Abstract: A removable blade assembly with an attachment arm slidably mounted over the support boom of a trencher machine. The attachment arm is stabilized in place on the support boom with pressure point bolts. From the attachment arm extend an angle support and an extending support block to stabilize a stabilization post leading to the blade-pivot assembly. The blade-pivot assembly includes a blade assembly pivotally mounted on a triangular-shaped housing frame. The blade can be swiveled in each direction from the trencher machine to backfill debris as desired.

Abstract: A water pump allows adjustment of the drive belt by rotating a portion of the water pump housing. The water pump eliminates the need for additional drive-belt tensioning parts, therefore simplifying maintenance procedures. The pump housing has a support member mounted thereto, with a pump shaft extending therethrough. The support member flange includes eccentrically-formed mounting grooves. The support member is rotated by the loosening of adjustment screws securing it in place. By rotating the support member, the location of the pump shaft is re-oriented and the tension of the drive belt adjusted.

Abstract: A disengageable pivot connection includes a ball stud that is capable of being selectively removed from the corresponding socket. The ball stud includes an engagement head that has substantially flat faces or grooves that correspond to tabs extending from the rim of the socket into which the ball stud is engaged. To install, the ball stud is inserted into the socket such that the substantially flat faces or grooves on the head pass by the tabs extending from the rim of the socket. Then, the ball stud is rotated such that the head engages the tabs extending from the rim of the socket. Alternatively, the head of the ball stud is snap-fitted into the socket as is conventional in the art. As such, the head cannot be removed from the socket without additional rotation. The head remains free to pivot within the socket as required for the particular application. One particularly desirable application of the present invention is in automotive lamp assemblies.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The striker bolt and threaded hole interface in an interference fit designed to maximize the failure point of the connection. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process. A plastic cover substantially envelops the striker plate to provide sound dampening and to further protect the vehicle door striker.

Abstract: A support structure to which a conglomeration of small animal food can be affixed and around which a conglomeration can be formed includes a shaft having a top and bottom plate at opposite ends thereof. The top plate includes a hanging clip capable of securing the support to a small animal cage or other support structure and the bottom plate may have a securing clip capable of better securing the support to the cage. In order to improve the ability of the support structure to retain the conglomeration thereon when an animal picks at it, a plurality of protuberances are disposed along the length of the shaft. Small animal food is disposed about the shaft between the top and bottom plates and is held together and to the shaft and plates by a sticky material such as honey, dextrose, or other edible substance.

Abstract: A coupon burster assembly receives a continuous supply of coupons in the form of a web where the forwardmost coupon is attached to the following coupon along a weakened web portion. The burster includes a pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and a pair of continuously rotating delivery rollers. An activation input receives triggering information from a form-fill-seal packaging machine or from a receiving product sensor. When the activation input receives triggering information, a signal is sent to a clutch-brake to activate the feed rollers. The feed rollers then feed the web into the delivery rollers. When a deactivation sensor located beyond the delivery rollers senses the presence of the forwardmost coupon, a signal is sent to the clutch-brake which stops the rotation of the feed rollers. Because the delivery rollers continue to pull the forwardmost coupon, the two coupons separate along the weakened web portion. The forwardmost coupon can then be delivered to the dispensing location.

Abstract: A steering axle suspension system for connecting a frame to a front steering axle in a truck or other heavy vehicle has a substantially non-flexible beam having a front end, a central portion, and a rear end. The central portion of the beam is mounted to the front steering axle and a mounting bracket is mounted on the front end of the beam. The mounting bracket has a bushing located therein with a trunnion shaft extending therethrough. A shaft engagement housing is attached to the frame and non-rotatably engages the trunnion shaft such that the beam can pivot with respect to the frame at the front end. An air spring is sandwiched between the beam and the frame. The air spring is capable of transferring weight from the frame to the axle and the air in the air spring is adjusted by an automatic leveling valve capable of interrelating the amount of air in the air spring to the distance between the frame and the beam.

