Abstract: A float mechanism for attaching a material-moving implement to an instant transfer connector has a pair of spaced apart substantially vertical supports, each with a substantially vertical slot in an upper region and configured to attach to the instant transfer connector. The slots are slidably engaged by a transfer bar attached to the implement, and a stabilizing structure limits the motion of the transfer bar in the slots. The limited flexibility allows the implement to push material across uneven terrain. Blocks can be employed to disable the flexible action when the implement is employed for loading and dumping material.

Abstract: A float mechanism for movably attaching an implement to a vehicle has a mounting frame that connects onto the vehicle and a fixed frame that affixes to the implement. A pivot bracket pivotally attaches to one of the frames and is slidably connected to the other to accommodate a limited degree of translational motion. The pivot bracket can slidably connect to the frame by a pair of guides in combination with a pair of sleeves. Rotational motion between the fixed frame and the mounting frame can be limited by slots in one of the frames that are slidably engaged by a stabilizing element on the other frame. When the stabilizing element is a horizontal bar, it can engage a pair of vertical slots. To optionally eliminate the free motion between the frames, movable blocks can be employed to limit the motion of each stabilizing element in its slot.

Abstract: A lighting assembly employs LED lamps and associated side-emitting lenses that each redirect the light generated by the associated LED lamp to provide a distribution of emitted light substantially normal to an axis of symmetry of the lens. In a basic embodiment, the lighting assembly employs two lenses in a stacked configuration, with one lens being inverted. The lighting assembly has two plates, to which the lenses and LED lamps attach, and the plates are attached together by a cylinder to form a sealed enclosure for the lenses and LED lamps. When increased light intensity is desired, an additional plate and cylinder can be added to form an additional enclosure, housing additional LED lamps and lenses. Further enclosures can be formed by additional plates and cylinders.

Abstract: A cutting head assembly holds a pair of tool bits for an on-vehicle brake disk lathe having a platform. The cutting head assembly has a platform key fixed to the platform and extending parallel to a brake disk axis of rotation. The cutting head assembly also has a plate having a plate keyway that slidably engages the platform key. Tool bit arms are adjustably mounted to the plate and support the tool bits. A locking structure connected to the plate locks the platform key with respect to the plate keyway, and the interaction of the locking structure with the plate and the platform key creates a compressive load between the plate and the platform as the platform key is locked with respect to the plate keyway.

Abstract: The method and apparatus employ a resilient element having end definition points that are constrained between stops spaced apart at a separation S. The separation S is less than a free length L between the end definition points when not constrained, causing the resilient element to bow and resulting in a displacement m of a central region of the resilient element. The displacement m changes responsive to the net change in the separation S and the free length L. When the geometry is set such that the displacement m is very small, a relatively large change in displacement m results from small net changes. The change in the displacement m can be monitored to provide a micro strain gauge. The stops can be mounted to a substrate which differs from the resilient element in its response to a selected environmental stimulus to provide a sensor for the environmental stimulus.

Abstract: A traction device for a boot has a felt platform with a toe section and a heel section, and a heel extension attached to the heel section. Cording passes through two pairs of passages in each of the toe section and the heel extension. On each side, the cording passing from a toe section passage to a heel extension passage forms a side stringer, and the cord extending beyond the heel extension forms a cord extension segment. Loops are provided on each side stringer, and the cord extension segments are each passed through one of the loops before being cinched to tighten the cording against the boot. Preferably, a single length of cord is employed and the loops are tied into the side stringers. It is also preferred for the toe section passages to be positioned on ear extensions that protrude from a body of the felt platform.

Abstract: A side-emitting lens for use with an LED lamp provides a distribution of emitted light that is substantially normal to an axis of symmetry of the lens; the light can also be symmetrical with respect to a plane normal to the lens axis. The lens has a cavity in which the LED lamp can reside, having a cavity refracting surface with a central section and a stepped cavity sidewall. The lens also has a base external refracting surface surrounding the cavity, an internal reflecting surface spaced apart from the cavity, and a side surface; these surfaces redirect light that enters the lens through the cavity refracting surface. For many applications, the lens axis is vertical in service and the lens is configured to provide a narrow distribution of light in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A number of stackable weights can be bundled together and secured with a lashing to form a modular sinker of a desired weight. Each stackable weight has an elongated bar bounded by four side surfaces and having a fixed eye. A link member is movably attached to the fixed eye and terminates in a coupling eye. The link member provides a degree of motion between the coupling eye and the fixed eye of the bar, allowing the coupling eyes of multiple stackable weights to be connected together to a single fastener while the bars are positioned together in a side-by-side relationship. When so connected, the link members form a pyramid-shaped coupling structure that will reduce the likelihood of snagging the resulting modular sinker. The bars preferably have textured side surfaces to frictionally engage each other to maintain the bars parallel and to retain an elastic band that provides the lashing.

