Abstract: Apparatus for enhancing a message comprises an elongated housing defiing an open front for releasable positioning of a first message panhel having opaque and transparent portions constituting the message of one's choice. A stationary fluorescent light tube is positioned within said housing. A multi-colored, translucent tubular sleeve is positioned for rotation about said light tube such that light passes through said sleeve to emit a seemingly moving array of colored lights. A trough-shaped reflective panel is positioned behind the light and sleeve within the housing such that light impinged upon its reflective surface is reflected to impinge upon the message panel to thereby appear through the transparent portions of the message panel and visually enhance the message. A second message panel which is translucent and textured may be placed behind the first message panel to make the light appearing therethrough seem patterned.

Abstract: A self-aligning fastener system incorporates a stud member fastened to a first member and a female member attached to a second panel member for fastening the first member to the panel member. The female member includes a head portion which spans an aperture of the panel and has an aperture therethrough, the head portion includes leg portions which depend from the head portion which extend through the panel aperture and are engaged by a clip on the opposite side of the panel for retaining the female fastener in the aperture. The panel aperture and leg spacing are dimensioned such that the female fastener is adapted to move along a first axis of said aperture thereby allowing the female fastener to accommodate any alignment errors between itself and the stud fastener along the first axis. The leg portions of the female fastener have a pair of linear engagement surfaces arranged perpendicular to the first axis whereby the leg portions can engage and retain the stud member anywhere along their length.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat back mounted for walkover movement from one end of the seat to the other end. Associated with the seat back is an inertial latching system which is normally inoperative so as to allow walkover movement of the seat back. During deceleration of the vehicle above a preselected magnitude, the latching system is actuated to restrain walkover movement of the seat back and to progressively absorb any impact into the seat back from behind, as would occur during a sudden stop or crash. The latching system automatically deactuates itself upon cessation of any tendency by the seat back to undergo walkover movement.

Abstract: An infant carrier includes a collapsible shell assembly including a seat and a backrest which are pivotally connected for movement between open and closed positions. The carrier further includes a latching assembly for locking the seat and the backrest in the open position, and a pivotable handle assembly which is coaxially oriented about the pivot axis of the seat and the backrest. The handle assembly includes a carrying handle and a pivot and locking mechanism for both locking the seat and the backrest in the closed position, and for locking the handle in a plurality of pivoted positions relative to the shell assembly.

Abstract: A battery operated animated button is disclosed which is worn by a user and includes a display portion which moves and may selectively display a hidden message or the like. The button includes a circuit board activated by batteries, with a wire of a titanium-alloy material activated by the circuit board to contract to move the display portion.

Abstract: A vehicle seat of a hinged type wherein a seat cushion is rotatable about its forward pivot point to an upright position and a seat back is rotatable about its rearward pivot point to a horizontally laying position, the locking arrangement thereof being such that a lock member having a latch hole is provided at the rearward end of the seat cushion, whereas a stopper is defined at the lower end of the seat back, so that, when the seat cushion tends to rotate upwardly with a great force, the stopper at the seat back is to be engaged into the latch hole of the seat cushion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a height-controllable childcare chair (1). This chair first comprises a pair of side walls (6) which are located on both sides of a seat portion (2). A pair of horizontally extending side bars (8), which are parallel to each other, are fixed to the respective side walls (6). A pair of first leg members (11) are rotatably mounted on the respective side walls (6). A pair of sliders (14) are mounted on the respective side bars (8) to be slidable along the side bars (8). A pair of second leg members (29) are rotatably mounted on the respective sliders (14). Respective intermediate portions of the second leg members (29) are rotatably coupled to respective intermediate portions of the first leg members (11). Wheels (13, 31) are mounted on respective lower end portions of the leg members (11, 29). A plurality of engaging holes (9a-9h) are longitudinally distributed along each side bar (8).

Abstract: The fold-away table is attached to an underside of a chair, sofa or the like. The fold-away table provides for the use of two parallel rails which are attached to the underside of the chair, along which rails a carriage slides forward and rearward in relation to the chair. One of the rails carries a locking bar with teeth formed on its inner side which match and interlock with teeth of a locking piece carried by the carriage, so as to secure position of the carriage in relation to the chair when extended. The carriage has a table top leg support which pivots to a vertical orientation and which has a table top supported on one of its tubular members. A tilting mechanism carried by the tubular member allows tilting of the table top to an angle most convenient for the user. A release mechanism which is mounted on the forward end of one of the rails is activated by foot of the user, when necessary, to release locking engagement of the locking bar and the locking piece.

Abstract: A seatback frame (21) is disclosed as having an inverted U-shaped frame member (22) including an elongated and generally horizontal upper member (23) and a pair of elongated side members (24) and (25) respectively extending generally downwardly from the extremities of the upper member. A pair of side panels (28 and 29) are respectively secured to and extend generally forwardly from each side member and have inwardly facing surfaces that oppose each other. A resilient lumbar supporting panel (35) having lateral extremities is forwardly spaced from the side members proximate the side panels and is generally concave therebetween. It has a central portion that extends generally upwardly and is secured to a central portion of the upper member. The lateral extremities form retrorse portions (41) that extend generally rearwardly along the opposed surfaces of the side panels, and the rearmost margins (43) of the retrorse portions are attached to the side panels.

Abstract: A bracket to easily fasten detachable parts such as seats and backs to a wheelchair with J-shaped hooks or brackets that partially encircle the wheelchair frame tubes. A separate clamp assembly is more permanently clamped to the tube adjacent to each J-bracket. A swing arm pivoted on each clamp assembly is rotated into a position over the encircling portion of the J-bracket so as to both trap the bracket against the clamp and against the tube. Quick release and reattachment is achieved simply by rotating the swing arms off or on the J-hooks.

