Shaft Connections Patents (Class 74/548)
  • Patent number: 6053070
    Abstract: A latch assembly comprises a handle, a shaft and a latching member on the shaft. The handle includes a surface having a plurality of ribs that are engaged by the shaft in operation. The ribs alone and in combination with the shaft can provide a variety of features, including retaining the assembled position of the handle and shaft, limiting sideways movement of the shaft during assembly and in operation, supporting the shaft during pivotal movements of the handle in operation and as a grip for an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventor: Loc B. Tieu
  • Patent number: 6035492
    Abstract: This invention discloses a handle arranged for driving operation of an axle about an operation axis thereof, the handle including a first element operatively associated with the axle and extending in a first plane perpendicular to the operation axis; and a second element mounted onto the first element and being pivotably mounted with respect to the axle about a second axis lying in the first plane, the second element being arranged with respect to the operation axis so as to be not centered about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Jehuda T. Warshaviak
  • Patent number: 6019345
    Abstract: A child proof handle for a bathtub faucet includes a substantially cylindrical inner handle member having a centrally located bore for receiving the faucet valve stem and a pair of diametrically opposed passageways. The device also includes an outer handle member having an open end in communication with a hollow portion and a substantially centrally disposed bore. Received within the bores on the inner and outer handle members is an elongated bolt that secures the handle members to the valve stem. A spring is disposed between the inner and outer handle members for biasing the outer handle member away from the inner handle member. The outer handle member further includes a pair of diametrically opposed pins received within the hollow portion spaced and dimensioned to be received within the passageways on the inner handle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Fred Bullard
  • Patent number: 6014984
    Abstract: The valve comprises an operating wheel connected by a connecting rod to an opening and closing member. The valve is sealed by a stuffening box fixed into the upper part of the body around the rod. The stuffening box has a polygonal head so that it can be screwed and unscrewed. However the head is not accessible using a conventional spanner so as to prevent a non-specialist form slackening of the stuffing box and avoid him risking an accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company, S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Leon Kerger
  • Patent number: 5904342
    Abstract: A landing gear crank handle for raising and lowering vehicle landing gear is provided that includes a first hand hold that is horizontal when the handle is in a full extended position, a second hand hold connected to the first hand hold by a central portion, and an arm connected to the first hand hold; and a jaw connector attached to the arm and adapted to connect the crank handle to a landing gear crank mechanism and adapted to allow the crank handle to lock into a collapsed position, a partially extended position, and a full extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Holland Hitch Company
    Inventor: Gregory A. Laarman
  • Patent number: 5898974
    Abstract: An adjustable handle assembly includes a pedestal with an axial bore for mounting on a threaded shaft, a handle extending radially and upwardly away from the pedestal and a shaft release plunger radially removable in the pedestal. The shaft release plunger includes a threaded surface for selectively engaging and disengaging the shaft. Disengagement of the plunger allows rapid movement of the assembly along the shaft. The handle applies a torque to the pedestal when the plunger is engaging the shaft which allows the pedestal to exert a clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Alvord-Polk, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Boyer
  • Patent number: 5878628
    Abstract: A marine control arm formed from an elongated arm member having a hollow shell with first, second, third and fourth internal guides. Each of the internal guides extends from an outer surface of the hollow shell to an inner surface of the hollow shell. The first and second internal guides are separated by a first distance, and the third and fourth internal guides are separated by a second distance. The control arm includes an insert having a plurality of knurls for mating with grooves in a throttle assembly. The insert has first and second wings for positioning the insert within the hollow shell. The first wing has a first width corresponding to the first distance, and the second wing has a second width corresponding to the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventors: Frank Ongaro, Rosalyn Jean
  • Patent number: 5852848
    Abstract: A faucet handle base includes a socket receiving the head of a valve stem, and a laterally directed elongate bore communicating with the socket. The inner end portion of the bore is internally threaded and receives a retaining screw extensible into the valve socket, the outer end portion of the bore, of a relatively larger internally threaded diameter, receives the mounting nipple on a handle insert, closing the bore and completely concealing the retaining screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Wolverine Brass, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon L. Spurgeon
  • Patent number: 5836209
