Abstract: A truss assembly (10) for supporting lights (30) is described. The assembly includes a truss frame (12) with individual units (16) within which is mounted electric lights. The truss frame has end plates (34) at each end (12B) and rotatable plates (52) mounted onto each end plate by bushings (58) which are fixably mounted within the rotatable plates. Locking assemblies (64) extend through the rotating plates and into indexing holes (50) in the end plates. Support receivers (70) are attached to the rotatable plates and mount on top of support stands (74) in order to keep the truss assembly in an elevated position. In a second embodiment, the truss frames are joined together to form a longer truss assembly. Several truss assemblies are connected together by forked support stands 78 at the corners to create a truss system 80 which encloses an arena 86. The fixed bushings within the rotatable plates enable the truss frame with the electric lights to be rotated into various positions.

Abstract: A combination hunting stand and game carrier apparatus (10) is described. The apparatus includes a first frame member (12), a second frame member (22) and a third frame member (42). A wheel (48) is mounted on the third frame member to allow for moving the apparatus in the game carrier configuration. The wheel is removed from the third frame member and rotated 90.degree. and remounted on the third frame member to provide a seat for the apparatus in the game carrier configuration. A pair of handles (60) are provided on either side (12C) of the first frame member and allow for moving the apparatus in the game carrier configuration. The handles are removed from the first frame member and reattached between the first frame member and the second frame member to act as braces for the hunting stand configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of manure (104) and sand (102) in a sand and manure mixture (100) is described. The apparatus (10) of the first embodiment includes a tank (12) with an upper grate (22), a lower grate (20), an air supply tube (30) and a water supply tube (36). The apparatus (210) of the second embodiment includes a tank (212) having a screened grate (220), an air supply tube (230) and a water supply tube (236). The apparatus (310) of the third embodiment includes a tank (312) having an upper portion (312C) and a conical lower portion (312D) with a grate (320) between the two portions. In operation, all three embodiments essentially operate similarly. The chamber (12F, 212F and 312F) of the tank is filled with water. The mixture is then dumped into the chamber to form the aqueous suspension (106) with the water.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for removing hulls (152) from a nut mixture (150) is described. The apparatus includes a gravity feed bin (12), a conveyor (28) and removal units (38). The removal units include a drum (40), a position roller (50), a beater (56) and a brush (64) around all of which extends a fibrous mat (96). The fibrous mat has looped or curved fibers (96C) and is formed as a continuous belt in the removal unit. The removal unit also includes a deflector (92) and a shield (93) to guide the removed hulls into an auger (78) to be removed from the apparatus. To operate the apparatus, the mixture is fed from the gravity feed bin onto the conveyor belt (30) of the conveyor. As the mixture moves along a horizontal path of the conveyor, the mixture comes in contact with the fibrous mat rotating in the removal units. The looped fibers of the mat contact and engage the projections (152A) on the outer surface of the hulls and secure the hulls to the mat.

Abstract: A counterbalance apparatus (10) for moving the work surface (100B) of a work station (100) is described. Preferably, the apparatus includes first and inner tubular members (12 and 20), a spring (70) and a cam follower (50). The first member is mounted to the panel (100A) adjacent the work station. The inner member is mounted with the top end (20A) adjacent the underside of the work surface and the bottom end (20B) extending into the top end (12A) of the first member. The sidewalls (12C and 20C) of the first and inner members have first and inner cam grooves (16 and 26), respectively. A dampener (30) is preferably mounted within the inner member. A threaded rod 36 is mounted on the top end (32A) of the body (32) of the dampener and has an adjustment head (36B) which extends through the work surface. The cam follower having rollers (56 and 58) is mounted at the bottom end (34A) of the piston rod (34) of the dampener such that the rollers extend into the first and inner cam grooves, respectively.

Abstract: An adaptor (10) which allows a standard cartridge firing action to be used with a black powder muzzle loading gun (100) is described. The adaptor includes an insert (12) and a nipple (16) and is configured to be inserted into the barrel (108) of the gun adjacent the receiver (104). In use, a standard rifle cartridge casing (150) with a wall (150A) and with a head (150B) at one end containing a primer (152) is loaded into the receiver of the gun. Next, the cartridge casing is moved into the end (108A) of the barrel such that the casing extends into the center bore (14) of the insert and the nipple extends into the inside of the casing. When the gun is fired, the firing pin (114A) contacts the primer which ignites the black powder (118) which expels the projectile (120) from the gun. The ignition of the primer causes the wall of the casing of the cartridge to expand. The casing expands such that the casing is force fit and tightly held in the center bore of the insert.

