Abstract: A ported piston for increasing the cylinder displacement of internal combustion engines which includes, in a first embodiment, an inertia-activated wafer provided in a cavity located in the piston, with one or more ports connecting the bottom of the cavity to the engine cylinder and typically provided with a check valve and one or more ports connecting the upper section of the divided cavity to the underside of the piston. In a second embodiment the cavity is annular in shape and receives a wafer ring and in a third embodiment the annular cavity and wafer ring, as well as the port or ports, are provided in an insert that seats in an opening provided in the top of the piston. The wafer and wafer ring move up and down by inertia in the cavity and cavity ring opening, respectively, to effectively increase the cylinder displacement and efficiency of the engine.

Abstract: A clamping device for attachment to a wall, post or other vertical support and securing a game carcass such as a squirrel, in position to facilitate efficient skinning and dressing of the carcass. In a preferred embodiment the clamping device is characterized by an elongated, generally U-shaped clamp bracket terminated by a bracket mount flange on each end to facilitate mounting the clamp bracket to the support. A pair of spaced-apart leg notches and a central neck notch are provided in the upper edge of the clamp bracket for receiving the legs and neck, respectively, of the carcass, which leg notches initially receive the rear legs of the horizontal carcass. A clamp bar is pivotally mounted on the clamp bracket and a coiled latch spring provided on the clamp bar is stretched taut and caused to engage the clamp bracket to secure the clamp bar against the rear legs of the carcass and the carcass in the clamp bracket, as a knife is used to partially skin the carcass.

Abstract: A convection meat cooker characterized by an elongated, cylindrical cooker tank which, in a preferred embodiment, is provided on a portable cooker frame and includes concentric outer, middle and inner shells. The inner shell defines an interior cooking chamber which is hermetically sealed by a door hinged to the outer shell at one end of the cooker tank and a cylindrical, annular heat chamber is defined between the middle and inner shells throughout the length of the cooker tank. Insulation is typically provided between the middle and outer shells of the cooker tank. A heat entrance port extends from the middle shell and receives a propane-fueled burner for heating the cylindrical heat chamber and a heat exit port vents excess heat from the annular heat chamber. An open water container may be removably attached to the cooker frame and pressure vent piping provided in fluid communication with the cooking chamber is immersed in water provided in the water container.

Abstract: A pivoting and telescoping or slidably-adjustable hose support, typically for draining the holding tanks of recreational vehicles, includes a length of cross-sectionally curved, slidably-adjustable, trough-like support segments fitted with pivoting legs of the same cross-section, which legs may be of the same or dissimilar length. In a preferred embodiment the receiving support segment is characterized by longitudinal edge rails shaped to define rail slots that receive the upper longitudinal edges of the telescoping support segment, to impart strength to the hose support. Furthermore, the pivoting legs are typically constructed of segments of the receiving support segment and are typically pivotally attached to the sides or walls of the receiving and telescoping support segments by means of brads or pins.

Abstract: A dynamic splint for a joint of a limb undergoing rehabilitation. The splint having a pair of elements each comprising a first tubular strut, a second lever-like strut and an intermediate gear housing mounted on one end of the first strut. A first toothed gear is rotatively mounted on a first shaft in the gear housing and is located adjacent the first strut. A second cooperating toothed gear is rotatively mounted on a second shaft in the gear housing adjacent the second strut. The first gear is missing at least one tooth. The second gear is missing a plurality of teeth in a row. The second strut is pivoted to the second shaft and is attached to the second gear at one of a plurality of selectable positions thereabout. A cam wheel is rotatively mounted on the first shaft and is affixed to the first gear. A compression spring is mounted in the tubular first strut. A cable is affixed at one end to the cam wheel and is operatively adjustably affixed to the spring.

Abstract: A rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus maintains tension in an endless rope system operable for threading a web in a paper-making apparatus and includes at least one rodless cylinder having at least one yoke sheave attached to the internal piston in the rodless cylinder. A rope is stretched around an entry guide roller and the yoke sheave and is stretched by operation of the rodless cylinder, which selectively causes the piston to relocate the yoke sheave along the length of the rodless cylinder and apply a selected degree of tension to the rope. In a preferred embodiment a pair of entry guide rollers is provided in a frame containing a pair of parallel rodless cylinders, each having a yoke sheave independently movable along the respective rodless cylinder by operation of the corresponding rodless cylinder piston, to effect tensioning of a pair of ropes in the paper-making apparatus.

