Abstract: A boat trailer step assembly is provided with several features making the assembly adjustable in several respects, allowing the step to be placed at varying positions for different trailers and boats. The step is mounted on a support member made of overlapping parts that can be extended or contracted to obtain different heights. The support member is connected to a rotatable plate at a 45 degree angle. This allows the step to be extended outward in various directions. Adjustment of the step location in a generally front-to-rear direction is provided by sliding a clamping device along a beam of the trailer on which it is mounted.

Abstract: A jump suit having features effective for both male and female users includes a central zippered opening extends downward from waistband along the crotch between left and right pants legs. A main zipper controlled by a pair of keepers and opens and closes the opening, which extends from the waistband in front to an upper end in the back located slightly above the waistband. This enables opening over the hips when a user is relieving himself. A large lapel on the front of the garment is movable by being folded from a first position where the lapel extends outward to one shoulder without crossing the center to a second position where the lapel extends toward the other shoulder and covers strip of a central vertical vent. Several vents and covering strips removably controlled by zippers are provided around the periphery of a main back panel.

Abstract: A pool cue tip conditioning device has a striker plate carrying tip-indenting fingers on its bottom side, the plate located for being driven into a pool cue tip to indent the tip without damaging it. The striker plate is driven by a plunger controlled by a return spring. A plug is located above the plunger, the plug having an aperture in a bottom surface for receiving the tip of the plunger when the post of the plunger is centered. The plug is held off-center by an aysmmetric return spring which allows the tip of the post to become centered and to move upward into the aperture when the striker plate is moved upward by insertion of a pool cue. A work spring stronger than the return spring then forces the plug downward, slamming into the plunger, which drives the striker plate into the cue tip.

Abstract: A delayed triple pressure flow valve for controlling the hydraulic fluid passing to two work stations.

Abstract: A value housing having overlapped inner and outer members is fabricated by a process including placing the members in position where one side of the joint is accessible for welding and the opposite side is inaccessible, single welding from the accessible side and brazing the opposite side. The brazing step provides for filling of minute gaps in the joint at the inaccessible side. A bronze welding type brazing alloy and heating at a temperature of 1800 to 1900 degrees Fahrenheit are employed.

Abstract: A birdfeeder is made up of two subassemblies, one of them having a protective top and a lock rod extending downward from the center of the top and the other having a base with a cavity for receiving and holding bird feed, along with a reservoir, a tubular support member attached to the base and a locking mechanism attached to a reservoir wall and to the tubular support member. The lock rod, which extends only partially down the tubular support when engaged, has a groove near its lower end for receiving a spring-biased rod from the locking mechanism, connecting the two subassemblies together. A space between the lower end of the lock rod and the base allows any feed that has been spilled into the top of the tubular member in the course of loading the reservoir to fall downward away from components of the locking mechanism. Openings may also be provided in the base or in the tubular support member at location near the bottom for the same purpose.

Abstract: A device for retrieving snagged lures has a rigid loop of stiff rod or wire mounted on a pole. The loop is made up of several portions placed in the same plane with one another and connected to a support portion mounted in the pole. The loop has first and second portions that define an acute angle between them at a corner for reaching over and grasping a lure for pulling it upward. A crossover portion completing the loop extends over the first portion and provides a tip for engaging a line and guiding it through a gap and into the loop. Also disclosed is a weighted device which is not connected to a pole, but which includes a similar loop.

Abstract: A grinding machine has an abrasive wheel mounted on a spindle carried by a wheelhead which provides for movement in a direction perpendicular to the spindle. A pair of workheads are separately mounted on workslides and cross slides so that the workheads may be moved along an X-axis or a Y-axis as required to bring chucks of the workheads into grinding position. Sliding movement of the workslides and cross slides is produced by ball screws powered by servo motors and mounted on bearing housings, with the ball screws propelling ball nuts connected to the slides. The machine uses CNC computerized controls, with each of the workheads having a separate and independent control. This enables attainment of a high degree of precision.

Abstract: A machine for making building blocks from compactible materials such as earth, in a rapid and facile manner. A mold is provided in which the blocks of desired configuration, typically rectangular, are formed. A hydraulic ram, assisted by a pressure intensifier, is utilized to exert tremendously high pressures on the compactible material in the mold so that the particles of the materials are substantially bonded together to produce a solid block.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar is combined with a cassette tape player carried inside of the body of the guitar and arranged for playing recorded music simultaneously with live music being played on the guitar by a musician. Necessary switches, wiring, and power supplies are also included. In one version of the assembly all components are carried inside or on the surface of the guitar so as to provide a self-contained assembly. Another version includes an external, large amplifier/speaker located away from the guitar but interconnected with controls and a pickup device on the guitar.

