Abstract: Pouring fluid without spilling from a container having a top opening into a fill hole in mechanical equipment is difficult because one can't position the top opening adjacent to the fill hole. A fill cap having a contained extension comprises: a) a base having a lower portion having an external diameter sized to snugly and securely mate within the fill hole; b) an upper head having an upper portion thereof having an external peripheral surface adapted to be gripped and twisted, and a lower portion thereof having a thread configured to mate with the threaded top opening in the base; and, c) a plurality of neck segments, each having a tapered top portion adapted to mate within an opening immediately thereabove, and a smaller rounded tapered bottom portion, said neck segments assembled between the upper head and the base so that when the upper head is unscrewed from within the base, and then pulled, the upper head is solidly and peripherally continuously connected by the neck segments to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating water through a magnetic field comprises an inverted vortexing ampul capable of holding water, the vortexing ampul having a wide body and a narrow neck. A water inlet located inside the vortexing ampul at its wide body portion is used to introduce water along an inner side of the vortexing ampul thereby facilitating flow in a vortexing pattern. A valve controls the flow of water. A pair of axially placed magnets are aligned around the neck of the ampul. A recirculating ampul for the collection of the treated or “living water” is included. A collar of paramagnetic material may be located close to the axially placed magnets. The apparatus includes a circulating system that pumps processed water from the recirculating ampul for reprocessing.

Abstract: A pressure regulator having a valve cartridge adapted to be removably held within its housing, said cartridge having a frame carrying and positioning a valve seat, a valve member, a valve stem, and a spring. The valve cartridge ensures correct spacing between the valve member and the valve seat. Difficulties in pressure regulation may be quickly rectified and pressure flow characteristics may be altered by removing and replacing the valve cartridge. Another aspect of the invention discloses a multiple pressure regulator comprising: a housing adapted to removably house two valve cartridges; an inlet opening into the housing; an outlet opening from the housing; and two valve cartridges adapted to be removably held within the housing. Each of said cartridges similar to those described above.

Abstract: A pile and/or post pounder utilizing a tracked floating anvil and having a continuous loop for lifting a tracked hammer. The pounder is adapted to be transported on, and powered by the hydraulic system on any mobile construction equipment. It safely holds the post in position when pounding is commenced. The continuous loop, driven by a variable speed hydraulic motor, facilitates hammering at as high a rate as possible. The utilization of a floating anvil to pound a post is made possible by a floating anvil which is able to withstand severe lateral loading which results when the top portion of the post slides laterally outwards.

Abstract: A damper for isolation of vibration includes: three ball bearings; a bearing support member having a sloping top side portion adapted to gently maintain the three ball bearings in spaced position when rollingly carried thereon; and, an equipment support member having a sloping bottom side portion seated on, and carried by a top side portion of the three ball bearings. When vibration moves the roller support member, the ball bearings roll and the equipment support member carried thereon remains relatively stable. The damper may be carried on a suspended carriage having: an upright tube having an open top portion and three spaced openings therearound; bolts positioned above the spaced openings; an inner suspended member having three outwardly projecting legs positioned to project through the openings in the upright tube; and, three bands each interconnecting the bolts and the projecting legs thereby suspending the carriage within the tube.

Abstract: A running board assembly for pick-up trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles which has a detachable runner which used as a loading ramp when and wherever a loading ramp is needed to load the vehicle. The assembly not only provides the convenience of a running board which divides the long stretch when stepping into the vehicle; but additionally, it provides a convenient and unobtrusive means of carrying loading ramps in vehicles which typically lack the storage capacity, and particularly the length in their storage bed, to carry a loading ramp. The running board assembly comprises: a front and rear mounting bracket each secured to a lower central side portion of the vehicle; an elongate runner releasably engaging, and carried by the front and rear mounting brackets; and, releasable lock means to releasably lock the elongate runner board on the brackets.

