Abstract: A generally butterfly-shaped inflatable/deflatable bag which is freely insertable in the upper front portion of a prosthesis designed to be worn by a below-the-knee amputee. The bag, when in place, and in use, extends around the front and lateral sides of the wearer's knee. Through a quick-disconnect hand-operable pump, which is coupled to the bag via a flexible tube, the user can adjust the degree of bag inflation to suit the particular circumstance.

Abstract: A device for dispensing additives to the tank and bowl of a flushable toilet. More particularly, the invention relates to such a device having no moving parts, but which nevertheless dispenses a predetermined quantity of additive with each flush.

Abstract: A modular steam bath cabinet has a steam generating system including a heated, inclined evaporating surface over which heated liquid flows to cause evaporation of the liquid. Any known evaporated liquid is collected, reheated and recirculated. Heated liquid may also be circulated to a shower nozzle. The steam generating system is part of the module, which includes the floor of the cabinet.

Abstract: Bathing equipment includes a tub having a gate for admitting a handicapped bather who is unable to step over a rim of a tub in a normal manner. The tub is supported on a base which places the bottom of the tub near the height of a seat on a wheelchair. The tub is equipped with a bath chair for transferring a seated bather from the gate end of the tub to the opposite end. Guides in the tub support the bath chair during back and forth travel between opposite ends of the tub.

Abstract: A plumbing device stores one or more additives, and allows injection and mixing of such additives into the water stream delivered to a plumbing fixture such as a shower head or faucet. The design of the passage for the water stream provides a pressure differential sufficient to draw the additive into the water stream, while check valves are used to prevent backflow of additives. A mixing chamber, with an impeller element, mixes the injected material with the water stream. Metering valves may be used to control the amount of additive dispensed.

Abstract: A clamp assembly is provided for self-rimming sinks or basins which mount through an opening in a supporting counter structure, where the sink or basin has a plurality of brackets secured at least intermittently around its periphery at positions that are intermediate the height of the bowl. A clamp structure has a generally L-shaped configuration, with a first horizontal arm and a second vertical leg, and a bolt threadably received in and passed through the horizontal arm. Means are provided at the upper end of the bolt for engaging the under surface of the counter. The lower portion of the leg is offset in a direction away from the arm so as to contact the outer surface of the bowl of the basin or sink at a position below the bracket, whereby the bolt is kept in a substantially vertical orientation, and a force couple may be created between the bowl of the basin or sink and the lower end of the leg of the clamp.

Abstract: There is provided a neck support rest comprising a unitary body of resilient material, the body having a base portion with top and bottom surfaces, a rear edge and a front edge, and an upstanding ridge along the front edge. The top of the ridge overhangs the bottom of the ridge in order to ensure that the ridge can tuck into and hence support the lower neck region of a person lying on his side with his head on the base portion.

Abstract: A leg support for holding the user's leg in proper position for relieving back pain and discomfort, both from the "backlying" or supine position and for the "sidelying" positions. The support is adjustable to allow selective angular adjustment of the upper and lower legs at any of an infinite number of angles between a folded upright orientation and a flat unfolded position. The support may be flattened to the unfolded position beneath the user, allowing the user to shift from a "backlying" to a "sidelying" position without removing the support.

Abstract: A mattress comprising a plurality of spaced springs, a plastic support platform having a plurality of extruded unoriented plastic spaced longitudinal support members and a plurality of extruded unoriented plastic spaced longitudinal stabilizing members, at least one of said stabilizing members being in position in each space between said longitudinal support members, said stabilizing members being smaller than said support members, a plurality of extruded plastic spaced cross-stabilizing members that intersect said support and stabilizing members substantially at a right angle and are integrally joined at the crossings, said cross-stabilizing members being oriented and smaller than said longitudinal support members, said support platform being in position on top of said springs with said longitudinal support members extending along the length of the mattress in contact with a majority of plurality of springs, said longitudinal members having a breaking load of at least about 35 pounds for a strip having one l

