Abstract: A molded plastic collar for use on hand tools of the type having an elongated socket to receive a tool handle includes an outer wall defined by first and second tapered surfaces extending lengthwise respectively from each end of the collar towards the middle thereof to form relatively thin wall portions at each end and a relatively thick wall portion at the interface of the first and second tapered surface. The inner wall of the collar is defined by a first relatively large diameter section and a second section defined by a relatively small diameter section. The interface of the first and second sections define a radially extending flange-like surface. The end of the socket engages the flange-like surface. The relatively large diameter section of the inner wall overlays the outer wall of the socket and the relatively small diameter section of the inner wall overlays the outer wall of the tool handle.

Abstract: An end fitting for a lifting sling shaped so that the identical fitting can be used at both ends of the sling, because it is constructed so that an outside dimension will slip through the opening of the fitting. The opening is longer than the end fitting's width and has one end curved to accommodate a crane hook while the other end is straight so that the sling web can be attached there.

Abstract: An electromechanical apparatus for handling and tilting hollow cylindrical bodies (R) such as reels of sheet metal, comprising a rotational clamp (31) having two jaws (32 and 33) which hold, by a nut (36) travelling along a rotating screw (35) driven by a motor (34), the external and internal walls respectively of the cylindrical body (R). The rotating clamp is connected to a crane hooking device by a support (20, 20') moving along a guide (30) provided on the rotating clamp body (31). The hold on the internal wall of the body (R) takes place only along a portion of it, and a device (13, 38b, 37, 38; 40) is provided to compensate the reduction in the holding force produced during the rotation of the hollow cylindrical body (R), namely, the compensating means (13, 38b, 37, 38; 40) causes an additional movement of the rotating screw (35) in a direction to move the jaws closer together.

Abstract: An adjustable double handled shovel in which both handles are composed of grooved, telescopically mated sections for independent relative length adjustment and which are releasibly interconnected by a cross bar that both strengthens the handle assembly and permits adjustment of the relative angle between the two handles. Fasteners received with the grooves secure the mated sections together at the selected length. Adjustable handle grips are also releasibly secured to the ends of both handles by means of telescopic connectors and groove with fasteners for relative rotary movement relative to the handles. The blade portion of the shovel has a sharpened notched portion which engages and cuts obstructions while digging.

Abstract: Apparatus for gripping workpieces using a vacuum includes a plurality of throat bores in a support block, each bore having a constricted portion of its length of a diameter such that the air flow permitted through all of the bores together is less than the pumping capacity of a vacuum pump that draws a vacuum through the bores. In a preferred embodiment, the constricted portions of the bores have a diameter of about 0.008 inches. A rubber pad affixed to the front face of the support block has pad bores therethrough corresponding to the locations of the throat bores, and also has suction cups on the front face of the pad, through which the vacuum is applied, to aid in gripping the workpiece. A vacuum manifold over the back face of the support block draws a vacuum through the bores, thereby gripping the workpiece.

Abstract: A Simulated Custom Wheel suitable for automotive wheels or truck wheels is described and which is suitable for use on either Ford wheels of General Motor wheels. A unique retainer ring is placed against a decorative cover which is placed adjacent to the wheel. The ring has a flanged rim on the periphery which defines a shoulder portion. The flanged rim is positioned so as to point away from the wheel, and the lug nuts are assembled in the conventional fashion for the Ford wheels. The General Motor wheels use a solid retainer plate against the retainer ring. A universal center hub also having a flanged rim on the periphery defining a shoulder portion is adapted to frictionally engage the shoulder portion on the retainer ring whereby the center hub is supported and held only by the frictional relationship existing between the shoulder on the retaining ring and the shoulder portion on the center hub.

Abstract: A chopstick holder (10) comprises a rectangular body with a pair of through holes (20, 22) having diameters larger than tip portions of the sticks, but smaller than the top ends of the sticks, so that when the chopsticks are inserted in the holder, they are firmly held in it by friction. The holding portions are linked by a connection portion (32), which is preferably resilient. Another embodiment of the holder includes tapered splines (36, 38) on the inner surfaces of the holes to gouge longitudinal grooves on the chopsticks to prevent the sticks from rotating in the holes. The holes may have round or square cross sections. The holder may be shifted down the sticks to increase operating force.

