Abstract: A self retracting step apparatus (10) mounted on the underside of a boat step (12) that projects rearwardly from the transom (14) of a boat. The step apparatus includes a mounting bracket (26) to which a support bar (16) is pivotally connected. A stirrup step (20) is secured to the distal end of the support bar, and is pivotal between an extended position and a retracted position. The support bar and stirrup step define a forwardly facing reactive surface (24) against which drag forces act upon movement of the boat. Springs (22) connected from the mounting bracket to the support bar nominally bias the stirrup step to the extended position, but may be overcome by the drag forces to allow the stirrup step to begin pivoting towards the retracted position. Once the stirrup step has begun movement from the extended position, the springs act to compel further pivoting of the stirrup step to a retracted position for stowage.

Abstract: A folding saw-horse including a back and a pair of leg pairs, said leg pairs being held in brackets that fix the legs in inverted V form to swing at the apexes of the V shapes on the back between useful, supporting position, and non-utile folded position relative to the saw-horse back. The inter-relation of the legs in each pair is fixed by brackets that pivot on the saw-horse back adjacent end thereof.

Abstract: A ladder apparatus adapted to be borne by a fixture, such as cabinet, including a bracket adapted to be mounted on the fixture, a pair of first support members individually, substantially pivotally mounted on the bracket, a pair of second support members individually slidably mounted on the first support members, and a pair of third support members individually, slidably mounted on the second pair of support members and at least one step mounted on and interconnecting the third support members whereby the apparatus can be disposed in a collapsed, stored attitude inside a cabinet or alternatively extended therefrom and disposed in an operational attitude extending outside the cabinet.

Abstract: A ladder safety apparatus for use with a straight ladder having vertical side rails, and having horizontally aligned openings in the side rails, is disclosed. An example is a hollow-rung metal or aluminum ladder. The safety apparatus includes a flexible metal cable of a length somewhat greater than the rail-to-rail dimension of the ladder, the cable extending through the openings in the side rails. An elongated metal bolt or tube is non-removably attached to each end of the metal cable, to thereby form a linear extension of the metal cable. First and second building attachment means are provided, each such means having a metallic cable-attachment portion with an opening therein whereby the building attachment means is slidably and loosely mounted on the bolt or tube. An adjustment nut or collet is mounted on the bolt or tube, and in a position to adjustably trap the cable-attachment portion on an end of the metal cable. The metal cable includes a protective plastic covering.

Abstract: A portable tree seat has a flat rectangular frame with portions defining a longitudinal slot and an intersecting lateral slot. A brace formed of two bent rods joined by a triangular plate spike is rotatably mounted on the frame. A conical screw-ridged stud is affixed to the front of the frame and is adapted to be embedded in a tree trunk. A generally flat platform of rectangular plan is slidably mounted on the frame by a fastener running in the longitudinal and lateral slots. In the stored position the platform is parallel to and overlies the frame. In the extended position, the platform is perpendicular to the frame and serves as a seat.

Abstract: A storage rank for articles has a frame having sidewalls disposed perpendicular to a back plane and an open front, at least one partition perpendicular to the back plane mountable at least at two alternate spacings from the frame sidewalls and from others of the partitions, the partitions being disposed substantially vertically and the alternate spacings corresponding to one of the axial heights and radial widths of the articles, thereby confining the articles when stored between the partitions, and at least one barrier panel mountable on each partition adjacent an edge opposite the back plane, a bottom edge of the barrier panel being spaced from a bottom of the frame by substantially a dimension of the articles such that the articles are movably captive in at least one stack and are confined respectively between the partition and the sidewalls on the one hand, and between the barrier member and the back plane on the other hand.

Abstract: A safety restraint device, such as worn by a worker for preventing falls, employs a sliding D-shaped ring which is mounted to the safety lanyard. The releasable snap hook of the safety lanyard may be engaged in the sliding D-ring to secure the safety lanyard to a fixed object.

Abstract: A protective leg for an object such as a piece of furniture comprises a leg body of a hard synthetic resin having at least two grooves or recesses formed in its bottom surface and a plate-like grounding member of a soft synthetic resin having a high coefficient of friction and having cooperatively associated ribs or projections formed on its upper face. In use, the ribs or projections are fitted into the grooves or recesses, thereby fixing the leg body together with the grounding member to the bottom portion of the object to be positioned in place by a fixing means.

Abstract: A machine for the disposition of a ladder includes a frame having front leg means at the proximal end thereof, rear leg means and ladder fixing means at the distal end thereof and cradle fixing means between said proximal end thereof and said distal end thereof. A cradle is also included having means for rotatable attachment to opposite sides of said proximal end of said frame. Longitudinal cradling means are disposed between said means for rotatable attachment of said cradle and the distal end of said cradle and have means for rotatable attachment of a ladder therebetween near said distal end of said cradle.

Abstract: A collapsible sawhorse includes an elongated upright base plate having a pair of upright slots opening through the bottom edge thereof and a pair of leg plates, each with an upright slot opening through the top edge thereof for a fitted slot connection to the base plate. Upon alignment of the slots in the leg plates and base plate, the leg plates are received by the base plate to the extent of engagement of the closed ends of the aligned slots whereby the leg plates are stationarily secured relative to the base plate. The base plate has a transversely extended top surface which, when inverted, serves to support the disassembled leg plates in parallel stacked engagement with the base plate for compact transport and storage.

Abstract: A portable assist to aid persons who have difficulty rising from a seated position including a platform having connected therewith two handles and an adjustable stabilizer which prevents the platform from pitching while the user pulls on the handles while in the act of getting up. The handles may be rotatably connected with respect to the platform. A section of the handles may be horizontally oriented so that the user may push downwardly thereupon in order to rise.

