Abstract: Automated handling of fabrics and similar materials is accomplished by an apparatus which includes a first and second container. A pair of hollow and flexible needles are fixed within the first container and a pair of grooves for guiding movement of the needles are located within the second container. The second container is screwably attached to the first container. By screwing the two containers towards one another the points of the needles from the first container will be brought into the grooves or passageways of the second container and eventually will protrude outwardly from the bottom of the second container and extend into one or more layers of material to be separated or removed from a greater number of such layers.

Abstract: Paired adjustably closable arcuate jaws are relatively swingably mounted on an end of a stiff shaft of waist-height length (e.g. thirty to forty inches). The jaws are of a size, and are spring-biased, for gripping and lifting cans, bottles, ears of corn and other small cylindrical objects. The tips of the jaws can be rounded, but preferably are provided with large low-friction rollers, so as to be cammed open when pressed against the object being grasped. The shaft desirably has a cylindrical handle grip on its upper end. The grip may be partly or fully removable or displaceable to expose a pointed shaft end for picking-up penetratable objects. Also the shaft end can be threaded for detachable reception in an axial socket in the end of an extension rod. Further, the shaft may carry, at its opposite ends, pickup devices differently sized and/or adjusted for grasping objects of different sizes and/or weights.

Abstract: A large crop material bale handler mountable to a prime moving vehicle operable to retrieve, transport and discharge large crop material bales is provided with a main support frame, a traveling load support with material engaging elements fastened to the lower portion thereof, power lifting apparatus to raise and lower the load support, and grappling members pivotally affixed at a pivot point to the load support and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The grappling member has a material engaging end and an opposing end. The pivot point further overlies the plane of the material engaging elements such that when the grappling member is in the engaged position the material engaging end, in combination with the material engaging elements, exerts a grappling and lifting force on a bale.

Abstract: An improved food holder accessory for use with conventional food processing units is provided. The holder, having a plurality of prongs for insertion into the food item to be processed, is adapted to be held in the hand at the other end and to be guided into the processor feed tube. The penetration of holder into the feed tube is limited to prevent the holder end which retains the food from being inserted beyond a safe depth into the processor to preclude said food holding end from engaging and being struck by the rotating element of the food processor.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a ski pole having a hollow handle with a wind and sun shield therein. A guideway is disposed in the handle coaxially therewith and a rod is slidable in the guideway. There are a number of radial ribs pivoted at the end of the rod with a sheet fastened over them to form an umbrella-type structure. Means are provided to move the guideway toward the open end of the handle, carrying the umbrella-like structure outward of the open end, in which position additional means are operative to pivot the ribs outward to extended position.

Abstract: The lance is composed of a hollow tubular shaft having a cap connected to one end thereof. The cap is disengageable from the shaft for allowing access to the interior of the shaft. The cap is connected to a resilient band for carrying of the spear and propelling it through the water. The opposite end of the spear contains an insert having an axially running socket located centrally thereof for accepting a spearhead. The spearhead is held within the insert by surgical tubing which covers a portion of the insert and a portion of the spearhead. The surgical tubing also provides an airtight seal between the spearhead and the insert. The spearhead is, therefore, held within the insert by a frictional engagement with the surgical tubing as well as the suction created between the spearhead and the insert socket.

Abstract: Packing spacer sheets are automatically fed one at a time to a pick-up station from a stack, with selected sheets arranged to arrive in inverted condition so that all packing sheets are properly oriented into packing position. Sheets can be pulled from stack by a transfer carrier having gripping jaws with teeth that dig into rib structures on sheet and jaws can open to engage other portions of sheet and thus hold the sheet to assure all teeth are pulled out of sheet. Stack can be a horizontal nesting of generally vertically disposed sheets carried by narrow spaced belts stepped along on a low friction surface with fixed retainer to stop forward face of stack and permit front sheet to be pulled off.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a layer of predetermined thickness from a bale of fiber material including an array of rigidly secured, juxtaposed, vertically oriented tines and carriers for moving the tines downwardly to a selected depth in the bale and then horizontally to remove a top layer from the bale.

Abstract: A device for clearing plugged garbage chutes is specially constructed to make it adaptable for use in multi-story buildings, such as apartment houses, having vertical chutes extending through several stories down to a receptacle in the basement of the building. The clogging of these chutes is generally caused by an accumulation of old newspapers, shopping bags and other large pieces of paper. A device of generally Tee-shaped configuration comprises a series of sharp pointed cutting edges positioned on the cross of the Tee and grabbing arms at either end. An extensible handle comprises the vertical portion of the Tee which in turn is comprised of relatively short sections which may be coupled together to facilitate insertion into the chute to varying elevations. A removable handle is positioned at the lower end of the Tee to permit rotation of the device to effect cutting through the obstruction and pulling out the obstructing material.

