Abstract: A training apparatus for baseball players includes an arm assembly for rested engagement with a fence or other support. A brace depends from the arm and engages the fence. An elastic tie-down urges the brace into fence engagement to lock the arm assembly in place. A tether carried by the arm outer end passes through a baseball which is adjustably supported in place along the tether by a cable clamp. The lower end of the tether is anchored in a yieldable manner to a fence component. An elastic member serves to inhibit tether movement. The tether is clamped at its upper end to the arm with an end segment clamped in place to a plate on the arm.

Abstract: A gasket including a main body of circular shape having both inwardly and outwardly directed lips for sealing engagement with the radially spaced pipes of an irrigation system. System water pressure directly biases certain of the lips towards pipe engagement. A lubricant is applied and cured by heating of the gasket.

Abstract: An apparatus for use by children includes a hand operated pump provided with a hose for the delivery of water from a bathtub to a wall-mounted system of water conduits. The pump includes a hand crank with meshed gears to provide a positive displacement flow to the conduit system. Various devices included in the conduit system such as a water wheel and a water driven turbine, both attachable to a wall adjacent the bathtub by suction cups, as are other components of the conduit system. The suction cups permit convenient installation and disassembly of the present apparatus. Additional components of the conduit system include a multitude of conduits providing a conduit network through which the child may observe a water flow.

Abstract: A three-way valve for high pressures and having a plug member rotatable within a valve housing. A seal arrangement is offset from the plug member to define a space in which system fluid pressure may be trapped for the purpose of acting on the plug member to offset system fluid pressure applied in an opposite direction to the plug member. Accordingly, frictional engagement of the plug member with the valve housing is reduced.

Abstract: A tensionable member is disclosed for installation on an archery bow as a bowstring or a cable of a compound bow. The tensionable member has an outer tubular component of braided construction and a core of multiple strands. A suitable material is polyethylene fiber for use in both the tubular outer member and the core. End loops are formed on the tensionable member by reversing the ends of same and inserting the ends back into the tubular member. A locking element passes transversely through the reversed and inserted end segment and through the tubular outer member to retain the loop configuration. A modified form of tensionable member includes provision for retention of a sight and includes a sight retainer member having its ends secured within the tubular outer member by locking elements passing therethrough. The locking elements are of a fusible material to facilitate securement.

Abstract: A portable vise is disclosed including a beam along which a hydraulic cylinder assembly is positionable to adapt the vise to a wide range of work pieces. The hydraulic cylinder assembly includes a carrier slidably engaged with a beam flange and which is lockably engageable to the beam during a clamping operation. A lock or stop includes a pair of leg members insertable within a selected pair of beam defined apertures. The cylinder assembly includes a lever operated pump with a self-contained fluid reservoir. The beam is supported on a turntable in turn carried by a pedestal having a wheel equipped base. For clamping articles with curved surfaces, a pair of supplemental jaw plates are provided, each having an irregular clamping surface to assure positive engagement with a clamped article.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus is for installation in a garage and provides an indicator denoting garage door status as well as the desired parked location of an automobile. A support assembly is attachable to the garage structure, and includes an elongate member along which a cord is entrained. One end of the cord carries the visual indicator in the driver's vision while the remaining end of the cord terminates at the upper end of the garage door. A pair of guides for the cord are housed in the elongate member and enable adjustment of indicator position and of the amount of slack, if any, in the cord. A segment of the cord is elastic. A bracket of the support assembly includes an angular portion for locating the indicator within the driver's field of vision.

Abstract: A heater is disclosed for attachment to a component of an engine to aid in starting of the engine. A housing of the heater receives an encapsulated chemical heat source such as a packet of sodium acetate. The housing is adapted for attachment to various engine components including air filter housings, radiators and directly to an engine by means of fastener elements and a harness respectively. Provision is made for heating air of an initial fuel air mixture, heating of coolant and transmission fluids and the direct heating of an engine.