Abstract: Each gardening tool proper (1) has a hollow mounting end-piece (3) provided on its free edge with a hook-shaped or channel-shaped member (4a,4b) whose opening is directed towards the working end of the tool. A handle (2) of either wood or plastic has a diameter at the lower end thereof which permits engagement with slight friction within the end-piece (3). A tool-retaining device stationarily fixed near the lower end of the handle has a resilient loop (11) which is intended to be engaged within the hook-shaped or channel-shaped member (4a,4a) of the end-piece. After engagement, the loop can be stretched or slackened (by means 5and 7 to 10) in order to permit either rigid interassembly or subsequent separation of tool proper and handle.

Abstract: A dish carrier for transporting and storing a stack of dishes comprises a base from the periphery of which a set of resilient wire arms upwardly extends. A cover is slidably mounted onto the arms and a handle releasibly attachable to the ends of two opposing arms. So constructed, dishes may be stacked upon the base and maintained in their stacked configuration by the upright arms and the cover passed downwardly over the arms and onto the top of the stack of dishes.

Abstract: A coil protector for "C" hooks includes a pad of cushioning material secured to by straps in spaced slots to the "C" hook. Reinforcing mesh material is molded into the pad between the slots and the vertical leg to which the pad is to be secured to prevent tearing of the pad by straps. The pad is preferably molded from urethane or some similar cushioning material; and the reinforcing mesh material; is preferably a welded steel wire cloth, expanded metal, or a high strength abrasion resistant fiber.

Abstract: A band-type well obstructor for obstructing the well of the hub of a wheel rim, particularly for a pneumatic tire. The well obstructor has an inextensible band with integral circular protrustions mechanically extruded onto the band. The circular protrusions extend radially inwardly to abut against the base of the well to retain the band in position surrounding the well, and to resist crushing under the weight of the vehicle in the event of deflation of the tire. The well obstructor has a fastener assembly utilizing a screw with a groove adapted to receive a locking ring. The fastener assembly further has two transverse beams, one of which is adapted to fit over the end of the screw and abut against a locking washer placed between the transverse beam and the head of the screw. The locking ring is then snapped into place to hold this transverse beam in position. The second transverse beam is placed over the threaded end of the screw.

Abstract: A gripper and wrist joint assembly for a robotic arm. The gripper comprises a pair of identical jams connected by a pivot and including V-sections for holding large objects and end-mounted pivotal tips for holding small and flat sided objects. The jaws are opened and closed by rotation of a screw-threaded rod having screw threaded connections with the jaws, the axis of the rod being fixed and the pivot pins being guided with linear displacement during adjustment of jaws so that they are maintained central within the gripper housing. The wrist includes a pair of spiroid level gears driven by respective spiroid pinions and each meshing with an output bevel gear carried on a shaft equipped with an adjustment nut for engaging the bevel gears into firm engagement and enabling backlash to be eliminated.

Abstract: A ground-engaging wheel for a vehicle comprises a hub rotatable about a wheel axis, an inextensible wheel rim encircling and spaced from the hub, and a plurality of similar circumferentially spaced spoke assemblies connected between the hub and wheel rim. Each spoke assembly comprises a rigid inner spoke element connected to the hub and an outer leaf-spring element connected to the rim. The spoke elements are connected together by a pivot to permit relative angular movement between them, and the leaf-springs are pre-stressed so as resiliently to retain the elements in a datum position against the rim. When the wheel is not subjected to an external load, other than the weight of the vehicle to which it is fitted, the spoke elements remain in the datum position and the wheel acts as a conventional rigid wheel.

