Abstract: A load-handling device for lowering a limb from a tree comprising a base having an elongated plate, at least one cylindrical protuberance secured to the base, and a plurality of non-penetrable teeth extending outward from the base toward the trunk of the tree. The load-handling device also includes at least one pair of opposed brackets that can be engaged by a strap encircling the trunk of the tree. The non-penetrable teeth frictionally engage the load-handling device against the tree so that the device does not move when the tree limb is cut and the weight of the limb pulls upwardly on the load-handling device via a pulley.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable a cable to be easily terminated at an elevated level are provided. The cable can be a strength member having a number of fiber optic storage loops disposed about its length. These loops can be strategically positioned upon a sidewall of a multi-dwelling building such that fiber optic service can be efficiently connected as desired. The systems can include a housing apparatus having a locking cavity where the cable is terminated. The housing includes entry and exit apertures that permit a pulling device such as tape to pass there through. A locking mechanism can be positioned within the housing which engages a dead-end device connected to the cable thereby facilitating termination of the dead-end device at the elevated level after frictional release of a retaining knot. Various mounting bracket assemblies are provided which facilitate mounting on most any surface.

Abstract: A tool and method for removing a film from a surface is provided, wherein the tool can include a frame, a handle operably coupled to the frame, a number of wheels operably coupled to the frame, a cylinder rotatably coupled to the frame, an arm rotatably coupled to the frame, and a number of separating devices operably coupled to the arm. In some embodiments, the wheels can rotate about one or more axes parallel to the surface. The cylinder, which collects the removed film, rotates about an axis that can also be parallel to the surface. The arm can rotate about an axis that can also be parallel to the surface.

Abstract: A stake removal device is provided. The device includes a proximal end for engaging a stake and distal end for engaging the user's hand. The device further includes an elongated intermediate portion in connection with the proximal and distal ends.

Abstract: A stake removal device is provided. The device includes a proximal end for engaging a stake and distal end for engaging the user's hand. The device further includes an elongated intermediate portion in connection with the proximal and distal ends.

Abstract: A portable hoist apparatus that can be quickly, easily and recurrently mounted on a tree or other pillar-like structure, which causes very little or no damage to the pillar-like structure, includes a hoist member having a base, a boom projecting from the base, and a support flange; and an adjustably tensionable strap for engaging the support flange and attaching the hoist member to the pillar-like structure. The portable hoist apparatus may be used by hunters to easily lift a tree stand to a desired position on a tree, or by utility workers to easily raise tools or other heavy or awkward objects up along a utility pole.

Abstract: An apparatus for the controlled lowering to the ground of a cut portion of a tree includes a rope and an anchor having an arrangement of guiding protuberances., each guiding protuberance including a bearing surface frictionally engaging and redirecting the rope without the rope fully encompassing any portion of the anchor including any of the guiding protuberances. Three guiding protuberances define a triangular arrangement. Of the three, a first guiding protuberance is disposed in proximity to an intermediate guiding protuberance defining a segment of a rope path therebetween, and a second guiding protuberance is disposed in proximity to the intermediate guiding protuberance defining another segment of the rope path therebetween without the segments crossing. A mounting member is attachable to the tree and a guiding member is pivotally connected to the mounting member along a pivot axis and includes an arrangement of guiding protuberances generally extending to each side thereof.

Abstract: A strap tension retaining device is configured for a use with a bulk unit secured by a strap under tension. Such a bulk unit load has a corner and defines a bulk unit perimeter. The strap tension retaining device includes a fixed base element, fixed relative to the bulk unit load, a floating element movable relative to the fixed base element, a biasing element mounted between the floating element and the fixed base element and a guide element mounting the floating element to the fixed base element to guide movement of the floating element relative to the fixed base element. The strap tension retaining device is positioned at about the corner of the bulk unit load with the strap positioned around the bulk unit perimeter of the bulk unit load, over the strap tension retaining device floating element. When the strap is tensioned a force is exerted by the strap on the floating element to force the biasing element against the bias direction.

Abstract: A conductive pattern made of copper foil is formed on a base material in each of a plurality of laminated flexible printed circuit boards, and a land is formed to expose the conductive pattern at a predetermined position in the base material. The plurality of flexible printed circuit boards are laminated to adjust each land, and the conductive pattern of each flexible printed circuit board is connected through the each land.

