Abstract: An improved skateboard having a replaceable arc-tail with a wear surface and further having wheel wells. Each end of the improved skateboard may have the arc-tail with the inwardly directed angular wear surface for enabling the operator to perform a variety of new tricks. In addition, each end of the skateboard may further be replaceable so that as the end of the skateboard wears out that end may be replaced. Furthermore, formed wheel wells are provided in the bottom surface of the skateboard to prevent the wheels from touching the bottom surface of the skateboard during turns and the like.

Abstract: An alignment control for a self-propelled irrigation system. The alignment control maintains adjacent pipe segments of the irrigation system in a predetermined alignment and includes an elongated actuation arm pivotally mounted near its center for movement about a substantially vertical axis. One end portion of the arm is spring biased against one of the pipe segments and the other end is operably connected to a control valve which runs one of the self-propelled support towers of the irrigation system. In the preferred embodiment, the end portion abutting the pipe segment is bifurcated into two legs which vertically straddle a section of the pipe segment. The spring means biases one of the legs toward an abutting relationship with the pipe section making the actuation arm very sensitive and responsive to misalignments of the adjacent pipe segments.

Abstract: A ramp assembly for use with a vehicle to provide access to and from the vehicle. The ramp assembly is particularly suited for use by people confined to a wheel chair. The assembly includes a control lever pivotally mounted to a ramp member of the assembly to support a control switch at hand level to someone in a wheel chair. The control lever abuts a portion of the vehicle as the ramp assembly closes and is supported in a substantially vertical position when the assembly is closed to increase the space available within the vehicle. The motor drive for the ramp assembly is positioned on the vehicle between two pivotally mounted ramp members to further increase the available space within the vehicle over past assemblies.

Abstract: A boot tree for straightening the upper portions of boots extending from the inner heel portion to the tug straps of said boots. The boot tree comprises two elongated hollow tubes with a coil spring disposed therein, wherein the second elongated tube is rotated with respect to the first elongated tube to lengthen or shorten the boot tree. A handle, disposed on the upper portion of the boot tree with downwardly extending hooks on either side, is pushed down and inserted into the tug straps so that when the handle is released, the tension from the coil spring lifts the upper portions of the boots to a straightened position.

Abstract: A fog free ski mask including protective covering material form fitting to the head, the neck, and partial shoulder area of the user, goggles affixed to the material and adapted to fit over corrective lenses of a user, and a breathing apparatus for delivering warm air from a remote area of the body and for delivering exhaled moist and warm air from the body to that remote area. The breathing apparatus of the present invention uses a triangular shaped cup form-fitted over the nose and mouth of the user and fitted snugly to the face of the user by means of a strap connected around the rear neck area of the user. Two detachable tubes are connected to the cup on opposing sides and are of sufficient length to drape around each shoulder or to the front of the user to deliver and receive air from a remote area of the user. The cup, tubes, and strap are disposed underneath the protective material and fit firmly against the face.

Abstract: An electrically heated mold for making test specimens of concrete. The mold has two substantially identical mold halves pivotally mounted to each other and electric heating units selectively operated in response to the temperature variations in the concrete of the main structure. Each mold half has a heat transferring wall member which has a mold surface and an outer surface against which one of the heating units is placed. The mold is insulated and has a number of additional features designed to facilitate manufacture and operation of the mold as well as to increase its working life.

Abstract: A novel beet harvesting machine is disclosed having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and longitudinal and transverse support beams and being pulled by a tractor at the yoke for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck. The beet harvesting machine of the present invention utilizes hydraulic motors for powering the flailing of the dug beets rearwardly into the machine, the conveying of the flailed beets further rearwardly in the machine, the delivering of the beets laterally and the elevating of the beets upwardly and into the truck. The reservoir for the hydraulic fluid is integral with and disposed in the center of one of the longitudinal and transverse beams. A pump is provided for delivering the fluid from the reservoir and into the hydraulic motors of the present invention. A cooler for dissipating heat in the fluid is further provided.

