Abstract: Highway safety regulations generally limit the length of trailers to 75'. Most large conveyors generally have two top folds, one at each end of the conveyor. This format facilitates a trailer which is balanced on a wheeled support both in an unfolded operative position and a folded towing position. The mono-fold trailer conveyor comprises: a main conveyor section having a feed end portion; one and only one folding discharge conveyor section having one end hingably attached to the main conveyor section and having a length exceeding one half of the length of the main conveyor section; and, a counterweight positioned on the feed end portion of the conveyor, necessitated by the otherwise unbalanced folding discharge conveyor section, and sized to stably maintain the discharge end of the conveyor in an elevated position when the conveyor is in an operative unfolded position.

Abstract: A secondary focuser which facilitates minute and measured incremental changes of the focal length within a limited travel distance is disclosed. The secondary focuser is used to micro focus telescopes for astro photography. A method of constructing the micro focuser comprises the following steps: constructing a housing having an open central axis therethrough; slidably disposing a travelling inner sleeve within the housing; and, mounting and arranging a micrometer head on the housing. When the micrometer head is turned the inner sleeve travels within the housing finely adjusting an axial length therethrough. In a preferred aspect of the invention the micrometer head is configured to turn about an axis generally perpendicular to the central axis through the housing, pivoting a rocker arm so that when one end portion of the rocker arm is moved in a radial direction, the other end moves in a direction generally parallel to the central axis, thereby longitudinally shifting the travelling sleeve.

Abstract: The most dangerous task in mechanically driving a post into the ground is initially holding the post in an upright position while it is hammered to start it into the ground. When used with mobile equipment having an hydraulically driven post pounder the post picker not only eliminates the danger in starting a post into the ground, but additionally eliminates the necessity of using more than one man to do the job! A method is disclosed wherein a single hydraulic valve on a piece of mobile equipment may be used to control both the post picker and pounder.

Abstract: An apparatus which is rugged and simple to use, and which can finish shot-crete to an acceptable flatness and finish is disclosed. The efficient mechanical apparatus eliminates the need for skilled hand finishing of concrete or another slurry sprayed on a wall. Labor costs are dramatically reduced to a fraction of generally accepted hand finishing costs. Finished appearance is much improved. The apparatus comprises: a frame; a shearing means which preferably is a revolving drum, to shear the slurry, slidably mounted on a carriage on the frame; carriage motivating and control means for moving the carriage on the frame; and, frame support means for spacing and positioning the frame adjacent to a side of the wall. A preferred aspect of this invention provides for a frame support means which comprises a track mounted on the wall and a tracking member positioned on a top side portion of the frame.

Abstract: A safety residential lever arm switch which can only be thrown when the lever arm is first depressed. In an electrical switch of the type having a front housing having a central frontal opening, a lever arm positioned within the front housing and projecting through the frontal opening, and a rear housing having a front side portion adapted to mate with the front housing, a safety feature comprising: structure requiring an outward end portion of the lever arm to be pushed inwardly before it can be pivoted so that a user may, with a single hand, first depress the lever arm, and then pivot the lever arm between on and off position. A button end portion of a shaft extending from an outward end portion of the lever arm is first depressed. Alternatively, the lever arm in its entirety is depressed inwardly so that the switch can then be thrown.

Abstract: An apparatus which will largely prevent irritated ligaments, and sore necks and backs arising from spending long hours at a computer terminal by allowing the user to position themselves in multiple comfortable positions is disclosed. The apparatus for use with a monitor and keyboard comprises: a base; a carriage slidably mounted on the base; a seat member having rear, and front side portions, said seat member carried on the carriage; a back member having a lower side portion pivoted to the rear portion of the seat member; a leg member having an upper side portion pivoted to the front side portion of the seat member; an arm member carried by the carriage, said arm member having a front end portion adapted to carry the keyboard; a monitor arm carried by the carriage; and motorized threaded screws used to move the carriage on the base, and move the back and leg members relative to the carriage.

Abstract: An efficient and quiet arrow rest which has bearings at the points of contact with an arrow. The arrow rest for use on a bow with an arrow comprising: a bracket for attachment to a central side portion of the bow, said bracket having an projecting end portion; two arms, one projecting upwardly and away from the bow, and the other projecting upwardly and towards the bow, each carried by the projecting end portion; and two race members, each carried on and above an arm member and each having; a ball bearing rotatably positioned therein. In use the arrow is seated on the bearings when the bow is drawn so that the bearings rotate when the arrow is released.

Abstract: A massage tool with which a professional massager can apply the full force generated by their arm to a precise body area, without any finger or wrist stress, even over indefinitely prolonged periods is disclosed. The massage tool comprises: an elongate handle member adapted to lay across the palm of a hand and be encircled by the fingers; a first leg member extending outwardly from one end portion of the elongate handle member; a first foot member extending from the outward end portion of the first leg member in a direction lateral to, and away from the palm of the hand. The foot member has a length exceeding the thickness of the thumb and has a heel portion, side portions, and an outside end portion all of which are adapted for rubbing. The leg member is generally the length of the thumb so that the inner side of the thumb may lay along the front side portion of the leg member and the end of the thumb may press against the top side portion of the foot member.

