Abstract: A horseshoe includes a core of metal which is surrounded by a plastic or rubber material. The horseshoe is provided with a number of apertures (10) which are intended for nails and which taper upwardly from the underside (4) of the horseshoe. In order to facilitate the correct alignment of the nails when these are driven into a horseshoe of relatively great vertical thickness, the center points of the largest and smallest sections of the aperture (10) are offset in a horizontal plane relative to one another in a direction towards or away from a central region (3) of the horseshoe. This offset may vary in both size and direction from one aperture to the next within the same horseshoe.

Abstract: A device for measuring the intravascular diameter of an anatomical duct has a sheath encasing a catheter. One end of the catheter within the sheath has a sensor with a portion being biased radially outwardly relative to the sheath. Graduated visual indicia are disposed on the catheter near the other end of the sheath. When the sheath is inserted into an anatomical duct, the catheter is urged inwardly so that the sensor extends axially from the sheath and biased radially outwardly until it contacts the interior wall of the duct. At this point, the intravascular diameter can be read directly from the graduated visual indicia on the catheter.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved vacuum cleaner comprising a foot, a handle pivotally mounted to the foot, and a vacuum motor mounted to one of the handle and the foot. The foot has a suction inlet fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and an agitator brush rotatably mounted to the foot. The improvement relates to a wheel assembly comprising a housing, an axle mounted to the housing and at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the axle. The housing has an integrally-molded flange extending therefrom. The wheel assembly rollably supports the vacuum cleaner on a floor surface. A channel is formed in the foot and is adapted to pivotably mount the housing flange for movement between a first and a second position. In the first position, the wheel assembly supports the suction inlet at a first distance relative to the floor surface. In the second position, the wheel assembly supports the suction inlet at a second distance therefrom.

Abstract: An upright water extraction cleaning machine having an assembly of tanks efficiently stored on and interconnected to the machine is shown. The tank assembly has at least two tanks nested with one another and having one-way valve mechanisms on the bottom thereof. The two tanks are slidably mounted to one another and the tank assembly is slidably mounted and operatively connected to the machine. With this structure, the user can quickly and easily remove and refill the tanks and continue operation of the machine with a minimum amount of interruption and delay.

Abstract: A frying apparatus is disclosed which is specifically designed for deep-frying turkeys or other similarly shaped food items. The frying apparatus has a central rod attached to a perforated plate that is used to support a turkey as it is lowered and removed into a large container of hot oil. The frying apparatus also includes a grab hook that releasably couples to the central rod and allows a user to avoid burns from hot oil exposure when removing or inserting the turkey.

Abstract: A device (10) for processing used light bulbs containing gases and powdered coatings in order to separate the gases and coatings from the bulb housing materials. The device (10) includes a screw-type auger (44)journaled within an elongated inclined cylindrical housing (20) which performs the fracturing and separating actions assisted by a vacuum filtration system (14). The invention comprises a specially-shaped fin configuration for the auger (44) to create additional turbulence within the cylindrical housing (20) to ensure that any hazardous vapors or coatings are fully removed from the glass housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing liquid from a composite mixture of liquid and solids comprising a hopper 16 mounted atop a compactor ram assembly 10, having a snout section 12 and an extruder section 14 mounted in a generally axial direction to the compactor ram assembly 10. Wet waste material is loaded into the hopper 16 and falls onto a loading floor 158. A hydraulically operated ram 208 compresses the wet material into the snout and extruder sections 12, 14. Under pressure from the ram 208, liquid in the waste material escapes from numerous drainage slots 25 in the loading floor, the snout section top, bottom and sides 24, 22, 20, and the extruder section top, bottom and sides 30, 28, 26. A platen 80, pivotally mounted to the extruder top plate 30 near the exit of the device and biased with a constant pressure, controls the back pressure in the extruder and snout sections 14, 12.

Abstract: A drainage system for horizontally sliding closures, especially horizontally sliding closures having a solid sill such as is typical with patio doors and the like. The drainage system includes a valve assembly having a top wall, opposed end walls and a side wall that defines a drainage aperture. The drainage aperture is normally closed by a flap which permits water to drain through the valve assembly but inhibits the infiltration of outside air. The valve assembly is mounted over a drainage slot cut through the fixed rail. To ensure most efficient drainage performance, the fixed rail must be vented. This is preferably accomplished by replacing the usual end caps for the fixed rail with slotted end caps which maintain the internal air pressure in the fixed rail at substantially atmospheric pressure. The advantage is a simple, inexpensive very effective drainage system which is suitable for new product and the retrofit of installed doors and/or windows.

