Single Patents (Class 267/74)
  • Patent number: 5416273
    Abstract: In a towed array breakout of the type deployed from or retrieved by naval ssels a junction is defined between a fixed portion of an electrically conductive wire and a movable portion of the wire portion. A relatively hard potting material is provided around and defines the fixed portion of the wire. A coiled helically shaped portion of the same wire or a second wire is integrally joined to the first portion and defines the movable portion. This movable second portion is encased in a relatively soft urethane material so as to provide freedom in both a bending and tension mode. A third portion of the wire is connected to the opposite end of the coiled second portion. This structure affords strain relief at the junction between the fixed portion of the flexible conductor and the movable second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Wendell C. Maciejewski
  • Patent number: 5332071
    Abstract: A shock absorber which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with a horizontal safety cable plasticly deforms under the impact load of a falling worker. The shock absorber has a break away housing so that upon inspection, the shock can be identified if it has been subjected to an impact. The absorber is also configured to impart a tautness to the safety cable and visually indicate the attainment of the preferred cable pre-tension force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: SINCO Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles W. Duncan
  • Patent number: 5308101
    Abstract: An elastically retractable towing strap used for towing one vehicle with another vehicle is disclosed. A first strap of elastic material, encased in a sleeve of woven fabric material, is connected to a second strap of a woven fabric towing line. The ends of the elastics strap are connected to the ends of the fabric towing line by weaving the elastic strap through a double loop connector, and riveting the connector to the fabric towing line. Further, the sleeve, which encases the elastic strap, is connected to the fabric towing line at a number of points along the length thereof. The sleeve may also serve the dual purpose of both encassing the elastic strap and functioning as the towing strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Monty Corp.
    Inventor: Chuck Monty
  • Patent number: 5295715
    Abstract: A ski pole grip having an elastomeric shock absorber. The rate of shock absorption is modified by stretching the elastomer at angles to the direction of movement of the ski pole shaft. Damping is provided by the use of an elastomer with a high degree of natural internal damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Inventor: Terry M. Van Blaricom
  • Patent number: 5291826
    Abstract: The axes of a first press roll (1) and of a second press roll (3) lie in a press plane (E). Each of the press rolls has a journal pin (2) and (4) respectively. The first press roll is supported in a first bearing pedestal (5). The second press roll rests in a second bearing pedestal (6) which is coupled to the first bearing pedestal (5) by utilizing flexurally soft tension bars (7, 8). In the unloaded condition of the roll press, the second bearing pedestal (6) rests on the first bearing pedestal (5). In the loaded condition, play (p) is established between the bearing pedestals (5 and 6) so that the bearing pedestals (5 and 6) are displaceable axially relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Schiel
  • Patent number: 5222709
    Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension unit has a base frame mountable in a vehicle and seat support frame on which is mounted a vehicle seat. A scissor-arm assembly, with primary links and secondary links, interconnect the frames overlapping cam tracks, with cam profiles engaged by rollers attached to main springs anchored on the base frame. As the frames move towards each other, the main springs are extended as the rollers move along the cam tracks to apply a restoring force to the frames. A preload assembly has rocker arms, pivotally mounted on the cam tracks, with rollers bearing on the seat support frame and provided with preload springs. By adjustment of the cam tracks relative to the base frame, the preload and the main spring rate can be varied to suit the operator's weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Rosdon Engineering and Manufacturing Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald M. Culley, Jr., William J. S. Bailey, Stephen J. Ward
  • Patent number: 5219030
    Abstract: An improved method of assembling conventional scales, including bathroom scales, is provided by employing an improved spring for connecting the upper housing to the bottom pan. The upper housing may now be connected to the bottom pan with a simple downward force imposed on the improved spring thereby hooking the bottom of the spring to the bottom pan and mateably engaging the tapered top of the spring in an extruded hole in the upper housing. The improved spring is tapered at the top end to mateably engage the extruded hole in the upper housing and includes only one hook on the bottom end for engagement with the bottom pan. The improved spring enables easier and faster assembly of conventional scales thereby reducing labor and production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventor: Frank J. Mordick
