Abstract: A slide door operating device for a motor vehicle comprises a guide track horizontally mounted to an outer surface of a vehicle body panel. A door carrying device is movable along the guide track and connected to a slide door. An electric power device is mounted in the vehicle and has a drive pulley. The vehicle body panel has a single opening. Two cables are joined to constitute a loop which extends from the power device, goes out to the outside of the vehicle body panel through the single opening, extends in and around the guide track and comes back to the power device through the single opening. The loop travels in one direction when the drive pulley is driven in one direction and travels in the other direction when the drive pulley is driven in the other direction. A given portion of the loop is connected to the door carrying device.

Abstract: A system for automatically centering and rigidly retaining a mixer shaft in a mixer drive. A hollow quill in a mixer drive is provided with an axial bore having a first diameter along a central portion thereof and tapering linearly and axially in opposite directions away from the central portion with increasing diameter to define a pair of opposed conical portions of the axial bore on either side of the central bore. A smooth-surface cylindrical mixer shaft inserted into the bore is retained by the tightening of upper and lower tapered cylindrical locks which are slidable along the mixer shaft and have conical outer surfaces which are matable with the upper and lower conical portions of the quill bore. The locks, when urged into wedged relationship between the shaft and the quill bore, automatically center the shaft in the quill in rigid retention. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a thrust plate secured by throughbolts into the quill to press the upper lock into locking relationship.

Abstract: An impact detection system for an industrial door, the system including two members that are releasably coupled to each other to move together with the door as it travels; disposed beyond the doorway opening is a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, preferably packaged together in a photoeye device, and emitting a beam of radiation; the first member carries a reflector that, when the two members are coupled, reflects the radiation back to the photoeye, and that is movable to a position wherein it does not reflect the radiation back to the photoeye in response to separation of the two members caused by the door being impacted, the change in state from 1) the radiation being reflected to the photoeye to 2) the radiation not being reflected to the photoeye thus serves as an indication that an impact on the door has occurred.

Abstract: A three-dimension shadow box. It has a frontwardly lying sheet of transparent glass and a rearwardly lying mirror placed in a generally parallel orientation in a box structure. Graphic indicia is positioned on the frontwardly lying glass, and the graphic indicia has a first layer, having a first color and pattern, viewable only from the front, and a second layer, having a second color and pattern, viewable as the reflection off of the mirror. Two-dimensional visual indicia is placed adjacent to the mirror. The graphic indicia is viewable from the front of the frontwardly lying sheet of glass and a reflection of a rear side of the graphic indicia reflects off of the rearwardly lying mirror so as to appear as lying behind the two-dimensional visual indicia, giving the two-dimensional visual indicia the appearance of floating in the box structure.

Abstract: A jack shaft garage door operator for opening and closing a movable garage door has a drive containing an electric motor. A rotatable jack shaft is connected to the drive unit to be driven thereby. A pull-up cable drum is connected to and driven by the jack shaft. A pull-up cable extends from the drum about which it is wound and connects to a bottom part of the garage door to raise the door. A pivoting arm is mounted near the jack shaft and provides tension to the cable. A shaft lock hub mounted on the jack shaft is engaged and locked by the arm if the tension in the cable drops. A stop is mounted on the garage door for engagement by the movable arm in the event that the door is opened without the cable being drawn in the cable drum.

Abstract: A closure system for a sliding main door and a sliding screen door system of the type typically used in houses and some commercial buildings operates to permit three modes of operation of the sliding screen door and the sliding main door relative to one another. In a first mode of operation handles on the doors freely pass by one another and the two doors may be operated completely independently of one another. The handle on the sliding screen door is capable of movement to different vertical positions; and in another position, cooperating surfaces on the two handles cause the sliding screen door always to be closed when the main door is closed. When the main door is opened, however, the sliding screen door in this mode is capable of movement back and forth independently of the main door to the extent of the opening of the sliding main door.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a motor housing with a cylindrical member extending therefrom and has a pin projecting radially from the cylindrical member. A nose piece removably attached to the housing has a circular aperture which receives the cylindrical member and which has a channel within which the pin slides during attachment and removal. The nose piece includes a cantilevered arcuate spring arm that urges the pin along the channel toward a position at which the pin is wedged against a wall of the channel to force the nose piece into an operating engagement with the motor housing and retains the pin in the channel resisting detachment.

Abstract: A cable window-lift in particular for motor vehicles and comprising a drive (1) for the alternating winding and unwinding of the cable (2) running in at least one loop and which cable, in relation to pane movement, is divided into a cable lifting portion (15) and a cable descending portion (16) and further is linked to a pane lifter (3) displaceable up and down along a guide (5), one spring element (9, 10) being provided in the cable lifting portion (15) and cable descending portion (16) resp. to compensate cable slack. To allow raising and lowering the pane in substantially play-free manner and to avert clattering and/or wind noise, the spring (9) in the cable lifting portion (15), which is compressed when in the pane closed position, evinces a spring force greater than the resultant of the pane weight and the frictional forces arising during pane motion and also larger than the spring force of the spring (10) in the cable descending portion (16).

Abstract: A system for interlocking together two panel members comprises a washer member having first and second washer portions connected by a necked down portion and having a through bore for receiving a fastener. The washer member is fastened to a side of a first panel member. A keyhole slot is formed in a second panel member, the slot having a relatively large opening portion leading to a relatively narrow opening portion. An aperture is formed in the second panel member spaced from the keyhole slot to define a bridge portion between the aperture and slot. A clip member attaches with a snap fit to the bridge portion and spans the keyhole slot terminating in an abutment portion at its distal end. When the two panels are interconnected, the necked down portion of the washer member is positioned within the narrow portion of the keyhole slot with the abutment portion of the clip retaining the washer therein.