Abstract: A hand tool (40) is provided for removing a cover (2) from a package (4), such as an electronic circuitry package, having respective adjacent facing surfaces (22) and (23) on opposite sides thereof. Tool (40) has a pair of spaced-apart resilient arms (8) and (10) having respective free-ends (14) and (16) provided with jaw members (24) respectively having a lip (18) operative to engage surface (22) and provide support for cover (2) and are further adapted to provide a wedging action between surfaces (22) and (23) effective to urge cover (2) away from package (4) when arms (8) and (10) are contracted towards each other. Arms (8) and (10) are additionally provided with resilient biasing means (26) on facing surfaces effective to prevent lips (18) from engaging surface (22) when arms (8) and (10) are in a relaxed condition to facilitate removal of cover ( 2) from tool (40) and to impart a biasing force F.sub.c against opposite sides (20) of cover (2) when arms (8) and (10) are contracted towards each other.

Abstract: A hub cap locking arrangement, in which, in a first embodiment, a hub cap having a cup-shaped configuration with a generally tubular portion insertable into the wheel hub opening, the tubular portion having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the wheel hub opening of an alloy vehicle wheel. The hub cap may be formed from cast or machined metal or plastic material and is provided with a plurality of radially extending threaded apertures, through which extend pointed threaded members of high strength metal, the threaded members having either a hex head opening or a slotted end. The hub cap is assembled to the wheel from the rear with the wheel removed from the vehicle, the threaded fasteners are then screwed into the apertures from the inner opening of the hub cap until the pointed ends enter into engagement with the inner wall of the wheel hub.

Abstract: An implement for digging, weeding and the like tasks, especially intended to allow for carrying out of such tasks by invalid and/or incapacitated people, the implement including two relatively movable members for gripping a weed, those two members in turn each being attached to an elongate handle. The handle includes means operably connected to at least one of the relatively movable members whereby to allow for the desired movement. The implement allows for digging, weeding, and the like tasks to be effected with a minimum of bending.

Abstract: A removable, flexible, easily stored, combination privacy/sunscreen for use on the windshield and adjacent side windows of a recreational vehicle to limit light and outside viewing into the vehicle while permitting outside viewing from inside the vehicle. A sheet of flexible cloth material is shaped to fit over the outside of the windshield and adjacent side windows of the vehicle and includes means for releasably attaching the sheet to the vehicle in the above-described position. The sheet is of a non-woven material and comprises a plurality of closely spaced rows disposed on and bonded to a plurality of columns with the rows and columns disposed at right angles to one another and offset from one another. The material forming the rows is thicker and closer spaced than the material forming the columns and, further, forms a tortuous path for the passage of light therethrough which limits the maximum light passage area of the sheet to less than 30%.

Abstract: An accessory cover apparatus for selectively covering or exposing an open vehicle compartment includes an adjustable mounting assembly interconnectable with the vehicle for mounting and supporting the cover apparatus generally adjacent the compartment opening at an intermediate longitudinal position between the compartments ends. The cover apparatus includes a first cover member that is longitudinally movable between retracted and extended positions. A second cover member protrudes generally in an opposite direction from that of the extended first cover member and is pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position. Preferably, the cover apparatus according to the present invention further includes an open enclosure member disposed beneath the second cover assembly for defining a storage sub-compartment, with the second cover member substantially closing off the sub-compartment when in its closed position and providing access to the interior of the sub-compartment when in its open position.

Abstract: A collector for dog droppings includes a stick provided with a support bell at its ground-side end. The stick includes at its lower end an extension which projects through the support bell and is rotatable relative thereto. Connected to the extension is a receiving insert which includes two semicircular plates with one plate movable relative to the other stationary plate so that the insert can be opened and closed for collecting and retaining the waste in the collector and for subsequent disposal thereof.

Abstract: This bottle carrier device is designed to enable a user to comfortably carry a plurality of beverage bottles back to a store when empty. Primarily, it consists of a pair of slotted racks connected in the middle by a carry handle, and the slots in the racks are tapered towards the ends of the racks, for entry of the empty bottles and supporting them by the flange portion on the necks of the beverage bottles.