Abstract: Numerous types of cushioning structure have been proposed as alternatives to the feather filled cushion. In order to provide a cushioning structure which is aesthetically appealing and which is comparable in comfort to a feather filled cushion the invention provides a flexible foam casing (1) within which is accommodated a stockinette bag (15) containing shredded or crumbed flexible foam pieces (17). Preferably the inner faces (11,13) of the foam casing (1) are profiled in the form of fingers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure and a mechanism for washing textiles in a tub-type washing machine with a horizontally arranged tub, in which during the washing and rinsing cycles the tub is driven with a rotational velocity at which the centrifugal velocity at the tub case is between 0.4 and 0.95 g, so that the textiles are repeatedly lifted up, and then fall in a trajectory onto the lower portion of the tub, and that between the washing and rinsing cycles and after the last rinsing cycle the tub is driven at spin speed, and in which the washing or rinsing liquid is led into the suds container and is supplied to the textiles by immersing the tub in the liquid or by at least one spray nozzle spraying into the tub continuously or at intervals.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning the soles of shoes such as bowling shoes. A rotary brush for cleaning leather shoe soles and an elastomeric roller for cleaning rubber shoe soles are mounted on a hinged platform along with a drive motor and a fan which is used to dry the shoes. The machine is equipped with a solid state circuit which provides an attract sound periodically and a sound which simulates the sound of an electric motor during operation. A power boost arrangement permits operation of the machine at a high speed and provides a sound simulating high speed operation of the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing automatic back washing for a user is disclosed. The back washer of this invention includes a housing (14) which contains an electrical drive source such as a motor (48), gearing means (52) and a switching means (26). According to a preferred embodiment, insulated extension member (36) is provided for activating the switch (46) while the back washer is in operation. The gearing means (52) drives a detachable mounting member (56) to which there is attached padding and a cover (40) and (62), respectively. In the preferred embodiment, power shaft (54) is driven by gearing means (52) and includes ridges and grooves to provide a spline which in turn cooperates with a sleeve (82). According to the preferred embodiment the apparatus is portable and sets on a bathroom counter.

Abstract: A dental care device for insertion within the mouth includes a flat, triangular support body, bristles extending from one side, and a pliable, resilient projection extending from the same side substantially parallel to the bristles. The projection is at a corner of the body and the bristles adjacent the projection are shorter than the projection, the height of the bristles increasing with distance from the projection.

Abstract: A jointer for smoothing mortar joints has an elongate handle and offset trowel portion at each end. Each trowel portion is shaped to gradually decrease in width toward its free end and is convexly curved to enable the use of one tool for a number of joints of different width. One trowel portion is shorter than the other to improve the convenience in compacting head joints. Both blades are offset to the same side of a centerline of elongation of the handle. The tool provides a simple and inexpensive improvement by rendering the tool suitable for different widths of the joint while also improving the convenience of working with the tool.

Abstract: A viscous rotary damper adapted to attenuate shimmy of a rotary member such as a caster relative to an associated member such as a wheelchair leg, comprises a pair of relatively rotatable annular portions having structure for respective attachment to the members. The damper portions have annular cooperative working surfaces of substantial length defining therebetween a shear film space gap working chamber which is closed at opposite ends by dynamic seals and has a viscous damping medium substantially filling the working chamber gap and providing viscous shear coupling yieldably resisting relative rotary movements of the working surfaces. The damper is adapted to be in a miniaturized form comprising a stator ring and a rotor housing, the stator ring being arranged to be keyed to one of relatively rotary members and the rotor being arranged to be keyed to the other of relatively rotary members.

Abstract: A manually operated fish scaler includes a casing containing an electric motor, a transmission for changing the rotary motion of the motor drive shaft into longitudinal, reciprocating motion and a blade holder for connecting the transmission to a blade, which includes a transversely extending cutting edge for dislodging scales from a fish.

Abstract: A sliver coiler for a carding machine or the like includes a can having an open top; a support for positioning the can in a generally upright orientation; a rotary head having a guide arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary head. The central axis of the can is spaced from the axis of rotation of the rotary head, whereby during rotation of the rotary head and the can, the rotary head deposits sliver in the can in superposed continuous circular loops which are eccentric with respect to the central axis of the can. There is provided an adjusting arrangement for arbitrarily altering the distance between the central axis of the can and the axis of rotation of the rotary head for effecting contact between outer parts of the circular loops and inner wall faces of the can irrespective of the thickness of the sliver deposited in the coiler.

