Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a boat canvas to a boat including a tubular frame member adapted to be mounted on the boat. The hollow tubular frame member includes a plurality of angularly related walls having elongate edges. The elongate edges of at least one of the walls is coupled to the adjacent elongate edges of the two adjacent walls with a pair of U-shaped troughs which, together with the one wall, forms a track. A U-shaped, fastener mounting member is slidably received on the track and includes a base having a pair of legs extending therefrom and slidably received in the troughs. A male fastening member is coupled to one of the canopy and the slide and a cooperating, complementally shaped female fastening member is coupled to the other of the canopy and the slide. If desired, a similar trough may couple the elongate edges of each wall to the adjacent elongate edges of each adjacent wall and additional U-shaped slides may be slidably mounted on another of the walls.

Abstract: A storage caddy for storing a terminal end connector of a trailer light wiring harness including an electrically nonconductive base having a female receptacle therein and a laterally adjacent, elongate, male dummy plug for receiving complementally formed, electrically conductive, male and female electrical terminals, respectively, provided in the terminal end connector. Mechanism is provided for mounting the electrically nonconductive base on a vehicle adjacent the terminal end connector.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for trimming an article integrally differentially pressure formed in a sheet of thermoplastic material comprising a pair of trim dies which are relatively moveable between spaced apart positions for receiving a sheet carrying an article to be trimmed, closed positions, engaging opposite sides of the sheet, and then to sheet severing positions in which an article is severed from the sheet. The dies are relatively moved via a wedge which is transversely moveable on the machine and includes a first sharply inclined wedge surface for rapidly advancing the trim dies from the spaced apart positions to the closed positions. A second, less inclined wedge surface, which is a continuation of the first wedge surface, is provided for moving the trim dies from the closed positions to the sheet severing positions.

Abstract: A pre-cast one-piece concrete building module including a concrete panel having a face with a plurality of weight-saving cavities formed therein and a concrete frame integral with the cavity forming face of the panel. The frame includes a longitudinally spaced apart main end beams spanned by a plurality of laterally spaced apart secondary beams. A plurality of concrete reinforcing ribs are disposed between the end beams and formed integrally with the cavity forming face of the panel and adjacent secondary beams. The reinforcing rib has a concave surface extending between the secondary beams and is preferably of a parabolic shape.

Abstract: A transportable bag cart for a self-supporting bag having an upstanding sidewall with a closed lower end and an open upper end, including a lower bag support platform and an upper anti-collapse, open frame receivable within the open upper end of the bag. The open frame includes a pair of spaced apart side bars spanned by a forward base. Mechanism is provided for mounting the anti-collapse mechanism on an upper portion of the cart frame including a pair of laterally spaced apart inverted U-shaped mount members having forward upstanding legs which are integrally coupled to the side bars and receivable within the bag.

Abstract: A preheater and method of preheating a thermoplastic sheet prior to entry of the sheet into a differential pressure forming machine which forms an article in the sheet. The preheater includes mechanism for initially threading a sheet in a generally horizontal plane, mechanism for concurrently displacing upstream and downstream portions of the sheet in vertically opposite directions relative to the horizontal plane to dispose a portion of the sheet in an upstanding plane. A heater is provided for heating the upstanding portion of the sheet in the upstanding plane. After the sheet has been repositioned with a portion in the upstanding plane, the heater is laterally moved from an inoperative position to a sheet heating position receiving the portion of the sheet at the sheet heating station. Mechanism is provided for selectively moving the sheet downstream after the sheet has been vertically displaced.

Abstract: A holiday light set storage device and method for storing a holiday tree light set having a plurality of lights coupled together via wires. The holiday light storage device includes a base mounting a pair of upstanding, spaced apart light trays adjustably coupled to the base for movement relative to each other. At least one of the trays includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart, open-ended, upwardly opening slots for slidably receiving successive portions of the string in a zig-zag fashion. Adjacent lights on the string are disposed on the outer sides of the slots and the wires between adjacent bulbs are slidably received in the slots and extend between the inner sides of the upstanding trays. A cover is provided for enclosing the trays and the base.

