Abstract: The folding bunk beds of this invention fold between a horizontal sleep position and a vertical storage position. The various embodiments, both manually operated and power operated, of the folding bunk beds use vertically shifting pivot points to accommodate larger bed decks. The bed decks are hinged to carriages that slide on vertical shafts mounted within a wall frame. Bed decks are mounted to support arms that are pivotally connected to the carriages. A linkage mechanism or guide track allows the bed decks to pivot simultaneously between a horizontal sleep position and a vertical storage position as the carriages shift along the shafts. The vertically shifting pivot point allows the bed decks to kneel down, that is to fold up at a pivot point lower on the wall.

Abstract: A stow-away bed is disclosed that includes a flat rectangular deck pivotally mounted between opposed vehicle end walls by a pair of parallel swing arms. The parallel swing arms allow the bed deck to remain horizontal as the deck is manually swung between the storage and sleep positions. The stow-away bed is pivotally mounted between opposed vehicle end walls for movement between a sleep position where the bed deck is suspended adjacent the vehicle ceiling and a sleep position, where the bed deck is suspended from the vehicle ceiling. A pair of elastic cords connect the bed deck to the vehicle side wall. The elastic cords pull the bed deck toward the vehicle sidewall and help hold the bed deck in the sleep position.

Abstract: A blueberry drying apparatus is disclosed that includes a longitudinally extending produce conveyer and a drying chamber through which the conveyer passes. The conveyer belt is constructed of a wire mesh, which allows air flow through the conveyer. The drying chamber includes two separate sets of fans. One set of fans is mounted above the conveyer and blows air directly onto the berries carried atop the conveyer. The other set of fans is mounted below the conveyer and draws air through the conveyer and around the berries.

Abstract: An insulated glass (IG) assembly for windows which includes an internal lighting system is disclosed. The IG assembly includes two or more panes of glass, a spacer and a strip of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The spacer separates glass panes and provides the hermetic seal for the IG assembly. The spacer extends around the periphery of the glass panes with a portion of its ends overlapping to form a sealed corner joint. The LED light strip includes a plurality of LED lamps connected in series by thin electrical contact wires fixed in a flexible nonconductive substrate. The LED strip is fixed to the spacer and extends around the periphery of the insulated glass unit. The lead wires from the LED light strip pass through the corner joint between the overlapped ends of the spacer. The LED light systems provide dependable illumination but emit relatively little thermal energy. Consequently, the LED light system maintains the thermal insulating properties of an insulated glass unit.

Abstract: The press tool includes a frame, an abutment part mounted to one end of the frame, and a lever actuated ram mounted to the other end of the frame. The ram includes a pair of interchangeable fittings (one for affixing the push nuts and one for removing the push nuts). Rocker plates pivotally connect the rams to a long lever, which extends and retracts the ram through a tubular sleeve mounted to the frame. The assembly fitting includes a magnet that holds a push nut to the ram. When the lever is depressed, the ram extends and the push nut is pressed axially onto the axle rod. The removal fitting has a two pronged head. When the lever is depressed, the prongs deform the push nut flange, which bends back the teeth that secure the push nut to the axle.

Abstract: A winding apparatus (winder) that is used to quickly and conveniently wind cargo straps into individual coils for storage from conventional strap winches is disclosed. The winder has a two piece design, which includes a “jawbone” shaped cantilever and a removable crank. The “jawbone” configuration of the cantilever is created by its toothed tapered sides at its front and the pair of spaced parallel ears at its rear. The removable crank can be fitted to the cantilever in a winding position inserted between the two ears or in a storage position secured within the front section of the cantilever. The cantilever is mounted to the strap winch in a plurality of positions to ensure that the rear of the cantilever extends beyond the edge of the trailer bed providing easy access to the crank in its winding position. One end of a cargo strap is secured to the crank, which is fitted to the cantilever and the crank is manually turned to wind the cargo straps into a coil.