    Abstract: A shifter having a base and a shift lever assembly pivotally mounted on the base by a separate pivot member. The pivot member includes a device for keying it to the shift lever assembly and the base includes an opening device configured for receiving the pivot member which includes a radially extending tab at its extreme end. After being inserted in the opening device of the base, the tab prohibits the pivot member from being withdrawn from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products Division of JSJ Corporation
    Inventor: Scott M. Ebenstein
  • Patent number: 5803681
    Abstract: A handle retainer includes a generally cylindrical, hollow body with first and second ends. The first end is C-shaped and defines a central opening. The second end is closed. The retainer is useful for mounting over a handle and receiver assembly in which the receiver is mounted on a shaft and the handle and receiver include mutually facing projections and recesses which are interlocked in the coupled condition. The C-shaped first end of the retainer is received behind the handle receiver with the shaft being positioned within the central opening, while the closed second end is received against a head of the handle. The retainer preferably includes a recess for receiving the handle head in a snap fit fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: J&L Tool & Machine, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Landwerlen
  • Patent number: 5802673
    Abstract: The crank handle of a window sill used for actuating a window pane has a hollow end in which is received an insert allowing the handle to engage various sizes of crank shafts. The insert is formed of a malleable material so that it can be deformed to fit the diameter of a crank shaft to thereby securely engage the crank shaft and enable its rotation by the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dero Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe Nemeth
  • Patent number: 5797422
    Abstract: A handle construction for operation of a faucet which minimizes assembly parts while enhancing performance of the handle. The handle assembly includes a base which is secured to the operating valve of the faucet for operational control of fluid flow through the faucet. An upper end of the base has a horizontally disposed tubular seat adapted to receive a lever body and an axial spindle extending through the body. The spindle is threadably received within the seat to retain the lever body within the seat. The lever body is interchangeable to alter the aesthetic appearance of the faucet handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Steven John Tokarz
  • Patent number: 5741003
    Abstract: A child-resistant handle to be mounted to a valve stem to which is affixed a cogwheel adapter by a shoulder screw. The shoulder screw rotatably mounts the freely rotatable handle to the valve stem. The handle has an inverted cup shape that extends over and covers the cogwheel adapter. A clutch member connected to the handle with a resilient member engaging the clutch to normally keep the clutch member out of engagement with the cogwheel adapter. The clutch member linearly shiftable to engage the cogwheel adapter whereby rotation of the handle will cause a like rotation of the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Donald James Segien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5732602
    Abstract: A handle has an inner hub member which engages a shaft and rotates about a longitudinal axis therewith, an outer hub member which is disposed around the inner hub member and is coaxial therewith, and resilient material disposed in a space between the inner and outer hub members. The resilient material effects the transfer of rotational movement between the inner and outer hub members, and under normal operating conditions, the outer hub member is generally coaxial with the inner hub member and rotates in a tangential direction to effect the rotation of the inner hub member and the shaft. Thus, upon the rotation or movement of the outer hub member in a direction other than the tangential direction which results in the outer hub member extending along an axis angled to the longitudinal axis of the inner hub member, the inner hub member maintains its direction along the longitudinal axis by virtue of the resilient material disposed between the inner and outer hub members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Noah Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5694815
    Abstract: The handle of the handle assembly can be detachably mounted in at least two different orientations relative to a defined apparatus axis. Furthermore, actuating elements of the particular instrument can be reached without difficulty via a suitable cutout in the handle without it being necessary for the operator to significantly change the manual hold on the handle. The handle assembly is especially advantageous on a surgical microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Klaus Biber, Fritz Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5671904
    Abstract: A valve safety handle having a handle slidably attached to a valve stem. The handle incorporates a handle female spline sized to engage a valve stem male spline. The handle female spline is urged out of engagement with the valve stem male spline by means of a spring trapped between the handle and valve stem. The valve stem also has a valve stem key sized to slide into a handle lower recess keyway. Thus the handle may engage with the valve stem only after the handle has been rotated relative to the valve stem until the valve stem key aligns with the handle lower recess keyway, and the handle has then been translated relative to the valve stem against the spring until the handle female spline is engaged with the valve stem male spline. An alternate embodiment incorporates an adapter having an adapter female spline sized to engage a standard plumbing valve stem male spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Richard A. Minutillo