Abstract: A retractable trash spear device comprises an elongated tubular handle member having opposite ends with an elongated rod element therein having a pointed end and being axially movable between an extended position with the pointed end projecting from one end of the handle member and a fully retracted position with the pointed end completely within the handle member. The handle member has an elongated slot formed therein adjacent its other end, and a manual actuating element is adjustably attached to the rod element and extends out of the slot for selectively moving the rod element between its retracted and extended positions. A coil spring in the handle member surrounding the rod element biases the rod element towards its retracted position. The lower end of the slot in the handle member has a right angle extension thereon for holding the actuating element thereby to hold the rod element in its extended position.

Abstract: A device for gripping and transferring a fabric material such as a canvas sack or the wrapper of a bale is disclosed comprising a carriage movable on a rail and on which is mounted a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes a disc having engagement tines disposed thereon which is driven by a low torque motor. The operations of lowering the discs for engagement of the fabric, engagement and transfer of the fabric are integrated for sequential action.

Abstract: A litter retrieving device for retrieving both containers and flat articles is provided. The litter retrieving device includes a handle, a semi-cylindrical element, a flanged lip and a plurality of piercing elements. The semi-cylindrical element is attached to an end of the handle. The flanged lip is formed as an extension along a side of the semi-cylindrical element. Piercing elements are provided both on the inner periphery of the semi-cylindrical member and on a lower side of the flanged lip. The semi-cylindrical element is adapted to encircle and restrain the containers as the piercing element located on the inner periphery of the semi-cylindrical member penetrates the containers. The piercing elements on the flanged lip are adapted for piercing flat articles.

Abstract: An integral straight rigid holder stick is provided for use in making confectionary products, especially candy apples. The stick, fabricated of an injection moldable thermoplastic resin, has a handle portion, a gripping portion, and a tapered end portion. Because of its novel configuration, the gripping portion securely holds the apple or other confectionery product and minimizes the potential accident hazard due to rolling underfoot when the stick is carelessly discarded on a flat surface. The tapered end portion has a configuration which facilitates insertion of the stick into an apple, yet minimizes the potential hazard of puncture wounds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading forming dies with a mold blanket which comprises providing a lay-up station with simulated die forms outside the forming dies where the mold blanket material may be distributed as it will be in the die and providing a pick-up assembly composed of a plurality of pins distributed around the blanket which pins are pressed in to perforate the blanket and certain of the pins are moved transversely to others to tension the blanket whereby the blanket may be lifted bodily, moved into a die press, and dropped on to the forming dies prior to the pressing cycle.

Abstract: A transporter for a cloth article comprises a body member adopted to be moved up and down. A pair of spaced plates is carried by the body member. Needle members extend downwardly from each of the plates and a first means moves the plates downwardly so that its associated needles can pierce a single cloth article placed thereunder. A second means moves the plates away from and towards each other and a third means moves the body member for selected upward and horizontal distances, respectively.

Abstract: A contact freezing apparatus comprising a plurality of freezing plates arranged with mutual distance for forming freezing spaces for accomodating the material to be frozen, the freezing plates being movable away from each other for removing the frozen material by means of an emptying device, the freezing spaces being limited in the downward direction and laterally by projections secured to the freezing plates, the emptying device comprising a plurality of combs corresponding to the number of freezing spaces, the combs comprising teeth and being movable from a position wherein said teeth extend into the freezing spaces from the upper ends of the freezing spaces and to a position above the freezing spaces.

Abstract: A trash picker comprising a handle, a block at one end of said handle normally disposed thereto, a plurality of spikes mounted in said block to extend normally therefrom in a direction remote from said handle. A stripper plate having a plurality of holes therein to accommodate said spikes that pass therethrough. First end flanges disposed on said stripping plate which flanks said block and extends upwardly towards said handle. Second end flanges slideably disposed over said first end flanges and provided with screw and slot means to fasten said first and second flanges together and therefor the user may vary their combined extent, a pressure plate connected to said second end flanges at an area remote from and parallel to said stripper plate overlying a portion of said handle and above said block, and spring means connected from said handle to said pressure plate so that said stripper plate is normally in a position to leave said spikes exposed.

