Abstract: Miniature thermal fluid flow sensors of the airfoil type are made in batch form by forming the thermal fluid flow sensors on a thin sheet of material and bonding the sheet over an array of duct structures and dicing the individual sensors and duct structures apart. In another embodiment, thin carrier sheet portions of a wafer bearing the thermal fluid flow sensors of the airfoil or grid type are supported by surrounding frame portions of the wafer. The wafer is diced to separate the individual sensing chips. The respective chips are mounted across respective fluid flow ducts. For the airfoil type sensor, portions of the frame are broken away for undisturbed flow over the thin carrier and sensor. In one thermal flow sensor configuration, a flow heater is disposed in between first and second thermal flow sensors in heat exchanging relation therewith.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed, creep acting pressure switch has a sensor assembly comprising a bulged metallic membrane welded between a port fitting and a support. A switch assembly, attached to the sensor assembly, includes a housing which has a switch chamber in which, in one embodiment, a pair of stationary contacts are mounted. A piston having a force receiving surface at one end is biased into engagement with the membrane with an adjustable calibrated force. An electrically conductive contact bridge is mounted on and is movable with the piston. The switch can be normally open or normally closed depending on which side of the contact bridge the stationary contacts are mounted. In an alternate embodiment a miniature switch is mounted in the switch chamber and is adapted to be actuated by the piston.

Abstract: A device for positioning a pair of longitudinally advancing elongate slide fastener stringers comprises a pair of positioning jaws movable relatively to one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of each slide fastener stringer to define therebetween a guide channel for the passage of the slide fastener stringer. At least one of the positioning jaws includes a step for engaging the leading coupling element of each coupling element row mounted on one longitudinal edge of a tape of each respective slide fastener stringer, for thereby stopping the slide fastener stringer. The positioning device having the positioning jaws is capable of accurately positioning the slide fastner stringers even when the slide fastener stringer is laterally undulated or locally swelled during advancing movement thereof.

Abstract: The pieces to be palletized are conveyed by a roller table to bar elements which reciprocally turn the pieces so that they face each other. Grippers then grip the facing pieces which originally lie flat, so as to move them into a vertical parallel position on a conveyor belt. An upper conveyor belt engages the top of the vertical parallel pieces to hold them in correct orientation. An automatic strapping mechanism them applies this strap around the pieces. A roller table is provided for lateral movement of the strapped packages. The roller table which initially receives the pieces pass in a horizontal flat position on the roller table. A section of the roller table has portions of its rollers removed so that undersized pieces fall through the opening thus formed. Only pieces with correct size, that is, unbroken pieces, are conveyed along the parallel passages of the roller table.

Abstract: An optoisolator leadframe includes first and second spaced parallel rails. First and second tie bars extend perpendicularly from the rails and connect the rails to form a planar open frame. A first lead assembly has a pad extending therefrom and is mounted to the open frame in coplanar relation therewith. A second lead assembly has a pad extending therefrom and is rotatably mounted to the open frame to enable the second lead assembly to be rotated 180.degree. from an initial position coplanar with the open frame to a second position coplanar with the open frame. In the second position, the pad of the second lead assembly is in overlying alignment with the pad of the first lead assembly. A tab and notch arrangement is provided to limit the travel of the second lead assembly as it is rotated to the second position. The tab and notch arrangement ensures that a coplanar relationship between the first and second lead assemblies is achieved and secures the second lead assembly in the second position.

Abstract: A lead frame for integrated circuits has a central opening in which there is fitted a metal piece having alternate recesses and projections, the recesses fitting over inner ends of leads of the lead frame and the projections fitting in gaps between the inner lead ends. The metal piece includes slots and cut-outs to allow its comb-shaped members to bend independently of each other. After the lead frame has been fused to a ceramic substrate, the metal piece can be removed by being pulled upwardly with a relatively small force applied. The metal piece has a pair of pull tabs. For fabricating such a lead frame, the metal piece is stamped out of an integral metal plate structure having the leads and support frame integral with the leads. Then, the stamped metal piece is pushed back so as to fit with the leads of the lead frame.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a method and apparatus for accurately positioning solid components for a robotic pickup mechanism having a floating gripper head, are described. In a first arrangement, connectors are transported along a guide track, with linear arrays of solid projections depending from each connector received in slots formed in the track. Conveyance of the connector is completed when a leading projection contacts an accurately positioned stop wall located in one of the projection receiving slots. An alignment bar, generally coextensive with the linear array of solid projections, presses the projections against a track wall communicating with the slot. In a second arrangement, a gauge block is elevated to receive the solid projections of the connector, and is thereafter translated to a final loading position adjacent a robotic pickup mechanism. In a third embodiment, a shuttle mechanism for use with a gauge block is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shaving apparatus which utilizes a continuous water supply, and comprises a shaver, a valve means connected to a water supply means, a flexible tubing connecting the valve means to the shaver and a swivel attachment of the tubing and the shaver handle. The shaver is provided with inner passageways and orifices in the shaver head for transporting and dispersing water from the shaver to the surface to be shaved and across the shaving edge.

