Abstract: The invention provides a mower attachment for a lawn or garden tractor carried on the tractor for movement between transport and operating positions. An articulated boom structure is guidably supported for up and down pivotal movement to provide for a predetermined substantially horizontal low path of movement for a mower unit at the free end of the boom structure, and for utilization of the weight of the mower unit in extending the boom structure during pivotal movement thereof. Extension of the boom structure is yieldably resisted by a spring unit which also functions to provide a floating action of the mower unit in following the ground contour in a mowing operation.

Abstract: The guard unit for the cutter wheel of a stump removing machine has an upper member pivotally mounted on the machine for up and down pivotal movement, within defined limits, to maintain a shield member in a continuous covering clearance with the cutter wheel during a stump removal operation. A bottom member of the guard unit has a central portion and outwardly and upwardly inclined end portions. The central portion is rideable on the top surface of a stump during a cutting movement laterally of the stump and on a reversal of the lateral cutting movement an end portion is engageable with an edge portion of the top surface to position the central portion on the stump top surface.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier mounted at the rear end of a vehicle for transporting from one to four bicycles having demountable front wheels. The carrier includes a lower rack rearwardly of the vehicle and an upper rack supported by the lower rack above the rear trunk of the vehicle. Each rack includes an elongated horizontally mounted frame extended transversely of and within the transverse confines of the vehicle. Mounted on each frame associated with each bicycle to be carried thereon is an upwardly facing trough or channel member for receiving and supporting the rear wheel of a bicycle. In linear alignment with the channel member, a fork stanchion is mounted on the frame for supporting the front wheel fork of the bicycle. The front wheel is supported on a wheel stanchion which is mounted on the frame beside the front wheel fork stanchion. A retaining arm assembly on the frame yieldably urges the rear wheel into the channel member when the front wheel fork is locked on the fork stanchion.

Abstract: A device for use in oral and dental hygiene wherein an oral irrigator is provided for connection to a conventional syringe or the like for applying fluid under pressure to the irrigator. The irrigator has a downwardly tapered tip with one or more longitudinally formed channels fluidly connected to the fluid supply syringe, with the remaining circumference of the irrigator tip capable of holding away the gum tissue, whereby irrigating fluid under pressure is applied into the base of a periodontal pocket for cleansing purposes with the channels also providing an exit for the fluid and debris to prevent undue pressure build-up.

Abstract: An improved surge braking mechanism for trailer vehicles including a brake shoe carried on a lever plate by an articulated linkage system. The braking mechanism moves the lever plate to bring the brake shoe into braking engagement with a brake drum of the trailer vehicle in response to the forward inertia of the trailer vehicle during braking. When the inertia of the trailer vehicle is either neutral or rearward, the braking mechansim acts to take the brake shoe out of braking engagement with the brake drum. The articulated linkage system limits the movement of the brake shoe away from the brake drum during rearward movement of the trailer vehicle. Upon transitional motion of the brake shoe in response to forward movement of the trailer vehicle, the brake shoe is smoothly returned to its normal position ready for braking of such forward movement. Undesired temporary braking engagement of the brake shoe observed during such transitional movement in known surge braking mechanisms is thereby prevented.

Abstract: A venting unit is inserted in a press fit within the air vent of a rubber article forming mold and is comprised of a cylindrical body member with an axial bore having a reduced outer end section forming an air inlet open to the mold cavity. Received for reciprocal axial movement within the bore between an inlet closed position in abutting engagement with the outer end section and an inlet open position removed from the outer end section is a heat absorbing piston or disc. The opposite or inner end section of the bore receives a vented plug in a press fit to form a radially inwardly projected shoulder and a spring is held in compression between the disc and the shoulder of the vented plug. During expansion of the rubber article, pressurized air in the mold cavity urges the disc to its inlet open position and is vented to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The method of this invention provides for the molding of a composite article such as a woven seat for use in furniture or automobiles wherein a woven fabric material and a plastic frame structure coact to enhance their respective strength characteristics. The fabric material is maintained under tension during the molding operation concurrently with the perimetral portion thereof being imbedded in a bonded relation with the frame structure. The strength characteristics of the woven fabric material are thus increased due to the uniform load distribution over the total area of the fabric seat resulting from the bonded securement of the perimetral portion with the frame structure.

Abstract: The baler has a plurality of rolls and belts defining an expandable bale forming chamber. Preselected belt sections extended between an adjacent pair of the rolls and movable in a path out of engagement with the bale being formed in the chamber are provided with a twist of about 180.degree.. Any loose crop material carried by a belt is released and dropped from the belt on travel of the preselected belt section between the adjacent pair of rollers.

Abstract: The combination highway and rail vehicle has front and rear sets of road wheels and front and rear sets of rail guide wheels. The rear set of rail wheels is pivotally supported on the main frame for up and down adjustable pivotal movement to predetermined positions, and for road travel is equipped with a pair of spare road wheels that are secured to the rail wheels for rotation therewith about a common axis. With the spare road wheels in ground engagement, the rear set of rail wheels or tag assembly is pivotally adjusted to urge the spare road wheels downwardly against the road surface to carry a portion of the rear axle vehicle load concurrently with transferring a further portion of the vehicle load to the front vehicle axle to distribute the gross vehicle load over the load carrying axles within legal and permissible load limits for road travel.

