Abstract: A versatile knee rest for invalid walkers which is easily adapted to existing walkers or provided as original equipment wherein the knee rest may be quickly and readily positioned on either the right side or left side of the walker as required by the user. While of simple construction, the knee rest is ruggedly mounted and braced for use.

Abstract: A frame for an umbrella has a shaft (4,5), ribs (7) extending radially from the top of the shaft, and stretchers (6) extending from a runner (2) on the shaft to attachment points on the ribs. The shaft comprises first and second parts (4,5) connected by a pivot or bending portion, e.g. a joint (1), located at a position between the top of the shaft and the runner (2) to allow the axis of the upper part of the shaft to be set in a position inclined to the axis of the part of the shaft below the pivot. This provides a stable tilting arrangement. Advantageously, the joint (1) can be a snap-in ball joint which is easy to assemble and manipulate.

Abstract: An extendable mast of the joint type constructed by freely swingably connecting essentially-rigid members to one another. It includes a plurality of battens extending in the traverse direction of the mast, a plurality of longerons extending in the longitudinal direction of the mast to connect battens adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the mask, and diagonals arranged along the diagonal lines of a rectangle which is formed by the two battens adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the mast and by the two longerons adjacent in the traverse direction thereof. Each of the longerons consists of a pair of beam members freely swingably connected to each other and when these beam members are folded, the mast is also folded compact. The diagonal comprises plural slider members slidable relative to each other and it can be extended to a full length. When these diagonals are extended to their full length, the beam members are locked under overcenter condition.

Abstract: An umbrella, having a cover stretched over a plastic folding radial frame which comprises upper, intermediate and lower nest plates respectively mounted on a main shaft for securing a plurality of ribs. The nest plates are identical in structure, each comprised an upper circular member having a plurality of pawls and retaining holes at the bottom respectively engaged with a plurality of retaining holes and pawls on the top of a lower circular member for securing the ribs. The cover comprises a plurality of fastening caps at the corners around its periphery and a plurality of snap fastening elements on each radial line thereof for securing the ribs. Because all the parts are made of plastic material, the umbrella is not electrically conductive and can protect against lightning.

Abstract: A shelter structure comprising a supporting framework which includes a pair of spaced apart base members, each base member comprising a plurality of stationary receptacles. A plurality of ribs extend between the base members and have end portions removably mounted to respective stationary receptacles of the base members to form a skeleton frame which is covered by a skin. Each base member also comprises a movable receptacle capable to removeably hold the end portion of a rib. To erect the shelter, the ribs are temporarily mounted in the stationary receptacles of the base members to form a skeleton frame, the skin is mounted to the skeleton frame and one or more selected ribs which ultimately will form the door of the shelter structure are transferred from their respective stationary receptacles to movable receptacles so as to allow the ribs to move between an opened and a closed position relatively to the other ribs of the shelter.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying shingles to a roof having a guidetrack connected to the roof, a pair of guiderods slidably connected to the guidetrack in perpendicular extension therefrom, a primary carriage mounted to the guiderods for movement parallel the guidetrack, a gun carriage mounted within the primary carriage, but independently supported therein for concomitant horizontal motion therewith and a chute for conveying shingles placed thereon beneath the gun carriage.

Abstract: The invention provides a box for the passage of pressurized liquid through masonry work of small thickness, particularly dividing walls, the box (1), firmly secured to a plastic sheath (4), also embedded in the masonry work (2), allowing plastic material pipes (5) to be installed for pressurized liquids. Said pipe (5) passes through the case and the sheath with radial clearance, which makes it possible to change it for maintenance purposes, the parallelepipedic shaped box having a large opening on which a lid (3) is placed, this lid carrying the connection of the pipe (5) formed by holding means and sealing means.

Abstract: A sun shield assembly composed of a canopy of pliable material which can withstand the environment of a beach, which canopy is generally rectangular in shape and which is spanned by spaced, laterally extending battens preferably received in pockets in the canopy, while the canopy is supported by at least one cross support beam, which beam includes spaced downwardly extending supporting legs; at each of the corners of the canopy, a grommet is provided from which extends a tether with a peg on the end of each to connect the tethers to the earth; the tethers are adjustable to respond to variations in wind velocity, commonly encountered at a beach.

Abstract: An umbrella with a carrying strap retractable interiorly of the umbrella's handle to a storage position when use of the strap is not desired, and extendable exteriorly of the handle into a use position when it is desired to carry the umbrella with aid of the strap.

Abstract: A roof tile clip for securing a roof tile to a roof structure has an elongated body portion secured at a lower end such as through a base portion extending from the body portion to the roof structure and a lip portion at an opposite upper end thereof extending over and engaging a side edge of the roof tile. The lip portion is inclined relative to the body portion by an amount approximately equal to the amount of inclination of the roof tile relative to the roof structure to provide a close, relatively conforming fit of the lip portion with the side edge of the roof tile. The clip is made from a single piece of aluminum. The lip portion is further configured to provide a conforming fit over a ridge at the roof tile's side edge, and includes a neck portion an an acute angle to the body portion so as to fit flat against an angled flat surface at the side of the roof tiles, an intermediate portion extending from the neck-portion and a terminal portion extending from the intermediate portion.