Abstract: The holder is designed to hold fishing rods, poles or pool cues for storage when transporting or when not in use. Our designed holder is free standing and basically consists of very few components. There are five major parts. First a foundation plate (14). This is the bottom plate of the holder. Second, a turntable assembly (18) that allows holder to rotate in a circular manner. Third, a base plate (24) that fastens to turntable assembly (18). The base plate (24) has a number of recesses (26) to support bottoms of stored items. Fourth, a rod or post (32) that is recessed into base plate (24) and top plate (34). Fifth, a top plate (34) that has the same number of recesses as base plate (24). Here the top ends of rods or cues are locked into place by a recess closure lock (42). Holder being upright in design with a larger foundation plate (14) than top plate (34) it will not fall over easily. To use and operate this holder is very simple. Place the bottom end of rod or cue into the base plate recess (26).

Abstract: A method and vehicle preferably a wheelchair (10) for transporting and transferring an invalid person is described. The wheelchair has first and second frames (12 and 48) with drive wheels (18) between which is provided a chair (82) or support (83). The first frame has top and bottom sliding mechanisms (34 and 36) which are mounted by I-beam extensions (38 and 40) to the bars (24 and 26) of the first frame. The second frame has top and bottom rails (54 and 56) which are slidably connected to the sliding mechanisms of the first frame. The rails have slots (78) through which extend the center portions (38C and 40C) of the extensions which allow the first frame to move along the length of the rails. The bottom rails have front wheels (60), intermediate wheels (68) and stabilizing wheels (70). The chair is connected to the second frame by belts (84) and ratchets (86) and has a lifting system (90).

Abstract: A stripper 10 for removing the non-metallic outer sheath (52) from a cable (50) is described. The stripper includes a first member (12) and a second member (14) which are pivotably attached together to form a pair of pliers. The first and second members provide first and second handles (16) and (18) and first and second jaws (19) and (20). The first and second jaws contain first and second cutting edges (26) and (28) which come together to form a complete cutting opening (30). The cutting opening has two opposed arcuate ends (30A) with a narrower center portion (30B) in between. The tool cuts the outer sheath of the cable everywhere but the extreme opposed sides (52C) of the sheath. The user must pull on the outer sheath to break the extreme opposed sides and remove the sheath.

Abstract: A method for using a tie down device (10) for securing an automotive vehicle (100) by its wheels (104) and tires (102) into a transport vehicle (200), is described. The tie down device includes a first strap (12) and a second strap (16) with the second strap connected at its first end (16A) to the first strap near the first end (12A) of the first strap. The first end of the first strap has a first loop (14) which forms the first end (10A) of the device. The second end (16B) of the second strap has a second loop (18) which forms the intermediate end (10C) of the device. To configure the device, the second end (10B) of the device is passed first through the second loop and then through the first loop. The device is then positioned on the tire such that the second strap extends over the top of the tire on the wheel and the first strap extends around the tire.

Abstract: A method and assembly (10) to prevent the dripping of a liquid dispensing nozzle (100) after deactivation of the nozzle and to automatically deactivate the nozzle when it is removed from the fuel tank (150), is described. The non-drip valve assembly is attached to the dispensing end (104B) of the nozzle and includes a housing (12) within which is mounted a valve (14) comprised of a stopper (16) and a spring (18). When the nozzle is activated, the liquid pressure on the extreme end (16D) of the stopper moves the stopper out of the opening (12E) in the proximal end (12A) of the housing which allows the liquid to flow into the housing around the stopper and out through the apertures (12G) in the sidewall (12C) of the housing. When the nozzle is deactivated, the spring biases the stopper into the opening which prevents liquid remaining in the spout from escaping. A shut-off sleeve (112) is mounted around the spout of the nozzle and has a spring and ball plunger (116) and a locating detent (124).

Abstract: A wheel (10) having a tire (12 ) is provided with a liquid molasses as a ballast (100). The tire can be tubeless or can contain a tube (28). The molasses is preferably desugared (less than 30% by weight sucrose) and is able to sustain a temperature of -30.degree. F. (-34.4.degree. C. and below) without freezing. The molasses is non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-abrasive and is environmentally friendly. Farm, utility, industrial, lawn and garden and commercial vehicles use ballasted tires.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and rail system (80) for installing divider wall panels (100) into ceiling rails, is described. The apparatus includes a base (12) which is adapted to be attached to a forklift truck (200). A frame (22) is rotatably mounted on the base and includes vertical members (24) to which are mounted support channels (50) and a holding channel (54). The channels act together along the sides (100C) of the panel to hold the panel in the apparatus. An end channel (60) is connected to one of the support channels and to the holding channel and is mounted to one end (100B) of the panel. The rail system includes an entry rail (82) comprised of rail segments (84 and 86) with a keyway (88) therebetween and a rail key (95). In use, the panel is mounted in the apparatus which is attached to the forklift truck. The channels are tightened around the panel to hold the panel in the apparatus. The forklift truck then lifts the apparatus and the panel.