Abstract: A plate section includes a planar inner section, surrounded by a raised lip. A cup holder for holding a beverage container is attached to the plate section by an intermediate section. A hand grip extends downward from the intermediate section. The hand grip is hollow and provides space for tableware and condiments. Also, the hand grip has a plurality of serrations to facilitate gripping the hand grip. A plurality of supports extend downward from the plate section to provide additional support to the plate section when the food and beverage tray is placed upon a supporting a surface. The supports are spaced apart so as to extend downward on opposite sides of a person's arm when the food and beverage tray is held. A supplemental beverage container holder, including a pair of supplemental cup holders, connected by a supplemental intermediate section, may be inserted into the rest of the food and beverage tray. A supplemental hand grip extends downward from the supplemental intermediate section.

Abstract: An electrosensing edge which automatically reverses the downward closing movement of a door such as a garage door when a sealing member and the electrosensing edge encounter an obstruction. The electrosensing edge is characterized by an elecricial cable which extends between two insulators located at each end of a metal bracket mounted on the leading edge of the door, inside the sealing member suspended from the bracket. The cable acts as a witch which is normally open, but is closed if the cable is forced against the bracket to ground the electrical circuit as the sealing member and cable strike the obstruction. Grounding of the cable trips a relay and causes the door actuator to immediately reverse downward movement of the door without injury or damage to the obstruction.

Abstract: Clicking capsules for fishing lures, which capsules may be constructed of plastic, glass and metal and encapsulate one or more elongated clicking elements. The clicking elements are typically constructed of metal wire such as copper, aluminum and steel and are generally cylindrical with varying diameter and rounded, blunt, or bevelled ends, to enhance the clicking effect when the clicking elements slide and strike the ends of the capsules, as well as each other. The clicking capsules may be inserted in flexible plastic fishing lures such as simulated grubs, worms, crawfish and the like and may also be inserted in cavities provided in the hard bodies of such fishing lures as jigs, "crank baits", top water lures and the like. Furthermore, the clicking capsules can be fitted with clips or otherwise attached to the wire harness of spinner bait lures or to the hooks of jigs and other lures to effect the desired clicking noise when the lures are retrieved.

Abstract: An infant and child chair which includes a body typically shaped in the configuration of an animal or character having a head which acts as a pillow and typically seated on a weighted base. The body may incorporate an infant pouch seat and a storage compartment for toys and books. The infant and child chair of this invention further includes a body frame for supporting bendable appendages or arms, as well as legs, that may be shaped and positioned to embrace an infant or child sitting in the chair, or to define arm rests. The chair body is typically filled with a particulate material such as STYROFOAM (polystyrene) beads or like pellets to facilitate conformity to a seated child.

Abstract: A pilotless flare ignitor for igniting waste gas issuing from a flare stack, characterized by an ignitor housing including a horizontal ignitor head having an open end which extends into the flare stack. A pair of electrodes are mounted horizontally in the ignitor head and the ends of the electrodes are positioned to define a diagonal spark gap for producing a spark in the ignitor head. A step-up transformer is wired to the electrodes for generating the spark in the spark gap and a timer, wired to the transformer, controls the duration of the spark. As the gas flows upwardly through the flare stack and into the open end of the ignitor head, the timer is operated to periodically energize the transformer and produce a spark between the electrodes in order to intermittently ignite the waste gas in the ignitor head and flare stack.

Abstract: An audio speaker cabinet or enclosure having a sounding board and air space for enhancing the quality of sound produced by the speaker cabinet. The speaker enclosure is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a rectangular cabinet having a sounding board mounted in the cabinet enclosure interior between the front and rear panels of the enclosure, closely spaced with respect to the rear panel. A resilient membrane such as a sheet of vinyl is mounted on the front surface of the sounding board over an opening in the sounding board behind the speaker. A bass slot is included in the front panel below the speaker for air circulation into and from the enclosure interior and facilitating the attentuated sound produced by the vinyl sheet on the sounding board.

