Abstract: A hand wheel cover for a valve on a gas bottle or cylinder provides a better grip for the hand wheel and also has a larger area for indicating opening and closing rotational directions. In another embodiment an indicator hand wheel cover has an indicator that shows whether a hand wheel is open or closed and has a positive lock when the cover is in the open position with a release to fill a top portion of the cover and return it to provide an indication that the valve is closed.

Abstract: A control unit for adjusting heating, air conditioning, and/or ventilation equipment in motor vehicles has turning knobs (5, 6) and the cam wheels (13, 14) which are connected together. There are adjusting levers (10, 11, 12), with each being mounted by means of two bearing pins (15, 16) in a base part (3), and each adjusting arm (10, 11, 12) being structured as a two-armed lever with one lever arm (17, 18, 19) engaging in a three-dimensional cam plate (20, 21, 22) of the cam wheel (13, 14) in a swivel plane E. Between the lever arm (17, 18, 19) and the three-dimensional cam plate (20, 21, 22), a barrel-shaped or spherical follower element (23) is positioned that cooperates with radial motion-causing walls (24, 25) of the three-dimensional cam plate (20, 21, 22). A control unit of this invention is structured to be space saving, easier and less expensive to produce, and to function in an improved manner.

Abstract: A handle for tools such as screwdrivers where an end region is shaped as a smooth rounded surface and made by injection molding in multiple steps from at least two differently colored plastic materials, which are tactilely indistinct, to form a visible marking for identification of the tool.

Abstract: A safety system is provided for use with a concrete reinforcing bar or rebar. The system includes a cover having a cover base plate with a first, force-receiving surface and a second surface and a collar having a collar wall attached to the second surface of the cover base plate and having an inner surface defining a bore. A mechanism is attached to the collar wall for maintaining the system in an operative position relative to an end of a rebar. A plate is disposed in the bore spaced from the second surface of the cover to define an interior space and having an engagement surface abuttable against the rebar end. One of the plate and the collar is deformable to resist movement of the rebar end through the interior space and the cover.

Abstract: An actuation device for a lock of a multi-point safety belt to be placed in a position of use against a body of a user of the safety belt includes a rotatable cup-shaped locking head, wherein at least one recess in provided in the circumference of the locking head in a downwardly directed circumferential portion in the position of use of the locking head, and wherein the recess in configured as a finger recess. The locking head further may include a circumferential portion located diametrically opposite the finger recess and facing upwardly in the position of use, wherein the at least flattened finger depression has a radius greater than the radius of the finger recess.

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.

Abstract: A switch device 1 has an outer frame 2, and a rotor 13 . A spring 14 is provided between the bottom 7 of the outer frame 2 and the rotor 13 in such a manner that its two ends are secured to the outer frame 2 and the rotor 13. The rotor 13 is operated with the aid of an operating knob 3. The bottom 7 has first and second body-side protrusions 9 and 10 which have sloped surfaces, and steps, and are arcuate. The rotor 13 has first and second operating-element-side protrusions 19 and 20 with respect to the body-side protrusions 9 and 10 which have sloped surface and steps and are arcuate. The rotor 13 has a rod 18. As the rotor 1 is operated, the rod 18 is protruded from a through-hole 8, thus performing a switching operation. When the switch device 1 is operated, the force of operation of the operating knob 3 is improved, being the sum of a frictional force attributing to the slip between the sloped surfaces of the protrusions 9 and 10 and the sloped surfaces of the protrusions 19 and 20.

Abstract: A control knob (1) includes a companion part (2) as a base of the control knob and a control-knob top part (3) having a grip handle (4). The control-knob top part (3) includes a plate (9) having a flexible elastic material coated thereon to form sidewalls (5.1) of the grip handle (4) which can be flexibly deformed when the grip handle (4) is manipulated. This provides improved manipulation and quiet operation of the control knob (1). Additional push-button and switch functions can be included via a flexible facing wall (5.2) on the grip handle (4).

