Abstract: The device is an improved hoist coupling for use with anchors having an anchor shaft terminating in an anchor head and embedded in a concrete load in such a way that a portion of the anchor shaft and the anchor head is exposed and protrudes from the concrete body. The couple comprises a coupler body having an underside which is oriented towards and is seated against the load to be lifted, a socket formed in the upper side of the coupler body, in which socket is defined a ring bearing surface, and a hole in the underside of the coupler body opening into the socket for receiving the head of an anchor.

Abstract: A gripper device which includes a piston and cylinder assembly wherein the piston rod extends through one end of the cylinder, and which cylinder end is defined with a concave slot. Connected to the end of the piston rod is a gripper formed as a resilient member defining a pair of opposed finger portions and an interconnecting flexible web portion. The flexible web portion extends transversely of the outer concave slot. The arrangement is such that the actuation of the piston draws flexible web portion toward the concave slot surface of the cylinder causing the finger portions to flex between a gripping and non-gripping position; and whereby the gripper maintains a spring bias on the piston.

Abstract: A shoe carrier comprising a housing adapted to receive the rear quarter portions of a pair of shoes, and an insert member having a pair of shoe engaging portions each insertable within the rear quarter portion of one shoe projecting toward the insole. A carrying strap, having a pair of ends attached to the insert member between the shoe engaging portions and extending slidably through the top of the housing, enables the insert member and a pair of shoes engaged thereby to be drawn into the housing through an open housing bottom. When the shoes are in the housing, the heel portions of their soles are engageable by the inner surfaces of the housing ends which retain the shoes in engagement with the insert member.

Abstract: A pick up device having an elongated tubular member whose opposite ends are attached respectively to a handgrip assembly and a dual jaw member gripping assembly. The handgrip assembly has a trigger which is attached to a rod member that passes through the interior of the elongated tubular member and which has its opposite ends attached to the dual jaw member gripping assembly. The dual jaw member gripping assembly has a pair of elongated jaw members each having a front leg portion, a rear leg portion, and a pivot pin aperture intermediate the front and rear leg portions. It also has a top plate and a bottom plate. The bottom plate has an upstanding hub formed at the opposite corners of its front portion. The jaw members fit over the hubs and are held in place by self-tapping screws which thread into the hubs extending upwardly from the bottom plate. Shoulders on the hubs position the top plate at the correct spacing from the bottom plate.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a capsule holder for loosely holding a capsule, such as a capsule containing a pharmaceutical agent, during fluid immersion testing. A plurality of resilient gripping fingers surround a space sufficiently large to receive and retain the capsule. The fingers are connected at one end by connecting arms and may be resiliently deflected outwardly to permit insertion of the capsule into the retaining space.

Abstract: An electromagnetic gripper assembly formed of a housing having an electromagnetic coil and armature reciprocally mounted thereon. A pair of gripper members are pivotally connected to the armature which is normally spring biased. The respective gripper members have a finger portion and a connected rocker lever portion, the latter having overlapping end portions by which they are pivotally connected to the armature to be actuated thereby as the electromagnetic coil is energized.

Abstract: In a device for holding a rectangular package of frozen foods, a pinch-frame constructed from a pair of Y-shaped members, each member having tow integrally formed arms, the upper arm of the Y-shaped meeting in a right angle. Integrally formed handles extend outwardly from the exterior of each respective right-angled vertex, in approximately the plane of the two arms, to provide the tail of the Y-shaped of each member, Each of the extended arms of each member is flat on one side of the Y-shape thereby defining two contact pads that are held in contact by connection. The handles of each member is stepped outwardly to form fulcrum means that when the handles are squeezed together open the contact faces.

Abstract: A coffee filter separator having a handle to fit in one hand and tines to shear a single filter from a stack is claimed and disclosed herein. In one embodiment the handle is angled for convenient use. In another, the tines extend around the circumference of the ball to facilitate the use of the tool in any direction.

Abstract: A tool for extracting a microelectronic chip carrier from a receptacle to which it is connected. It includes left and right arms, each having coextensive members in the form of a substantially rigid tong and a flexible leg. Both arms are pivotally mounted at a common axis for relative movement. A distant end of each tong terminates at a chip carrier engaging hook and is slidably received in a channel formed in a tong support at a far end of the leg. Each leg has a bearing surface at its extreme end and a hinge member intermediate its ends and is bowed outwardly of its associated tong. With the bearing surface engaged on the receptacle, the arms are opened sufficiently wide that the hooks which are extended from the bearing surface when the tool assumes its relaxed condition, straddle the chip carrier.

Abstract: A storage unit comprising a housing and a sleeve slidable within the housing. The housing has a vertical opening which is divided into slots by a plurality of bar stops. The sleeve has a plurality of shelves with spaces for holding containers which may be placed onto and removed from the shelves when the shelves and bar stops are in registration. When the bar stops and shelves are not aligned, the bar stops block the spaces adjacent to the shelves, and prevent the containers from accidentally being lost or removed from the shelves.

Abstract: A bottle holder for use with a bottle having a wide body and a narrow neck formed with an annular flange, particularly a soft drink bottle. The bottle holder has a lower annular band which fits snugly over the bottom of the bottle, an upper apertured gripping member which fits over the flange, and a handle which connects the upper gripping member and lower band. The handle is formed with an integral hinge portion which permits the lower band to be folded into the handle to form a flat member for packaging and storage.