Abstract: A rotary tub grinder in which a substantially cylindrical tub member is rotated relative to a stationary floor member. Material in the tub grinder is moved over the upper surface of the floor member and a portion of it is moved up a ramp into the path of a rotating hammermill. A stabilizer member is positioned on the floor member across the opening from the ramp member and serves to steady the material so that the hammers of the hammermill can uniformly feed material downwardly into the grinder. The stabilizer member extends higher above the floor member than the ramp member and the path of the rotating hammers extends higher above the floor member than the stabilizer member. A layer of material is planed off as it moves about the tub grinder. The ramp member and stabilizer member also serve to help prevent material from falling into and clogging the grinder when the tub grinder is shut down or slowed down by a power governor.

Abstract: A portable prover barrel apparatus having a lower section with left and right tubes arranged horizontal and parallel to each other and terminating in vertical upstanding tubular rear ends and in vertical upstanding tubular connectors at the front ends, a wheel assembly connected to the lower section, an upper section with left and right tubes arranged horizontal and parallel to each other and terminating at the rearward ends in downwardly extending vertical tubular connectors, a U-shaped tubular portion operatively interconnected with the forward ends of the upper section's left and right tubes, a fifth wheel female assembly mounted to the upper section left and right tubes near the U-shaped portion, leveling jacks connected at the juncture between the upper and lower sections, and a housing compartment mounted on the lower section above the tubes and oriented behind the upper section.

Abstract: A fuel safety switch for the fuel system of a motor is designed to be placed in the fuel delivery system and includes a bellows responsive to the pressure of the fuel within the fuel system for expansion outwardly, coil springs disposed on both sides of the bellows to provide a snap action return of the bellows to a collapsed condition after a reduction in fuel pressure, a first set of contacts activating an over fuel indicator when the bellows is expanded beyond a predetermined limit, and a second set of contacts activating the motor brake retarders, if turned on, when the bellows collapses to the unexpanded state.

Abstract: A vibration masking noise system for delivering masking noise into a room or building is designed to vibrate part of the building structure so that masking noise is extended into the room. The system includes a noise generator, a spectrum shaper for shaping the noise, an amplifier for amplifying the shaped noise and a transducer mechanically connected to the structure for converting the masking noise into vibrations of the structure.

Abstract: An improved tractor having a front section pivotally coupled to a rear section wherein the front section has a radiator, front wheels, and a tiltable cab. Wrapped around the radiator at the extreme end of the front section is a combination bumper and storing area for hydraulic fluid. The additional weight of the hydraulic storing area in front of the radiator substantially prevents front wheel slippage. Also mounted on the front section is a tiltable cab having air conditioning and a pedestal chair seating the operator. The air conditioning system is designed to force air from both a forward intake and a rearward intake between the top of the cab and a dome-shaped roof having a plurality of holes formed therein for uniformly distributing the air from the front and rear conditioners over the operator. The pedestal chair is designed to have forward and rearward movement as well as pivotal movement.

Abstract: An improved animal exercising apparatus including a releasable towing package, improved safety features, a manure scraper and container, removable side panel inserts, breast and butt restraining straps, and a variable speed motor. The improved features include angled side wall corners to prevent damage to the animal's head and neck and teeth during exercising. The releasable towing package provides separately releasable wheels and a tow bar for selective transportation of one or a plurality of exercising apparatuses. A loading guide is also provided to improve the loading of the animal. One improved embodiment is designed for use by horses whereas a second improved embodiment has angularly oriented outward extending side walls and is designed for use by livestock such as cattle and sheep. In the second embodiment an upstanding tie bar is further provided to properly exercise livestock by holding their head in the proper lead position.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a carpet using a cleaning fluid and a reciprocating head member that contacts the carpet. The cleaning fluid is applied to the carpet through a slot in the reciprocating head member. The head member further includes scrubbing means and vacuum means that are reciprocated with the cleaning fluid slot. The drive means for the reciprocating head member moves the head member back and forth along the same path at a rate of about 125 to about 585 cycles per minute. The slot for the cleaning fluid is fixedly spaced from the inlet to the vacuum means and the head member is reciprocated a distance greater than the spacing between the slot and the inlet to the vacuum means. The drive means in this embodiment is part of a body member whose mass is sufficiently greater than that of the head member so that when the drive means reciprocates the head member at a high rate, the distance moved by the head member is greater than the distance moved by the body member.

