Abstract: A drain closure is provided for mounting in the drain hole of a vessel such as a bathtub. The closure includes a strainer for mounting within the drain hole. A post extends upwardly from the strainer. A pair of bayonet pins extend outwardly from the post. The drain closure further includes a drain plug having a central aperture in sliding engagement with the post. The plug includes a pair of bayonet slots positioned for slidingly engaging the bayonet pins. An annular plug flange on the plug extends radially outwardly from the plug. An elastomeric seal is positioned beneath the plug flange for sealingly engaging the strainer flange. A cap is positioned on the drain plug over the top of the central aperture. A conical helical spring is positioned between the upper end of the post and the cap and acts to bias the plug upwardly away from the strainer.

Abstract: A laser based vehicle alignment kit is installed on an existing centerline gauge system to provide a pair of laser beams directed towards one end of a vehicle and a center laser which may be rotated 360° to simultaneously direct a beam towards the opposed end of the vehicle. The system includes a plurality of horizontal mounting bars, each equipped with structure for coupling with the center assembly of a centerline gauge and a pair of dependent blocks for leveling engagement with the gauge crossbars. One bar is equipped with a laser at each lateral end as well as a laser mounted above the center point of the gauge assembly. The center laser is rotatable 360° about an axis perpendicular with the bar. The remaining bars each include three upstanding transparent targets for sighting alignment with the lasers. The rotatable center laser is coupled with a scale and a series of stops for parallel or perpendicular alignment of the beam with respect to the lateral beams.

Abstract: An exhaust piping system is provided for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an exhaust system including an emission control device. The exhaust piping system includes an exhaust pipe connected to the engine and an emission pipe connected to the emission control device. The exhaust and emission pipes include ends which are tapered to form reduced outside diameters. A flexible hose coupling includes a bore which telescopically receives the exhaust and emission pipe ends. First and second annular clearances are formed between the reduced-diameter pipe ends and the flexible hose coupling bore, which clearances reduce wearing and abrasion of the flexible hose coupling associated with vibration and relative movement between the pipe ends and the flexible hose coupling.

Abstract: Advertising materials are provided for cooperative promotions. The materials consist of a set of coupons and a promotional piece or flare. Each coupon includes a back face with award structure information printed thereon and a front face with product advertising printed thereon. Each coupon entitles its purchaser to a substantial discount on a product, which discount exceeds the purchase price of the coupon. Multiple break-open windows are formed in the coupon and are movable between closed and open positions respectively concealing and revealing outcome-determining indicia. The indicia comprise symbol combinations and identify respective coupons as either losers or winners entitled to pre-determined awards. A cooperative promotional method utilizing the advertising materials is also disclosed.

Abstract: A length adjustable extension bar for connecting a mold ejector plate to a press ejector plate comprises a rotatable member threadingly secured on one end of a threaded stud. An opposite end of the threaded stud is connected to the press ejector plate and a distal end or head of the rotatable member is connected to the mold ejector plate. Rotation of the rotatable member relative to the threaded stud increases or decreases the overall length of the extension bar. A locking assembly comprising a locking sleeve biased by a spring into engagement with a locking nut is mounted on the extension bar to prevent adjustments in the length of the extension bar without first advancing the locking sleeve out of engagement with the locking nut. The locking sleeve is slidably mounted on the rotatable member shaft but is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft by a pin extending through the rotatable member shaft and aligned slots formed on opposite sides of the locking sleeve.

Abstract: A diffuser having side rails and bridges includes different sets of air control blades that are interchangeably mounted on and slidable along slots located in the bridges. The different sets of blades may be interchanged without disassembly of a remainder of the diffuser.

Abstract: A slot diffuser includes a pair of elongate and parallel side walls spaced by pairs of bridges. The bridges include feet that slide along receivers in the side walls such that the bridges can be positioned at any location therealong and provide support to the bridges and stability to the diffuser. The bridges include slots that extend between the side rails and that receive ends of air flow control blades. The air flow control blades include an elongate planar portion supported by rods extending outwardly on either side of the planar portions to support the blades in the slots. At a lower end of each planar portion opposite the rods is a foot that extends perpendicularly outward therefrom. Each side rail includes an inwardly projecting flange that is sized and positioned to slidably receive the foot of an associated blade such that the blade may be manually moved both within the slot and along the flange to properly position the blade during the installation or subsequent modification.

Abstract: A motorized golf bag cart includes a base frame which extends and retracts telescopically to respectively expand or collapse a battery mounting area. A drive motor supported in the base frame is linked to a drive axle which selectively drives a pair of drive wheel hubs positioned on respective opposite sides of the base frame. The base frame also includes a pair of transversely extending hollow tube which receive respective first and second telescoping support axles such that they are movable between an extended, operative position and a retracted, compact storage position. An articulating handle is designed to be compactly folded. The inventive golf bag cart is thus quickly and easily changeable between an extremely compact storage and transport configuration and a very stable, four wheeled, operative position.

