Abstract: The video cassette storage box is of two-piece modular construction having a storage compartment slightly larger than the normal size video cassette and provided with interlocking dovetail structure at each of the four corners so that a plurality of storage boxes may be interlocked together, either vertically or horizontally. The box construction is of elongated rectangular shape, with an overall thickness substantially less than that of the width and length and open along one portion thereof. Mounted within the storage box is a slidable tray provided with an opening tab at one end connected to the tray by a living hinge, and provided at the other end with a tongue for engagement with the edge of a video cassette for the purpose of engaging and pulling same out of the box along with the tray. The front tab with living hinge permits the label area of the video cassette to be clearly visible at all times when the cassette is being stored within the storage box.

Abstract: A lock structure especially useful for locking a cabinet cover to a bottom plate makes it possible to integrate and separate the cabinet cover and the bottom plate quite easily, and also secures the cabinet cover and the bottom plate quite tightly to prevent any play between the two.

Abstract: A clamp for grasping elongated articles of generally round cross section, comprising an abutment body having a substantially planar clamping surface and having front and rear portions with respect to the direction of insertion of an article into the clamp, at least one J-shaped clamping jaw pivotally mounted to the rear portion of the abutment body by a resilient pivot integral with the jaw and the abutment body, with the jaw having a curved clamping surface formed substantially as an arc of a circle, wherein the rotational axis of the pivot is parallel to the axis of an article caught between the clamping surfaces, the clamping jaw being biased into clamping relationship by the resilient pivot, and wherein the rotational axis does not lie inside the projection of the planar clamping surface, with respect to the curved clamping surface.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a releasable hinge for swingable portions such as a cover and bottom of a container or the like.The releasable hinge comprises a pair of spaced apart, laterally flexible spring fingers projecting from one wall of one portion of the container into a blind notch on an opposed wall of another portion of the container. The side surfaces of the notch are arranged and spaced to flex the fingers together until lateral porjections at the ends thereof nest into complimentary recesses in the side surfaces for hingedly coupling the container portions together. When the container portions are rotated about the projections to a maximum open position of the container, back surfaces on the fingers engage and pivot about the blind end of the notch. Further open movement of the container portions causes the projections to be forced out of the recesses for releasing the hinge and preventing damage to the hinge and/or container portions.

Abstract: Joining member for joining structure elements having plane connecting portions and comprising at least two substantially U-shaped profiles for receiving the plane connecting portions of the structure elements between the legs of the profiles. Means comprising thin webs made in one and the same piece as the profiles articulatingly connecting the profiles.

Abstract: A camera having a foldable flash unit, preferably of the electronic strobe type, wherein the flash unit is movable between an operative erect position and a folded storage position wherein a major portion of the flash unit fits into a conforming recess on the front of the camera housing and the camera and flash housings cooperate to form a protective enclosure for the camera's objective lens and a source of illumination or light output window on the flash unit.

Abstract: An insulation pad for rails on sleepers, the pad comprising a base section adapted, in use, to be interposed between a rail and an underlying sleeper, and two upper sections adapted, in use, to extend over the respective upper surfaces of the rail foot, the upper sections being formed integrally with the base section, wherein the upper sections are hingedly connected to the respective side edges of the base section, which hinges are formed by sections of pad material of reduced thickness, and wherein the upper sections and the associated side edges of the base section adjacent the respective hinges incorporate interlocking knuckle and groove arrangements for resisting differential movement between the upper sections and the base section longitudinally of the hinges.

Abstract: An automobile litter box includes an enclosed volume open at one end which provides a receptacle with a base which is curved and adapted to rest on the outer periphery of an automobile transmission and drive shaft tunnel. A pair of arcuate arms are rotatably mounted at opposing ends of the base and adapted to engage the outer periphery of an automobile transmission and driveshaft tunnel. Means are provided for applying spring-like compressive force to at least one of the arms thereby providing frictional compressive engagement of the arms with the outer periphery of the tunnel.