Abstract: The dispensing device has an open ended cylinder member for receiving a can container having an open end supported on an annular shoulder at one end of the cylinder member. A cup shaped piston, extendible and retractible relative to the other end of the cylinder member carries a piercing member to pierce a hole in the closed end of the can on an initial retraction of the cup shaped piston within the cylinder member. A second retraction of the piston applies a pressure on the material in the can for discharge from its open end into a material receiving chamber from where it is ejected into a feeding dish. An air bleed hole in the piston is open during the piercing operation and manually closed when material is to be discharged from the can.

Abstract: The nozzle structure for a root feeding device includes a ground inserting tube or pipe having a nozzle unit at the end thereof formed with an axially extended bore and radially extended fluid discharge passages intermediate the ends thereof. The nozzle unit is generally comprised of a pair of coaxially aligned cone sections with the outer cone section of a reduced size and the outlets of the radial passages positioned between the adjacent ends of the cone sections. The fluid discharged from the outer end of the axial bore acts to pre-soften or lubricate the soil for hard ground penetration; and the fluid from the radial passages assists penetration and is discharged into a receiving chamber formed about the nozzle unit, when in the soil, for ground dispersion annularly about the nozzle unit.

Abstract: A baler for forming large round bales and drawn behind a tractor has an expandable bale forming chamber for receiving a crop windrow fed thereto by a pick-up device. Sensing means responsive to expansion of the chamber automatically steers the baler relative to the tractor in a sinusoidal path along the crop windrow to feed material over the length of the forming chamber. Turning movements of the baler are alternately in opposite directions transversely of the windrow at the same rate and like degree, and take place with an increasing frequency to a final expansion of the chamber to produce a cylindrical bale of uniform diameter.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing of an oleaginous product in an extruder under pressure and heat and then introducing the product, while under such pressure and heat, into a forming unit for particulating the product into a predetermined substantially uniform size and shape. The operation is continuous with the forming unit comprising an attachment mounted at the extruder product outlet to receive directly therefrom the processed product.

Abstract: A cylindrical bale forming machine has a bale transfer unit yieldably maintained in a transport or rest horizontal position located below the bale discharge gate to receive a bale discharged from the machine for transfer to a ground location rearwardly clear of the discharge gate. The transfer unit is operated in response to the movement of the discharge gate into its open or bale discharge position and is returned to its rest position in response to movement of the discharge gate out of the open position therefor.

Abstract: The metal form has a flexible panel member with a perimetral flange projected laterally from one side thereof. Each of a pair of transversely opposite side sections of the flange is segmented by a plurality of longitudinally spaced V-shaped notches having their apices adjacent the one side of the panel member to provide for a lateral flexing movement of the panel member to a preselected shape. With the panel member in the predetermined shape, the segments in each of the flange side sections are connected together against relative movement to retain the predetermined shape of the panel member.

Abstract: A venting unit is inserted in a press fit within the air vent of a rubber article forming mold and is comprised of a cylindrical body member with an axial bore having a reduced outer end section with an air inlet open to the mold cavity. The junction of the reduced outer end section with the main section of the bore is defined by a shoulder that provides a rubber severing member. Any uncured rubber which, during expansion of the rubber article to its final form that may be compressed into the reduced section expands on entering the main bore section and is severed at the shoulder on removal of the formed article from the mold cavity. The diameter of the reduced bore section relative to its axial length provides for the unexpanded rubber that adheres to the removed article being of a relatively minute size so as to form with the exterior surface of the article a substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Abstract: The round bale wrapping machine is tractor operated and is equipped with a rotatable platform to support the bale in an upright position for rotation about a vertical axis. The machine supported bale is located adjacent a wrapping mechanism which automatically wraps a plastic sheet material about the bale under the control of the tractor operator. The plastic sheet material is of a roll form rotatably carried on an upright arm at a fixed location on the machine frame. The wrapping mechanism is movably supported on the machine frame for selected movement with and relative to the rotatable platform and to the plastic roll and operates to automatically complete a first plastic wrap around the bale with the lead end of the plastic sheet pressed against the bale periphery at a position to be covered by a second wrap of the plastic sheet about the bale.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the ram pressure normally required to seal the mold of an injection mold apparatus. A movable mold section is rigidly secured to a flat plate-like carriage member mounted for reciprocal movement relative to a stationary mold section. A plate unit is supported between the carriage member and the ram in a floating and axially aligned relation, with the movable mold section located within the perimetric confines of the carriage member and the plate unit. On linear extension of the ram to initially abutingly engage the plate unit and carriage member the movable mold section is moved into engagement with the stationary mold section whereby the ram clamping force is distributed uniformly in a pyramidal pattern from the ram to the perimetric portions of the mold sections to seal the mold.