Abstract: A method of taking out one after another veneer sheet from stacks of these which comprises steps of: disposing a picking-up means with a pointed element with its pointed end at an opposite position to a butt end of the uppermost veneer sheet to be delivered; horizontally moving the picking-up means so that its pointed end is thrust into the veneer sheet at the butt end; lifting the picking-up means with the veneer sheet at the butt end, with a distance to separate the veneer sheet from the two adjoining veneer sheets on either side; and further, horizontally moving the picking-up means with the veneer sheet, whereby only the uppermost veneer sheet can be shifted in the direction towards delivery position.

Abstract: A collapsible fish spear is disclosed for use in underwater sports fishing. The spear includes a number of lengths of hollow rod which are telescopically interlocked together to form a single rod. The forward length of rod includes a removable projecting spear unit for spearing fish. The lengths are connected together by an elastic band which is secured at one end to the forward length and at the opposite end to the terminal length of rod, the band tensioned to hold the lengths in interlocked relation. To collapse the spear the lengths are pulled apart and positioned in parallel side-by-side relation. An elastic loop is secured at its respective ends to the terminal length of rod. Tensioning of the elastic loop and release thereof by the holder of the spear propels the spear through the water to spear a fish.

Abstract: A spear for hunting frogs, the spear being made from a straight length of drill rod, which extends from one end of an elongated wooden handle, the protruding portion of the drill rod having its outward end flattened on both sides and tapered towards a barbed point, the point being heat treated and oil hardened so that the point will remain sharp even though being subjected to striking against rock and the like while hunting frogs out of doors.

Abstract: A device for automatically grasping fabric pieces, more particularly a single fabric piece at a time, comprising a set of tapered and bent points parallely mounted near to the lower vertex of a triangle shaped oscillating member; the latter is pivotably mounted to the head of a movable body, and the said member oscillates between two end positions, a resilient inverted U shaped element being provided to maintain said member in either end position, the resilient element being supported also by the movable body, whereby a single piece of fabrics is grasped at each oscillation of the said member by the points penetrating it.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to lift, transfer and position penetrable stock such as resin, fabric, and filled or laminated material by impalement. One or more spearhead elements are driven through the penetrable material. The spears are turned axially and lifted to lift the penetrable material with the spears and present it to a work surface whereupon the spear is again turned or rotated, aligning the barbs or flukes so that a stripper plate easily strips the stock from the spearheads and onto a suitable work surface such as a die. The apparatus comprises one or more quills and each supports a harpoon-like spearhead in an adjustable support. A stripper plate in clearance relation with respect to the flukes of the spearhead is movable independently of the spearhead so that when the spearhead mimicks its entry postion, the stripper plate moves in the direction of the spearhead and forces the penetrable stock off of the harpoon points or spearheads and onto a work surface.

Abstract: A device for transferring a preselected number of sheets of material from several stacks and depositing the sheets at a location. The device comprises a pick-up head which is adjustable on selection to pick up from a first location one or two sheets, pick up one or two sheets from a second location and deposit the assembly of sheets at another location or feed same through a processing machine.

Abstract: A device is provided for incorporation in apparatus for the automatic manufacture of articles from fabric by cutting the fabric into sets of single pieces and then moving the individual pieces of a set to a work station at which the pieces are sewed to each other, which comprises: a movable hollow frame, a flat plate which has a centrally disposed opening and which is adapted to be forced downwardly against the upper surface of a piece of fabric; a connection between the plate and the frame; an elongated oscillatory needle holder supported at its lower end by the frame along an axis of rotation located above the opening in the plate; a needle having a curved sharply tapered lower end and a stem; a connection between the stem and the needle holder at a point above the lower end of the needle holder whereby oscillation of the needle holder will cause the sharply tapered end of the needle to swing through the opening in the plate along an arc; and means are provided for adjusting the location of the arc so that

Abstract: A fish dart comprising an oval shaped weighted body having an axis, a length extending along the axis and spaced opposite first and second ends on its axis defining its length. A barbed member extends from the first end of the body coaxially with the body. An eye member extends from the second end of the body coaxially with the body for affixing a fishing line to the fish dart.

Abstract: A telescopically extensible and collapsible shaft, particularly for such as an underwater hand spear for spearing fish, with an arrangement for locking or rigidly securing the shaft in the extended position including a cylindrical extension part telescopically located in a tubular main part and having liquid seal means between the extension part inner end and the main part. A butt end piece is adapted to close the end of the main part remote from the end through which the extension part extends and has an inlet passage whereby water can be drawn into the main tubular part on extension of the extension part (and subsequently ejected on telescopically collapsing the extension part into the main part), the butt end piece being adjustable relative to the main part to open the inlet passage for the admission of water and closed to seal the water in the extended shaft.