Abstract: A solution dispensing bottle assembly adapted for snap-locking to a water extraction cleaning machine is shown. The bottle assembly includes a bottle having a tapered neck with an adapter telescopically mounted on the tapered neck. The adapter includes a pair of flexible flanges having apertures provided thereon. In mounting the bottle assembly to a known water extraction cleaning machine, the flexible flanges receive inwardly extending lugs provided on the machine in a snap-fit interlocking manner. The bottle is quickly removed from the machine by squeezing the flexible flanges inwardly a sufficient distance to remove the opposed lugs from the flange apertures and then sliding the bottle assembly away from the lugs.

Abstract: A draining laboratory drying rack system comprises a panel having a plurality of apertures formed therein, a plurality of pegs mounted in the apertures for supporting wet laboratory equipment, and a dispensing unit mounted to the panel by hooks on the dispensing unit being received within the apertures. The incorporation of the dispensing unit provides for mounting safety article dispensers within convenient reach of a user.

Abstract: An acoustical barrier (10) for a vehicle having a barrier wall which includes a floor area (23) and a fire wall area (25) extending between a wheel well area (41) and a drive train area (42). The acoustical barrier (10) includes a mass layer (12) that covers at least a portion of the barrier wall. The mass layer (12) has an inner surface (16) that faces the barrier wall with an integrally formed peripheral rib (52) projecting therefrom. A first set of elongate ribs (48) intersects and joins with a second set of elongate ribs (50). The first and second sets of elongate ribs (48, 50) are located within the enclosed area. Each elongate rib (48, 50) includes an upper portion integrally formed with the inner surface (16) of the mass layer and a lower portion with an outer edge (54, 60) adapted to at least face the barrier wall.

Abstract: A container holder is provided which comprises a housing with a drawer having a container receiving recess. The drawer is mounted within the housing for movement between a stored position and a use position. An arm is mounted to the drawer for movement between a retracted position and an extended position and has a first portion which cooperates with the recess to define a container-receiving area of varying size. The arm can be selectively engaged with the drawer for retaining the arm in a number of adjustable positions between the retracted and the extended positions. The arm can be moved bi-directionally between the extended and retracted positions to releasably retain the arm in one of several discrete positions. The detent mechanism has a release leg adapted to contact the housing as the drawer is moved from the extended position to the retracted position to disengage the detent mechanism from the second portion of the arm.

Abstract: A fluid-operated brake actuator having a check valve in the spring chamber to equalize the pressure on opposite sides of an operating movable diaphragm. The check valve being double redundant and tamper resistant and comprising a tubular body having a first one-way valve disposed and one end of the tubular body and a second one-way valve disposed at an opposite end of the tubular body. A support plate is mounted to the tubular body to support the second valve and prevents the easy removal of the check valve from the brake actuator.

Abstract: A dispenser for a material contained within a flexible tube includes a main body that has a longitudinally extending front surface for supporting the tube, an opposing rear surface, a pair of side walls that extend upwardly from the front surface and along the longitudinal extent thereof, and a gear rack extending adjacent to an inner surface of each of the side walls. Preferably, the side walls are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive the tube and the gear racks therebetween. An elongate roller has a shaft that extends from each end of the roller and each shaft projects through a slot and one of the side walls. Each shaft further includes a gear positioned between the roller and one of the side walls and in alignment with one of the gear racks. Each gear is in meshing engagement with its corresponding gear rack.

Abstract: A water extraction cleaning machine has a suction nozzle assembly with two suction nozzle openings incorporated. The suction nozzle openings are preferably positioned one on each side of the cleaning solution spray nozzles so that the cleaning machine can be used for simultaneous application and removal of cleaning fluid regardless of whether the user is pushing or pulling the cleaning machine. In another aspect, a plate member is slidably mounted to the bottom of the suction nozzle assembly. The plate member has a pair of suction nozzle openings which are spaced to seal one of the two suction nozzles of the suction nozzle assembly depending upon the direction of travel of the suction nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A barrier wall (24) separating a passenger compartment from an engine compartment of a motor vehicle has an acoustical barrier assembly (102) mounted thereto. The acoustical barrier assembly (102) includes first and second mat portions (104, 106) juxtaposed to each other in overlapping relationship. Each mat portion (104, 106) is preferably of a molded construction and has sound dampening characteristics. The first and second mat portions (104, 106) each have a terminal edge (130, 122). The terminal edge (130) of the second mat portion is in engagement with one of the surfaces of the first mat portion to thereby acoustically seal the first and second mat portions together. Spacer ribs (124, 132) are integrally with the first and second mat portions (104, 106). Each ribs (124, 132) extends from its corresponding mat portion to the other mat portion.