Abstract: In a case structure comprising a base member and a detachable cover having a pair of side walls adapted to be hingedly and interlockingly connected to the base member, the provision of a combined hinge and locking device comprising an elongated connecting member including an inwardly extending hook-shaped projection and an elongated, flexible and bendable, lengthwise extending hinge member intermediate the side walls and the connecting member. The base member includes a pair of lengthwise extending grooves for engagement with the hook-shaped projections of the cover and a pair of end walls.

Abstract: An interconnection device for solar cells is described comprising two flat strips intended to be welded to two adjacent solar cells and a hinge element linking the two flat strips, said hinge element having two branches each connected by its free end to one of the flat strips and the said hinge element extending longitudinally between the two adjacent solar cells. The hinge element may be covered with an insulating material. In a particular embodiment the branches of the hinge element are linked by a linking element.

Abstract: A rear hinge arrangement for holding the lid of a record player to the console. A lock plate is affixed to the rear top portion of the console, said lock plate having a defined receptacle portion to receive and hold an insert component of an attaching member of the rear hinge. The attaching member has the aforementioned insert component held in place by the lock plate receptacle portion, and, an outer section extending out of the receptacle. On said attaching member are a pair of first and second side plates, said side plates have juxtapositioned a first set of opposite axial apertures. Pivotally joined to the attaching member is a rectangular supporting member with a pair of second side plates likewise with a pair of juxtapositioned opposite axial apertures which are positioned alongside the first side plates in axial alignment therewith. At the rear of the supporting member is a hollow receiving portion for receiving and holding a lid.

Abstract: A novel hinge of flexible material is provided which comprises a pair of end sections and an intermediate connecting section. The end sections are securable through various means including hook and loop filament material to one face of a structural element and to an oppositely-facing surface of a second structural element to permit movement of the two elements through approximately 360.degree. relative to each other.

Abstract: An improved integral snap action hinge comprises first and second main parts joined together by a plurality of hinge straps each of which includes a flexible intermediate portion which portions are aligned to define a hinge line which accommodates opening and closing of the hinge. Improved hinge also includes first and second hinge members, at least one of which is comprised of a flexible, resilient material. The first hinge member extends upward from the first main part between two of the hinge straps. The second hinge member extends upward from the second main part between the same two hinge straps, and confronts the first hinge member when the hinge is in the open position.

Abstract: A portable collapsible frame structure for tents, shelters, temporary buildings and the like is disclosed. The frame includes a plurality of elongate, rigid frame members connected by pivotable joints to each other in end-to-end relation such that alternating joints are articulatable in opposite directions to permit folding of the frame members into side-by-side, parallel relation for ease of transportation. The frame structure is held in its erected position by tensile elements which are arranged to apply a compressive force to the abutting ends of the frame members and thereby rigidify the joints of the frame structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge, particularly suitable for use between two parts to be mounted in relatively pivotable fashion, one part being made from compressed material, for example, board of wood cuttings, used in the furniture industry; the hinge according to the invention is provided with at least one anchoring element having a strip to be adhered to the part of compressed material and by a pliable element to be clamped to the anchoring element and connected with the other part; the advantage is to be seen in that first an anchoring element has to be mounted on the compressed material, onto which the flexible element can be subsequently clamped.

Abstract: A hinge for the lid contained on the arm top cover of a sewing machine which comprises a pair of cam shaped pivot pins molded into the arm top cover and a pair of saddles molded into the lid and adapted to receive the pivot pins. A plastic spring havng a pivot pin embracing tab at each end is removably fastened to the lid. The plastic spring imparts a "snapping" action to restrain the lid in an open or closed position.

Abstract: A pinless hinge structure including first and second members, with the first member having a slot therein and also having first and second bearing surfaces on opposed sides of the slot, and with the second member having opposed, generally convex and concave surfaces. When the first and second members are assembled to form the hinge structure, the generally convex and concave surfaces of the second member face the first and second bearing surfaces, respectively, to enable the first and second members to pivot with respect to each other.

Abstract: A brace hinge comprising a pair of opposed housings having a plurality of elongated flexible alternate ribs extending from the opposed housings, with the ribs of each housing being slidably received intermediate the ribs of the other housing.

