Abstract: A see-though package for shipping and displaying bottles of beverage vertically upright. A rectangular box is provided for receiving and holding a bottle therein. The box is formed from a top and bottom panels connecting to side panels and back support slat members at the top and bottom of the box. A pair of spaced apart cylindrical rods extending from one side panel to the other on each side of the bottle neck adjacent the top of the body of the bottle immovably secures the bottle therein. At least one of the rods is removable and held in position by a retaining means such as a peg or lock abutting one side panel with the distal end of the rod abutting a socket formed in the opposing side panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides individual solutions to workplace fatigue and stress by determining the specific support needed for each individual. Specifically, the present invention defines and utilizes an ergonomic interaction factor to enable selection of a proper fitting shoe. Such selection occurs in one embodiment by dividing a person's weight by the contact area of the bottom of their feet.

Abstract: An improved guard rail system spacer block having a front face, a rear face and an outer circumferential undulating surface surrounding a plurality of individual spaced apart cavities that extend from one of such faces to the other. Lugs project from the rear face to support the block on a post of a roadway guard rail system and align it with the post during installation of the system and a lug projects from the front face to temporarily support a guard rail strip during installation of the guard rail system.

Abstract: A hitch and adapter assembly for connecting an implement to the front end of vehicles such as all terrain vehicle providing a rigid connection with limited motion for reduced vibration operation. The hitch has two spaced apart sockets on a rigid frame that pivotally connects to the vehicle providing a rigid extension thereof. The sockets receive and cooperatively engage respective pins on the implement providing a quick connection. An electrically powered hydraulic cylinder is connected at one end to the frame and the other end connects to the vehicle by a coupler that slip fits into a socket therefore on the vehicle. The frame pivotally connects to the vehicle at two spaced apart positions. There is a coarse and fine adjustment for varying the height and tilt positions of the implement.

Abstract: A block used to space guardrails from support posts. The positioning or spacer block is a generally rectangular block having corded-out cavities to reduce weight and tabs or projections for cooperatively engaging the sides and top of a support post as well as the edges of the guardrail during roadway safety barrier system installation. Webbing within one or more of the cavities is used for additional structural support. The spacer block may be formed by low-pressure injection molding to optimize the strength to weight characteristics of the spacer block. The spacer block is formed from virgin and/or recycled plastic material and/or includes virgin or recycled rubber material, such as that obtained from the regrind of used tires, and/or another elastomeric materials from other sources.

Abstract: A plate (10) with spikes (11) projecting therefrom to impale a log on respective opposite sides of a crack (20) in the end of the log and wherein the plate has pull tabs (18, 19) integral therewith and grippingly engageable by a tool (30) used to remove the plate from the end of the log. A tool for inserting and removing the plate from the log includes means (37) for driving and means (33) for removing the plate from the log including a slot (35) adjacent the impact end of the tool and into which the pull tab on the plate is inserted.

Abstract: A survey marker having a rod with a pointed tip and a shank extending therefrom composed of a rod or rebar material. A head extending from a distal end of the rod opposite the point may include means for retaining a survey flag, means for engaging a drive tool, and means for alignment.

Abstract: A warehousing system and apparatus for retrieving articles from a preselected storage area containing a quantity of the same and delivering them to a designated area spaced therefrom. A track extends a selected distance along a predetermined path that is offset a selected distance from the stored articles. A motorized carriage is rollingly mounted on the track and has a load carrying support surface thereon on which a payload is accumulated one article after another during the building of such load. A rigid superstructure is carried by the carriage and an extendible and retractable reach is mounted on thereon. A power operated article gripping assembly is carried by the reach for grasping articles one at a time in the storage area and loading them in sequence onto the carriage for delivery to the designated area.

Abstract: A power operated retractable tailgate assembly for a vehicle that includes a tailgate with opposite end edges thereof connected via sliding pivots to a respective one of a pair of elongate slide rails. The slide rails mount in lateral spaced apart relation on the underside of the floor of the cargo carrying box on the vehicle. A first extendible and retractable assembly, having relatively movable respective first and second portions, has the first portion anchored to the vehicle and a second portion that is hingedly connected to the tailgate proximate a lower marginal edge thereof. A power means is operatively connected to the extendible and retractable assembly and is operable from within the cab of the vehicle selectively to extend and retract the tailgate by moving the tailgate along the slide members.

Abstract: A coupling member for connecting a conventional handle to a lock release actuating shaft of an vehicle tilt seat mechanism. The coupling member comprises a relatively short shaft having contiguous first and second portions that are of different outer dimensions transverse to the length of the shaft. The larger one of the first and second portions has a recess extending a selected distance inwardly from a free outer end of such portion in a direction toward the smaller one of the two contiguous portions. Means are provided within the recess for detachably mounting and securely anchoring the coupling member on and to the lock release actuating the shaft for rotating same. The smaller one of the contiguous portions is adapted to project into a socket in the handle for the tilt mechanism, and has means thereon cooperating with means in the socket of the handle for preventing relative movement of the handle and coupling member when the handle is moved in a direction to rotate the lock release actuating shaft.

