Abstract: An apparatus for self-righting a rigid inflatable boat in which the boat includes an elongated hull having a determinable center of gravity and beam width. The boat hull has an elongated rigid bottom and inflatable sidewalls which have top, bottom and inner edges. An inflatable arch member having first and second leg portions extending upwardly and inboard from opposite sidewalls of the hull converges at a central point spaced outwardly a first predetermined vertical distance above the top edges. The first predetermined distance is at least equal to the sum of one-half of the beam of the hull, plus a distance equal to the vertical distance, if any, at which the center of gravity may be located above the sidewalls' bottom edges. Each leg portion has an axial centerline which extends upwardly and inwardly substantially between its respective sidewall and the central point.

Abstract: A method for curing fiber-reinforced resin matrix composite materials (22) includes the steps of providing a form (14) and positioning uncured composite material (22) on the form (14) substantially into a desired shape. The composite material (22) is then cured by providing a fluid bath (10) heated to a predetermined temperature, and heating the composite material (22) by immersing the positioned composite material (22) on the form (14) into the fluid bath (10) for a predetermined time. The predetermined time is sufficient to allow the composite material (22) to become cured and to heat the composite material (22) at a rate sufficient to provide resin flow prior to hardening. Compressive pressure is provided on the composite material (22) while it is immersed in the fluid bath (10).

Abstract: A bulk material such as garbage is introduced into a hopper inlet (14) of a compactor (12). A piston (18) in the compactor moves the bulk material out from the compactor (12) inot a vault (26). In the vault (26) the material is compacted against a barrier wall (66) until an initial body of compacted material is formed between the intlet and the barrier wall (64). Then, the barrier wall (64) is retracted up into a position substantially within the plane of the top wall (32). Then, the compactor (12) is operated to compact additional bulk material (24) into the vault (26), and at the same time move the material (24) lengthwise through the vault (26). When the vault (26) is sufficiently full of compacted material (24), the vault (26) is expanded for the purpose of enlargening the cross sectional dimension of its inner space. A cargo receiving compartment (30) of a road vehicle (10) is positioned in registry with the outlet of the vault (26).

Abstract: A releasable foot binding for use in combination with a snowboard includes a socket component which is separably engageable with a foot-engaging component. The socket component is mounted on the snowboard and includes spaced-apart, upwardly-extending elongated side rails. Each side rail has an elongated flange portion extending laterally therefrom. The foot-engaging component is longitudinally engageable with the socket component and has a bottom which includes opposite side ribs positioned on the bottom to be slidably positionable below the flange portions of the socket component. A stop member limits movement of the foot-engaging component relative to the socket component beyond a fully-engaged position. A latch releasably secures the foot-engaging component against movement in the opposite longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a doweling jig which allows a workpiece to be positioned on the top surface of a platform to guide the drilling of corresponding holes into the workpiece at preselected locations. The workpiece-supporting platform includes a pair of side edges and a guideway which extends along the edges. A plurality of drill guides, each of which includes a guide opening, is removably engageable with the guideway to be positionable at preselected locations along either of the side edges. The workpiece may be positioned on the platform and against the drill guides for the drilling of holes in the workpiece through the guide opening in each drill guide. The jig may be configured to allow for simultaneous drilling of holes in two or three adjacent surfaces of the workpiece.

Abstract: A facade (10) for simulating the appearance of another object which is attached to a child's play vehicle (12). It includes a first substantially planar member (14) which has a front surface (18) and is attached to a forward portion of the play vehicle (12). The first member (14) is shaped to have a perimeter which substantially defines an anterior profile of the object. A second substantially planar member (16) is folded into a three-dimensional shape and attached to the first member (14). The second member (16) projects fowardly from the front surface (18) of the first member (14) and is shaped to define a forward profile of the object. It may also include a rear portion (160) which has first and second substantially planar side panels (162, 164) which are connected along upper edges (168, 170) and attached to the play vehicle (12) in a position to partially cover a rear wheel (172) of the vehicle (12).

