Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a coupling device which, when mounted to a transport, serves to catch and immobilize a moving vehicle equipped with a coupling unit. The coupling device may be mounted onto a snowmobile trailer and includes a coupling system which effectively couples onto a snowmobile ski eyelet when the ski enters a coupling zone. The device includes appropriate mounts for mounting the device to the snowmobile trailer bed and a ski impacting plate which, when struck by the ski, causes a coupling pin retainer to move sufficiently to release the coupling pin. The released coupling pin couples to the eyelet and stops the snowmobile from further movement.

Abstract: The invention provides a panel section having an internally disposed open region concealed by a flexible member possessing sufficient porosity to be permeable to a flow of air therethrough. The panel section may be made by cutting an opening from an acoustical ceiling tile panel and then covering the opening with a porous and flexible member such as a cloth piece. The porous and concealed opening allows for detectable substances from utilities such as air, light and audio waves to pass through the flexible member and opening of the panel section. The panel sections are particularly useful in concealing utilities in suspended ceiling systems from view. The decorative patterns, styles, colorings, finishes, and decor of the permeable panel sections of this invention are distinctly unique.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ensilage slicing attachment for slicing compacted ensilage. The device is particularly adapted for attachment to a skid steer loader. It is especially useful in an open pit, trench, or bunker silos in which compacted ensilage may be sliced from a vertical compacted facing to produce a forkable product. The attachment typically includes a hydraulically driven reel equipped with flat slicing blades (such as sickle blades) which perpendicularly extend outwardly from the reel. The slicing blades are staggered so as to create uniform and even slicing action. Particularly effective are staggered slicing blades which transversely cut against the ensilage facing at a lateral spacing of about one to about two inches per reel revolution. The skid steer boom serves to sweep the reel along the face while slicing depth may be controlled by forward and backward movement.

Abstract: A material handling toy which can be used in three different modes--as a mobile crane, a highline carrier, or a highline hoist.

Abstract: The present invention provides a line tightening and fastening device which may be effectively used by mentally and physically handicapped persons. The fastening device includes laterally extending arms, each of which is equipped with an eyelet. The arms and eyelets are biased together in lateral alignment by a looped springed section which allows the eyelets to be forcibly sprung apart. When used, a tightening end of a fastening line or rope is strung through the eyelets, between the arms and then laterally between the eyelets. The line is tightened within the device simply by drawing upon the tightening line end to draw the line between eyelets. By drawing upon the opposite line or fastening end, the line becomes securely wedged between the eyelets and fastened onto the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coupling device which, when mounted to a transport, serves to catch and immobilize a moving vehicle equipped with a coupling unit. The coupling device may be mounted onto a snowmobile trailer and includes a coupling system which effectively couples onto a snowmobile ski eyelet when the ski enters a coupling zone. The device includes appropriate mounts for mounting the device to the snowmobile trailer bed and a ski impacting plate which, when struck by the ski, causes a coupling pin retainer to move sufficiently to release the coupling pin. The released coupling pin couples to the eyelet and stops the snowmobile from further movement.

Abstract: Bulky waste materials may be effectively reduced to a desirable recycling particle size by a waste recycling device equipped with a preshredding chamber and a shredding chamber. Rotors equipped with differently shaped and configured impacting heads or blades strategically positioned about the rotors within the two chambers serve to break the waste materials into progressively smaller sized particles. The preshredding rotor is typically operated at a lower rotational speed than the shredding rotor. The shredding rotor may be equipped with shredding blades which protectively retract from a working zone when exposed to excessive shearing forces. Relatively rigid waste materials such as wooden pallets may be effectively and continuously reduced in massive quantities to a recyclable size with the waste recycling device.

Abstract: There is provided an elevating device for elevating furniture equipped with legs (such as a chair) by placing the device beneath the legs of the furniture. The device includes, such in the case of a four legged chair, four adjustable radial arms respectively terminated by a pedestal section for supportively elevating legs of the chair. Each pedestal section is placed beneath a leg and the radial arms are then immobilized by tightly sandwiching the radial arm between a top plate and a bottom plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cotton candy product wrapped about cotton candy stick and held by a unique cotton candy holding device. The device includes a bowl-shaped receptacle equipped with a brim that defines an open end of the receptacle, a supportive lid fitted with a stick engaging socket on one side of the lid and a receptacle engaging rim section on an opposite lid side. The device is used by wrapping cotton candy around the stick and securing the stick onto the stick engaging socket and then affixing the brim of the receptacle onto the rim section of the lid. If desired, a plastic wrap may then be used as overwrap for the cotton candy product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for initiating a responsive signal to a predetermined processing condition. The method relies upon generating sufficient processing data about a desired processing condition to establish a processing profile reflective of the condition. The predetermined processing condition is indexed or inputted onto the profile which, in turn, allows for automatically initiating the signal when subsequent processes achieve the indexed condition. The method is particularly applicable for determining a proper curding point in a cheese manufacture using a control computer to store and compare an indexed processing profile with an on-going plant run.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fishing rod and spinning reel holding device equipped to signal a fisherman of a striking fish. The signaling mechanism has a axially mounted crank shaft which directly contacts onto a fishing line on one side of the crank shaft. The other side of the crank shaft is fitted with a hooked retainer for retaining a flagging unit such as a springed flag staff in a non-signaling position. When a striking fish tugs upon the fishing line, the fishing line forces the crank shaft to pivotally move about its axial mount and cause the hooked retainer to release the flagging unit to a flagging position and thus give the signal of the striking fish.