Abstract: A portable, customized patient support system is provided for maintaining a person in a substantially upright sitting position. The system has a seat cushion, a back cushion and left and right lateral trunk brace cushions. Each of the cushions is selected to conform to certain measured dimensions of the person. The cushions are secured to each other using interconnecting devices. The assembled system can be used with most conventional chairs and seats, including wheelchairs. A method of providing support for a person in a substantially upright sitting position is also provided which includes the steps of measuring certain dimensions of the patient, selecting appropriately sized cushions and securing the cushions together using the interconnecting devices.

Abstract: An arm connectible to a seat back and having teeth formed at one end is pivotally mounted to a seat bottom frame formed of first and second spaced, fixedly connected plates. A toothed drive gear mounted between the first and second plates and rotated by a drive unit meshingly engages the teeth on the arm to rotate the arm between infinitely adjustable positions. Aligned slots are formed in the first and second plates and receive opposed tenons of a rivet having the arm rotatably mounted about a central body portion.

Abstract: A calendar display device includes a panel, a hanger hole disposed at the top center of the panel, a transparent vinyl cover disposed on the front surface for maintaining a calendar pad, and a transparent vinyl back pocket disposed on the rear surface for inserting a memory enhancing sheet thereinto. The calendar display device also includes a pair of lower corner pockets attached to the front surface for receiving the transparent vinyl cover flap.

Abstract: An improved support assembly for mounting a ribbon, medal, or other indicia on an outside surface of the fabric layer of a uniform includes a spacer having a central hole for receiving the spike of the ribbon holding structure therethrough, and an adhesive layer on one surface thereof which is adhered to the corresponding fastener for the spike to form an integral unit therewith. The spacer having a thickness in relation to the length of the spike sufficient to hold the ribbon against the fabric layer and prevent the ribbon, medal, or other indicia from sagging.

Abstract: An adjustable bicycle seat includes first and second support platforms laterally separated by first an second relatively slidable, horizontally oriented, overlapping flanges respectively joined to the first and second support platforms and having a bolt extending through a passage therein to releasably secure the first and second platforms in laterally spaced relation. Each support platform includes an integral spring rotatably mounted in a clamp attachable to a bicycle frame. Apertures formed in the first and second flanges are selectively alignable when the bolt is removed from the passage to permit selective lateral and angular positioning of the first and second support platforms in a horizontal plane, and the bolt is engageable in the aligned apertures to secure the support platforms in such position.

Abstract: A self-recorded program index system for a cassette tape stored in a carton, including a transparent holder secured relative to the carton and defining adjacent substantially equally-sized pockets. Index tabs are provided to be removably carried in the pockets, each pocket having a tab. To use, the lead tab would be removed from its pocket and marked with the first recorded program and reinserted into the lead pocket as the program tab for the first program. For any subsequent recorded program, the program tab for the program being recorded would be placed in the pocket after the indexing tab(s) for the last recorded program. By having an abundance of pockets, a specific minutes-per-pocket value could be set for each pocket, and each pocket could then correspond to an approximate specific time interval on the tape.

Abstract: A collector's album includes a binder and at least one display page having a plurality of pockets to receive collectible display items such as sports cards, stamps, slides, and the like. Each display page has transparent front and back panels with the front panels having pockets defined by recessed base surfaces and peripheral retaining walls. Retaining members are cooperative with the peripheral retaining walls to releasably retain display items and associated transparent display covers within the corresponding pockets. In one embodiment, transparent lids are hinged to the front panel to overlie the pockets and retain collectible items within the pockets for display.

Abstract: A combination seat, equipment holder and ice skate protector device is provided and consists of a first cushioned panel hinged to a second storage panel having a plurality of pockets which is hinged to a third padded panel. The first cushioned panel is placed upon a dressing room bench so that an ice skater can sit in comfort. The second storage panel hangs down in front of the dressing room bench, so that the pockets can hold in an organized manner small equipment. The third padded panel sits upon the floor so that ice skates can rest upon it for protection.

Abstract: A vehicle seat armrest assembly (10) includes a lower bin (18) defining a storage compartment (20) and an upper cover (22) hinged to the bin (18) for pivotal movement between a closed position covering the bin (18) and an open position opening the storage compartment (20). A bracket (26) supports the lower bin (18) and provides rotation of the bin (18) between a horizontal use position and a vertical storage position. A latch (40) latches the cover (22) to the bin (18) in a latched position and allows opening of the cover (22) in an unlatched position. A lock (42) interacts between the bracket (26) and the latch (40) to maintain the latch (40) in the latched position in response to pivotal movement of the bin (18) from the horizontal use position to the vertical storage position. The lock (42) includes a cam (60) which transfers the rotational movement of the bin (18) to linear movement of a controller (46).

Abstract: An apparatus that is placed on a soft seat, such as an easy chair or sofa to help its user in being seated and in arising includes a rigid U-shaped lower frame that is spanned by a sheet of pliable material that is in contact with the seat, and further includes an upper U-shaped frame formed of tubing that is spanned by a rigid panel. The upper frame is resiliently and pivotably mounted to the lower frame by means of left and right torson springs, which apply an upward force to the rigid panel, partially offsetting the user's weight when the user is seated on the rigid panel. The apparatus is provided with left and right hand holds that permit the user to steady himself as he sits down or arises. The apparatus is stable in use and easily portable owing to its lightweight construction.