  • Patent number: 5655858
    Abstract: An apparatus for adapting a vertical knee-type milling machine to accommodate a handle assembly on the left side of the machine includes an elongated rotational member having a shaft portion at one end and a sleeve portion at the other end that receives a left end of a pinion shaft. The pinion shaft and the rotational member are connected to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A clutch device can move the rotational member in an axial direction of the pinion shaft to engage an overload clutch with a driven gear to rotate the pinion shaft. Connected to the rotational member is a handle engagement device for selectively engaging the rotational member with a handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: High Quality Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Mirko Cukelj
  • Patent number: 5626058
    Abstract: A rotary actuator for a bicycle handbrake is characterized by a housing connected with a bicycle handlebar and an actuator rotatably connected with the housing. The actuator has a handle which extends radially from the axis of rotation of the actuator. A brake cable is connected with the actuator so that when the actuator is rotated in one direction, the cable is pulled to squeeze the brake calipers against the rim of a bicycle wheel, and when the actuator is rotated in the other direction, the cable is pushed to release the brake calipers. A releasable locking mechanism between the actuator and the housing is operable to lock the actuator in a brake release position and to release the actuator for rotation to apply the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventors: John W. Karpowich, Scott A. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5513544
    Abstract: A retractable, locking mechanism for use with a crank handle wherein the mechanism allows the handle to be rotated from an extended position to a retracted position is comprised of a male swivel and a female swivel, a pin for joining the male and female swivels and a spring for urging the male swivel to seat with the female swivel. The pin is fixed between flanges extending from the female swivel. The male swivel extends between the flanges and rotates about the pin which extends through a cavity defined within the male swivel. When the male swivel is in an "extended" position, the male swivel is engaged with the female swivel such that their axes are aligned and an axially extending shaft on the male swivel seats in an axially extending bore in the female swivel. The spring rides in the cavity of the male swivel and is biased against the pin such that the spring urges the shaft of the male swivel into the bore of the female swivel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: J. W. Winco, Inc.
    Inventors: John Winkler, John M. Winkler
  • Patent number: 5513831
    Abstract: The present invention entails a safety control knob for actuating a valve stem of a water valve such as typically found in a hot water line. The safety control knob includes a control knob rotatively journaled on a valve stem and movable thereon between an inoperative and an operative position. In the inoperative position the control knob is effective to simply free-wheel around the valve stem without actually turning the valve stem. In an operative position, the control knob assumes a position engaged with a collar or other member that is keyed to the valve stem. In the engaged position, the control knob is operative to turn and actuate the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Alfred L. Seward
  • Patent number: 5490660
    Abstract: A manual device for a valve has: a movable valve opening member sustained rotatably and disposed in a valve body; an opening and closing of the valve for controlling the opening and closing oi a fluid passage; a notch plate connected with one end of a stem which is pivotably sustaining the valve; a notch plate moving freely in axial direction on the stem and which rotates synchronously with the stem; a manual and oprative knob adhered to the notch plate; a casing adhered to the valve body, so that the casing stores the notch plate and guides the movement of the notch plate freely in the axial direction and guides rotation of the notch plate; a notch means preventing the extra rotation of the notch plate by mutual engagement between the notch plate and the casing; and a notch plate which is constantly pressurized to keep the engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Tomoe Technical Research Company
    Inventor: Jiro Kamezawa
  • Patent number: 5462269
    Abstract: A lock structure which automatically locks the screw drive upon deactivation of the screw drive and automatically unlocks the screw drive upon activation of the screw drive. The locking structure is responsive to the attaching and detaching of a driver such that the detaching of the driver from an input of the screw drive automatically locks the screw drive and attaching the driver to the input of the screw drive automatically unlocks the screw drive. This is achieved by providing an outer locking surface on the screw drive and a locking plate whose axial position is controlled by the position of the drive and having an aperture for mating with the outer locking surface and locking the screw drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Porter Athletic Equipment Company
    Inventors: Edward A. Schroeder, James Gallicchio
  • Patent number: 5363720
    Abstract: A dome-shaped cap which fits over standard stove knobs to prevent small children and toddlers from turning or engaging the knobs. Two latches, one of each side of the cap, are simultaneously depressed to release or install the cap. The latches are attached to the underside of a skirt which extends around the bottom of the dome-shaped cap. Each latch is an L-shaped member which rotates around a pin extending from the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Jesse Sanchez