Abstract: A safety chisel especially adapted to shear bolts having a nut permanently attached thereto, while retaining the sheared bolt and nut assembly within a safety container portion of the chisel.

Abstract: A garden pruner has a leaf spring 14 secured at its outer end to one of the handles (12a) and engaging the other handle (11a) at its inner end. A slider (15) on the one handle (12a) slidably engages the leaf spring and is movable to vary the length of the spring between the slider and the inner end of the spring and thereby vary the spring force and spring rate.

Abstract: A bump-actuable filament feed for vegetation trimmers; when the cutting length of filament breaks or wears short, the user without interrupting cutting simply bumps the cutting head on the ground deploying a fresh cutting-length of filament. Bumping causes a spring-restored spool latch to yield an increment of spool rotation, feeding a corresponding increment of filament from the spool. For replenishing the filament supply when exhausted, the spool snaps out in one embodiment on pressing a button, and a fresh spool as easily snaps into place.For applications in which bumping the cutting head against the ground is not desired an analogous operation is provided by adaptation of the basic structure.

Abstract: An improved can opener for removing the tops of cans of both straight sided tin can containers and containers having recessed tops such as commonly found in extruded aluminum cans used in the beverage industry. The improvement modifies the conventional hand held, two handle can opener commonly available of the type in which the handles pivotally separate to allow entrance of the can bead for engagement by lower traction wheel and an upper cutting wheel, the improvement being an extended rest protruding perpendicularly outward and against which the recessed top containers may be positioned and held in that position in order to be engaged by the traction wheel upon the lower end of the bead and the cutter wheel through the top.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the thickness of a tube's wall for the tube's entire length and circumference by determining the deviation of the tube wall thickness from the known thickness of a selected standard item. The apparatus comprises a base and a first support member having first and second ends. The first end is connected to the base and the second end is connected to a spherical element. A second support member is connected to the base and spaced apart from the first support member. A positioning element is connected to and movable relative to the second support member. An indicator is connected to the positioning element and is movable to a location proximate the spherical element. The indicator includes a contact ball for first contacting the selected standard item and holding it against the spherical element. The contact ball then contacts the tube when the tube is disposed about the spherical element.

Abstract: A magnification calculator has a main member and a second member that moves to selected positions along the main member. One of the members has a first set of indicia, each element of which corresponds to one of the selected positions. The other member has a first reference indicator to indicate the element chosen, which is the dimension of a selected space in which a reproduction of a selected artwork portion is to be printed. The calculator includes two edge indicators on the main member, one at a fixed location and the other slidable on the main member. The second member has a second set of indicia divided into subsets, each corresponding to an element of the first set of indicia.

Abstract: A precision rule having a handle part, preferably of aluminum, a holding part, preferably of a hardened steel and a rail embedded in a longitudinal groove of the holding part having a measuring edge, preferably of a hard metal. The handle part and the holding part are connected to one another by the interpositioning of O-rings and screws such that a space which forms a temperature barrier is created. The screw shanks extend loosely in the handle part. With this form of precision rule, any heat influence on the measuring edge through unavoidable external heat sources, for example the heat of hands, is avoided even during longer working times, and is achieved by the provision of built-in heat barriers.

Abstract: A method of drying a material by passing a gas through and over the material, includes the steps of warming the material without effectively reducing the moisture content thereof by maintaining the enthalpy substantially constant and by maintaining a minimal drying potential of the gas; removing a first quantity of moisture from the material in a free drying step by increasing the drying potential from the level of the same utilized in the previous step and at least maintaining the former enthalpy level; and removing a second quantity of moisture from the material in a restrictive drying step by increasing the drying potential from the level of the same utilized in the previous step and varying the enthalpy in accordance with desired characteristics of the material.

