconnection, connection, and uncoupling of such a clamp, and a transport or towing installation using such a clamp.

Abstract: A self-tightening clamp is described in which two clamping members are pivotally attached to each other intermediate their ends and include arms terminating in clamping jaws. An elongated pull bar having first and second ends is pivotally attached to one of the arms of the clamp. When the first end of the pull bar is pulled in an outward direction the second end of the pull bar is biased against one of the handles of the clamp to force the clamping jaws towards each other. The clamp may also include a cam on one of the arms for locking the jaws in a closed position. The clamp can be secured to a workpiece and pulled in any desired direction.

Abstract: A bag holder comprises a closed loop of generally U-shaped cross-section having an outwardly facing open sided channel. A flexible bag has its open neck extending upwardly through a central opening of the loop and is folded over the loop to cover the open sided channel. An elastic loop is received in the open sided channel to captivate the entire periphery of the sack in the channel. A handle extends from below the free edge of the sack to a radially spaced location where it can be grasped by the user.

Abstract: A billet grab includes opposed grips that are movable toward or away from one another in a direction perpendicular to their lengths. One grip is provided with a plurality of identical cams pivotally mounted on it to engage the ends of billets or other objects having identical or slightly varying lengths and arranged side by side in a row. The inwardly biased cams accommodate the varying lengths of the billets or objects, which can then be lifted as a group. Frictional engagement between the inner cam surfaces and the ends of the billets or other objects assure proper gripping of each billet or object in the row as it is being lifted and handled. The cams are disengaged by spreading the grips apart from one another.

Abstract: A sling for loading and unloading several palletized loads simultaneously comprises two pairs of spreader bars each having a plurality of teeth extending perpendicularly with respect to an elongate dimension of the respective spreader bar. The spreader bars are suspended by pairs of cables from a rectangular frame in turn supported by a plurality of support cables. The spreader bars are carried by the suspension cables so that the teeth project upwardly and inwardly from the respective spreader bar towards the associated bar of the respective pair.

Abstract: A crown support carrier for a plurality of beverage bottles is disclosed. The carrier is designed for retaining bottles having circular flanges formed below the threaded necks of the bottles with the bottles being inserted through neck receiving openings in a flat center section of the carrier. A pair of upwardly and inwardly protruding panels are hingedly attached to opposite sides of the flat center section and serve to stiffen the carrier edge and to aid in the support of the bottles by being positioned at a pre-determined angle below the circular flanges. When so positioned, the upwardly protruding panels engage a portion of the circular flanges to thereby aid in carrying the bottle weight. The upwardly protruding panels also provide a flat graphic area for the placement of advertisments or other printed matter.

Abstract: An article gripper assembly comprising a support member, a movable base member movable back and forth in a predetermined direction with respect to the support member, a pair of finger members movable toward and away from each other with respect to the base member in opposite directions parallel with the predetermined direction, a rotatable member rotatable about an axis fixed with respect to the base member and substantially perpendicular to the predetermined direction, link members coupling the rotatable member operatively to the finger members for converting rotation of the rotatable member in one direction about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member into movement of the finger members toward each other with respect to the base member and rotation of the rotatable member in the opposite direction about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member into movement of the finger members away from each other with respect to the base member, a pair of centering members fixedly positioned with respect to the