Abstract: A sectional I-beam post for use along a roadside in which the post has a first elongate lower section securable via a first slip type coupling to a base anchored in the ground. Slip movement of such coupling is in a direction across the length of the post. The first coupling includes L-shaped brackets with one leg thereof attached to the post by bolts so as to be detachable therefrom and notches in the outer end of the other leg which projects outwardly from the post. A second elongate upper post section has the lower end thereof connected to the upper end of the first post section by a second slip type coupling. Slip movement of the second coupling is in a direction lengthwise of the post. The second coupling includes plates bolted to one post section and having notches that provide a slip connection with the other post section.

Abstract: A door stop which includes a bracket that is mountable on a face of a door and has an elongate leg pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to the bracket. The leg has a laterally extending floor engagable foot on the other end thereof that slopes downwardly in a direction toward the floor and terminates in an edge that digs into the floor as the door is being force open. The leg is squeezingly engaged between a pair of grommets on the bracket which holds the leg is a raised position. A tension spring biases the foot from its raised position in a direction toward the floor. An actuator is mounted on the door and has a hand engagable portion disposed adjacent the door knob. The actuator is a rod that is reciprocally mounted on the door and spring biased to a neutral position. The rod upon being pushed downwardly engages and released the leg so that it is free to snap downwardly into its floor engaging door blocking position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel use of nanomaterials as a viscosity modifier and thermal conductivity improver for gear oil and other lubricating oil compositions. The gear oils of the instant invention have a higher viscosity index, higher shear stability, and improved thermal conductivity compared to currently available gear oils. The preferred nanoparticles also impart a reduction in the coefficient of friction, including reduced friction in the boundary lubrication regime. These properties are obtained by replacing part or all of the polymer thickener or viscosity index improver or some other part of the composition normally used in gear oils with nanomaterials of suitable shape, size, and composition.

Abstract: A method of producing networks of low melting metal oxides such as crystalline gallium oxide comprised of one-dimensional nanostructures. Because of the unique arrangement of wires, these crystalline networks defined as “nanowebs”, “nanowire networks”, and/or “two-dimensional nanowires”. Nanowebs contain wire densities on the order of 109/cm2. A possible mechanism for the fast self-assembly of crystalline metal oxide nanowires involves multiple nucleation and coalescence via oxidation-reduction reactions at the molecular level. The preferential growth of nanowires parallel to the substrate enables them to coalesce into regular polygonal networks. The individual segments of the polygonal network consist of both nanowires and nanotubules of ?-gallium oxide. The synthesis of highly crystalline noncatalytic low melting metals such as ?-gallium oxide tubes, nanowires, and nanopaintbrushes is accomplished using molten gallium and microwave plasma containing a mixture of monoatomic oxygen and hydrogen.

Abstract: A sport or pleasure fishing boat having a closed live well for holding a selected volume of water and a live well ventilation vent unit mounted in a top wall overlying well. The live well vent unit is an open ended elongate sleeve that projects through the wall into the well. There is a partition dividing the interior of the sleeve into first and second separate vertical disposed air flow passages. Baffles extend from the upper end of the partition and overlying a portion of the respective passages exposed to atmosphere. The baffles slope upwardly and outwardly away from the partition and terminate in a free outer edge spaced a selected distance from the adjacently disposed end of the sleeve. The space between the baffle and sleeve defines a crescent shaped opening for the flow of air there through. The free outer edge of the baffle is spaced vertically from the upper end of the sleeve to catch and deflect a current of air into the well above the water therein.

Abstract: A chimney damper that includes a rigid first peripheral frame surrounding an open window area, a cap moveable toward and away from the open window to selectively close and open the same and springs interconnecting the cap and frame resiliently urging the cap to an open position. The springs are connected at the upper ends thereof to second rigid frame. The cap is mounted on the second frame and the latter is allowed to pivot relative to the cap. The springs and the arrangement thereof are such as to cause the second frame to rotate relative to the first frame during opening and closing of the damper with the rotation being about one quarter turn. An articulated link interconnects the first frame and coupling between the second frame and the cap so as to prevent pivoting of the cap when moving the cap from one to the other of an open and a closed position.

Abstract: A power operated retractable tailgate assembly for a vehicle that includes a tailgate with opposite end edges thereof connected via sliding pivots to a respective one of a pair of elongate slide rails. The slide rails mount in lateral spaced apart relation on the underside of the floor of the cargo carrying box on the vehicle. A first extendible and retractable assembly, having relatively movable respective first and second portions, has the first portion anchored to the vehicle and a second portion that is hingedly connected to the tailgate proximate a lower marginal edge thereof. A power means is operatively connected to the extendible and retractable assembly and is operable from within the cab of the vehicle selectively to extend and retract the tailgate by moving the tailgate along the slide members.