Abstract: A one-piece molded plastic hinge member for a washing machine or other appliance door having integral starter attachment means for mounting to the appliance without auxiliary fasteners, an integral pintle for pivotal connection to a door, an upstanding stop element for limiting movement of the door, and an integral upstanding pad portion for preventing direct contact between the door and an adjacent part of the appliance.

Abstract: An article having two sections which are articulated to one another by at least one hinge that includes a substantially spherical male hinge member disposed within a recess provided by a surface of a female hinge member. The hinge includes retaining means for confining the male hinge member within the recess while permitting rotational motion of the male hinge member within the recess. The male member is a continuous molded extension of one section of the article and the female hinge member is a continuous molded extension of the other section of the article.

Abstract: A plastic clip comprises an upper and lower clip members each of which is provided with a pair of opposed side walls, each of one pair of side walls being extended gradually outwardly and provided with a bearing portion, each of the other pair of side walls having a journal adapted to be fitted into each of the bearing portions whereby the clip members are pivotally connected with each other, a spring means for urging the clip members into the open position and a closing member adapted to change the clip between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A portable back rest adapted to be detachably mounted onto stadium bleacher seats and the like. The back rest is formed of a single piece of flexible material and comprises a back panel, a pair of side panels hingeably connected thereto, and front and rear locking elements adapted to securely grip the bleacher seat. In its transport configuration, the side panels fold inwardly into close proximity with the back panel, thereby forming a compact readily portable unit.

Abstract: A reusable container which when unfolded and assembled may be used to store and ship products and provided with means for compactly re-folding or disassembling for return to source of origin and subsequently reused.

Abstract: A drain trap and cover assembly adapted for installation at the upper end of a vertical drain pipe passing through the concrete floor comprises a cup-shaped bowl having a flange at its upper end to which is pivoted a cover swingable between bowl-closing and bowl-opening positions. The pivotal connection comprises a pivot pin carried by the cover and rotatably accommodated in a socket formed in the flange. The socket has a throat which opens into the socket, the size of the throat being slightly less than the diameter of the pivot pin. The material from which the flange is made is sufficiently resilient to enable the throat opening to be enlarged and allow passage from the pivot pin into the socket, following which the throat opening reassumes its normal size to capture the pivot pin within the socket.

Abstract: A catheter needle assembly includes an injection-molded plastic body having a central hub portion through which a hollow core cannula extends, and from which a pair of wing-like tab portions extend in opposite directions to facilitate manipulating the assembly during use. Passageways extending through the roots of the tabs form crease lines to facilitate bending the tabs together for more convenient handling of the assembly.

Abstract: A one-piece spring fastener for connecting two members is disclosed which is useful as a replacement for a spring-biased hinge. The fastener has a body section with spring clips and a tab for locking the body section to one member and a leaf spring section that projects from one side of the body section and has means for attaching it to a second member.

Abstract: An accessory instrument panel adapted to be mounted on an angular surface in a vehicle. The panel consists of a one piece molding having an upper mounting bracket that is fastened to the angular surface in the vehicle with arcuate flanges projecting downwardly from the bracket and having arcuate serrations on the outer surfaces thereof that interengage arcuate serrations on the sides of an instrument mounting panel. The mounting panel is pivotally mounted with respect to the mounting bracket so that the angular position of the mounting panel with respect to the mounting bracket and the mounting surface may be adjusted as desired.

Abstract: In a springless self-latching hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, one hinge member is formed of resilient material configured releasably to maintain the hinge closed. This resilient hinge member includes a spaced pair of hinge pin receiving knuckles extending from a base portion which may be slightly bowed toward the pin. The other hinge member has a hinge knuckle terminating at a bearing sleeve a portion of which incompletely encircles the pin to define a recess. A boss projects from the central base portion of the resilient hinge member to engage the bearing sleeve recess when the hinge is closed. As the hinge is opened, the bearing sleeve depresses the boss to place the central region under compression. Thus the hinge is held releasably closed until sufficient opening effort is exerted to rotate the hinge and thereby compress the resilient member.