Abstract: An automatic umbrella includes: a central shaft having an upper shaft telescopically mounted on a lower shaft secured in a grip, a rib assembly pivotally secured to the central shaft, an extending spring for extending the ribs and opening the umbrella, a retraction restoring spring for closing the umbrella, and a straightforward push button resiliently retained in said grip which may be straightforwardly depressed to actuate an opening controller for opening the umbrella conveniently, and may also be further depressed straightforwardly to actuate a closing controller for easily closing the umbrella, without the need for selectively depressing a specific location on a push button.

Abstract: A sun shade is formed from two sheets of a tough, yet flexible material which have been cut to an appropriate shape and size, and sealed together at the edges to form a flat, balloon-like structure. A plurality of interconnecting flow channels or buoyant cells are stitched into the sheets to enable the structure to retain its shape without bulging. A conventional fill valve is provided for filling the space between the sheets with helium or another suitable gas. The shade is anchored above a selected surface using cables or other flexible connectors.

Abstract: A corner flashing for use on a roof against a protrusion. The corner flashing comprises a base having a pair of intersecting joint edges and a wall joined in watertight relation to the base at the joint edges. The wall is an upstanding, folded, and adjustable portion. The folded portion has a plurality of folds tapering toward the base. The folded portion is inelastically deformable into a plurality of configurations between a fully open configuration and a fully closed configuration. The folded portion in the fully open configuration is approximately planar. The folded portion in the fully closed configuration has all adjacent folds contiguous. The folded portion is pivotable relative to the base by the deformation of the folded portion.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for covering traditionally mounted rain gutters. It is comprised of a roof attached shield and an arcuate screen attached to the gutter. In the preferred embodiment, a narrow trough is provided at the lower edge of the screen to accumulate excess water. The apparatus acts to separate water from debris, directing water from the roof into the gutter while encouraging the debris either to be immediately shed from the roof or to be collected and readily dried and removed from the trough.

Abstract: A pivotable joint and a joint locking mechanism for a foldable frame apparatus are disclosed. The joint comprises mating male and female joint members mounted to the ends of tubular frame members and pivotably connected together to form oppositely articulatable joints of a foldable frame useful for tent enclosures and the like. A one-piece joint locking mechanism made of wire is provided for locking the joint in its erected or folded positions.

Abstract: A disposable umbrella apparatus is made of thermoplastic and inexpensive materials and has a central staff made of a length of plastic pipe. Three short plastic dowels are mounted perpendicular through the staff and a plastic cap mounts to the top of the pipe to act as a stop for a fixed upper collar supporting the fixed struts of the umbrella and as a latch for a slidable collar carrying the collapsing umbrella struts. The slidable collar has an opening therethrough and slides along the staff pipe and the latching for the umbrella uses a pair of grooves along the inside of the opening the slidable collar so that the collar can slide over one of the plastic dowels protruding from the staff and abut against a second dowel protruding from the staff and then rotated between the two dowels to latch the collars and struts in position to hold the umbrella in an open position.

Abstract: A dome structure is disclosed, comprising an upper part of a dome structure having a top portion and a bottom portion and being erected on a structure with the bottom portion of the dome frame contacting the structure, the dome structure comprising a plurality of arch-shaped steel trusses, each of which comprises a plurality of upper chord members and a plurality of lower chord members; and at least two pairs of compression rings, each ring in a pair being of a different diameter and being engaged with the top portion of the dome structure, at least the pairs of the compression rings supporting the upper chord members, and one of the rest of the pairs of the compression rings supporting the lower chord members, the steel trusses extending radially from the compression ring to the structure.

Abstract: A gripstay channel veneer anchor assembly includes a channel member which abuttingly engages an insulation layer which in turn abuttingly engages a plurality of support members which form the inner wythe of an edifice. A clip securement menber projects through apertures in the channel member, pierces the insulation member and abuttingly engages the support member. A mounting screw is provided which connects the clip securement member, the channel member and the support member to form a rigid and reliable structure.

Abstract: An umbrella includes a plurality of ribs for securing an umbrella cloth thereon having at least an intermediate top rib integrally formed with an inner section provided with a downwardly-opened groove in the inner section and an outer section provided with an upwardly-opened groove in the outer section for foldably receiving an inner flexible reinforcing rib into the inner section and for foldably receiving an outer flexible reinforcing rib into the outer section, of which a flexible reinforcing rib is flexibly fastened by a coupling to the intermediate top rib for exerting an elastic force for quickly opening the umbrella for decreasing the chances subjected to attacks by wind or external forces.

Abstract: An improvement in self-opening umbrella frames having either a one-piece or elescopic stick and a main slide and an auxilary slide on the stick to operate the a frame-rib structure which is opened automatically by a coil spring compressed between these two slides; the frame-rib structure being closed by pulling down on a tubular grip sleeve journaled for rotation on the stick and extending through the two slides, the grip sleeve having an upper abutment or carrier engaged at the top of the auxilary slide; the grip sleeve being locatable about a 360.degree. circumference by an arresting catch on the umbrella handle at the lower end of the stick; torsional forces generated by the coiled spring during expansion and compression being isolated between the slides and not interferring with operation of the arresting catch while minimizing opening and closing effort of a user of the umbrella.