Abstract: A protective display for a card-type item with a backing card includes a base and a frame assembly. The base includes a field portion generally surrounding the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a panel and a plurality of rails extending forwardly therefrom and generally forming the boundary of a view area for receiving the display item. The rails form notches for receiving the backing card edges whereby the display item is retained on the display.

Abstract: A fastener assembly having a receptacle attached to the underside of a first panel aligned with a first hole adapted to receive therein a threaded bolt extending through a second hole in a second panel. The holes are aligned and a spring-biased expandable bushing, associated with the receptacle, extends into the first hole receiving the bolt therethrough. When the bolt is threaded into the receptacle, the nut is drawn up, compressing the spring and biasing the bushing, expanding the same, completely, filling the first hole and providing a firm locking engagement therein.

Abstract: For refrigeration units such as walk-in coolers and freezers, a shell, door frame and door panel assembly adapted to enclosed insulative panel constructions wherein the shell confines a selected standard and/or oversize door frame. The door frames are of composite plastic and steel construction including lightweight external plastic hardtracks forming top, sides and screed bottom, the purposes of the external construction being to confine frame elements which are formed of steel, such that by virtue of the separation of elements forming jamb frames and header frames, applied insulation to the overall assembly is rendered most effective. The standard and oversize door panel assemblies are adapted to encompass a precut retainer by means of inside and outside panels, the latter of which contains backup plates for hinges and for door closers and the like.

Abstract: A rod member connector including a coupling hole and a coupling tube adapted for holding two rod members of a folding chair at right angles, and two outward flanges raised from the periphery of the coupling hole at one side opposite to the coupling tube and defining a mouth adapted for holding a third rod member of the folding chair to secure the folding chair in the collapsed condition.

Abstract: A mechanism for closing in sequence a first door (D1) and then a second door (D2) has pivot pins (40) mounted to the door frame. Each pin engages a cam plate (30), so that the plate can rotate. Linkages, such as doors arms (20) hinged from each door to the corresponding cam plate, cause the doors to close when the cam plates rotate. A pair of crossed shuttle arms (50, 60) are rotatably coupled to the cam plates. On the first cam plate the shuttle arms are fastened at a radial distance (d/2) from the pivot pin, and on the second the shuttle the shuttle arms are fastened at a greater radial distance (D/2). The two different distances cause the cam plates, as linked by the shuttle arms, to rotate at different angular rates. The door linked to the cam plate with the smaller distance closes first. The mechanism is asymmetrical with the distances from the pivots to the door arms, the lengths of the door arms, and the attachment points of the hasps on the two sides being in general unequal.

Abstract: A fence gate opener with fluid gravity closure assembly having 1) a main closure gate assembly with a main gate assembly; 2) a main support base assembly operable to be connected to a ground support surface and having the main gate assembly pivotally connected thereto; 3) a fluid gravity closure assembly operably connected to the main support base assembly and the main gate assembly for pivotal movement therewith; and 4) a gate actuator treadle assembly operably connected to the main support base assembly and the main gate assembly to cause pivotal movement thereof from the opened to the closed conditions. The main closure gate assembly includes a counterbalance weight assembly being rotatable with the main gate assembly on a pivot shaft member from opened to closed conditions of the main gate assembly. The main support base assembly includes a support frame assembly having a pivotal gate support assembly connected thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus with a fastening member secured to a body against falling down, for example a winged screw (14) which, with interposition of a holding plate (30), is connected by threads through a so-called keyhole opening (36) to the body (22) of a mounting (10), in particular for holding a spotlight, the holding plate (30) securing the winged screw (14) against falling out but making a repositioning of the winged screw (14) for a different fastening position possible, for which purpose the holding plate is displaceably held on the mounting.

Abstract: Metallic track members having locking slots designed for receiving and retaining metallic stud members that contain construction aids enable the assembly of metallic frames used in the construction of buildings. A flat metallic strip is converted to a W-shaped metallic track member by a series of stamping, bending and severing steps. U-shaped stud members, manufactured in a similar manner are inserted into the track members and held relatively stable by upper and lower track members. An upper track member can be the same shaped design as the lower member or can be U-shaped with stud retaining means into which the stud members can slip-fit. The process for manufacturing is adaptable for computer aided manufacturing using data from the computer aid design of the building. Manufacturing equipment for the manufacture of the construction members is relatively light-weight and can be transported to the job site.

Abstract: A safety cushion provided by folding a tread portion of a discarded tire back onto itself. Fasteners can be employed for maintaining the tread portion in the folded position. The safety cushion can be placed between and underneath shipping crates, underneath hold-down straps for the shipping crates, or contained in conventional cylindrical containers employed as road abutments. A plurality of safety cushions can be contained in a holding frame assembly, or interconnected by a cable network to provide an impact device. A plurality of the impact devices can be positioned at the end of a guard rail, or connected end to end to provide an impact-absorbing retaining wall.

Abstract: The roller blind (100) detachably fastened to a winding axis (50) can be rolled up on to and unrolled from the winding axis with the aid of pull cords, in which case the pull cords (20, 120, 220) are constructed in the form of U-like routed pull cord pairs (21, 121, 221) passed through guide rings (30, 31, 130, 131, 230, 231) with concentric pull cord connecting sections (24, 124, 224) proceeding parallel to the longitudinal axis of the winding shaft (50) and located on top of each other, which are seized for the rolling up and the unrolling operation of the window shade by a pull cord entrainment means (60) secured concentrically to the circumference of the winding axis (50).

