Abstract: A mechanized trowel including a center body of an elongated configuration supported for rotational displacement about its longitudinal axis and having a helical troweling blade extending along the surface thereof adapted to engage, spread and trowel a body of cement in its plastic state, a supporting rail extended in parallelism with the center body supporting the center body for linear displacement therealong, and a truck supporting the end of the rail for translational displacement about a further axis perpendicularly related to the longitudinal axis of the center body and passing through the end thereof opposite the truck, and reversible, electrically energizable motors connected in driving relation with the center body for imparting thereto rotational, linear and translational displacement.

Abstract: A system for use by at least one player-contestant characterized by a ball, a plurality of portable, three-sided targets adapted to be positioned in a mutually spaced relationship on a playing surface for designing the course, each of the targets being characterized by a pair of adjacently related portals arranged in horizontally converging planes and suitably dimensioned for accommodating a passage of the ball therethrough; and at least one mallet for accommodating a striking of the ball by a player-contestant for propelling the ball in rolling motion along the playing surface and through the portals, said mallet being characterized by an elongated head and a handle projected perpendicularly from the head for accommodating a grasping of the end portion thereof, the ends of said head being characterized by a planar surface of an area less than the cross-sectional area of the mallet head, whereby free swinging of the mallet is accommodated.

Abstract: A harvester for green tomatoes growing on vines in a row having a frame mounted for travel along such a row, a knife borne by the frame to sever such vines in the row, a conveyor for elevating the severed vines in the frame, an aqueous bath, a vibrating conveyor above the tank adapted to receive vines with tomatoes adherent thereto from the elevating conveyor and to shake tomatoes from the vines for descent into the tank, a straining conveyor in the bath adapted to strain tomatoes from the bath and to elevate them therefrom, and a source of air under pressure directed at tomatoes removed from the bath to dry surface moisture therefrom as well as a method for harvesting such tomatoes including severing the vines from the ground, shaking the vines to dislodge tomatoes therefrom for gravitational descent therefrom, catching the tomatoes in an aqueous bath, circulating water in the bath to wash the tomatoes, removing the washed tomatoes from the bath, and subjecting the tomatoes to an air blast to dry surface moi

Abstract: A drive unit adapted to be coupled with a drive shaft of a windlass for a boat loader mounted atop a camper shell characterized by a rigid bar having a pair of mutually spaced sprocket wheels mounted at the opposite ends of the bar for rotation about the parallel axes and an endless drive chain trained about the sprocket wheel. A first spring-loaded coupler for releasably connecting to the drive shaft one sprocket wheel of the pair and a second spring-loaded coupler for releasably connecting a crank handle to the other sprocket wheel of the pair.

Abstract: A method for harvesting fruit from a row crop trained on a trellis wire and an apparatus having a vehicle adapted for earth traversing movement along a row crop supported on a trellis wire, a striking member having an end portion, an assembly mounting the striking member on the vehicle with said end portion disposed for movement with the vehicle along a course adjacent to the trellis wire and for reciprocal movement in a path to and from engagement with the trellis wire, and a mechanism connected in driving relation to the striking member for reciprocating the striking member to move the end portion thereof in the path repeatedly to strike the trellis wire to shake the fruit from the row crop.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating clumps of adherent dried fruits or the like, the apparatus having a pair of planar friction members mounted in downwardly convergent, facing relation for independent elevational movements to receive clumps of fruit therebetween and having a driving mechanism for oscillating the members alternately and oppositely to separate the fruits by rubbing action of the members in engagement with clumps of the fruits received between the members.

Abstract: A guidance system for agricultural implements having a frame mounted for longitudinal earth traversing movement and limited lateral movement; a transversely inclined blade mounted on the frame having a low side and a high side and adapted to form a correspondingly transversely inclined track in the earth; a plow mounted on the frame adjacent to the low side; a planar guard mounted on the frame adjacent to the high side and disposed in an erect plane substantially aligned with the direction of movement; and a wheel mounted on the frame having an axis substantially parallel to the inclination of the blade and a tread in rolling engagement with the track.

Abstract: A carburetor for connection to an internal combustion engine having a housing provided with a mixing passage for the flow of air to the engine; a throttle at the downstream end of the passage; a fuel spray bar extending transversely across the passage upstream of the throttle having transversely oppositely disposed fuel orifices facing the walls of the passage; a pair of venturi plates mounted for pivotal movement about individual axes upstream of the bar and spaced oppositely and transversely from the bar, the plates having distal ends and pivoting between closed, convergent positions in which the distal ends are adjacent to the bar and open positions in which the plates diverge from the bar, thereby defining an adjustable throat; a source of fuel; a conduit interconnecting the orifices and the source; a plunger-actuated valve in the conduit for controlling the flow of fuel from the source; a rotationally mounted cam adjacent to the valve having a cam surface in controlling relation with the valve; and a lin

Abstract: A bearing assembly for use in fluid pumps having a pump housing through which a pump drive shaft is extended for rotation about an axis of rotation, the bearing assembly including a pair of sleeves dimensioned to be fitted within the pump housing substantially concentric to the axis of rotation and about the drive shaft and spaced from each other to form an annular lubricant reservoir therebetween and about the drive shaft.