  • Patent number: 5319992
    Abstract: A rapid locking device including: a handle formed with a curved portion at one end, two lugs at another end, a first hole between said two lugs, and an opening below the hole; a fixing member with a threaded hole and a second hole; a center rod threadedly engaged with the threaded hole of said fixing member; an axle extending through the lugs of said handle and said fixing member; a spring-loaded pin inserted into the first hole of said handle; and a button disposed within the opening of said handle and connected with a lower end of said spring-loaded pin, whereby the handle may be firmly and quickly kept in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventor: Tsai Shui-Te
  • Patent number: 5284400
    Abstract: A fastening arrangement for attaching a handgrip knob assembly to a vehicle gearshift lever rod. The knob has a through cavity comprising an upper cavity portion, an intermediate cavity portion supporting a metal insert, and a lower upwardly tapered cavity portion. The insert upper surface defining a bottom wall clamping surface of the upper cavity portion bottom wall. An internally threaded insert through bore is divided from a lower counterbored portion by an internal stop shoulder. The shift lever rod has an upper threaded stem connected by a cylindrical shank portion to an upwardly tapered rod section while the stem portion terminates in a frustoconical pilot end. A rod external stop shoulder divides the stem and shank sections. A spring steel drive washer, having a central aperture intermeshed with an upper crown portion of a locknut, is initially press-fitted in the upper cavity until its outer edge frictionally engages a serrated portion of the upper cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5282395
    Abstract: A detachable manual actuation handle for a recliner chair having a square-shaped drive rod. The handle comprises a metal insert having a star-shaped bore for receiving the free end of the drive rod in a plurality of alternate angular orientations. The star-shaped bore is configured such that a locking means, in the form of a threaded bore and set screw that are perpendicular to the star-shaped bore, is adapted to provide, at an acute angle, a locking force against the flat surface of the drive rod to retain the handle thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Chair Co.
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Karl J. Komorowski
  • Patent number: 5267484
    Abstract: A handle assembly for producing rotational movement in a milling machine quill and a quill shaft member defining a plurality of bores. The handle assembly comprises a member engagement housing including two bores positioned in confronting relation with the quill shaft member bores when the housing is operatively connected to the quill shaft member such that the housing is capable of rotation relative to the quill shaft member. An actuating handle member is pivotally connected to the housing and movable between a structure engaging position and a structure releasing position. Two pins are slidably supported in the housing bores and each pin defines a notch near an inner end with the notch being sized to receive a peripheral portion of the actuating handle such that movement in the handle between the structure releasing and structure engaging positions produces concurrent movement in the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: High Quality Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Mirko Cukelj
  • Patent number: 5201241
    Abstract: A crank handle includes an extension cylinder secured to a shaft member of a window drive housing, with the extension cylinder including a second wall spaced from a first wall receiving the shaft. A second wall shaft extends into a handle cavity, with the handle cavity formed with a pivot block, with the pivot block including an axle pin directed into the pivot block, and the axle pin pivotally mounted relative to an upper distal portion of the handle. A lower distal portion of the handle includes a handle extension member arranged to rotatively drive the gear drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Inventor: Edward Pollack, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5093959
    Abstract: A handle assembly for attaching a decorative handle to a turning stem is disclosed. The handle assembly comprises a handle body having a side wall and a top wall defining a hollow interior open at the bottom. A shaped aperture extends through the top wall of the handle body and is in communication with the hollow interior. An insert having a top portion and a shaped body portion of cross-sectional configuration, such as octagonal cross-section, complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped aperture extending through the top wall of the handle body is press-fit into the aperture with a section of the shaped body portion extending above the aperture. A decorative ring is disposed on top of the handle body. The ring has a shaped opening extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Charles W. McTargett, Franco Perin
  • Patent number: 5092616
    Abstract: A convertible wagon/scooter is in the form of a body and step assembly mounted on a set of front wheels and a set of rear wheels. The front wheels are connected to a pivotal mount so that the assembly is steerable. A detachable steering mechanism may be secured directly to the set of front wheels when the assembly is to be used as a wagon. Alternatively the detachable steering mechanism may be mounted to the assembly near the rear thereof and connected to the front set of wheels by a link mechanism when the assembly is to be used as a scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: WhatNot Inc.
