Abstract: A trailer hitch is provided for a vehicle equipped for the tongue of a trailer with provisions for moving the hitch in and out of the tongue and for angular movement where the tongue is not aligned. The hitch is anchored to an advancing mechanism within the tongue such that the advancing mechanism, when the hitch is connected to the ball, can draw the tongue and hitch together to a hitch connected position. The hitch has a tapering rear portion which cams into the tongue to provide alignment as the hitch is drawn into the interior of the tongue. The advancing mechanism comprises a gear rack and pinion and a loose interfitting ring connecting the rack to a tapered rear camming portion of the hitch. The advancing mechanism, by movement of the rack within the tongue, engages a hitch socket lock and a latch to connect the tongue and hitch together automatically in the hitch connected position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating particulate material from hot gas. Provisions are made for accommodating relative thermal expansion between a hot particular laden gas chamber, a particulate discharge chamber and a clean gas chamber. A main housing supports an interior subhousing supported from the top of the main housing while a further discharge chamber housing is supported from a lower part of the subhousing in such a manner that they are free to expand and contract independently of one another. Gas and particulate separators which are free from load bearing stresses are designed to receive the particulate laden gas and pass particulates to the particulate discharge chamber for bottom discharge and the gas to the clean gas chamber for discharge at the top of the main housing. Provisions are made for auxiliary discharge of particulates bypassing the separators at a bottom of the clean gas chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for surface treating the inside surfaces of hollow or three dimensional plastic objects. While the invention will be described with respect to plastic objects, it will be understood that other objects having a high dielectric strength, such as ceramics, cardboard, paper and wood, may be similarly treated. The surface treating is effected by selectively directing a high voltage plasma field to a selected interior surface of the object to enhance adhesion of various glues, inks and the like. The plasma field is generated in the interior of a tunnel directed into an opening of the hollow portion of the object to be treated. A specially designed electrode is supported from the opening to direct in a controlled manner the field to the selected interior area of the object to be treated. The electrode is supported from a high dielectric shield covering a central area of the opening to direct the plasma field around the shield to a laterally extending electrode below the shield.

Abstract: A pair of hand held scoops are provided for gathering loose material such as leaves, grass cuttings or the like. The scoops are identical in construction and have hand holders whereby the scoops may be used to compress a load of the material between the scoops to be carried to a discharge station. The hand holders may be in the shape of hand receiving pockets which are provided with thumb openings at opposed sides in order that each scoop may be used interchangeably for the left or right hand of the user. Each scoop is constructed of a rigid plate-like member of plastic or the like having at least one straight side which may be employed to the ground in the scoop and gathering operation. Desirably, the scoop may be a rectangular form with the hand holder oriented diagonally to present a straight bottom side toward the ground for efficiency in gathering the loose material and when used alternately between a left hand and right hand different bottom sides are presented to reduce wear.

Abstract: A clear bed gooseneck trailer hitch is provided. The trailer hitch is comprised of a wide metal plate, or disc, supported on a truck bed and having a standard long shank hitch ball fixedly connected perpendicularly therethrough. The threaded shaft of the shank hitch ball attaches to a threaded hole provided in a steel plate or channel of suitable design affixed underneath the truck bed to the frame rails of a pickup truck over the rear axle area. The plate has two handles on its top side located near the edge of the disc for use in turning the disc manually or by a torque bar upon attachment to or removal from the truck bed. Once the disc is removed, the truck bed remains clear and unobstructed for use in other conventional manners. The disc is used with a rubber bed mat, or a rubber washer, having a circumference slightly larger than the disc.

Abstract: A conveyor system in a packaging machine having leading and trailing drivers, which are disposed on endless parallel conveyor chains. To adjust the drivers to various sized boxes, the conveyor chains are adjustable transversely to the conveyor direction and are adjustable in phase. The chain wheels guiding the outer conveyor chains having the trailing drivers are disposed in a manner fixed against relative rotation, and one chain wheel is additionally axially displaceably disposed on the drive shaft. The middle chain wheel, which guides the conveyor chain having the leading drivers, is mounted on a hollow shaft disposed in a rotatable and axially displaceable manner on the drive shaft; this hollow shaft penetrates the hub of one outer chain wheel and has an aperture for an adjusting spring that connects the hub to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A shell for the bed of a pickup truck is provided. The shell is comprised of a base member mounted to the truck bed and a top member hinged to and fitted over the base member. The top member is hinged in such a manner that it may be swung open to allow access to the interior of the bed from the side as well as the rear of the truck. The hinge means have a quick release feature so that the top member may be removed for greater hauling capacity. A fabric covering may be substituted for the top member as an alternative cover.

Abstract: An apparatus are disclosed for separating particulates from hot gas in the type of system employing a particulate gas chamber, a clean gas outlet chamber and an array of separator units. The structure defining the clean gas chamber is suspended solely from a top cover of a housing thus avoiding serious heat differentiala problems. The separator units are provided with a novel inlet to enhance separation efficiency, and a method is provided for increasing bypass of particulate past the separator units without adversely affecting the operation thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adsorption and detection of adsorbents or analytes. The method and apparatus can be employed in the field for rapid adsorption of analytes and is particularly useful for detection of mycotoxins. A sample to be analyzed is prepared in solution and placed in a test tube. A tube-like adsorption column having a seal and a valve member is forcefully fed into the test tube to force solutions through the valve member into the columun and through a filter and adsorbent to trap interferences. The semi-purified solution may then be analyzed for the presence of analytes. The column with the purified solution may be further employed with a second smaller adsorption column similarly equipped with a seal and valve member fitting within the first column. In similar fashion the second column may be forced into the first column to expel the solution therein into the second column and through one or more selective adsorbents for different analytes such as one or more mycotoxins.

