Abstract: A pin-engaging drawbar and lock plate assembly is designed to mount and stabilize in the drawbar of a trailer hitch or alternative trailer and accessory hitch or receiver assembly. In one embodiment the pin-engaging drawbar and lock plate assembly includes a bolt extending into the drawbar, typically having the bolt head secured to a lock plate positioned beneath a locking pin extending transversely through the receiver and the drawbar. An angle brace is fixed to the lock plate and engages the locking pin, and the locking pin openings are typically vertically elliptical or elongated in the drawbar to facilitate rotating a nut on the extending threaded end of the bolt and forcing the angle brace against the locking pin, thus tightening the drawbar against the hitch receiver.

Abstract: A medicine container carrier includes an carrier base, a medicine container carousel having multiple container cavities provided in the carrier base and multiple container engaging assemblies provided on the medicine container carousel at the container cavities, respectively.

Abstract: A method of practicing aiming of a gun at a moving target includes providing a first simulated target, providing a second simulated target in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the first simulated target, providing a gun, positioning the gun with respect to the first simulated target and the second simulated target and repeatedly aiming the gun at the second simulated target while visually focusing on the first simulated target. The first simulated target represents a position of the moving target upon shooting of shot from the gun. The second simulated target represents a position of the moving target upon striking of the moving target with the shot.

Abstract: A tile flood pump for attachment to a tile or drain pipe and pumping water from a field. The pump includes a pump housing, a flange bolted to the tile and an impeller housing enclosing one or more, lower rotating impellers, and extending into the pump housing for pumping water from the field through the impeller housing and the tile. A flapper valve can be provided on the intake end of the pump housing to facilitate flow of water through the pump housing and the tile. A shaft housing extends into the pump housing for enclosing a drive shaft that mounts the lower impeller(s) and connects to an external drive system. A shaft housing extension is removably fitted into the shaft housing for enclosing an upper impeller to flood and cool the upper marine and load bearings which carry the impeller shaft, upon which the upper impeller is mounted.

Abstract: This invention includes a card assembly incorporating an electrostatically charged polyolefin film, or electret, removably adhered to a paper stock or card substrate. The electret and card assembly is printable on up to four planar surfaces, with both the electret film and paper stock or card having a front and back side that is printable. When the electret is detached from the card, the charged or “static cling” electret is placeable on and self-adheres to smooth surfaces for graphic information display purposes and the printed card is then utilized for various other purposes. The electret film is removably adhered to the paper stock by a coating or “dots” of adhesive and a release agent may be applied to the back or underside of the electret to prevent premature separation and loss of electrostatic properties while maintaining optimum electret film removability.

Abstract: A sectional drive and coupling system for transmitting rotational power to an output, which system includes multiple, splined drive and receiving segments that are connected, nested and interlocked in the ends of successive segment housings to define a drive string that is rotatable in a selected straight or curved path. The top one of the segments cooperates with a drive mechanism to effect rotation of the drive string in concert and the bottom one of the segments connects to an output such as a drill bit.

Abstract: A watertight manhole insert and tether locking apparatus and method of use designed to prevent unauthorized entry into a sanitary sewer or other closed drainage system through a manhole closed by a manhole cover. The manhole insert is located beneath the manhole cover and is connected to the manhole by a tether apparatus in the manhole to prevent water entry into the manhole, theft of the manhole insert and to deny access to the manhole. The manhole insert includes a pan-shaped insert body having pressure-relief valve and a lift strap and a side wall fitted with a top rim for engaging a shoulder shaped in the manhole, to support the manhole insert in the manhole.

Abstract: Adjustable blades for wood chippers and cutters include one or more blades of selected length, thickness and width, fitted with one or more bevelled blade seats in the rear blade edge, which blade seats, in a first embodiment, receive corresponding bevelled inserts having threaded openings fitted with an insert mount screw and a pair of adjusting screws. The mount screws serve to seat the inserts firmly in the blade seats and reverse-manipulation of the adjusting screws in the inserts provides adjustment of the fit of the adjustable blades in a cutting or chipping head, to compensate for re-sharpening of the blades.

Abstract: A bore hole sleeve reaming apparatus which is characterized by one or more subterranean bore clearing devices or sleeves for use with one or more clearing or bursting heads attached to a pull rod or cable and a pulling apparatus. One or more tapered sleeves are attached in spaced-apart relationship to a string of tandem-mounted plastic pipe when the clearing or bursting head or heads are attached to the pipe string to be pulled through the bore hole. The tapered sleeves are designed to straighten bore irregularities and clean, smooth and free the bore hole from collapsing earth, roots and/or rock and broken pipe and facilitate pulling the pipe string through the bore hole with minimum friction on the pipe string.

Abstract: An underwater filtration system or operator which can be floated on and suspended in a river, lake, pond or other water body to filter water from the water body. The underwater filtration operator may be electrically charged with simultaneous introduction of continuous forced air to remove impurities from the water body and increase filtering efficiency and the system includes a split housing having a selected configuration and divided into one or more filtration units, each of which includes a filter medium or mediums for filtering water from the water body. A pump is provided in the interior of the system housing for receiving the filtered water from the filtration units and pumping the filtered water to a collection tank or dispenser, directly to an end user or to a reverse-osmosis water filtration unit for further filtration.

Abstract: A bore hole reaming apparatus characterized by one or more cleaning devices such as bursting heads attached to a pull rod and typically having one or more mandrels attached thereto in tandem for pulling a length of pipe through a pre-bored opening using a pulling apparatus. In a typical embodiment the bore hole reaming apparatus is characterized by a pair of bursting heads mounted in spaced-apart relationship in tandem on the pull rod and fitted with one or more mandrels attached to a third bursting head. The mandrel(s) is typically secured to a fourth bursting head by a cable and the fourth bursting head is attached to a string of typically HDPE pipe to be pulled through the bore hole. The mandrel(s) straighten irregularities and clean, smooth and enlarge the bore hole to facilitate pulling the pipe string through the bore hole with minimum friction on the pipe.

Abstract: A cooling tower fill support grid assembly and method of use which includes multiple cooling tower assembly fill hangers, each having a grid pattern that defines multiple grid openings of selected size. In one embodiment an anchor rivet pin extends from the horizontal grid members upwardly and disproportionally spaced-apart from the vertical grid members, into each grid opening. The anchor rivet pins are located off-center on the horizontal grid members between respective vertical grid members for engaging elliptical splash fills that are inserted in the aligned grid openings of adjacent assembly fill hangers in a first configuration. Once so inserted, the elliptical splash fills are rotated ninety-degrees into contact and engagement with the anchor rivet pins in a second, installed configuration.

Abstract: A ground anchor which is suitable for anchoring a winch in the extrication of an ATV or other vehicle from mud or other loose soil is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the ground anchor includes a generally elongated anchor stake, a stake slot provided in the anchor stake, an elongated stabilizing arm pivotally attached to the anchor stake and extendable from the stake slot and an attachment arm pivotally attached to the stabilizing arm and slidably engaging the stake slot.