  • Patent number: 5158270
    Abstract: An enclosed hydraulic cylinder which may be used as a tension buffer, mainly consists of a body casing having an integrally formed sealed inner passage and a piston stem. The body casing is internally divided into a pressure chamber, a buffer chamber, and a regulation chamber between the pressure chamber and the buffer chamber. When the body casing and the piston stem are subjected to external pulling force in reverse direction, fluid filled in the pressure chamber, being compressed by air coming from an air intake chamber communicable with the pressure chamber and by the piston stem, flows through a flow-limit disposed near outer end of the pressure chamber and into the sealed inner passage before it enters the regulation chamber and thereby adjusts the inner pressure of the cylinder. The buffer chamber adjoins the regulation chamber and the room thereof can automatically adjust to relieve the hydraulic pressure in the regulation chamber and prevent the body casing from excess hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Norman R. M. Lin
  • Patent number: 5113981
    Abstract: A safety line shock absorber that is designed to gradually break the fall and stop the user without the shock that occurs when the standard lanyard reaches full extension. The shock absorber incorporates the structure of a bungy cord in combination with an elongated strip of flat webbing that is folded longitudinally upon itself a plurality of times in an accordian type manner to form a plurality of lapped portions. A plurality of transverse rows of stitching across the respective lapped portions will tear apart and allow the webbing to be stretched out to its unfolded length when excessive force is applied to the longitudinal axis of the safety line shock absorber when a workman hooked up to the shock absorber unexpectedly takes a fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Michael D. Lantz
  • Patent number: 5009119
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes a bracket, a brake lever pivoted to the bracket via a lever shaft and a lever spring for urging the brake lever to its home position relative to the bracket. The lever spring has first and second spring legs engageable respectively with the bracket and the brake lever and a coil portion disposed between the first and second spring legs. A return movement of the brake lever to its home position relative to the bracket is realized by flexion of a radial center line of the coil portion of the lever spring. With this control apparatus, the lever spring can provide substantially constant urging force regardless of the pivot amount of the brake lever and the lever spring does not produce unpleasant creaking noises in the course of a braking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Shimano Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Masashi Nagano
  • Patent number: 4992629
    Abstract: An apparatus including an elongate three-part housing with end portions separable from a main housing portion. A cable extends through the housing and has a looped portion within the housing. Within the housing is a coil return spring attached at its ends to clamp members affixed to the cable, whereupon a tensioning or stretching of the cable effects separation of the housing portions with subsequent return of the cable to an initial position subsequent to removal of tensioning of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: Fortunato R. Morais
  • Patent number: 4977631
    Abstract: A device for suspending a mattress or the like within the sleeping compartment of a truck. The device includes a generally elongated frame with a flat support surface for placing the mattress thereon. The frame may be directly suspended from the walls of the sleeping compartment by spring and shock absorbing devices extending at an angle from the frame. The elongated frame may alternatively be suspended from a peripheral base frame within an open space defined thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: Franklin E. Bretz
  • Patent number: 4925164
    Abstract: A coil spring has a series of short length plastic rollers received on the spring coils so that the rollers engage either a cylinder wall in which the spring works or a rod received through the spring, or both. The rollers act as roller bearings to prevent binding, wear and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard F. Kopich
  • Patent number: 4869473
    Abstract: The device comprises two rods which are each intended to be connected to one of the structural elements, and at least one helical spring whose ends are connected to two discs, each associated with one of the rods, so as to oppose the movement apart of the rods through the discs. The latter are mounted for axial sliding relative to the associated discs and are formed in such a way that their movement both towards and away from each other causes tensioning of the spring from its undeformed rest condition. The device acts as a rigid connecting element when thestresses applied to it are less than a predetermined threshold. When the stress exceeds the threshold, however, it deforms resiliently to limit the amount of stress transmitted to the members between which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Industrie Magneti marelli S.r.l.