Abstract: A solenoid selector switch shield for protecting the solenoid switch in a feeder assembly that feeds ammunition to a weapons system. The solenoid selector switch shield is designed to fit over the solenoid and the selector switch and prevent damage to the selector switch during both shipping and operation of the weapons system. In a preferred embodiment the solenoid selector switch shield is characterized by a cylindrical shield barrel having a bevelled access end and a mount end provided with an end mount bracket for mounting the shield to the feeder assembly. A middle bracket is also welded or otherwise attached to the shield barrel and is likewise secured to the feeder assembly. The bevelled access end of the shield barrel is designed to facilitate optimum access to the selector switch knob of the solenoid switch for manipulating the solenoid switch and determining the type of ammunition to be fed to the weapons system by the feeder assembly.

Abstract: A drywall mud storage and distribution system which includes in a preferred embodiment, a mud container and pump mounted on a portable frame, a flexible mud conduit connecting the pump to a portable pressure tank for dispensing drywall mud to the pressure tank, and a second conduit leading from the pressure tank for dispensing the drywall mud through a pressure-sensitive valve, typically to a trigger-operated tape and mud dispensing device. An additional conduit fitted with a handle-operated valve leads from the pressure tank to supply drywall mud to a mud dispensing tray. The system is capable of automatically filling the pressure tank with drywall mud from the mud container by operation of the pump when a preselected pressure is reached in the pressure tank, and drywall mud of selected consistency is supplied in selected quantities on demand, to either the tape and mud dispensing device or the mud dispensing tray or both.

Abstract: A sectional drive system for transmitting power linearly or in a curved path to an output, which system includes multiple, tapered and splined, interlocking drive segments which are nested and stacked as a segment string that is rotatable in a selected path. The top one of the segments cooperates with a drive mechanism to effect rotation of the nested segments in concert and the bottom one of the segments connects to a suitable output such as a drill bit. Articulation of the segments with respect to each other due to matching asymmetrical splines and companion spline slots having drive faces and spline support faces of dissimilar size, facilitates dampening of drive vibration and bending of the segment string in or out of the chosen path in any desired direction to facilitate transmitting power in a curved path of desired magnitude from the drive mechanism to the output.

Abstract: A vibratory particle separating apparatus for separating a supply of particulate material into two streams according to particle size. The apparatus includes an inclined particle separating screen secured in a mount frame and characterized by multiple steps disposed perpendicular to the path of material flow. The mount frame is suspended in a support frame by resilient float mounts and vibrated by a vibratory motor mounted on the mount frame. The particulate material is loaded on the top inclined end of the vibrating screen and as the material cascades down the steps of the screen, particles smaller than a selected size fall through one of multiple, adjacent openings provided in each step and are collected or discharged for further processing in a stream below the screen, whereas larger particles are collected or discharged in a separate stream at the foot of the screen.

Abstract: A tree-removing device designed for mounting on a land vehicle such as a conventional bulldozer or tractor and having a bulldozer-type blade fitted with a power blade for cutting the roots of a tree and a tree jack for levering the tree from the ground after the roots are cut. The power blade is characterized by a frame pivoted to the bulldozer-type blade and a vertically-adjustable blade carrier mounted in the frame and internally fitted with a hydraulically-operated blade which may be extended into the ground from the blade carrier to cut the roots of a tree by operation of the land vehicle. The tree jack includes a jack frame pivoted to the land vehicle bulldozer-type blade and a mast extensibly attached to the jack frame, which jack frame is fitted at one end with a foot for engaging the tree. The mast includes hydraulic cylinders for both engaging the tree and causing the mast to pivot, thereby jacking the tree from the earth by operation of the jack frame foot.

Abstract: A mop handle connector which is removably attached to the end of a mop handle and is typically fitted with a clamp to facilitate removable attachment of a dust mop frame to the mop handle. In a preferred embodiment the mop handle connector is characterized by a connector plate, one end of which is threaded into the end of the mop handle and a conventional clamping mechanism is pivotally attached to the opposite end of the connector plate. A lock ring may be slidably disposed on the connector plate and can be selectively brought into engagement with the clamping mechanism to maintain the attached dust mop frame in a rigid position with respect to the mop handle, or disengaged from the clamping mechanism to allow the attached dust mop frame to pivot with respect to the mop handle.

Abstract: CLAIMThe ornamental design for a lotto number selector, as shown and described.DESCRIPTIONFIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a lotto number selector, showing our new design;FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof; and,FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof; and,The undisclosed rear view is planar and unornamented except for the round pin that is identical to the front center pin.