Abstract: An improved roofing nail having a cap which is held captive near the nail point for the purpose of attaching roofing felt to a wooden roof. The nail point extends slightly below the lower surface of the cap allowing the point of the nail to be manually engaged into the roofing felt. The cap positioned at the end of the nail provides support to hold the nail in an upright position until the nail is driven through the cap and into engagement with the roof substructure, after the hand of the user has been removed.

Abstract: A chain binder extension handle comprises an engagement member that fits on a chain binder handle, a gripping member pivotally mounted on the engagement member for limited angular movement between an aligned position and a skewed position with respect to the engagement member, and a coil spring that urges the members toward their aligned positions and resiliently resists the bending force exerted on the handle as the chain binder snaps into or out of a locked position.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking up and stacking large bales of hay or the like comprises a wheeled trailer that is pulled in an offset position by a tractor, a bale pick up and loading mechanism on the front of the trailer for picking up the bales as the trailer is pulled across a field, and a downwardly and a rearwardly inclined accumulating platform on the trailer for storing the bales. The accumulating platform is tiltable in a rearward direction to unload the bales in a stack. The bale pick-up and loading mechanism comprises a pivotal loading platform with outwardly extending pick-up arms on the sides of the loading platform guiding and manipulating the bales into proper position and for grasping the ends of the bales as they are lifted on the accumulating platform. Upwardly extending gripping members or sliding alignment tubes at the ends of the pick-up arms, and pivotable grab hooks, provide increased bale grasping capabilities and improved stacking stability.

Abstract: A method of changing a load supported by a first pallet to a second pallet comprises placing the first pallet supporting the load adjacent a stop member rigidly mounted on a floor surface, the stop member having an opening at a lower end sufficient for the pallet to slide under the stop member and having an abutting surface above the opening for engaging a side of the load on the first pallet. The first pallet is first positioned so that it has a rear edge facing the stop member opening and a front edge on an opposite side facing away from the stop member. A spacer member is placed under the front edge of the first pallet to raise the front edge of the first pallet above the level of the second pallet, the spacer member being moveable inwardly toward the stop member along with the first pallet.

Abstract: A process for sealing roof seams in a corrugated sloped metal roof comprises applying elongated strips of a flexible hot melt thermoplastic bituminous composite material to the seams and the edges of the roof surface immediately adjacent thereto but not over the whole roof surface. The bituminous composite material has an elevated operating temperature of about 500.degree.-600.degree. F. or greater. The bituminous composite material is heated to at least a point wherein the material becomes soft and semi-molten so as to conform to the surface of the roof and the convolutions of the corrugations and bonds to the roof surface. Prior to applying the bituminous composite material, a compatible metal primer is applied to the roof seams. The bituminous composite material is troweled into shape while it is still hot. An alternative application method comprises applying the material between overlapping roof sheets.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprises an outsole having a recess formed in the upper surface and an insert formed of resilient material that fits in the recess. The insert has a plurality of longitudinally spaced, downwardly extending transverse ribs extending across the underside of the insert. The ribs are formed of at least two lengths, with longer ribs alternating with shorter ribs in a regular pattern along the longitudinal length of the insert. The ribs are formed in a wavy sinusoidal pattern across the width of the shoe and the individual ribs are formed in sinusoidal vertical patterns, so that each individual rib has downwardly extending portions of different lengths that repeat in a pattern across the width of the shoe. The varying lengths of the ribs provide a first cushioning rate for initial compression of the insert, while the shorter portion of the ribs provide a graduated increase in spring resistance upon further compression of the ribs.

Abstract: A safety air gun that discourages tampering with safety vent holes comprises an internal air channel for delivering pressurized air to a work area. The internal air channel has an expansion chamber of increased cross-sectional area, with an outlet nozzle being positioned at one end of the chamber and an inlet tube extending into the chamber from an opposite end of the chamber. The inlet tube and outer nozzle have ends that are closely spaced across a gap. The expansion chamber also has side vent holes that both relieve dead end pressure and admit ambient air into the pressurized air stream. The gap spacing and outlet contour are such that the air force from the outlet is lower when the vent holes are blocked than when the two vent holes are open.

Abstract: A skid attachment for a carrying cart has an arcuate cross-section engageable with a pair of wheels at the front of the cart, and is held in position by the engagement of an edge of the attachment with the underside of the frame of the cart as forward motion of the cart is begun. The wheels rotate about the inner periphery of the attachment during this preliminary movement, in which the attachment simply rolls along the ground a few inches until the contact with the frame is made.

Abstract: A computer work station comprises a fixed position work surface having an enlarged monitor opening therein, a recessed component support pan attached to the work surface under the monitor opening, and a raisable monitor support mechanism mounted in the component pan that supports the monitor platform. The monitor lift mechanism is an extendable folding frame that is counterbalanced with a spring mechanism to offset the weight of the monitor such that the monitor can be raised or lowered simply by lifting or lowering the monitor platform manually, with the monitor remaining in place after its position has been adjusted. The component pan provides a recessed support and storage space for the monitor and other components. An adjustable work surface is mounted at the front of the fixed work surface by means of an adjustable mounting mechanism located in the pan and having cantilever arms extending out of the pan. A separate docking station can be provided for a lap top computer.