    Inventor: Sesto S. Giovanni
  • Patent number: 4864956
    Abstract: A yieldable mooring line for a boat comprises a coil spring with first and second spring key clevises connected to opposite ends of the spring and projecting therefrom. A chain at one end is connected to the first spring clevis. A line is removably anchored to the boat, and a snap-on is secured upon one end of the line which is removably connected to the other end of the chain. The second spring clevis is adapted for connection to a dock or piling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventor: John Onstwedder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4854558
    Abstract: A window counterbalance spring (10, 30) enclosed within a spring cover (35) or tube (25) is sound deadened against rattling by having its outer surface (16) coated with a hot melt adhesive (11). Hot melt (11) is preferably sprayed on outer surface (16) of the spring, at it is wound; and for rotationally tensioned springs (10) surrounding twisted rods (20), some hot melt is deposited on the interior (17) of the spring to cushion its vibration against the twisted rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William P. Newton
  • Patent number: 4854559
    Abstract: An extensible suspension arm for damping the vibrations of the tub of a laundry washing and drying machine comprises a tension spring whose ends are connected to two suspension members, a damping member, and at least one stop providing a degree of freedom between the damping member and the suspension member to ensure that the damping action does not occur beyond a specific amplitude of the displacement between the two suspension members, damping being necessary only at high amplitudes during passage of the natural frequencies of the laundry washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventor: Bernard Fialon
  • Patent number: 4827975
    Abstract: The check valve employs a helical tension spring which is connected at one end to the valve lid on the axis of the valve lid and at the opposite end via a ring on the axis of the valve body. Wedge-shaped elements are provided in the lid to engage with an annular groove in the spring and similar wedge-shaped elements are provided in a hub of the ring to engage with the second end of the spring. A rubber member may also be inserted within the windings of the spring to reduce the flow cross section through the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Anton Steiger
  • Patent number: 4822008
    Abstract: Vibration-damped spring for dynamic tension rollers, consisting of a tubular vibration damper with freedom of linear movement and a helical spring closely surrounding the damper wherein the helical spring has a middle section with turns of a larger diameter and in that, starting from that section, a continuous transition is provided toward the two ends with turns of a smaller diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: SFK GmbH
    Inventors: Otmar Winkler, Manfred Brandenstein, Rudiger Hans
  • Patent number: 4817551
    Abstract: A device for mooring small boats includes a rigid tubular sleeve with outwardly flared ends. A stretch cord located in the sleeve has attaching members in the form of hooks or the like at each end which extend at least partially outside the associated sleeve end. To moor a boat, one hook is pulled outwardly, stretching the cord, and fastened to a boat rail or cleat. The other hook is similarly fastened to a ring or eye-bolt on the dock. The stretch cord urges the hooks toward the sleeve so that the hooks and flared sleeve ends cooperate to form grips; and the sleeve acts as a spacer to space the boat from the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Inventor: Carl Matson
  • Patent number: 4757853
    Abstract: A safety device for use with an overhead garage door assembly which includes elongated coil springs on either side of the door counterbalancing the door weight for assisting in the opening and closing of the door. The safety device includes an elongated flexible member extending longitudinally through each of the coil springs and being secured at its ends to fixed supports. Each end of each spring is substantially surrounded by a substantially tubularly shaped member which includes an end cap. The ends of each spring are secured to their respective supports through holes in the end caps and additional holes allow the elongated flexible members to pass therethrough. Whereby broken portions of a spring will be retained either on the elongated flexible member or within the tubular members in the event of breakage of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignees: Frank S. Price, Elizabeth Price
    Inventor: Frank S. Price
  • Patent number: 4742962
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for suspension of a distributor bar for spreading plant-protective liquids, wherein it comprises two symmetrical elements each composed of--a connecting rod pivoting with respect to the frame;--a bent rocking lever of which the apex is mounted to pivot with respect to the distributor bar, while the end of its arm oriented towards the center is articulated on the second end of the connecting rod of which the first is articulated on a fork joint of the crosspiece of the carriage mounted on the frame;--and a draw spring whose ends are hooked respectively to a lug of the connecting rod and to the free end of the arm of the rocking lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Berthoud S.A.
    Inventor: Patrick Zanghelli
  • Patent number: 4731904
    Abstract: A spring system for stabilizing bifolding door hinged positions includes an integral "C"-shaped spring with at each end of the "C"-shape a respective straight shank formed at right angles to the plane of the "C"-shape in parallel spacing from each other. On each shank is a rotatable tubular sleeve bearing with a collar-shaped enlargement at the end adjacent the "C"-shape, and a retainer on the free end of each shank that keeps the tubular sleeve bearings in place. Installation is by insertion of the tubular sleeve bearings in parallel-spaced drilled holes in the top edges of two doors that are hinged together so that the spring assembly substantially bridges the hinges and biases the faces of the doors together to keep them in the open position, and biases the edges of the doors together to keep them in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventor: George W. Sprague
  • Patent number: 4682760