Abstract: In a seat belt buckle comprising a housing, an opening in the housing adapted to receive a cooperating tongue having a locking portion, a locking member provided in the housing for locking engagement with the locking portion of the tongue when the tongue is inserted into the opening, and releasing mechanism for releasing the locking member from locking engagement with the locking portion of the tongue, the improvement comprising:the releasing mechanism being comprised of(a) an electrically energizable actuator; and(b) a connector in contact with the actuator and the locking member, the connector being movable upon energization and deenergization of the actuator;the locking member being movable in response to movement of the connector between a first position at which the locking member is in locking engagement with the locking portion of the tongue and a second position at which the locking member is out of locking engagement with the locking portion of the tongue.

Abstract: An automobile fuel tank cap retaining device includes a flexible member interconnecting a pair of mounting ends having adhesive surfaces. One end of the device can be adhesively secured to a cap and the other end to a stationary surface so that when the cap is removed from its reservoir inlet the cap will hang adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A safety hook for elastic fastening and securing cables, comprising a head portion forming a hook, a guiding tunnel through which the elastic cable is passed, and an anchoring beak through which a loop of the elastic cable is secured. The anchoring beak forms an offset cavity with a facing wall of the base portion of the hook which is used to grip the cable. Elastic cable is looped through the guiding tunnel and is crimped and held within the offset cavity.

Abstract: A connecting rod for a radial piston motor including a spherical surface portion, a rod portion and a pad portion having a sliding surface. The spherical surface portion, rod portion and pad portion are formed integrally, and the sliding surface has a bearing alloy attached to its surface by centrifugal casting. An overlay may be provided on the bearing alloy. The connecting rod is produced in a mass production basis by a method including the steps of integrally forming the spherical surface portion, rod portion and pad portion into a blank, assembling a plurality of such blanks in ring form and welding them together at joints into a single blank, machining the sliding surface of the pad portion of the blank, attaching a bearing alloy by centrifugal casting to the sliding surface of the pad portion, machining the surface of the bearing alloy, and dividing the blank at the joints into a plurality of pieces constituting a plurality of connecting rods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a rigid, essentially elbow-shaped coaxial double pipe with a hollow space between inner and outer pipes, consisting of an elbow-shaped cold-bent high-pressure pipe for operating pressures of over 1000 bar as the inner pipe, the two shanks of the elbow each comprising a straight piece of pipe with a length of at least 5 times the outside diameter, and an elbow-shaped cold or hot-bent outer pipe which envelops the inner pipe in a manner as to leave an annular space between inner and outer pipes and extending the length of the outer pipe, with the outer pipe enveloping the bend and one straight shank only. Elbow-shaped coaxial double pipes of this type can, for instance, be part of a heat exchanger of up to 3000 m in length in the form of a coil type cooler comprising a plurality of straight pipes and U-shaped bends.

Abstract: A marking device for applying split rings provided with a mark onto electrical wires of different diameters is constituted by a supply rod for supporting a series of marking rings, an application shoe formed at one end of the rod and having a flared configuration, the bottom of the shoe being provided with a recess communicating with the free end of the shoe and converging toward the supply rod, and the front side of the shoe being split by a V-shaped notch into two prongs which resiliently accommodate the shoe to wires of different diameters.

Abstract: A spring pin removal tool has an attachment at one end for receipt in the chuck of a pneumatic impact tool, a short pilot projection at the other end for receipt in a compressed spring pin, a cylindrical portion having an external diameter of the compressed pin and a length less than the length of the pin.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for manufacturing coupling elements, suitable for a two-way slide fastener, successively from a rod of metal of a generally Y-shaped cross section having a base, as a prospective coupling head, and a pair of diverging legs. As the rod is fed longitudinally stepwise, it is transversely sliced into a plurality of coupling element blanks, one at a time, on the backward stroke of relative movement of a coacting cutting die and punch. At the end of the backward stroke of the cutting die and punch, a chamfering surface on the cutting punch is forced against the base of the rod to form a chamfered portion thereon so that each sliced coupling element blank has the chamfered base. The chamfered base of each coupling element blank is then formed, by a coacting forming die and punch, into a final coupling head of one coupling element which head has a projection from one face and a socket in the other face at such a position that the chamfered portion is disposed around the socket.

