Abstract: This trailer hitch uses a disk with ball connectors of varying sizes and an attachment hole on a circle near the circumference of the disk. Opposed horizontal upper and lower bars pivotally support a vertical shaft through the disk center. A number of locking holes on a circle near the center of the disk are sized to receive a locking rod. A locking hole is located exactly oppose each ball connector and attachment hole. A locking rod extends slideably downward through a hole in the upper bar and opposite the locking hole circle. The locking rod is spring loaded to extend the rod through an aligned locking hole in the disk, and secure the opposite ball or attachment hole in a rearward position for attachment to a trailer. Pulling upward on the handle frees the disk to permit rotating the disk to select a different size trailer connector.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus, which reads a number of internal combustion engine temperatures and engine revolutions per minute, displays either a current or a peak reading of one of these parameters using a digital readout. Transducers convert the various physical parameters to analog voltages. A digital potentiometer, comparator and logic circuitry are used to step the potentiometer output to a greater value only to equal the highest input voltage. This stores the peak voltage for that parameter in analog form. Each parameter has this equipment, which results in all of the parameters having the peak value tracked simultaneously. A multiplexer selects one of the parameters, either peak or current. This selected parameter is then converted by an analog to digital converter to a set of four binary coded decimal numbers. These numbers are then displayed on a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: This pneumatic operated and controlled machine secures a line about nursery stock placed upon a table top to form a bundle. The line is fed from a source through an upper mechanism comprising a tensioner arranged to hold the line with a predetermined force, through a dancer arm arranged to tighten the line, and through a needle into a slot in the table top where the line end is gripped by a lower mechanism. The dancer arm pulls against the tensioner to draw the stock into a compact bundle. In a second embodiment a powered drum provides additional line tension for the upper mechanism. The needle wraps the line, the end of which the lower mechanism had gripped on the previous cycle, around the nursery stock and back into the slot, where both line ends around the bundle are adjacent to each other. The lower mechanism then pulls upon both line ends to further tighten the bundle, grips the lines, secures the lines together with a metal clip, and finally cuts the lines to free the bundle.

Abstract: This animal feeder is demand driven since only a feeding animal will cause feed to be dispensed. An elevated hopper containing granular feed has a pair of downward extensions which decrease in cross-section downward to an opening. A pair of funnels are pivotally mounted immediately below these extensions and extend upward to bracket the extension. The funnels are oriented vertically with the large end up unless the funnel is disturbed. The small low ends of the funnels extend downward next to the feed trough bottom. A feeding animal can move a low end to either side and incline the funnel from vertical. A planar metering plate is centrally mounted within each funnel oriented such that it is horizontal when the funnel is vertical. The metering plates are located immediately below each extension, are slightly larger than the openings, and do not extend completely across the funnel. Feed from the hopper will build up on a horizontal plate surface rather than flow through the funnel.

Abstract: Temporary real estate signs are attached to a post and extending arm rather than suspended beneath the arm. The signs are attached to a supporting body having a U-shaped cross-section. The bodies are sized to fit around the arm and post respectively. Flexible members attached in one end to the body are led around the arm or post and secured temporarily to the body on the opposite side to secure the bodies in place. A number of temporary attachment means are shown. A version having the body grip the arm or post by extensions is also provided. In a second version extensions having a rectangular opening extending from the bodies are oriented to fit over the top of the post are provided to prevent the bodies from sliding with respect to the arm or post.

Abstract: This peel is made from metal for ease in cleaning and has a wooden handle to provide heat insulation for the user. The peel has a wedge shaped groove extending from one edge through its center formed into its surface. The maximum depth of the groove is at the peel edge and tapers to the peel plane on the opposite end. One end of the wooden handle is sized and shaped to fit within this wedge shaped groove. The groove increases the strength of the plate and also engages and reinforces the handle. The streamlined shape of the wedge makes it easy to insert or remove the peel from under pans or bakery products. The peel has a linear U-shaped integral extension from the groove which partially encloses the handle. This extension provides additional rigidity for the peel and support for the handle. Integral concave shaped fillets from opposite sides of the extension to the plate which lie in the plane of the plate provide further strength for the extension attachment.

Abstract: This apparatus uses cladding to cover the inner surfaces of a door frame. The cladding also overlaps the door nose and its mounting screws. Two-sided adhesive tape on one edge of the cladding attaches the cladding to the door nose. The cladding has a perpendicular integral fin which extends into an opposed mating slit parallel to the door frame edge in the door frame inner surface. This combination aligns the cladding parallel to the door frame and holds theh cladding in place against tangential forces. An outwardly extending groove from the edge of the door frame opposite the door nose and parallel to the edge terminates in a keyway. The edge of the cladding opposite the nose has an perpendicular inset, which is sized to fit within the groove in the door frame. The inset terminates in an inwardly directed projecting key. The end of this key is pointed to engage the door frame keyway to hold that edge of the cladding securely in place.

Abstract: Flooring for an animal shelter uses inwardly sloping wedge shaped flooring members held in a spaced apart parallel relationship by wedge shaped center spacers and end spacers having an outward slope. These wedge shapes match such that when the inclined surfaces of the spacers and the flooring members adjoin each other the flooring members will hold the spacers in place. The flooring members ends also incline inward so that a pair of aligned flooring members with their ends abutting enclose a triangular shaped space. A rod extending through the inclined surfaces of the center spacer is arranged to extend into this space when the inclined surfaces of the center spacer and the two flooring member adjoin. This rod prevents the center spacer from moving longitudinally along the flooring members. An end spacer with similar inclined sides has a bar extending across an end perpendicular to the inclined sides.