Abstract: A radio keyboard supports a potentiometer on its rear surface and a popout control in the front surface. The control includes a housing between the keyboard and the radio trim plate, inner and outer stationary cams, and a rotatable cam follower on a shaft which controls the potentiometer. The cams index the cam follower each time a knob on the shaft outer end is depressed. The cams alternately hold the follower and the shaft in retracted and extended position.

Abstract: An operating shaft which provides compensation for axial and spatial misalignment between a rotatable component mounted within an enclosure and a rotating apparatus generally outside the enclosure is disclosed. The operating shaft has a first end dimensioned to be slidably received within a receiving portion of the rotating apparatus such that the shaft is maintained in a fixed angular position with respect to the rotating apparatus. The shaft is axially slidable with respect to the rotating apparatus such that it will provide compensation for axial misalignment between the rotatable component and the rotating apparatus. The shaft has a second end configured to engage the rotatable component such that rotation of the rotating apparatus will produce a corresponding rotation of the rotatable component. The shaft also has a spatial compensation device which is integrally formed from the shaft between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A field frame switching apparatus for a finder in which an elongated standard visual field, a narrow-width visual field and a laterally-elongated visual field can be selected. A pair of narrow-width visual-field-forming light-interception frames are provided with vertical light-interception walls which are adapted to block out the right and left ends of the standard visual field. A pair of laterally-elongated visual-field-forming light-interception frames are provided with lateral-light-interception walls are adapted to block out the upper and lower ends of the standard visual field. An operation member is adapted to move the narrow-width visual-field-forming light-interception frames in a first direction toward a narrow-width field-frame-forming position in which the vertical light-interception walls are located within the standard visual field frame and in a second direction toward a laterally-elongated field-frame-forming position.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism is configured for receipt on a threaded drive spindle to hold a working tool relative to the drive spindle. The mechanism includes a flange surface disposed to abut against a working tool in an operational mode of the device, and a rotatable member configured with the flange surface and disposed to advance the flange surface upon manual rotation thereof. The rotatable member includes at least one manual tightening device or mechanism for effectively increasing the manual tightening torque.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a tight, secure connection between two relatively non-deformable members and the connection resulting therefrom. The method includes the steps of forming a recess in a first of said members, forming a second member with a portion that seats in the recess of the first member, molding a liner of thermoplastic to one of the members, which thermoplastic is deformable but not more than slightly compressible, and seating the portion of the second member in the recess of the first member with one of the members engaging the liner to displace a portion of the liner into a void space in one of the members to thus form a tightly gripping connection between the members. A composite knob and its connection to shaft made in accordance with this method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A damper door controller is provided for remotely controlling damper doors of a cooler/heater unit of an automotive air conditioner. The controller comprises a knob holder; at least one rotary knob rotatably connected to the knob holder; a pinion coaxially connected to the rotary knob to rotate therewith; an elongate guide slot formed in the knob holder; a rack member slidably received in the guide slot, the rack member being operatively meshed with the pinion; a cable assembly including a control cable and a sleeve in which the control cable slides, the control cable having a leading end fixed to a leading end of the rack member; and a clamp member provided by the knob holder and extending across a generally middle portion of the guide slot to clamp a leading end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A chair includes a seat, a base including a housing, and a reclineable back pivoted to the housing. The chair further includes a pneumatic system having a valve actuateable to adjust a height of the seat with respect to the base, a cam for blocking the degree of tilt of one of the back and seat, and a spring for supporting the reclineable back. A multi-function member or "satellite" control is operably mounted to the housing and includes a first spindle translatable for pulling the cable to open and close the valve for adjusting the height of the seat. The first spindle is further rotatable to operate the cam to at least partially immobilize the back. The multi-function member further includes a second spindle including a threaded portion engaging a nut for adjusting the tension of the spring when the second spindle is rotated. The second spindle is rotatably mounted in the first spindle.

