Abstract: A cylindrical-body bird feeder has an open bottom with a pair of cut-outs on opposite sides of the bottom. Slits, extending from the cut-outs latchingly receive a flexible floor for the body. The floor is only latchingly secured in the bottom, to facilitate cleaning of the feeder. In one embodiment of the feeder, the floor is latchable in either one of two pairs of slits, to accommodate the feeding of small seeds, or the feeding of large seeds, via window apertures, or via open troughs below the windows.

Abstract: A wheel, journalled on supports atop the reel housing has a slot formed therein. Limbs attached to both the wheel, and the reel thumb actuator, cause the wheel to rotate in common with depression of the actuator, and dispose the slot rearwardly. The slot latchingly receives the hook of a lure, with the fishing rod bent into an energy-stored, strained disposition. With release of the thumb actuator, the lure flies outwardly in a substantially flat trajectory. Also, the cone is only slidably coupled to the reel housing, so that line will not be released until the cone, biasingly held to the housing, returns into full engagement with the housing.

Abstract: A first roller and its companion plate comprise structures for moving an envelope into a framework, and a second roller and its companion plate comprise structure for moving a document into the envelope, while the envelope is held open for insertion of the document. Switching devices detect the entry of the envelope and document and cause a gearing arrangement to rotate the rollers, to move the envelope to a document-receiving disposition within the framework, and to move the document into the envelope.

Abstract: Paired, coacting, albeit non-contacting rollers have interfitting collars or rings, and tapered rims, which are rotatably driven in opposite directions. Paper fed therebetween is torn asunder, and freely discharged therefrom. The rings cooperate together to force the paper to be torn lengthwise thereof, and the rims crease the resulting strips to insure that they do not remain lodged between the rings. An embodiment has helical rings or collars which cause the paper to be dismembered into diagonally-shaped, fine fragments.

Abstract: A body having a journal box slidably receives a pivot shaft therein. Too, the body has a bifurcation, and the ends of the limbs thereof have rollers mounted therein. A stub, rising from the body, receives a handle for turning the body on the pivot shaft, so that the rollered limbs can compress a valve spring. A bearing annulus, for emplacement upon the subject spring or spring assembly is also provided.

Abstract: In association with a straight-cylinder, reciprocating gas compressor, hydraulic circuitry and valving is provided to track movement of an intake valve which cooperates with an end of the compressor to define a clearance volume. The valving is selectively operative to cause the intake valve to reposition in more proximity to the end of the compressor, or more in proximity to its confronting discharge valve.

Abstract: A plate mounted to a reciprocable shaft has a plurality of straight fingers (a) coupled thereto and (b) extending perpendicularly therefrom, and each of the fingers is separately detachable from the plate to simplify and facilitate maintenance and repair. Further, the fingers are identical, whereby manufacturing and stocking requirements are minimized.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the crownpiece strap of a halter is subdivided, and Velcro-type hook-and-loop fastener material is affixed to the subdivided ends of the crownpiece, and the ends pressed together. Accordingly, the crownpiece will open, and release the haltered horse, if the halter becomes snared or entangled. In an alternative embodiment, a halter strap has the hook-and-loop fastener material on a terminating end thereof, with the hook material and the loop material separated therebetween. Then the strap is looped or folded over a halter ring, with the hook material and loop material adhered together. Again, upon the halter being strained, with tensile force being applied to the looped or folded over strap, the same will open to free the horse from any entanglement.

Abstract: A base, supported on a platform, has a plate pivotably coupled therein, and side walls of the base are apertured to receive rods. The rods maintain the plate in a selected inclination, as they are fitted through the apertures and hold the plate in position. The plate receives one upright of a ladder, in order to make the upright level with the other upright of the ladder on pitched ground, or uneven bearing surfaces, in which the two uprights cannot otherwise bear on a common-level surface.

Abstract: Slot wedges, electrically-conductive, used in rotor slots, between rotor teeth, and overlying the rotor coils, are serially arranged in the slots and have arcuate grooves in opposite ends thereof. Inserts, also electrically-conductive, are spring-loaded in the grooves to effect electrical continuity fully therealong, lengthwise of the rotor, from wedge to wedge.

Abstract: A simple, one-chamber housing, having a uniformly increasing chamber diameter, has a generally ball-shaped valving element therewithin, and opposite ends of the housing are ported to admit and discharge fluid into and from the chamber. The element is freely translatable within the chamber, being guided on a housing-traversing rod, between a valve seat at one end of the housing, and abutments adjacent the other end of the housing. A first spring biases the element away from the valve seat, and second, more powerful spring is restrainingly held at the other end of the housing, ready to overpower the first spring, and force the element onto the seat, to close off the discharge porting, when inordinately elevated-temperature fluid enters the housing.

