Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling bobbins and transferring them from one location to another. The apparatus includes upper and lower housings connected by an articulated joint. The upper housing is supported by a fluid-operated, overhead hoist which is controlled by a manually-operated control mounted on the upper housing. The lower housing has an outwardly-extending, compact, fluid-operated gripper which extends into a central passage of the bobbin and has movable jaws engaging the inner surface. The articulated joint enables the lower housing to pivot relative to the upper one and move the gripper between horizontal and vertical positions. The articulated joint has a manually-operated locking pin locking the lower housing in either position, with a manual release handle located near the hoist control on the upper housing to enable both to be manipulated by one hand. The apparatus also includes a fluid interlock system which prevents accidental release of the bobbin from the gripper.

Abstract: A pair of identical rigid arms are each pivotably attached at one end to a pair of identical brackets, one bracket attached to a boat and the other bracket attached to a dock, and an elongated helically wound spring is threaded on to each end of the arms to connect them together. The arms are held in place at the bracket by pins or rods which, particularly at the boat bracket, can be quickly and easily removed to free the boat.

Abstract: A stop mechanism for selectively varying the turning angle of an agricultural tractor is disclosed. The stop uses a series of limit tabs, one or more of which may be positioned between two abutments on a knuckle and yoke to provide a number of discrete adjustment points for the turning angle. The tabs are fixed to the steering components, readily movable to a position between the abutments, and semi-permanently attached to the tractor thereby allowing quick adjustment of turning angle without the need for loose parts.

Abstract: The supporting arm of a cabinet hinge is adjustably mounted on a mounting plate to be attached to the supporting wall of a cabinet and has at its cabinet-internal end an open-ended longitudinal slot through which passes a screw fastening it to the mounting plate. A setscrew is threaded in a tap situated adjacent the front or outer end of the supporting arm and has at its bottom end adjacent the mounting plate a holding head in the form of a spherical body having a circumferential annular groove formed in rotational symmetry with the longitudinal axis of the setscrew. The holding head is inserted into an open-ended longitudinal groove having a narrow mouth, the cross section of the groove being substantially complementary to the cross section of the holding head in a plane in the longitudinal axis of the setscrew, so that the holding head is accommodated so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the longitudinal groove but secured against lifting out of the groove.

Abstract: A swivel assembly, particularly adapted to mount a light fixture to a track of a track lighting system is disclosed. The swivel assembly includes a hollow housing comprising a body section having a peripheral sidewall defining a semi-circular shaped closed end, an opposing open end and an open side. A circular cup-shaped cap having an open side is rotatably journaled over the open side of the body at the semi-circular end and a removeable cover is mounted over a portion of the open side of the body adjacent to the cap. The body, cover and cap form the hollow housing. A transverse mounting wall having an access hole to the interior of the housing is provided at one end of the housing. The transverse wall is adapted to mount the swivel to an external mounting member. Means for mounting the swivel to a light fixture and including a second access opening into the interior of the housing is provided on the cap portion.

Abstract: A hydraulic snubber suitable for a skidding grapple or the like in which a twisted figure eight housing is provided to oppose free swinging in two mutually perpendicular horizontal directions, each portion of the figure eight body having a cylinder housing a rotor with each rotor and cylinder having radially extending vanes equipped with flexible, orifice equipped vane extensions.