Abstract: An infrared-sensitive optical probe disposed above the mirror (glass sheet) senses the paint temperature and provides an output to a circuit which, if necessary, adjusts the preset temperatures of the temperature controllers for the various sections of the drying oven along which the mirrors move.

Abstract: A rotary cylindrical drying drum comprising in axial direction a series of vaned sections, with air and material passages, and in which material to be dried can enter each section via an annular slot disposed along the drum wall and be transported by the vanes in radial direction, and material transporting vanes on either side of each section disposed against the drum wall for axially transporting the material to be dried. According to the invention, each section (7) includes two double-walled, frusto-conical portions whose apices are directed towards one another, the apices of the outer cones (1) being interconnected to form an air and material passage (4), with the edges of the base circles being connected to the drum wall (8) and the inner cones 2 being connected to the outer cones (1) by means of spacers.

Abstract: Paper machine clothing comprising interwoven machine direction and cross-machine direction yarns are provided, wherein the machine direction yarns are monofilaments having a cross-sectional configuration such that the center is thinner than the lateral edges. The woven fabrics, after heat-setting, exhibit exceptional dimensional stability in the diagonal direction.

Abstract: It is an elastic air-sack type of insole, which will make the air inside the shoes circulated by means of restoring effect of the air sack. The air sack insole is made of an elastic film piece being closely attached to the edge of a flat insole. Along the edge of the insole, an auxiliary air tube is mounted. The air-sack type of insole may, if necessary, be installed with a coil spring, or sponge, or a check valve for intake air or exhausting air; instead, a plurality of air tubes disposed abreast or a discrete air sack may be attached to the bottom surface of the insole.

Abstract: An insole for use in athletic shoes comprises an upper layer, a lower layer laminated on the upper layer, and a shock-absorptive foamed material layer laminated on the underside of the lower layer at least at the heel portion. The upper layer has a hardness of 30.degree.-50.degree., and the lower layer has a hardness of 50.degree.-70.degree.. The shock-absorptive foamed material layer has a hardness of 50.degree.-80.degree..

Abstract: A downhill ski boot (1), the upper (3) of which has a front collar (4) and a rear cap (5) placed mutually around an axis (6). The collar (4) and the cap (5) are kept in a position pressing against the skier's leg by tension on a cable (8) which is anchored by one end on the collar (4) or the cap (5) and on its other end on means (19) which allow traction to be applied to it by winding under the action of the elastic solicitation means for the reel in a direction winding up the flexible cable (8) and under the action of manual pulling means (81) allowing additional windup for adjustment of the pressure applied to the skier's leg. This arrangement permits a precise adaptation of the upper (3) of the boot for any leg conformation.

Abstract: Athletic shoe sole with cleats having exchangeble grip elements that are snap-locked to a mounting stud. The grip element can easily be inserted and removed again, without impairment of shoe sole stability or danger of damage thereto, by the provision of interactive engagement formations, comprised of a minimum of one raised area 16, 17, 26 and a complementary recessed area 19, 28, that have at least one inclined surface that produces a relative axial shifting between the gripping element and mounting stud when the gripping element is rotated about its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the raised areas 16, 17, 26 are arranged such that, in the snap-locked condition, they do not have operative contact with the recessed areas 19, 28, but can be brought into operative contact by rotating grip element 11 around its longitudinal axis x, and thereafter the grip element 11 can be pressed out over the catch point of the snap-lock device or snap-lock devices 8, 12 to release the grip element from the mounting stud.

Abstract: An excavating shovel having pivotally interconnected back and front sections and wherein the front section has a torque tube supported by bushing means on the back section and wherein the torque tube is equipped with radially extending moment arm means for pivotal actuation of the front section toward and away from the back section.