Abstract: A leaf collection system for lawn blower/vacuums is disclosed. The collection system includes a port coupling fitted to the exhaust port of a blower/vacuum, a dust cover, and a unique disposable collection bag. The disposable collection bag is constructed of an environmentally friendly, bio-degradeable plastic that will quickly decompose along with the organic leaves and lawn debris collected therein. Both sides of the collection bag has several rows of T-shaped slits and two rows of straight or I-shaped slits that allow air to escape from the bag but retain the leaves and lawn debris deposited therein. The collection bag is shaped to fit inside the dust cover that is fixed to the port coupling. The port coupling includes an elastic lock ring that secures the collection bag to the coupling. The dust cover envelops of the collection bag and shields the operator from the dust that passes through the collection bag.

Abstract: A lock assembly for use with conventional fold-down bed doors of recreational vehicles is disclosed. The lock assembly draws the bed door down into proper contact with the door seal, as well as, securely locking the bed doors in their vertical closed position. The lock assembly includes a lock cylinder, a rotor, latch part and key. The lock cylinder is mounted to the bed door, with the rotor journaled inside. The latch part is operatively connected to the rotor so that it moves into progressive contact with a strike plate as the rotor is manually turned by a key. The latch part applies force against the inner edge of the strike plate to draw the bed door down against the door seal ensuring proper seating and closure of the bed door.

Abstract: A conveyer assembly used as part of an automated packaging system is disclosed. The conveyer assembly allows the container filling process and produce leveling process to be combined as a single process station in an automated packaging system. The conveyer assembly includes a pair of elastic belts trained about two pulleys, four vibration isolation rollers, and a vibrator mechanism. The vibration isolation rollers are mounted to the frame structure and positioned at incrementally higher positions, which creates a slight incline to the conveyer belts over the first half of the conveyer run. The highest isolation roller, which is located at the center of the conveyer assembly, isolates the first half of the conveyer run from the vibrations generated by the vibrator mechanism. Consequently, the first half of the conveyer run where the produce is deposited into the containers is stable and free from vibration, which reduces the loss of produce due to spillage.

Abstract: A head fitting for a bathtub waste water drainage system is disclosed. The head fitting simplifies leak testing in bathtub waste water drainage system and eliminates the need for a separate test cap and fastening hardware for leak testing. The head fitting includes an internal partition wall and a breakout test plug molded as an integral part of the head fitting. The internal partition wall and breakout test plug initially hermetically seal the flow passage of the head fitting for leak testing the drainage system. The test plug can be broken out from the internal partition wall to open the flow passage after leak testing and without damaging the head fitting. The test plug forms part of the partition wall defined by an annular groove in the partition wall. The groove forms an annular band of relatively thin material (fracture band) that integrally connects the test plug to the partition wall, but allows the test plug to be forcefully separated from the partition wall.

Abstract: A segment cut core machine is disclosed. The core machine includes five basic process stations: a roll stand; a glue station; a paper feed; a take-up station; and a core cut station. The core cut station uses a vertically oriented cutting shear with a unique beveled two-piece flying blade. The flying blade has a beveled cutting face that cuts the core stock in opposite directions from the outer edges to the center of the sheet. The beveled cutting edge reduces the “close time” of the shear and allows more core stock to be advanced into the shear. The take-up station includes a relatively flat horizontal deck and a gather adjustment gate that controls the character of the slack gathered in the sheet of core stock within the take-up station. The gate transverses over the sheet of core stock and can be shifted forward and back within the gather section of the take-up section to vary the wave length and amplitude of the gather form in the slack in the core stock.

