Abstract: A device for assisting in the use of chopsticks and a method of making same characterized by a band spring of single-piece, molded or formed construction, free of separate and joined members, to connect a pair of chopsticks at an adjustable distance from each other and enable their manipulation in a manner substantially identical and faithful to the proper holding and wielding of a pair of individual and unjoined chopsticks. The spring's structure consists of a curved and bent band spring extending between and terminating in two sleeves with adjustable apertures through which the chopsticks are passed. Forward disposition of one sleeve relative to the other sleeve causes one chopstick to have an axial component of movement when pressed toward the other chopstick. The sleeves are self-securing in their attachment to the chopsticks and can accommodate chopsticks of varying size. The distal space between the chopsticks can be altered to adjust the spring for holding by hands of differing size.

Abstract: An end effector device (A) for grasping and holding an article such as a handle (18) of a space telescope is disclosed. The device includes a V-shaped capture window (74) defined as inclined surfaces (76, 78) in parallel face plates (22, 24) which converge toward a retainer recess (54) in which the handle is retained. A pivotal finger (30) meshes with a pair of pivoted fingers (26, 28) which rotate in counterrotation. The fingers rotate to pull a handle within the capture window into recess (54) where latches (50) lock handle (18) in the recess. To align the capture window, plates (22, 24) may be cocked plus or minus five degrees on base (64).

Abstract: A disposable waste scooper is provided for scooping up the feces of dogs into a container and closing the container, the container being of low cost so it can be economically disposed of and the container being remotely closeable so it can be cleanly disposed of. The scooper includes a U-shaped wire frame which holds the opening of a flexible bag. The legs of the u-shaped frame can slide up along a cardboard closing device. After the bottom of the frame is dragged along the ground to scoop up the waste into the bag, the cardboard closing device is pushed down to slide down against the cover to close the bag. One side of the bag opening is fixed to the bottom of the cardboard closing device so the opening of the bag is pressed closed. The entire apparatus is then thrown away.

Abstract: A swivel head for a skidding grapple incorporating a unitary body having a plate-like middle portion with a plurality of spaced apart upstading lugs and a second plurality of depending lugs, shafts installed in each of the lug pluralities for connection to the grapple head and boom clevises and with snubbing means provided on the shafts.

Abstract: A protective attachment for the vertical leg of a "C" hook for lifting steel coils. The protective attachment surrounds the forward portion of the aforesaid vertical leg and is covered with shock-absorbing material to prevent damage to the edges of the steel coil as the hook is being inserted into the central opening of the coil prior to its being lifted by an overhead crane.

Abstract: A gripping device for gripping an outer peripheral edge of an object to be grasped such as, for example, a semiconductor wafer, with the gripping device including a base, gripping members for gripping the object to be grasped, elastic members disposed between the base and the grip members so as to urge the respective grip members in an opening or closing direction. A driver for the grip members is provided, with the driver being fashioned as a linear or flat shape memory alloy member which is connected across the grip members.

Abstract: A flexible container for transporting and storing bulk goods, preferably arranged so as to be liftable by its upper end, is constructed from a tubular blank so as to include a shell, a bottom and a filling aperture, the pleats being formed in the shell having lower parts which are folded so as to be coplanar with the container bottom. In order to both strengthen the relatively weak region of the container bottom and to enable the manufacture of the container in an automated fashion, the tubular container blank is closed by a bottom seam located substantially in the central region of the container bottom and the upper plane of each pleat is folded into the plane of the container bottom and affixed to the lower plane of the respective pleat by a connecting seam.

Abstract: A device for manually lifting ground or floor objects is presented by a pair of transversely spaced walls with flexible lower fingers that are capable of being pushed outwardly and under an object as they are manually pushed over the object, without requiring bending or stooping movement by the user. The walls converge from one end of the device to the other to facilitate release of the object after it has been lifted from the ground or floor.

Abstract: Locator device for locating modular electronic components centrally with respect to a nozzle of an apparatus for attaching the components to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The locator device comprises a component support member for supporting a component to be located centrally with respect to the nozzle of a component attachment apparatus, and a component centralizing element associated with the component support member and engageable with the nozzle for centralizing the component with respect to the nozzle prior to soldering of the component to the printed circuit board. When the component has been centralized with respect to the nozzle, the component is maintained in its centralized position by attachment to a source of vacuum disposed within the nozzle. This facilitates removal of the locator device from the nozzle to leave the component disposed centrally within the nozzle attached to the source of vacuum and ready for installation on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A robotic hand consisting of one or more jointed fingers each formed from a number of link elements. A torque control is supplied for each element so that undue pressure is not exerted by any link element on an object being gripped. The invention provides an electromechanical simulation of a human hand, flexing to encompass objects rather than impinging against them.

