Abstract: A device for the tensioning of wires supporting the vegetation of plants that includes at least one wire tensioning member, one support member adapted to support the tensioning member in rotation, and a blocking means to block the rotation of said tensioning member. The tensioning member includes a metal fork bent and the support member has at least one through-hole penetrated by the tensioning member so that said tensioning member rotates with respect to the support member. The means for blocking the rotation of the tensioning member include at least one recess or groove that reversibly engages with the tensioning member.

Abstract: A coupling for an elongated handle and a tool head is disclosed. The coupling includes a plug member, a ferrule, and a pin member. The plug member further comprises an elongated passage formed therein receives a tool head shank of the tool head. The elongated passage is in communication with a pair of aligned plug member openings formed through the plug member. The ferrule includes a pair of aligned ferrule openings. When the plug member is partially received within the ferrule, the plug member openings align with the ferrule openings. The pin member extends through the aligned ferrule openings and the plug member openings and through an opening of the tool head shank when the tool head shank is mounted in the elongated passage. The ends of the pin member are bent at an angle to an axis extending through the elongated passage to secure the tool head shank to the plug member and ferrule.

Abstract: A clip for a pin that extends from an outer surface of a member, the clip comprising a pin retaining portion and a clamp portion that surrounds the member outer surface, the clamp portion having a pin receiving opening therein adapted to receive the exposed end of the pin, and a pin retaining portion adjacent the pin receiving opening to retain the pin in the member.

Abstract: A retainer pin is described for retaining, in one embodiment, a relatively thin blade against a transverse surface. The pin has a transition section which extends through an opening in the blade, a keeper section extending along one side of the blade, and a snap arm and snap end extending along an opposite side of the blade with a snap snapping over the edge of the blade.

Abstract: A quick connect assembly for mounting a bicycle rack to a vehicle bumper includes a mounting bracket securely connectable to the bumper and a pivoting arm integrally connected to the bicycle rack and mountable to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a horizontal base member and a vertical wall extending from the rear edge of the base member. Along each lateral edge of the base member is a vertical side wall having through apertures for receiving portions of the pivoting arm. A latch plate is centrally located on the mounting bracket between the two side walls. The latch plate has notches formed therein for receiving a latch pin of the pivoting arm to hold the bicycle rack in the vertically upward position or the horizontal working position. An arcuate cam formation separates the notches. The pivoting arm has spaced side plates each having a side extending peg for disposition in the apertures of the side walls.

Abstract: A cotter pin includes first and second tines having flat confronting surfaces and curved side surfaces with flat outer surfaces substantially parallel to the flat confronting surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A retention pin redundancy system and installation method provides a housing having multiple shoulders to encapsulate an installed retention pin and its connecting pin only when the retention pin is fully engaged. Another aspect includes a living hinge. A further aspect provides engagement devices to lock the redundancy clip.

Abstract: A connector includes a head from which there extends a split shank. The split shank forms opposing first and second members having an offset or stepped inner surface. The free end of the shank includes a tapered flange provided with a retaining lip which extends beyond the outer surface of the shank. One or more openings may be provided through the shank for receiving a cotter pin.

Abstract: Fasteners, such as lock-pins, that in selected embodiments can be installed or removed from the near side of a blind installation. In one embodiment, the lock-pin includes a pin and a rotatable key. The pin includes a head portion, a shaft portion having a tip end, and a longitudinal axis of symmetry. A bore extends through the head portion and the shaft portion in a generally longitudinal direction non-colinear with the longitudinal axis of symmetry. In one aspect of this embodiment, the key includes a spring portion toward the head portion of the pin, a retainer portion toward the tip end of the pin, and an actuator rod portion extending therebetween rotatably disposed within the bore of the pin. When the key is rotated to an unlocked position, the retainer portion is disposed within the diameter of the shaft portion such that the pin can be inserted in, or retracted from, a hole only slightly larger in diameter than the shaft portion.

Abstract: A cottering device for maintaining the relative position of pins, shafts and turnbuckles including a continuous wire member formed to include a straight portion ending in a resilient connecting loop ending in a generally circular portion of constant radius. The cotter clip may be installed in a bore in a pin or shaft by applying a force to the connecting loop that simultaneously displaces the apex of the generally circular portion from a common plane and causes the straight portion to be inserted into the bore. During installation the straight portion is elastically deformed about the pin or shaft and returns to a preinstalled condition when the insertion is complete. The clip is simply removed by elevating the apex above the pin or shaft and withdrawing the straight portion from the bore.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening and joining sections of composite material together is disclosed comprising a substantially cylindrical core component and substantially cylindrical hollow sleeve component, one or both of which are pre-coated with a curable organic coating, and methods of fastening aircraft components together using such fasteners.

