Abstract: A pontoon system for supporting watercraft on a body of water having a submersible structure comprised of pontoons into which air is injected expelling the water therefrom to provide lift for the system, and a frame which maintains the pontoons in fixed spaced relationship. The frame includes support pads which extend upwardly therefrom and which contact the hull and keel of the watercraft for support purposes. The pontoons are divided into chambers by bulkheads which allow the water to be forced from the front portion of the pontoons first. Thus, the front of the watercraft is lifted initially which stabilizes the watercraft and the pontoon system before the usually heavier aft portion of the watercraft is lifted; this reduces the possibility that the watercraft will become unstable during the lifting process. Air may be released from said pontoons for lowering the pontoon system into the water. A safety system is provided to lower the system into the water if a leak develops.

Abstract: A gate latching mechanism comprising a gate for closing the mouth of a hoist hook. The gate is attached to the hook and pivotally movable out of the mouth of the hook about a substantially vertical pivot axis spaced from the central axis of the stem of the hook. A spring which is located at the pivot axis biases the gate to swing to an open position. The free end of the gate is provided with a latch which, when closed, covers the tip of the hook, a lock which holds the latch engaged with the tip until the lock is manually released, and a locking spring for moving the lock to the locked position when the latch is moved to engage the tip.

Abstract: A tire carrier for securing a spare tire to the bed of a pickup truck or the like wherein the tire is mounted on a conventional flanged rim having an opening therethrough which comprises a vertically disposed bracket member having vertically spaced notches therein and attachable to the bed of the pickup truck; a bracket-engaging member having a horizontally extending arm with an upward extension adjacent one end thereof, a threaded nut attached to the vertical extension, a threaded J-hooked rod threadedly received in the nut and having a hook at one end thereof adapted to engage one of the notches of the bracket when the bracket-engaging member is passed through the opening in the tire rim; a pivotal tire rim-engaging member including a pivotal arm pivotally connected to the opposite end of the bracket-engaging member, a handle member extending outwardly from the pivotal arm adjacent the pivotal connection, a horizontally extending keeper bar connected adjacent its horizontal center to the end of said pivotal

Abstract: A tray for the shipment of frozen items such as frozen pies which is stackable within a box with other identical trays so that each individual frozen item is prevented from contact with any other frozen item. The tray has a bottom from which four sides extend outwardly and upwardly. The sides comprise a longitudinal pair of sides and a lateral pair of sides. A plurality of projections extend upwardly along the center line between the longitudinal sides, and two rows of protuberances, one row located on each side of the plurality of projections, extend upwardly. The plurality of projections forms a divided partition. Each protuberance is formed by a long slope which extends upwardly from the bottom of the tray towards one lateral side of the tray and by a short slope which extends almost vertically downwardly from the upper end of the long slope to the bottom of the tray. Thus, each protuberance has a resulting inverted "L" shape along its longitudinal cross-section.

Abstract: Apparatus for dampening the closing of a heavy door of the type mounted along a hinge axis on a heavy movable member such as a digging bucket for a shovel, said dampening apparatus comprises a crank pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said movable member adjacent said hinge axis, linkage means pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said door and pivotally connected adjacent an opposite end to one end of the crank, a cushioning device having a lower pivotal connection pivotally connected to the crank at the end thereof opposite from the first-mentioned end and an upper pivotal connection pivotally connecting the cushioning device to the movable member, and the cushioning device comprises a telescopic rubber snubber.

Abstract: An adjustable seat for butterfly valves wherein an annular groove is provided in the valve body for receiving an annular sealing member against one sidewall thereof for sealingly engaging the valve closure member in the closed position of the valve. A plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed lugs are provided on the valve body conterminous with the groove and spaced from the sidewall thereof. A plurality of arcuate seal retainer members are disposed in the groove and interposed between the lugs and the sealing member for retaining the sealing member in a sealing position within the groove. Adjustment members are provided on each lug for selective adjustment of the pressure of the arcuate segments against the sealing member for adjusting the sealing pressure of the sealing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for circumnavigating a dispenser about a pipe includes a frame carrying a pair of endless belts locateable on the pipe and carrying the dispenser. The belt carrying frame is hinged to a semi-circular frame, together to encircle the pipe. A locking assembly interconnects the belt carrying and semi-circular frames to secure the frames to the pipe, and a motor on the dispenser carrying frame rotates the endless belts to propel the frames and dispenser around the pipe.