    Abstract: A constant force self adjusting cable control device comprising a first member and a second member pivoted to one another about a pivot point, a tension spring connected to the first and second members and yieldingly urging the first and second members in a direction to cause movement about the pivot point and a cable attached to each of the first and second members. The cables are axially aligned such that the axis of the tension spring and the axis of the cables are substantially parallel. The angular displacement between the points of attachment of the spring and the cable and the pivot point on one member forms an angle equal to the angle of the point of attachment of the spring and the cable of the other member and the pivot point whereby substantially constant tension is provided on each of the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Acco Babcock Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 4672713
    Abstract: A coupler connects end regions of different sizes of coiled tension springs 30 and 40 to components of block and tackle window balance systems 10. Each coupler 15, 20, or 25 has a snug fit within terminal coils 41 of the strongest spring 40 having the smallest inside diameter, and weaker spring 30 with a larger inside diameter has its terminal coils 31 necked down to fit the coupler. The coupler has a notch or opening with an abrupt edge 18, 22, or 28 axially spaced from an end of the coupler so that the notch is at least twice as long as the largest wire diameter used in the coil springs. At least one of the terminal coils of each spring is indented into the notch or opening in the coupler to a depth of more than one-half the wire diameter so that the indented coil interlocks with edge 18, 22, or 28 and keeps the spring from slipping off the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Caldwell Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William P. Newton, Robert S. Flight
  • Patent number: 4640049
    Abstract: A safety device for overhead garage and like door structures having a counterbalance spring structure including a coil spring which includes a safety cable extending through the open center of the coil spring and adjustably anchored at each end to the garage structure so as to be placed under sufficient tension to contain the spring against substantial horizontal or vertical movement in the event of breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: Joseph L. Duncan
  • Patent number: 4616103
    Abstract: A device for relieving mechanical loads on electrical conductors and line poles. The device includes arms pivoted to one another and a rod connected to the arms so that upon pivoting movement of the arms towards a full open position the rod is elongated. An indicator link is provided for indicating deformation of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Usines Metallurgiques L.C.A.B. SA
    Inventor: Jacques Balteau
  • Patent number: 4573842
    Abstract: A resilient tie-down device interposed between a hook connected to a vehicle frame and a chain connected to a transporter and characterized in that the resilient tie-down device includes a strap which is pretensioned and encapsulated in a rubber jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph F. Mantela, Charles J. Brady, Thomas M. Johnson, Hugh W. Larsen, Thomas L. Schallhorn
  • Patent number: 4562992
    Abstract: A seal device for a gate valve is disclosed, in which annular members facing the front and rear surfaces of a gate valve member having a through hole are coupled to a valve cage by inner and outer bellows, each of the annular members has an annular recess formed on the side facing the gate valve member and closed by an annular mirror surface finished thin plate secured by welding to an opening thereof, the individual bellows are elongated by fluid under pressure supplied into annular spaces defined by the inner and outer bellows, and the annular mirror surface finished thin plates are strongly urged against the gate valve member by the pressure of the fluid forced from the annular spaces into the annular recesses. Edge portions of the annular mirror surface finished thin plates are to be very firmly mounted to the annular members, and the mechanical strength of the thin plates is to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignees: Fuji Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Hajime Ishimaru
    Inventors: Kenzaburo Sugisaki, Mutsuro Onoda, Hajime Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 4555001
    Abstract: A continuous wireform is constructed as the cage (48) for a caged spring (50), these two components serving as the overtravel arrangement in an automatic brake adjuster. The wireform cage has a coil (70) formed at one end of the cage (48) and two limbs (72, 74) extend from the coil (70) and terminate in open ended complementary hook sections (86, 88) which are superimposed when the limbs (72, 74) are yieldably drawn together. A stretched coil spring (50) is then hooked to the integral coil (70) of the wireform and at the other end to the complementary hook sections (86, 88).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: James K. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4524711
    Abstract: A swimming harness for holding a swimmer at a selected location in a swimming pool, yet giving the swimmer freedom of swimming movement. The swimming harness comprises an elongated member, the inner end of which is attached to a fixed exterior object and the outer end of which is connected to a belt which is to be located about the waist of the swimmer. A resilient section is located between the inner and outer ends of the members to provide a limited amount of stretching movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Inventor: David P. Ashrow
  • Patent number: 4524965
    Abstract: An envelope stacking machine has a conveyor for feeding envelopes in a substantially vertical orientation along a predetermined path of travel. There is an elongate envelope stacking support for receiving envelopes directed to the support from a transfer device which pushes the envelopes against an envelope abutment member having a force converting apparatus attached thereto for maintaining a substantially uniform resisting force against the incoming stream of envelopes. The force converting apparatus contains resilient and flexible devices which operate in conjunction with a rotary displacement device to achieve the substantially uniform resisting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Kulpa
  • Patent number: 4507951
    Abstract: Apparatus is described which includes force-producing and force-transmitting means. The force-transmitting means comprises resilient plastic. The apparatus of the invention is especially useful in the straightening or shaping of metal, e.g., vehicle bodies and frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventor: John V. Hultquist
  • Patent number: 4489548
    Abstract: A tension spring device comprising a linear draw element and spring member surrounding the draw element and connected thereto by connection sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Inventor: Karl G. Derman
