Abstract: An improved pinch grip pant and skirt hanger of reduced depth is formed with an offset between the hanger bar and the mounting of the pinch grip to align the center axis of the hanger bar with the center of the pinch grip, to thereby reduce the depth of the hanger and pinch grip and provide greater density of garments during shipment. Two separate guards are provided to prevent inadvertent opening of the pinch grip by an adjacent hanger, including a moveable guard, formed by arches on the fixed and moveable jaws. Since the arches are formed to contact below the pivot axis of the pinch grip, any contact between hangers will serve to enhance grip, rather than inadvertently opening the pinch grip. The hanger is particularly adapted for magazine feed and the automated loading of garments.

Abstract: An I-beam having a web curved in two dimensions is used to provide an enhanced stiffness to weight ratio for molded plastic hangers. The I-beam includes first and second generally parallel flanges which extend in a longitudinal direction. The flanges are joined by a curved web, which is defined in part by first and second radii of curvature, wherein the radii are nominally orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: A pinch-grip hanger includes an elongated body with at least one pinch-grip positioned along the body. A pinch-grip has two opposed legs that meet at a pivot axis and the ends of the legs are movable about the pivot axis. At least one of the two opposed legs has a gripping tooth located on the lower end of the legs. A biasing force is exerted on the two opposed legs by a biasing mechanism. Pinching the upper ends of the front leg rearwardly overcomes the biasing force and separates the lower ends of the legs, thereby opening the pinch-grip.

Abstract: A hanger folding and expanding in a direction parallel to the hook, for narrow neck top wears is comprised of, including but not limited to, a spring, two solid wings, a pivot pin, a hook, and a member connecting the hook and a pivot pin.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in shaping casual turn-down collars has a flexible sheet substrate with a profile that fits underneath a casual turn-down collar. There is an adhesive coating on each side of the substrate. The substrate fits without showing and with a portion of the substrate near a tip of the collar. The coating is self-releasing and pressure sensitive. There is a cover film on each side of the substrate over the adhesive coating. The substrate has a removal tab section with no adhesive coating on each side of the substrate. There is a pull-tab on each cover film that extends beyond the adhesive coating on the substrate. The pull-tab extends over the removal tab section. The collar is manually shaped and the apparatus is placed between the shirt body and the collar to fix the collar in place.

Abstract: Methods of using carnival beads to create twisted bead structures. A plurality of primary bead strands and shorter Prep pieces are twisted together in order to create quaternary structures having particular three-dimensional configurations. The structures can be interlocked together to form larger structures. The twisted beads can be coated with a protective coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scabbard for a combat knife and cutting tool combination. The scabbard generally comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, and includes a channel formed therethrough that extends in spaced, parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a cavity that extends along the longitudinal axis. The cutting tool comprises first and second legs pivotally interconnected to one another that extend along longitudinal first and second axes, respectively, with the first leg being removably positionable within the channel of the scabbard, and the second leg being movable relative to the scabbard, but held firmly in position by a releasable strap when the tool is not in use. A combat knife is removably positionable in the cavity of the scabbard.

Abstract: A wrench has a head portion (10) adapted to engage and apply torque to a workpiece, including a ring member (14) which surrounds the workpiece and has a fixed end (16) and a free end (18) such that, when the ring engages a workpiece and a torque is applied in a predetermined direction (48), the ring closes around the workpiece, increasing the grip between the wrench and the workpiece even if the workpiece is substantially worn, damaged or undersized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hand-held striking tool that has a head disposed forward of the centerline of a handle. The hand-held striking tool of the present invention may further include a flange positioned beneath the head of the tool, the flange functioning as a second area of contact so that the effect of overstrike may be controlled. The present invention also provides a hand-held striking tool that isolates the striking head of the tool from the handle such that the effect of vibrations caused by using the tool are reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a necktie holder for attachment to a shirt under a shirt button. The shirt button is attached to the shirt by a threading having a width. The necktie holder comprises a flexible body having a tie slot sized for the placement of a tie therein, a channel defined in the flexible body and extending to an interior mouth, and first and second shoulders opposedly positioned within the channel. The shoulders define a constriction proximate the interior mouth, the constriction being smaller than the width of the threading. As a result, the button can be manually urged beyond the first and second shoulders while causing the constriction to resiliently flex the flexible body to momentarily permit passage of the shirt button into the interior mouth. Also provided is a method for securing a necktie to a shirt.