Abstract: The traditional method of framing energy efficient Southwestern custom built homes entails the framing of an exterior wall and a second wall which is inside the exterior wall. All of this framing is done on site, and most frequently, in less than ideal weather conditions. It is more efficient to erect wall unit assemblies built in the controlled and more productive environment of a shop. A wall unit assembly is built with a multiplicity of double stud units each unit having an interior load bearing vertical stud, and an exterior upright stud, an upper connecting member extending laterally between top end portions of the interior and exterior studs, and a lower connecting member extending laterally between bottom end portions of the interior and the exterior studs. The studs and connecting members preferably are made from dimension lumber, and fastened together by connecting plates.

Abstract: A picnic box which can be assembled, then reassembled into a picnic table is disclosed. The picnic box and table comprises: a frame having four corner posts rigidly spaced and permanently held parallel to each other by four rails, each rail extending only between bottom end portions of adjacent corner posts, and two opposite rails having an inwardly extending abutment; two opposite box long side portions removably positioned between corner posts on opposite sides of the frame, and along and above the rails extending therebetween; two opposite box short side portions removably positioned between corner posts on opposite ends of the frame, and along and above the rails extending therebetween; and, a box bottom side portion removably positioned within and above the abutment on the two opposite side rails.

Abstract: A guard for teeth having braces having lateral connectors therebetween comprises: an upper shield having an exterior wall adapted to encircle a person's teeth in their upper jaw; and, a lower shield having an exterior wall adapted to encircle a person's teeth in their lower jaw, said said shields extending downwardly generally the length of the teeth, and then across the biting surface of the teeth, and then partially along an inward length of the teeth. The shields have spaced hooks for positioning which are adapted to extend inwardly to the teeth and along an inward side portion of the lateral connectors between the braces. The hooks are adapted to extend from a top portion of the upper shield over and behind the connectors so that the shield will stay positioned on the teeth when a user opens their mouth and from a bottom portion of the lower sheild under and behind the connectors.

Abstract: A more stimulating hoop which is able to be guided while rolling and which has sufficient internal friction so that it will not run away from a running child. The rolling play wheel comprises: a rim having an interior side portion, an exterior side portion, and opposite upright sidewalls, said interior side portion of the wheel having a track and a slide disposed in the track which remains in a lower portion of the wheel as it rolls along; a push guide stick having a wheel and a handle end portion, said wheel end portion adapted to receive the rim encircling the exterior side portion and the two upright sidewalls thereof.

Abstract: A cutting tool having spaced elongate teeth. The tool facilitates 1) the removal of cut particles from the surface to be cut thereby enabling efficient cutting particularly of deeper holes; and, 2) the removal of the center cut out portion from the cutting tool. The tool comprises: a pilot drill bit; an anchoring disk fixed to and around a rear central portion of the drill bit; a plurality of peripherally spaced elongate teeth each having a rear end portion held in the anchoring disk, and a front end portion having a cutting edge; a sliding guide disk slidably positioned around the drill bit and in front of the anchoring disk so that the elongate teeth are radially positioned thereby; bias means to bias the sliding guide disk in a forward position; and, retention means to prevent the guide disk from sliding forwardly on the pilot drill bit beyond the cutting edges of the teeth.

Abstract: A soap dispensing body rub apparatus which is both effective and inexpensive to fabricate is disclosed. One aspect of the invention comprises: a long strip of plastic mesh rolled to a larger circumference forming a large roll, the large roll having an opening therethrough, the mesh sealed therearound; a shorter strip of plastic mesh, similar in width to the long strip, rolled to a smaller circumference forming a small roll; wherein the small roll is positioned with its opposite side edges co-terminating with the large roll so that it covers the opening in the large roll; and wherein both rolls are flattened with the small roll covering the opening, and the opposite edges of both rolls seamingly fused together; so when the large roll is turned inside out with the small flattened roll covering the opening, the bar of soap may be inserted under the covered opening into the large roll.

Abstract: The traditional method of carving out an electrical outlet box opening in a log wall consists of chiselling after a series of closely spaced holes are drilled in the log. It is a time consuming and difficult undertaking. An apparatus for quickly and easily cutting a rectangular opening in a log wall is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a saw jig, having a central opening, for mounting on an upright side of the log wall; a cutting drum having teeth around its periphery; drive means to revolve the cutting drum; and, a guide arm attached to the jig to guide the revolving drum into the central opening. Most preferably the drive means is a chain saw. A method of cutting a rectangular opening in a log wall comprises the following steps: mounting a jig having a central opening and a guide arm, on an upright side of the wall; and, guiding a revolving drum having teeth on its periphery through the central opening into the wall using the guide arm on the jig.