Abstract: A pour spout including a liquid metering orifice and a reciprocating control valve assembly mounted to prevent “blocked”, “short shot” and “free pour” conditions. The control valve assembly controls a pressure differential to restrain and release a primary flow valve piece. Weight pieces are included at alternative shutter-acting control valve pieces. Other electromechanical and/or electromagnetic and/or permanent magnet control valve assemblies are disclosed. A molded pour spout is also provided having a check ball mounted for reciprocating movement between a plurality of integral ribs that project into a longitudinal flow path. An improved vent assembly is also provided to maintain the pour accuracy with progressively decreasing liquid volume.

Abstract: A gasoline engine powered snowboard having an endless track trained about a support frame containing driven and idler wheels. Engine operation is directed from an upright operator support column. A molded chassis is hinge coupled to pivot about alternative contoured track support pan assemblies. The pan support assemblies cooperate with flexible track surfaces (e.g. fringe or pleat members) and foot supports to enable steering with foot and body movements. A lower support pan exhibits convex edge surfaces that contact track pleats or fringe pieces and includes an elliptic longitudinal channel. Alternative upper support pans provide a reciprocating wheeled steering plate, longitudinal drive lug channels and contoured snow diversion surfaces and/or an agitator. Internal track surfaces include UHMW pieces at or aligned to the drive lugs. Ground contact lugs exhibit traction promoting and snow clearing contoured profiles, shapes and recesses.

Abstract: An assembly for rotating and axially directing a high pressure spray hose and spray head to clean residue from tubing bores. Modular, remotely controlled subassemblies are concentrically aligned and mounted to a hose drive framework to rotate in synchrony and direct a high-pressure water hose and spray head. A hose drive assembly controls hose rotation and axial hose movement via biased pinch wheels. A resilient, eccentric linkage controls pinch wheel pressure. A layering arm uniformly layers the hose at a hose reel. Rotational sensors and/or a pneumatic booster and a disk brake assembly facilitate non-kinking hose collection and release without spillage. A re-configurable hose support framework contains a driven walking beam having drive assemblies that laterally and vertically index a hose support and control the inclination of the walking beam.

Abstract: An improved slip sinker having a hollow non-buoyant tubular body mounted intermediate a flanged head piece having a fish line receiving aperture and a weighted ballast piece. Surface projections at the head and ballast pieces mount and fasten to the bore of the tubular body. Alternative sinker configurations provide body pieces that support a ballast connector that receives mating interchangeable ballast weights. The hollow bodies of other sinkers support reflective devices, luminous materials, luminous devices, rattle pieces, granular ballast materials, scents, and/or a plug end. Profile expanding filaments can be adapted into the ballast, head or body pieces.

Abstract: A system of modular, detachable cushions having surfaces containing hook and/or loop fasteners that fasten to mating loop, open weave or hook surfaces to define adjustable, conformal contoured support surfaces at user contact surfaces and appliances producing fatigue and/or abrasion (e.g. automotive seats, chairs, compartment walls, desks, footwear, helmets, tools etc.). The cushions can include air, elastomer, fabric, fiber, foam, liquid, gel, and/or rubber cushioning materials or combinations thereof arranged in envelopes, pads, cavities or tiered assemblies. The cushions include surfaces fitted with one or more layers of cushioning materials or envelopes of cushioning material and one or more regions of fastener materials that mate with interconnecting fasteners at the contact surface or appliance.

Abstract: A coupler for securing an auger and/or extension piece(s) to a PTO shaft. In one construction, a threaded PTO collar mounts to a PTO shaft and mates with a suitable length stub shaft and captured, knurled hand nut mounted to an auger. The stub shaft indexes in non-rotational engagement to the PTO collar. In another construction, a PTO collar provides several detents that interconnect with resiliently biased projections at an auger collar. A hand piece maintains the connection. In other embodiments, key(s) at the PTO shaft mate in non-rotational engagement with keyway(s) at an auger and a resilient member latches the non-rotational connection. Shaped PTO shaft surfaces and complementary auger coupler surfaces can be included with the later couplers to enhance the connection.

Abstract: A gasoline engine powered snowboard having an endless track trained about a support frame containing driven and idler wheels. A molded chassis having alternative contoured track support pans cooperate with flexible track surfaces (e.g. fringe or pleat members) and forward and rear foot supports to enable steering with foot and body movements. Engine operation is directed from an upright operator support column and directed servos coupled to the engine. One support pan exhibits a beveled contour and includes a recessed elliptic channel; another supports a reciprocating plate and steering wheels. Slit fringe members and pleats along right and left peripheral track edges cooperate with the pan contours and/or wheels to steer the vehicle. UHMW covered drive lugs and formed UHMW stiffener surfaces project from internal track surfaces. Ground contact lugs exhibit contoured thickness profiles, elongated, inverted V-shapes and include recesses.

