Abstract: A tie down system for a two wheeled vehicle includes a support plate providing a wheel chock for receiving the front wheel of the vehicle and a pair of diverging arms extending away from the wheel chock. An adjustable strut connects between the ends of the diverging arms and the frame of the vehicle rearwardly of the pivot connection between the front wheel and the frame. Once adjusted, the struts act like solid links resisting any forces applied by the vehicle when it is being towed. Suitable locks may connect the struts and the vehicle frame providing a measure of security.

Abstract: A pillow of complex shape includes a head support assembly having a pair of side structures extending along sides of the pillow. The side structures have an upper surface inclined from a high end adjacent a head end of the pillow and a low end intermediate the sides of the pillow. The side structures taper from a maximum width in a middle area toward both the upper and lower ends of the wings. The head support assembly includes a central section that may be either of a simple cross-sectional shape or a more complex shape.

Abstract: A tool is provided to assist stringing fence wire during building of a fence. The tool comprises a hanger for suspending the tool from a secondary fence post, which is typically a metal T-post. An upright attaches to the hanger and provides a series of arms extending away from the fence post. The arms include an end structure that support fence wire against downward movement and against movement away from the fence post, all in an effort to minimize entangling of wire before it is tightened. After the fence wire is tightened, the tools are removed from the fence post and may be reused. Several different types of end structures are provided.

Abstract: A light emitting assembly includes a metal substrate for dissipating heat from the assembly. The metal substrate includes an electrically insulating layer or coating on at least one side. Circuit traces are applied to the electrically insulating layer using either thick or thin film techniques. At least the ends of the circuit traces include a metallic section to which leads of light emitting elements are soldered or wire-bonded. A metallic section is provided adjacent the light emitting element to transfer heat to the underlying substrate and/or to reflect light from the element away from the substrate. A clear finish retards tarnishing of the reflecting metallic section.

Abstract: The outlet pressure of a pump that fluctuates rapidly, as is typical of high pressure multiplex pumps, is sensed in a pressure line leading from the main flow line to a damping mechanism. The damping mechanism comprises a pair of small spaced openings, which are preferably adjustable in size. The damping mechanism is ideally a pair of needle valves placed in series so the pressure downstream of the second needle valve fluctuates considerably less than upstream of the first needle valve. The damped pressure is sensed to provide an input to real time graphs showing various pertinent pressure measurements involving the application of pressure, e.g. to monitor downhole tools in hydrocarbon wells. The downhole tools may be fluid driven motors, whipstocks, packers, wiper plugs and the like. In the case of fluid driven or mud motors, a base line pressure taken when the motor is idling is compared to the pressure when the motor is drilling to detect the onset of motor stall.

Abstract: A sling for a fire extinguisher or other tubular equipment comprises a generally tubular body made of bodily flexible webbing crossing at connected intersections. The bottom of the tubular body is made of the webbing intersecting at, and radiating from, a common point. The tubular body provides a plurality of looped ends for attachment to a hoist line. A resilient rubber plate rests on the bottom of the tubular body and provides a cushion for the fire extinguisher and prevents the webbing from spreading to an extent where the fire extinguisher might fall through.

Abstract: An attachment for a semi-automatic firearm converts the firearm into a weapon of rapid fire. The attachment includes a crank driving a cam assembly in which the cam is mounted for limited relative movement to the crank. A spring in the attachment acts to bias the cam assembly relative to a follower to a safe non-firing position. The follower is acted on by the cam assembly to manipulate a linkage for pulling a trigger of the firearm in response to rotation of the crank. The follower and cam are designed to minimize the time of maximum movement of the follower thereby maximizing the time allowing the firearm to reset. In one embodiment, a timing mechanism is provided to insure that the bolt of the firearm is in its chambered position before the cam is allowed to actuate the firearm trigger.

Abstract: A medication reminder device provides a C-shaped support for receiving gently tapered pill bottles of a variety of sizes. The support is made in sections to provide an internal cavity receiving a timer. The timer includes, in circuit, a receptacle for a battery, an alarm, a timer assembly for periodically energizing the alarm and an on/off switch. The on/off switch includes an operator exposed through the interior of the support so that inserting a bottle into the support causes the operator to be depressed thereby initiating operation of the timer assembly.

Abstract: An automatic barricade includes a trench across a road that is covered by a grate allowing vehicular traffic during normal dry weather. Inside the trench is a series of barricade elements, each of which includes a float. When rising water fills the trench to a predetermined level, each float rises and elevates the elements above the road. The barricade elements are sufficiently robust and intimidating to deter motorists from driving over them but are spaced apart to be light enough to be easily actuated by the float. The barricade elements are sufficiently close together that vehicles cannot pass between them. In another embodiment, a sensor is adjacent the trench to detect rising water and communicates with a motor connected to the barricade elements for raising them to a traffic blocking position.

Abstract: An underwater light includes a high intensity lamp placed in an enclosure that allows for easy lamp replacement in case of breakage or natural failure. Electrical wires are soldered to a metal fitting on the lamp. The metal fitting is received in a plastic nipple and the space between the fitting and nipple is filled with a sealant, leaving the ends of the wires exposed. The wires are connected by water proof twist-on wire connectors and the end of the lamp is enclosed by a rubber boot and an end cap. When the lamp burns out, it is easily replaced by fishing the light out of the water, removing the rubber boot to expose the twist-on wire connectors. The twist-on wire connectors are removed and the old lamp discarded. A new lamp is installed in reverse order.