Abstract: An electrical underground wire pulley for pulling wire through conduit having an opening in a base structure that is provided with pre-installed anchor bolts. The wire pulley includes a frame with a bottom adapter plate and a pair of side supports extending upwardly from the adapter plate. The adapter plate includes an opening through which the top of the conduit extends, and a set of four slots through which the anchor bolts extend for securing the wire pulley to the base. The slots are equally spaced from one another and extend lengthwise at 90 degrees radially outwardly from the conduit opening to accept anchor bolt patterns of different size. A pulley is rotatably supported between the side supports above and offset behind from the center of the conduit to assist in pulling wire through the conduit.

Abstract: In a method of supporting a facing panel by zigzag-connecting synthetic resin reinforcing strips between fixing hookers formed on the interior surface of a concrete facing panel and a fixing iron bar fixed at the rear of a reinforcing soil member by means of an anchor, and burying the reinforcing strips into the reinforcing soil member at the rear of the concrete facing panel, a reinforcing strip placement method wherein a pulling-up device is locked between a rear end of the reinforcing strips and the fixing iron bar fixed by means of the anchor and pulled sequentially from one end to the other end of each of the reinforcing strips zigzag-connected between the concrete facing panel and the fixing iron bar, thereby preventing loosening of the reinforcing strips and applying a constant tension thereto, and then the reinforcing soil member is laid on the resultant structure and hardened by applying vibration and pressure thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for the controlled lowering to the ground of a cut portion of a tree includes a rope and an anchor having an arrangement of guiding protuberances, each guiding protuberance including a bearing surface frictionally engaging and redirecting the rope without the rope fully encompassing any portion of the anchor including any of the guiding protuberances. Three guiding protuberances define a triangular arrangement. Of the three, a first guiding protuberance is disposed in proximity to an intermediate guiding protuberance defining a segment of a rope path therebetween, and a second guiding protuberance is disposed in proximity to the intermediate guiding protuberance defining another segment of the rope path therebetween without the segments crossing. A mounting member is attachable to the tree and a guiding member is pivotally connected to the mounting member along a pivot axis and includes an arrangement of guiding protuberances generally extending to each side thereof.

Abstract: A wire clamp device affixed to an outer end of a bar in a wire tightener of the type having a stationary wire holding clamp at an opposite end of the bar. A carrier is mounted on the bar and is also provided with a wire holding clamp. The bar is provided with a jack rack and the carrier has a jack mechanism for forcibly driving the carrier toward the first wire holding clamp so as to pull end portions of two strands of wire held by the two wire holding clamps toward each other. The wire clamp device which also has a wire holding clamp is positioned to hold the strand held by the wire holding clamp of the carrier after it has been drawn towards the first wire holding clamp so that the wire holding clamp on the carrier may be released to allow the carrier to be reset to a position near the wire clamp device, after which the wire holding clamp on the carrier is again activated to grasp again the tightened strand which it had previously held.

Abstract: A carpet removal apparatus for removing carpet adhered to a floor provides a spool having an attachment member adapted to attach a portion of a carpet to be removed to the spool member. The spool member is rotated over the upper surface of the carpet about the axis of the spool member to wind the carpet onto the spool member and tear the carpet from the floor. The spool member is typically rotated using a motor supported by a frame rotatably attached to the spool member. A power transmission member transmits the power and rotation from the motor to the spool member, slowing the rotation and increasing the power. An alternative, manual spool member uses a pair of rotating handles, one attached to each end of the spool member. The rotating handles are used as levers to force the rotation of the spool member and, thereby, wind the carpet onto the spool member, ripping the carpet from the floor.

Abstract: A multi-purpose fencing tool which includes an elongated member (2) having a slidably adjustable flange (3) which may be positioned and fixed along the length of elongated member (2). Elongated member (2) includes one end having a point extending therefrom for engaging a link on a chain and the other end presents a flattened surface for tamping. Elongated member (2) also includes a plurality of holes along its length so that slidably adjustable flange (3) may be positioned along the length of elongated member (2) and fixed in its location. The tool may serve as a post puller, as an implement for tamping and compacting fill around a newly installed fence post, as an implement for assisting the fence builder in easily pulling fencing wire from a spool and as an implement for tensioning fencing wire prior to securing the wire to the post.