Abstract: A stationary robotic base carries a movable robotic platform and supports a pair of vertical striker plates spaced apart by a central, elastomeric block. The striker plates are confined within a compartment of the stationary base, and extend upward into a pathway defined by a lug depending from the moving platform. The lug contacts the top portion of a given striker plate and, as the plate is struck, it tends to pivot about its bottom edge toward the other plate, compressing the elastomeric block, while the other plate is held from moving away from the block. The assembly is bidirectional, with each striker plate being yieldable toward the other as it is encountered by the moving lug.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for pivotally connecting the ends of a backrest support to both sides of a seat on a motorcycle. A bracket with one or more apertures is mounted on the sides of the seat. A pivot disk with a projecting hub on one side which is substantially the same size and shape as the bracket aperture is unrotatably engaged with the bracket to hold the pivot disk in place. The backrest support is rotatably fastened to the opposite side of the pivot disk, where a plurality of projections on the pivot disk limit the rotation of the backrest support.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a foldable head rest which provides elevated support for a person's head while lying in the prone position at the beach or other leisure place, for example. The head rest may be easily carried in a folded flat configuration in one's luggage or hand and quickly unfolded for use at the beach.The head rest broadly comprises a pair of rectangular frames including an interior and exterior frame each having two seats of two offset but parallel leg portions. Cross members join the opposite leg portions of each frame at their otherwise free ends. Fabric panels are secured to the respective cross members of the opposite frames including a top panel which provides direct support for the head and a bottom panel which supportively contacts the sand or ground to prevent the head rest from sinking into the sand or ground.Each set of leg portions of each frame are formed at their midsections with a central hub.

Abstract: The bed frame having a swivel bracket for headboard mounting of the instant invention provides a wide range of lateral adjustment for mounting headboards of varying sizes and types. The disclosed invention includes a Hollywood or other type bed frame having side rails. First and second plates having elongated slots are rotatably mounted eccentrically to the ends of the side rails. The plates are manually rotatable between first and second positions. In the first position, the slots extend inwardly of the side rails, and in the second position, the slots extend exteriorly of the side rails. Means are provided for limiting the rotation of the plates, for guiding the plates during rotation, and for retaining the plates in selected ones of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A tilting table for a woodworking tool comprising a support member, a pair of trunnions pivotally attached to the support member for movement about a common axis, a table top attached to and supported by the trunnions, a pair of wedge blocks mounted to slidably engage the trunnions and support member, and carried on a rod having a nut threaded thereon such that inward displacement of the nut urges the wedge blocks toward each other, thereby jamming the wedge blocks between the trunnions and the support member. The wedge blocks are spring loaded such that outward displacement of the nut allows the wedge blocks to be urged outwardly from their jamming engagement, thus permitting the table top and trunnions to be pivoted relative to the support member.

Abstract: A substantially tubular housing houses a swivel unit proximate one of its ends and a tailpiece proximate the other of its ends; with a relatively strong spring disposed therebetween to urge each unit against its respective housing end with sufficient pressure to retain each such unit as selectively positioned. A swivel seat washer is disposed between the spring and swivel; while a pair of washers, one plastic and one brass, are disposed between the spring and tailpiece. The swivel unit includes an extension with external threads and flat sides that cooperate with flat sides of an opening in the housing end and through part of the sidewall of the housing; the flat sides of the extension and of the housing opening coacting to restrict rotation of the swivel to ninety degrees of rotation about a first axis of rotation.

Abstract: An overcenter tensioning apparatus is provided including an elongated crank member having a first tension member pivotally anchored thereto at one end, an elongated lever arm pivotally connected thereto adjacent its other end and a second tension member pivotally connected thereto intermediate the first tension member and the lever arm. The crank member, when the remote ends of the tension members extend outward in opposite directions, is swingable in one direction toward a limit position slightly past a center position between respective release and tensioning positions and abutment structure is operatively associated with the lever arm and crank member for releasably limiting angular displacement of the lever arm in opposite directions.

Abstract: Device for indexing an arm supporting a rearview mirror or a rearview mirror casing, in which one of the ends of the indexing member is mounted for pivoting about an axis on the support member. The device includes a flange member of a deformable material provided in its center with a resting point by which it rests against the support member on which it is pivotally mounted and at its ends, with two resting points, one of which has locking provisions for locking it with the indexing member, the other cooperating with the indexing member for stretching the flange during the locking and unlocking operations only.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved anchoring structure for a self-standing seat belt unit adapted to be anchored to a side portion of a vehicle seat.The anchoring structure comprises a support member which is mounted on the side portion of the vehicle seat and which is formed with an elongated opening. A guide member has a finger portion which projects toward the inside of the support member through the opening. The finger portion is movable within the opening and abuttingly engageable with the end walls of the opening to limit the extent of swinging movement of the self-standing seat belt unit.