Abstract: Apparatus for gathering and processing excavated material which lies in a long pile on the ground adjacent to a ditch, so as to provide padding material which is conveyed onto a pipe lying in the ditch, with the residue from the process being returned to the ground adjacent to the ditch. The apparatus has a gathering head at the forward end thereof and a separator at the rear end thereof. A longitudinally arranged conveyor translocates the gathered material from the gathering head onto the separator. A lateral conveyor underlies the separator and translocates processed material which passes through the screen into the ditch, to thereby cover a pipeline with padding material. The separator apparatus includes means for redepositing the residual material onto the ground along a path parallel to the ditch.

Abstract: A snow removal apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, for removing snow from a light fixture protruding from the ground. Structure is provided for creating a flowing stream of air and a nozzle connected to the air stream directs the air stream at the ground, the directed stream of air having a flow velocity of at least about 180 m.p.h. The nozzle is adapted to be operatively positioned adjacent the ground at an angle to deflect the directed air stream on the ground at a predetermined distance from the light fixture so as to cause the deflected air stream to impinge on the light fixture at a reduced velocity sufficient to remove snow therefrom without damaging same, and to spread over a surrounding area with sufficient pressure to clear the area of snow.

Abstract: A garment portion loader utilizes a plurality of photo-electric sensors to determine the positions of garment portions at selected stations including a delivery assembly which supplies garment portions for loading, a pick-up assembly which removes garment portions from the delivery assembly and places them on an alignment conveyor, a smoothing device which removes wrinkles from the garment portions when positioned on the conveyor, and an alignment assembly which aligns the garment portions with a pre-established standard relative to the alignment conveyor. A rejection assembly is provided to remove garments which are not properly aligned. The loader may be controlled by a microprocessor receiving input from the sensors and controlling the various assemblies.

Abstract: An assembly of tag pins is provided with a removable cap over the heads of the pins, thereby preventing any entwinement between heads which may arise when a plurality of assemblies have been packed. The cap is formed of a soft and thin synthetic resin, in one case integral with an assembly of tag pins, and has a cross-section " " shape defining a space receiving heads of the assembly of tag pins and having an opening at one side thereof. A connection between the cap and the assembly of tag pins is formed at only two positions, that is, respective top portions of longitudinal outermost heads of the assembly, thus the cap can be easily removed because it has sufficiently flexibility to be deformed and can be easily widened by the fingers of a user.

Abstract: A one piece tag formed from a resilient plastics material comprises a mounting member and a pair of panels attached thereto. The mounting member has a pair of limb portions coupled together by an intermediate portion. A panel extends from the end of each limb portion. Coupling means is provided adjacent the free end of one panel and an applicator tool can engage the tag via the coupling means. The panel is thus able to be forced through an object, such as the ear of an animal, by the applicator so that the intermediate portion resides within the opening formed in the object and a panel lies either side of the opening.

Abstract: A display assembly having four and preferably eight substantially identical geometric units wherein each unit has a plurality of planar faces adapted to contain display indicia. The units are pivotally secured to each other about their edges so that, by pivotting the units with respect to each other, the display unit assumes a number of different configurations and, in doing so, selectively covers and exposes the indicia bearing faces.

Abstract: A fish strike detector has an arm that is mounted to an electrical actuator switch. A fishing line is looped over the arm. A slight increase in the force in the line is sufficient to displace the arm and thereby actuate the switch to close an electrical circuit. The circuit includes visual and audio indicators that signal a fisherman of the strike on his line. The electrical circuit is enclosed in a case that is releaseably connected to a location most suitable for the application. The toggle of the actuator switch is adapted to removeably mount a variety of interchangeable actuator arms. The present invention is suitable for use with ice fishing tip-ups. In that application, the tip-up mast the actuator arm are connected by tubes placed over the free ends of the mast and arm; the tubes are joined by a flexible string. Releasing the mast by a strike tightens the string to displace the actuator arm.

Abstract: A body member is tapered to a smaller dimension from one end to the other and is arranged to receive a sleeve member in wedging relation. A bore extends into one end of the body member for receiving a line and this bore exits radially of the body member at a point between the ends. A tag end of the line which projects from the radial bore is arranged to be pinched between the two members for providing a positive anchored connection. In addition, transverse bores are provided in the body member for additional threading of the line to provide extra line portions pinched between the two members. The device is particularly useful with a sinker assembly employing removable lead shot for varying the weight of the sinker assembly.