Abstract: A comb for selectively separating strands of hair for individual treatment includes an elongated base and a plurality of teeth positioned at spaced-apart locations along the length of the base. Each tooth includes a shaft which extends outwardly from the base to a free end. The teeth include a hair-engaging portion at the free end of a shaft which is substantially linearly straight and smooth from the base to the hair-engaging portion. The hair-engaging portion is positioned to engage only selected strands of hair while allowing non-selected strands to fall freely from between the teeth as the comb is lifted, moving the teeth in a direction toward the base through the lock of hair. Each hair-engaging portion includes a tine member which extends outwardly from the shaft to define a substantially open hook throat. Each tine member is on a common side of each tooth so that the selected strands may be released from each hook throat by a single longitudinal movement of the base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recoil-redirecting mechanism for a gun which includes a frame, a gun barrel assembly having a barrel and a receiver with a bolt therein. The gun barrel assembly is slidably mounted to longitudinally reciprocate on the frame between a forwardmost position and a rearwardmost position. Means for firing the gun when the gun barrel assembly is substantially at its forwardmost position is provided. The recoil-redirecting mechanism includes a recoil-absorbing spring, a fixed pulley mounted on the frame, and a travelling pulley mounted on a longtudinally-reciprocating block which is longitudinally slidable relative to the frame substantially parallel to and independent from the gun barrel assembly. A cable having a first end fixed relative to the frame operably extends over and is reversed in direction by the travelling pulley, further extends over and is reversed in direction by the fixed pulley, and has a second end fixed to the gun barrel assembly.

Abstract: An animal trap (10) including a spring (16) with first and second arm members (18, 20) extending from the spring (16) to outward ends (22, 26) such that the outward ends (22, 26) are biased apart by the spring (16). A loop portion (24) is positioned on the outward end (22) of the first arm member (18) and substantially encircles the outward end (26) of the second arm member (20). A jaw portion (28) on the second arm member (20) is positioned to be biased toward a side (30) of the loop portion (24) which is opposite the first arm member (18). A trigger member (32) is movably carried on the first arm member (18) and includes a paddle portion (38) and a detent portion (36). The paddle portion (38) is positionable in substantially axial alignment with the loop portion (24) when the detent portion (36) is holding the outward end (26) of the second arm member (20) in a set position relatively adjacent the outward end (22) of the first arm member (18).

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of making and delivering slush ice includes providing a main housing (28) having a floor (30) and substantially cylindrical sidewalls (32). The housing (28) includes a water inlet (58) and an ice inlet (26). A pump (34) having a delivery outlet (50) is positioned to have an inlet (44) substantially centered axially within the housing (28) and spaced a predetermined distance from the floor (30). A delivery conduit (52) extends from the delivery outlet (50) of the pump (34) to a second end (72, 88) remote therefrom. A rotating agitator member (54, 54') having an axis of rotation substantially centered co-axially within the housing (28) is positioned such that the agitator (54, 54') swirls ice and water in the housing (28) substantially around the pump inlet (44). The pump (34) draws ice and water through the inlet (44) and delivers a mixture of ice and water in the form of slush ice (16) through the delivery outlet (50).

Abstract: Disclosed is a reciprocating floor conveyor having a separable floor unit and power drive unit (24). The floor unit includes a bottom frame (38, 40, 42, 44) and at least three sets of elongated reciprocatable floor members (26, 28, 30) which are supported on the bottom frame for independent longitudinal reciprocation in a single plane between start and advanced positions. A separate transverse drive beam (32, 34, 36) for each set of floor members (26, 28, 30) is connected to the underside of its respective set of floor members (26, 28, 30). The power drive unit includes a separate drive leg (54, 56, 58) for each set of floor members (26, 28, 30). Each drive leg is detachably connectable to a separate transverse drive beam (32, 34, 36) to reciprocatably drive it and its set of floor members (26, 28, 30). Each drive leg (54, 56, 58) is mounted to swing forwardly and rearwardly about a pivot point (60, 62, 64).