Abstract: Each horizontal adjuster mechanism used in connection with low beam headlamps must be either non-readjustable after the initial adjustment or equipped with a non-recalibratable vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) which is set to zero when the vehicle leaves the factory. Vehicle manufacturers must either aim the lamps and provide a non-recalibratable VHAD which is properly zeroed or aim the lamps and provide a mechanism to prevent future readjustment. A headlamp adjuster may be rendered non-readjustable after the headlamp has been aimed by snapping down a snap-socket, placing a covering cap over the drive shaft, closing a one-way lid on a drive shaft cover, or by otherwise preventing rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Each horizontal ad juster mechanism used in connection with low beam headlamps must be either non-readjustable after the initial adjustment or equipped with a non-recalibratable vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) which is zeroed when the vehicle leaves the factory. Vehicle manufacturers must either aim the lamps and provide a non-recalibratable VHAD which is properly zeroed or aim the lamps and provide a mechanism to prevent future readjustment. A headlamp adjuster is provided with a non-recalibratable VHAD dial which zeroed after the lamp has been properly aimed and which indicates any subsequent adjustments to the aim of the headlamps.

Abstract: An adjusting apparatus for the reflector in an automotive lamp assembly has a screw, a mounting clip for mounting the adjusting apparatus to the reflector, and a retainer clip for positioning the adjusting apparatus such that it can properly adjust the reflector. The adjusting apparatus can be installed as a unitary piece through the lens, or through the support from of the automotive lamp assembly. The adjusting apparatus reduces the labor required to assemble the automotive lamp assembly and the number of parts the assembler must keep in inventory. Thus, the overall cost to produce a completed automotive lamp assembly is reduced.

Abstract: A coupon inserter assembly receives a continuous supply of coupons in the form of a web where the forwardmost coupon is attached to the following coupon along a weakened web portion. The inserter assembly includes a pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and a pair of continuously rotating delivery rollers. An activation sensor is located at a dispensing location or a conveyor carrying receiving products for receiving coupons. When the activation sensor senses a receiving product, a signal is sent to a clutch-brake to activate the feed rollers. The feed rollers then feed the web into the delivery rollers. When a deactivation sensor located beyond the delivery rollers senses the presence of the forwardmost coupon, a signal is sent to the clutch-brake which stops the rotation of the feed rollers. Because the delivery rollers continue to pull the forwardmost coupon, the two coupons separate along the weakened web portion.

Abstract: A spacing apparatus for use in mounting an engine cooling fan of a racing vehicle to a drive structure, typically the water pump drive shaft, is made from a spacer body to which a fan hub quick-releasably attaches. The spacer body has a base with a shaft extending therefrom having a reduced perimeter section over which the fan hub mounts. When the fan hub is in place, engagement rods may be inserted in the fan hub to retain the fan hub on the shaft. The engagement rods may be easily and quickly removed without risk of burn to the mechanic to allow quick release of the fan hub on which the fan blades are mounted.

Abstract: A safety device comprising an ice spike having a mounting piece strapped to the forearm of the wearer with a spike support plate attached to the mounting piece by a hinge. An opener is biased to position the spike support plate in an open position and the spike support plate is held in a closed position using a hook and loop fastener. When the spike support plate is in the open position, a spike attached to the spike support plate is positioned by a spring or the equivalent such that its pointed end points outwardly from the spike support plate. The ice spike provides a person who has fallen through a hole in the ice with a device capable of gripping the slippery edges of the hole such that the person can extricate himself from the hole.

Abstract: A bridge mandrel for use as part of the rollers used in flexographic printing presses. When used as a part of the printing roller, the bridge mandrel allows the use of inexpensive printing sleeves to which the flexographic printing plates can be attached. When used as part of the inking roller, the bridge mandrel provides a durable and cost effective design. The bridge mandrel is made from a cylinder and two bearing sleeves that mount the cylinder to a standard mandrel. When the bridge mandrel is used as a printing roller, the thin printing sleeve mounts to the cylinder by means of an extension of the conventional compressed air mounting system. The ability to use inexpensive thin printing sleeves greatly reduces the cost and time expenditure normally associated with changing the printing rollers in flexographic printing presses.

Abstract: A powered lawn mower having a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, a set of front wheels and rear wheels connected to the frame, a drive for transmitting rotational power from the engine to the rear wheels, and grass cutting blades associated with the frame, and powered by the engine. A platform is positioned behind the rear wheels, and is capable of supporting an operator while the lawn mower is operating. The platform and the other parts are connected to the frame in such a way and positioned so that the addition of the operator in a stand-up or riding position moves the center of gravity by no more than twenty-five percent of the wheelbase of the mower. The rear wheel set may be positioned up or down but is not swingable.