Abstract: The device permits locking of a control knob which can rotate around a cylindrical support and includes a lateral face with at least one first locking boss and a lateral face of a ring which has at least one second locking boss. The ring is movable in translation according to the axis between a locked position of the knob, in which the ring is prevented from rotating around the axis when the first and second bosses are engaged, and between a released position in which the first and second bosses are decoupled.

Abstract: Control levers have utilized various switch assemblies mounted within the grasping portion thereof to control multiple machine functions. The mounting of the switch assembly within the control lever typically provides an opening in the control lever that is somewhat larger that the switch assembly to accommodate relative movement therebetween. In many instances problems have been encountered because foreign matter is allowed to enter the interior of the control handle through a space that exists between the switch and the control lever. The present invention provides a seal plate between the a switch member and a cover member defined by the control lever. The seal plate is positioned about the switch member to cover the opening between the switch member and the cover member. The seal plate is continually biased into engagement within a relieved portion defined on an interior surface of the cover member by an abutment portion defined by the switch member during the full range of movement of the switch member.

Abstract: A knob securing mechanism secures a knob to a shaft. A uniquely shaped retaining clip attaches in a channel of the knob. The channel intersects a bore in the knob which receives the shaft. The shaft has a groove corresponding to the retaining clip such that the retaining clip and the groove couple when the knob is fully seated in the bore of the shaft. The retaining clip operates as a spring to resist axial motion between the knob and shaft. Ramps are formed on the shaft to facilitates both installing and removing the knob from the shaft by application of axial force. Locking lugs on the shaft engage corresponding locking lugs in the knob to secure the knob rotationally to the shaft. The invention is particularly useful for attaching translucent knobs to shafts of an avionics control panel.

Abstract: A self-contained knob contains a bushing which fits on a control shaft of a control element and extends axially through each of an annular disk and a pedestal. The annular disk slidingly rests upon the pedestal. The disk and pedestal contain between them a pair of concentric, radially separated tracks of spring loaded balls and cavities. The balls momentarily engage the cavities in arc movement as the knob is turned. The pedestal receives at the bottom and is prevented from rotating by a fastener of the control element.

Abstract: A choke cover includes an inflexible housing having a chamber formed therein, an inflexible collar member which is securable to the housing and which has a slot formed therein which radially extends from a longitudinally extending aperture in the collar, and an engaging member engageable with at least one of the collar and the housing so as to secure the collar to the housing and to house the knob within the chamber in the housing. A method of forming the collar includes the steps of positioning the radially slotted inflexible collar on the slide member, positioning the inflexible housing over the knob, and enclosing the knob cover within the chamber formed in the housing and securing the collar to the housing.

Abstract: A rotation detecting device which issues a plurality of code signals by a simple configuration so as to detect the rotational angle position and the direction of rotation of a rotor according to the code signals. The rotation detecting device has a knob member which is rotatably attached to a part of an enclosure, a plurality of projections which are formed on the periphery of one end of the knob member, and two detection switches which selectively engage with the projections to turn ON/OFF and issue signals. These detection switches are disposed on a printed circuit board in such a manner that they turn ON/OFF at different timings as the knob member rotates. Thus, the rotational position and the direction of rotation of the knob member are detected by the combinations of the ON/OFF signals of the detection switches.

Abstract: A releasable securing knob assembly including a biased leaf spring element hich securely locks a knob onto a shaft, so that removal can only be effected by accessing and debiasing the leaf spring through a slot within the knob.

Abstract: An adjustable aircraft control stick comprising a vertically-positioned column pivoted about the pitch axis for controlling the elevators and a yoke member pivotally mounted to the upper end of the control column about an axis parallel to the roll axis of the aircraft for control of the ailerons. The yoke member including a series of socket openings positioned longitudinally on the yoke and a hand grip member releasably engageable with any of said sockets to adjust for different arm length pilots.

