Abstract: A system for rotating an objet d'art (object), includes an outer hollow cylinder in which is rotatably disposed an inner hollow cylinder, and an elongated shaft rotatably disposed in the hollow of the inner cylinder. An electric motor is coupled by a drive belt to a pulley mounted on the inner cylinder, so when the motor is operated, the inner cylinder rotates which, in turn, causes the shaft to rotate. The object is mounted on a top end of the shaft to rotate when the shaft is rotated. Rotation of the shaft and object may be temporarily stopped, reversed or otherwise altered without stopping operation of the motor since the shaft rotates independent of the inner cylinder, while the inner cylinder continues to rotate.

Abstract: A hand held scraping tool for scraping across a work surface includes an elongate handle and a mounting body connected to a distal extremity of said handle by an arched neck member. The mounting body includes a substantially planer mounting surface with at least one positioning peg and a male threaded mounting screw extending axially outward therefrom. A scraping blade is placed against the mounting surface such that the positioning peg and mounting screw pass through apertures formed in said scraping blade to retain said scraping blade in a seated position. The scraping blade includes a plurality of scraping edges. A locking collar having a centrally located, female threaded hole therein screws onto the mounting screw to thereby sandwich the scraping blade between the mounting surface and said locking collar and thus retain the scraping blade in a secured position.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively and hydraulically locking a hollow cylinder body, such as a lathe cylinder body, onto, and unlocking the cylinder body from, a cylindrical shaft includes a tubular sleeve defining an axially extending passage therein, the sleeve including a centrally located exterior annular channel. The hollow body includes an axially extending cylindrical passage and a single female threaded bore formed to extend radially through the hollow cylinder body to bisect the axial passage thereof. The sleeve is inserted and fixed within the axially extending passage of the body so that the annular channel faces and is closed off by the walls of the axially extending passage to thereby form an annular cavity which is in fluidic communication with the female threaded bore.

Abstract: A measuring tool for measuring and marking a generally straight distance between opposing boundaries comprises an elongate shaft which is selectively extendable to span a range of distances. A measuring scale is formed in the shaft for indicating the length spanned by the shaft, and a cockable/releasable pointed tip is disposed on an extremity of the tool for making indentation markings on a surface to be marked. A screw and corresponding measuring scale for specifying a depth of penetration of the baluster into a handrail or stair tread for inclusion in the length indicated are also available in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: An adjustable vise includes a toggle plier having first and second handles pivotally joined together to move relative to one another, a fixed jaw mounted to extend upwardly from one end of the first handle, a mounting bar pivotally joining the handles together and extending laterally in one direction from the handles generally perpendicular thereto, and a moveable jaw mounted on the bar to slide therealong and to extend upwardly to a spaced-apart position from the fixed jaw so that when the handles are moved apart, the jaws are caused to move away from one another and when the handles are moved together, the jaws are caused to move toward one another. A locking mechanism is mounted on the moveable jaw and is operable to selectively lock the moveable jaw in place on the mounting bar to thereby prevent sliding movement of the moveable jaw, or to unlock the moveable jaw from the mounting bar to allow sliding movement with respect thereto.

Abstract: A method and structure for joining two elongate objects together end-to-end includes a first object having an end formed with an annular groove, a second object having an end formed with an annular ridge dimensioned to fit snugly in the annular groove of the first object, and a double-ended screw, one end of which is screwed into the first object at a point spaced equally from the various circumferential sections of the group, and the other end of which is screwed into the second object at a point spaced equally from the various circumferential sections of the ridge to thereby join and hold the first and second objects together with the ridge fitted in the groove.

Abstract: An adjustable vise includes a toggle plier having first and second handles pivotally joined together to move relative to one another, a fixed jaw mounted to extend upwardly from one end of the first handle, a mounting bar pivotally joining the handles together and extending laterally in one direction from the handles generally perpendicular thereto, and a moveable jaw mounted on the bar to slide therealong and to extend upwardly to a spaced-apart position from the fixed jaw so that when the handles are moved apart, the jaws are caused to move away from one another and when the handles are moved together, the jaws are caused to move toward one another. A locking mechanism is mounted on the moveable jaw and is operable to selectively lock the moveable jaw in place on the mounting bar to thereby prevent sliding movement of the moveable jaw, or to unlock the moveable jaw from the mounting bar to allow sliding movement with respect thereto.

Abstract: A dowel system for securing in a generally abutting relationship two parts or pieces of material having facing surfaces and preformed, aligned annular recesses. The dowel system includes a tubular body having sidewalls which are thinner near the middle of the body than at the ends thereof. The tubular body is dimensioned so that opposite ends thereof may be inserted into respective annular recesses of the two pieces of material, with enough room being left around the sides of the tubular body to allow adhesive to be put in place in the annular recesses to join the tubular body to the sidewalls of the annular recesses.

Abstract: Angular displacement measuring apparatus includes a tightly-wound coil spring conduit which, when bent, elongates on the outside of the bend without substantially shortening on the inside of the bend. A wire is disposed within the conduit to extend from one end, where the wire is fixed so that it cannot slide longitudinally relative to the conduit, to the other end, where the wire is free to slide longitudinally relative to the conduit. A movement measuring device is mounted on the other end of the conduit and coupled to the wire for measuring movement of the wire. As the conduit is bent, the wire is caused to move an amount proportional to the degree of the bend and so measurement of the movement of the wire serves as a measure of the degree of the bend, i.e., angle of displacement of the conduit. Bending in an object is determined by attaching the conduit to the object to be measured.

Abstract: A system for joining staircase rails and similar articles together in an end-to-end relationship in which one of the rails is formed with a first generally cylindrical bore near one end of the rail to extend from the bottom of the rail upwardly toward the top thereof, and with a second bore extending along the axis of the rail from the first bore to an out the end of the rail. The system includes an elongate bolt, one end of which is affixable in the end of the other rail so that the other end of the bolt projects therefrom through the second bore into the first bore when the rails are placed end-to-end. The other end of the bolt includes a transversely extending hole for receiving a pin. The fastening system also includes an arcuate wedge element having a back section and two arcuate, generally parallel fingers extending from the back section and tapering from thicker ends at the back section to narrower free ends.

Abstract: A jig used for precision boring of holes in a working surface of an elongate work piece includes a pair of mounting plates and an elongate connecting member for mounting the plates together in adjustable, spaced positions such that the plates face each other and can be moved in a direction toward and away from each other. Engagement pad members are attached to mutually respective, bottom sides of the pair of plates. The pad members are adapted to engage opposite sides of a work piece in firm engagement therebetween when the pair of plates are moved toward each other, with the work piece being disengaged when the pair of plates are moved away from each other. A guide member is mounted between the pair of plates and is adapted to guide a boring tool in a linear movement toward and away from a working face of the work piece. The guide member is mounted and positioned such that the linear movement of the boring tool lies in a plane passing generally through the longitudinal axis of the work piece.