Abstract: An approximately cuboidal or frustopyramidal, partially hollow marking element has a flat bottom plate and a main body which is stiffened by ribs and which is connected at two mutually opposite sides to preferably reflecting bars. The marking element comprises only the bars and the main body which is integral with the bottom plate and in the interior of which a plurality of ribs extend normal to the bars. At most one rib extends parallel to the bars.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight and easy-to-use wheeled lawn care unit comprising a two-wheeled carriage, a power source, plurality of tools which may be alternatively connected to the power source, a handle and a boom connecting the selected tool to the power source. The power source is pivotally connected to the carriage at a location within its footprint. The unit has a low center of gravity by placing the power source pivot and center of gravity within a cylinder defined by the wheels. The boom extends horizontally from the power source and is of a split boom configuration which allows selective rotation for the boom portions relative to one another. An edger can be selected for the unit, which includes a spring-loaded wheel. The edger may be rotated from a non-working position where the edger blade does not contact the ground to a working position by rocking a handle behind the carriage forward against the bias of the spring. A second more compact version has the shield positioned on the boom.

Abstract: A retractable versatile bollard of simple construction is made of stainless steel. The post is generally cylindrical in shape and, when the bollard is in stored position, the post sits in a sleeve in the ground below grade level. In active position, the post can be grasped by a handle and pulled up by human effort to where only a lower portion remains submerged underground. The lower portion of the cylindrical post has spiral threading that mates with spiral grooves at an upper sleeve portion of the sleeve when the post is turned after first raising the post to an appropriate point. Bollard has a safety lock for permitting the post to be raised from a stored position to an active position and a double lock that prevents it to from being easily lowered by mischievous individuals from the raised active position to the stored position.

Abstract: An impact attenuating barrier well extending longitudinally along a roadway and adapted to intercept an errant vehicle leaving the roadway and redirect the vehicle back onto the roadway. The wall comprises a fixed obstacle such as a concrete wall or a standard W-beam guardrail extending along the roadway. A plurality of first resilient energy absorbing HMW/HD polyethylene cylinders are arranged in side-by-side relationship between the obstacle and the roadway, the inner halves of adjacent cylinders defining gaps therebetween. A plurality of second resilient energy absorbing HMW/HD cylinders having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first cylinders are located within the gaps to prevent snagging of an errant vehicle upon impact.

Abstract: A lawn aerating and weeding tool has an elongate metal attachment secured to one end of an elongate handle. The metal attachment comprises an annular cutting blade at one end of the metal attachment, a retainer at an opposite end of the metal attachment and a connection between the annular cutting blade and the retainer; the retainer being secured to the one end of the handle. The connection provides a gap between the annular cutting blade and the retainer in axial alignment with the annular cutting blade and the handle, the gap being open towards opposite sides of the metal attachment to facilitate removal of earth plugs cut by the annular cutting blade.

Abstract: A mid-chassis, underbody plow or scrapper blade is mounted under a vehicle chassis to be folded upwardly for storage when not in use. The blade is also mounted to permit the outer ends of the blade to move vertically. Pneumatic pressure actuators mounted on either side of the center line of the vehicle apply pressure through pivot arms to the respective ends of the blade to control the scrapping action. The support structure for the blade swings upwardly to achieve a two-stage storage which increases the elevation of the blade when folded.

Abstract: Directional drilling apparatus (26) for location on a drill string (20) comprises a stabilizer (32) having a mandrel (38) for connection to the drill string (20) and an eccentric non-rotating element (46) mounted on the mandrel (38) for offsetting the string (20) in the bore (22) and a non-rotating offset mass (34) for maintaining the element (46) at a selected orientation relative to the bore (22) as the drill string (20) rotates.

Abstract: A removable vehicle barrier for stopping a moving vehicle, which includes at least one high tensile strength filament disposed transverse to the direction of vehicle movement, having spaced-apart tire adhesion elements attached to the filament, the adhesion elements being provided with lower spike plates for attaching themselves to the tires of a moving vehicle when the vehicle passes over the barrier, thereby winding the filament around a component of the vehicle underside and effecting the halting of the vehicle. The lower spike plates are covered to allow passage thereover by a vehicle front wheel without engaging the filament, front wheel passage causing exposure of the lower spike plates which then attach themselves to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: The Hand Grader tool is designed so as to allow the user to grade material such as sand, loam, gravel, stone or wet concrete and due to the angle of the faces it eliminates the need of the user to apply pressure upwardly or downwardly on the tool to carry the materials to grade. The tool will thus save energy and assist in efficient completion of a task. The tool consists of a hoe type handle approximately 5 feet long made of an appropriate material and approximately 1⅛ inch in diameter connected through a split pipe member to a single piece of five gauge steel 6¾ inches long by 6 to 20 inches wide. The steel is bent to 140° inclusive angle. The angle is bent in the center leaving two faces of 3⅜ inches in width. The handle is engaged at an angle greater than 90° with one face and centered along the length of the face.

Abstract: A highway crash cushion provides a system response profile that reduces the stopping distance of an impact event. This crash cushion includes a frame that forms at least two bays arranged one behind another in an anticipated impact direction. The frame includes at least three transverse frames and side frames extending between adjacent transverse frames. Each of the side frames is outwardly bowed and includes first and second side frame elements coupled to the respective transverse frames, and a hinge coupled between the first and second side frame elements. At least one energy absorbing element is disposed in one of the bays, and at least first and second restraints are coupled to the side frames to resist movement of the hinges at an early stage in an impact event.

