Abstract: A tooth assembly including an adapter and a tooth. The adapter has a nose portion with a first predetermined configuration. The tooth is assembled onto the adapter nose portion by relative longitudinal movement. The tooth defines a blind cavity having a second predetermined configuration and opening to a rear of the tooth. The second predetermined configuration defined by the tooth cavity is greater than the first predetermined configuration defined by the adapter nose portion such that a space is provided between the adapter nose portion and the blind cavity when the adapter and tooth are arranged in operable combination relative to each other. A securement member releasably maintains the tooth and the adapter nose portion in operable combination relative to each other. The securement member fills the space defined between the tooth cavity and the adapter nose portion to resist longitudinal movement between the tooth and the adapter nose portion.

Abstract: A system on a railroad hopper car for providing an indication, observable by a person located either proximate to or remote from the hopper car, of a condition of a lock arranged in operable combination with a mechanism on the hopper car for controlling discharge of material from the hopper car. The system includes electric circuitry and a sensor for providing a signal when each discharge mechanism lock on the railcar is in the locked condition and for producing another signal when each discharge mechanism lock on the railcar is in the unlocked condition. An illuminable indicator, mountable on a side of the railroad hopper car, is responsive to signals from the circuitry for displaying the condition of the discharge mechanism locks. A method for visually displaying a condition of a lock on a railroad hopper car as through use of illumination is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a railroad freight car brake beam strut assembly including the steps of: providing a railroad freight car brake beam strut having an axially aligned slot defined between first and second sides of the strut, with each side of the strut defining a bore opening to the slot and to an exterior of the strut, with the bores defined by the strut being aligned relative to each other along an axis extending generally normal to a longitudinal axis of the strut. The methodology of the present disclosure further includes the step of: pressing a brake pin bushing into each bore of the strut in a direction extending away from the longitudinal axis of the strut. A railroad freight car strut assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A constant contact side bearing assembly for a railcar including a housing with wall structure defining a central axis for the side bearing assembly and a multipiece cap. The cap is arranged in operable combination with the housing and includes a movable first member and a movable second member carried by the first member. A portion of the second member extends beyond the housing and defines a friction surface for the cap. A spring resiliently urges the friction surface of the cap into frictional contact with railcar body structure. The cap members define cooperating angled surfaces therebetween for urging wall structure on the first member and wall structure on the second member into frictional engagement with the wall structure on said housing in response to a vertical load acting on the friction contacting surface on the cap.

Abstract: A cold formed railcar spring including a spring pad formed from a perform of thermoplastic polyester elastomer having a durometer hardness ranging between about 40 and about 45 on the Shore D scale and sandwiched between a pair of metal plates. Each metal plate has a generally centralized bore extending therethrough and includes a plurality of radially spaced mechanical fasteners formed as an integral part of each plate. Each fastener has first and second generally parallel surfaces and a barb extending from a side of the fastener such that, upon axial compression of the preform, the fastener is pressed axially inward of one end of the perform such that the barb on the fastener mechanically interlocks with the spring pad whereby securing the plate to the spring pad.

Abstract: An elastomeric compression including an elastomeric body defining a longitudinal axis and having two hollow convolutions between opposed ends of the spring. The convolutions are integrally formed and joined to each other by a connecting section. Each hollow convolution includes wall structure defining an outer surface for the spring. The wall structure of each convolution includes two angled wall sections disposed to opposed sides of the axis and which angle away from the connecting section and from each other. The outer surface of that portion of each angled wall section of each convolution adjacent to the connecting section has a projection extending outwardly from the outer surface. As such, and when the angled wall sections of one convolution collapse toward the angled wall sections of the other convolution, in response to a load being directed against the spring, the opposed projections on the convolutions contact and engage with each other thereby enhancing performance characteristics of the spring.

Abstract: A golf club having a head with a face configured to contact a ball and a shaft attached to the head at a first end such that the first end extends into and is received within the head. The shaft is gripped by a golfer at a second end so as to be swung by the golfer to head strike the ball. The head is configured to provide the golfer with a visual indication of the position of the first end of the shaft such that the position of first end of the shaft is monitored during the swing. The visual indication can be provided by a transparent region and highlighting the first end of the shaft.

Abstract: A railcar brake head having an upper end, a lower end, and a pair of sides. The brake head further includes an elongated concave keyway defining an elongated axis and opening to the upper and lower ends of the brake head. At least a portion of the keyway is defined between a rear wall and spaced transversely extending upper and lower lugs. A front surface of each lug is adapted for mounting engagement with a brake shoe. The longitudinal spacing between the centralized upper and lower lugs is such that a keybridge extending from a rear face of the brake shoe is received and accommodated therebetween whereby inhibiting endwise movement of the brake shoe relative to the brake head.