Abstract: A pair of coiled springs are mounted in tandem in a housing with their adjacent ends extending radially for retention in a housing permitting slight radial movement of the adjacent ends. The outer ends of the springs extend radially and are axially and circumferentially spaced apart and retained in the housing for slight circumferential movement. The outer ends of the spring are moved by tensioning them in opposite directions to increase the inner diameter of the annulus formed by the springs to receive a shaft upon which the springs tighten when the spring ends are released from tension.

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.

Abstract: An operating shaft which provides compensation axial and spatial misalignment between a rotatable component mounted within an enclosure and a rotating device generally outside the enclosure. The operating shaft has a first end which is dimensioned to be slidably received within a receiving portion of the rotating device such that the shaft is maintained in a fixed angular position with respect to the rotating device. The shaft is axially slidable with respect to the rotating device such that it will provide compensation for axial misalignment between the rotatable component and the rotating device. The shaft has a second end formed to engage the rotatable component such that an rotation of the rotating device will produce a corresponding rotation of the rotatable component. The shaft also has a spatial compensation device which is integrally formed in the shaft between its first and second ends.

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.

Abstract: A rotatable knob for adjusting the temperature setting of a thermostat has a deformable tab that is permanently deformed upon rotational movement of the knob to a position that is indicative of a temperature setting greater than a predetermined optimum temperature setting. A deformed tab demonstrates that the knob was moved to a position for setting the thermostat at a temperature greater than the optimum temperature setting.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an improvement to the "jog and shuttle" knobs used on electronic or electrical devices, notably video devices such as video recorders. The control according to the invention includes a knob mounted inside a cavity in the face-plate of the control panel such that the external face of the knob is aligned with said face-plate, and a finger fixed to a ring mounted coaxially with the knob, the finger being mounted such that it moves around the arc of a circle in the cavity.

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.

Abstract: A composite knob having a core formed of a hard plastic material and an outer covering of a softer plastic material. The core includes a front wall with an integral bent around skirt, a hub and an axially rearwardly extending stanchion. The softer plastic material covers the outer surface of the front wall and integral bent around skirt of the core. A narrow passage extends through the front wall, the bent around skirt and the outer covering and leads to the stanchion. A position indicator of contrasting color relative to the softer plastic material is inserted in the narrow passage and has a detent to engage the end of the stanchion to lock the position indicator in place with a portion thereof extending above the outer covering of the knob.

Abstract: A control knob is secured to a D-shaped shaft or lever of a switch or potentiometer which is supported on a control panel. The control panel is molded plastic and is furnished with detent ramps or indentations in its surface adjacent the shaft or lever. A D-spring between the knob and the shaft retains the knob in the shaft and has a laterally extending leaf spring with a detent button formed in the leaf near its free end. The leaf spring biases the detent button against the detent ramps to afford detent action upon rotation of a shaft or linear movement of a lever. The detent ramps are formed in a forward-facing surface of the panel or in a wall formed by a recess or aperture in the panel. The leaf spring is shaped to accommodate the position of the detent ramps.

Abstract: An adjusting knob assembly includes a knob member having a knob and an axially extending shaft. A support bracket has an aperture defined in part by a gapped ring section formed by a pair confronting arcuate fingers. The shaft and the aperture have complimentary, longitudinally extending, circumferentially distributed flat surfaces, which provide discrete angular positions for the shaft when the complimentary flat surfaces are in register. Preferably, the gap between the confronting fingers is sized, and the arcuate fingers have a compliance sufficient that the shaft may be passed laterally through the gap and snapped into the aperture. Any one of a plurality of interchangeable cam members can be press fit on to the end of the shaft.