Abstract: A heat sink fastener is applied to fasten a heat sink contacted with an electrical element mounted on a substrate. The heat sink fastener has a pillar integrally formed by an upper segment and a lower segment that further has an arrowhead hook, a coil spring winded around the pillar, and a cannular column with two openings for receiving the pillar. A step is formed around the first opening defined at one end of the column, and the second opening is defined at the other end of the column to allow the lower segment and the hook to pass through. When heat sink fastener is applied to fasten the heat sink to the substrate, the column is pressed downward to the heat sink, and the hook is inserted through the heat sink and the substrate to be tightly and upwardly pressed against the bottom of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely aligning bolt holes in first and second adjacent drive shaft couplings, including a cam pin for being positioned in the generally aligned bolt holes in the shaft couplings and rotated to bring the bolt holes in to more precise alignment. The cam pin includes a first, relatively large diameter segment having a cylindrical wall defining a first longitudinal axis for being positioned in a precisely fitting condition in the bolt hole of the first coupling, and a second, relatively small diameter segment having a cylindrical wall defining a second longitudinal axis offset from and eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the first segment for being relatively loosely positioned in the generally aligned bolt hole of the second coupling. A cam sleeve is provided for being positioned in axial and rotational sliding relation over the small diameter segment of the cam pin and within the bolt hole of the second coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for securing a first plate, which may be a pull handle bracket, in a spaced relationship to a second plate, which may be a door panel. The apparatus (10) comprises a fastener (16) having a head portion (22) and a base portion (24). The head portion (22) is insertable into a hole in the first plate and supports the first plate. The base portion (24) is insertable into a hole in the second plate and attaches to the second plate. Part of the base portion (24) of the fastener (16) extends on a side of the second plate opposite the first plate. The apparatus (10) further includes a retainer (18) having an elongated main body (90) for inserting into the head portion (22) of the fastener (16) and for securing the first plate to the head portion (22) of the fastener (16). The part of the base portion (24) of the fastener (16) that extends on a side of the second plate opposite the first plate has a width that increases to resist a force attempting to separate the first plate from the second plate.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for attaching a trim panel to a support panel. The fastener assembly includes a clip portion having a handle end, a guide leg projecting from the handle end and a pair of locking legs projecting from the handle end and spaced parallel on opposing sides of the guide leg. The fastener assembly further includes a base portion having a bridge portion extending from a pair of base plates and defining a slot therebetween for removably receiving the guide leg therethrough, a pair of locating projections extending longitudinally from the respective pair of base plates opposite the bridge to a distal end, and a locking tab projecting from each of the locating projections toward the base plates. The base portion is adapted to retain the support panel between the locking tabs and the base plates and the clip portion is cooperable with the base portion to retain the trim panel between the base plates and the clip portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely aligning bolt holes in first and second adjacent drive shaft couplings, including a cam pin for being positioned in the generally aligned bolt holes in the shaft couplings and rotated to bring the bolt holes in to more precise alignment. The cam pin includes a first, relatively large diameter segment having a cylindrical wall defining a first longitudinal axis for being positioned in a precisely fitting condition in the bolt hole of the first coupling, and a second, relatively small diameter segment having a cylindrical wall defining a second longitudinal axis offset from and eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the first segment for being relatively loosely positioned in the generally aligned bolt hole of the second coupling. A cam sleeve is provided for being positioned in axial and rotational sliding relation over the small diameter segment of the cam pin and within the bolt hole of the second coupling.

Abstract: A cotter pin which is engageable with a fastening member is formed from a wire and includes a bight with a pair of legs that extend therefrom. Specifically, the bight is formed with shoulders that will substantially conform with a surface of the fastening member. Also, each end of the legs of the cotter pin is formed with a retainer member which has an abutment that will substantially conform with another surface of the fastening member. More specifically, one surface is at one end of an aperture which passes through the fastening member, and the other surface is at the other end of the aperture. Each retainer member is formed with a point at the end of its respective leg, and these points are spaced from each other by a distance which is less than the diameter of the aperture that is formed through the fastening member. For engagement of the cotter pin with the fastening member, the points of the retainer members are positioned at an opening of the aperture.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to produce an article-fixing device at low cost and in large quantity and also to drive a pin unit in accurate and assured manner, and to firmly mount an object to be fixed.

