Abstract: During use of a firefighter helmet or a similar helmet, a detachable protective earflap unit can be used to provide convenient and easy storage of personal items for the firefighter or other helmet wearer secured at the back of the helmet and below the rear brim or rear lower edge of the helmet by a utility strap securement assembly. The protective earflap unit comprises an earflap having a utility strap securement assembly that selectively may encircle and retain eyewear, an eyewear case, a utility bag, or other small personal item.

Abstract: An integrated fishing rod holder kit incorporates a grip coupler that replaces a butt cap on a preexisting fishing rod that has a hollow rod blank having a void space that extends linearly through from the butt of the rod through a rear grip end and forward through the grip area and reel seat area of the rod towards the fishing rod tip. The grip coupler is securely fixed to the rear grip end coaxially and preferably about the rod blank butt end that is revealed after the butt cap is removed. The grip coupler has external threads on its outer surface for engaging a coupler engagement collar of a rod holder body.

Abstract: A walk-in bathtub having a flip-up seat portion over a rearward foot well recess provides a bather with improved access to an interior bathing cavity of the bathtub by giving the bather when the bather is within the bathtub more usable floor space in the bathtub in which to stand while closing or opening a hinged door in a side wall of the bathtub. The invention further aids a bather in standing up from a sitting position in the bathtub in that the bather can place a foot or feet more directly below the bather in a rearward foot well recess under the flip-up seat portion preferably located near or at knee height and then can lift up the flip-up seat portion while the bather is rising from a sitting to a standing position.

Abstract: A masonry block wall bracing wall anchor having a threaded portion connected to an intermediate portion of the wall anchor with the intermediate portion having a vertical cross-section generally sized to fit between and substantially bridge the vertical thickness of a bed joint between two successive courses of masonry blocks and the threaded portion available for connecting by means of a washer and a nut to a side support that braces a masonry block wall during construction. The preferred embodiment has an upper transverse fracture groove and a lower transverse fracture groove through which after completion of the wall selectively can propagate a fracture line when the masonry block wall is completed. The fracture grooves can facilitate selective fracturing of the wall bracing wall anchor thereby allowing removal of a protruding threaded portion of the anchor that extends beyond the outer face of the masonry wall.

Abstract: A walk-in bathtub adjustable door latch assembly incorporates an adjustably positionable closing lever to secure and to adjustably move and adjustably pressure a hinged door of a walk-in bathtub into a close sealing position in a bather entryway to guard against water leakage through the bather entryway.

Abstract: A dolly dropdown box drawer is disposed below a bed or a frame of a tow truck along each side of the truck near a driver's cab for the storage and safeguarding of a pair of towing dollies with one on each side of the truck. Each drawer pulls out laterally and then tilts and arcs downward at the front end of the drawer to provide ready and convenient access to a towing dolly at a level below waist level of a tow truck driver who desires to use the towing dolly during a recovery operation conducted regarding a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A picture frame assembly incorporates an outer frame and a backing member having at least one laterally extending resilient groove engaging edge protrusion that cooperates with a receiving groove circumscribed, formed, or cast in a back picture opening rabbet return of the outer frame to secure an artwork within the picture frame assembly. Preferably, the backing member has a plurality of resilient groove engaging edge protrusions with each resilient groove engaging edge protrusion cooperating with a receiving groove to secure an artwork within the outer frame. In use, each laterally extending resilient groove engaging edge protrusion is laterally compressed and then rebounds into close engagement with the receiving groove whereby the backing member is secured within the outer frame behind the artwork.

Abstract: A plurality of closable and removable containment berm wall supports are preferably each made from three flexible coated fabric layers and preferably each wall support incorporates three reinforcing members and incorporates a closure means that selectively can close the support into a closed triangular frame. Each berm wall support is designed to cooperate with a sleeve attached to a flexible sidewall of a containment berm unit and when the wall support is in a closed condition to hold the sidewall in an erected condition and when the wall support is in an open condition to allow the sidewall to assume a let down condition. The let down condition allows a wheeled vehicle or other object to conveniently transit over the wall for placement on a floor of the containment berm unit within the perimeter established by the sidewall.

