Abstract: A large capacity boat lift includes a lift assembly mounted on each side of a boat supporting platform. Each lift assembly includes a support structure that carries a winder. A lifting cable is operably attached at each of its ends to respective sections of the winder. A drive mechanism operates the winder in first and second directions to selectively wind the cable onto and off of the winder. The cable movably interengages a pair of pulleys carried by the platform. A section of the cable between the pulleys is engaged with the support structure such that winding the cable onto the winder raises the platform and unwinding the cable from the winder lowers the platform.

Abstract: A synchronously driven, multiple cable boat lift is used in combination with proximal and distal support structures located on respective sides of a boat to selectively lift and lower the boat out of and into a body of water. The boat lift includes a motor mountable on the proximal support structure and being selectively driven in opposing first and second directions. A boat accommodating platform is located between the proximal and distal support structures and includes a pair of interconnected cradle beams for extending transversely beneath the boat from the first side to the second side of the boat. Each beam has a proximal portion and a distal portion positionable on the first and second sides of the boat respectively.

Abstract: A solar powered boat lift includes a support structure adjacent to the boat to be lifted. There is a platform for accommodating the boat thereon and cables are operably connected to the platform for enabling raising and lowering thereof. A plurality of reversible DC motors are mounted to the support structure and operably connected to the cables for selectively driving the cables longitudinally in a first direction to raise the platform and in an opposite direction to lower the platform. A rechargeable battery is operably connected to each DC motor for providing electrical power to drive the motor. A solar collector is connected to the rechargeable batteries for collecting solar energy and converting such energy to electrical power that is delivered to the rechargeable batteries for recharging thereof. In an alternative embodiment, a single solar rechargeable battery is employed and a power cable is electrically interconnected between the motors and attached to the support structure entirely above the water.

Abstract: A synchronously driven, multiple cable boat lift is used in combination with proximal and distal support structures located on respective sides of a boat to selectively lift and lower the boat out of and into a body of water. The boat lift includes a motor mountable on the proximal support structure and being selectively driven in opposing first and second directions. A boat accommodating platform is located between the proximal and distal support structures and includes a pair of interconnected cradle beams for extending transversely beneath the boat from the first side to the second side of the boat. Each beam has a proximal portion and a distal portion positionable on the first and second sides of the boat respectively.

Abstract: A single motor, multiple cable boat lift is employed. The lift includes a platform and a pair of pilings disposed on each of the opposing sides of the platform. A first pair of cables innerconnect one side of the platform with the first pair of pilings and second pair of cables innerconnect the opposite side of the platform with the second pair of pilings. There is a single motor and a cable transmission apparatus that operably innerconnects the motor and all cables such that operation of the motor selectively retracts and extends the cables in a synchronized manner to raise and lower the lift platform.

Abstract: A sanitary toilet system with an integral water supply and manual flush assembly for a recreational vehicle in which a flush water supply tank is provided adjacent a recreational vehicle wall with an inlet extending through the wall, thus eliminating plumbing within the vehicle between a water inlet and the supply tank. A manually operated piston pump is provided in which a clearance exists between the piston and the pump cylinder allowing water to flow past the piston during operation of the pump. This reduces the forces necessary to operate the pump in comparison to a piston in sealing relation to the cylinder.

Abstract: A boat lift locking apparatus is disclosed for releasably fastening a cable to a structural component of a boat lift. The apparatus includes a bracket secured to the structural component and having a channel, which has a relatively wide portion and a relatively narrow portion. A locking element is slidably mounted in the channel. The cable extends through the channel between the locking element and the bracket. The locking element is urged selectively toward the narrow portion of the channel to frictionally lock the cable between the locking element and the bracket and toward the wide portion of the channel to unlock the cable and permit the cable to slide longitudinally through the channel between the locking element and the bracket.

Abstract: A boat lift apparatus includes a support structure located proximate to a body of water. An elongate threaded shaft is located adjacent to the support structure and extends in a substantially vertical direction. A nut threadably engages the shaft. A boat accommodating platform is connected to the nut. The shaft is rotatably mounted to the support structure and selectively driven rotatably relative to the nut in a first direction to raise the nut relative to the shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower the nut relative to the shaft. As a result, the platform and the boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water.

Abstract: A positive drive boat lift apparatus includes a support structure located proximate a body of water. There is an elongate threaded shaft disposed adjacent to the support structure and extending in a substantially vertical direction. A nut threadably engages the shaft. There is a boat accommodating platform and one of the shaft and the nut are attached to the platform. The other of the shaft and the nut are rotatably mounted to the support structure. The shaft and the nut are rotated relative to one another in a first direction to raise the shaft relative to the nut and in an opposite second direction to lower the shaft relative to the nut, whereby the platform and a boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water.

Abstract: An adjustable clamping assembly is provided for holding and supporting a conventional structural component. The assembly includes a support element having an elongate channel that employs a pair of longitudinal locking grooves. A screw-like component is engaged with a structural component and a clamping nut is aligned with and inserted into the channel at a selected location. The nut includes a pair of locking tabs and a latch mechanism for permitting the nut to be rotated from an aligned orientation to a generally perpendicular orientation within the channel, wherein the locking tabs are respectively inserted in the locking grooves. The latch mechanism holds the nut in the perpendicular orientation to prevent removal of the nut from the channel. The nut further includes a threaded opening that is operably engaged by the screw-like component to attach the structural component to the support element at the selected location.