Abstract: In the mounting of a grapple arrangement to the boom of a vehicle, it is desirable to provide motion dampeners between the hinged joints of the components. Various types of motion dampening devices have been employed which are mounted in a location that subject the device to structural damage or contamination. The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing the mounting apparatus between a grapple arrangement and the rotator of a boom that includes a mounting link. The connection between the mounting link and each of the rotator and grapple arrangement comprises a pair of pin assemblies and that allows relative rotation therebetween about two generally horizontal axes. Along each axis, a motion dampening device or snubber is mounted in association with one of the pin assemblies to apply a preselected amount of force against the pin assembly to resist the relative motion. Each snubber assembly is nested within the structure that is provided by the various portions of the mounting apparatus.

Abstract: A hand-operated utensil for grasping and picking up articles or food is comprised by a pair of elongated stick members arranged in intersecting relationship at a midpoint of the members. The members are integrally connected at the intersection, and the lower portions of the elements at one side of the intersection are made flexible toward and away from each other by a recess or recesses forming flex hinges in the members.

Abstract: A drive system is described for driving high-inertia loads such as, for example, conveyor belts for carrying minerals in mines, quarries, etc.

Abstract: A lifting magnet with a gripping mechanism generally comprises a lifting magnet capable of electrically magnetized for gathering and attracting magnetic articles, such as scraps of dismantled machines, broken automobiles and electric washing machines, a main power cylinder, and a plurality of gripping arms mounted on the lifting magnet and each comprising a first arm pivotally joined at one end to the lifting magnet, a second arm pivotally joined at one end to the other end of the first arm, an auxiliary power cylinder for operating the first arm for gripping operation, and locking means for locking the second arm to the first arm when the first and second arms are folded and when the second arm is opened relative to the first arm for gripping operation. In one aspect of the present invention, only two among a plurality of the gripping arm assemblies can be used for gripping elongate articles.

Abstract: A carrier for conveniently storing, transporting and viewing documents, such as blueprints, is provided through two durable, pliable flaps affixed to one another at one end, between which the documents are placed. The bottom flap is longer than the top flap so that when in an unrolled state for viewing the documents, the free end of the bottom flap may be turned over to rest on the documents to retain them in a flat, unrolled, easily viewable position even in the presence of wind gusts. The flaps and documents therebetween are rolled up and bound by a strap for convenient transportation thereof.

Abstract: Tool for lifting doors, panels and the like to facilitate installation and handling of the same. The tool comprises a pair of fingers affixed to a horizontally extending arm for gripping opposite sides of the door, panel or other member when a lifting force is applied to a handle connected to the outer end of the arm.

Abstract: When dumping grain from a truck box through the tailgate opening, grain lodges in the corners upon each side of the tailgate opening and the operator normally has to stand on the auger or the like in order to reach over the tailgate with a shovel and is therefore at risk due to the danger of slippage with the danger perhaps of coming into contact with the rotating discharge auger assembly. The present device consists of a handle and an arcuately curved rake blade secured at one end with the major portion of the blade extending on one side thereof. This can be engaged within the tailgate opening and reaches into each back corner of the box thus enabling the operator to pull the lodged grain towards the opening readily and easily.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting substantially parallelepipedic packets (2) disposed between a machine (3) for supplying and a machine (4) for receiving these packets (2) comprising at least one horizontal conveyor (5, 6) connecting the machines (3, 4) and a cylindrical store (13) having radial compartments (25) designed to rotate intermittently about an axis parallel to the conveyor (5, 6) and tangential thereto such that the conveyor (5, 6) defines a base wall for the lower compartment (25) of the store (13).

Abstract: In logging and other handling operations a cable is looped about an elongated object and cinched tight through a choker hook assembly in order to transport the objects. A remotely controlled hook assembly has a body and a releasable latch arm through which the cable passes and which grasps the end of the cable. A recessed knob socket is located on the outside of the hook body for acceptance of the knob mounted at the cable end. Within the body a slidable pin functions to hold and then release the latch arm upon remote command. The slidable pin can be reset by using the pivotal latch arm in combination with the cable and knob as leverage.

Abstract: Apparatus for safely lifting a roll of material having a horizontal eye is disclosed. The apparatus consists of a tong having horizontally relatively movable lifting legs which each include lifting decks to engage the roll's eye. Sliding members are provided to yieldingly address the roll ends and to move horizontally and vertically during closing of the lifting leg under the control of a dampening means. Additionally, the sliding members are maintained stationary with the roll during movement of the tong to engage the eye with the lifting decks to avoid scraping of the roll ends. A spring means is provided to return the sliding member to its rest position following the release of the displaced rolls.