Abstract: A dock leveler ramp with a lip that can be latched in an extended position to ensure that the lip comes to rest upon the back end of a vehicle as the ramp descends includes an unlatching mechanism. The mechanism positively unlatches the lip by direct force created by the lip engaging the vehicle or created by the ramp descending upon an internal abutment in the event that a vehicle is not present. Also, the descent of an unlatched lip is dampened to prevent the lip from slamming back down to its pendant position.

Abstract: A wing accessory is provided for mounting on each end of a bucket of a front end loader. The accessory comprises a wing which includes a frame having hooks for extending over the front edge of the bucket and a coupling for securement with fasteners to the back side of the bucket. The wing further includes a panel which is supported to extend laterally outward from the front end of the bucket by a pair of struts coupled to the frame to increase the overall width of the bucket. This is particularly useful when using the bucket for collecting loose material from a given area, for example in the removal of snow.

Abstract: A reflective trail marker which may be used to form an outdoor trail which is highly visible at night is provided. The reflective trail marker has a generally “hour-glass” shaped marker head, having a central portion and top and bottom cap portions. The central portion has a light reflective side wall surface. The top and bottom cap portions have non-reflective surfaces, and preferably overhang the reflective side wall surface of the central portion. Reflective trail markers may be attached to horizontal support structures, for 360° reflection, to mark a trail easily visible at night when a light is shined on the trail from any angle, or may be attached to vertical support structures, for limited angle reflection, to form a secret trail. A metal pin preferably extends from the bottom cap portion to allow easy attachment and removal of the marker from a tree or other support structure.

Abstract: Downhole flow pulsing apparatus comprises a housing (14) for location in a drillstring, the housing (14) defining a throughbore to permit passage of fluid through the housing. A valve (27, 30) is located in the bore and defines a flow passage (29, 31). The valve includes a valve member (27) which is movable to vary the area of the passage (29, 31) to provide a varying fluid flow therethrough. A fluid actuated positive displacement motor (15, 16) is associated with the valve member (27). In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is provided in combination with a drill bit (5) and a pressure responsive device, such as a shock-sub (3), which expands or retracts in response to the varying drilling fluid pressure created by the varying flow passage area. The expansion or retraction of the shock-sub (3) provides a percussive effect at the drill bit.

Abstract: A compactor including a forward and rearward compaction wheel each rotatably supported on a support arm and pivotally connected to a main frame. The forward compaction wheel is pivoted to a position aligned forwardly of and positioned below the rearward compaction wheel when in an operating position. A pair of diverter panels are connected to the frame and extend longitudinally on opposing sides of the rearward compactor wheel to divert fill dirt towards the compactor wheels. Each diverter panel has a diverter wing pivotally connected thereto with the diverter wings diverging outwardly and forwardly. The diverter wings are pivotally connected at a point of the forward compaction wheel and proximal thereto. The diverter panels are preferably parallel to one another and extend rearwardly beyond the rearward compaction wheel. The diverter wings preferably extend forwardly beyond the forward compaction wheel.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly 10 for drilling a deviated borehole includes a positive displacement motor 12 having a substantially uniform diameter motor housing outer surface without stabilizers extending radially therefrom. The motor housing 14 has a fixed bend therein between an upper power section 16 and a lower bearing section 18. The long gauge bit 20 powered by the motor 10 has a bit face 22 with cutters 28 thereon and a gauge section 24 having a uniform diameter cylindrical surface 26. The gauge section 24 has an axial length at least 75% of the bit diameter. The axial spacing between the bit face and the bend of the motor housing is less than ten times the bit diameter. According to the method of the present invention, fluid is pumped through the downhole motor to rotate the bit at a speed of less than 350 rpm. A substantial portion of the curved borehole section may be drilled while sliding rather than rotating the motor housing.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for dredging underneath a floating vessel, where a conventional dredge cannot reach the location of the material to be dredged. A neutral buoyancy pipe is attached to the end of the suction pipe and acts as an extension of the suction pipe. The vertical position of the neutral buoyancy pipe is controlled by adjusting the buoyancy of the neutral buoyancy pipe. The horizontal position of the neutral buoyancy pipe is controlled both by the anchoring system which sweeps the dredge back and forth and by a position adjusting system at the forward end of the neutral buoyancy pipe.

Abstract: An attachment 10 for a backhoe or excavator having a moveable boom 1 to which a bucket 2 is pivoted including mounting brackets 11, 12 with which a closure member 10 is pivoted to the bucket 2, the closure member 10 including a straight portion 15 and an angular portion 17 extending therefrom at an angle of about 120°, a rigid link pivoted to a bracket on the boom 1 of the backhoe and extending to the closure member to cause pivotal movement of the closure member with respect to the bucket 2 as the bucket 2 is pivoted with respect to the boom 1, the closure 10 and the bucket performing a grapple function while enabling the bucket to perform its usual digging function when the closure member is in its fully open position.

Abstract: A traffic stripe including a first profiled portion having improved reflectivity and a second raised portion which provides an audible indication of its presence to a driver. Also, a method and apparatus for applying the traffic stripe including a vehicle having an apparatus for applying the traffic stripe, an applying assembly for dispersing a reflective material over the traffic stripe, another applying apparatus for applying an anti-adhesion agent, and a deformation apparatus disposed rearward thereof for forming interval grooves in the traffic stripe. The application of the anti-adhesion agent directly onto the traffic stripe or onto the deformation apparatus prevents the freshly applied traffic stripe from lifting off the road surface and adhering to the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: A multipiece excavating tooth assembly including an adapter, a digging or excavating tooth, and retaining pin structure for interconnecting the adapter and tooth in operable combination relative to each other. The tooth and adapter have a uniquely configured interface or conjuncture therebetween. Moreover, the conjuncture between the digging tooth and adapter is configured to advantageously orientate the retaining pin structure to avoid those problems inherent with conventional vertical and horizontal pin systems.