Abstract: A ratchet head assembly has a reversing knob with a metal shaft coupled to the pawl assembly of the ratchet mechanism and an enlarged-diameter plastic head insert molded around the outer end of the shaft and having a diameter two to three times that of the shaft and a density no greater than about one-fifth that of the shaft. Thus, the reversing knob has a low inertia so that it is not susceptible to self-reversing or self-locking during operation of the ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: An operating knob-mounting structure in an air-conditioner for vehicle includes a support shaft provided on an equipment and an operating knob having a boss provided with an axial hole formed therethrough, the operating knob being rotatable and supported on the supported shaft fitted in the axial hole. The support shaft has an engagement portion formed thereon and engageable with an outer end face of the boss of the operating knob. The axial hole of the boss has an insertion recess formed in a periphery thereof and allowing the engagement portion to pass therethrough in a direction of an axis of the support shaft when the operating knob is mounted on said support shaft.

Abstract: A protective cover for concrete reinforcement bars includes an elongated cylindrical collar for securing the protective cover to an exposed end of a concrete reinforcing bar, a cap which is perpendicularly attached to the collar by reinforcing ribs, and a metal seat arranged between the collar and the cap and having slots for permitting direct attachment of the reinforcing ribs from the collar to the cap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a generally elongated container of stiff, durable material, preferably hard molded plastic, adapted to store within the interior thereof relatively large and bulky personal items such as skis, snowboards, bicycles, golf clubs and the like. Located on one surface of the container are a multiplicity of spaced mounting assemblies each of which is manually activatable between a first inactive condition where it is recessed into the wall of the container, and an active condition where the mounting assembly is extended along an axis orthogonal to the sidewall of the container. Each mounting assembly, in turn, comprises an extensible support rod terminating in a foot pad of relatively soft durable material for engaging the surface of a vehicle roof with the rod being connected to the foot pad via a universal pivotal joint or connection so that each foot pad may swivel separately relative to its corresponding rod and conform to the convex curvature of the vehicle roof.

Abstract: The outside perimeter contact surface is molded with a continuously varying outer radius as measured relative to the axis of rotation and concentric circles of contrasting color disposed on the lateral surface of the thumbwheel with centers located at axis of rotation thereby providing visual and tactile feedback to the user of the character of output signal.

Abstract: A control knob is secured to a D-shaped shaft or lever of a switch or potentiometer which is supported on a control panel. The control panel is molded plastic and is furnished with detent ramps or indentations in its surface adjacent the shaft or lever. A D-spring between the knob and the shaft retains the knob in the shaft and has a laterally extending leaf spring with a detent button formed in the leaf near its free end. The leaf spring biases the detent button against the detent ramps to afford detent action upon rotation of a shaft or linear movement of a lever. The detent ramps are formed in a forward-facing surface of the panel or in a wall formed by a recess or aperture in the panel. The leaf spring is shaped to accommodate the position of the detent ramps.

Abstract: A control includes a shaft rotatable between a plurality of positions. The base of a spring is fixed relative to the shaft and arms extend from the base parallel to the shaft. Each arm includes a resilient finger and a nose projects from each finger toward the shaft. The noses are 180 angular degrees apart and at different positions longitudinally of the shaft. A cam rotates with the shaft and the noses are biased against the outer surface of the cam. A plurality of recesses are angularly spaced apart around the outer surface of the cam in pairs which are spaced 180 angular degrees apart. One of each pair of recesses is longitudinally aligned with one nose and the other of that pair is longitudinally aligned with the other nose. The noses and recesses provide a detent when the recesses of a pair are angularly aligned with the noses with which they are longitudinally aligned and do not form a detent when the shaft is substantially 180 angular degrees removed therefrom.

Abstract: A composite knob having an elongated, cylindrical, inner core molded of a relatively stiff plastic and a partial outer covering of a soft resilient plastic molded to the inner core. Anchoring cavities are provided in ribs of the inner core to receive plugs of the soft plastic of the outer covering to anchor the outer covering to the inner core. In a modified embodiment, the ribs are tapered axially rearwardly and the outer covering is formed with rib-like extensions to engage said tapered ribs.