Abstract: A process and a molding unit for the automatic molding, expelling and assembling to one another of at least a pair of plastic handles for a plastic bag, consisting of a male and female handles (A and B) and provided with snap fastening means for closing said bag, characterized by the use of a molding unit comprising:two mold blocks, each having a cavity for removably receiving a mold, respectively said cavities and the molds forming two juxtaposed molding chambers, separated from one another by slidable wall members constituting in combination the countermolds of the two respective molding chambers in operative position thereof,means for moving the mold blocks together with the molds to and from one another,means for slidably moving said slidable wall to and from its closing position,injection means for feeding molded plastic material into both molding chambers shaped to form a female and a male handles (A and B),punch means to form in each male handle (A) each pin of the snap fastening means as well as the r

Abstract: A method and system for installing a layered vessel wherein the method includes the steps of constructing the bottom vessel head section in an inverted position mounting the bottom head section on the vessel foundation, erecting a generally cylindrical construction frame having a plurality of annular work stations; substantially simultaneously with the erection of the cylindrical construction frame, constructing onto the bottom head a cylindrical inside shell liner and a hemispherical upper head inside liner and adding layers to the inside shell from the bottom upwardly with the addition of such layers occurring substantially simultaneously at various of the annular work stations. A system for accomplishing these steps is provided, including particular method for constructing the bottom head, and further, an annularly movable crane assembly is provided for the work stations.

Abstract: A solid extruded light conductive ribbon of generally rectangular cross section is provided with a tubular ferrule by the steps of placing a section of heat shrink tubing over the end of the ribbon, heating the tubing and ribbon until the shrinking of the tubing deforms the ribbon end into a generally cylindrical form and then applying a cylindrical ferrule over the end of the ribbon and crimping the ferrule in place. The heat shrink tubing thus serves to protect the conductive ribbon during the crimping operation and serves to form the ribbon end into cylindrical form as well.

Abstract: An automatic machine tool for sequentially machining a plurality of parallel surfaces on a plurality of work pieces, in which the work pieces are locked in position on an index table, and the surfaces machined in one operation are angularly disposed to the surfaces machined in a contiguous operation as a result of revolving the work pieces about the axis of the table.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a display, a substrate having a surface on which a plurality of light-emitting diodes are aligned is disposed such that the surface opposes a surface of a table. A resin of a light-emitting and electrically insulating material which is kept in a fluid state is filled by capillarity into a space defined by the surface of the substrate and the surface of the table. The resin is then hardened, and the table is removed from a hardened resin. A display is obtained wherein at least the space between the adjacent LEDs is filled with the hardened resin.

Abstract: This invention involves the defining of a submicron feature (21 or 93) in a structure, typically an insulated gate field effect transistor structure (30, 40, or 110). This feature is defined by a sidewall oxide protective masking layer (21 or 71) formed by reactive oxygen ion etching of the structure being built at a time when an exposed surface thereof in the vicinity of the sidewall contains atoms of a material--for example, silicon or aluminum--which combine with the oxygen ions to form the sidewall oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a MOSFET which includes the steps of forming a thick insulating layer having an inclined surface and surrounding the active region of a semiconductor substrate, forming a thin insulating layer on the active region, forming a gate electrode crossing the thin insulating layer and extending on the thick insulating layer, and forming a source region and a drain region in the active region in which method the step of forming the gate electrode includes the steps of forming a conductive layer on the thin insulating layer and thick insulating layer, forming a resist layer on the conductive layer selectively exposing the resist layer to an energy ray to define a gate electrode pattern area of which a portion above the inclined surface and above the end portions of the active region is wider than another portion above the middle portion of the active region developing the resist layer and selectively etching the conductive layer by using the developed resist layer as a mask.

Abstract: A method of forming a superconductor-barrier-superconductor junction device by the steps of depositing a first superconductive layer on a substrate, forming a barrier layer on the first superconductive layer and depositing a second superconductive layer on the barrier layer. A layer of photoresist is then deposited over the second superconductive layer and patterned together with the second superconductive layer to form a mesa structure. A dielectric layer is deposited over the mesa structure, and the photoresist layer portion is dissolved thereby lifting off the dielectric portion overlying said second superconductive layer portion.

Abstract: A method of locking coiled conductors in slots of a dynamoelectric machine rotor by placing deformable locking members over selected axially limited areas of the coiled conductors and driving the ends of the locking members under tips of salient rotor poles to secure the locking members firmly in position against the outer surfaces of the conductors. In one form of the invention preformed sheets of insulating material are positioned around the coiled conductors and under the deformable locking members to insulate the coils from the sides of the rotor poles and from the locking members. An aspect of the invention includes the combination in a dynamoelectric machine rotor of a plurality of deformable locking members positioned to secure coiled conductors in rotor slots and to secure preformed sheets of insulating material between the outer surfaces of the conductors and the locking members when they are arranged in their coil-locking positions.

