Abstract: The present invention provides a means for limiting the hip and elbow movement in a reciprocating leg so as to simulate the gait of a walking animal. This is accomplished through the use of one or more arcuate guides which control the hip and elbow movement of the reciprocating leg.

Abstract: A brush guard attachment equipped with a centrally disposed, forwardly disposed pivotally mounted tote rack mounted to a front end of a vehicle protects the vehicle front end against brush damage. The attachment protects the vehicle against impacting damage when the tote rack is used in a toting position. The tote rack is positioned forwardly from protective brush rails and pivots from a pair of projecting vertical support members to a toting position when in use and non-toting position when not in use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a walking device adapted to simulate a gait of a legged animal. The walking device includes a frame, a leg, an upper and lower rocking arms, a connecting rod and a crank all of which are axially interconnected together. The rocker arms and crank are axially mounted to the frame in a triangular spatial relationship. The cranking link is axially mounted to the frame in cooperative association with a suitable power source and operatively linked to a connecting rod which serves to transmit power from the crank to the interconnected linkages of the walking device. The leg has a hip joint at one leg end axially connected to the upper rocker arm, a foot attached to an opposite leg end and a knee joint axially connected to the connecting rod which is axially connected at an opposite connection rod end to a crank rod of the crank. The lower rocker arm at an end opposite from its axial frame mount is axially connected to a centrally disposed elbow linkage of the connecting rod.

Abstract: There is provided a manually operated seeding and tilling device having a tubular feed shaft equipped with a seed retaining chamber, a portal for loading the chamber with seeds, a handle for rotating a shaft about an orbital axis, a tined tilling member positioned at a distal end of the shaft and a seed valve regulating device for regulating the dispensing of seeds from the seed chamber. The tined tilling member serves to churn the soil such as ungrassed patches into a fluffy and uncompacted churned seed bed by rotating the shaft and tined members about its vertical axis with the handle. The rotating tines are then used to churn the seed dispensed from the device into the finished seed bed.

Abstract: The invention provides a walking device which stimulates a gait of a legged animal. The device includes a frame with spaced axial mounts, a leg, axially connected upper and lower rocker arms which limit reciprocating leg motion. The leg is driven by a connecting arm powered by a rotating crank. The position and configuration of the axial connecting sites establish a prescribed orbital path that the foot undertakes with each revolution of the crank. Both rocker arms and the crank are axially mounted to the frame. The leg has a hip joint axially connected to the upper rocker arm for limiting hip motion, a foot and a knee joint axially connected to the connecting arm. The connecting arm has three axial connecting sites, one for connecting to the knee, another to the crank, and a third connecting site defined as a centrally disposed elbow joint connecting site which connects onto the lower rocker arm and limits knee joint motion.

Abstract: There is provided a device for individually conveying and rotating pieces within individual cavities for each piece. The device includes a continuous conveyor equipped with a repetitive series of axially mounted brushes matingly cavitatied so as to receive the individual pieces. Rotation of the conveying brushes is effectuated by a mobile or stationary aprons which causes the brushes to rotate. Numerous materials (e.g. labels, etc.) and treating agents (e.g. cleaning, rinsing, waxing, polishing agents, etc.) may be applied to the rotating pieces which permits many diverse processing steps to be conducted upon the conveying and rotating pieces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to unique waste recycling machines possessing improved efficacy in recycling bulky waste materials to a recycled waste product. The feed for the machine is equipped with a floating stripper plate which scrapes adhering waste materials from a continuous metal apron feed. The device also includes a releasable cradle assembly which supports a striking bar and a screen positioned about a rotating drum equipped with impacting teeth or blades. When a damaging obstacle enters an impacting or fragmenting zone of the machine, a shear pin which maintains the cradle assembly in a fragmenting position will shear causing the cradle assembly to become dislodged to an inoperable or non-damaging position. The machine also includes impacting teeth which are dynamically balanced and positioned upon a rotating impacting drum so as to effectuate especially effective fragmentation of waste materials to a desired particle size.

Abstract: A tool is provided for preventing bolts from turning while the nut on the bolt is being loosened or tightened. The tool comprises opposed handle members each operatively connected to a jaw. The first jaw comprises a central longitudinally extending member designed to engage the head of a bolt when the tool is locked in place. The second jaw comprises a U-shaped member having two forked portions positioned on opposite sides of the plane of the first jaw member and being spaced apart sufficiently to receive the nut of a bolt therebetween when the tool is locked in place. Adjustable, releasable locking means are provided for locking the tool in place so as to prevent backout of the bolt while the nut on the bolt is being loosened or tightened.

Abstract: A method for increasing the rate and extent of fiber digestion in a ruminant after ingestion by the ruminant is described. The method includes forming an aqueous mixture including carbohydrase enzymes active on structural carbohydrates of a forage and applying the aqueous mixture to the forage prior to ingestion by the ruminant at an application ratio grater than about 20 milliliters of the aqueous mixture per pound of forage dry matter.

Abstract: Uncured thermoset composite reactants containing ultraviolet curable reagents may be effectively cured by pultrusion using a unique molding die which uniformly irradiates the uncured composites contained within the die. The die includes strategically positioned passageways communicating through the chamber walls of the die to the die chamber. The passageways are equipped with fiber optic cables connected to an ultraviolet generator at one cable end and ultraviolet discharging end for discharging ultraviolet radiation within the die chamber at an opposite cable end. Ultraviolet light conducted to the die chamber by the fiber optic cables uniformly initiates and catalyzes the uncured reactants to produce a fully cured thermoset composite. Uncured composite reactants may be continuously fed to the die as the cured composites are continuously withdrawn from the die.