Abstract: A guitar sling is disclosed that allows the musician to move and hold the guitar in any desirable instrument position with respect to the musician's body and that will “self-balance” the guitar in any position or orientation while the guitar is played. The sling consists of four basic components: a guitar strap, a length of cord, cord locks, a fixed strap coupler and a traveling strap coupler. The length of cord is connected between the strap buttons of the guitar and drawn taut across the back of the guitar body by the cord locks. The fixed strap coupler is connected to the strap button at the base of the guitar neck. The traveling strap coupler is mounted to the cord to freely slide along the length of the cord. One end of the guitar strap is connected to the fixed strap coupler while the other end is connected to the traveling strap coupler.

Abstract: The carriage attachment includes a sheet metal frame bent to have a flat deck and angled splash guard. Two wheels are mounted on either side of the carriage frame. A spray nozzle is fitted underneath the carriage deck and a quick release coupling is used to connect the carriage attachment to the wand of a power washer. The wheels can be mounted to the carriage frame at different positions to adjust the height of the nozzle over the surface being cleaned. The carriage attachment allows the operator to maintain an upright posture while cleaning ground surfaces using a relaxed sweeping motion. The carriage attachment reduces operator fatigue by allowing the operator to simply guide the movement of the carriage attachment over the surface without having to stabilize the extension wand under the force of the pressurized water stream.

Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support for chairs and vehicle seats, which provides an adjustable contour to the seat back for varying degrees of lumbar support to the seat occupant is disclosed. The lumbar support includes a mounting base, a lumbar plate, and a pair of articulated linkage arms. Each of the linkage arms includes an upper and lower segment, which are pivotally connected by an elbow joint. The lower segments of each linkage arm are pivotally connected to the mounting base and the upper segments of each linkage arm are pivotally connected to the lumbar plate. A Bowden cable is connected to the linkage arms at the elbow joints, such that extending or retracting the cable pulls or pushes the elbow joints together or apart to actuate the lumbar support. The linkage mechanism composed of the linkage arms and the six pivotal joints allows the lumbar plate a limited degree of pivotal movement between its fully extended and fully retracted positions.

Abstract: A venting plate for a containerized candle, which improves scent distribution while still providing a clean soot free combustion is disclosed. The venting plate includes a flat disc shaped top and a channeled annular baffle. The venting plate sits atop the mouth of the containerized candle and is supported above the rim of the vessel mouth by a number of mounting bosses or feet. The mounting feet space the top above the candle brim to permit the flow of inlet air underneath the venting plate between the plate top and the brim of the candle vessel. The baffle extends downward into the mouth of the vessel around the exhaust vent and has six recessed longitudinal furrows, which allow inlet air into the vessel interior. The baffle redirects the inlet air flow, which enters the candle horizontally from underneath the venting plate, downward along the vessel sidewall. The inlet air flow passes through the six inlet channels, which columnate the inlet air flow into distinct columns of air.

Abstract: A venting plate that can be used with any containerized candle regardless of shape, wick configuration or dimension is disclosed. The venting cover stabilizes the combustion flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion of containerized candles, thereby reducing candle smoke. The venting plate is shaped to conform to the shape of the mouth of the particular containerized candle. The venting plate has a central exhaust vent and includes a peripheral outer flange, an inner baffle and a plurality of mounting bosses or feet. The venting plate is supported atop the mouth of the containerized candle by the mounting feet, which space the venting plate above the brim of the candle to form an annular inlet vent. The baffle follows the contour and shape of the outer flange and extends downward into the mouth of the candle when seated atop a candle.

Abstract: A modular valve assembly of this invention includes individual valve units and components, which can be selectively combined to form an integrated multi-port, multi-way valve assembly that is operated by a single common linear actuator is disclosed. The modular design of this invention is facilitated by the construction of valve housings and valve components of the individual valve units and assemblies of common plumbing pipes and fittings, such as, tee joints, threaded couplings, bushings and reducers. A single linear actuator, such as a conventional solenoid or piston cylinder mounted to the end of the valve housing, reciprocates an elongated shaft running axially through the valve interior to move various valve discs into and out of engagement with various internal valve seats, thereby controlling the valve assembly operation.