Abstract: A collapsible wheelbarrow having a wheel assembly, tubular members extending distally from each side of the wheel assembly, a container element affixed to the tubular members and having distinct side wall and bottom wall members, hinge elements affixed to certain side wall and bottom wall members so as to enable said side wall and bottom wall members to be folded, and/or removed, latch elements affixed to certain side wall and bottom wall members enabling said side wall and bottom wall members to be detachably affixed to one another, and rear support members.

Abstract: A cover at one end of a rod member is pivotably connected to one end of a bracket by a pin. The bracket and cover are U-shaped in transverse section. A portion of the cover overlies a portion of the bracket in all positions of the cover. The cover is journaled on bosses on the bracket and circumscribes the pin.

Abstract: An articulated orthotic/prosthetic appliance for supporting an infirm anatomical knee includes joint assemblies which prevents abnormal or injurious knee motion while freely permitting normal or desirable motion. The appliance includes upper and lower support members having associated spaced apart end portions which form parts of the joint assemblies. Each joint includes a generally disc shaped connecting member disposed intermediate associated end portions of upper and lower support members. The end portions are secured to the connecting member for independent pivotal movement about parallel axes. Concealed stops carried by and disposed intermediate the end portions cooperate with the connecting member to limit pivotal movement of the support members relative to each other.

Abstract: In a hinge joint having compact hinge halves and porous fixing plugs (1, 2), the hinge halves are provided with recesses (26) and (27), and linked in an articulated manner and guided by at least one ring (3) and (4), respectively. The ring(s) (3, 4) run in grooves (9, 10) which are arranged concentrically to the rotation axis of the joint.For use of the hinge joint in the medical field, it may be advantageous that the fixing plugs (1, 2) have a microporous structure and the rings (3, 4) are linked to covers (29) via bridges (28).

Abstract: A device for maintaining a fishing rod in a preselected location, while permitting free pivotal movement of the rod, to a limited extent, in both horizontal and vertical planes. A further feature of the device resides in the fact that the rod can be instantly released from the holder merely by lifting it by the handle out of contact therewith.

Abstract: A cargo tie down anchor unit which can be attached to automotive vehicles, or the like, featuring a slideable anchoring element which can be retracted into the anchor unit housing wherein the slideable anchoring element is positioned out of sight when not in use.

Abstract: A swivel joint is designed to provide limited and controlled movement in two orthogonal planes running through its symmetrical center. The three major parts of the swivel joint are molded from a material composition of polycarbon-glass-teflon. A swivel top mounts to the object to be provided with controlled movement. A swivel bottom mounts to a support. The swivel top and bottom are held together by a large, curved wafer and a nut and bolt arrangement. The swivel top and bottom interact with each other to provide controlled limited movement in the two orthogonal planes, simultaneously.

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.

Abstract: A spacer-damper for overhead power transmission lines wherein a rigid arm is provided for each sub-conductor mounted on a rigid frame by a damped resilient connection member which provides damped resilient movement in all directions of arm movement.

Abstract: A device for spacing overhead, parallel subconductors of a conductor bundle and for damping vibrations of the subconductors. The device comprises rigid, elongated arms pivotally connected together at one end of each arm and having a clamp at the other end of each arm for attaching the arms to respective subconductors. A resilient, viscoelastic pad or disc is disposed between the arms in opposed recesses provided in the arms at the location at which the arms are pivotally connected together, the pad or disc providing the primary damping mechanism for the device.

Abstract: A device for spacing overhead, parallel subconductors of a conductor bundle and for damping vibrations of the subconductors. The device comprises rigid, elongated arms pivotally connected to each other by a rigid means at one end of each arm, with the other end of each arm being radially spaced from the rigid means and provided with a clamp for attaching the arm to a subconductor. Resilient damping devices, such as close coil springs, are secured in the arms at a location adjacent the rigid means pivotally connecting the arms to each other.