Abstract: A butter storing and conditioning device which maintains butter at a desired temperature to keep the butter cool enough not to melt and warm enough to easily spread. The device includes a housing which covers the butter while placed upon a butter dish resting on a counter or table top. Heating and cooling means are provided for heating or cooling the air to maintain the butter at the desired temperature. In one embodiment, an air duct is formed by the housing and a fan for circulating air through the housing and past the butter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning eyeglasses is disclosed in which a holding device is provided with a clamp mechanism for mounting eyeglasses in the holding device in a manner which provides clear access to the lens surfaces of the eyeglasses. A cleaning and drying device is provided with a brush at one end for use in cleaning the lenses with soap while an absorbent material is mounted to the other end to dry the lenses after cleaning. The apparatus aids in cleaning the lenses in a manner that completely removes oil from the lens surfaces and prevents the oil from being smeared over the lenses.

Abstract: A mechanism for multiplying rotation. The mechanism includes two armatures of differing lengths which rotate about different centers of rotation. The armatures are coupled together such that a rotation of one armature will produce a multiplied rotation in the other armature. The multiplying mechanism has particular application with a valve assembly of the type used in self-contained sanitary systems of recreational vehicles. The valve assembly includes a seal element having a sealing lip directed toward generally inward and downward of a fill opening a valve blade in the holding tank. The sealing lip terminates in a downwardly and outwardly oriented flange. The valve blade is actuatable through two movements. The first movement moves the valve blade generally vertically into and out of engagement with the seal element. The second movement moves the valve blade generally horizontally to a position out of registry with the fill opening.

Abstract: A temporary sealing device for sealing a waste discharge conduit from an RV to an inlet receptacle of a waste receiving reservoir. The sealing device includes an inflatable bladder which is mounted so as to be positionable between the discharge conduit and the receptacle. A pump inflates the bladder to a size which seals the opening between the receptacle and the conduit to inhibit removal of the conduit and prevent the discharge of waste therearound. The sealing device is also provided with a valve which allows the bladder to be deflated after the transfer of waste and permits the conduit to be withdrawn from the receptacle.

Abstract: A low water flush toilet having a bowl with a horizontal ledge extending around the bowl periphery near its open upper end with a flush water nozzle on the ledge for discharging water in a generally horizontal direction onto the ledge. A pulsator is provided for producing pulses of flush water that are discharged onto the ledge with the water of each pulse flowing at varying velocities such that as the water flows around the ledge, some of the water will fall off the ledge around substantially the entire periphery of the bowl resulting in wetting of the entire bowl surface for cleaning the bowl. The pulsator includes a spring biased piston for discharging pulses of water.

Abstract: A toilet having a foot pedal flush control comprising two pedals, one for opening a toilet bowl discharge outlet and the other for supplying flush water to the bowl. The pedals both operate through actuation cables having a wire member slidable within a conduit. The flush water pedal can be independently actuated to partially fill the bowl prior to use of the toilet while the outlet closure member pedal coacts with the flush water pedal so that upon opening of the bowl outlet, the flush water pedal is depressed providing water to the bowl. The wire members are solid wire members coupled to the pedals for both pull and push operation so that upon a failure of the pedal return mechanism, the pedals can be manually returned closing the bowl outlet and terminating the flow of flush water to the bowl.

Abstract: A self-contained sanitary fixture, particularly for a recreational vehicle, comprises a bench supported on a base cooperatively defining a stowage compartment. The bench contains a bowl having an outlet which connects to a tank in the storage compartment. A valve on the tank controls passage between the bowl and the tank. The valve is itself operated from a knob on the bench through a coupling mechanism. Waste water from the bowl is collected in the tank and is disposed of by sliding the tank out of the stowage compartment through an opening in the RV's sidewall and carrying the tank to a suitable disposal site. The tank incorporates a rotatable pourspout and vent valve to facilitate pouring waste contents out of the tank. The connections between the bowl outlet and the tank and between the knob and valve automatically disconnect upon removal of the tank from the stowage compartment. Similarly they automatically reconnect when the tank is inserted back into the stowage compartment.

Abstract: A universal recreational vehicle toilet system with a removable waste holding tank is provided to enable the recreational vehicle manufacturer to have wide latitude in the positioning of the toilet within a recreational vehicle. The toilet system includes an upper section containing the toilet bowl and a lower section forming a base upon which the bowl section is supported in spaced relation above the recreational vehicle floor. A holding tank is partially or fully inserted in the base section and coupled to the toilet bowl for receiving waste therefrom. The holding tank is removable through an opening in the sidewall of the recreational vehicle for disposal of waste.

Abstract: A portable toilet having a battery operated flushing assembly that is powered by batteries carried in the toilet. The batteries provide for a "pulsed" flushing action of the flush water and this is achieved by the use of an axial flow pump which is operable to lift small amounts of water small distances to the bowl in a repeatable fashion. This facilitates flushing of the toilet, makes it easier for the user to flush the toilet, and provides for efficient and complete flushing. A selectively operable closure plate prevents leakage of water from the toilet bowl during transport of the toilet.

Abstract: The body of a recreational vehicle (RV) is configured to have a stowage compartment within the body's interior but separate from the interior occupant space. The stowage compartment contains a tank which serves water use fixtures in the interior occupant space. The stowage compartment is disposed adjacent the sidewall of the RV body and an opening is provided through the sidewall from the stowage space to the exterior. This opening is closed by a door. When the door is open, the tank can pass through the opening into and out of the stowage space. The tank can be either a fresh water tank containing a supply of fresh water for use at sanitary fixtures in the RV or alternatively it can be a waste water tank of either the gray water or black water type which collects waste from the water use fixtures.