Abstract: A hand-operated assembly that supplies secondary drive power and steering control to a secondary drive wheel of a wheel chair. The assembly comprises a handle that is controlled with one hand and a linkage rod that extends from the handle to an eccentric arm fitted to a one-way clutch assembly at a secondary drive wheel support axle. Reciprocating up-down, pivoting movements of the handle over a range Y? in the Y axis directs a linkage rod to rotate an eccentric arm fitted to a one-way clutch and a drive axle of a small diameter, secondary drive wheel. Independent 360° rotation of the handle about a second, horizontal or Z axis steers the secondary drive wheel. A portion Y? of the range of handle motion directs a flange at the linkage arm to engage a brake piece that contacts the secondary drive wheel. Large diameter, hand driven, primary drive wheels are separately available to the user for effecting normal chair conveyance.

Abstract: A deer call assembly that mimics sounds ranging from the high pitched sounds of fawns and does to the low-pitched grunts of bucks. The pitch is infinitely adjustable over a range with a slide actuator that manipulates a band restraint that captures a reed to a longitudinally grooved tone board. An arcuate, grooved collar depends to capture the O'ring. The reed is rigidly secured to the tone board at one end with a peg. A preferred reed exhibits peripheral edges that taper outward as the reed extends to a wide billed end where the edges project beyond the longitudinal sides of the tone board.

Abstract: A hip joint prosthesis that has a strap plate and a hollow, tapered femoral neck subassembly. The femoral neck includes a flanged force plate that radiates from a head stem base and abuts the femur. Several longitudinal ridges and/or an annular recess or other surface treatment at the head stem base facilitates retention in the femur. Shaped surfaces of a femoral neck at the strap plate interlock in non-rotational engagement with a bore of the head stem base. A tapered stem projects from the force plate and supports a ball head. The strap plate includes laterally and longitudinally displaced elongated fastener holes and stress relieving recesses and/or channels. Fasteners anchor the strap plate to the femoral shaft. A shouldered bolt mounts through the femoral neck to engage the ball head base and draw the ball head base and ball head toward the strap plate and contain the prosthesis to the femur.

Abstract: A low-profile one-way valve assembly that attaches to a liquid conduit. A valve fitting supports a recessed, bi-leaflet, elastomer valve piece. A compound curvature at a valve base, raised seal forming surfaces at provided leaflets, tapered extension surfaces at the leaflets and a tailored sidewall thickness profile at the leaflets assures a durable watertight sealing action at the flexible valve piece. An O'ring mounted to a threaded fitting surface seals the assembly relative to a supporting conduit. A cover is also provided to protect the valve piece from external damage and significant back pressures.

Abstract: A data collection device (i.e. reader or reader/writer) for the animal husbandry industry that links to a database to accept instruction protocols for listed animals. An operator scans animals and reads data for each listed and/or located animal per pre-determined sets of instructions unique to each RFID. Read operations are confirmed with auditory, tactile and/or visual feedback. The acquired data and/or operator entries and comments are uploadable to the database. The data can also be collected and transferred over a real-time communication link.

Abstract: A collapsible user support coupled to a collapsible, walled shelter. One assembly provides a sling chair having a number of frame pieces that are trained through grommets at a fabric seat and backrest fitted to pivot couplers. Armrests are optionally included along with accessory supports and pockets. Pivoting link arms couple to stay or bow pieces of an independently collapsible shelter. The shelter frame pieces mount to pivot couplers and a surrounding multi-panel fabric shelter. The shelter can include windows and/or doors and/or vents with fasteners. The chair and shelter frameworks and fabric shelter are organized to collapse and deploy to several seating conditions ranging from the chair being partially to completely protected from the environment.

Abstract: A tree stand for use in hunting and observing wildlife that includes a collapsible platform and collapsible seat support assembly. In several constructions, a platform assembly includes several pivot joints that permit multiple platform sections to fold together. The folding sections may also include frame members that fan fold together. An adjoining seat support and/or seat assemblies fold with the platform to widths that accommodate transport. In several other platform constructions, the platform assembly includes several pivot joints that permit perimeter, interior and end frame members and/or multi-section stays to fold. Underlying cross supports, end straps, end caps and wires stabilize and maintain the displacement of the platform frame members and stays. Several alternative seat support assemblies, platform and sling seat assemblies, cable and strap supports are also disclosed in various tree stand combinations.