Abstract: A connector assembly that is subjected to alternating loads by an axial flow of force between zero and various maximum values, with an outer assembly component designed as a hollow section and an inner assembly component located in the outer one and fitting by virtue of its shape. In order to detect failure of the assembly caused by a fatigue fracture produced by overloads at the end point in the assembly direction, even before it develops, in a simple fashion within the functional assembly, the assembly comprises a rear area with play that begins at the end of the connection that points in the assembly direction and a forward zero-play area of the inner assembly component that abuts the latter and is located inside the outer assembly component.

Abstract: A cotter pin which is engageable with a fastening member is formed from a wire and includes a bight with a pair of legs that extend therefrom. Specifically, the bight is formed with shoulders that will substantially conform with a surface of the fastening member. Also, each end of the legs of the cotter pin is formed with a retainer member which has an abutment that will substantially conform with another surface of the fastening member. More specifically, one surface is at one end of an aperture which passes through the fastening member, and the other surface is at the other end of the aperture. Each retainer member is formed with a point at the end of its respective leg, and these points are spaced from each other by a distance which is less than the diameter of the aperture that is formed through the fastening member. For engagement of the cotter pin with the fastening member, the points of the retainer members are positioned at an opening of the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a fastener which is welded by arc welding by one end face to a component and which is in the form of a radially resilient sleeve with a longitudinal slit and designed to permit resilient compression of the fastener, to a welding assembly apparatus for welding on elongate fateners, with a feed channel and an axially displaceable holder for the fasteners, and to an arrangement for securing an assembly part on a fastener which has been welded by arc welding on to a component.

Abstract: A screw threaded fastener comprising a first member with an external screw thread and a second member with a corresponding internal screw thread. One of said first and second members has a radial bore, and the other of said first and second members has a corresponding recess, so that when the screw threads of the first and second members engage, the radial bore may be aligned angularly with the recess. A resilient pin assembly is provided having pins located in said radial bore. The pins are thus resiliently urged in said radial bore toward said recess, so that when the radial bore is aligned angularly with the recess, the pins engage the recess, preventing further relative rotation between the first and second members.

Abstract: A method to attach a cotter pin to a receptor at its through hole includes using a flat slider key whose aperture has surface zones against which the pin's legs bias into a conforming slidable fit. The key is initially remote from the legs' free ends and is oriented perpendicular to a plane defined by the legs. The key is slid along the legs, which are forced toward each other without eliminating the gap therebetween. The key is then pivoted until the legs close so as to fit their free ends into an entry of the receptor's hole. Once the legs' free ends are in the hole, the key is returned to its original orientation. The legs are then passed through the key further into the hole until their free ends exit the hole and spread apart more than hole's width.

Abstract: A device for guarding and retaining a cotter pin in place after insertion in a pin or bolt. The device is formed from springy sheet material, preferably in the form of a spring steel stamping. It has a washer portion with a central opening to fit over a pin or bolt and a shelf portion extending to one side. The washer portion has one or more tabs or spurs which frictionally engage the shank of a pin or bolt so as to retain the washer in place thereon. The shelf portion is joined to the washer portion by a step or shoulder. At its outer end the shelf has a fence which extends from the floor of the shelf in the same direction as the step. The step has an opening through which the shank of a cotter pin may be inserted on through the aperture in a pin or bolt. The shelf may be flexed so the fence is out of the way when a cotter pin is inserted. On release the shelf springs back in place and the fence is in position to engage the head of the cotter pin and prevent its removal.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and retaining a component on a shaft including a tubular shaft having an aperture extending radially therein, and a retaining ring adapted to fit over the shaft, including a center post wherein the center post is positioned within the aperture on the shaft when the retaining ring is assembled thereon.

Abstract: A roller follower (12) and bracket (20) combination for use in a rotary cam type brake shoe assembly (100) is provided in which bracket (20) is supported on a web (2) of a brake shoe in such a manner that, when a free-end (27) of bracket (20) is inserted into an opening (26) in a trunnion (24) of a pin (11) that supports roller follower (12) for rotation, bracket (20) is operative to prevent roller follower support pin (11) from being rotated by the cam to lessen noise heretofor created by the rotation of trunnion (24) against web (2).

