Abstract: A semi-automatic handgun is disclosed including a frame having a barrel housing mounted thereon. A barrel is movably mounted on the barrel housing and has a cartridge chamber at its rearward end for receiving a cartridge therein. The barrel is movable between a rearward position and a forward position with respect to the barrel housing and is normally in its rearward position. The barrel moves forwardly in a straight line from its rearward position upon firing of the cartridge in the chamber to counteract the rearward energy of discharge, thereby reducing recoil. The handgun may be fired in either a single action or double action manner. The firing hammer of the handgun is re-cocked, upon firing of the cartridge, by means of a movable piston having a firing pin positioned therein with the firing pin engaging the hammer to move the hammer to its re-cocked position.

Abstract: An underground storm shelter comprising a bottom section, expander section and a top section bolted together to form the shelter. The base section has a closed bottom while the top section has an access hatch formed in the upper end thereof. The base section, expander section and top section are bolted together at the installation site. The walls of the base section and the top section are tapered to enable the base section and the top section to be nested during shipment. The expander section may be slipped over the top section.

Abstract: A side dump body including a plurality of side dump body units pivotally mounted on a truck or trailer frame. Each of the side dump body units may be individually pivotally moved from a transport position to a dumping position wherein the contents of the dump body units may be dumped from the side of a truck or trailer. A material compactor is provided at the upper end of each of the body units for compacting material within the body unit. The material compactor may be moved from its operative compaction position wherein it overlies the upper end of the body unit to an inoperative position at one side of the body unit so that the body unit may be moved to its dumping position without interference from the material compactor.

Abstract: An air suspension system mountable on the axle of a vehicle such as a pick-up truck. The suspension system includes an air spring, a pusher torque rod and a lever arm. The torque rod has one end pivotably affixed to the chassis and its other end affixed to the axle housing to control movement of the axle housing in an arcuate path. The lever arm has an end pivotably affixed to the chassis and its other shiftably and slidably supported on an axle bracket. The air spring is mounted on the lever arm to provide load support to the chassis. The shock absorbers for the vehicle are controlled from the same air pressure source as the air spring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for matching an antenna having a high or low impedance with a transceiver circuit having an impedance of 50 ohms. A multilayer substrate, such as one or more printed circuit boards, is provided and has the various components of a matching circuit formed on including a capacitor and an inductor. The components are formed on the substrate using printed circuit techniques. A radiating element is connected to the matching circuit. The radiating element may be a discrete antenna or may also be formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A side dump box for dumping the ingredients of a feed ration into a feed mixing truck is provided. A side dump box is pivotally moved on a pair of upwardly and outwardly extending slides to enable the side dump box to be elevated from a lower position to an elevated position and then pivotally moved so that contents of the side dump box may be dumped into the interior of a feed mixing truck. The side dump box includes a plurality of load cells which indicate the amount of ingredients, by weight, placed in the interior of the side dump box.

Abstract: A truck lid hinge and opener system for removably connecting a lid or cover to the bed of a truck wherein the bed includes a vertical front wall, first and second vertical side walls extending rearwardly from the front wall, and a tailgate at the rearward end of the bed with the side walls having downwardly extending flanges at the upper end thereof. A pair of hinge units removably hingedly connect the forward end of the lid to the truck bed. A pair of like opener mechanisms pivotally interconnect the sides of the lid to the side walls of the truck bed. Each of the open mechanisms includes a gas spring which is adjustably mounted to compensate for varying temperature conditions. The hinge units and opener mechanisms are clamped onto the truck bed to avoid drilling holes in the truck bed.

Abstract: A goose decoy is disclosed comprising a body frame having a neck frame selectively removably secured thereto. The body frame and the neck frame are comprised of flexible steel banding material so that the body frame and neck frame will move due to wind action thereagainst. The neck frame is covered by a neck sock while the body frame is covered by a body sock. The neck and body socks are comprised of a fabric material imprinted with the colorings of a goose. A stake is inserted upwardly through the body of the decoy and is secured to the body frame to support the decoy in various positions.

Abstract: A satellite antenna alignment device is provided which includes a support which may be selectively removably mounted on the underside of the support arm of the antenna. The alignment device includes a pivotal plumb bob having a chart positioned therebelow which is provided with skew angles and elevation angles to enable the antenna to be quickly and easily elevated to the proper elevation and skewed to the proper skew angle.

Abstract: The soil sampler of this invention is mounted on a wheeled vehicle and includes a frame having a pivotal mast which is movable between an upright position and a horizontally disposed position. An elongated, hollow soil probe is longitudinally movably mounted on the mast so that the probe may be inserted into the ground to collect a soil sample. When the sample has been collected in the soil probe, the probe is raised from the ground and the mast is moved from its upright position to its horizontally disposed position. The soil sample in the probe is automatically dumped from the probe when the mast has been moved to its horizontally disposed position. The soil sample is collected in a receptacle position below the probe with the receptacle being divided into at least two compartments. The soil sampling probe also includes means for indicating the true position of the soil surface.