Abstract: An improved repair bridge for windshield repair which is easier to drag along in proper position, a repair bridge which inherently applies a balanced force on opposite sides of the chip/crack, a bridge which requires substantially less adjustment bolt force, and which is provided with an adjustment bolt force gauge so that even a novice will be able to apply optimum crack spreading force without enlarging the crack. The generally U shaped bridge comprises: a left arm portion, a right arm portion, and a middle portion extending between and connecting the arm portions. Two upright finger bolts are each matingly threaded through an unconnected end portion of one of the arms; and, two plastic suction cups are each carried by a central portion of one of the arms. An upright resin injection head is adjustably screwed through the middle portion.

Abstract: A cover for an electrical outlet box which eliminates the step of cleaning mud, dust, and paint from within the electrical outlet box and from on the made up wires within the electrical outlet box. The cover has a frontal opening, a sidewall surrounding the frontal opening, and opposite screw openings, comprising: a front side portion, a rear side portion, and a peripheral edge portion dimensioned to cover the frontal opening; and, two pegs which extend rearwardly from the rear side portion of the cover, positioned and sized to matingly seat within the screw openings so that the cover may be held over the central opening. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cover further includes an inwardly recessed central portion, said central portion having an outwardly extending rib so that the cover may be pulled forwardly off the outlet box thereby.

Abstract: A beam from a laser is light which is much more efficiently produced and which much more efficiently projects over distance than light from an incandescent source. However, because of its concentrated nature laser light has generally been of no use in viewing objects. A laser indicator which uniformly disperses a laser beam so that it may be used to view objects and particulates in the air comprises: a laser generator for generating a parallel beam; a first lens positioned in front of the laser generator having a rounded curvature, so that as the beam of light projects through the lens, the parallel beam of light is uniformly diverged; and, a housing maintaining the laser generator and the first lens in alignment. For some applications the above laser indicator further provides for a power switch and a power source being a battery. The housing carries the power switch and further comprises a cavity to house the battery.

Abstract: Aircrafts typically touch down with their wheels not rotating. Their tires skid for a few hundred feet before they turn the ground speed of the aircraft. Tire failure, and pollution can be largely eliminated by rotating the wheels prior to touchdown. A simple safe method to rotate the wheels on an aircraft comprises the following steps: using a rotatable circular member having an outer rim portion, an inner hub portion adapted for connection to the axle, and, a central portion. Arranging laterally extending multiple vanes to the central portion so that airflow from a front side of the aircraft will not pass through the member and will cause the circular member to rotate in a forward direction. And providing a shroud to cover an upper portion of the rotatable circular member so that airflow may only pass over the vanes on a lower portion of the rotatable circular member.

Abstract: Despite the disadvantage of reflexing a windshield, and consuming a multiple of the time taken with a single viscosity resin repair; it is generally accepted that most windshield repairs should utilize multiple viscosity resins. The multiple injection head not only eliminates the disadvantages associated with using resins of different viscosities, but additionally produces a smoother and stronger repair. The multiple injection head for injection of resins having different viscosities into a chip/crack comprises: a) a plunger housing having two upright cylindrical openings therethrough, each opening having an upper internally threaded portion and a lower chamber portion; and, b) two generally cylindrical plungers each having an upper portion adapted to be hand turned, and an intermediate portion matingly threaded with the openings.

Abstract: A method of employing a safe and effective flexible plastic curb and gutter. The method of installing a curb along the side of a road having a lower layer prior to laying a top layer of asphalt on the road comprises providing elongated curb strips each having i) a horizontal holding side portion having spaced openings cut therealong; and, ii) a uniformly continuous upright trough portion having a lower edge portion continuously attached to the outer edge of the horizontal side portion. An upper edge portion of the upright trough portion is adapted to extend above the upper layer of asphalt so that water running off the road is channelled along an inner side of the upright trough portion. The horizontal holding side portion of the elongated strip is seated along and parallel to an outside edge portion of the lower layer so when the top layer of asphalt is laid thereon adhesion between the layers through the openings therethrough hold the elongate curb strip in position.

Abstract: A quicker, safer, more reliable and more convenient way of connecting a dryer to an exhaust pipe extending from a wall therebehind is disclosed. An apparatus to facilitate connection of a dryer having an vent pipe extending from a rear side portion thereof, to an exhaust pipe extending outwardly from a wall, comprises: a pan portion having a bottom side portion having a peripheral edge portion and a lateral sidewall connected around and extending away from the peripheral edge portion and an inner side of the bottom portion; the lateral sidewall adapted to laterally and resiliently compress; and, a short tubular section having one end portion adapted to fit closely together with the dryer vent pipe, and an opposite end portion extending through and connected to the outer side of the bottom portion of the pan portion.