Abstract: A hanger mechanism for the attachment of a soil engaging tool to a horizontal tool bar located at the forward end of an agricultural vehicle through a series of pivotally interconnected structures. The hanger mechanism includes an upper and lower arm structure which extend forward from the tool bar and are disposed one above the other. A vertical bar structure is pivotally connected to the forward ends of the upper and lower arm structures with the upper and lower arm structures parallel. An implement arm having an upper end adjacent and below the forward end of the lower arm structure extends rearward and downwardly to a lower end. The implement arm is pivotally attached between the upper and lower ends thereof to an extension of the vertical bar structure. A connecting link is pivotally attached at one end to the lower arm structure rearward from the forward end thereof, and pivotally attached at its other end to the upper end of the implement arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending a thin flexible and narrow strip having a flat longitudinally extending base portion and a central longitudinally extending rib, comprising a cylinder mounted on a supporting base and having a helical recess extending from the bottom to the top thereof. The recess extends inwardly into the cylinder a distance slightly less than one-half of the width of the base portion of the strip. A rotatable arm is mounted on a shaft which extends upwardly and concentrically from the top of the cylinder. The arm has mounted thereon a slide member adapted to be moved towards and away from the cylinder. A rotatable wheel is rotatably mounted in the slide member, the wheel having an annular recess therein extending inwardly into the wheel a distance slightly less than one-half of the width of the base portion of the strip, the recess of the wheel being opposite to or in alignment with the recess on the cylinder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a flat circular disc of metal having a central opening therein into a sheave of the type having an annular peripheral groove for receiving a wire line therein, the size and shape of said groove corresponding to the diameter of said wire line; the disc has two flat side portions separated by the width of said disc and an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sheave to be produced; the apparatus by which the method of the present invention is carried out includes a pair of rotatable holding members rotatable on a common horizontal axis, means for moving the holders axially relatively towards and away from each other whereby when the holders are moved axially towards each other, the holders will engage the disc therebetween; each holder is provided with a hub portion facing towards the other holder concentric with the common horizontal axis and adapted to be received in the central opening of said disc; a rotatable forming roller is rotatable on an axis

Abstract: A board-type fence which is of substantially identical appearance on both sides and which eliminates the need for nails in the construction thereof. The fence comprises a plurality of fence panels and fence posts. Each fence panel is constructed by passing a pair of spaced parallel rods through a predetermined number of fence boards arranged in aligned side-to-side relation with the rod ends projecting outwardly from the sides of each panel. Each fence post is provided with two pairs of holes that are horizontally offset from each other, the holes of each set being spaced apart a distance exactly equal to the rod spacing of each panel; thus, with regard to a given fence post, the rod ends of a first panel will project into one pair of spaced holes in that fence post whereas the rod ends of the other fence panel will project inwardly into the other pair of spaced holes on the opposite side of the fence post.

Abstract: A double-acting can crusher comprising a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a substantially cylindrical sheath extending horizontally above the shaft in parallel relation thereto, a pair of spaced cylindrical crushing blocks mounted at the horizontal ends of the sheath, a substantially rectangular upper opening extending along the top portion of the sheath and being sufficiently wide to permit the passage of uncrushed cans into the sheath, a lower opening in the sheath extending longitudinally below the upper opening, the lower opening being sufficiently wide at the ends thereof to permit the passage of crushed cans therethrough but being sufficiently narrow in the central or major portion thereof to prevent the passage of uncrushed cans therethrough, a collar mounted on the shaft for movement back and forth along the shaft, an endless reverse helical groove on the shaft, a pin freely received in a hole in the collar and disposed at right angles to the shaft, an arcuate tongue on the pin received