Abstract: A pair of mutually confronting fish hooks are spring-coupled at the shank ends thereof to define thereof a shielding loop which circumscribes the barbed and pointed ends of the hooks. Accordingly, the coupled hooks can be drawn through submerged obstructions without getting snagged on such. The so-coupled hooks are replacements for the barbed hooks of crankbaits, for example, and upon a fish striking the so modified crankbaits, the spring yields and exposes the barbed, pointed ends externally of the shielding loop. In an alternate embodiment, the spring-coupled or calipered hooks are confined within a sheathing, frog-simulating body, and in another embodiment, the hooks are sheathed in an expandable tube. Fish strikes, again, diminish the loop and dispose the barbed, pointed ends of the hooks at-the-ready for piercing the thin sheathing and lodging in the mouth of the fish.

Abstract: An elongated sleeve, externally threaded, is threadedly engaged with threaded bores in transverse walls formed in a straight cylinder of a gas compressor. A nut is secured to an intermediate portion of the sleeve, by means of a setscrew, and an end of the sleeve threadedly mounts a valve. The cylinder wall has an aperture formed therein to provide access for an open-end wrench, so that the wrench can work the nut to cause rotation of the nut and the sleeve, and move the valve outwardly or inwardly of the cylinder, as the valve is wholly confined within the cylinder at the frame-end thereof, and is otherwise inaccessible for movement.

Abstract: A shaft, having a slot formed therein offset from the shaft axis, receives the terminal end of a limb within the slot. The limb end has a pointed termination, and a bight. The slot has an arcuately formed portion, in which to nest the bight, and a depression in which to receive the pointed termination. More, the shaft has threading formed thereon, adjacent the slot, with the slot traversing the threads and a shaft-end head. An internally-threaded sleeve is slidably engaged with the shaft, and overlies the slot-nested end of the limb, and threadedly fastens onto the shaft threads, to prevent the limb from removing from the shaft.

Abstract: Electrically-conductive, segmental, slot wedges, with electrically-conductive inserts therebetween, and electrically-conductive interconnects, between end ones of the wedges and the annular, end retaining ring, of a rotor, define an amortisseur winding for the rotor. The inserts are spring-loaded in end slots formed in the wedges, and in an embodiment of the invention, are formed of beryllium copper and are silver-plated. As is typical of rotors in electrical, rotating equipment, the slot wedges are formed of aluminum.

Abstract: The limbs of the spring cage overlie portions of the cylindrical lock chassis. Accordingly, a graduated scale, with Arabic numerals aligned therewith, is inscribed on a portion of the chassis which one of the limbs overlies, and the flat, terminal end of the limb is used to indicate a proper door thickness adjustment. The cage is spring-biased away from the chassis, and retained on a projecting shaft by an adjusting nut threadedly engaged with the shaft. By threadedly moving the nut on the shaft, the cage is moved relative to the shaft and concomitantly, the limb terminal end is selectively aligned with a chosen one of the door thickness-indicating scale lines.

Abstract: A body, having a substantially closed cell formed therewithin, has a projecting nozzle, externally threaded, for threaded engagement with the sparkplug hole in a gas engine cylinder head. The body has two passageways formed therein, each threaded, for admitting fuel into the cell and for mounting a sparkplug or such ignition device thereinto. The body nestably sets into the sparkplug cavity, in the cylinder head, and mounts fluid seals thereabout. Ports broached in walls of the cylinder head water jacketing admit cooling water to the body to dissipate the heat of the precombustion product.

Abstract: A body, having ported plates astride a third plate having a void formed therein, confines a ball-type valving element therein, in a chamber defined by the void. Ports in the ported plates open onto the chamber, and the ported plate on the outlet side of the valve further has a metering orifice formed therein which opens onto the chamber. Fluid flow proceeds from the plate on the inlet side, through the chamber, and out through the metering orifice. The configuration, for a given fluid having a prescribed forward pressure differential, controls the flow rate. Additionally, the pressure differential securely holds the valving element on its valve-open seat, and substantially diminishes false closing and ball chatter.

Abstract: A cylindrical base slidably receives a sleeve which has spiral trackways formed therein. Pins projecting from the base, into the trackways, cause the sleeve to rise through the base, and to project outwardly from the base, when an apertured cap, which is coupled to the base, and the base are rotated therebetween. The sleeve receives a vial of fluid (viz.: perfume) which has an atomizing cap. Consequently, with elevation of the sleeve, through the base, the atomizing cap of the vial is exposed for operation. A reverse rotation causes the vial and sleeve to retract into the base, and the atomizing cap sealingly closes off the aperture of the carrier.