Abstract: An antenna is described for use with a wireless communications device wherein the antenna comprises a helical radiator having a connector at one end thereof with the helical radiator and connector being of one-piece, unitary construction. In one embodiment, the radiator and connector are formed through a plastic injection molding procedure while in another embodiment, the radiator and connector are formed by use of a metal die-casting procedure. Modified forms of the antenna are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastener inserter and hopper for the same is disclosed for use in inserting fasteners into material being secured. The hopper comprises a rotatable drum which tumbles the fasteners therein into position so that the shanks thereof protrude outwardly between spaced-apart bars. The fasteners are discharged from a discharge opening formed in the hopper and are delivered to a magazine which is in communication with an entrapment apparatus which feeds the fasteners to a feed tube under pressure. The air pressure in the feed tube delivers the individual fasteners to the inserter with the fastener being positioned between pivotally movable head fingers which open to receive the fastener to position the same for subsequent insertion and which pivot to enable the fastener to be driven outwardly therefrom by a piston rod so that the fastener is driven into and through the material being secured.

Abstract: A tractor steering wheel grip comprising a clamp secured to the rim of the steering wheel and having a post projecting therefrom. A hand grip is rotatably secured to the post which is gripped by the operator of the tractor. The hand grip comprises a base portion which rotatably receives the post, a first leg portion which extends from the base portion at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the post, an arcuate portion extending from the first leg portion, and an elongated hand gripping portion extending from the arcuate portion. The first leg portion, arcuate portion and the elongated hand gripping portion define a substantial U-shape.

Abstract: A truck lid hinge and opener system for removably connecting a lid or cover to the bed of a truck wherein the bed includes a vertical front wall, first and second vertical side walls extending rearwardly from the front wall, and a tailgate at the rearward end of the bed with the side walls having downwardly extending flanges at the upper end thereof. A pair of hinge units removably hingedly connect the forward end of the lid to the truck bed. A pair of like opener mechanisms pivotally interconnect the sides of the lid to the side walls of the truck bed. Each of the open mechanisms includes a gas spring which is adjustably mounted to compensate for varying temperature conditions. The hinge units and opener mechanisms are clamped onto the truck bed to avoid drilling holes in the truck bed.

Abstract: A Planar Inverted F Antenna (PIFA) is disclosed comprising a radiating element and a ground plane positioned on a bottom cover. A Radome is positioned over the radiating element and the ground plane with the bottom cover and the Radome enclosing the radiating element and the ground plane. The ground plane is positioned below the radiating element and a conductive shorting strip extends between one end of the radiating element and one end of the ground plane. A feed lead extends from one side of the radiating element and has a base portion which protrudes outwardly of the Radome for connection to the center conductor of a RF power feeding cable. The radiating element includes a first horizontally disposed portion, a second horizontally disposed portion, and a substantially vertically disposed portion extending therebetween.

Abstract: A cigarette holder utilizing the components of a rifle cartridge is disclosed. The rifle cartridge includes a tubular cartridge case having a bullet received therein at one end thereof. An elongated member is secured to the base of the bullet and extends therefrom for connection to an alligator clip. When the holder is not being used, the bullet is inserted into the cartridge case so that the elongated member and alligator clip are positioned within the powder chamber of the cartridge case. When it is desired to use the cigarette holder, the bullet is removed from the case and a cigarette is positioned between the jaws of the alligator clip.

Abstract: A method of banding the mane of a horse is described as well as the apparatus for performing the method. The method of banding the mane of the horse is made possible by a staple gun having generally U-shaped staples provided therein which are stapled around individual groups of hairs. The method comprises the steps of separating the horse's mane into individual mane groups and at least partially encircling each mane group with a selectively removable staple to maintain the mane groups separate from one another.

Abstract: A dump valve for a high pressure fluid line includes a base, a fitting secured to the base and adapted to be interposed along the high pressure fluid line. The fitting defined an internal manifold having a dump port in communication with the manifold. A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is mounted on the base at a position for forcing a valve member into a valve closed position in engagement with a valve seat within the dump port. The fluid cylinder exerts a continuous force to maintain the valve member in the valve closed position against the urging of fluid pressure within the manifold. In an emergency condition, the fluid cylinder allows the valve member to withdraw from the valve seat, thereby ejecting pressurized fluid from the dump port.

Abstract: A lift axle is pivotally mounted to the frame of a vehicle for selectively providing additional flotation for the vehicle. A pair of frame brackets are secured to the frame members of the vehicle and have horizontally disposed mounting plate portions adjacent the lower ends thereof which have transversely extending bolt slots formed therein. First and second trailing arm mounting brackets are positioned below the first and second frame brackets, respectively, and have bolt openings provided in an upper mounting plate portion thereon to enable bolts to adjustably secure the trailing arm mounting brackets to the frame brackets. The lift axle suspension system is operatively connected to the mounting brackets. The connection of the first and second mounting brackets with respect to the first and second frame brackets permits the lift axle assembly to be mounted on frame members having varying distances therebetween and having varying frame thicknesses.