Abstract: A downhill ski boot assembly combines a flexible walking boot with a boot brace insertable into a standard ski binding to provide a skier with the control and feel of a conventional hard ski boot. The boot brace has a sole plate insertable into the ski binding, a toe cap and boot restraining means for urging the sole of the boot against the sole plate. Lower leg support is provided by the brace by means of upright supports which are preferably inner and outer lateral struts extending from the sole plate to a shin or calf piece. The lower leg support has a spring biased pivot adjacent the ankle region which allows the skier to move his lower leg forward from the ankle against a biasing force.

Abstract: A downhill ski boot assembly combines a flexible walking boot with a boot brace insertable into a standard ski binding to provide a skier with the control and feel of a conventional hard ski boot. The boot brace has a sole plate insertable into the ski binding, and toe and heel hold down structures for the flexible boot are attached to the sole plate. Lower leg support is provided by the brace by means of upright supports which are preferably inner and outer lateral struts extending from the sole plate to a shin piece. The lower leg support has a spring biased pivot adjacent the ankle region which allows the skier to move his lower leg forward from the ankle against a biasing force.

Abstract: A downhill ski boot assembly utilizes a ski boot shell into which a soft walking boot may be inserted. The shell has a rigid sole plate with a stiff forefoot and shin piece as well as heel hold down means. The forefoot and shin piece has an opening at the toe so that the boot toe may extend therethrough. The heel hold down means of the shell coacts with means on the heel of the boot to hold it in place against the sole plate. A calf strap and an instep strap provide further immobilization of the skier's leg and foot to provide the desired degree of skiing control.

Abstract: A playground slide includes a hollow vertical column consisting of substantially identical hollow hubs which register with each other to define the column. The topmost and lowermost hubs are urged toward each other by a resilient device, anchored to a base. The device is typically a spring, running internally of the vertical column. This compresses the vertical column, ensures stiffness, and allows for expansion and contraction. A helical slideway encircles the column, consisting of slide segments that are fastened to each other and to the various hubs.

Abstract: A holder assembly for a plastic bag of a frozen liquid, e.g. blood plasma, is designed to be manually removably mounted on an arbor that projects into a microwave oven cavity from a wall thereof. The holder is metallic and has a circular base from which a peripheral wall projects upwardly to a rim across which an apron extends. A semi-flexible bar of microwave transparent material is mounted to extend across the holder to retain the bag therein. A plurality of such arbors, e.g. four, are disposed around the oven cavity whereby a number of bags can be heated simultaneously. Each arbor is rotatable for agitating the bag holder assembly and hence the bag therein. Devices associated with each arbor detect the presence of a bag holder assembly on such arbor and also detect the temperature of thawing liquid in the bag supported in each bag holder assembly. A controller to which this information is supplied drives the oven through an appropriate program that ensures that none of the bag contents overheats.

Abstract: A tool guide for providing controlled support for a portable power tool such as an electric drill. When the lower portion of the device is clamped between the vise jaws of a portable workbench and vise, an electric drill slidably mounted on the device may be used to drill either perpendicular or angular holes in a workpiece positioned on top of the vise jaws. The device may also be used independently to add accuracy to free hand drilling for both perpendicular and angular holes.

Abstract: A front end loading transit mixer is provided in which the opening at the front end thereof is of an optimum diameter while the overall height of the vehicle is maintained within acceptable height limits by locating the operator's cab rearwardly of the front wheel set and laterally offset to one side of the frame of the vehicle. An unobstructed viewing opening is provided in the area extending inwardly from the front end of the frame and located above the front end portion of the frame and below the front section of the mixing drum so that the operator is afforded an unobstructed line of vision in a generally horizontal plane extending through at least 90.degree. in each direction from the direction of forward movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention provides a unitary skate component extending from a blade to the sole of a skate boot. The structure has two spaced-apart walls which are vertical and substantially parallel at their lower portions and which at their upper portions curve smoothly upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions through a substantial radius to terminate in flange portions which may be attached to the boot sole. The large radius provides yieldable impact-absorbing regions without stress-concentration points.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a clamp for holding a workpiece to a work surface having an aperture formed therein. The clamp includes the main support arm having one end portion adapted for insertion into the aperture in the work surface. A clamping arm is pivotally connected to the main support arm above the above-mentioned end portion and the clamping arm defines a clamping surface for engaging the workpiece placed on the work surface. A first lever arm is pivotally connected to the main support arm and a second lever arm has one end pivotally connected to the first lever arm and another end pivotally connected to the clamping arm.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a portable workbench which includes a foldable support stand and a workpiece supporting and clamping assembly supported thereon. The workpiece supporting and clamping assembly has a base frame and a pair of elongated top members located on the base frame and defining upper work supporting surfaces lying generally in a common plane and having opposed side portions defining clamping surfaces. A clamping arrangement is operatively connected between the base frame and one of the top members for moving the latter toward and away from the other top member to provide for the clamping of workpieces between the top members. The support stand includes a pair of generally rigid frames, with each frame having spaced apart upper and lower longitudinally extending generally horizontal members.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for cutting a workpiece with a portable tool such as a circular saw, router or the like and includes a supporting structure and a pair of elongated vise members mounted on the supporting structure. The vise members are disposed in side by side relation to each other and define a substantially smooth upper surface upon which the workpiece can be placed. At least one of the vise members is mounted on supporting structure so as to be movable relative to the other one of the vise members. An elongated track member defines the cutting path and is adapted for insertion between the vise members. A clamping arrangement is included for adjusting the vise members with respect to each other to clamp the track member therebetween. An elongated workpiece guide arm is pivotally mounted to the track member for angularly positioning the workpiece in the path defined by the track member.

Abstract: A workpiece supporting and clamping assembly includes a generally rigid base frame including a spaced apart parallel pair of elongated frame members having a pair of elongated top members mounted on the spaced apart frame members and extending generally transversely thereto. The top members have upper work supporting surfaces lying in a common plane and longitudinally extending opposed side portions defining clamping surfaces. Extensible and retractable clamping means are interconnected between the base frame and one of the top members for moving the latter along the frame members toward or away from the other top member to provide for clamping of the workpiece between the top members. The other top member is indexable along the elongated frame members to any one of a plurality of selected positions thereby to accommodate varying sizes of workpieces.

Abstract: A foldable, portable support stand suitable for use in portable workbenches and the like, includes a pair of substantially rigid frames. Each frame includes a spaced apart pair of tubular end legs and a spaced apart pair of longitudinally extending tubular members, the end legs and the longitudinally extending members being interconnected together to provide the frame with a rectangular outline configuration. The end legs of the frames are in a cross-over relationship with one another. Each of the end legs has a bight portion therein with the bight portions of the end legs of one of said frames being in mating relation with respective bight portions of the end legs of the other said frame. The mating bight portions define pivot joints permitting pivotal movement of said frames are in close juxtaposition with one another and an open support position wherein said frames are angularly arranged relative to one another.