Abstract: Each ski boot of a pair will have a toe notch and a heel notch so that each pair of boots will have four notches. Boot carriers have four rigid members which fit into the four notches on ski boots. The members engaging the heel notches are connected to one end of an elastic assembly, and the member connecting to the toe notches are connected to the other end of an elastic assembly. The elastic assembly between the soles of the two boots will pull the boots so that they are held together at the soles. A handle is connected to the members engaged in the notches at one end to provide for a carrier for the boots.

Abstract: A plurality of rollers are carried by a support and have friction wheels fixedly secured, the wheels being frictionally engaged by further friction wheels which are slidably and non-rotatably carried on an input drive shaft. Biasing springs on the shaft urge the wheels into engagement with the wheels and the bias of the springs is adjustable by collars on the shaft to selectively vary the torque transmitted from the shaft to the rollers.

Abstract: A trash and leaf gathering and pick up tool having two rake like gathering heads pivotally interconnected to close and open toward and away from each other in a jaw like action. One of the rake like gathering heads has a handle adapted to fit a user's arm and is equipped with an arm band for mounting of the tool on an arm. The other rake like gathering head has a handle extending through the pivot interconnect with the handle mountable on an arm to a hand grip equipped end positioned for being grasped by the hand of the arm mounting the tool whereby the tool is manually manipulated in its closing leaf and trash grasping action and jaw opening manipulation to dump trash.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic gripper comprising at least one movable finger of which the clamping force is controlled by the weight of the object handled. Each movable finger includes a pneumatic actuator (1) of which the movable member (2) is solidly joined to a flexible blade (4). A stop member (4) is fastened to the free portion of this blade (4) and will touch the object to be seized. Two potentiometers (9, 11) are located on the sides of this blade (4) and their respective outlets (9b, 11b) are connected to an actuation chamber of the actuator so as to achieve a pressure difference between these chambers (1a, 1b) and hence a clamping force directly related to the blade bending. Each finger furthermore includes proximity sensors (7) for the object to be seized, whereby this object can be approached rapidly without danger of tipping it over when making contact with it.

Abstract: A positive indication of the closure state of a fingered gripper is provided by a sensor having a first element mounted for motion responsive to the primary finger driver and a second element operable in conjunction with the first element to provide, between the two, a positive indication of the gripper state.

Abstract: A tool for grasping outside wall corners for providing a stable support base, and for supporting an end of a carpet stretching machine, having an elongated center section and oppositely facing approximate right angle bends at either end of the center section.

Abstract: A common shovel is equipped with a spring activated vibrator. The vibrator is mounted between the handle and the blade. A downward thrust of the handle causes the blade to vibrate. This vibration increases the digging efficiency of the shovel.

Abstract: A painter's aid has a carrier for one or more paint brushes, the carrier being connected to the handle by an adjustable clamp which allows the orientation of the carrier to the handle to be carried about two axis.

Abstract: A grasping device for handling equipment has clamping fingers (4) which are movable relative to one another and an actuating device (5) for the clamping fingers which consists of piston-in-cylinder units (9, 17) which are coaxially arranged one behind the other and coupled in force transmitting manner. These piston-in-cylinder units are energized in the same sense by the pressure medium. This space saving construction makes it possible to achieve high clamping forces for a given pressure of the pressure medium while maintaining compact external dimensions of the grasping device.

Abstract: A device for retrieving a golf ball comprising an elongate handle and an inverted cup pivotally mounted on the end of the handle. The cup comprises a U-shaped member having a pair of laterally resilient side members carrying a pair of inwardly directed bails which cross to form an opening. The bails are laterally resilient which allows the opening to be expanded by the upward pressure when the cup is moved downwardly over the golf ball, allowing the ball to be entrapped. The ball is released by squeezing the side members towards each other.

Abstract: Automatically, alternatively manually lockable hoisting block, which is freely movable along a hoisting member extending between a load to be lifted and the block, to a desired position in relation to the load. The inventive block includes a plunger (12) actuable by at least one locking mechanism (6, 7) and a seat (20) disposed in the region of the plunger, a section of the hoisting member (30) running through a groove commonly formed by the plunger and seat such as the lockable between the plunger and seat. Hoisting may thus take place independent of the position of the block in relation to the hoisting member and the load.

Abstract: Tongs having a pair of similar-length arms, each of which merge at one, thereby inner end with an integral junction portion, are formed from a material having inherent flexibility. Retaining shoulders at the merger of each arm and the junction portion bear against a fulcrum block nested within the junction portion when the opposite, free end portions of the arms are urged together for gripping an object.