Abstract: Fixtures composed of a combination of a metallic core coated with a fused plasticized vinyl chloride coating and an overcoating barrier which shields the coating from atmospheric exposure possess superior resistance against outdoor weathering. The overcoating barrier protectively shields the plasticized vinyl chloride coating from microbiological and sunlight induced degradation. The fixture maintains the compositional integrity and appearance of a freshly manufactured fixture notwithstanding prolonged exposure to normally deteriorative weathering (e.g. bright sunlight, hot and humid) conditions. If desired, the protective barrier may include tractive imparting components which prevent slippage and improve upon surface traction. Thermosetting resins and especially the electrostatically applied powders particularly afford effective overcoating barriers for protectively shielding the plasticized vinyl chloride coating from degradation.

Abstract: Chorded lines such as ropes, electrical cords, etc. may be maintained in an orderly, untangled, coiled line bundle arrangement by a unique portable harnessing device. The harnessing device includes a flexible strap (such as a leather, woven fabric, etc.) fitted with an adjustable buckling assembly which may be looped about and adjustably sized so as to tautly harness a variety of different coiled line bundle sizes. Unbuckling the buckling assembly unharnesses the coiled line bundle so as to permit its removal from the harnessing strap. The device is equipped with an auxiliary harness which permits separate harnessing of a segmented portion of the line from the main coiled line bundle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique mechanical method and device for sorting pieces (e.g. vegetables and fruits) of any desired size from unsorted and irregularly sized pieces. The device includes a pair of elongated cylindrical brushes, one of which is equipped with a spiraled furrow for propelling the unsorted pieces and another brush being a smooth surfaced bristled brush (an expelling brush) laterally positioned to the propelling brush so as to form a trough between the two brushes for longitudinally moving the pieces. The brushes are rotated in a common rotational direction. A contacting member, such as a pivotally mounted lever, traversing the trough and the smooth surfaced brush and laterally positioned above the trough at a predetermined distance will tangentially contact a piece of a desired sizing and guide the contacted piece along its interfacing surface.

Abstract: A rubber footwear product and method of making such products is provided. The rubber footwear product includes a molded rubber midsole having an integrally formed raised rubber welt portion around its periphery. By molding in a compression mold, injection mold, or the like, the midsole and welt may be formed in a variety of designs and will be accurately formed in the desired size and shape. The molded midsole is made of substantially cured rubber, and is secured to an uncured rubber upper by applying an uncured rubber coating onto the midsole and then vulcanizing to form a unitary rubber footwear subassembly. To this subassembly may separately be secured a variety of compositionally different outsoles made of various materials, and having various colors, designs, and specific utilities. The outsole may be attached to the subassembly by vulcanization, by conventional shoemaking cementing processes using adhesive compositions, or by injection molding directly onto the molded midsole.

Abstract: Fixtures composed of a combination of a metallic core coated with a fused plasticized vinyl chloride coating and an overcoating barrier which shields the coating from atmospheric exposure possess superior resistance against outdoor weathering. The overcoating barrier protectively shields the plasticized vinyl chloride coating from microbiological and sunlight induced degradation. The fixture maintains the compositional integrity and appearance of a freshly manufactured fixture notwithstanding prolonged exposure to normally deteriorative weathering (e.g. bright sunlight, hot and humid) conditions. If desired, the protective barrier may include traction imparting components which prevent slippage and improve upon surface traction. Thermosetting resins and especially the electrostatically applied powders particularly afford effective overcoating barriers for protectively shielding the plasticized vinyl chloride coating from degradation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display sign for displaying diverse alphanumeric representations of a figure eight configuration within a windshield of a motorized transport, such as a car or truck. The sign permits a variety of sales information to be displayed and easily changed. The sign is made of a flexible panel conformable to the shape of the windshield. The flexible panel is resilient so as to return to its original shape when taken out of the windshield. The sign may be biased against the windshield with a wedge or biasing bar using a dashboard, rearview mirror and sun visors as anchoring points for biasing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid dispensing container which more effectively regulates and controls fluids dispensed from the container. The container includes a unique funneling and valve assembly which funnels fluid from the container to a valved pouring spout. The container provides a unique fluid flow through an apertured tubular conduit to which the spout is pivotally mounted. Pivoting the spout opens and closes the valve assembly. The fluid flows through both ends of the tubular conduit, and as a result, the fluid flows more smoothly and uniformly from the container to the spout.

Abstract: The invention provides protective sleeves for protectively covering an appendage and medicinal sites such as intravenous equipment, bandages, wounds, etc. The sleeve is open at both ends with adjustable elastic sections which effectively seal the sleeve against the appendage. The elastic sections are equipped with elastic drawstrings which circumscribe a cushioning resilient layer. When the drawstrings are drawn and tied together the elastic force of the drawstring applies a sealing force to the resilient layer causing the layer to conform to the appendage configuration and seal the elastic section against the appendage. The wearer of the protective sleeve may safely shower and protect the medicinal site from contamination. When finished showering, the drawstrings may be untied to release the contractive force so as to permit the sleeve to be removed from the appendage.