Abstract: A railroad car hatch cover including a high strength and highly rigid laminate panel having an inner aluminum member, an outer aluminum member, and a solid plastic core. A cross-section of the laminate panel includes a center section with two generally parallel and generally vertical sides. Each generally vertical side of the panel is joined to center section of the panel along a longitudinally elongated curved corner having a radius of less than 1.5 inches. Moreover, compressible gasket structure is secured to an underside of the center section of the laminate panel in the vicinity of each corner for engaging and pressing against a top rim of railcar coaming to seal the hatch cover whereby inhibiting contaminants from passing between the closed clover and the coaming on the railcar. Additionally, the laminate panel is provided with longitudinally spaced structure, arranged inwardly from the opposed ends of and secured across the laminate panel, for adding further strength and rigidity to the hatch cover.

Abstract: A golf putting training apparatus for improving a golf stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball. The golf training apparatus includes a pair of upright supports and an eye alignment tool for aligning a user's eyes above the apparatus and in a vertical plane that includes the golf ball and the line of intended travel. The eye alignment tool is supported by and connected between the supports and above the golf ball and includes a substantially linear top edge and pair of generally parallel planar sides depending from the top edge toward a bottom edge. With the golf putting training apparatus further including a longitudinally elongated tool arranged under the lower bottom edge of said eye alignment tool and extending along the line of intended travel of said golf ball. A method of training a golfer to use a putter used by the golfer during a golf putting stroke is also disclosed.

Abstract: A golf putting training apparatus for improving a golf stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball. The golf training apparatus includes a pair of upright supports and an eye alignment tool for aligning a user's eyes above the apparatus and in a vertical plane that includes the golf ball and the line of intended travel. The eye alignment tool is supported by and connected between the supports and above the golf ball and includes a substantially linear top edge and pair of generally parallel planar sides depending from the top edge toward a bottom edge. A method of training a golfer to use a putter used by the golfer during a golf putting stroke is also disclosed.

Abstract: A railroad freight car brake beam strut assembly including an elongated strut having first and second joined walls. Each wall of the strut defines a bore opening to a hollow center portion and to an exterior of the strut. The bores defined by the walls on the strut accommodate a brake lever pivot pin extending through strut thereby connecting the brake lever to the strut and so as to allow pivoting of the brake lever. Each bore defined by the walls of the strut has a closed marginal edge. One brake pin bushing is accommodated in each bore defined by the strut so as to journal a lengthwise portion of the brake lever pivot pin.

Abstract: A human torso scrubbing apparatus including an elongated handle having a grasping portion toward one end thereof. A scrubbing element is secured to a second end of the handle. The grasping portion of the handle is offset at an angle ranging between about 75° and about 115° relative to a portion of the handle extending from the scrubbing element so as to facilitate scrubbing of a human's back while the angular offset of said grasping portion allows said apparatus to freely hang when not in use.

Abstract: A method for producing an edible product in the form of an elongated sausage having first and second ends. The methodology involves: removing an inner core from the elongated sausage such that, after the inner core is removed therefrom, the sausage defines a blind bore extending along a major length of the sausage, with the blind bore having one end opening to an exterior of the elongated sausage. The process further involves: inserting a specialty filling into the open end of the blind bore until the specialty filling substantially fills the length of the blind bore and such that the filled meat sausage offers multistaged flavor along the length thereof and then, closing the open end of the blind bore with a lengthwise portion of the inner core removed from the sausage or from an inner core of a previously cored sausage.

Abstract: A one-piece digging tooth having a socket opening to a rear end of the tooth for receiving and accommodating at least a lengthwise portion of a nose portion of an adapter extending forward from earth working equipment. The digging tooth has a top surface and a bottom surface which angularly diverge from each other between a forward end and the rear end of the tooth and two side surfaces. The tooth further includes a longitudinally elongated and centrally disposed tine with another longitudinally elongated tine outwardly cantilevered from and disposed to opposite lateral sides of and extending generally parallel to the central tine. To enhance their penetration capability, a width and thickness of all the tines constantly diminishes as the tines longitudinally extend toward the forward edge of the tooth.

Abstract: A hinge system including a universal adapter for allowing a first member to be pivotally mounted to a second member having stationary brackets defining pivot axes arranged at different distances relative to the second member. The universal adapter defines multiple openings disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation relative to each other.