Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus to allow a tray containing a sheet, to be molded into a prescribed shape, to be moved manually in a very rapid manner in a rearward diagonal upward direction from a horizontally positioned vacuum table that is at one level into horizontal engagement with a heating element that is at a higher level, When in this latter position the tray is retained by a magnet until the sheet is heated to a moldable condition. The tray is then manually withdrawn from the magnet without harm to an operator's fingers while the tray is being moved rapidly in a forward diagonal downward direction away from the heating element into engagement with the vacuum tables In this position the moldable sheet is formed into the prescribed molded shape. To accomplish this very rapid diagonal movement of the tray parallel linkages are employed that are each pivotally connected to the rear central portion of the tray at one end and to a post at its other end.

Abstract: An apparatus to determine if an echo signal shown on a multi-echo analog display unit that is produced by an ultrasonic animal backfat measuring and analyzing instrument is an accurate indication of the depth of backfat under measurement. This display unit has a small hand retainable switch to freeze the signal under measurement to allow the analyzing portion of the instrument to send a signal to the display unit to inscribe a graphical overlay indication upon the echo signal. If the overlay indicator passes through the strongest one of the echo signals then the echo signal is thereby identified as being an accurate measurement of the animal backfat. If it does not, this indicates that something has interfered with this signal and it is therefore inaccurate.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring apparatus and method to accurately determine the depth of an overlaying backfat on an animal without incurring any damage to the animal. The apparatus employs a reverse time analysis approach in which a pulse generator sends a preselected ultrasonic input signal by way of a piezoelectric transducer through the outer skin and successively through each one of the animal's fat layer interfaces to a preselected distance within the loin portion of the animal. This reverse time approach then analyzes the resulting echo signal produced by the input signal sequentially in a direction from this loin portion toward the outer fat layers and the first strong signal within a specified range, which depends on the species, breed, age or weight of the animal to be measured, is taken as the bottom most fat-loin transition.

Abstract: A unique chute construction for a grass cutting mower which directs cut grass being ejected by its rotating blades through an opening in a hood surrounding its blades out of the mower in an upward fan-shaped pattern away from the mower and thereby preventing undesired clumping of the ejected grass when it hits the ground. The top portion of the hood that is adjacent to and which form an outer edge of the opening in the hood is tapered in an upward direction to form an upper first portion of the chute. A second portion of the chute forms an inside portion that employs a plate that is positioned beneath and in spaced apart relationship with the first portion and has the same taper as the first portion of the chute. The addition of this chute eliminates the need for an operator of a mower to take a second, time-consuming cut of the same grass in order to eliminate the clumps of grass that are generated by conventional mowers that do not have such a chute.

Abstract: An animal play unit for self amusement and for enhancing movement, agility and jumping ability of animals. The play unit is a frame shaped structure having portions thereof interconnected to form multiple open passageways through which an animal can move. The frame structure is of a hollow cube shaped configuration that has panels selectively mounted in dfferent external positions of the cubically shaped frame for closing off top or bottom or any one or more of its four open side surfaces. A number of these cubes are adapted to be interconnected with one another to provide additional passageways and jumping areas as the animal moves from one hollow structual cube to or through another.

Abstract: A support is characterized by having a bendable arm that has an inner nonmoveable, longitudinal end portion thereof retained in a stationary position and an outer bendable free end portion extending through and in supporting contact with a wall that forms a passageway that extends through the base of an object to be supported so that the object can be moved about its stationary end to any desired horizontal, vertical or angularly displaced position.

Abstract: A power driven vacuum sweeper for thoroughly and rapidly removing padding and glued particles which remain attached to a floor after a worn-out carpet has been removed therefrom. The sweeper is characterized by having a cylindrical metal broom mounted on the front end of a frame and arranged for clockwise rotation to bite into and remove the padding and glued particles from the top surface of the floor as a pair of handlebars attached by a lever to the frame of the sweeper is moved forward and in and upward direction about a pair of wheels. The sweeper is further characterized in that the pair of wheels are mounted for a rocking sidewise movement about the frame when either wheel engages irregular high or low floor surfaces thereby allowing the thorough horizontal cleaning position of the entire width of the broom to be maintained under these adverse operating conditions.

Abstract: An animal trapping apparatus has a pair of box-shaped jaws that are held in a closed position by a biasing means at one of their ends and which are retained in an open trigger set position, against the force of the biasing means, by an actuator rod that extends between the other ends of the jaws. A sensitive triggering device for this trap is achieved by positioning the lower bait carrying end of the rod for pivotal rotary movement on the inner base surface of one of the jaws and by providing a bent catch portion on its upper end that is readily disengageable from the other jaw whenever a slight contact is made with its bait retaining end and simultaneous turning of the rod on the inner base surface occurs.

Abstract: A resilient corrosion resistant multi-layered sealing ring member has a wrinkled outer peripheral sealing surface and a compressed, inner cylindrical wall portion. The method for forming this ring comprises wrapping a number of layers of a readily deformable plastic tape on a tube and employing a clamping member that is slidable in a telescopic manner on the tube to compress several of the outer layers of the plastic tape to substantially reduce their axial dimension and thereby form a seal between the clamping member and the tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and improved fuchsia plant, the principal new and different characteristic of which is the combination of the rose red sepals with the lavender corolla.