Abstract: A linkable sinker which is particularly suitable for trolling can be used alone or linked end-to-end with similar sinkers. The sinker has an elongated weight with a weight passage and a wire member passing therethrough. The wire member terminates at a leading eye and a trailing eye; the eyes are spaced apart sufficiently that the wire member can be slid in the weight passage to remove a trailing eye leg from the weight passage to open the trailing eye, thereby allowing the leading eye of another sinker to be connected to form an articulated sinker. A resilient hood of compressible material is preferably provided, covering the leading eye. The resilient hood covers the space between adjacent weights when linked together. Preferably, the trailing eye is maintained in engagement with a trailing end of the weight to secure the leading eye of a subsequent sinker when connected to the trailing eye.

Abstract: A line shield has a tube that can be secured with respect to a sinker to guide the sinker over submerged obstructions. The tube has a tube passage, through which a line attached to the sinker passes, and terminates at a tube leading end and a tube trailing end. The tube is preferably secured to the sinker by a resilient hood having a hood passage sized to frictionally fit over the tube trailing end, and to frictionally fit over an eye of the sinker or a connecting element attached thereto, such as a snap. The frictional engagement of the resilient hood with the eye and the tube trailing end maintains the tube in close proximity to the sinker or connecting element. In use, the tube leading end is raised so that the tube acts as a ramp-shaped deflector to guide the sinker over obstructions.

Abstract: A hand-held stitching tool for forming decorative patterns of yarn on mesh materials has a stitching needle with a blunt end and an elongated handle having a top surface and a bottom surface and sized for holding between the thumb and the index finger with the index finger resting along the top surface of the handle. Preferably, the handle is wide enough to allow the third finger to be supported by the handle, allowing the user to clamp the yarn with the third finger. The stitching needle has a distal end region with an eye passage bounded by flattened surfaces that are parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the handle. A guide passage can be provided on the handle to carry the yarn along the handle. The tool is well suited for practicing the described methods for forming decorative loops and chain stitches on a mesh material.

Abstract: An alignment mechanism that employs two slant disks to adjust alignment between the axes of rotation of a lathe spindle and a wheel hub has a float plate positioned between the slant disks. Rotation of the float plate is limited with respect to a base, which affixes to the lathe spindle, and a cap, which affixes with respect to the wheel hub. Limiting rotation of the float plate prevents transfer of torque from one slant disk to the other when one slant disk is rotated with respect to the base and the cap by an alignment adjustment system to vary the angle and orientation of the misalignment between the two axes. Preventing such transfer of torque allows each of the slant disks to be independently adjusted by the alignment adjustment mechanism without applying a drag force to the slant disk.

Abstract: A wineglass having a bowl of depth D and a bottom region symmetrically disposed about a central axis is provided with a protrusion having a central core, attaching to the bottom region of the bowl and terminating in a central core free end, and one or more ledges attached to the central core and positioned to form one or more wine-supporting ledge surfaces positioned intermediate between the central core free end and the bottom region of the bowl. The protrusion is disposed about the central axis and has a height H that is preferably between about 0.5 D<H<0.8 D. When the wineglass is swirled, the wine-supporting ledge surfaces serve to catch the wine and allow the wine to subsequently fall back, thus aerating the wine and enhancing the perceived bouquet. The protrusion can include a pedestal sized to aid in measuring a sample volume of wine.

Abstract: A mine service vehicle has a forward module, a rear module, and a cab module of unitized construction that can be secured together to assemble the vehicle. The forward and rear modules preferably have frame sections with terminating plates that can be affixed together with bolts, while the cab preferably mounts to the forward and rear modules by resilient couplings. The bolts preferably pass through tension sleeves into threaded holes in bolt receiver plates attached to one of the terminating plates. A frame extender can be affixed between the terminating plates to lengthen the vehicle. The vehicle preferably has a rear axle mounted to axle support bars that are each resiliently, floatably mounted to a pair of axle support brackets by a pivot bolt, with resilient bearings interposed between the axle support bar and the pivot bolt as well as between the pivot bolt and the axle support brackets.

Abstract: A search apparatus and related method facilitate the final stage of a search for a buried person carrying a transmitter. When the searcher is in the close vicinity of the buried transmitter, the search enters a point-localization phase where the apparatus displays a representation of the current target distance from the apparatus to the buried transmitter as well as a representation of a previously-stored value for the target distance. By comparing the current distance to the previously-stored distance, the searcher can readily see whether the apparatus is getting closer to the buried transmitter or further away. Preferably, graphic symbols are displayed to represent the current distance and the previously-stored distance. The display can also provide a representation of whether the current distance is greater than or less than an immediately preceding distance that has been stored.