Abstract: A padlock having a U-shaped rigid shackle, a pair of locking balls, a rotatable retainer, and a lock cylinder held into a two piece composite plastic lock body. The two piece lock body can be ultrasonically welded together to capture the mechanical parts inside. The shackle can be metal such as steel, as can be the other mechanical parts. A lightweight, inexpensive yet reliable medium security lock is thus provided. The lock can be used as a safety lock out device or it can be used as a padlock for medium security applications.

Abstract: A lockable, slammable paddle operated latch assembly for use as a latching and locking mechanism on a door or panel of an enclosure or compartment has a paddle handle pivotally mounted on a pin transversely mounted through side walls of a recessed draw of a mounting pan and attached at one end to an orthogonal trip/lock member on the interior of the pan adjacent the draw. One extension of the trip/lock member is positioned underneath the locking arm of a key cylinder when the paddle is fully recessed and the key is in the locked position. Another extension of the trip/lock member contacts the latch which is pivotally mounted on the interior of the pan draw. A torsion spring about the latch mounting shank biases the latch into the latched position, but allows the latch to be deflected for engagement with a striker with the trip/lock member locked or unlocked, so that the latch can be slammed shut even when locked. A latch guide can also be mounted on the latch mounting shank.

Abstract: Automated attendant terminals and a mounting system for such terminals. Each attendant terminal is substantially L-shaped and comprises a housing formed by front, opposing side, rear, and first and second contact surfaces. The first and second contact surfaces form the recessed portion of the L-shape. When used in connection with the mounting system of the present invention, the first contact surfaces and/or the second contact surfaces of each terminal contacts the surfaces of the support mechanism (such as a pole) to result in a "back-to-back" orientation of the terminals. The support mechanism includes opposing surfaces for such engagement with the contact surfaces of the terminals. The mounting system also includes an attachment mechanism which connects the terminals to the poles in this orientation. The attachment mechanism is only accessible through the interior of the housings of the terminals to thereby provide a secure island automated attendant terminal system.

Abstract: An anti-theft device (18) mounted to a wheel (90) or the like. Device (18) includes a shield (20) that mounts on top of a wheel (90), with adjustable links (63, 64) at one end (27) of device (18) thrust through voids (91) separating spokes (92) of the wheel (90), and with swingable elbow members (55, 56) at the other end (38) of device (16) thrust through steering wheel voids (91). Legs (58) on the elbow members (55, 56) swing into clasping or yoke members (70), after which a locking bar assembly (80) mounts to the yoke members (70) and by which the device (18) is placed in a locked mode on the wheel (90). The elbow members (55, 56) include arms (57) which, along with the links (63, 64), are adjustable to provide change in depth to the device (18). The shield (20) includes a pair of panels (21, 22) that are slidably engageable with each other, with a fastener (28) and holes (23) in one of the panels that fixes the two together in one of a number of different lengths for the device (18).

Abstract: An air pressurization and control system for a low air loss air floatation mattress or cushion is disclosed. The control system controls air supplied to the air floatation mattress within a range of pressures and flowrates so as to inflate all of the cells of the mattress and to maintain a flow of air to all of the cells over an extended period of time while maintaining all of the cells at a desired level of inflation for the air floatation support of the patient without any of the cells exerting decubitus pressures above the maximum desired decubitus pressure and so as to prevent collapse of any of the cells. A sensor is provided for sensing the pressure of the air within the common supply.

Abstract: A baby rest for placement upon a support surface employs a generally C-shaped inflatable tube member surrounded by padding, the combination of the tube member and padding encased in a generally circular outer fabric cover. The outer cover substantially traverses the center area of the C-shaped tube, thereby creating a thinly padded, central rest area on which an infant may lie. The tube member can be inflated to varying degrees, such that the tube member and the surrounding padding create a peripheral guard around the center rest area of sufficient height to prevent an infant from rolling out of the proportionally smaller rest area.

Abstract: A tubular includes a latch body having a cam hole, a first member disposed to the latch body, a second member rotatably disposed to the first member, a torsion spring disposed to the second member with one of two legs of the torsion spring being engagedly received with in a first stop extending from the first member and the other leg being engagedly received with in a second stop extending from the second member, and a spindle having one end thereof extending through the cam hole and a hole of the second member having the same shape of inner periphery as that of the cam hole of the latch body such that when a lever connected to the spindle is rotated, the lever returns to its original position because of the torsion spring.

Abstract: The invention is a music-playing pillow with an internal music playing device. The device has a switch for automatically turning the music on when pressure is applied and turns off when pressure is removed. The pillow has an ovoid shaped depression for the head, consisting of tightly bound cotton material in the interior, which will be elevated on all sides, and up to the cheek bone area, with an elevated portion for the neck to give it warmth, protection and support. The bottom portion of the pillow will end into a "c" shaped curve which will come to either side of the upper trapezius and will support the three basic neck muscles.

Abstract: A rest portion is used to support a load at an adjustable height relative to a base which is connected to the rest portion by a pivotal linkage. A hydraulic ram coupled to a gas spring cylinder applies a spring force between the linkage and the base, the geometry of the linkage and ram being such that the upward component of spring force is invariant with respect to height adjustment. A control valve allows the ram to be locked at a selected height and the spring force provided by the gas spring is adjustable by movement of a second piston within the gas spring cylinder to vary the available volume of gas. A hydraulic pump is used to supply hydraulic fluid to the cylinder for adjusting movement of the second cylinder. The apparatus is suited for use in a chair-bed enabling a patient to be supported at an adjustable height during medical treatment.