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a main landing gear (12, 14, 16, 18) for a high speed (supersonic) aircraft (10) which may be wing-stowed and -mounted in a relatively thin wing (22, 24). The main landing gear (12, 14, 16, 18) is characterized by an inboard gear (12, 14) including a post (58) having a transverse trunnion (52) at a first end (56 or 54) operably mounted on the wing (22, 24). The trunnion (52) is journalled for rotation about an axis for movement of the post (58) between operative and stowed positions. This axis is substantially transverse to the body of the aircraft for forward rotation of the inboard gear (12, 14). A wheel assembly (78, 80) is operably attached at a second end of the post (58). The wheel assembly (78, 80) has a plane of rotation which when stowed in the wing (22, 24) is substantially vertical. In combination with the inboard gear (12, 14) is an outboard gear (16, 18) which includes a post (90) having a skewed trunnion (92) at a first end operably mounted on the wing (22, 24).

Abstract: A self-righting inflatable life raft including a raft body having inflatable sidewalls and an inflatable member extending from the raft body having a buoyant portion sufficient to provide lifting force to move the raft's center of gravity beyond its point of rotation on the surface of water such that the raft will topple by gravity to an upright position. The inflatable member may include a plurality of inflatable tube portions which extend from an upper edge of the raft sidewalls to a first predetermined position upwardly and outboard from the upper edge and which then extend inboard to centrally converge with one another at a second predetermined position above the raft body.

Abstract: A paint brush holder, attachable to a container having an opening with an annular lip, has a brush-supporting bed with inner and outer ends. A brush handle-gripping spring clamp with leaf spring tines for longitudinally engaging a paint brush handle is adjacent the outer end. A snap-lock attachment having first and second downwardly extending arcuate flanges with an arcuate groove defined therebetween is located adjacent the inner end for engaging the annular lip.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary cutting tool for cutting elongated objects such as electrical cable armor. The tool includes a frame or yoke with a rotary cutting element supported thereon. A pair of spaced-apart workpiece-contacting elements or guide members are supported on the frame and positioned on opposite sides of the cutting element to make contact with spaced-apart portions of an elongated workpiece radially outwardly of the cutting element's cutting edge. The workpiece-contacting elements are yieldable toward the cutting edge to an extent sufficient to allow relative movement of the cutting edge into cutting contact with the workpiece and to thereby guide and brace the workpiece against substantially tangential movement relative to the rotary cutting element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device which, upon impact, will broadcast a dry material such as fire-suppressing chemicals by explosive force. The device comprises an explosive charge within a frangible rigid-wall container, a dry powder payload within the container which substantially surrounds the explosive charge, and a fuse cord operably positioned between the explosive charge and an impact-activated detonator. Upon impact, the detonator will cause the fuse to be ignited. Ignition of the fuse cord, whether by the impact-activated detonator or an external source, will cause detonation of the explosive charge, thereby breaking the container and broadcasting the dry material outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A reciprocating floor conveyor comprises a plurality of adjacent elongated floor members (10). Each floor member has first and second sides (14, 16), each of which may include a longitudinal dovetail groove (24, 56). A first resiliently bendable elongated elastomeric seal (26) is provided for each floor member (10). The first seal (26) has an inboard base portion (28, 50) captured within the first side's dovetail groove (24) and an outboard portion which includes a branch strip (52) extending from the inboard portion (28, 50). The branch strip has a free edge (44, 54) positioned to contact a confronting surface (16) of an adjacent floor member (10) and has a stiff resiliency urging its free edge (44, 54) toward the confronting surface (16). A second bendable elongated elastomeric seal (58) may be provided. The second seal (58) has a retaining base portion (60) formed at a first edge thereof and extends generally upwardly therefrom to a second outer edge (68).

Abstract: This invention provides a fruit picker's bag (10) including a support frame (20) having a top hoop with a rear section (22) with opposite ends, a strap eye (16, 18) at each of the ends, a forward section (24) extending from one end of the rear section (22) over to the opposite end which together with the rear section (22) defines a hoop opening, and brace portion (26) which extends generally vertically downwardly from the rear section (22). A fruit-receiving bag body (30) is detachably connected to the support frame (20). The bag has upper and lower ends and a rear wall portion (36) which includes a pocket (34) at the upper end for receiving the brace portion (26) of the support frame (20). A forward wall portion (40) includes a hook strip (38) connected at the upper end. The hook strip (38) includes a downwardly opening hook channel (50) which is hookable onto the forward section (24) of the top hoop. A carrying harness (14) includes a strap which extends through each of the strap eyes (16, 18).