Abstract: An article supporting assembly is provided that allows quick retrieval of articles mounted thereby, yet makes maximum utilization of the space occupied by the assembly for supporting articles. A center structure, at least two cover plates, and article supporting structures formed on at least one of the center structure and the cover plates are provided. At least two spanners are provided with first hinges for connecting one cover plate to one spanner, and the other cover plate to the other spanner so that the cover plates are pivotal with respect to the spanners, and second hinges for connecting the spanners to the center structure so that the spanners are pivotal with respect to the center structure. The center structure is mounted on a base and/or top of a housing so that it is pivotal with respect to the housing. The spanners, cover plates, and center structure may take a wide variety of forms.

Abstract: An energy absorbing support for mailboxes and the like devices mounted alongside roadways where they are exposed to impact by vehicles has a post of generally reverse "C" shape with a depending upright leg secured in the socket of an anchor driven in the ground, an upwardly inclined generally horizontal lateral leg portion, an outwardly sloping generally vertical leg portion extending from the outer end of the lateral portion, and a reverse horizontal top leg portion overlying the lateral leg portion and having mountings thereon carrying mailboxes and the like. The depending leg portion is vertically adjustable in the socket of the ground anchor so that the upper end of the lateral leg portion and the lower end of the sloping vertical leg portion will be at a height above ground level within the range of the height of an automobile front bumper to receive initial impact of a vehicle crashing into the support.

Abstract: A fastener device including a flexible resilient base member of foam-like material having an upper side and a lower side, a prong member having a central portion and outer end portions, an overlay member covering the central portion of the prong member with the central portion and the overlay member being adhesively secured by pressure-sensitive adhesive to the upper side of the base member, a pair of spaced apertures in the overlya member through which the outer end portions of the prong member extend, and pressure-sensitive adhesive on the lower side of the base member for securing it to another member.

Abstract: An interlocking closure device comprising two closure profiles operable for being interlocked continuously over a predetermined length features the closure profiles having different colors, whereby the position of the closure profiles on a container can be easily identified visually in order to simplify the closing and opening of the container and/or the complete occlusion of the closure profiles can be easily verified visually.

Abstract: A module for housing bottles and for forming a storage arrangement by stacking a plurality of said modules. Each module comprises: a base, two parallel spaced apart lateral walls and ribs connecting the lateral walls to form a bottle receiving space; notches and protrusions on one and the other sides of the module so that the notches of one module can engage the protrusion of another module to thus assure aligned stacking thereof; and a bottle retaining member rotatable between a first position permitting withdrawal of the bottles and a second position permitting withdrawal of the bottles from said bottle receiving space.

Abstract: Rotary magnetic file including a base having a bottom and two sides. A shaft is mounted between said sides and a magnet is rotatably mounted on the shaft. A pair of magnetic members are mounted on said shaft at each side of said magnet. A pair of spacer members are mounted on said shaft on the outside of each magnetic members, the average diameter of the magnetic members being equal and less than the diameter of the spacer members. The edge of the spacer members adjacent to the magnetic members is gradually decreased to the dimension of the magnetic members. Index cards with clips of magnetic material may be mounted on said magnet and or magnetic members, the clips being formed to fit between the spacers in a self-centering manner.

Abstract: A holder for packaging articles, displaying them and offering them for sale, comprising at least one pallet unit adapted for carrying, a number of articles or layers of articles separated by intermediate trays, the pallet unit having an upwardly and downwardly directed rim flange which may be discontinuous, a levelling device being present by means of which the pallet unit can be moved up and down, said holder further comprising means for the support or easy displacement of the filled holder.

Abstract: A magnetically operable key comprises a cylindrical casing containing a turnable member, a drive member and a latch, which are all co-rotatably mounted in the casing with the drive member axially displaceable between the turnable member and the latch within the casing. The drive member has a groove defined thereon which has two circumferential portions and a slanted portion interconnecting the circumferential portions. An engagement pin is connected to the casing and extends into the guide groove for causing axial movement of the drive member when the drive member is rotated and when the pin is disposed in the slanted portion. At least one magnetic piece is pivotally mounted to the turnable member and movable by a magnetic key from a misaligned position to an aligned position. The drive member has a cavity for receiving the magnetic piece when aligned to permit axial movement of the drive member. The misaligned magnetic piece abuts against the drive member and prevents axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A joining device for quickly and easily connecting together furniture, shelving, display items and other like articles which includes a dowel piece having both ends turned down and threaded at opposite ends in opposite directions, and includes in combination therewith internally threaded keepers for holding in position desired standards with preformed apertures therein when the latter are each fitted onto opposite ends of the dowel through the predrilled openings, the keepers being tightened first onto the threaded portion of one side of the dowel after inserting in the first of the pair of standards and then the remaining keepers are tightened on the opposite end of the dowel when it has been inserted through the preformed apertures in the second of the pair of standards. The application also includes the method for use of the same.