Abstract: A fence corner arrangement that includes a corner post, at least two corner post tongues, a first end post, a first end post tongue, a second end post, a second end post tongue, a first brace, and a second brace. The corner post has an upper portion with a perimeter and the corner post upper portion contains a recess disposed along its entire perimeter. The at least two corner post tongues are disposed within the recess and project towards the perimeter. The first end post is disposed a distance from the corner post and has an upper portion with a perimeter. The upper portion contains a recess disposed along a part of the perimeter. The first end post tongue is disposed within the recess and projects towards the perimeter in the direction of one of the at least two corner post tongues. The second end post is disposed a distance from the corner post and the first end post and has an upper portion with a perimeter. The second end post upper portion contains a recess disposed along a part of the perimeter.

Abstract: Quick-assembly picture frames constructed from mitered frame sections (2) have unsightly join lines (6) at their corners. The appearance of such frames is enhanced by fitting a decorative corner unit (8) onto the frame corners which conceals join line (6). The corner unit is secured to the frame e.g. by tightening a grub-screw threaded through a wall (12) of the unit (8) against the rear surface (5) of the frame.

Abstract: A pet door assembly for insertion within a hole formed in a wall having a pair of exterior frames and an inner frame. The exterior frame members mount to opposite sides of the wall and define an opening for allowing passage of a pet. The central inner frame is located between the pair of exterior frames and define an opening generally aligned with the openings in the exterior frames. Each of the exterior frames includes a rear surface having a plurality of fastener sleeves extending outwardly therefrom. At least one of the sleeves has a longitudinally extending slot formed therein. Additionally, the central frame has at least one fastener bracket formed along opposed edges of the inner frame. The bracket includes one or more fastener-receiving apertures having a key portion that is configured to seat within the slot formed within the fastener sleeve. The mating engagement of the fastener sleeve and the key prevents movement of one or both of the exterior frames relative to the inner frame.

Abstract: A thrusting rail-joint assembly for joining and rapidly separating two host structures is disclosed. Each of the two host structures may include a fairing structure, and is connected to a latching member, which may include a rail segment. An outer latching member, having a first joining end and a first latching end, is secured to the first host structure at the first joining end. The outer latching member includes a number of latching arms at the first latching end. The latching arms extend from the outer latching member in a direction from the first joining end to the first latching end. An inner latching member has a second joining end and a second latching end. The inner latching member is secured to the second host structure at the second joining end, and has a number of recesses at the second latching end. The recesses are adapted to receive the latching arms when the outer latching member is latched onto the inner latching member.

Abstract: A crystal water ball device comprising a combination of a globe and a housing supported, via a securely mounted support plate, over a base frame. A lower cup is rotatably supported on the base frame in a frictional manner and is prevented from an upward movement relative to the base frame. A transmission mechanism is provided for driving the lower cup to rotate.

Abstract: A clamp having an attachment mechanism for holding and positioning a second object attached to the clamp relative to a first object secured by the clamp. The clamp includes a clamping member for securing the first object and an attachment mechanism for holding the clamp to the second object. The clamping member includes a scrape preventive mechanism. The attachment mechanism includes a positioning member for positioning the second object relative to the first object without detaching the second object from the clamping member. The attachment member is hand operable.

Abstract: A sun shield for covering a plurality of windows defining at least one substantial angle. The sun shield has a flexible frame which is easily collapsible for storage. Encompassing upon the frame is an opaque flexible material which blocks sunlight. Coupled to the flexible material encompassing the frame is a flexible flap which can shield windows defining a substantial angle with a window shield by the defined frame and encompassing material.

Abstract: A first panel is hinged to a second panel by first, second, and third straps, which are flexible. Each strap is secured to the first panel, near a first end of such strap, and to the second panel, near a second end of such strap. Each strap passes through a slot of the first panel, partly around an edge portion of the first panel, partly around an edge portion of the second panel, and through a slot in the second panel. The first and second straps pass in generally opposite directions between the edge portions of the first and second panels so as to appear to cross each other when viewed along the edge portions thereof. The second and third straps pass in generally opposite directions between the edge portions of the first and second panels so as to appear to cross each other when viewed along the edge portions thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for coupling a cutting tool (12) to a vehicle (14) such as a tractor that permits the cutting tool (12) to pivot to a released position when it contacts an obstruction (38) and that returns the cutting tool (12) to its cutting position at a controlled speed after the cutting tool has cleared the obstruction is disclosed. The coupling apparatus (10) includes a frame (18) pivotally coupled to the vehicle (14) and fixedly coupled with the cutting tool(12) and a rotary actuator (18) for pivoting the frame (16) and the cutting tool (12) between their cutting and released positions at a controlled speed.

Abstract: A crystal water ball mechanism employed to simultaneously turn a lower, outer decoration and an upper, inner decoration and a crystal water ball device incorporating such a mechanism. The lower and upper decorations are respectively affixed to an outer ring which is driven to turn by a first driving element via a coupling ring and affixed to a rotating plate which is driven to turn by a second driving element via a connecting member of the device.

Abstract: An arrangement for connecting a window regulator to a movable window of a motor vehicle, using a hole in the window, in which an external expandable or spreadable insertion part rests, whose length corresponds essentially to the thickness of the window, and an internal insertion part connected with a basic part. The internal part can act on the external insertion part by expanding or spreading, whereby a tension- and/or form-fitting engagement with the contour of the hole in the window is produced, and is characterized in that the external insertion part has a slot-shaped opening, in which the internal insertion part rests movably in the assembly position at least until the internal insertion part is braced with the external insertion part.