Abstract: A pallet assembled from two sheets of material, preferably corrugated paper board stamped with cutouts. Once the cutouts have been scored, the two sheets are then either manually or machine folded to form upper and lower frame members. The frame members are then interconnected, using barbed arrow-shaped fasteners and slots, in such a way as to create a force-resisting structure. Each of the fasteners is fabricated as a single, unitary piece with one of the frame members. No glue or other fasteners are required. In the pallet, the barbed arrow-shaped fasteners lock together upper and lower column elements within the frame members. Arrayed in contiguous pairs, the column elements are aligned so that each upper column element is disposed side by side with a lower column element, forming a single column of double thickness when the contiguous column elements are locked togehter.

Abstract: A ramp assembly for a pontoon boat, or the like, on which a boat user can come and go from the pontoon boat without having to get wet. A cylindrical float, rotatably attached to the free end of the ramp, keeps it and at least one user thereon afloat. Moreover, the float acts like a roller during docking, enabling one to move the ramp, in its extended position, up and onto the shore at most beaches. The ramp assembly comprises a support structure attached to the underside of the boat and a ramp including a platform which is slideably connected to the support structure by a shaft. Bearing blocks suspend the shaft and the platform, which is pivotally connected thereto, horizontally between a pair of rails. Riding on elongated bearing surface tracks mounted within the rails, the bearing blocks allow the platform to be easily extended outwardly from the support structure for use or, alternately, retracted into it for storage. The platform can be readily extended or retracted, as needed, manually.

Abstract: A device that can be easily placed on and removed from an acoustic, stringed instrument, such as an acoustic guitar. When placed on a guitar, the device amplifies and clarifies the sound of the guitar, thereby allowing the guitarist to obtain quality sound and high volume. In addition, the device enables the guitarist control the timbre or sound characteristics of the guitar.

Abstract: A hand-held tool for not only placing granular materials such as grass seed, granular chemicals, or a combination thereof into soil but also aerating it and detecting near surface rocks and the like. The tool includes a hopper, a shaft which terminates in a soil-piercing spike, and a spring-actuated sleeve slideably mounted on the shaft. The shaft defines a partially hollow bore and an orifice, the orifice being disposed on a sidewall of the shaft distal from the hopper and proximate with the juncture between the shaft and the spike. The bore and the orifice fluidly communicate with each other and with the hopper. The spring-actuated sleeve normally blocks the orifice, so that seed and/or chemicals cannot spill out of it. Granular materials are dispensed by dropping them by gravity out of the orifice whenever the spike can be driven into the soil far enough.

Abstract: A two-wheeled trailer which can transported, when empty, in a folded position with its wheels off of the ground. Particularly useful for hunters who want to get into the back country without having to pull a trailer, it can be rapidly deployed when needed to haul game. The folding trailer is also handy for do-it-yourselfers who want to move lumber, plants, fertilizer, and the like. The trailer includes a rectangular frame which is mounted on a pair of wheels and a “T”-shaped member. Hinged to a transverse cross brace which generally bisects the rectangular frame are two arms. Disposed perpendicularly to the transverse cross brace, the arms terminate forwardly proximate with the distal ends of the “T”-shaped member to which they are pivotally connected. When the trailer is unfolded, the leg of the “T”-shaped member extends in front of the wheeled frame so as to define a tongue.

Abstract: An apparatus for towing a bicycle with another bicycle when the first bicycle is also towing a baby jogging cart or, alternately, a bicycle trailer or trail-a-bike. Particularly useful for exercising with a child and allowing her to ride a bike until tired, and then towing the child's bike while she rests in the jogging cart, the apparatus comprises a bracket assembly which is removably mounted on the rear wheel support structure of the towing bicycle. The bracket assembly comprises a hitch pin which is removably attached by a flexible connector to the towing arm. The latter is connected to the front of the jogging cart and its undercarriage. Prior to towing the child's bike, one turns its front wheel approximately 90 degrees and places it between the axle of the jogging cart and the back of the cart's seat. Straps hold the wheel of the towed bicycle and its handle bar to the axle and to jogging cart handle, respectively.

Abstract: A paint brush wiper and holder for a paint can which is removably mountable thereon whether the can is open or closed. The brush wiper and holder includes a short, cylindrical sidewall for partially capping the paint can and a lip which extends inwardly and generally perpendicularly to the sidewall. A promontory-like protrusion on the lip extends inwardly from the remainder of the lip and slopes downwardly therefrom, so that paint collected on the protrusion can drain into an open paint can. The leading edge of the promontory-like protrusion is both sharpened and generally convex in shape, so that it can serve as an efficient brush wipe. As the bristles of a brush are pressed against this leading edge, they spread open, fan-like, releasing excess paint. Affixed to the lip near the mid-section of the promontory-like protrusion and projecting generally upwardly of the sidewall is a pair of bowed plastic arms which exhibit leaf spring action or similar releasable fasteners.

Abstract: A system which utilizes a scraper blade, set at an angle to longitudinal centerline of a conveyor belt, to remove metal objects therefrom, the belt, under normal operating conditions, being supported in a trough-like configuration. Attached to the backside of the blade is a pair of high density plastic press-down feet. They protrude downwardly a short distance below the lower edge of the scraper blade; and each press-down foot, immediately prior to belt flattening, is disposed above a part of the trough-shaped belt which situated just inside one of its outer edges. Making contact with the belt slightly ahead of the scraper blade, the press-down feet flatten the belt, protecting it as the blade is being lowered. Any contact between the belt and the blade occurs along its lower edge which is covered by a high density rubber guard beneath which the belt can slip. Similarly, beneath the belt are mounted flat, elongated strips made of a high density plastic.

Abstract: A combing device to facilitate de-matting or untangling of animal hair comprises a pair of combs, a handle unit and a switch. The handle unit comprises an internal energy conduit device through which energy or force can be caused to flow and effectuate a forceful movement of at least one of the combs. In operation, a user places the pair of combs in or near the area of an animal's matted hair and controls the switch to repeatedly cause one of the combs to forcefully move forward and then back, thereby generating repeatedly strong combing actions.