    Inventor: James C. McKinney
  • Patent number: 5037066
    Abstract: The valve comprises a rotating operating wheel (32) acting on a closing element (20) inside the body (10) of the valve. In order to enable the wheel (32) to be operated easily and at the same time to prevent accidental opening, the wheel (32) is connected to the closing element via a ratchet system (34) with sawteeth which are oriented so as to prevent the closing element (20) from opening without prior axial displacement of the wheel (32) counter to the action of a spring (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Ceodeux S.A.
    Inventors: Leon Kerger, Paul Kremer
  • Patent number: 5025826
    Abstract: A faucet handle assembly is described for replacing a handle on a faucet valve stem, which can mount on a wide variety of types of stems. The assembly includes a pair of jaws (30, 32, FIG. 1) having inner surfaces for engaging opposite sides of the periphery (22) of the valve stem and having outer camming surfaces (42, 43) that can be pushed together. The assembly also includes a faucet handle (12) with a hole in the top for passing a screw (28) that screws into a threaded hole of the valve stem, and having a cavity (44) for receiving the jaws. The cavity has camming surfaces (54, 56) that engage the jaw camming surfaces, so as the screw is tightened the jaws are pressed tightly against the valve stem peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventors: Adolf Schoepe, Oscar Dufau
  • Patent number: 5026026
    Abstract: A locking device for use with a gas flow distribution device to be connected to a source of gas under pressure. The device has a yoke for securement to the source and a fastening screw threaded in the yoke for securing the device to the gas source. The locking screw has a tee-shaped handle. The locking device has a collar including a sleeve defining opposed openings for engagement of the yoke to permit longitudinal movement relative to the yoke but substantially prevents rotation of the sleeve relative to the yoke. The collar has a yoke-remote portion including a plurality of handle-engaging recesses. A spring biases the collar outwardly from the yoke into locking engagement with the handle for preventing unintended unfastening of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Essex Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Sever, Dave L. Woodring
  • Patent number: 5024438
    Abstract: A detachable golf putter extension structured to provide a substantially increased putter shaft length for a conventional golf club putter only during use, while being detachable to allow the putter and the device to be easily stored in conventional golf bags and the like. The putter extension includes an elongated rigid extension shaft having a male ferrule upwardly extending from its lower end and an exterior gripping surface extending over the extension shaft from its upper end toward, but not beyond, the male ferrule. The invention is particularly adapted to be retrofit onto existing golf putters by providing a rigid, tubular sleeve which is sized to be slid into, and then rigidly anchored within, the upper end of the golf putter shaft after a suitable hole has been formed into the upper end of the putter grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventor: A. J. Candow
  • Patent number: 4896558
    Abstract: A control handle for an actuating lever having a plurality of electrical control switches mounted thereon. The control handle comprises a housing having a shaft portion and a control face portion that are formed from a switch plate and a back plate that are held together by self-tapping screws. The switch plate is provided with a hexagonal coupling member that is provided with a threaded longitudinal bore for engaging an actuating lever. The back plate is provided with terminal posts that are electrically coupled to a wiring harness extending up through the control handle and the switches. The switches can be mounted in various mounting orientations as desired by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lynn A. Meier, Steven H. Johnson, Mark A. Litka
  • Patent number: 4889443
    Abstract: A generally cylindrical shaft has a longitudinally extending flat area along its end section. A plastic member mounted on the shaft has a longitudinal bore complimentary in shape to and fitting around the shaft end section. The bore includes a longitudinally extending recess projecting radially outward from the flat area of the shaft. A locking sleeve fits within the bore and around the shaft and includes a generally U-shaped portion received in the recess. The U-shaped portion is discontinuous intermediate its ends, providing first and second longitudinal portions adjacent its ends. A screw passes through the first longitudinal portion and threadedly engages the second longitudinal portion for drawing the portions together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David L. Billings
  • Patent number: 4876766