Abstract: A composite knob having a core formed of a hard plastic material and an outer covering of a softer plastic material. The core includes a front wall with an integral bent around skirt, a hub and an axially rearwardly extending stanchion. The softer plastic material covers the outer surface of the front wall and integral bent around skirt of the core. A narrow passage extends through the front wall, the bent around skirt and the outer covering and leads to the stanchion. A position indicator of contrasting color relative to the softer plastic material is inserted in the narrow passage and has a detent to engage the end of the stanchion to lock the position indicator in place with a portion thereof extending above the outer covering of the knob.

Abstract: A protective cover for concrete reinforcement bars includes an elongated cylindrical collar for securing the protective cover to an exposed end of a concrete reinforcing bar, a cap which is perpendicularly attached to the collar by reinforcing ribs, and a metal seat arranged between the collar and the cap and having slots for permitting direct attachment of the reinforcing ribs from the collar to the cap.

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.

Abstract: A push control faucet handle is provided for a sink having a spout which consists of a housing mounted to the sink. A water control valve is connected to bottom of the housing. The water control valve has a first pipe line connected to a water supply and a second pipe line connected to the spout in the sink. A knob rides within the housing and is adjustably coupled to the water control valve. A device is for biasing the knob to a raised position above a top surface of the sink. The knob can be manually rotated to open and close the water control valve to control the flow of water from the water supply to the spout in the sink. A mechanism is for retaining the knob in a lowered position flush with the top surface of the sink, when the knob is pressed down into the housing and for releasing the knob so it will return to the raised position when the knob is pressed again. When the knob is in the lowered position a young child will have difficulty in reaching and operating the knob.

Abstract: A knob and skirt assembly having a dial which can be calibrated relative to a control shaft and easily assembled in the proper position of alignment. The assembly includes a knob having a handle portion and hub portion. The knob portion has a control shaft receiving socket at the outer end thereof. The handle portion has an axially facing annular rim. At least one arcuate segment of teeth is formed on the annular rim. A disk shaped skirt has a central opening which fits over and receives the hub of the knob. A shallow well is formed in the skirt surrounding the central opening. Teeth formed in at least one arcuate segment are positioned in the well to mesh with the teeth on the annular rim. Ribs on the knob are heated and bent over against the skirt to fasten the knob to the skirt and to frictionally resist rotation of the hub and the skirt relative to each other until a predetermined rotational force is applied. An indexing notch is formed in the central opening of the skirt at the peripheral edge thereof.

Abstract: A switch actuating assembly supports and actuates a limit switch of the ball and roller type. The assembly includes a housing, a plunger movably positioned within the housing, and an end cap which closes off one end of the housing. The assembly is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle control panel utilizing conventional mounting hardware. Various ball and roller type limit switches are interchangeable with the housing body. The plunger is movable between a first detent position with the limit switch activated and a second spring loaded position with the limit switch deactivated.

Abstract: An interfering surface is disposed between a rotating selector knob and a stop to prevent unwanted rotation of the selector knob and wherein release of the stop requires displacement of the knob in an axial direction relative to the stop to bypass the interfering surfaces thereby permitting selective rotation of the knob.

Abstract: A deformable flat spring is disposed between a rotating selector knob and a stop to prevent unwanted rotation of the selector knob and wherein release of the stop requires displacement of the knob in an axial direction relative to the stop to deform the flat spring thereby permitting escape of the stop and selective rotation of the knob.

Abstract: A knob body of a rigid resin is divided at a generally central portion thereof in front and rear directions into a first knob division portion and a second knob division portion. A button insertion tubular portion and a mounting tubular portion are formed integrally with the first knob division portion, and a shell is provided to cover the outer periphery of the knob body. The first and second knob division portions are molded separately from each other, and by doing so, the thickness can be made thin.