Abstract: A mechanical cooling device equipped with a bulk serving tank, a large capacity cooling compressor, a plurality of removable beverage retaining compartments sized so as to retain beverage cans in a rowed relationship, and a serving tank filled with a liquid coolant may be effectively utilized to rapidly cool and serve large quantities of beverages to large crowds such as often arise at festive events. The cooling device may be equipped with mobile means to permit its transport from site to site, levelers for leveling the device at the site and locking means for securing the beverages against theft. A circulatory system prevents localized freezing by uniformly circulating the coolant throughout the tank.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to an attachment for use in attaching liftable implements onto transporting tractors equipped with a hydraulic driven power source. The attachment includes a pivotally mounted barrel, and a supportive carriage member which slideably reciprocates along the barrel. The elevational pitch of the barrel is controlled by the reciprocating movement of the carriage member. The carriage member includes mounting sites for axially mounting stabilizing braces and the hydraulic source onto the carriage member for stabilizing it against lateral movement while also permitting it to supportively reciprocate along the barrel. Three point hitch implements may be attached and carried by the attachment.

Abstract: An alarm system includes an electronic central controller or control unit with an internal intrusion sensor. The controller is powered by a single nine volt battery. The system can be expanded by adding auxiliary sensors such as sound discriminators, glass breakage sensors and other low power battery operated sensors. The controller can perform all of the functions normally associated with large A.C. powered systems such as factory adjustable entry/exit and reset delays, entrance monitoring, and controlling of lights and message dialers. The system can be adapted for use in mobile environments.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bale carrying attachment suitably adapted for use upon transporting tractors equipped with a hydraulic driven power source. The attachment includes a pivotally mounted spear, and a supportive carriage member which slideably reciprocates along the spear. The elevational pitch of the spear is controlled by the reciprocating movement of the carriage member. The carriage member includes mounting sites for axially mounting stabilizing braces and the hydraulic source onto the carriage member for stabilizing it against lateral movement while also permitting it to supportively reciprocate along the spear.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use in suppressing surges of fluid flow therethrough by means of first and second flow paths the former of which has the greater fluid-handling capability but which also is subject to being closed to suppress a surge, while the latter remains open to bleed the surge pressure and effect re-opening of the former for normal flow subsequent to the surge.

Abstract: There is disclosed a protective covering attachment for pick-up trucks equipped with fifth-wheel tows. The attachment includes an undercarriage having a slotted portion which affords direct accessing of fifth-wheel hitching posts onto the hitching mount. Removable panel sections which mate onto the undercarriage about the slotted portion provide a protective cover while also permitting the appropriate panel sections to be removed for accessing onto the mount and then reassembled onto the undercarriage during the fifth-wheel tow. Partitioning the attachment into hinged segments permits accessing to the cargo hold without necessitating any detachment of panel sections from the undercarriage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simulator which when used aboard a vehicle normally undetectable by a traffic signal control system (e.g. A.C. energized buried sensing loop type which detects predetermined changes in the characteristics of an electromagnetic field due to the presence of a detectable vehicle therewithin), will substantially simulate the characteristics of a detectable vehicle within its field and thereby cause any activation of the system. Operationally, the simulator derives an electrical signal from the field (e.g. via a receiving antenna), converts the electrical signal into a modified transmittable signal of an amplitude which when impressed upon the field (e.g. via a transmitting antenna) simulates electromagnetic influence of a detectable vehicle therewithin which is sensed by the detector circuitry and activates an associated traffic signal controller to provide the necessary signals (e.g. a green arrow) to allow safe and unobstructed traffic flow at an intersection.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the conversion of rotating disc type wood chippers into a multi-purpose shredding device. Such wood chippers are typically equipped with a power driven rotating disc fitted with chipping knives mounted to the disc feed side and adjacent passageways thereto leading to the opposite disc side to a secondary processing chamber for the further processing of materials therewithin. By including channeling members about the passageways which alter the aerodynamics and material flow patterns on the disc feed side, buoyant feed materials (e.g. paper, plastic, etc.) can now be effectively processed with such wood chippers. A grating member can be placed at the material discharge to control the particle size of the discharged materials. An enclosed system fitted with a cyclone and agriculture baler permits the shredded materials to be continuously converted to small bales.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable, temporary railroad signaling device which may be tenaciously secured onto a railroad rail and its use. The device includes an adjustable and fixed clamping mechanism for clasping onto a railroad rail placed therewithin, which mechanism when tightly drawn together mechanically biases and wedges the rail therebetween. The device advantageously includes a collapsible arm to mount and support a signaling unit thereupon an internal housing for stowing a signaling unit therewithin and a lock for locking the clamped device onto the rail to protect the device against unauthorized tampering.