Abstract: A coupling device for attaching a camera to a tripod which has a first coupling member attached on the underneath side thereof to the top of the tripod. A hollow upright member is positioned on the top, central portion of the first coupling member, and has a hole through at least one of its upright side walls. A hook member is pivotally mounted in the hollow member and extends through the hole in the side of the hollow member, while a push member within the first coupling plate adjacent the hook member pushes against the hook member and causes it to rotate. The push member is biased by a first spring on the opposite side of said hook member. Attached to the bottom of the camera is a second coupling member which has a screw portion at the top thereof threaded into the camera and an open cavity in the bottom thereof beneath the screw portion. The cavity is inserted over the hollow upright member, and the inside of the cavity has at least one locking groove engageable with the hook member.

Abstract: A split nut is formed from two substantially identical screw-threaded half nuts, each of which has chamfered ends, preferably at about 60.degree. to the axis of the nut, to engage in a conical counterbore of a washer or workpiece. When the split nut is tightened it remains securely in place. Each half nut has side faces extending in radial planes with complementary locating means symmetrically disposed on either side of the central plane of the half nut taken at right angles to the axis, and the screw-thread has a start at one end only, whereby one of the half nuts is inverted so that the respective complementary locating means interengage to align axially the half nuts.

Abstract: A plastic fastener, for example, a one-piece plastic rivet, having a head and a bifurcated oval shank and expander means capable of axial movement within a tapered bore traversing the head and shank. Each portion of the shank has a longitudinally disposed radial relief means that provides a buckle or hinge section having generally uniform radial thickness which opens into the tapered bore to provide pairs of edges falling on the frusto-conical surface of the bore which, when the edges are contacted by the expander means, will cause the shank portions to be moved radially and to be expanded circumferentially as well.

Abstract: A device for supporting an object such as a dental x-ray unit on the free end of a vertically pivotal arm, which allows the object to be counterbalanced for stabilized vertical positioning. The supporting device includes a rigid tubular encasement having a pair of articulating knuckles pivotably attached at each end of the encasement, and a counterbalancing mechanism disposed within the encasement and connected at each end to the articulating knuckles, the counterbalancing mechanism including a compression spring having a force adjustment means, a rod disposed through said spring which includes a threaded fastener which engages one end of the compression spring, and linkage arms at each end connecting the rod to the articulating knuckles. The device is characterized by a readily accessible spring tension adjustment allowing job site adjustment to compensate for spring fatigue, improved efficiency and reduced costs resulting from a reduced number of operating parts, and improved operability.

Abstract: A split nut structure provides the holding power of an ordinary nut on a bolt while allowing for quick release through removal of a retaining sleeve from containment alignment around the segments of the split nut. What could be in many respects like an ordinary hex nut is in three segments, with cuts in three faces of the hex nut to the center, put around a bolt in the same manner as though they were connected and retained in this state by a hexagonal sleeve, the hex inside of which snuggly fits the nut itself. The outside hexagon of the sleeve provides for a wrenching surface by which the nut may be adjusted and tightened much the same as any ordinary hex nut -- however, for quick release the sleeve is merely pulled straight up along the axis of the nut and the bolt.

Abstract: A support assembly for attachment to a supporting surface, and preferably a vertical surface, as well as a method for assembling such a support. The assembly includes a support such as a garment hook or the like, a base on said support and a continuous retaining collar for securing the base and support to the supporting surface. The retaining collar has a base-receiving aperture smaller than the outer periphery of the base for overlapping and holding the base against the supporting surface. Although the support itself such as the garment hook is too large to allow passage of the collar thereover, assembly with the support base is accomplished by inserting only a portion of the base through the collar aperture, rotating one of the collar and base with respect to the other to pass the remainder of the base through the aperture, and seating the base against the back of the collar.

Abstract: A framework assembly for furniture in which two or more leg units are connected in a spaced relationship in a manner to permit relative movement between the leg units to accommodate irregularities in the floor on which the assembly is mounted. The top, or seat, portion of the furniture piece is supported relative to the assembly in a manner to accommodate said relative movement.

Abstract: A camera is fixedly supported in a desired position by providing a support screw, for engagement with the usual threaded opening in the camera base, in association with a sharply pointed member, such as a knife blade, which is inserted into earth, snow, ice, wood, or other supporting material pierceable by the pointed member. The camera support member having the support screw on one end is attached to the tang of the knife blade by a clevis, allowing pivotal movement of the camera to a desired angular position relative to the supporting surface. A hollow, removable handle includes a socket-type wrench for engaging the clevis bolt, and/or another removable element may be used as a screwdriver to engage a slot in the head of the clevis bolt.

Abstract: A fastener of the nail type adapted to be made in one piece from a narrow strip of sheet metal and composed of a quadrilateral, preferably, generally square, flat head with a single pair of prongs integrally projecting generally perpendicularly from the underside of the head and struck therefrom so as to form a single pair of elongated spaced generally parallel slots in said head, which slots are staggered longitudinally relative to each other and have relatively adjacent lineally offset inner end portions at the medial portion of said head and relatively remote outer end portions adjacent a pair of diagonally opposed corner portions of said head and which extend at acute angles to adjacent sides of said head.