Abstract: A block-like body including a cap plate and a pair of rigid plates of a common width and of different lengths substantially registered with said cap plate and disposed in mutually superimposed relation for defining a pair of adjacently related working surfaces arranged in mutually stepped alignment, and a sanding pad arranged in substantially covering relation with each of the working surfaces, each pad being characterized by a resiliently backed, rigidly supported strip of abrasively coated, flexible material having at least one end secured between a pair of said plates and a screw extended through said plates for releasably securing the plates against displacement relative to one another.

Abstract: A plate check valve having a housing for mounting across a fluid passsageway to prevent reverse flow therein; a cage detachably mounted on the housing; a plurality of annular, planar, coaxial, radially spaced seat plates releasably clamped between the housing and the cage; and a plurality of axially movable, annular, planar valve plates individually related to and overlapping the spaces between the seat plates, the valve plates moving into engagement with the seat plates to prevent reverse flow through the valve and from the seat plates for normal flow through the valve.

Abstract: An inclination maintaining system for a discharge chute of a ready-mix concrete truck or the like including a body on which the chute is pivotally mounted for movement about an axis extending horizontally and transversely of the chute, the system having sensors mounted on the chute for sensing inclination thereof relative to the horizontal about the axis, an extensible and contractible member interconnecting the body and the chute in attitude controlling relation to the chute, and control elements responsive to the sensors for extending and contracting the member so as to maintain the chute at the inclination.

Abstract: An exercising device for use by a person in a standing position, the device having a parallelpiped frame defining a stall and a planar treadle mounted on the stall for rocking movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the stall and in the lower portion thereof.

Abstract: A flow control device for a fluid pump having a path for fluid flow therethrough substantially along a predetermined axis, the path having successive portions of reduced and enlarged size relative to each other substantially concentric to the axis, an impeller mounted for rotational movement within the portion of enlarged size to draw fluid along the path, the flow control device having a tubular member adapted to be mounted on the pump substantially coincident with the portion of reduced size and extending into the impeller for introducing the fluid flow thereto.

Abstract: A fixture for luggage which has a flexible outer casing housing independent bottom and end panels disposed in substantially right angular relation to each other, the fixture having a base plate adapted to be mounted on the casing in fixed relation to the bottom panel adjacent to the end panel; a mounting plate borne by the base plate in upstanding relation; and a pivot assembly secured on the mounting plate and adapted to mount the end panel for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to the bottom panel.

Abstract: An exhaust system washing apparatus for use in an exhaust system having a flue and a suction fan to draw air through the flue in which a fluid conducting swivel joint is mounted at each end of the flue and together define an axis of rotation disposed centrally of the flue, a pair of substantially parallel conduits extended longitudinally of the flue and mounted on the swivel joints for revolution about the axis, and provided with orifices disposed toward the interior of the flue, one swivel joint being connected to a source of washing fluid under pressure and the opposite joint being adapted to receive a portion of the fluid from the conduits for delivery to a nozzle which emits such portion onto the blades of the fan.

Abstract: An exercising device having a frame, a member borne by the frame for movement relative to the frame, a source of compressed gas, a reservoir having an internal chamber of adjustable capacity connecting in receiving relation to gas from the source, and an assembly interconnecting the member and the frame and connected to the reservoir for compression of a selected volume of gas in the internal chamber upon movement of the member relative to the frame.

Abstract: A device having a frame with a supporting platform, a pair of substantially cylindrical assemblies mounted for rotational movement on the frame about substantially parallel axes of rotation, a resilient substantially flat belt extended about the assemblies, and a drive mechanism for rotating one of the assemblies about its axis of rotation to move the belt in transporting relation to the frame.

Abstract: An apricot tree which bears freestone fruit which most nearly resembles that of the Lulu Belle (unpatented) and Early Perfection (unpatented) but which ripens approximately with the Pomo (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,192) which is normally ten days before the Royal (unpatented) or two weeks before the Tilton (unpatented) and which is characterized as to novelty by its uniformly large size for such early maturity, uniformly truncated shape with unequal sides, and the ability to maintain good condition over a protracted harvest season.