Abstract: A disposable safety razor is provided with coupling means by which a plurality of such razors can be assembled into a stack, one behind another. Each razor handle is formed with a downwardly directed hook and an upwardly directed hook on its front and rear faces, respectively, and with a resilient latch member formed by a resilient arm extending downwardly and rearwardly of the handle and spaced from the hooks and terminating at a catch. The handle also has a ledge formed at the same level as the catch. Two adjacent razors are firmly but releasably coupled together by interengagement of the respective hooks and of the catch with its ledge. The resilient arm yields to permit deliberate disengagement of the catch from the ledge, permitting, in turn, disengagement of the hooks.

Abstract: A rotary cutter which includes an elongated handle having an aperture extending through its one end, a shaft extending through the aperture so as to be supported by the handle, a disc blade rotatably mounted on the shaft and lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a member engageable with the shaft, with a bearing projection formed on the handle coaxially with the aperture.

Abstract: A cutting blade for a hand-held cutter for cutting a cloth cover from a dampener roller without damaging any material under the cutter. The blade has an upwardly curved front bottom edge portion, a convexly curved front tip portion, and a concavely curved upwardly extending cutting edge portion.

Abstract: A safety device on a power saw which is provided with two handles, especially for a power chain saw. The saw has a brake which engages a drive member of the cutting tool of the saw under the effect of a force retainer; the brake is held in the ineffective or inoperative position by a stop which is actuated by operating elements associated with the two handles. The stop is locked in its locking position and is releasable by means of an adjustment device which is driven by an energy source supplied by the engine of the saw, and is controlled by a control device which is connected to the operating elements which are embodied as key or contact switches.

Abstract: A device for copying panoramic images includes a screen provided with structure for inclining and fixing the screen. There are defined two like, adjacent sectors successive in height, one of which is transparent and through which the panoramic image to be copied is visible, and the other serving as a graphic board for the reproduction of the panoramic image. The screen is provided with means for transferring the image and preferably a transparent ruler which can move transversely by sliding or by rolling on wheels or bearings, on end guides and, if necessary, also on a central rail in the line of separation between sectors, or without any rail, by means of wheels and threads, and permanently perpendicular to the line of joining between the transparent sector and the opaque sector of the screen.

Abstract: A high precision height comparator and surface gauging apparatus utilizing a novel micro-adjuster securable to the carriage of a transfer stand and having a clamp for securing a test indicator thereto. The micro-adjuster is a self-contained unit clampable to the carriage of a transfer stand and is provided with a high resolution differential screw. A simple rugged clamp mounted on the micro-adjuster accommodates any suitable test indicator of either the electronic or mechanical type. When used with an electronic indicator, comparative measurements are routinely made to an accuracy of a few millionths of an inch.

Abstract: A key reading system including a key having a plurality of rows of reading positions, each reading position cooperating with a reading position in each other row to form a set of reading positions. The reading system includes a clock line which senses all but one of the total number of code combinations of each set as a clock pulse, thus eliminating the need for a separate clock pulse row.

Abstract: An elongated body member having a plurality of crank arms pivotally attached thereto, such crank arms disposed generally symmetrically around the perimeter of the body member. At a first end of each crank arm is a contact pad for maintaining substantial contact with the sidewalls of a borehole. The second end of each crank arm is pivotally coupled to a drive link which is in turn attached to a piston which is longitudinally slidably mounted within the body member. Longitudinal movement of the piston within the body member will result in a corresponding generally lateral movement, either extension or retraction, of the crank arms and thereby of the contact pads attached thereto. A mechanism is provided for allowing the piston to traverse a limited range of longitudinal movement within the body member, a force being exerted upon the piston such that the piston is urged to the bound of such travel which will yield the maximum lateral extension of the contact pads.