Abstract: A self contained alarm is arranged to be attached to a door or near a building opening. One version uses a spring loaded switch held open by a door frame, which closes and sounds an audible alarm when the door is opened. A relay with normally open contacts is energized with the alarm to maintain the alarm until a reset switch is opened by a card or key inserted into a mating slot. Another version uses a rotary trip switch which is operated by a line. The line is placed across a building opening to be guarded and closes the rotary switch if the line is disturbed. A second embodiment uses an arm-disarm switch also operated by a card or key inserted into a mating slot to control a second relay. This arm-disarm switch is placed in a second box on the outside of a door to be guarded to permit arming the alarm after the door is closed. Here contacts of the second relay keep the alarm circuit open until the card or key is withdrawn to provide an arm-disarm function.

Abstract: A drinking glass with an upper cup and supporting stem uses light emitting diodes mounted in recesses the face of the cup in parallel with a light bulb mounted in the stem adjacent to the cup to provide illumination. A battery, switch and flasher mounted in the stem permits selection of on, off, or flashing options for this illumination. Designs can be cut into the face of the cup about any light emitting diode with fiber optics mounted within these designs to conduct light from the diode throughout the design.

Abstract: A golf sling, using a tether made up of a joined resilient and a non-resilient line, uses a conventional golf ball attached to one end and an anchor attached to the opposite end to permit practicing golf in a limited area. A connector from the tether to an anchor permits using either a pin forced into the ground or a snap attached to a golf bag as an anchor. An adjustable device for the length of the resilient section permits selecting a length to change the tether characteristics appropriate to the club in use. The resilient portion can be made of a plastic coil or an elastic strap. A modification to the coil uses a spring through the coil to permit selecting a spring constant separate from the damping constant for greater flexibility. The golf ball can be permanently attached to the tether, or can be adapted to be readily changed by a variety of attachment devices. A tee and a tee holding ring can be attached to the tether for golf club wood use.

Abstract: A cant vent stop is preformed and has perforated fold lines to fit under a cantilevered floor and provide air passage-ways to warm the cantilevered portion of the floor to prevent excessive coldness. The stop is moisture proof and protects the adjacent rim joist and insulation from moisture. A rim guard stop is moisture proof and is also preformed and perforated to fit over insulation installed adjacent to a rim joist to protect the insulation and rim from moisture. The rim guard can also be folded to fit over the end of the insulation installed under a cantilevered floor to protect the exposed end from moisture. Both stops are made of corrugated cardboard and are moisture proofed by aluminum foil on one side.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically tinning leads of components mounted on tapes to carry the components through solder wave stations have adjustments incorporated to permit tinning components of different sizes. Foam generators with independent foam rate adjustments are also provided to permit the adjusting foam height separately for each component lead. Guards are used with the foam generators to select specific segments of each lead for fluxing. A vacuum port with a vertical heated connection leading to a vertically oriented heated collector insures that excess solder will not clog the collection systrem. A shield between the vacuum port and the solder wave prevents solder being ingested by the port.

Abstract: A jettisoning cover for a munition arranged to be held against the end of a ring secured to the end of a munition which is fired at a high velocity through the atmosphere. The cover protects the contents of the munition from the high velocity through the atmosphere but is jettisoned after the velocity has slowed. The cover is held by two clips on the ring directed over the cover and a third clip on the cover engaging a notch in the ring. A detent mounted within a recess in the ring extending into a hole in the cover secures the cover in place.The detent is secured by a shear pin through the detent and an adjacent slider in an arcuate channel. The slider is propelled by an explosive powered piston which shears the shear pin to release the cover. A spring from the cover is wrapped around the ring when the cover is attached and provides energy to jettison the cover when the cover is released.

Abstract: A garment protector using an elongate tube formed of thin flexible plastic creased on opposite sides to provide a flat body and having a V-shaped extension on one end of the tube between the creases and a V-shaped indentation on the opposite end. The V-shaped indentation provides two pointed extensions which are used to hold the protector in place by placing them under a shirt collar. Anti-static material in the plastic prevents the sides from clinging to each other.

Abstract: A driver and an idler roller in contact with one another are used to drive a pair of tapes carrying components through solder wave tinning apparatus immediately prior to winding the tapes and components for storage. The rollers are made of conductive material to remove electrostatic charges from the tapes and components induced by their movement through the apparatus to prevent damaging electrostatic sensitive components.

Abstract: A manually powered pair of crank operated flat paddles used by a swimmer combines a rotary and paddling motion. One paddle is rotated to engage the water while the opposite paddle is disengaged and provides flotation only. The opposite paddle is then rotated to engage the water while the first paddle is disengaged. This apparatus combines support with propulsion to assist the beginning swimmer. The motion of the swimmer's arms using this device mimics a normal swimming stroke and aids the learning process.

Abstract: A safety coupling pin for securing a towed vehicle tongue to the towing vehicle drawbar using a shaft which is secured by a chain. A ring affixed to one end of the shaft has an opening which is normally closed by a spring loaded cylinder. The chain has one end permanently attached to the ring and the free end can be attached or disconnected to the ring through the opening by moving the cylinder. In use the shaft is inserted into aligned holes in the tongue and drawbar from the top and the chain secured under and around the tongue and drawbar by connecting the free end through the ring to secure the pin in place.