Abstract: An improved orthodontic dental bracket with glue openings in the form of notches in the edges of the base plate or apertures in the interior of the base plate of the bracket. The openings can have outwardly diverging side walls. During application of the bracket the glue openings serve to direct dental adhesive to flow into the openings and induce the adhesive to form an enlarged head toward the outer surface of the bracket's base plate. Once the glue has cured, the column of glue and enlarged head provides a positive mechanical lock to further secure the dental bracket to the glue layer.

Abstract: This earring clasp has a platform and a pivoted clamping member with a conventional biasing system providing gentle clamping action against the platform for grasping the ear lobe. A post for engaging a pierced ear is pivoted to the platform for movement between a position flat against the platform to an erect perpendicular position. The clamping member closes over the end of the post to shield it and retain the ear lobe.

Abstract: A tiltable table has a pneumatic actuator and a locking system for establishing and maintaining a table position. The locking system is operated by an air cylinder that engages a dog with a ratchet plate secured to the table. The dog is spring-biased to locking position, and is air-operated for release against the action of the biasing spring. On lowering the table, air is permitted to escape through a restriction orifice at a slow enough rate to maintain sufficient air pressure to keep the locking system disengaged, but sudden release of all the air pressure will again permit the spring to re-lock the system to prevent a downward slamming of the table surface.

Abstract: A device for building muscle while walking. A weight bag and shoulder bag form a unit which may be filled with varying amounts of weights and carried over a user's shoulder and upper back allowing the user complete mobility while building muscle.

Abstract: A gripping device provided with handles is adapted to engage the ball of a conventional trailer hitch as a convenience in handling the hitch when it is removed from the towing vehicle. The preferred form of the device provides a clam shell-type grasping assembly that is manipulated by handles having overlapped portions that together form the handle. These overlapped portions are locked releasably against separation, and accommodation is also provided for receiving a padlock maintaining the closure of the clam shell components whenever this becomes desirable. A simplified version of the device is formed by a piece of bent rod having portions providing the handle and also for gripping the ball.

Abstract: A resilient molded pressure plate formed of polypropylene or the like is provided for a roofing nail in engagement with a sheet of roofing felt to increase the retention of the felt. The underside of the plate is concave in the undeflected form, and is provided with a central boss that limits the downward diaphragm deflection as a nail is driven through a central opening. The peripheral rim of the plate is serrated with concentric ridges disposed initially at progressively increasing distances from the plane of the outer ridge, proceeding radially inward. As the plate is deflected on driving of the nail through the central opening, these ridges come into coplanar relationship, providing the maximum intensity of engagement with the sheet of felt material.

Abstract: A sole for an article of footwear includes a heel area, an arch area, and a ball area, each defined on the top surface and corresponding to the respective areas of the foot. Each of the areas has a plurality of bulbous protrusions extending upwardly to contact the respective areas of the foot. A toe area is also defined on the top surface including a plurality of cavities in anatomical relation to the toes of the foot. The sole also has an air passage disposed between the top surface of the sole and the bottom surface of the sole. A plurality of upwardly extending sections connect the air passage to the top surface of the sole. The upwardly extending sections are disposed about the top of the sole between the bulbous protrusions and communicate ambient air surrounding the sole with ambient air above the top surface of the sole through repeated compression and expansion of the air passage.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking up and stacking large bales of hay or the like comprises a wheeled trailer that is pulled in an offset position by a tractor, a bale pick up and loading mechanism on the front of the trailer for picking up the bales as the trailer is pulled across a field, and a downwardly and a rearwardly inclined accumulating platform on the trailer for storing the bales. The accumulating platform is tiltable in a rearward direction to unload the bales in a stack. The bale pick-up and loading mechanism comprises a pivotal loading platform with outwardly extending pick-up arms on the sides of the loading platform guiding and manipulating the bales into proper position and for grasping the ends of the bales as they are lifted on the accumulating platform. Upwardly extending gripping members and pivotable grab hooks provide increased bale grasping capabilities.

Abstract: An integral room divider panel and freestanding desk system comprises a base wall formed of interconnected modular base wall panels of uniform height and width and a freestanding desk unit that integrates into the base wall. The desk unit includes a work surface supported at side edges by vertical support members, with a back panel extending across the back of the desk. The desk back panel is formed of modules of the same height and width as the base wall panels and have the same appearance as base wall panels, so the back of the desk can comprise a section of the base wall. The top of the desk is recessed from the vertical support members and back panel so that the modular upper wall panels can be mounted on the back panel and vertical support members, as well as on the base wall panels, to selectively increase the height of the wall panel system and the peripheral enclosure for the desk.

Abstract: A header heat plate for a large paper roll wrapping machine comprising a plurality of separate face plate sections that are mounted on a common backing plate to form a complete header plate for applying a roll header to an end of a paper roll. A roll header is temporarily held to the face plate sections through the application of a vacuum suction to openings in the face plate sections. Each face plate section includes heating elements integrally molded therein. These are heated to activate a heat sensitive adhesive contained on the roll side of the roll header. A wrapping paper is applied to the roll and crimped over interior roll headers inserted at the ends of the rolls. Grooves are cut along the side edges of the wrapping paper to reduce the amount of wrapping paper overlap and indentations in the ends of the paper rolls caused thereby.