Abstract: A system for temporary or permanent fence construction and repair is disclosed having a plurality of modular building components for constructing rail fences, for repairing existing fences, for placing signs and protective guards on existing fences, for constructing cattle guards and for other similar uses. The disclosed fencing stay system is an improvement in the art in that a universal modular system is proposed that is adoptable to a plurality of uses. The disclosed fencing stay system comprises a variety of anchors each commonly being capable of engaging a variety of longitudinal stays. The anchors are designed to affix to a plurality of barrier surfaces and the stays are designed to provide support for the system. The mating surfaces between any of the stays and any of the anchors is identical.

Abstract: A theft prevention switch device for use in a vehicle with an electrical system selectively operable off one of a plurality of battery sources. In the preferred embodiment, three electrical conducting means are attached to a support plate which can be mounted within a box that can be locked shut. One of the electrical means is connected to the vehicle's electrical system and each of the other two is connected to a battery source. The electrical conducting means are spaced from each other about a common point. A portable and removable plunger can be selectively placed to electrically connect the first electrical conducting means either to the second or the third electrical conducting means. The portable and removable plunger has two substantially planar portions joined at an angle and an insulated, cylindrical gripping member. The first electrical conducting means is spaced from each of the other two about a common common point at an angle corresponding to the angle between the planar portion of the plunger.

Abstract: An energy demand controller adaptable for a house or building having a plurality of heating zones and appliances. The energy demand controller includes a temperature sensor for each zone, a central controller receptive of all the temperatures from each zone for comparing the sensed temperature to a predetermined value, and a switch panel having solid state switches responsive to commands from the central controller for selectively delivering power from a power source to the heaters and appliances. When the zones require heating because of a first predetermined temperature difference between the sensed temperature and the desired temperature, then the heaters for the various zones are sequentially activated for a short predetermined time interval. When a greater temperature difference exists between the desired level and the sensed level in a particular zone, the heaters for that zone are activated full time.

Abstract: A fluid leak alarm system for detecting leaks in the fluid delivery lines located for example in a fuel filling or bulk station or other pressure lines is designed to have a detector with a pressure sensor mounted into each fuel delivery line of the different product lines and a transmitter for transmitting over conventional electrical power lines a unique code identifying the fuel line in the event of a leak. The fuel leak alarm system is further designed to have a remotely located receiver which is responsive to the uniquely coded signal transmitted over the electrical power line for extracting the signal from the power line and sounding an alarm which identifies the leaking fuel delivery line. A plurality of unique codes identify the delivery lines for the different product lines so that any electrical interference which may be picked up by the power lines is ignored by the receiver which responds only to the unique codes.

Abstract: An aircraft instrument responsive to altitude and airspeed change. The instrument includes a first pressure transducer responsive to the pressure change due to changes in the altitude of the aircraft and a second pressure transducer responsive to pressure change due to changes in the airspeed of the aircraft. The output of each transducer is amplified and uniquely combined to provide an electrical signal representative of the rate of climb of the aircraft. The instrument also optionally modifies the airspeed transducer output and combines the modified signal with the rate of climb signal to provide a signal representative of the vertical movement of air outside of the aircraft. Additionally, the instrument may optionally provide an indication whenever best speed to fly conditions exist.

Abstract: An apparatus identifying a class of called telephone lines by extending an identity signal back over the called line to a calling central operator or control. The identifier apparatus includes a signal identity generator connected to the called line, a signal decoder located at a calling central control such as an operator cordboard or traffic service position (TSPS), and a time-out for deactivating the generator after a predetermined time period has elapsed. A method is also set forth where a uniquely coded signal is extended over the communication line to an operator when an "OFF HOOK" condition appears from the called line to warn the operator that the called line is not authorized to receive collect calls.