Abstract: A simple agricultural big bale loader, retriever, and transporter provides an efficient tool that should save time and labor costs over other existing loaders. The invention permits a novel lifting, rotating, and depositing of a big bale from the ground in the field onto and across an elevating and flipping receiving table, consolidating of a plurality of the lifted bales into two-high or three-high layers of bales on a stack carriage bed, transporting of the bales to a storage location, tilting of the carriage bed downward at the rear and upward at the front approximately 90 degrees, and depositing of the stack at the storage location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel self extinguishing safety candle wick that can be inserted into an axial vertical bore of a preformed solid fuel candle body or can be placed in a candle mold for casting of a solid fuel candle. The self extinguishing safety candle wick comprises a central support core having a plurality of combustion enabling wick portions fixed along the length of the core separated one from one another by interposed extinguishing gaps bridged by bare core portions. The invention also relates to methods of manufacture of the self extinguishing safety candle wick.

Abstract: A writing utensil cover is preferably made from two flexible plastic walls for use in shielding an environment from nearly all of a writing utensil having a writing tip except for the writing tip. The cover has a generally tubular shape and preferably a plurality of covers is used with the writing utensil to further reduce the potential for cross contamination by or to the writing utensil.

Abstract: An apparatus for attachment and adjustment of a bicycle seat is connected to a bicycle seat post and allows tool-free attachment of the seat to the post as well as angular fore and aft adjustment of the seat relative to the longitudinal axis of the seat post.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel self extinguishing safety candle wick that can be inserted into an axial vertical bore of a preformed solid fuel candle body or can be placed in a candle mold for casting of a solid fuel candle. The self extinguishing safety candle wick comprises a central support core having a plurality of combustion enabling wick portions fixed along the length of the core separated one from one another by interposed extinguishing gaps bridged by bare core portions. The invention also relates to methods of manufacture of the self extinguishing safety candle wick.

Abstract: During recovery of a disabled motor vehicle, a towing dolly cradle assembly can be used to raise and carry an end of the vehicle. The towing dolly cradle assembly comprises two towing dolly assemblies spaced apart parallel to one another and with each dolly assembly having a horizontal main tube and each dolly assembly attached respectively along one of its longitudinal sides to an end of each of the two dolly axle assemblies interposed perpendicularly between the two dolly assemblies. The attachment of the two dolly assemblies to the two axle assemblies forms a generally rectangular towing dolly cradle assembly. In each dolly assembly, two pivot mounting assemblies are attached to the main tube with one mounting assembly at or near each end of the tube. Each mounting assembly has a spindle and a wheel assembly mounted to the spindle on the longitudinal side of the tube away from the interposed and attached dolly axle assemblies.

Abstract: A writing utensil cover is preferably made from two flexible plastic walls for use in shielding an environment from nearly all of a writing utensil having a writing tip except for the writing tip. The cover has a generally tubular shape and preferably a plurality of covers is used with the writing utensil to further reduce the potential for cross contamination by or to the writing utensil.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for mixing and injecting a foam core within an extruded shell preferably of plastic downstream from an extrusion die to produce a uniform building product. The preferred apparatus includes a mixing head injector for mixing a binary system foam. The mixing head injector incorporates pressurized gas injection for homogenization of the foam core. A preferred method employs the mixing head injector and a novel calibrator thereby allowing injection of a foam core within the shell as it passes through a calibrator to reliably produce a uniform building product. An alternative method employs a second extruder. Alternative methods employ a mounting fixture downstream of a first calibrator.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for gripping and pulling an archery arrow shaft without damage to the arrow from a target or other object in which the arrow is partially embedded. The apparatus uses gripping pads and levers to grip and to pull the shaft of the arrow from the target or other object.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for mixing and injecting a foam core within an extruded shell preferably of plastic downstream from an extrusion die to produce a uniform building product. The preferred apparatus includes a mixing head injector for mixing a binary system foam. The mixing head injector incorporates pressurized gas injection for homogenization of the foam core. A preferred method employs the mixing head injector and a novel calibrator thereby allowing injection of a foam core within the shell as it passes through a calibrator to reliably produce a uniform building product. An alternative method employs a second extruder. Alternative methods employ a mounting fixture downstream of a first calibrator.