Abstract: A hair tie and fastener device has a cord formed into a loop, with one end of the cord stopping at the loop and the other end extending outward. The short end is formed into or connected to a restraining mechanism which controls reversible movement of the longer portion of the cord. The restraining feature may be a noose or slipknot formed into the cord, a keeper plate for use with a compressible cord or a spring-biased pawl mechanism. Movement from a hair-grasping position to a hair-releasing position is thus enabled.

Abstract: A tank weighing assembly includes a shear-web load cell in the form of an annular disk, a supporting base plate and components for mounting the load cell in a manner such as to enable compensation for effects of exposure to forces of the wind and thermal expansion. The load cell and a mounting washer each have an axial aperture through which a connecting bolt extends. The bolt has a countersunk head inclined at an angle of 45 to 50 degrees and an adjacent wall has an angle 3 degrees larger. A gap of ⅛th inch on each side of the bolt is provided to allow a small amount of lateral movement. Mating arcuate surfaces at the bottom of the load cell hub and at the top of the mounting washer enable self alignment.

Abstract: A device for enhancing the fastening of the top button of a dress shirt comprises a latch member having a tab portion and a hook portion. The tab portion is adapted to be sewn to the button hole placket at the top of the shirt so that the hook portion may engage the top button.

Abstract: A protective insert for placement underneath a baseball or softball glove takes the form of a flat circular disk of a high density microcellular urethane padding material. The disk has an internal cutout pattern of two inverted v-shaped channels which enclose upper portions of a pair of triangular fingers and which define an outer rim and a spoke member between the triangular fingers. To place the disk in position for use, index and middle fingers of a player are threaded between the outer rim and tops of the triangular fingers, and the disk is pulled downward so as to locate the lower portion of the disk over the palm of the user's hand. The outer rim, spoke and triangular fingers hold the disk in position without the presence of external connections.

Abstract: A golf putter head has a cylindrical body with a defined flat face on top, the body made up of an outer shell of an aluminum alloy and an inner core of brass. The head has a groove across the flat face of the top and at its center, with indicator material carried in the groove for alignment purposes. The head is sized so that the convex surface of the cylindrical body at its widest point will strike a golf ball at its corresponding widest point, thus providing for quick rolling action of the ball when putted. The combined outer shell/inner core structure is used to obtain favorable “feel” and balance properties.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting and transporting drywall panels on a lift platform has a pair of panel-supporting legs of square metal tubing attachable to side rails of a lift platform. Each of the legs is connected to the rails by an upper clamp at the top of the leg and a lower clamp at a middle location. A panel-receiving U-shaped channel is located on the opposite side of the leg, away from the rails. The lower clamp has a standoff member included in its connection to the leg, which serves to project the bottom of the legs outward at an angle. Rollers at the top and bottom of the legs provide low-friction rolling contact for weight bearing surfaces, and other rollers are placed to keep panels away from contacting the legs or other surfaces.

Abstract: A high volume pressure valve accurately adjustable to within 0.25 PSIG for attachment to a pipe outlet. A flanged valve body and a cap are connected by a compression spring to permit the opening of the valve when the predetermined outlet pressure setting of the valve is exceeded.

Abstract: A trailer hitch alignment device has a base block for placement on the coupler of a trailer. The block has a magnet at its bottom for being connected to the coupler and a series of apertures directed at varying angles to receive an upright post inclined at a selected angle. A cross arm extending generally horizontally is connected to the post in a manner such as to allow adjustments in vertical and horizontal directions. The post-to-cross arm connection has pair of block members through which the post and cross arm pass and a spring biasing the members together.

Abstract: A magnetic refrigeration system uses high-temperature side thermal diode modules with magnetocaloric material placed inside of hermetically sealed module containers. The material in the form of a porous matrix. The material comes into direct thermal contact with or is submerged in a hest transfer fluid, and a radical increase in heat transfer is obtained due to large surface area and pores in the material, which serve as nucleation sites and develop thin meniscus evaporating layers. These modules also contain special condensing surfaces and a means for return of condensed fluid to the evaporator. Various combinations with low-temperature side modules are also disclosed. A refrigeration system using the modules includes a rotatable disk on which a plurality of modules disposed radially on the disk are carried, and the disk is rotated in proximity to a magnetic field generator so that the material in the modules is intermittently magnetized and thereby heated.

Abstract: A motor mount for connecting an outboard motor to the transom of a boat includes mechanisms for raising and lowering the height of the motor with respect to the transom. The mount has an upper bracket and a lower bracket, each having upper and lower rectangular horizontal plates, all of which are aligned vertically. The horizontal plates of each bracket are connected to L-shaped vertical plates. The two brackets are interconnected and overlapped with the top plate of the lower bracket being located above the lower plate of the upper bracket. A pair of hydraulic cylinders operate between plates of the lower bracket, and piston rods propelled by the cylinders move the upper bracket up and down. Vertically extending rods are used to prevent twisting, and bearing capability is provided in cylinder assemblies.