Abstract: A convertible cane assembly comprises a pair of canes which can be used separately by a cane user. The canes include connections for securing the canes in side-by-side relation to provide a single cane which can be used in a normal manner. An important feature of the connections is the ability to easily separate the canes. In the single cane version, loads are preferably transferred through the entire length of both canes, meaning that the connections do not have to carry substantial loads.

Abstract: A device for protecting footwear of a motorcycle rider comprises a sole of a water impermeable material, an upper of bodily flexible material and an adjustable strap for securing the device to footwear of the rider. The device is typically worn on the left foot of the rider because motorcycle transmissions are shifted by the left foot, leaving a characteristic wear pattern on the left shoe or boot of the rider. The upper allows substantial air movement around the rider's footwear and may be partially or wholly insulated with a foam layer in the upper. Some embodiments provide greater air circulation and less insulation. Two types of adjustable straps are shown.

Abstract: A pipeline is constructed in steep terrain by digging a ditch on the incline, assembling pipe joints together adjacent a top of the incline and then lowering the assembled pipe joints down the incline through the ditch. A wheeled assembly at the lower end of the pipeline carries much of the load and rolls down the ditch as allowed by winch equipment at the top of the incline. Bearing supports are installed periodically in the ditch to support the pipeline, the supports being of a softer material than coatings on the pipe.

Abstract: A walking stick or cane comprises a support having a foot at one end thereof and a handle at the other. A gripper device adjacent the foot includes a shoehorn assembly pivoted to the support for movement toward and away from the foot for grasping objects between the end of the foot and the shoehorn assembly. The gripper device is operated by a trigger mounted adjacent the handle and a rod generally parallel to the support. In one embodiment, the shoehorn assembly includes a shoehorn which acts to grasp an object. In another embodiment, the shoehorn assembly includes a shoehorn which does not act to grasp an object. A permanent magnet on the handle allows the user to invert the cane and pick up iron objects. Because the magnet is adjacent the handle, it does not collect floor debris during normal use.

Abstract: Liquid aluminum is sprayed onto an iron article to produce a thin tenacious non-corrodible layer. In one embodiment, an iron article is heated to at least 400° F. or preferably until cherry red. It is sprayed with a fine aluminum mist generated by heating aluminum in a container and then passing a gas under pressure through the container and out through a heat resistant ceramic nozzle. In another embodiment, aluminum is heated to at least 2000° F. in a container to produce a pool of liquid aluminum. Pressure is applied to the container to project the liquid aluminum in the form of a fine mist through a ceramic nozzle onto the iron article. The aluminum mist produces a tenacious aluminum layer on the iron article that is workable, weldable and non-corrodible. The aluminum layer is a permanent part of the iron article and cannot be removed by conventional means, such as buffing with a wire wheel driven by a electric motor.

Abstract: The outlet pressure of a pump that fluctuates rapidly, as is typical of high pressure multiplex pumps, is sensed in a pressure line leading from the main flow line to a damping mechanism. The damping mechanism comprises a pair of small spaced openings, which are preferably adjustable in size. The damping mechanism is ideally a pair of needle valves placed in series so the pressure downstream of the second needle valve fluctuates considerably less than upstream of the first needle valve. The damped pressure is sensed to provide an input to real time graphs showing various pertinent pressure measurements involving the application of pressure, e.g. to monitor downhole tools in hydrocarbon wells. The downhole tools may be fluid driven motors, whipstocks, packers, wiper plugs and the like. In the case of fluid driven or mud motors, a base line pressure taken when the motor is idling is compared to the pressure when the motor is drilling to detect the onset of motor stall.

Abstract: A hammer union comprises a thread end, a nut end and a hammer nut which, when cinched up, compresses a composite seal assembly thereby preventing leakage. The seal assembly comprises a metal insert of a size to pass into the seal groove of conventional hammer unions and a small seal acting between the insert, the thread end and the nut end. The small seal is conveniently an O-ring and is of a size that is compressed when the seal assembly is inserted into the thread end of the hammer union, thereby preventing the seal assembly from falling out of the threaded end when it is inverted. The metal insert provides another groove opposite the small seal to receive a second O-ring which acts as a spring to bias the small seal into sealing engagement, thereby allowing the new seal assembly to accommodate more variation in the length of the existing seal groove in prior art hammer unions.

Abstract: Seaweed is picked up from the surface of a beach with general purpose earth moving machinery by installing a series of fingers extending forwardly and downwardly from the blade or bucket of the machine. By driving the machine forwardly along the beach, the fingers pass through the sand and seaweed on the beach travels up the incline of the fingers. The fingers accordingly act as a separator to separate most of the seaweed from most of the sand. Several embodiments of each moving machines are adapted for seaweed handling or removal.

Abstract: An insulated holder for a bottle is made of a bodily flexible foam material having a lower sleeve for receiving the bottom of the bottle. A lid is attached to the lower sleeve and is movable from a position covering the open top of the lower sleeve to a vertical position. An upper sleeve is attached to the lid and tapers upwardly to conform to the shape of an upper end of a bottle. The upper and lower sleeves accordingly receive most of the bottle thereby insulating it. When the bottle is discarded, the upper sleeve may be folded into the lower sleeve. A zipper cooperates between the lid and the lower sleeve to enclose the upper sleeve and provide a convenient package for transportation and display.