Abstract: A trap assembly for capturing small animals formed from a housing that encloses a jaw assembly for grasping the paw or leg of the animals. The jaw assembly is formed from a trap plate having an aperture and a resiliently biased arm that is movable from an open position to a closed position where it coacts with side edges of the plate aperture to form a pair of jaws for grasping the animal.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the disinfection of seeds, preferably those of grains, to prevent pathogenic organisms from being planted with the seeds, and to provide reliable disinfection without using toxic agents. The seed is irradiated by low-energy electrons with energy and dosage controlled so that the surface and regions close to the surface are exposed to the radiation with fungicidal effect. A beam of the low-energy electrons is provided by an electron gun aimed at a region within a seed-receiving chamber at which the seeds to be irradiated are caused to intercept the radiation repeatedly and on all sides. The chamber may be at atmospheric pressure or be evacuated, the latter condition requiring vacuum locks at seed inlet and outlet ports of the chamber.

Abstract: Anti-burglar window bars for universal installation in double hung windows wherein preferably the lower sash remains operable to be closed and opened for ventilation with the bar set by Vernier type adjustment and disposed between opposite jambs on trunnion plates fastened into the jamb channels and secured preferably by the bolt of a padlock.

Abstract: In a vehicle door having a retractable window pane, there is provided an improved window regulator for moving the window pane between its full-open position and its full-closed position. The window regulator comprises an elongate plate secured to the door, the plate being formed with at least one guide rail which extends obliquely, at least one slider slidably engaged with the guide rail, a carrier secured to the window pane and mounting thereon the slider, so that the movement of the slider along the guide rail induces the movement of the window pane, guide means permitting the window pane to pivot during the movement of the same, a flexible wire connected at a portion thereof to the carrier, so that the movement of the wire induces the movement of the carrier and thus the window pane, and a drive unit mounted to the door for driving the wire.

Abstract: A structure comprising movable doors for use in tub enclosures or shower stalls, each door having a frame and a panel mounted in the frame, and adjustment apparatus for raising or lowering one side of the door to compensate for out-of-plumb wall conditions, the adjustment apparatus comprising a pair of complementary adjustment members slidably inter-engaged along edges oblique with respect to the upper edge of the doorframe, a lower adjustment member being affixed to the doorframe and an upper adjustment member having a hanger assembly integral therewith provided with rollers or glides adapted to move on a track provided on a supporting doorframe or header.

Abstract: Broadside displacement of sliding patio doors from their building framework for removal from the threshold track upon lifting of the doors in attempts at unauthorized entry is prevented with the use of downwardly-extending leg portions at each side of the door roller wheel assemblies, which leg portions extend downwardly of each side of an upstanding threshold track projection upon which the roller wheels ride. In one embodiment of the invention, the roller wheel assembly leg portions terminate in mutually inwardly-directed hook portions received in slightly spaced relation below rectangular shoulders defined by a rounded head formed along the upper end of the upstanding track projection, thereby preventing removal of the roller wheel assemblies from the threshold track for unauthorized entry.

Abstract: A system of sliding doors commonly called patio-doors, having a wooden structure and well adapted for a household use. This device comprises a wooden rectangular frame receiving two glazed panels, one of which is sliding. The latter is supported on its lower portion by rollers. In the upper portion of the movable panel, the guiding system is constituted by a spring-loaded runner, preferably a channel whose two flanges extend into two parallel grooves on the top of the slidable panel. To remove the sliding panel from the frame supporting it, the operator lowers the retractable runner; this releases the upper portion of the panel from the frame and allows it to swing outwardly. A safety device is provided to prevent accidental removal of the upper portion of the sliding panel from the frame. Also described is a patio-door unit comprising two sets of glazed panels, each having one sliding panel.

Abstract: A driving belt of the type comprising an endless carrier supporting a plurality of transverse elements is disclosed. The element includes at least one recess for receiving the carrier and is provided with a convex surface in the longitudinal and transverse directions for contacting the carrier. A method and apparatus for producing the curved surface includes a stationary hollow cylindrical grinding wheel and an apparatus for moving the element in an arcuate path while contacting the grinding wheel. An alternative embodiment provides for the element to remain stationary and the rotating grinding wheel moving in an arcuate path to produce the convex surface.