Abstract: Apparatus for bending a thin flexible and narrow strip having a flat longitudinally extending base portion and a central longitudinally extending rib projecting upwardly from the base portion at right angles thereto, the upper edge of the rib being sharpened, the strip being of the type adapted to be attached to a printing cylinder and used for perforating or shearing paper sheets being printed, the apparatus being adapted to bend the strip at right angles to the base portion thereof to form a predetermined geometric shape, such as a rectangular shape for cutting rectangular windows in the paper sheets. The apparatus comprises a stationary die mounted on a supporting base. The stationary die is provided with a recess at the lower portion thereof extending around the entire periphery and inwardly into the stationary die a distance slightly less than one-half of the width of the base portion of the strip.

Abstract: A device for abrasive-blast cleaning of the end of a pipe prior to welding, comprised of a disc engagable with the pipe end to be blast-cleaned and held in position by adjustable bolts and rams, a positioning spider used to position the disc with respect to the end of the pipe, a blasting head affixed to the positioning spider and movable circumferentially over the end of the pipe, means for supplying abrasive material under pressure to the blasting head and drive means for rotating the positioning spider and blasting head.

Abstract: A method for locating specific varieties of fish comprising the steps of making a plurality of passes with a boat, taking differential temperature measurements beneath the surface of the water during each pass, plotting the differential temperature measurements on a chart, making at least one depth versus temperature measurement for determining the temperature variance of the water with respect to the depth of the water and comparing said charted data with known fish environment references for locating likely position and depths for specific varieties of fish.

Abstract: A stowable step for use with a vehicle of the type having a body with a door opening therein and a frame beneath and inward from the door opening, a plate hinged to the frame and receiving a stowable tread thereupon, the tread being displacable laterally from the frame below the door opening. Slotted supports and links permit the tread to be compactly stored upon the plate and for the plate to be releasably locked against the vehicle body.

Abstract: A spur for engagement with a boot of the type having an upper foot-engaging portion, an outer sole attached to the bottom of said upper portion and a heel attached to said boot at the rear of said outer sole, and wherein a groove is formed in the boot around the lower periphery of the upper portion by the inturned lower edge of the upper portion against the outer sole; the spur comprises a pair of forwardly directed arms which are connected at their rear ends in a curved portion to form a bell-shaped yoke; the yoke, in cross-section, has an upwardly and inwardly inclined profile which is tapered convergently upwardly; the yoke is also provided with a rounded lower edge from which a narrow rim projects inwardly and which is adapted to be received in the groove of the boot above and surrounding the heel; the spur is also provided with a pair of forwardly and upwardly directed ears which are pivotally attached to the forward ends of the arms along forwardly and downwardly directed hinge axes, respectively; each

Abstract: A rotary cleaning device comprising a cup-shaped rotatable base member, a cylindrical resilient mounting received in the cup-shaped member, a plurality of elongated cleaning elements essentially in the form of wood screws mounted in the resilient mounting and extending through and beyond the same. The heads of the screws are positioned between the resilient mounting and the cup-shaped base member. A bolt having an enlarged head extends substantially centrally through the resilient mounting and the base member in a direction opposite from the extension of the cleaning elements. Nuts are mounted on the bolt and engagable with the base member to hold the assembly together in such manner that the heads of the screws are firmly grasped between the resilient mounting and the base member. The portion of the bolt which extends beyond the nuts constitutes a shank which is adapted to engage a rotary chuck for rotating the cleaning device.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the inclination of a well bore comprising a flexible rod having an upper end rigidly supported by the apparatus and a needle point means operatively connected with the lower end of said rod and suspended over a vertically movable target. The target is responsive to a predetermined condition, such as time or location, for moving the target relatively towards and against the needle point whereby the needle point will perforate the target to indicate the inclination of the well bore. A weight means is mounted on the flexible rod above the needle point to cause a bending of the rod by cantilever action when the apparatus is in the well bore and when the well bore is inclined with respect to the vertical.