Abstract: An amphibious vehicle for traversing a body of water or solid terrain such as a layer of ice floating atop the body of water. The vehicle includes a floatable boat hull having an elongate aperture there-through, and a snowmobile for traveling over the solid terrain received in the opening and sealed to the hull in water impervious relation. The snowmobile includes an endless drive track for supporting the hull in spaced relation with solid terrain being traversed and for rearwardly propelling water in the body of water to forwardly propel the vehicle over solid terrain or through the water, and a pair of skis which support the front of the hull in spaced relation with the solid terrain being traversed and include upturned forward ends mounting upstanding rudders for steering the boat hull as the vehicle traverses a body of water.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for crushing plant residue remaining in a farm field following the crop harvest comprising a main frame moveable in a forward path, a yieldable residue knock-down drape suspended on the frame for knocking the plant residue to the ground and breaking the upstanding plant residue apart from its underground roots as the frame forwardly moves, and a transversely disposed residue crushing roller mounted on the frame rearwardly of the knock-down drape for crushing spaced-apart portions of the knock-down residue into a plurality of smaller crop residue segments.

Abstract: A lined multi-branch fitting and method of making a lined multi-branch fitting having a plurality of individual confronting housing members assembled about a one-piece, multi-branch, heat degradable liner. The confronting ends of the metal housing members are welded together via a fillet weld. One of the confronting ends includes a radially inner male insulating projecting strip which abuts the liner and insulates the liner from weld heat applied to the other confronting ends. The other confronting end includes a terminal end slot which receives the male insulating projecting strip; the one confronting end includes a radially outer weld recess for receiving an annular fillet weld bead.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning misaligned vertebrae including a partible screw which can be threadedly coupled to misaligned vertebrae and decoupled from the vertebrae after being aligned. The screw, which is rotatable about an axis, includes axially shiftable screw halves having complementally formed partial screw thread sections which can be aligned in any one of a plurality of axially spaced apart positions to define a helical screw thread. Apparatus is provided for detachably holding the screw halves together in any one of a plurality of axially spaced apart positions with the partial screw threads on each of the halves in alignment including an alignment collar and a locking collar which can be detachably threadedly received on, and locked to, the screw thread sections in locking positions when the screw is being threadedly coupled to and uncoupled from the vertebrae.

Abstract: Sighting apparatus for mounting open sights atop a firearm sighting telescope including a longitudinal sighting bar which is mounted on the telescope. The front sight is mounted on the front portion of the bar and the rear sight is mounted on the rear portion of the bar. The front and rear portions of the bar may be longitudinally adjustable to longitudinally adjust the distance between the front and rear open sights. In one embodiment, the front sight is an optical sight.

Abstract: An elongate back splash molding including a horizontal leg, adapted to be received in an upwardly opening notch provided in a counter top, and a vertical leg, integral with the horizontal leg, adapted to be received by a downwardly opening notch provided in a back splash which is mounted on the counter top rearwardly adjacent the slot. The horizontal leg includes a curvilinear top surface and a front surface joined to the curvilinear surface at via an edge which lies flush with the upper surface of the counter top. The vertical leg includes a front curvilinear surface having a lower end which makes a smooth transition with the curvilinear top surface. The vertical leg also includes an elongate top end face which is downwardly forwardly inclined and is joined to the top front surface along an edge which is flush with the front face of the back splash and an upper end disposed flush with the front face of the back splash.

Abstract: A one-piece stud mount for mounting a traction stud on a reinforcing rod adapted to be embedded in a yieldable drive track. The stud mount includes an elongated, stud receiving receptacle having a threaded opening therein for threadedly receiving a traction stud and a transversely disposed head defining an aperture which has a shape complemental to the shape of the rod for slidably receiving the rod prior to the molding of the track. The invention contemplates a method of manufacturing the stud mount and mounting the stud mount on a track reinforcing bar. The invention also contemplates a method of manufacturing a track in which the stud mount is embedded after being mounted on a reinforcing rod which is also embedded in the track.

Abstract: A traction stud and method of making and mounting a one-piece traction stud having a mounting end, a ground engaging end and an intermediate section therebetween which has an outer surface that flares radially outwardly in an axially outward direction to provide a self locking surface for detachably locking the stud to a snowmobile track. A stud mount is provided for mounting the stud on a snowmobile track including a threaded cylinder for threadedly receiving the threaded mounting end of the stud and a skirt, which radially outwardly flares in axially outer direction, to provide an internal self locking bearing surface against which the tapered surface on the traction stud bears to detachably lock the stud to the drive track. The stud mount is embedded in the track and may include a hollow transverse mounting head which is disposed on a reinforcing bar that is embedded in the track.

Abstract: A one-piece device for storing a pool cover which is removed from a position covering a swimming pool, having an upstanding perimeter sidewall, to a position adjacent the sidewall. The device includes a pair of U-shaped storage members having upper legs which are integrally coupled together and cantileverly supported integral lower legs which cooperate to define an inwardly receiving opening. Mount members, which are integral with the lower legs and extend toward the upper legs, are provided for mounting the U-shaped storage members in a position in which the upper legs and at least a portion of the opening is disposed at a level above the upper end of the pool sidewall.

Abstract: An elongate back splash molding and method of installing a back splash molding including a horizontal leg, adapted to be received in an upwardly opening notch provided in a counter top, and a vertical leg, integral with the horizontal leg, adapted to be received by a downwardly opening notch provided in a back splash which is mounted on the counter top rearwardly adjacent the slot. The horizontal leg includes a curvilinear top surface and a front surface joined to the curvilinear surface at via an edge which lies flush with the upper surface of the counter top. The vertical leg includes a front curvilinear surface having a lower end which makes a smooth transition with the curvilinear top surface. The vertical leg also includes an elongate top end face which is downwardly forwardly inclined and is joined to the top front surface along an edge which is flush with the front face of the back splash and an upper end disposed flush with the front face of the back splash.

Abstract: A knock-down canopy shelter for a boat, such as a pontoon boat, including a cover sheet of fabric, such as canvas, for overlying the deck of a boat, and a knock-down canopy framework which can be disassembled for storage and shipping and assembled to support the covering over the deck. The framework includes a pair of elongate side rails which are mounted on laterally opposite sides of the boat and include laterally integrally lower upstanding elongate slotted portion for mounting port post projecting upwardly from the boat, and an upper elongate lift supporting portion including laterally inwardly, upwardly inclined elongate slots.

Abstract: A game drag for dragging an animal including a flexible line having a draft handle end, an opposite end having a fixed snout loop formed therein for passing over the snout of an animal to be dragged, and an intermediate portion which passes through the fixed loop and forms a second adjustable loop that passes around a portion, such as the neck, of an animal to be dragged. The invention also contemplates a method of mounting a game drag, having a snout loop in one end of a flexible draft line, on a game animal including the steps of passing a portion of the line adjacent the snout loop around the neck of an animal to be dragged and through the snout loop to form a second variable size loop, mounting the snout loop on the snout of an animal to be dragged, and then applying tension to an opposite end of the line to partially close the second variable loop tightly about the animal's neck.

Abstract: A convertible display member and tote bag for selectively displaying and transporting articles, such as dolls, comprising a display panel having a plurality of pockets on one side thereof for displaying the articles when the panel is vertically disposed in a planar configuration. The panel is constructed of flaccid material which can be rolled into a rolled, spiral configuration for stowing and transporting articles. A pair of handles are coupled to the panel for vertically supporting the panel in the planar configuration and for enveloping and carrying the panel in the rolled, spiral configuration.