Abstract: A hitch is provided for standard tractor drawbars having two hitch pin holes. The hitch is connected in a forward hole by a pivot pin which permits the hitch to be rotated over the rear hole to receive an implement tongue between the drawbar and the hitch. The hitch may be disengaged by lifting a hitch lock fitting over the drawbar and simply rotating the hitch to a forward position over the drawbar to clear the rear drawbar hole for conventional use. The lock is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on the hitch and may be lifted upwardly from a drawbar engaging position in the locked position to a drawbar disengaged position to permit movement of the hitch.

Abstract: A tie gauge for tieing a four-in-hand tie to position the wide end at a selected portion of the waist such as the belt buckle is provided. The tie gauge is comprised of selected characterized markings such as numbers on a strip of fabric attached to the inside of the tie. The strip is positioned a pre-selected fixed distance from a bottom or lower end of the wide end of the tie and is of sufficient length that the user may register a selected marking that may be used to tie the tie with the wide end appearing at the desired length. The selected marking in the initial tieing stage of crossing the wide end over the narrow end is registered with a standard point in the narrow end such as the center of the cross-over position.

Abstract: A system is shown for providing a course layout to simulate rock climbing comprising metal tracking and hand and foot holds, with means for securing the holds to the tracking. The tracking may be arranged in various directions and orientations and may be secured to both walls and ceilings. Three different types of holds are disclosed: the sliding plate hold, the hinge hold and the jam hold. Each is designed to provide a means for grasping, supporting or gaining leverage by a climber as he proceeds along the course layout. Further, each type of hold has means for attaching an artificial rock outcropping which additionally simulates conditions encountered in rock climbing. Thus, the invention helps to create certain physical characteristics of rock formations that one may encouter while rock climbing.

Abstract: A material with chemically induced surface charges is employed to foster formation of mammalian hard and soft connective tissues. The material may be in the form of beads such as ion exchange resins. Bead materials with a negative surface charge stimulate formation of hard tissue within long bones and foster bony repair of defects in parietal bones and in mandibular rami. Beads with positively charged surfaces engender formation of large quantities of soft dense connective tissue when implanted into defects in the cranium or when used as an onlay on the nasal bone surface. The use of such beads or other charged biodegradable materials and the use of other surface charged materials with different physical configurations provides significant improvement in hard and soft connective tissue repair, augmentation and replacement in medical fields such as orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgery.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable vise having a collapsible sawhorse support is provided. The vise is mounted such that the opposing clamp faces are horizontally disposed and approach each other vertically. The vertically mounted vise can accommodate wider boards, and holds the boards in a horizontal position such that they are easier to cut with a saw. The sawhorse support is readily collapsible to a more compact, substantially flat configuration by disengaging braces, allowing for efficient storage, such as by hanging on a wall.

Abstract: A hair curling iron and apparatus for heating same are provided. The hair curling iron is comprised of a pair of elongated heat conductive semi-cylindrical tubular barrels having an inner flat surface. The barrels have handles and are pivotally connected together whereby the flat surfaces of the barrels may be brought together enclosing hair between. When closed together, the outer shape of the barrels is round, around which the hair is wound to give a curling effect. The size of the barrels, however, is such that the curling iron can not be readily placed in the heating chamber of a conventional curling iron oven. Thus, the instant invention provides for a heat conducting plate having vertical heat conducting rods to be fixed to the top of the oven in heat transfer relationship therewith. The barrels of the curling iron are hollow and open-ended and fit over the heat-conducting rods whereby the curling iron may be heated.

Abstract: A split valve pressure test plug is provided for high pressure fluid systems to sense pressure or temperature by means of a test probe and gauge. The test probe is inserted within split valve resilient valve core members in the test plug. The split valve core members are separable and are interfitted in a male-female relationship to provide for improved sealing upon removal of the test probe. A retainer strap is further provided which retains a cap for the test plug, permits use of a wrench without interference and acts as a sealing ring in addition to a separate gasket when the cap is tightened.

Abstract: A terry cloth cover for a clamp on sponge mop is provided. The cover is tubular and closed at one end with the other end being open and provided with Velcro patches in order that it may be fitted over the sponge and closed. Holes are provided to fit over the conventional studs that are used in the sponge for fitting on the mop clamp on base. The loops or pile on the terry cloth enable the mop to reach depressions in embossed floor tile surfaces for enhanced cleaning.

Abstract: A quick release bow fishing device is provided. The device allows for a quick connect and disconnect of a fishing rod and reel from an archery bow. The device is comprised of a connecting shaft that attaches to the bow at the socket conventionally employed for a stabilizer attachment. The fishing rod is provided with a longitudinally bored channel within the handle to receive the shaft. The shaft is constructed so that trigger catch means engage the shaft to restrict relative motion of the shaft within the channel thus holding the bow and rod together. The trigger catch release is located on the handle for easy manipulation by the operator to effect a release of the shaft for a quick disconnect of the rod from the bow. Another embodiment of the device is provided with the shaft having radial arms to engage retaining slots in the rod handle.

Abstract: A cart for hauling brush and logs is provided. The cart consists of a pair of wheels, a crossbar spanning the distance between the wheels, side brackets and a pull handle. The side brackets are slidably adjustable over the ends of the crossbar to accommodate various size loads of brush to be piled on the cart. The ends of the branches are secured by tying to the pull bar. A V-shaped brace member is also provided to slidably fit over the pull handle to serve as a support for logs when the cart is so used.