    Abstract: A decorative faucet handle mounting apparatus includes an adapter having a first bore complimentrally shaped to the shape of a faucet stem. A second bore formed coaxially in the adapter cooperates with a fastener to attach the adapter to the faucet stem. A decorative handle has a longitudinal bore extending inward from one end which is engageable over the adapter. A perpendicular bore formed in the handle receives a threaded fastener engageable through the perpendicular bore with the adapter to secure the handle to the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Inventor: Richard K. Cohen
  • Patent number: 4877050
    Abstract: An elongate handle for attachment to the stem of a valve provided with a clamp for receiving the stem and a bolt and nut for drawing the clamp into clamping engagement with the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Thomas Smith Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Carl B. Harris
  • Patent number: 4865277
    Abstract: An aircraft flight control stick is mounted on a gimbal which provides left, right, forward and aft pivotal motion of the stick. A pivot member that is mechanically linked to the aircraft flight controls is attached to the gimbal through a uni-ball bearing which allows the pivot member to pivot independently of the control stick. A bell-shaped housing is slidably mounted on the control stick. The housing is spring-biased downward toward the pivot member so that a stud protruding upward from the pivot member plugs into a socket in the housing. A lever assembly mounted on the control stick and attached to the housing can be actuated to slide the housing away from the pivot member, thereby unplugging the stud from the socket to disengage the control stick from the aircraft flight controls. The downward facing housing circumscribes all possible motion of the stud while the control stick is disengaged. Release of the lever assembly allows a spring to urge the housing downward toward the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Smith, Frank Wolstencroft
  • Patent number: 4858489
    Abstract: A vehicle window or like opening device regulator retractable winder apparatus and method of utilization of the same is provided. The invention includes a mounting plate rotatable along a first rotational axis and having rotatably mounted thereto a winder handle which is rotatable along a second rotational axis at an angle with the first rotational axis. The handle is allowed relative rotation with the mounting plate between two angular positions. Rotation of the handle past either angular position will cause the handle to rotate along the first rotational axis. The handle in a preferred embodiment is biased into a recessed nonextended position when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Baynes
  • Patent number: 4827794
    Abstract: A window crank handle extension adapter for a motor vehicle is provided and consists of a spacer member that will allow the crank handle to extend away from a speaker mounted within a door panel of the motor vehicle so that a person can turn the crank handle without hitting the cover of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Inventors: Richard A. Hummel, George Specter
  • Patent number: 4821371
    Abstract: A safety handle releasably drives a shaft which is also otherwise powered. The shaft has an axis of rotation and a peripheral engagement band. The safety handle has a frame including a bearing aperture receiving shaft so as to be freely rotatable on and relative to the shaft, a lever arm extending away from the bearing aperture, and pivot means laterally spaced from the aperture. Centering means resiliently bi-directionally biases the drive handle and engagement means towards the centralized position. When the drive handle is grasped and twisted around the handle axis, the engagement means is pivoted to engage the engagement band, enabling torque exerted on the drive handle relative to the shaft axis to turn the shaft, but when the twisting effort is released, the centering means returns the handle and the engagement means to the centralized position, thereby releasing the engagement means from the engagement band and freeing the safety handle for free rotation around and relative to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Larry K. Goodman
    Inventor: Louis J. Finkle
  • Patent number: 4805480
    Abstract: A hand brake lever assembly includes a plunger mounted on a support for axial slidable movement and for rotation about its axis and being connected at its one end to a parking brake, a locking mechanism associated with the plunger to retain the plunger in a pulled out position against a returning effort of the parking brake acting thereon and being arranged to be released by rotation of the plunger, a sleeve member secured to the other end of the plunger and having an annular end wall formed with a first annular cam surface and an axial key groove, a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and inserted into the sleeve member, the handle shaft being formed with an axial guide groove and being integrally provided with a cam member which is formed with a second annular cam surface complementary with the first cam surface and is axially slidably coupled within the sleeve member, a first spring for pressing the annular cam surfaces in contact with each other, a release rod axially slidably coupled with the guide