Abstract: A coupling receives a steeply tapered end of a propellor shaft and is secured thereto with a lock nut held in place with a set screw. A housing taper is steeper than known locking tapers to facilitate housing removal. The housing is internally threaded to receive an extractor element which, after lock nut removal, is screwed into the housing for abutment with the end of the propellor shaft with continued advancement of the extractor element resulting in housing separation from the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus supported on a truck bed and including a high pressure water conduit for dislodging earthen material for evacuation by a suction conduit. The evacuated material and water pass through a cyclone separator with the removed air directed through a secondary separator. A blower intake induces low pressure in the separators. Solids and water removed by the first mentioned separator are subjected to screening whereat water is reclaimed and returned to a tank from which a high pressure water pump draws. An air lock receives the earthen material and water from the separator. A modified air lock is disclosed for use with highly abrasive material. The screen is positionable about a horizontal axis by a hydraulic cylinder to maintain desired inclination for maximum dewatering of the evacuated material. A water conduit and valve system permit periodic drawing of water from a secondary tank when the level of the reclaimed water in the recovery tank falls below a certain level.

Abstract: A plate for placement between a tire chain and a tire sidewall to protect the sidewall. Lockable ties pass through plate openings and chain links to hold the plate in place. A second form of the plate utilizes locks integral with the plate and which pass through openings in a retainer which is integral with the plate. The locks are biased into retainer engagement. A further form of the protector utilizes posts which extend through a retainer with lockable ties on the posts preventing retainer disengagement.

Abstract: A cart for transporting wire spools at a job site and having a tee shaped frame with a three wheel undercarriage. A spool support includes a post with arms on which wire spools are rotatably carried. A housing at the post lower end slidably receives a longitudinal frame member while a transverse frame member is secured to the housing, and to the longitudinal frame member, by a single removable fastener assembly enabling convenient disassembly of the cart. A sleeve on the post serves to support, along with an eye in place on a cart handle, a rod on which a large diameter wire spool may be rotatably supported.

Abstract: A load hook assembly includes an upright support structure adapted for cable attachment to a lifting instrumentality such as a helicopter. A jaw assembly, carried by the support structure, has multiple, movable jaws which open and close relative a centrally disposed, fixed jaw. Each movable jaw is independently operated by an air cylinder coupled to a jaw associated toggle linkage. The movable jaws and the central, fixed jaw are spaced from one another when closed to permit lateral insertion of a ferrule on a load engaging choker cable. Each movable jaw is controlled in a remote manner by an operator to permit selective release of one or both loads. A method of load transport is also disclosed.

Abstract: A valve and actuator are disclosed with fluid flow through the valve controlled by a piston directly responsive to in line fluid pressure during both opening and closing movement. The actuator shifts a valve stem to open a poppet valve in the piston to admit in line pressure into a chamber to act on rearward surfaces of the piston to advance the piston into valve closing, seated contact with a valve seat. Initial closing movement of the piston is by the actuator with continued closing movement by in line fluid pressure. An additional valve on the stem controls communication of the chamber in which the piston is carried with an outlet to close the chamber for pressurization to effect forward seating of the piston. Valve opening movement of the actuator closes the piston mounted poppet valve and also vents the chamber to permit in line fluid pressure to shift the piston rearwardly to an open retracted position.

Abstract: A ski board provided with a front and rear ski is disclosed with the skis steerable through resilient coupling assemblies for each ski. A cantilever projects downwardly and forwardly from a mid-point on the ski board platform and serves to carry the front ski. H-shaped brackets connect each of the coupling assemblies to their respective ski. A bridle is attached to the cantilever to receive a tow rope and permits towing of the ski board over a variety of surfaces including sand without hindering board maneuverability.

Abstract: A manually operated nutcracking device with a threaded member for urging a carrier and a wedge thereon into nut engagement to split the nut. A base includes a pair of guides and a nut supporting surface. The carrier includes plate components coupled to the wedge in a detachable manner. The plate components are recessed to engage the inner edges of the pair of guides. A foot on the threaded member imparts travel to the carrier. The nut supporting surface area on the base has convergent surfaces for retention of a nut during cracking. Concave surfaces formed in the convergent surfaces are for retention of a nut with a circular shell.

Abstract: A sight for attachment to an archery bow and including a base having parallel guides along which sight pins may be vertically adjusted. A series of fiber optics extend one each through the sight pins and terminate therein to provide an illuminated bead. The opposite ends of the fiber optics are each in light receiving relationship with a collector and conductor member in place on the sight base. The light collector and conductor members are formed of a polymer with fluorescent material and have a relatively large light collecting surface area and a small light emitting edge area which emits light to the ends of the fiber optics. The light collector and conductor members may include curved segments as well as tapered segments to provide a suitable ratio of light collecting surface area to light emitting edge area to assure brightly illuminated sight pins.