Abstract: A connector banding tool includes a clutch tensioning arrangement to develop sufficient tension within a band surrounding a multi-conductor cable in order to secure a ground shield of said cable against a connector housing. The tool further includes a bending and cutting arrangement to cut and bend the band near the band buckle to a desired position in which the band may be bent over on top of the buckle to finally secure the band upon the connector housing. The described connector banding tool permits one-handed two-step operation including a first step of developing tension within the band surrounding the connector housing and a second step combining the bending and cutting of the band to leave a small upstanding portion near the buckle.

Abstract: A running board removably mounted to a vehicle on a sub frame support system. The sub frame support system has brackets adjustably mounted to the vehicle frame which support a receiving frame. The receiving frame is adjustably mounted to the brackets and has a pair of sockets for receiving the supporting members of the running board. The running board is a structural member having shaped support members extending from its ends and configured to mount in the sockets of the receiving frame. The running board is mounted to the vehicle by inserting the supporting members of the running board into the sockets of the receiving frame. Pins retain the support members in the sockets. The running board is removed from the vehicle by merely removing the pins and removing the running board from the receiving frame.

Abstract: A hitch protector for a vehicle hitch for protecting the vehicle hitch from impacting and rubbing against the surface of a roadway. The hitch protector is end mountable on the receiving socket of the vehicle hitch and is retained by a retention pin. Blocks strategically located on the framework of the hitch protector prevent the hitch protector from pivoting about the retention pin and thus maintain the hitch protector in the installed position. A roller mounted on the framework of the hitch protector is positioned below the hitch upon installation and prevents the end of the hitch from coming into contact with the ground surface. Forces resulting from the roller contacting the ground surface are transmitted to the reinforced end of the receiving socket of the hitch.

Abstract: An articulated saw chain for cutting aggregate material and the like. The saw chain has cutting blocks affixed to pairs of side links and guards formed or attached to side link pairs positioned between successive cutting blocks. A guard portion is thus adjacent each end of the cutting block. The guard portions extend to substantially the same height as the cutting block to protect the edge of the cutting block from impacting against an object. The guards wear at a rate that does not significantly impede or interface with the cutting action of the cutting block.

Abstract: A solid state relay includes a protective input stage at its control terminals to isolate the control circuit from line voltage or line current in the event of relay failure. The protective circuit includes a series combination of a voltage responsive element and a current responsive element. The current responsive element connects to the input or control terminal of the solid state relay and the voltage responsive element connects to ground. The interconnection of the current responsive element and voltage responsive element serves as the device input terminal for connection to a control circuit. In the event of relay failure, the voltage responsive element reacts to the increased voltage by providing conductivity, by way of the current responsive element, between the solid state relay input terminal and ground.

Abstract: A rotor arrangement for a bagging machine includes a tooth configuration providing both uniform power requirements and well directed compaction forces for uniform distribution of compacted crop material within a storage bag. The rotor arrangement includes right lead and left lead tooth groups wherein members of each right lead and left lead tooth groups sequentially enter a slot of a stripping comb beginning with the right and left, respectively, member of the group. The right lead groups occupy the same length portion of the rotor arrangement as corresponding left lead groups, but are angularly offset whereby rightward compaction forces of one group are followed by leftward compaction forces of the other group. The right and left tooth groups may be organized according to double-helix mounting patterns upon a mounting member. The net compaction force is substantially straight away from the rotor arrangement and has substantially uniform power requirements for uniform compaction within the storage bag.

Abstract: A retainer for securing and retaining a pre-hung door unit in a closed position relative to a door jamb. The retainer includes a shaped cylindrical plug configured to fit closely in the edge bore of the door. The plug is insertable into the edge bore through the face bore of the door and has lobes extending transversely to limit its entry into the edge bore. The placement of the transverse lobes maximizes the length of the plug extending from the lobes which enables an end of the plug to extend beyond the door edge into a bore in the strike jamb of the door jamb when the door is closed relative to the door jamb. A bolt extended through the back of the strike jamb and engaging the plug secures the plug in position and secures the door in a closed position relative to the door jamb. The bolt may be tightened adequately to clamp the strike jamb to the door edge. The bolt and the plug are provided with double lead blunt end threads for rapid assembly and disassembly.

Abstract: A device including a head support attachable to a vehicle seat. Attachment is achieved by a first fastener applied to the seat back and a second fastener applied to the head support. The head support is provided in the form of a shaped pillow to receive an individual's head providing both frontal and lateral support while sitting in an upright, non-leaning position. The pillow may be adjusted vertically in reference to the seat back to accommodate the requirements of the user.

Abstract: A hedge cutting bar is shown and described as having rivets for securing a cutting blade between a retaining blade and a stationary blade. The rivet structure includes a central flange and distal hubs whereby the central flange may occupy slots in the cutting blade while the hubs attach within respective mounting apertures of the stationary blade and the retaining blade. The thickness of the flange is greater than the thickness of the cutting blade whereby a gripping force provided by the rivet is taken up at the flange to avoid pinching of the cutting blade between the stationary blade and the retaining blade. The described fastening arrangement is less suspectable to loosening under the vibrational forces imposed during use of the hedge cutting bar than that of prior fastening arrangements.

