Abstract: An exemplary, non-limiting swivel fitting attachment apparatus includes a ball fitting and a swivel fitting. The ball fitting includes a base having an attachment portion, such as a flange, arranged for attachment to a structure and a ball attachable to the base. The ball may be removably attachable or fixedly attached to the base. The swivel fitting has a first end having a socket portion that is arranged to receive the ball therein and a second end having an attachment portion that is arranged for attachment to an object. The socket portion of the swivel fitting may be expandable and closeable over the ball, and may include first and second socket portion members that are urgeable toward and away from each other. The second end of the swivel fitting may be couplable to a clevis fitting.

Abstract: A device suitable for supporting a component, such as a flat display screen, which device comprises a first arm, which can be connected to a wall with a first end thereof, being pivotable about a first pivot axis, and which is connected to a first end of a second arm with a second end thereof, being pivotable about a second pivot axis, which second arm can be connected to the component that is to be supported with a second end thereof, being pivotable about a third pivot axis. The device is furthermore provided with a third arm, which can be connected to the wall with a first end, being pivotable about a fourth pivot axis, and which is connected to a first end of a fourth arm with a second end, being pivotable about a fifth pivot axis, which fourth arm can be connected to the component to be supported with a second end, being pivotable about a sixth pivot axis.

Abstract: A socket assembly including a housing having a bore; an insert member disposed in the bore, the insert member defining a socket; and a cap attached to the housing proximate an inlet of the bore and having an opening to receive a connecting member that extends into the socket.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a housing (12) defining a socket chamber (18) and having an opening (32); a composite ball joint bearing (20) disposed within the socket chamber; a ball stud (24) supported by the composite ball joint bearing and having a shank portion (30) which projects through the opening of the housing; and a seal assembly (40) adapted to seal the opening between the ball stud and the socket chamber. The composite ball joint bearing is formed from a first plastic material (20A) and a second magnetostrictive alloy material (20B) which is adapted to change its shape when in the presence of a magnetic field to thereby change the rotational and oscillation properties of the ball joint assembly.

Abstract: A clamp system for attaching accessory devices to a railing structure includes a first clamping jaw member and a second clamping jaw member designed to clamp on a railing structure. An accessory mounting device includes a cylindrical collar portion with a plurality of diametrically aligned holes arranged around the circumference. One of the clamping jaw members has an opening, sized to receive the collar portion and one pair of holes that can be aligned with the holes of the collar portion. When the mounting device is in a desired orientation, a pin is inserted through the aligned holes to hold the orientation. A locking nut is mounted on a threaded portion of the collar portion and, when tightened, tends to withdraw the collar portion against the pin, firmly securing the assembly together.

Abstract: A lockable shock absorber interconnecting the upper portion of a bicycle front wheel fork with a handlebar thereabove provides releasably joinable body extending upwardly from the bicycle fork and pivotally mounting in its upper portion an elongate handlebar arm releasably carrying a handlebar in its end portion. The handlebar arm is biased in an upwardly angled orientation, but movable downwardly against its bias to absorb shock. Biasing is provided by a compression spring carried about a depending spring rod pivotally mounted in the medial portion of the handlebar arm. The lower portion of the compression spring is supported on a bracket carried by the body and the spring rod is slidably carried within a vertical hole defined in the bracket. A horizontal fastening pin slidably carried by the bracket perpendicular to the spring rod is movable from a first position locking the spring rod relative to the bracket to a second position allowing motion of the spring rod relative to the bracket.

Abstract: An anti-skid device of the type including an arm, carrying in its outer end a chain-provided pulley that is brought in contact with a vehicle wheel so that the chains are thrown in under the vehicle wheel. The arm is, in its inner end, journaled in a U-shaped or fork-shaped bracket via a short axle that, in its ends, rests in bowl-shaped hemispherical bearings that are threaded into the legs of the bracket. The bearing bowls are pretensioned against the axle. At the apex of the shaft's spherical ends, recesses are made that take-up lubrication grease and, in this way, a point-like contact between the bearing shells and the axle is eliminated.

Abstract: An article of knock-down furniture that can be easily assembled by an end-user comprises a plurality of pieces and contact joint arrangements that prevent unwanted separation of the pieces, while permitting the pieces to rotate and flex relative to each other. The contact joint arrangements also have lateral flexibility to permit the pieces to be coupled and shaped into a contour. The contact joint arrangement has a flexible tube that extends through a continuous bore through each of the pieces. A threaded fastener is threaded into each end of the tube and tightened against the end surface of the end pieces in order to place the tube in tension. The pieces are, consequently, held in longitudinal compression between the two threaded fasteners, while remaining free to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the tube. In one embodiment, a screw assembly is threaded into the tube through a hole or notch cut near one end of the tube.

Abstract: The eccentrically and over-center latch device for high load holding capay and quick release/quick engagement with a low, flat profile which allows the device to be used in small operating clearance.

Abstract: A sparking accessory adapted to be mounted on a bicycle, or the like, and comprising a stationary friction disc member and a rotational sparking disc member. In one embodiment of the invention, the accessory is mounted on a pivotal arm member which in turn is secured to the bicycle, the arm member being manually movable between upper and lower positions, the upper position being the storage position for the accessory in a non-operative position therefor, and the lower position placing the rotational sparking disc member in frictional engagement with the outer periphery of the bicycle tire for achieving a sparking effect. In another embodiment of the invention, the stationary friction disc member is secured to a housing structure and the rotational sparking disc member is secured to the drive shaft of a battery powered motor for selective rotation of the sparking disc member with respect to the friction disc member to achieve a sparking effect.

Abstract: A friction-based, motion damping assembly for a chairlift or the like is disclosed in which the damping assembly is mounted between a hub provided on a cable grip assembly and the chairlift hanger arm. The improved damping assembly is formed as a sleeve mounted to the hub of the cable grip with concentric rubber block members mounted around the sleeve. The hanger arm is formed with a collar having tapered surfaces, and an axially displaceable nut on the hub is used to wedge the rubber blocks into radial compressive engagement of the sleeve to generate the necessary compression of the sleeve about the hub for frictional damping.

Abstract: An earth working implement such as a field cultivator shank for use on a tool bar of a field cultivator includes a mounting bracket having an upper end and a lower end. The mounting bracket is secured at the lower end of the mounting bracket to the tool bar with the upper end of the mounting bracket extending rearwardly and upwardly of the tool bar. A spring shank is pivotably connected to the lower end of the mounting bracket at a first pivot point with the spring shank extending rearwardly and downwardly of the lower end of the mounting bracket. The spring shank terminates in a rounded end portion. A support bracket which securely engages an upper portion of the spring shank is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket and extends immediately beneath and alongside the spring shank for a portion of the spring shank length. A coil spring biases the spring shank downwardly away from the upper end of the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A joint means for light fittings, such as office lamps, comprising pairs of bars arranged after one another and connected with each other by pairs of joint plates. The plates are pressed against each other and the bars with clamping screws. The bars are connected with the joint plates by means of protuberances on the plates extending into holes in the bars.

Abstract: A tying mechanism on a baler having a bale forming chamber incorporates an improvement for removing end play between the components of the tying mechanism. The tying mechanism includes an elongated drive shaft and a plurality of side-by-side units mounted along the shaft and operable to carry out tying of strands of material that band a bale being formed in the bale chamber. The tying units are movable axially along the shaft for adjusting them to predetermined operational positions relative to one another. The improvement relates to a pair of annular adjustment cams being mounted about and releasably secured to the shaft between the units.