Abstract: A safety grapple for releasably joining an object to be moved to a device for moving the same. Provision is made to cycle the grapple (10) through at least two release procedures before actual release can be effected. This is accomplished through the use of lug actuator cam plate 50 which rotates unidirectionally a selected amount for each upward and downward movement of a central shaft (22) of the grapple (10). This cam (50), with cam followers (52) mounted on the lugs (54), is shaped such that the lugs (54) are pivoted out of engagement with the object (100) only after a selected number of shaft reciprocations. In a specific embodiment, the grapple (10) requires two full cycles of shaft movement before lug release is effected on the third cycle. This prevents inadvertent release of the object (100), a feature especially important in the handling of hazardous material.

Abstract: A modular article supporting rack has a U-shaped supporting frame. A plurality of elongated, transversely extending, shelves, formed of wire members, is affixed to the sides of the supporting frame. Each of the rack modules is stackable for shipping and storage. Each rack module may be attached to a second identical module to form a rack having twice as many shelves. Each shelf is formed of a C-shaped, wire, shelf frame member with a package retaining lip formed in a central region thereof. A plurality of elongated shelf-support wire members can be affixed, spaced apart from one another, to the sides of the C-shaped, shelf frame member to complete each shelf.

Abstract: A grouping head hoist uses a plurality of conical couplers mounted upon cables to rearrange and lift a plurality of projectiles. The couplers are locked to the eyelet at the nose of the projectiles and the cables are raised relative to a lower guide plate such that the couplers will seat within corresponding conical holes within the guide plate. The positioning of the holes in the guide plate determines the structure of the array into which the projectiles are rearranged. An upper support plate disposed above the guide plate raises and lowers the cables by operation of hydraulic cylinders connecting the upper support plate and lower guide plate. Alternately, the cables may be reeled upon reels or drums mounted within a case. An automatic release plate is used to simultaneously release numerous of the projectiles. A turn counting mechanism limits rotation of the reels upon which the cables are wound. A scissors mechanism or linkage assembly is used to stabilize the hoist.

Abstract: A material handling sensor device that includes a proximity sensor located within a vacuum cup. A raised surface in the vacuum cup maintains the proper spacing between the proximity sensor and the handled object, and a seal is formed integrally with the vaccum cup.

Abstract: A reusable bottle holder for holding and manipulating a plastic bottle typically for soft drinks such as two and three liter, and proposed, four liter, bottles. The bottle holder has a partial annulus flexible neck locking portion for snap-locking onto the annular neck of the bottle immediately adjacent and below a neck flange. The handle also has an attached partial annulus member attached to it for partially encircling and securing the lower side wall portion of the bottle. While the neck locking portion of the handle is integrally fixed to the handle portion, the lower side wall securing, annular member is fixed to the handle by complementary male and female fittings to facilitate packing and shipping of the handle member.

Abstract: A power operated gripper in which both the gripping and releasing movements of the gripping elements are made under power. The gripper comprises a thrust member which is extended and retracted in a linear motion by the power means, gripper arms which swing in an arc to grip and release a workpiece, a cam and roller structure to convert the linear motion of the thrust member to arcuate movement of the gripper arms and adjusting screws which engage the walls of a V-shaped groove in the thrust member to control the extent of its movement in each direction. The parts are constructed and arranged to permit adjustment of the gripper while it is operating so that precise control of the gripping and releasing motion of the gripper arms may be attained under actual operating conditions.

Abstract: A rotatable hand tool for cleaning soil, stones, grass cuttings and like accumulated debris from a blind hole such as a memorial vase hole. The device comprises a cylindrical head portion having a transverse plate member fitted therein in spaced relation to a terminal end thereof. The plate member has a cutout section and carries a downwardly depending cutting edge along one side of the cutout and an upwardly curved section along the opposed side. A shaft with a transverse handle is affixed to the head portion to permit rotation of the head and cutting edge about a longitudinal axis of the device. A vertical barrier plate is affixed within the head member adjacent to the cutout section to prevent accumulated material dislodged by the cutting edge and entrained within the device from escaping from a storage reservoir defined by the sidewalls and plate member.

Abstract: A bicycle type cable lock is attached to the pivot means of a ski carrier. The cable lock can be used to secure a pair of skis and poles to a permanent structure when they are attached to the ski carrier. The cable lock also can be used to secure the ski carrier by itself to a permanent structure such as a tree.

Abstract: A tow bar particularly adapted for use with tailwheel aircraft which includes an elongated rod, a handle at one end, a pair of clamping members pivotally connected at an opposite end, the clamping members each being of a generally u-shaped configuration defined by a pair of spaced arms, a bight therebetween, and a tail, a pivot pin connecting the clamping members to the rod, first and second arms of each clamping member having respective first and second noses, the first noses being overlapped in a closed position of the clamping members to embrace a tailwheel aircraft tailspring therebetween, the second noses of each clamping member being effective to contact the aircraft tailwheel tailspring to move the clamping members from an open to the closed position thereof, and an over-the-center spring for holding the clamping members in the open position and biasing the clamping members to the second position after passing an over-the-center plane through the pivot.