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Tsubouchi, Takeo Yamazaki, Tomio Tachino, Takuya Inaba, Yoshihiro Nakagiri, Hiroshi Uemura, Juichi Shibatani
  • Patent number: 4801164
    Abstract: A check rail lock having a housing with an interior space which rotatably mounts a shaft connected to a handle and a cam and with stop members associated with the cam and the housing for limiting rotation of the cam between locked and unlocked positions. The cam is releasably held in either of these positions by mounting of a spring washer on the shaft to which the cam is fixed, and with the spring washer and the housing having coacting detent structure which releasably holds the cam in either the locked or unlocked position. The spring is generally concave for predetermined spring loading and has planar sections with detents to assure good engagement with detent notches on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Truth Incorporated
    Inventor: Duane L. Mosch
  • Patent number: 4790208
    Abstract: A knob and shaft assembly for operating, for example, a vehicle air brake control valve includes a knob member having a front face and a barrel projecting the face, and a shaft member which is threadedly engaged with the threads carried on the circumferentially extending wall defining cavity within the barrel. The assembly is provided with locking detents comprising protrusions on the shaft which are received within apertures on the barrel to releasably lock the knob member to the shaft member, thereby preventing the members from being accidentally becoming disengaged, and also assuring the proper orientation of the knob with respect to the shaft to permit indicia embossed on the knob member to be easily read by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Duane R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4765023
    Abstract: Disclosed is a safety handle for turning a hand control wheel. The handle is engaged by exerting constant axial pressure on the handle in a swung-out position, which enables the hand control wheel to be turned. Upon release of the handle, it automatically swings back to the retracted position into the hand control wheel. The handle is locked in the wheel-turning position by way of a shoulder/detent engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Inventor: Bernhard Ganter
  • Patent number: 4746155
    Abstract: Working trim for a lock including an adapter plate mounted on a door. A noncircular spindle extends from the door through the adapter plate. A shank adapter is slidably received on the spindle for rotation therewith and retaining means is provided for axially retaining the shank adapter on the spindle in one direction with the adapter plate retaining the spindle in the other direction. A door operator, such as a knob, is mounted on the shank adapter for rotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: LeRoy Hart
  • Patent number: 4736972
    Abstract: A check rail lock having a housing with an interior space rotatably mounts a shaft connected to a handle and a cam and with stop members associated with the cam and the housing for limiting rotation of the cam between locked and unlocked positions. The cam is releasably held in either of these positions by mounting of a spring washer on the shaft to which the cam is fixed, and with the spring washer and the housing having coacting detent structure which releasably holds the cam in either the locked or unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Turth Incorporated
    Inventor: Duane L. Mosch
  • Patent number: 4699053
    Abstract: A device for selectively controlling the manual or automatic operation of inking or damping rollers of a printing press wherein the torque which produces the adjusting movement is transmissible through a non-positive coupling and a spring-biased manually releasable and automatically engaging connecting element, characterized in that a first start-stop lever is connected to an input coupling member for the automatic starting and stopping of printing, an operating lever is connected to a handle for manual control of the starting and stopping of printing and a second start-stop lever is connected to an output coupling member and is operative to engage and disengage the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: M.A.N.-Roland Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jurgen Wenzel
  • Patent number: 4700033
    Abstract: A repair kit for repairing a lever switch, such as a turn signal lever. The repair mounting includes a bore dimensioned so as to insertably receive the broken end of the lever arm therein. A correspondingly shaped switch engaging portion is permanently affixed to the sleeve opposite the bore. The lever arm is affixed in the bore by a fastener, threading, adhesive, or the like. The repair kit includes the sleeve, an affixed and correspondingly shaped switch engaging portion, means for manipulating the broken switch engaging portion and removing it from the column, and an adhesive for attaching the broken lever arm to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Bernal H. Clark, Jr.