Abstract: A golf putting practice apparatus for improving one's stroke and accuracy in putting a golf ball with a putter, comprising: two cord positioning and holding members, each member having an inner face portion, and adapted to hold portions of the length of cord in spaced parallel linear alignment between the members; and, a length of cord extending between the two inner face portions of the cord holding and positioning members. The golf ball may be initially positioned and subsequently putted between the parallel portions of the cord; thereby enabling one to better judge the linearity of the stroke of the putter and the accuracy of the putt by reference to the portions of the cord held in parallel and spaced alignment on each side of the ball. A method of using the above apparatus is disclosed which includes the step of applying two strips of colored tape to top portions of the putter in a position which vertically corresponds to the position of the cord therebelow.

Abstract: A method of raking with a tractor having a rear horizontally elongated hydraulic blade. After attachment the rake can be can be lifted, lowered, and pressed down into the soil or gravel etc. being raked with hydraulic power. The method comprises the following steps: providing a horizontally elongate member adapted to be carried adjacent, parallel to, and beneath the bottom portion of the blade, said member having teeth spaced along and extending downwardly therefrom; providing blade attachment devices affixed along the elongate member for releasably attaching the member beneath the bottom portion of the blade; and, releasably attaching the elongate member to the blade on the tractor. In a preferred embodiment of this invention the elongated member comprises a channel, the blade attachment devices comprise arms which extend from opposite side portions of the channel and surround the blade, and the teeth comprise hardened replaceable bolts.

Abstract: A retractable step which is adequately functional, and which virtually automatically shifts between its in-use and storage position. A side runner assembly having a dropping step for a vehicle includes: an elongate member having a front and rear portion, each of the front and rear portions rigidly attached to the frame by a lateral member; and, a dropping central step portion carried by a lateral member, one side portion of the lateral member rigidly attached to the central portion, and the other opposite side portion movably attached to the frame. A spring upwardly biases the central portion; and the central portion is restrained in horizontal alignment with the front and rear portion of the side rail assembly. The central step portion is normally maintained in alignment with the front and rear portions of the assembly and drops to an operative position when and only downward force is applied thereon.

Abstract: An improved ball pitching apparatus for a ball pitching machine of the type having an upper and lower wheel, said wheels rotating on substantially parallel shafts and having generally aligned and spaced rims carrying peripheral ball gripping bands; independent speed controlled drive motors; a ball feeder for feeding the ball between the spaced rims so that the ball will be gripped and accelerated in a trajectory tangential to the rims; a head frame carrying the wheels, drive motors, and ball feeder; and, a stand carrying the head frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storage of small vehicles in a garage where substantially all of the floor space is used to store other motor vehicles. An apparatus for lifting a small vehicle off a floor comprises: an upright track having a base anchored to the floor; a carriage slidably connected to the track; a deck frame carried by the carriage along one longitudinal side portion of the deck frame; and a motor for motivating the slide upwardly in the track thereby lifting the deck frame. Most preferably a top portion of the upright track is tipped laterally away from a bottom portion of the upright track so that as the carriage lifts the deck frame, the deck frame's center of gravity will tend to move above the base of the upright track. A method of lifting and storing a small vehicle to save floor space on a garage floor comprising the steps of using the above apparatus to lift the small vehicle. This method allows the garage floor beneath the lift to be used for parking automobiles.

Abstract: An improved ball pitching apparatus for a ball pitching machine of the type having an upper and lower wheel, said wheels rotating on substantially parallel shafts and having generally aligned and spaced rims carrying peripheral ball gripping bands; independent speed controlled drive motors; a ball feeder for feeding the ball between the spaced rims so that the ball will be gripped and accelerated in a trajectory tangential to the rims; a head frame carrying the wheels, drive motors, and ball feeder; and, a stand carrying the head frame.