Abstract: A slot diffuser includes a pair of elongate and parallel side walls spaced by pairs of bridges. The bridges include feet that slide along receivers in the side walls such that the bridges can be positioned at any location therealong and provide support to the bridges and stability to the diffuser. The bridges include slots that extend between the side rails and that receive ends of air flow control blades. The air flow control blades have an elongate planar portion supported by rods extending outwardly on either side of the planar portions to support the blades in the slots. The blades are removable without disassembling the entire diffuser. Each bridge has an arcuate cover that reduces air drag and each bridge also has a low profile to further reduce air drag and thus reduce noise produced by the diffuser.

Abstract: A timepiece includes interchangeable faces. The timepiece comprises a supportive structure, a face subassembly, and a clock mechanism. The face subassembly includes a backing with a front or outer surface and an inner surface, and a display with an inner surface and an outer surface. Markings may appear on the backing's outer surface or on the display. The display's outer surface can be decorated. First and second openings extend through the backing. An opening also extends through the display. One or more seats are attached near corners of the backing's outer surface. One or more connectors are attached near corners of the display's inner surface. The clock mechanism includes a clock motor with a shaft mounted on the backing's rear surface with the shaft extending through the backing's first opening. One or more hands are attached to an end of the shaft.

Abstract: An improved auto emergency warning marker, designed to be hung on an automobile side window, is made of molded plastic and includes a reflective base member and two reflective side members which fold to a compact storage configuration when not in use, but which interlock to make a highly visible triangle. Integrally molded with the base member are a hook positioned proximate one end of the base member, which hook curves outward away from the base member to fit over the top of an automobile side window which has been cranked partially open and a pad holder with attached resilient pad positioned near the center of the base member which contacts the window exterior to support the marker thereon. The improved warning marker will remain solidly anchored on an automobile side window, once positioned there, even in the face of gusting wind conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is a trailer extension support dolly with a frame supported by a pair of articulating, free castering support wheels. The trailer extension support dolly attaches between a trailer and a tow vehicle to at least partially support the tongue weight of the trailer. The trailer extension support dolly is attached to the trailer via a conventional ball and socket and a pair of linkage arms extending from the trailer extension support dolly frame rearward to the trailer hitch bar. Each of the trailer extension dolly support wheels is mounted on a respective stub axle which is attached to an articulating axle support bracket via a swivel mount so that each wheel is allowed to caster during turning operations. In order to provide proper castering while going either in a forward direction or a reverse direction, the angle of each axle support bracket is adjustable so that the stub axle swivel connection can be selectively angled forward or rearward.

Abstract: A detachable power supply apparatus for use with electrical appliances including removable temperature control devices includes a mounting panel on the temperature control device to which an electrical connector on a power supply cord is magnetically and electrically coupled. The mounting panel includes a ferrous contact plate attached to an outer surface thereof between a pair of conductive pins. The power supply cord includes a female electrical receptacle with a magnet subassembly attached at or near an outer surface thereof. The receptacle may be removably coupled to the mounting panel by positioning the receptacle outer surface adjacent the mounting panel contact plate. The magnet subassembly is designed to allow the receptacle to withstand a preselected tensile or pulling force and a preselected shearing or lateral force.

Abstract: An improved tub grinder includes a hammer mill having a swing diameter which is adjustable. The tub grinder includes: first and second sets of interchangeable hammers, the second set being shorter than the first; first and second interchangeable semi-cylindrical screen assemblies, the second screen assembly having a smaller diameter than the first; and a pair of shear bars and adapter plates. In a first configuration, the first set of hammers are mounted to a rotor assembly and have a first swing diameter. The first semi-cylindrical screen assembly is secured within a cylinder box in co-axial alignment and outwardly spaced relationship with the first set of hammers. The shear bars are mounted to the tub floor and extend across the sides of a floor opening in spaced relationship to the swing diameter of the first set of hammers to form a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A mobile lawn maintenance apparatus includes an implement mounting assembly for mounting an implement relative to the apparatus base which permits rotation of the implement about a horizontal axis and pivoting the implement about a vertical axis. An implement drive shaft, to which various implements may be interchangeably secured, is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly which is secured to a distal end of the implement mounting assembly. The implement drive shaft is driven by a drive belt connected between an implement drive pulley on the implement drive shaft and a drive pulley mounted on a drive shaft of an engine mounted on the frame of the apparatus. The implement mounting assembly telescopes and is spring biased to urge to implement drive pulley away from the engine drive pulley to maintain constant tension on the drive belt during rotation of the implement attached to the implement mounting assembly.

Abstract: A detachable handle assembly for a vessel includes a slotted mounting plate connected to the vessel and a handle grip with a latching assembly connected at one end. The latching assembly releasably engages the slotted mounting plate to connect the handle grip to the vessel. The latching assembly includes a base plate and a cover with an engagement tip formed at a forward end thereof and a spring biased cam latch slidably mounted in spaced relation below a lower surface of the base plate. The engagement tip includes a leg extending below the base plate of the latching assembly and a foot extending forward from the leg. The latching assembly is connected to the mounting plate by holding the handle grip at an angle relative to the mounting plate and inserting the engagement tip foot into a slot in the mounting plate.