Abstract: A baby diaper changing station comprises a base and a support platform hingedly mounted at one side to the base and a rail structure on at least one side of the platform to increase the effective depth of the platform. A utility channel surrounds the platform for holding various diaper changing supplies and removable protective panels are positioned on bottom and side surfaces of the platform to reduce vandalism damage. A waste chute is formed in the base or support platform of the diaper changing station and cooperates with a waste receptacle proximate the station for receiving used diapers and other related waste. Accessory hooks on the platform are configured to receive and hold diaper changing supplies, such as a diaper bag. An alternative embodiment of the diaper changing station utilizes a platform having nested sections which telescope to increase the effective depth of the platform.

Abstract: A security device for personal water craft (PWC) includes a crossbar adapted to cooperate with a trailer component, a securing arm capable of coupling to the crossbar, and a lock mechanism for coupling the securing arm to the crossbar such that translational displacement of the securing arm relative to the crossbar is restricted in at least one direction. The security device couples a PWC to its trailer and prevents unauthorized removal of the PWC from the trailer.

Abstract: A key operated restraining device is provided to create a securing loop of adjustable dimension. The device comprises a locking head portion, an elongated strap insertable into the locking head portion to form a securing loop of adjustable dimension, a support block disposed in the interior of the head portion, and a pawl member. Both the support block and the pawl member terminate in a spaced relation to an interior wall surface of the head portion and form a slideway for the strap portion. The pawl member is connected to the locking head by a resilient hinge structure biasing the pawl member into a locking position wherein the locking structure is operative to lockably engage a plurality of tooth structures on the strap portion and a release position wherein the locking structure is disengaged from the tooth structures.

Abstract: A child-proof safety latch for a swimming pool safety barrier, or other stretched-panel fence, includes a threaded rod having an expandable nut, such as a toggle-wing nut, that can move to and fro along the rod between a movable stop and a fixed stop adjacent an end of the rod that is distal from a first fence pole to which the rod is permanently affixed. To fasten two adjacent fence panels together, an operator collapses the expandable nut and inserts it through an eyelet attached to a second fence pole. The operator then expands the nut so as to capture the eyelet and turns the expandable nut so as to draw the two poles together.

Abstract: A keyholder and tumer haw a body in which a key is held for turning in a lock. The holder has deployable wings and a chain for holding additional keys. The key is held in a central compartment of the holder by the urging of a key stop projection. The projection assists in holding the key head during operation.

Abstract: A tacking device for tacking a first member to a second member comprises a tacking member having a fusible plate and a pin having a bulged tip and projecting from the lower surface of the fusible plate; and a retaining member having a substantially cylindrical body provided with a plurality of catches on its outer circumference. The tacking member is rotated at a high rotating speed or vibrated with the fusible plate pressed against the first member so that the upper surface of the fusible plate is fused by frictional heat to weld the tacking member to the first member, the pin is inserted in the central hollow of the retaining member so that the expanded tip of the pin is caught by the retaining member to combine the tacking member and the retaining member, and the retaining member is forced into a hole formed in the second member so that the catches engage with the edge of the hole to tack the first member to the second member.

Abstract: A locking system for a window sash comprises a lock handle assembly, reciprocating rod members connected to the lock handle assembly, and rotatable cam assemblies connected to the rod members. Each cam assembly has a cam element which upon reciprocation of its respective rod element moves into and out of a cam keeper which is mounted on an adjacent window sash. Each rod member has a rod tip which moves into and out of a channel provided in the window frame. In a first operation of the lock handle assembly, the rod members are reciprocated inwardly to rotate the cam elements out of their respective cam keeper and to move the rod tips partially out of the frame channels which allows the window sash to be moved vertically within the channels. A further operation of the lock handle assembly moves the rod tips entirely out of the channels to allow the window sash to be tilted.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an electrical transmission path in a door lock to an electrical lock operating system from an electrical contact pin protruding axially from a pin tower of an insulated key cylinder having an electronic touch button for a front face, the door lock having an outside spindle operably engaged with a door handle containing the insulated key cylinder, includes an insulated contact ring surrounding the spindle and having an electrically conductive pad on a portion of its outwardly facing surface, which contacts the electrical contact pin when the door handle is in its parked position, and a cable connected to the conductive pad and extending through the non-moving part of the door lock to the controlling electronics of the lock.

Abstract: A self-aligning, anti-cross threading fastener having first and/or second members with lead threads having a curved surface feature from the minor diameter to the major diameter which allows the surface of the lead threads to cam over the mating threads of the other member and thereby aligning collinearly the longitudinal axis of the two members. The initial presentation angle of the two threaded members may be restricted and therefore enhanced by providing a protruding diameter feature.

Abstract: A boat locking apparatus is provided for a boat that has a centerboard slot which has a predetermined width and a predetermined height. The boat locking apparatus includes a lock-retaining assembly which includes a first end portion and a second end portion extending distally from the first end portion. A predetermined distance which includes the first and second end portions of the lock-retaining assembly is greater than the predetermined height of the centerboard slot. The lock-retaining assembly has a width which is less than the width of the centerboard slot. A transverse lock assembly is connected to the second end portion of the lock-retaining assembly.

Abstract: A device for the chassis of a computer case that prevents unauthorized access to the internal components thereof is disclosed. The device includes a `U` shaped member, positioned primarily inside the chassis, such that if one arm is pulled forward against a spring bias through an aperture in the chassis by a user, the other arm of the `U` fastens the cover of the computer case to the base. In addition, an a hole positioned near the tip of the arm that is pulled through the aperture to allow the user to attach a locking mechanism to the fastening device, thus preventing the disengagement and the opening up of the computer case by others. As a result, expensive electrical components located inside the chassis, including a CPU, will not be accessible to outsiders. The user is free to select the type of locking mechanism that is attached to the fastening device.