Abstract: A dumpster-type trash container is disclosed in which the bottom wall and the lower portion of the side walls are formed of a heavier gauge material to eliminate premature corrosion failures. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower portions of the side walls that are formed of a heavier material are inclined up from the bottom wall to a junction with the side walls above the level of liquid normally contained within the dumpster. The vertical corners are also inclined to reduce the tendency for trash to stick within the container when it is inverted for dumping. Further, the fork receiving sleeves are flared at their forward ends to provide reinforced camming surfaces to guide the forks into the sleeves and to protect the dumpster from damaging impact with the forks. The covers are provided with a latching system to retain the covers in a fully opened position to prevent accidental closure and damage to users.

Abstract: A lifting system (FIG. 3) for lifting a hanging flexible elongate member such as an umbilical 10 without disconnecting its ends comprises a foundation member 21 permanently clamped to the umbilical at a lifting point and a removable lifting member 22 suspended from winch 63 of lifting mechanism 23. The foundation member has a rigid body portion 25, including a downwardly facing shoulder 29, and a bend restrictor 26 at its upper end and the lifting member comprises a pair of hinged semicylindrical segments 40, 41 which can be joined about an upper part of the umbilical to form an annular carrier of support members 45 movable radially by hydraulic actuators 50. The lifting member is initially applied with support members withdrawn, to slide down the umbilical and past the foundation member, the support members then being brought together and the lifting member raised, engagement of the support members with shoulder 29 lifting also the foundation member and umbilical.

Abstract: An apparatus (23) is constructed having a pair of side gripping members (32, 34) which are pivotally coupled by hinges to an intermediate gripping member (36). These gripping members (32, 34, 36) have a l/d (length-to-diameter) ratio of approximately 5:1 to distribute compressive forces over a relatively large area. Inner gripping regions (46, 48, 50) of the members (32, 34, 36) are configured having frictional surfaces (46, 48, 50) which frictionally grip a tubular structure, such as a bi-stem (12). A latch (51) having catches (56) is positioned on one of side gripping members (34), and a catch (62) is positioned on the opposite side member (32) for engaging the catches (56), latching the apparatus (23) closed around the bi-stem (12). Handles (68, 70) are centrally affixed to an exterior region of side members (32, 34) and allow the apparatus (23) to be readily closed around the bi-stem (12) and also allow manipulation of the bi-stem (12).

Abstract: A transloader provides means and method for adjusting multiple chains in an array for uniform tensioning. The transloader is mounted adjacent a reference member with chain adjustment rods passing through respective spring assemblies in a spring block. The central adjustment rod is adjusted to position the spring block with respect to the reference member and the remaining adjustment rods adjusted to position respective spring followers relative to the spring block thereby providing uniform tension on all chains.

Abstract: A portable hand carried apparatus for positioning plastic leaf bags is illustrated wherein a pair of diverging arms carried by a handle spread the bag in open position between the free ends of the arms and positive means are provided for securing the open edge of the bag along the arms which are secured manually by the user to quickly and positively fasten the bag in open position for the reception of leaves.

Abstract: The invention comprises a two, three or four short pin engagement system for engaging a wafer carrier for transporting semiconductor wafers by means of a three axis robotic transportation system for the purpose of processing semiconductor wafers in a factory. The multiple pin assembly allows a large reduction in travel distance with respect to prior art long rod engagement supports.

Abstract: An elastomeric in compression trailer hitch cushion for an over-the-road trailer hitch, as mounted on a railway car, is disclosed so as to cushion against longitudinal loads transmitted between the railroad car and the trailer. This trailer hitch cushion serves as the hitch diagonal strut and it has one end thereof secured to the railway car and its other end secured to the vertical hitch strut, with the diagonal cushioning strut being disposed so as to cushion longitudinal loads in either fore or aft direction and to maintain the vertical strut in vertical position. The cushioning strut comprises a frame, compressible elastomeric cushioning members carried by the frame, and a compression load applying system for compressing the elastomeric members relative to the frame upon a longitudinal load in either fore or aft directions relative to the railroad car being applied to the hitch.

Abstract: A hand operated digging tool comprising a ground penetrating portion, such as a shovel, has a lever arm hingedly attached to the back of the shovel adjacent to where the shovel engages its handle. The lever arm is provided with an extension at right angles to it adjacent to the hinged portion so as to space the lever arm from the shovel when both the lever arm and the shovel are positioned on the ground in digging position and which will push the lever arm back into engagement with a holder on the back of the handle as the operator completes the shoveling step removing the shovel from the ground.