Abstract: Fishing apparatus for setting a fish hook into a fish striking the hook and concurrently signaling the strike. The fishing apparatus includes mechanism for swingably mounting a fishing pole having a fishing reel thereon around which is wound a fishing line having a terminal end mounting a fish hook. A signaling flag is mounted on a flexible staff for movement between a stowed position and a signaling position. Mechanism is provided for moving the rod in the direction away from the base in response to tension force being applied to the fishing line to set the hook. The fish strike signaling flag is released in response to tension force being applied to the fishing line.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning a heating, ventilating and air conditioning duct comprising a high pressure air emitting nozzle which is disposable inside the duct and an expansible and contractible draught member, which is responsive to differential pressure being created on opposite sides thereof, for drawing the high pressure air emitting member in a downstream path of travel through the duct. The draught member includes a sheet of fabric which is coupled, at its perimetrical edge portion via a plurality of lines, to the high pressure air emitting nozzle. The perimetrical edge of the fabric sheet, in its expanded condition, is spaced from a confronting portion of the duct via a low pressure, high velocity air zone which causes the draught member to move in a to-and-fro transverse path as it is moved downstream. A strip of abrasive material is provided along the perimeter of the draught member for wiping the inside of the duct as it moves to-and-fro downstream.

Abstract: A rear loaded and unloaded wheelchair and method for transferring a patient between a bed and a wheelchair through the rear of the wheelchair. The wheelchair includes a wheeled main frame, a sub-frame rearwardly extensible relative to the main frame to a position overlying the bed. The sub-frame is vertical moveable on the main frame to raise and lower the sub-frame to a position adjacent the bed and a position removed from the bed. A patient supporting chair is rotatably mounted on the sub-frame for rolling movement between a forward position and a rearward position adjacent the bed cantileverly supported on the main frame via the sub-frame. The chair includes a frame having laterally spaced apart rails and upstanding back rails. The side seat rails detachably mount a seat on which a person will sit while seated on a bed.

Abstract: A tool handle for a tool including an upper hand-grip end, a lower tool mounting end, and a plurality of substantially straight handle portions serially coupled together between the upper and lower ends. Adjacent ones of the handle portions are obliquely inclined relative to each other and alternate ones of the handle portions lie in planes which are parallel to each other.

Abstract: A fishing rod tender for mounting a fishing rod on a vertically moveable object, such as a boat, including mechanism for maintaining the rod tip end at a substantially constant distance from a water bed as the rod support member moves vertically.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing debris from a position between a laterally inner edge of a continuous drive track and a motor vehicle on which the track is mounted including a stripper bar adapted to be mounted laterally adjacent the lateral inner edge and mechanism for mounting the stripper bar on a laterally inner edge portion of the track.

Abstract: A rear loaded and unloaded wheelchair and method for transferring a patient between a bed and a wheelchair through the rear of the wheelchair. The wheelchair includes a wheeled main frame, a sub-frame rearwardly extensible relative to the main frame to a position overlying the bed. The sub-frame is vertical moveable on the main frame to raise and lower the sub-frame to a position adjacent the bed and a position removed from the bed. A patient supporting chair is rotatably mounted on the sub-frame for rolling movement between a forward position and a rearward position adjacent the bed cantileverly supported on the main frame via the sub-frame. The chair includes a frame having laterally spaced apart rails and upstanding back rails. The side seat rails detachably mount a seat on which a person will sit while seated on a bed.

Abstract: A traction stud for an endless snowmobile belt including an elongate rod having a ground engagable end and a threaded end which can be coupled to the track with a threaded fastener. A slot is cut into the threaded portion of the track such that the terminal end threaded portion is separated from the remaining threaded portion by a gap but coupled thereto via a reduced stem which, after installation, can be broken away so that the remaining portion of the stud shank is flush with the fastener. The invention also contemplates the method of making the stud and the method of installing the stud with a transverse slot providing a weakened break away portion which can be severed by the application of transverse force to remove the axially inner terminal end of the stud.

Abstract: A rodent guard for precluding the above and below ground passage of rodents beneath a skirt perimetrically depending from a manufactured home including an elongate barrier wall having an upper laterally inner flange for detachably coupling to the skirt and a lower, laterally outer flange for extending below ground to preclude any underground rodents from vertically passing alongside and beneath the barrier wall.