Abstract: An improved hoist for raising and lowering a weighted object secured to a hoist cable, wherein the improvement comprises a safety switch in series with an up-down switch of the hoist. The safety switch has an actuating member with spaced-apart first and second portions on either side of the hoist cable and proximate the take-up shaft of the winch, and, when the hoist cable becomes unweighted or becomes wound upon the take-up shaft in an improper direction, the hoist cable moves the actuating member and prevents the up-down switch from applying power to the winch motor, thereby disabling the winch motor.

Abstract: A clamp device for use with an external skeletal fixator for being coupled to a patient's limb, and strap structure having a first end for being coupled to a patient's extremity and having a second end. The clamp device includes an elongated clamp rod; a first connection structure for adjustably attaching the clamp rod to a fixator rod of the external fixator; and a second connection structure for adjustably attaching the second end of the strap structure to the clamp rod.

Abstract: A motorized apparatus to raise and lower a ceiling light fixture, such as a chandelier, to facilitate cleaning and bulb changing. A hoist mechanism, mounted above the ceiling between two joists, includes a drive motor with a drive shaft, and a take-up shaft coupled to the drive shaft, upon which is wound a single hoist cable which raises and lowers the light fixture. A ceiling junction box includes a first set of contacts for supplying electricity to the light fixture when the light fixture is raised, and one or more switches for preventing the light fixture from being hoisted past the raised position and for removing power from the first set of contacts when the light fixture is lowered. A canopy junction box, attached to the light fixture, includes a second set of contacts for receiving electricity from the first set of contacts. When the light fixture is raised, a ceiling canopy protects the first and second set of contacts from access.

Abstract: An apparatus for waxing vehicles for use in conjunction with commercial "car wash" operations. Vehicles are transported by a chain driven conveyor mechanism through a wax application station, passed to a second conveyor mechanism for movement through a drying station, and on to a third conveyor mechanism for passage through a polishing station. A computer system controls the waxing process and operates various pneumatic positioning devices, positioning wax application heads, drying blowers, and polishing heads adjacent the vehicle, a using knowledge of the size, shape, and dimensional parameters of the vehicle. These parameters are stored within the computer system according to manufacturer, model, and year, specified when the vehicle enters the apparatus.