Abstract: A device for automatically spreading and locking cotter pins as they are driven into place. The device is an improvement on the cotter pin spreading devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,751,013 dated Mar. 18, 1930 and 2,345,141 dated Mar. 28, 1944. The improved devices have locking extensions which, during the act of driving cotter pins into place, become deformed into locking engagement with the heads on the driven and spread cotter pins. Several forms of locking extensions are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fastening an attachment or suspension device to a porous support surface, preferably plasterboard, and also a device for carrying out the method. The device is secured to the support surface by means of fastener means, which preferably have a V-like configuration, the legs of which are driven through through-passing holes in the device attachment part. The holes have provided therein specially formed device parts which, when the fastener means is driven into the support surface, are operative in causing the legs of the fastener means to progressively diverge further within the support surface, such as to create force-absorbing crushed zones in abutment with the fastener legs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for joining together building units, comprising a lock housing (2) positioned in one building unit; a peg (3) projecting from the other building unit; and a locking means (7) by means of which the peg is locked in the lock housing and which comprises two branches (10, 11). After having passed the peg, the branches are turned towards each other by means of a guide surface (12) provided in the lock housing (2). In prior devices the locking means (7) has to be very strong because the contact surface between it and the flange of the peg is small. A large contact surface can be provided between the locking means and the flange of the peg by forming the guide surface into a continuous arched surface (12) which bends the branches sharply towards each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for joining together building units, comprising a lock housing (2) positioned in one building unit; a peg (3) positioned in the other building unit and arranged to be inserted into the lock housing, the end of the peg being provided with a flange (8); and a means for locking the peg (3) in the lock housing in the longitudinal direction thereof. In order to prevent the sideward movement of the peg with respect to the lock housing, prior devices comprise a second ring flange attached to the peg at an inlet (9) of the lock housing. The second flange can be omitted, if the bottom plate (1) of the other unit is bent into a collar (10) which surrounds the peg (3) and is attached thereto.

Abstract: A positionally bistable domed annular disc includes a projection which engages a transverse through hole or a recess in a shaft to be retained. The disc fits concentrically about the shaft and is concave in different directions when in its two stable positions, respectively. In a cotter pin embodiment the projection extends from the outer rim of the disc and is bent to fit solidly in a transverse hole in the shaft. The projection is inserted when the disc is convex toward the hole and not surrounding the shaft. When switched to be concave toward the hole the disc surrounds the shaft to preclude longitudinal and rotative movement of the projection. In a retainer ring embodiment the projection is a plurality of fingers extending from one or both rims and arranged to engage the shaft or the bore in which the shaft is retained in its closed position. In a shaft coupling embodiment the projecting fingers engage two or more shafts in a manner which tolerates axial, radial and angular shaft misalignment.

Abstract: A safety coupling pin for securing a towed vehicle tongue to the towing vehicle drawbar using a shaft which is secured by a chain. A ring affixed to one end of the shaft has an opening which is normally closed by a spring loaded cylinder. The chain has one end permanently attached to the ring and the free end can be attached or disconnected to the ring through the opening by moving the cylinder. In use the shaft is inserted into aligned holes in the tongue and drawbar from the top and the chain secured under and around the tongue and drawbar by connecting the free end through the ring to secure the pin in place.

Abstract: A fractional horsepower electric motor comprises a stator, a shell supporting the stator, end members closing the ends of the shell, a shaft supporting a rotor within the stator, a bearing system on the end members rotatably supporting the shaft comprising a bearing member on the shaft engaging a seat on the end member, a spring yieldingly urging the bearing member against the seat, an oil retention body associated with the bearing member, a spacer on the shaft, and a composite washer interposed between said spacer and said bearing member through which said shaft extends. The composite washer comprises a base layer of plastic filament material, a layer of resilient elastic material bonded to one surface of the base layer, and an oil impregnated layer bonded to the other surface of the base layer and engaging said bearing member, whereby oil from the bearing passes through the base layer in capillary fashion and upon rotation is directed in small droplets toward said oil reservoir.

Abstract: An elongated flexible locking pin having one rounded and one flat end with the pin being made in two semi-cylindrical halves of different diameter and bonded together by a rubber substance which also covers the flat end of the pin and a small portion of the length of the pin adjacent to the flat end.

Abstract: A combined washer and cotter pin anti-snag device comprises a base portion, a raised portion integral with the base portion, a transverse hole in the raised portion through which a fastener is adapted to extend, and a longitudinal hole in the raised portion above the base portion through which a cotter pin is adapted to extend so that the legs of the cotter pin may be passed through the fastener and then be spread apart above the base portion.

Abstract: A roof support pin for insertion into a roof bore having an opening comprising an elongate tube for insertion into the bore, the tube being compressed prior to insertion of the tube into the bore opening so that the tube expands to frictionally engage the bore a distance from the bore opening. In one embodiment, a roof support plate has a hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bore. The plate hole compresses the diameter of the tube upon insertion of the tube into the bore through the plate hole. In one aspect, the tube includes adjacent opposed longitudinal edges forming a longitudinal slit. The tube edges engage and are turned resiliently inwardly of the tube at the longitudinal slit as the tube is circumferentially resiliently compressed, and resiliently coacting to provide an expansion force for frictional engagement of the tube with the bore.