Abstract: A support to secure essentially rod-shaped objects, such as the end of e.g. a Christmas tree, comprising a base plate and a clamping member arranged to be secured about said rod-shaped object. The clamping member is compressible and has diametrically opposed apertures formed therein for insertion therethrough of said rod-shaped object. The body is arranged to be compressed about the end of said rod-shaped object through being forced partially down into a tube-shaped holding means provided on the base plate.

Abstract: A hinged retaining clip for retaining two mating pieces together is disclosed. The clip comprises two functional ends joined together along the approximate midpoint of the clip by an integral hinge. One end of the clip is fixedly attached to one of the mating pieces and the other end serves to retain the second mating piece to the first. Positive retention of the two mating parts is effected and maintained by cooperating latching means on the header body and on the clip.

Abstract: An anchor assembly for retaining an elongated fastener member within an opening defined by a wall portion of finite thickness and having at least one concealed side. The assembly has at least two elongated leg members of flexible material positioned in parallel relation to each other, with means connecting a pair of adjacent end portions of the leg members together. A generally elongated anchor member is positioned transversely of the leg members and attached to the opposite end portions thereof, the anchor member defining an opening generally medial of the leg members and capable of receiving an elongated fastener member for attachment therewith when the fastener member is positioned between the leg members.

Abstract: A supported vessel having a number of outwardly directed projections on the side of the vessel which are fixed to the outer end of horizontally disposed webs, the inner end of the webs being supported on a supporting structure, the lower end of which is secured in the ground, the weight of the vessel being transmitted to the webs through the support structure. The invention also claims a support for such a supported vessel.

Abstract: A mount having a clamp for mounting the motor tube of a fishing motor on the transom of a boat for swinging between a vertical operating position and a horizontal stowed position over the boat. A yoke for holding the motor tube is swiveled on the clamp and a manually releasable catch bracket pivoted on the yoke locks the yoke to the clamp in the operating position. A biased clip on the clamp releasably locks the yoke in the stowed position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat cushion frame supported on a seat frame by height adjustment mechanisms located at the front and rear of the seat. The rear height adjustment mechanism comprises a hinge plate pivoted at opposite ends to the seat frame and to the rear edge of the seat cushion frame, a rack pivoted to the seat frame and formed with vertically spaced slots, and a locking pin carried by the hinge plate and engageable in any selected one of the slots. The rack is movable by a handle out of engagement with the locking pin to release the seat cushion frame for upward movement under the force of a biasing spring or for down movement under the load of the seat occupant. Release of the handle engages the locking pin with the slot of the rack lying nearest opposite it to lock the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A hub extends into the top of a pole and has a central web. A carriage bolt extends through this web with its nut exposed on the top of the web and its head below the web within the pole. The central support of the toggle rests on and engages the bolt head. This support has a base and two sides. The two sides of two arms are in juxtaposition to the support sides and are pivotally secured thereto by pins. The arms extend at an angle toward the hub and are in contact therewith to be cammed outwardly by the hub as the support is drawn toward the hub by the bolt thereby causing the distal ends of the arms to engage the pole. A spring on the support base resiliently forces the arms into contact with the hub and, prior to the bolt being drawn up, holds the arms sufficiently close together to freely slip within the end of the pole.

Abstract: A manual suspension support, in which a pair of tubes are telescoped using a vacuum source. A slidable piston in a cylinder is selectively brakable by manipulation of a handle which also carries a valve operable to vary the vacuum in the cylinder.

Abstract: The height of a chair and the inclination of its back support may be varied by changing the respective, effective lengths of two pneumatic springs whose assembly forms the chair leg. The cylinder of one spring is coaxially received in the cylinder or the hollow piston rod of the other spring, and relative axial movement of the received spring and the receiving element of the other spring is limited or entirely prevented. A valve connects the two compartments separated in the cylinder of each spring and may be operated by a mechanism separate from the valve operating mechanism of the other spring.

Abstract: An adjustable chair as a seat, a backrest pivoted on the seat for movement between an erect and an reclined position, and a leg rest mounted on the seat for movement between a retracted and an extended position. The seat is mounted on lateral portions of a frame for pivoting so that the angular position of the backrest relative to the frame may be changed either by pivoting the backrest relative to the seat, or by pivoting the seat relative to the frame. A damping arrangement damps the movement of the backrest relative to the frame at least between some of the angular positions of the backrest, and an arresting arrangement including interengaging teeth is accommodated in an armrest pivoted on the backrest, which arrangement permits arresting the backrest in a selected one of the angular positions thereof.

Abstract: A display panel for pocket knives or the like has a plurality of knife holders mounted on a base, the knives being held in place by U-shaped clips that have one leg in the knife and the other between the holder and the base.