  • Patent number: 4400186
    Abstract: A constant tension device is provided for use with a filter bag. The device includes a spring and a linkage assembly for applying tension to the filter bag. The linkage assembly is designed such that a substantially constant tension is applied to the bag regardless of the force exerted by the spring. A pair of lever arms is included within the linkage assembly for applying pressure to a bag cap if the device is used within the filter bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Albany International Corporation
    Inventors: Carl V. Leunig, Stewart W. Smith
  • Patent number: 4367572
    Abstract: An elastic clamping apparatus utilizes an elongated rubber-like member, having a plurality of spaced apart notches disposed along the length of each opposed lateral surface. Imbedded within the length of the elastic member is a fabric-like reinforcement member which is not extensible from the tortuous path in which it occupies when the resilient elastic member is unstretched. When stretched, the reinforcement member and the elastic member both extend in length. The end of the elastic member are fitted with a plate having a hook-like end whose outer most surface is covered with a resilient rubber-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Inventor: Anthony L. Zielenski
  • Patent number: 4260016
    Abstract: A self-cleaning helical spring sand screen for use at the petroliferous unconsolidated sand strata of an oil well are disclosed. The sand screen comprises a hydraulically actuated, spring based spool valve connected to the upper end of the sand screen for receiving liquid under high pressure, for storing energy in the spring, for expanding the helical spring sand screen, and for ejecting liquid into the helical spring sand screen for cleaning thereof. Then upon ceasing of flow of the high pressure liquid, the stored energy in another spring contracts the helical spring sand screen for restorating production of sand-free oil from the production tube. A second modification is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Reynaldo Calderon
  • Patent number: 4212300
    Abstract: The invention is an improved aspirator for use in medical procedures. The aspirator is provided with a rubber band powered piston control valve that maintains the valve in the off position. When operated to the on position by a user, the rubber band is placed in tension mode so that when released by the user the rubber band returns the valve to the off position. The rubber band powered piston valve aspirator is simple to disassemble without tools for cleaning and sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Inventor: Roy A. Meals
  • Patent number: 4192493
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing line device comprising a resilient member, preferably in the form of a cylinder, around which a line is spirally wrapped, the two ends of the line passing through respective eyelets at each end of the cylinder. Shock on the line is absorbed by straining the cylinder in torsion and bending, and also compressing or squeezing the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Inventor: Walter L. Koughan
  • Patent number: 4088311
    Abstract: A tension spring arrangement in which a coil-type tension spring has a plurality of turns and two off-center hook portions joining, respectively, the two turns at the opposite ends of the spring body. When the spring is in its non-installed state, the inclination of the hook portions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spring is different from the inclination of the hook portions when the spring is in its installed state, the difference in inclination being such that when the spring is in its installed state, there is applied to the spring body a resultant bending moment which, in magnitude and direction, is at least approximately equal to the bending moment which would be applied to the spring body were the hook portions arranged not off-center but in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kurt Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 4076433
    Abstract: An attachment device for the quick and easy attachment of a counterbalance coil spring to an appropriate bracket features a single section of rod bent to provide a shoulder at one end for connection to the bracket and a second shoulder at the other end for the counterbalance spring, the ends being equipped in a manner to permit application of an interlocking retention piece over end sections of the bend rod. In some forms of the invention fasteners applicable to the very endmost part of the rod are employed to lock the retention piece in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Inventor: William Halopoff
  • Patent number: 3958367
    Abstract: A safety device for use in combination with elongated coil springs substantially balancing the door weight for ease of opening and adapted to urge said door toward an open position after partial opening movement. The safety device includes an elongated flexible member extending longitudinally substantially axially through the elongated spring with ends thereof beyond the spring ends as with one end fixedly mounted adjacent a fixed end of the spring and the other end thereof resiliently mounted adjacent the other end of the spring whereby separate portions of the spring will be retained on the elongated flexible member in the event of breakage of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1976
    Inventor: William Fairman
  • Patent number: 3958669
    Abstract: A rail-brake magnet is suspended from structure on a railway vehicle at a predetermined distance above a rail when in its non-operating state by a spring. Abutment means are provided to limit the movement of the spring in the direction of raising the rail-brake magnet so that the spring is subjected to an initial stress when the rail-brake magnet is raised to its non-operating position. This initial stress on the spring may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1976
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Schmied
  • Patent number: 3938792
    Abstract: The hooked ends of the springs or like members by which the bed of a trampoline or similar apparatus is suspended from its frame are equipped with protective sleeves of flexible material. The sleeves are split at their outer ends to form two flaps, one of which covers the exposed ends of the hooks to prevent injury to a performer inadvertently striking them, while the two flaps together are foldable back onto the sleeve to assist hooking and unhooking of the springs to and from the bed and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Assignee: Nissen Corporation
    Inventor: George P. Nissen