Abstract: A clamp for holding a strip, e.g. a flat cable, securely on a mounting surface includes an overlapping top plate, stepped ridges, and resilient flaps tightly holding the strip in place within the clamp. This design makes the clamp less likely to inadvertently work itself loose from a mounting surface to which it is adhesively secured.

Abstract: A work cradle comprising a work platform suspended by ropes from a building. Two guide ropes extend downwardly on either side of the platform and are secured to the building. The work platform is attached to the guide ropes by two further ropes which are slidable along the guide ropes by means of releasable hooks. The ropes pass over respective pulleys attached to an extension projecting from the platform in a direction away from the building. A winch is provided for each rope to apply tension to the ropes by means of which the platform may be prevented from swinging away from the building, and/or may be moved to a different lateral position, at a given suspension height.Also disclosed is a beam clamp which may be used with the above-described work cradle.

Abstract: A tree climbing device which includes a rope clamp that can be locked to a rope having a tree trunk-encircling loop, and which is connected to a user harness so that a climber can be suspended from the tree trunk by the device during the climbing process. The clamp comprises rope-gripping member with adjacent opposing ends spaced from each other, that together with link plates pivotally attached to the members on either side thereof define a space through which the rope is passed. The end of each of the members opposite the space is pivotally attached to one end of different support legs, the other end of the legs being attached to a support bar. Spring means are provided which urge the support bar from one of the link plates, reducing the space, and locking the rope therein. When pressure is applied opposite to such urging, the space is increased, unlocking the device so that the rope can be moved through the clamp for rope adjustment purposes required to facilitate the climbing process.

Abstract: The invention refers to a lifeline device which is designed to lower persons from a burning building, after evacuation through a window, distinguished by the lifeline (A) having a length which corresponds to the mounting height of the equipment above the ground over a friction pulley (B) having a circumferential groove (C), which will cause braking said lifeline is threaded to occur under the weight of the person being lowered. The friction pulley of the pulley and lifeline (B) has a centered over-dimensioned axle hub (D) and runs between two bolts (E,E') attached to the sideplates (F) forming a pulley housing, which is fastened with a bracket (G) to a window sill or other structure. Under loading, the line (A) locks the friction pulley (B) against the bolts (E,E') so that the line is pulled through the friction pulley's groove (C) and the line passes between two bolts (H) placed in the lower end of the housing (F) to hold the line within the groove (C).

Abstract: A scaffold platform section is fashioned as a corner platform section (117) and exhibits an optionally multipartite floor plate (27) at which at least one supporting leg (29) is bent at an angle, carrying drop-in claws (13) or the like. A supporting leg has a lower lift-preventing leg (30) extending to below the U supporting span member (14) in the drop-in position. This platform section bridges a great variety of different angular regions between other scaffold platforms and can have a swivel member (37) for compensating purposes. The corner platform section (117) proper can be equipped with a border leg (35). The swivel member (37) can have a border leg (38). Two component elements can be joined in a swivelable and inflexible fashion.

Abstract: A holder for containers and covers, particularly for empty margarine containers and their covers or similar items, comprising a circular base and having a first set of positioning recesses for three retaining rods spaced apart arcuately a distance of one hundred twenty degrees centered on an outer concentric circle. A second set of positioning recesses is provided in the base, also spaced apart arcuately a distance of one hundred twenty degrees and centered on an inner concentric circle. This positioning of recesses at arcuate intervals of one hundred and twenty degrees of a circle makes it possible for only three retaining rods seated in such recesses to hold circular containers and their covers of substantially the same diameter as such circle within the holder and against lateral movement from the holder. The plurality of sets of three arcuately spaced positioning recesses makes it possible to use the holder for containers and covers of different size diameters.

Abstract: System for rescuing occupants of a tall building having at least one generally planar windowed face is disclosed, which system includes a first and a second boom mounted respectively at opposite sides of the building face at a building level above that face. Each boom has a retracted position and is shiftable to a cantilevered position in which its outer end overhangs the side of the building. A first and a second hoist cable extends respectively from the outer ends of the booms. A rescue cage has a top, a bottom and a flexible, collapsible, heat-shielding wall extending between the peripheries of the top and bottom to provide a shielded compartment. A pair of hoists are mounted to the cage top and engage individually the first and second hoist cables in order to drivingly support the cage adjacent the building face. The hoists are controllable so as to be driven differentially to move the cage transversely of the building face, and driven in the same direction for vertical motion.

Abstract: A merchandise display unit which comprises a base unit having a rolling platform on which a pair of channeled standards and a center panel are mounted. Cantilevered shelves are included and are adjustable by a pair of cam assemblies connected to the rear corners of the shelf. When the shelves are mounted on the standards, the cam assembly is concealed inside the standards. An arm extends outside the channel from each cam assembly for operating the cam mechanism and permits the shelf to be adjusted while the shelf is maintained in a level position. One or two similarly constructed side units may be removably connected to the base to form 3- and 4-sided units, respectively. Preferably the base unit, each side unit and each shelf are each a single weldment.

Abstract: A fire escape system is described in which a latched escape door in a building is unlatched by withdrawal of a restraining pin from a latch mechanism, producing automatic opening of the door by any of various door-opening self actuating means described. In one embodiment, withdrawal of the restraining means results as a consequence of the transmission of a signal generated by a fire detection device, to an electric windlass system, which thereupon retractably winds a cable attached to the pin, withdrawing it from the latch mechanism.