Abstract: A book binding process and apparatus are shown wherein polyurethane adhesive (PUR) attaches a crepe portion of a book binding to a book block and hot glue attaches the crepe portion to the book cover. The PUR delivery system includes an inclined trough positioned adjacent a polyurethane adhesive delivery roll. A polyurethane adhesive source delivers polyurethane adhesive upon the inclined surface of the trough and the polyurethane adhesive is metered onto the roller as a function of the separation of the leading edge of the trough and the roller.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for the placement of an instrument within a body cavity which comprises (i) a placement device including an elongate element with an exposable tissue piercing tip, a first coupler adjacent to the tip, and a structure for selectively exposing the tip; and (ii) an elongate instrument for placement including a second coupler adapted to be coupled to the first coupler to effect an end to end coupling of the device and the instrument whereby the instrument is positioned within the body cavity. Preferably the instrument is a suprapubic instrument for placement within a bladder. A method for placement of a suprapubic instrument is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulation of conditions under which endoscopic procedures may be practiced by an individual to learn and improve on the skills of manipulation and use of instrumentation and to develop the manual dexterity required. The apparatus has a cavity in which an object simulating a human organ is mounted for performing the practice procedure. The cavity is closeable to outside view or access thus forcing the individual practicing a procedure to use and manipulate the instruments under conditions that mimic real life operating and diagnostic conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for around the curve sawing is shown and described wherein a group of roller assemblies are positionable along a selected semicircular path having a point of tangency relative to lines of cut provided by an assembly of cutting blades whereby each roller assembly provides a transport path normal to the axes of rotation for each roller assembly and tangent to the selected semicircular path. Upon actuation of the roller assemblies, as positioned along the selected semicircular path, the wood product, as captured between rollers of the roller assemblies, moves along the selected semicircular path and into the cutting device for cutting along concentric lines of cut. The method and apparatus is particularly well suited for use with tree species having irregularly shaped protrusions and formations deviating from an idealized curved centerline of the log or cant.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for manually applying a selected fit of a saw chain loop to a chain saw. A tensioning procedure is performed simply by loosening a guide bar hold-down screw. The loosened guide bar is slightly spaced away from the mounting plate of the chain saw as a spring extends the guide bar relative to a drive sprocket which tightens the saw chain. The hold-down screw, which has an inclined axis, is then tightened to force the saw bar obliquely toward the mounting plate, simultaneously forcing the guide bar in a longitudinal direction that backs off the saw chain tension by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: In a veneer stacking system, a sensing device for sensing the incoming veneer sheets and computer determining from the information of the sensing device the stack on which the sheets are to be deposited. Knock-off shoes are positioned above the path of incoming veneer sheets. Multiple hydraulic cylinders connected into a hydraulic control system controls movement of the shoes. The multiple cylinders are simultaneously actuated by master cylinders which in turn are simultaneously actuated by a computer controlled mover piston. Air leaked into the hydraulic system is bled off by bleed orifices in the master cylinders communicating with a hydraulic fluid reservoir whereby air rises in the system up through the orifices and into the reservoir.

Abstract: A machine is provided with a movable chassis having adjustable brakes and a grain container having a rear tunnel defining a rear opening. A pliable plastic bag is fit to the tunnel with the bag bottom closing the opening. A bin on the chassis receives grain, e.g., from a truck and an auger transports the grain from the bin to an elevated position in the container that is above the height of the filled bag. The adjustable brakes are set to establish the level of grain pile in the container to cover the opening and thereby fill the bag. The brakes are independently controlled to provide limited steering.

Abstract: A hedge trimming tool having a fixed elongated blade mounted to the power head of the tool and a cutting blade mounted over the fixed blade and reciprocating relative to the fixed blade in the direction of the lengthwise axis. A leading side of the fixed blade has projecting fingers or teeth and the overlying portion of the cutting blade has projecting teeth that reciprocate across the openings between the fingers. The reciprocating teeth have sides configured in a complex curve forming an hour glass planar profile and an inverted U-shaped cross section. The U-shaped cross section is provideed by curving the sides of the teeth downwardly whereby the teeth sides are angularly projected through the plane defined by the bottom surface of the blade. The cutting edges along the sides are formed by grinding faces through the portions of the teeth projected below the bottom surface of the blade.

Abstract: The attachment (20) provides inner forks (54, 56) and outer forks (58, 60) that are directly and independently driven for handling juxtaposed pallets. The fork assembly (26) is carried by guide members (44, 48, 62, 66) that are constructed so that when two juxtaposed pallet loads are carried, there is substantially no downward deflection of the laterally outermost portions of the loads. A hydraulic control system is included for controlling the four operation functions performed by the attachment (20). The hydraulic control circuit is designed so that no electrical components need be mounted to the attachment (20).

Abstract: A kiln for the drying of lumber utilizing panels attached to the kiln structure. The attached panels form the interior surface and the exterior surface of the kiln. The panels have a cavity for the placement of insulating material. The insulating material is encapsulated in a liquid impervious container thus preventing condensates from infiltrating the insulating material. The isolation of the insulating material from the ambient moist air of the kiln maintains the insulating quality of the insulation normally lost due to exposure to moisture laden air and also aids in preventing the corrosive effect of moist insulation in contact with the metal surfaces.