Abstract: A buckle is disclosed, particularly for use in conjunction with belts, straps and the like. The buckle includes two mating parts which lock together upon insertion of a male member into a female member. The male member is generally rectangular in shape and has a slotted end suitable for receiving a belt or strap. The body of the male member includes a projecting portion extending at an angle from the plane of the body. The projecting portion is capable of movement about its point of attachment to the body. The female member is generally rectangular, and includes a slot therein for receiving the male piece. The slot is defined by a pair of opposing surfaces which the projecting portion can snap behind upon insertion. An opening is provided in the female member to allow the user to apply pressure to the projecting portion and remove the male member therefrom. A lip is provided to prevent the projection from slipping. A second opening is provided in the female member for the insertion of a belt or strap.

Abstract: An article of furniture forming a cube when side table height and comprising hingedly connected side and top members and a pedestal which lifts to enable said cube to open to form a large size dinner table. The top can also be opened when at side table height.

Abstract: A rotatable article storage and display holder having a number of hangers for the pre-packaged articles sought to be displayed. The holder includes a means of adjusting the hangers longitudinally throughout their length as well as through a vertical component relative to their attachment to a freely rotatable top, which in turn is supported on a vertical standard mounted upon a stabilizing base.

Abstract: A rope holder includes a body having anchoring means facilitating attachment to a member. The free end of a rope leading from an object to be tied down, is threaded through a first aperture and then a second aperture, both formed in the body. Also formed in body is a V-shaped notch having its wide end in open communication with the second aperture. The rope is pulled tight through the two apertures and then moved laterally out of the second aperture into the slot, where it is wedged to maintain the desired rope tightness.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-theft device especially but not solely for automobile vehicles which causes blocking of the gear-change lever.The gear-change lever is articulated about an axis substantially parallel with the floor of the vehicle and close to this floor. The floor has attached to it a lock device arranged to imprison the said lever after it has been pivoted down flat.

Abstract: A flotation mattress pad for an incubator or open warmer has a plurality of separate transverse sections filled with a heat-retentive, viscous fluid. The center sections of the pad have a slightly greater thickness than the end sections. Each section overlaps the adjacent sections to provide relatively constant thickness when the pad is tilted.

Abstract: An assay tube rack which includes means for holding the assay tubes disposed therein in visually discernable groups wherein each assay tube in each group will be visible in elevation when the rack is viewed from a predetermined direction. The groups of tubes may consist of two or more tubes. The combination of discernable tube groups plus visibility of each assay tube in each group makes the rack particularly useful in performing titration tests on specimens contained in the tubes, as for example, in radioimmunoassay testing.

Abstract: A button comprises a button face member; a support plate having a center hole for supporting the face member; a hollow shank having upper and lower open ends, a constricted neck at its upper portion and a shoulder extending downward from the neck, the neck having a smaller diameter than the hole, the shoulder having a larger diameter than the hole; a bending guide member in the form of a ball disposed within the shank and having a spherical surface; an engaging member having a center bore extending therethrough and disposed within the shank under the guide member; and a fastening member having a piercing needle. The support plate is loosely fitted around the neck and prevented from slipping off by an enlarged top portion formed at the upper end of the neck after the support plate has been loosely fitted around the neck. The support plate and the face member fitted over the plate form a button head, which is pivotably turnably supported by the shank.

Abstract: A fluid-damping and shape-defining insert is provided for fluid-type mattresses such as water bed mattresses and air mattresses. The insert comprises a first flexible flange secured at its periphery to the upper boundary sheet of the mattress, a second flexible flange secured at its periphery to the lower boundary sheet of the mattress, and flexible damping means extending between the first and second flanges and secured thereto. In a particular embodiment, the damping means comprise first and second, perimetrically joined, flexible discs further defined by substantially opposing first and second central regions contiguous with an intermittently apertured, common peripheral region. The first and second central regions of the discs are centrally secured to the first and second flanges, respectively.

Abstract: A canopy support for beds and method wherein the side members and transverse members are all constructed of tubular metal, intermediate of the side members being equipped with L-shaped flanges at the ends thereof for locking insertion into the slots of the side members.

Abstract: A display rack with an improved shelf assembly that gravity feeds a column of containers one after another to the front edge of a shelf as that column's lead containers are successively removed by customers. The shelf assembly includes a conveyor belt oriented so that its travel path is generally perpendicular to the shelf's front edge, the belt being adapted to receive a plurality of containers, e.g., bottles or cans, in a vertical or stand-up fashion thereon. The inside surface of the belt rides over a support floor and has a low coefficient of friction, and the outside surface of the belt on which the containers rest has a high coefficient of friction, relative one to the other.