Abstract: A rope jack for a shuttle system comprises: a rope holder (8) that holds a rope (1) which travels over guide wheels (6) to move a floating shuttle; a catch holder (9) which is attached to be attachable and detachable on a guide rail post (5); and, a jack unit (10) which presses against the rope holder (8) to move the rope holder away from the catch holder (9). The guide wheel (6) is released from the pressure of the rope (1) and can be easily replaced with a new one.

Abstract: A carpet stripping device for stripping adhesively secured carpeting from an underlying subfloor. The device incorporates a base supporting a winch drum to which power is transmitted through a gearbox and mechanical clutch by a variable speed electric motor. The base incorporates a plurality of anchoring teeth fixed to the base's undersurface, and a wheeled supporting frame including a plurality of pivotally linked members selectively positionable between an elevated position whereby the assembly is movable, to an anchored position whereby the wheels are raised, lowering the base, such that the anchoring teeth penetrate underlying carpeting thereby securing the winch. A gripping jaw assembly having gripping teeth fixed to both upper and lower jaw elements is secured to a portion of carpet located remote from the anchored assembly, and connected by a winch cable. Activating the driving motor and engaging the clutch allows a user to easily strip carpeting by pulling the gripping jaw toward the anchored winch.

Abstract: An improved carpet stripping device (10) designed for rapid, easy removal of adhesively secured carpeting is provided which includes an elongated cable or line (12) connected at one end thereof to a powered winch assembly (14). The opposite end of the line (12) is connected with an improved carpet connection assembly (16) allowing ready and secure connection to a pulled margin (60) of the carpeting to be stripped. The assembly (16) includes a stretch of flexible cable (50), together with a pair of spaced apart, carpet margin-gripping jaw members (42, 44) positioned on the cable (50) and shiftable along the length thereof. In use, the assembly (16) is initially positioned on a pulled and slitted margin (60) of carpeting, and is rolled to form an interlocking convolution (66), with the cable (50) extending through the carpet slit (62). The attached assembly (16) is then coupled with the line (12) for carpeting stripping operations.

Abstract: An improved carpet stripping device (10) designed for rapid, easy removal of adhesively secured carpeting is provided which includes an elongated cable or line (12) connected at one end thereof to a powered winch assembly (14). The opposite end of the line (12) is connected with an improved carpet connection assembly (16) allowing ready and secure connection to a pulled margin (60) of the carpeting to be stripped. The assembly (16) includes a stretch of flexible cable (50), together with a pair of spaced apart, carpet margin-gripping jaw members (42, 44) positioned on the cable (50) and shiftable along the length thereof. In use, the assembly (16) is initially positioned on a pulled and slitted margin (60) of carpeting, and is rolled to form an interlocking convolution (66), with the cable (50) extending through the carpet slit (62). The attached assembly (16) is then coupled with the line (12) for carpeting stripping operations.

Abstract: A vault door opener for opening a vault door wherein the vault door is disposed near a grating. The vault door opener comprises a stand with a winch connected to one end of the stand. Means are connected to the opposite end of the stand for removably connecting the stand to the grating whereby the stand is supported in an upright position on the grating. In the supported position of the stand, a cable on the winch is connected to the vault door and the winch is rotatable to reel the cable in thereby lifting the vault door to the opened position.

Abstract: An apparatus for translating rotational movement into linear motion primarily for the purpose of repeatably generating and maintaining a constricting force. A means to employ mechanical advantage to amplify the translation of rotational energy into linear energy and provides for the equally repeatable release of said forces.

Abstract: An assembly designed to strip carpet or like floor covering from the surface of a floor to which it is directly adhered as by adhesive or the like wherein a gripping jaw or like gripping structure is affixed to a carpet portion to be stripped and interconnected to an anchored driving assembly in the form of a winch and interconnecting cable. Activation of the winch causes a pulling force exerted on the gripping structure and steadily pulls and thereby strips the carpet from the surface to which it was adhered. One or more supplementary anchor assemblies may be secured between the driving assembly and the gripping structure so as to vary and determine the direction of pull of the gripping structure and carpet portion secured thereto relative to the driving assembly.