Abstract: A boat lift construction is disclosed for retrieving watercraft from one location and moving them to another location by use of a fixed longitudinal member operatively connected to a winch which moves a carrier frame mounted on wheels back and forth between a first position on land and a second position normally in a lake or river or ocean immediately thereadjacent. This boat lift includes an articulated mounting system for the wheels to facilitate continual contact thereof with respect to the ground during overland movement. The wheels are at least partially hydraulic in order to keep the wheels in contact with the ground surface even when moving in an area below the water line which allows the carrier to move along the overland bottom surface underneath the water line as well as along the ground line immediately thereadjacent.

Abstract: A double gear reduction drive mechanism for powering movement of a boat lifting cable for moving of a watercraft upwardly from the water to an elevated position and downwardly from the elevated position of storage to a position in the water therebelow. The device includes two gear reduction mechanisms within the same housing or within separate adjacent housings which can be connected to a drive means for powering rotational movement of a cable spool with at least one boat lift cable attached thereto. This gear drive is a direct drive system since it does not include any belts, chains or pulleys but utilizes direct engagement between two immediately adjacently positioned pairs of gears each of which reduces rotational speed to effect an increase in power, torque and accurate control of movement of boat lifting cable.

Abstract: A ladder attached to a generally vertically extending wall or surface which is particularly useful when attached to the side of vehicles which can pivot outwardly to a slight extent at the bottom area thereof in order to increase the climbing inclination to make it easier to climb vertically for emergency personnel under emergency situations and especially when carrying heavy equipment or other necessary emergency apparatus. The ladder configuration is pivotal between a storage position extending generally vertically next to the wall and a deployed position or extended position set at the inclination angle to facilitate climbing thereof. A resilient locking device can secure the ladder in the collapsed position and a pivotally movable scissors assembly controls movement of the lower portion of the ladder between the inclined position and the vertical position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a firestop collar with an improved apparatus and method for mounting thereof with respect to a annular cavity formed in a wall or floor around a pipe or other cylindrical member protruding therethrough. The collar member preferably is positioned adjacent to the surface surrounding the protruding member and contains preferably intumescent material therein which is responsive to heat in order to expand and fill the aperture extending through the wall or panel during heat, fire or smoke conditions. The anchoring device for the present invention is adapted to hold the collar in abutment with the structural wall in position surrounding the penetrating conduit and it includes two leg members and an arcuate member. The arcuate member extends between the leg members and is made of a flexibly resilient material and has a radius of curvature less than that of the protruding conduit.

Abstract: A retaining clip for holding shoelaces and replacing standard footwear eyelets including one integral member formed with a base attached to the shoe upper with a curved member extending upwardly therefrom and an upper member extending back across the base. An abutment member extends outwardly from the upper member toward the base member to be in abutment therewith for retaining a shoelace therewithin and a prying tab extends upwardly from the abutment member. The shoelace when urged against the prying tab will cause the abutment member to separate from the base allowing the shoelace to snap into place. When the shoelace is pulled against the opposite side of the abutment member, release is achieved. The footwear construction includes a shoelace securement means having a cam cleat for firmly gripping of the shoelaces and facilitating extremely rapid operation of the overall footwear closure construction.

Abstract: A cooling tunnel defining a housing with a cooling chamber therein with an entrance opening to allow eggs traveling upon a conveyor to enter the cooling chamber and an exit opening to allow the eggs to exit therefrom. A conveyor extends throughout the cooling chamber continuously from the entrance opening to the exit opening to convey eggs therethrough. A cooling device is defined within the housing for supplying air through a cooling air inlet conduit to the cooling chamber and a cooling air outlet conduit is provided for receiving air from the cooling chamber and providing this air to the cooling device to facilitate further cooling thereof.

Abstract: The improved spherical plain bearing of the present invention is formed using a unique method of manufacture which includes surface hardening of the outer ring and the inner ring wherein the outer ring includes a fracture zone having a reduced cross-sectional area which allows the case hardening diffusion technique to penetrate much deeper into the ring fracture zone than in the other areas thereof. In this manner the reduced cross-section area of the outer ring provides a more brittle area with less of the more ductile interior steel which is more difficult to fracture. Such fracturing is necessary with such plain spherical bearings in order to allow placement of the inner ring within the outer ring. The spherical plain bearing produced by this method can include a single fracture or double fracture.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing back traction in a water therapy environment is disclosed which includes a back support member extending vertically within a body of water such as a swimming pool including two arms extending outwardly therefrom to be placed under the arms of a user while the user's back is in contact with the back support member. A suspension apparatus lifts the back support member and both arms to a limited extent while a user is positioned within the user receiver zone defined between the arms at a slightly elevated position to provide a controllable amount of downwardly directed traction force upon the back of the user. Most of the user's weight is supported by the water and very active control of the amount of traction force can be achieved. The present apparatus is disclosed in a permanent embodiment as well as an embodiment detachably securable with respect to a swimming pool ladder.

Abstract: A large scale parafoil apparatus which makes use of an energy attenuator positioned between the initially deployed drogue parachute and the parafoil for controlling the initial stages of deployment thereof and significantly reducing rebound to enhance the deployment of the parafoil canopy in an orderly manner with the suspension lines thereof extending from the canopy to the load retained therebelow being maintained under continual tension during canopy deployment for enhancing rapid and full deployment thereof. The energy attenuating device is a ripstitch modulator having preferably multiple ripstitch sections for gradually decreasing the force resistant to separating the drogue from the parafoil and ultimately completely separating to allow full deployment of the parafoil canopy. The parafoil canopy defines a plurality of air cells with one main air cell being deployed in the lateral central location thereof.

Abstract: A backing plate member is securable preferably to a vertically extending wall with at least one or more C-shaped clamping members secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom approximately horizontally. Each clamping member includes a first and second clamp arm with a unique clamp arm adjustment means attached therebetween and positioned between the clamp base and the cylinder gripping zone defined between the clamp arms. The clamp arm adjustment means preferably includes a locking member for adjusting the spacing between the clamps for adjusting the size of the cylinder gripping zone as well as a spacer member with an arcuate abutment surface mated to the adjustment abutment surface of one of the clamp arms to facilitate contact therebetween at various adjustment positions and contact therebetween as the preferably flexibly resilient clamp arms are resiliently flexed to a more open position during urging of a cylindrically-shaped member therebetween into the cylinder gripping zone.