Abstract: The fishing rod holder of this invention includes an elongated tube provided with an elongated slot through which a fishing rod is receivable for containment within the tube. A notch at one or both ends of the slot is configured to seat the reel component of one or two fishing rods and restrict longitudinal movement of the rod in the tube. A retainer is secured to the tube for removably spanning the slot for securing a fishing rod removably in the tube. In one embodiment the retainer is in the form of an outer tube received over the inner, rod-containing tube and provided with an axially extending slot. The outer tube is rotatable on the inner tube to afford registration of the slots in both tubes, to enable removal of the fishing rod from the inner tube. The outer tube may be of any length. Lock mechanism may releasably interengage the tubes when the outer tube closes the inner slot.

Abstract: A gate closer apparatus is provided in the form of a coil spring arranged to be installed onto a selected one of the corresponding, hinge-mounting, vertically extending gate post or gate frame members of a fence gate arrangement, the coil spring member fixedly mounted at one of its ends thereto and extends and encircles a portion of the selected vertical member.

Abstract: The nasal dilator of this invention comprises a truss which includes a resilient spring member secured between a base layer and a cover member. The cover member extends beyond the perimeter of the spring member for maximum adherence of the truss to the outer skin surface of the nose of a wearer. The lateral sides of the dilator are angled to correspond to the line where the nose meets the cheek, and a separation, projection, or other index marker is formed member midway between the end edges of the truss, to assist centering the dilator on the nose. In one embodiment the spring member is formed with end pairs of resilient spring fingers configured to provide dilating force to the vestibule area of the nose, in addition to the valve area.

Abstract: A cargo transfer system provides a transport trailer floor with a plurality of guide tracks that slidably support a floor platform having substantially the same dimensions as the full size cargo floor of the trailer; a similar plurality of support guide tracks being provided in a shipping/receiving facility arranged for axial and elevational alignment with the guide tracks of a transport trailer positioned in the loading/unloading bay of the facility. A powered drive mechanism associated with the guide tracks in the facility releasably engages a floor platform member to push or pull the floor platform member along the aligned guide tracks between the transport trailer and the facility whereby to load or unload the entire contents of transport trailers in a single movement of the floor platform therebetween.

Abstract: A method of logging utilizes a combination log yarder and processor vehicle having a basic vehicle structure not unlike that of a track-type excavating machine, but with a boom arm assembly arranged for operation in conjunction with a log processing head apparatus and its particular requirements for the handling and processing of felled logs and trees. The vehicle mounts a collapsible yarder tower arrangement which rotatably mounts a cable guide head member for relative rotation between the cable guide head and the vehicle on the same center axis of rotation as the vehicle turntable rotates on its undercarriage, thereby permitting the vehicle full rotational capabilities and operation of its boom arm apparatus when the yarder apparatus' cables are extended and anchored and in operation, and thereby permits a yarding operation of felled trees to be conducted simultaneously with a log processing, log sorting and log loading operation by a single personnel at a destination location at a logging site.

Abstract: A ball throwing machine which includes a tripod leg support is provided with the rearwardly positioned leg formed as a pair of telescopic sections. Rack and pinion components are mounted one on each leg section and the pinion is operated by a crank to effect lengthening or shortening the telescopic sections, to effect an incremental change in the trajectory of a ball thrown by the machine.

Abstract: A multiple electric switch is formed by inserting a plurality of electrical contacts in a plurality of spaced apart holes in a base of electrically non-conductive elastomeric material, in groups of two pairs per group, and mounting a control member in the base for movement to move one of the pair of contacts of a group resiliently into engagement with the other pair of contacts of the group, to effect closing of the electric switch. A second group of electrical contacts are spaced apart in a circular pattern adjacent a circular, electrically conductive contact ring, and a cam member on the base is rotatable to engage and move each of the contacts, one at a time, resiliently into engagement with the contact ring. The second group of contacts are included in the electric circuit of the first groups of contact pairs to effect control of multiple movements of each of a plurality of electric loads.

Abstract: A deposit-collecting and transporting security apparatus provides a deposit container arranged to be lockably mounted for receiving and collecting deposits from a depository outfeed apparatus. In order to remove the container for transport to a deposit processing facility, a container-closing lid panel is slid onto the container into position closing the confines thereof against access whereupon the lid panel is automatically locked in place against removal. Thus locked against removal, further slight sliding movement of the lid panel overrides and disengages a container mounting lock, thereby permitting the container to be removed from the depository for transport only after the lid panel has been installed and locked into operative position securing the confines of the container against access.

Abstract: A staple removal tool includes an elongated handle mounting a U-shaped cover member supporting a U-shaped base member formed with a forwardly projecting staple lifter tongue. A crimping arm is pivoted on the base member for movement toward and away from the staple lifter tongue and is actuated by a hand lever located under the handle and pivotally secured at its forward end to the cover member. A spring loaded link member is attached at one end to the hand lever and at the opposite end to the crimping arm, whereby pivoting of the handle lever effects pivotal movement of the crimping arm. A crimping bar is secured to and spaced from the base member to receive the clamping arm between them. The staple lifter tongue engages under the bridge portion of a staple, such as a roofing staple, and leveraging of the handle pulls the staple from its wood anchor.

Abstract: A seedling planter is formed by an elongated hollow container component of square cross section open at its upper end and closed partially at its lower end by crossed webs which provide support for the lower ends of a plurality of elongated tray components each having two joined walls secured together at their lower ends by a bottom wall. Anchor grooves on the lower inner sides of the container side walls slidably receive the lower edges of the tray components, with the inner sides of the tray walls facing the inner sides of a pair of adjacent walls of the container component. Four tray components thus are receivable removably in the container component, and plant growth medium may be filled into the four components formed by the four tray components and confronting walls of the container component. Seeds deposited in the growth medium grow into seedlings, and each seedling with its growth medium is removable with its associated tray component from the container component.

Abstract: The injection of synthetic resin into the cavities of a plastic molding press is provided by a plurality of electrically driven plunger mechanisms each of which includes an elongated rotary screw connected to the output of an electric motor. The screw is threaded operatively to an elongated plunger which extends into the fixed mold and is arranged to support a pill or preform for injection into the runner leading to one or more mold cavities. The electric motor of each plunger mechanism is controlled by a computer program which is capable of varying the velocity and pressure delivery of material to the mold, as well as adjusting the temperature of the mold.

Abstract: A skeet throwing device includes a frame mounting a pair of rotary wheels spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a skeet member which is delivered to the wheels by a carriage movable toward and away from the wheels; either manually or by an extensible fluid pressure cylinder. In a powered arrangement, a skeet support adjacent the carriage supports a vertical stack of skeet members, and a skeet pusher on the carriage is disposed to engage the bottommost skeet member of the stack and move it forwardly from under the stack. A skeet guide on the skeet support guides the bottommost skeet member forwardly and laterally from the skeet support onto the carriage for delivery to the rotary wheels.