Abstract: A sign system having one or more rail sections which are characterized as having substantially uniform cross-sections and longitudinal axis with indents configured within the rail system for accepting protrusions located on sign holder bases. The cross-sections of each rail section are characterized as having an open region for accepting connectors for connecting the rail sections to support elements. Body portions are provided for retaining the connectors as well.

Abstract: A release device is actuated to release a workpiece by operation of either of two elongated shape memory metal alloy (SMMA) members. Each SMMA member has on one end a feature that engages a fitting on the workpiece, while its other end is mounted to a housing. A heater on each SMMA member raises its temperature to a transition temperature at which it returns to an unstressed (e.g. shorter) length, thereby releasing the workpiece. The two SMMA elements may be disposed in opposite directions from the housing or may be coaxial or offset and disposed in the same direction.

Abstract: A system for holding together parts of a construction until the moment of separating the parts from each other, comprises at least two sections having abutting faces and tension element cooperating with supports, this tension element being provided on the sections holding the sections together under pre-tension. A breaker is provided for breaking the tension element so as to separate the sections. The tension element is wound around the supports forming a closed loop bundle that crosses the parting lines of the sections, whereby the strength of the bundle equals at least the pre-tension required to hold the sections together.

Abstract: First and second members are attached together by an attachment device which includes a key hole shaped slot provided in the first member and having an enlarged entry portion communicating with a narrow slot portion. An aperture is provided in the second member and a bolt having a threaded shank and an enlarged head is press fit part way into the aperture of the second member so that the enlarged head is spaced somewhat longitudinally away from engaging the second member. The second member is hung on the first member by inserting the enlarged head of the bolt through the entry portion of the key hole shaped slot and then sliding the second member laterally of the first member so that the shank enters the narrower slot portion.

Abstract: A device for mounting a cushion plunger to one end of the piston rod in a hydraulic cylinder, the cushion plunger constituting a part of a cushion mechanism installed to dampen the impact generated during the rotation of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder. The mounting device includes a recess provided at the end of the piston rod and adapted to partially receive the cushion plunger, a pin hole provided at the piston rod, the pin hole extending in a direction orthogonal to the recess such that it communicates with the recess, another pin hole perforated throughout the cushion plunger radially of the cushion plunger, the pin holes being aligned with each other at a state that the cushion plunger is received in position in the recess, a fling pin inserted into the pin holes being aligned with each other, the fling pin being adapted to fix the cushion plunger to the piston rod, and a clearance defined between the outer diameter of the fixing pin and the inner diameter of the pin hole of the cushion plunger.

Abstract: A window shutter having pivoting louvers radially mounted in an arcuate frame. Each louver has a narrow end mounted to an inner frame member, a wide end mounted to an outer frame member, and two diverging lateral sides. The wide louver end is pivotally mounted to the outer frame member by a mounting pin extending into the wide end and into the outer frame member. The narrow louver end is securely mounted to a pinion gear which meshes with arcuate front and rear rack gears which are slidably mounted in the inner frame member. The shaft of each pinion gear extends into the inner frame member to rotatably mount the gear thereto. Rotation of a single pinion gear causes a corresponding arcuate movement of the rack gears in opposite directions. Movement of the rack gears, in turn, rotates all pinion gears and all louvers simultaneously. The rack gears may also be directly positioned to rotate the louvers. The total range of movement of the rack gears cause a 180.degree. rotation of the louvers.

Abstract: A faucet display unit for displaying watertaps, showerheads and the like. The display unit comprises a shelf having a display surface with first and second edges. At least one row of apertures is defined in the display surface for facilitating attachment of the faucets. A plurality of clips are slidably attached to a track located on the first edge of the shelf for connecting the shelf to a pegboard wall or a slot wall. A plurality of tracks are provided on the shelf for receiving cards that display product information or that cover unused apertures. In a first embodiment, the shelf extends in a downward slope relative to the wall. In a second embodiment, the shelf extends generally vertically relative to the wall.

Abstract: A suspension mechanism for pivotally moving a door panel to close or open a doorway includes a first brace with one end attached to a point low on the panel and the opposite end to a stationary pivot and a second brace with one end attached to the first brace intermediate of its ends and the opposite end slidably and rotatably connected near the top of the panel for support thereof. A stationary but rotatable axial guide receives the second brace intermediate of its ends, and a torque generating spring assists with lifting and opening the panel with energy stored from the lowering of the panel. The spring may be a compression spring encircling the second brace with one end attached near the upper end of the second brace and the opposite end attached to the stationary axial guide, thus locating the spring near the top of the doorway.

Abstract: A shaft coupling, preferably for coupling a journal of a shaft of a print roll to a primary shaft, includes coupling parts which engage one another in an interlocking manner, and which are connected to the shafts to be coupled to one another. A stud projects beyond the periphery of a journal on the end of one shaft and can be pushed into a centering cutout arranged on a sleeve provided on the end of the other shaft and can be fixed there by means of a bearing surface provided in a slide ring which can be pushed over the sleeve.

Abstract: Tube bracket structure for a toolbar includes a pair of identical bracket halves connected by bolts to positively grip first and second fore-and-aft spaced tubes. The bracket halves include angles with horizontal flanges which embrace the top and bottom of the tubes and project forwardly of the front tube and rearwardly of the aft tube. Upright flanges project vertically above and below the tubes and mount tube gripping portions having short projections which engage the tubes near the tube corners to positively hold the tubes in fixed offset and parallel relationship relative to each other. The projections are shaped for positive gripping despite variations in tube sizes. The bracket structure is repositionable along the tubes to avoid interference with tool mounts and accommodate virtually any desired tool spacing.