Abstract: The medical soft equipment and its means and instruments for controlling curvature relates to a piece of curvature controlling equipment of the kind which includes a pressure source, a pressure control unit as well as a soft tube (1) with one or more pressure control cavity or cavities (2) positioned inside, which is conductive to fluid pressure-transmitting medium. By using the pressure source, the pressure control unit, a kind of fluid pressure-transmitting medium and the soft tube with the pressure control cavity or cavities, differential pressures inside the cavity can be used to control the curvature of the needed part of the medical soft equipment, thus accomplishing the object of the present invention, which possesses the such merits as taking little space, alleviating the patient's suffering during operation with less serious tissue injuries, safe and reliable to manipulate, easy to control, and facilitating batch production.

Abstract: A method for removing debris from a free flowing water system (100) using an improved filter apparatus (10) is described. The apparatus includes a rail (12) which is mounted adjacent the water supply intake opening (102) and a continuous belt (36) made of chain links (38) and connectors (44) which mounts around an upper sprocket cylinder (26) and a lower sprocket cylinder (32) spaced between the ends of the rail. Openings (42) in the belt collect debris from the water flowing through the belt. The connectors have lifters (50) which move the debris collected on the front side (36A) of the belt and tilt to dump any debris of excess weight back into the water system. As the belt moves upward, the debris collected on the belt and by the lifters is moved out of the water system toward the top of the rail. As the belt moves over the upper sprocket cylinder, the upper sprocket teeth (28A) extend through the openings of the belt loosening the debris trapped on the front side of the belt.

Abstract: A trimming apparatus (10) for removing the dome scrap (152) from a blow, molded bottle (150) is described. The apparatus includes an advancement wheel (12) and a rotation wheel (14) mounted on opposite sides of a path (16) formed by upper guide rails (18 and 20), lower guide rails (22 and 24) and the wheels. A knife assembly (62) is adjustably mounted beneath the advancement wheel and includes a knife blade (64) which extends into the path slightly in front of the area tangent to the wheels. The wheels are connected to drive motors (26 and 28). In use, the bottle is fed into the path such that the upper guide rails engage each side of the groove (152A) of the dome scrap. As the bottle moves into the apparatus, the advancement wheel engages the groove to move the bottle into the path between the wheels. When the bottle reaches the area of the path tangent to the wheels, the rotation wheel contacts the groove.

Abstract: A stationary spreader (10) which is activated in response to a signal from a sensor (118) indicating a condition of the adjacent ground surface, is described. The stationary spreader includes a bin (12), a spreader housing (34) and a control box (106) which are removably mounted together. The bin holds the material to be spread and preferably has a stirrer (16) and an auger (18) which both act to move the material out of a dispensing opening (24) in the side (12D) of the bin. The spreader housing is mounted over the dispensing opening and includes a spreader assembly (38). The spreader assembly has a lifting motor (40), a pair of solenoids (62) and a spreader bucket (44). The lifting motor is mounted above and connected to the spreader bucket and acts along with the solenoids to vertically raise or lower the bucket. A spreader compartment (76) is located in the bottom of the bucket and houses the spreaders (86 and 88).

Abstract: A tie down device (10) for securing an automotive vehicle (100) by its wheels (104) and tires (102) into a transport vehicle (200), is described. The tie down device includes a first strap (12) and a second strap (16) with the second strap connected at its first end (16A) to the first strap near the first end (12A) of the first strap. The first end of the first strap has a first loop (14) which forms the first end (10A) of the device. The second end (16B) of the second strap has a second loop (18) which forms the intermediate end (10C) of the device. To configure the device, the second end (10B) of the device is passed first through the second loop and then through the first loop. The device is then positioned on the tire such that the second strap extends over the top of the tire on the wheel and the first strap extends around the tire.

Abstract: A wrist support (10) and method for constructing the wrist support is described. The wrist support includes a base (12) with a cushion layer (14) mounted on the top surface (12A) and an outer covering (16) surrounding the base and cushion layer. The bottom surface (12B) of the base has an adhesive (13) which is protected by a release paper (15). The release paper is removed in order to secure the ends (16A) of the outer covering to the base. The wrist support is constructed from a sheet of base material (36) and a sheet of cushion material (38) which are cut into a wrist support preform (26) in a mold (20). The sheets are inserted between a first half (22) and a second half (32) of the mold with the base adjacent the second half of the mold. The first half of the mold is then moved downward into contact with the second half which causes the second half to also move downward and which enables the plunger (34) of the second half to extend into the indentation (24) of the first half.