Abstract: An improved lens grinding apparatus of the type including a grinding wheel for grinding lens blank, a wheel shaft for mounting the grinding wheel and two lens shafts adapted to rotatably clamp lens blank therebetween. The apparatus further includes a writing device for scribing a band of magnetized zone on the magnetic sheet by means of a writing magnet on the free end of the first arm, a reading device for reading the contour line of the magnetized zone by means of hole elements on the second arm and a center distance changing device for changing the center distance between the wheel shaft and the lens shafts in response to changing of the configuration of the contour line. These devices are operatively associated with one another and operations of each of them are controlled by a control system.

Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture or machining of gears with a toothed tool having abrasive working surfaces, in which workpiece and tool, during rotation, are supported by the tooth system of a guide-gear pair. The apparatus works with a single-flank contact between workpiece and tool, whereby for changing the tooth flanks which contact one another, one member of the drive chain can be rotated relative to the other members a preselectable or adjustable amount.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing of steel billets or the like to remove surface defects. A material-removing device such as a grinding wheel is automatically controlled to initiate removal of material at points where defects have been detected and to continue removal of material as long as cracks or other defects continue to be detected. In certain disclosed embodiments, an inspection is performed using magnetic particle or other inspection equipment, the initial removal of material being controlled therefrom. Thereafter, material-removal is controlled from signals produced by a probe which is carried in the removal device or adjacent thereto. In other disclosed embodiments, a thin layer of material is removed to permit detection of defects by a probe, the material-removal being both initiated and continued under control of probe signals.

Abstract: A ring having a frustoconical inner periphery for beveling the end of a conduit is mounted on an upright side surface of the circular saw blade of a portable cutoff saw concentric with the axis of rotation of the blade.

Abstract: A shot cleaning apparatus which includes a housing (10) in which a workpiece (24) is held, main impellers (42) for throwing shot upwardly at the workpiece, auxiliary impellers (73) arranged above the main impellers (42) to throw shot laterally at the workpiece (24) and shot collection assembled in the upper portion of the housing (10) which include V-shaped troughs (84, 86) to collect shot and direct it through feed tubes (92) to feed the shot by gravity to the auxiliary impellers (73).

Abstract: Sand blasting nozzle, particularly for the decontamination of radioactive members by means of a jet formed from a mixture of water and abrasive particles.It comprises an intake device able to produce a flat water jet, having an aperture angle .alpha. in the plane of the jet, within a vacuum chamber, a discharge member having in planes perpendicular to the flat jet, two divergent side walls substantially of aperture .alpha. and, on either side of the flat jet, two convergent walls forming an angle .beta., said discharge member forming an integral part of the vacuum chamber, and the angle .beta. being defined in such a way that within the chamber is produced an adequate vacuum to ensure that the flat jet entrains the abrasive particles introduced by a pipe carrying a mixture of gas and abrasive particles.

Abstract: A support assembly includes a plurality of linear supports each of which is formed of at least three longitudinal members juxtaposed in a predetermined substantially parallel relationship to one another networked together with brace means. At least two linear supports are connected by way of a set of curved connecting bars to give a shaped overall structure. In other aspects of the invention mounting brackets for use in connection with, for example, the inventive assembly are disclosed. One bracket is for mounting atop a triangular section while another bracket is substantially triangular at one end and extends laterally to a common support point distal to a substantially vertical supporting member.

Abstract: A pedestal unit has first and second structures each with a raisable and lowerable platform on a corresponding end. The first structure is telescopically nestable in the second and the second structure is similarly nestable in a framework having the platform raising and lowering mechanism therein to define the pedestal unit.

Abstract: A knock-down extendible shelter structure is formed by a plurality of hingeable panels of wall, floor, and roof panels. Hinges are used to join the panels. The edges of the latches are used to fix them in place. A plurality of units including similar parts are adapted to be connected together to assemble a shelter of any size. The shelter is designed to be essentially a permanent building that can be readily dismantled and stored.

Abstract: An earth anchor comprising an insertable shank portion and a locking means for securing the anchor in an earth formation has one or more locking members captively associated with the insertable shank portion, the one or more locking members being either tiltable or rotatable relative to the shank whereby the insertable portion is inserted into a borehole in an earth formation and upon tensioning of the shank the one or more locking members wedgingly engage with the wall of the borehole to anchor the device within the borehole. The device has particular application as a means for suspending utility conduits and the like against the wall or floor of an underground excavation.