Abstract: A specialized tool for opening a particular type of container and lid configuration which is used in the food and beverage arts. The tool includes a handle section and an operating section. The operating section includes a jaw portion with a pointed lower lip and an open area. The operating section further includes a curved lower lid contacting area and at least one notch for contacting a rim on a container and providing a pivot point. The tool is useful for any person who may have difficulty in opening the particular container type described. A method of use and a specially designed support base are also described.

Abstract: A hat shaping and drying support assembly includes a base with a back portion and a front portion. Each of the front and back portions has a bottom side, a top side, a pair of lateral sides, an outer side and an inner side wherein the inner sides face toward each other. A rear frame is attached to and extends upwardly from the top side of the back portion and a front frame is attached to and extends upwardly from the top side of the front portion. A coupler is mounted to the rear and front frames such that the rear and front frames may be selectively moved with respect to each other. A biasing assembly is attached to the coupler for selectively biasing the back and front portions away from each other. A wet hat is positioned on the front and rear frames for drying and shaping.

Abstract: A bi-directional carpet trimmer and tucker tool has recesses receiving blades in a generally horizontal or slightly angled orientation. The blades and recesses have structure to inhibit rotational and translational movement of the blades in the tool. The tool also has a trailings guide engaging trailings trimmed from an edge of carpet to be tucked. The trailings guide moves the trailings away from at least one tucking wheel along a path generally between a handle and the at least one tucking wheel. This guiding operation inhibits interference of the trailings with tucking and trimming operations.

Abstract: A suit hanger having a first generally horizontally disposed bar extending between edges of the opposing shoulder portions of the hanger includes a second generally horizontally disposed bar coupled with an outwardly rotatable hinge from the first bar to allow the trousers of a suit to be removed from the hanger without having to first remove its jacket.

Abstract: A screwdriver for driving collated screws including a slide body coupled to a housing for reciprocal displacement in a cycle including a retraction stroke and an extension stroke. A lever pivotably mounted to the slide body carries at one end a cam pin received in a cam slot in the housing with the other end of the lever advancing successive screws in the screwstrip, the cam slot having first and second camming surfaces for selective engagement by the cam pin to vary the relative positionning of the lever to be different for the same position if the slide body in the housing in the retraction strokes than in the extension stroke.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for pressing the sleeves of a shirt and the pleated areas of the sleeves adjacent the cuffs during the same pressing operation.

Abstract: A hose clamp installation tool and a method for installing a hose assembly. The hose clamp installation tool includes a hook that engages a clamp. A first rod engages the clamp and releases the clamp from an open position to a closed position. A sensor indicates release of the clamp.

Abstract: A flexible socket extension includes two connectors disposed in two ends of a flexible housing, and a number of torque transmitting elements received in the flexible housing and coupled between the connectors. One of the torque transmitting elements includes a neck and a tongue which has a width greater than that of the neck. The other torque transmitting element includes a lateral groove for receiving the tongue, and having two juts extended into the lateral groove, for engaging with the tongue and for rotatably retaining the torque transmitting elements together.

Abstract: A box end wrench includes an annular flange extending from a first side thereof and an inner diameter is larger than a maximum inner diameter of the box end. A compressible member is engaged with a second side of the box end and can be compressed by an object engaged with the box end. The compressible member pushes the object from the toothed inner periphery of the box end to a space enclosed by the annular flange, so that the object is retained in the box end while the handle of the wrench is allowed to be rotated in counter clockwise.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments relate to a multipurpose hand device especially comprising utensils. A lift and/or release mechansim is assigned to said utensils, enabling them to be placed in a slightly raised position so that they can be grasped easily or locked in a swing-out position.