Abstract: According to the invention an arrangement (10) is proposed for measuring and checking motorcycle frames, comprising a measuring beam (14) which is attached to one side of the motorcycle frame which is to be checked, parallel thereto and preferably at the so-called pivot-point of the frame. One or more uprights (16, 18) at right-angles to the beam (14) can be moved along the beam and themselves bear movable mountings (24, 28) with adjustable measuring points (26, 30). The latter can be made to seek out desired points on the frame, and with the aid of appropriate scales or calibrations the co-ordinates of the points relative to the pivot point can be determined. Two such measuring arrangements (10) placed one on each side of the motorcycle frame can be connected together by means of transverse bridges or the like to form a stable measuring stand.

Abstract: This apparatus comprises, in combination, two similar devices disposed in opposite directions. The devices are adapted to be fixed respectively to the two opposite wheels of a vehicle and parallel to the latter. Each device comprises a first rigid hollow tubular bar and a fixing structure for fixing the bar to a projector carrier. A structure inside the bar projects a beam of light longitudinally inside the bar. The beam is reflected at one end of the bar by a mirror which is rigid with a screen and so disposed as to project the beam transversely toward the screen pertaining to the opposite device. The mirror is mounted on the first bar of at least one of the devices so as to be movable toward or away from the fixing structure. A structure for receiving a sub-assembly for inspecting the pivot and castor angles of the vehicle wheel is provided. An apparatus for measuring the camber angle of the vehicle wheel is also provided.

Abstract: A drill includes an integrated bi-directional orienting means for leveling the device when in use. The bi-directional orienting means preferably comprises a circular bubble level attached to the butt of the drill. It is relatively easy for the drill operator to level the drill by keeping the bubble in the center of the circular level. A tubular level is separately attached to the top of the drill for guidance in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the circular level. In an alternative embodiment, a tubular level is integrally attached at right angles to the circular level. The liquid filled cavity inside the circular level and tubular level is continuous so that the indicator bubble can travel from the tubular level to the circular level and back again. The apparatus may be adhesively attached to the drill or, the drill may include a cavity for receiving and holding the apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to control temperature and humidity in drying a material, for example green lumber, including a chamber to receive the lumber in stacked relation with air flow space between individual lumber pieces, a refrigeration system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator and condenser where the condenser is disposed within the chamber, blower means to circulate air from the condenser over and through a stack of lumber, conduit means to communicate with the chamber for emission of air passing over the stack of lumber where the evaporator means is disposed to selectively receive the air flowing to the first conduit, solar cell means to receive radiant heat and having an inlet communicating with the first conduit and an outlet communicating with the chamber, third chamber means communicating with the first conduit and the chamber, damper means to selectively proportion air from the first conduit to the second and third conduits, controller means responsive to the temperature of the chamber to ope

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydro-extractors used for extracting water or other liquids mixed with a treated material. The hydro-extractor according to the invention comprises, in addition to the perforated wall of revolution 1 driven in rotation about its axis, material advancing members 4-6 acting on the material layer, the path of travel f of the advancing members in the region where said members cooperate with the layer m of treated material forcibly applied against the perforated wall 1 comprising a component f.sub.p in the diametral plane and an axial component f1 directed downstream. The invention provides a hydro-extractor operating continuously, the dried product circulating in the direction of arrow D.

Abstract: A multi-roll calender ironing machine for laundry flatwork comprises a plurality of heated ironing beds, each defining a concave ironing surface which cooperates with a padded ironing roller, whereby a laundry workpiece is fed into the nip between the roller and ironing surface in order to perform the ironing operation. Pneumatic actuating cylinders urge the ironing bed towards the roller in an adjustable manner so as to vary contact roller to ironing surface pressure. Micro-switch units determine the presence or absence of laundry workpiece en route to the ironing roller and operate the actuating cylinders whereby a relatively high roller to concave surface pressure is provided when a workpiece is present and a relatively low roller to concave surface pressure is provided when a workpiece is absent.

Abstract: A stretcher frame for an artist's painting canvas which include a plurality of individual frame members specifically designed to permit the outer peripheral dimensions thereof to be expanded to enlarge the dimensions of the frame and stretch the canvas. The structure includes a sliding bridge connection between the adjacent frame members in a manner to cause tilting of the inner peripheral edges rearwardly away from the canvas secured to said outer edges and thus, prevent brush contact with the underlying frame surface during the painting operation. A spreading force is applied as by wedges, to the ends of said adjacent members to spread the adjacent mating surfaces apart to expand the outer frame dimensions.