Abstract: A biomass stove includes a housing enclosing a firebox that defines a ceiling portion opposite a bottom, a firepot disposed within the firebox, an air intake assembly coupled to the firebox, and at least one duct disposed entirely inside the firebox and extending between the ceiling portion of the firebox and the air intake assembly. The duct(s) provide a heat exchanging flow path for ambient air entering the air intake assembly, where the ambient air is heated within the duct(s) prior to exiting through the ceiling portion of the biomass stove.

Abstract: An ice house including a collapsible frame assembly. The collapsible frame assembly includes at least one first pole with a connecting end having a plunger assembly. At least one second pole has a hollow end sized to telescopically engage with the plunger assembly and the first pole. The second pole has at least one detent proximate a connecting end sized to releasably engage with a plunger on the plunger assembly. An actuator assembly includes a first end secured to the connecting end of the second pole and a second end adapted to telescopically receive the plunger assembly and the first pole. The actuator assembly includes an actuator located over the detent and configured to flex between a relaxed position and a depressed position that disengages the plunger from the detent. A seat assembly is secured to the frame assembly and a cover having at least one door is attached to the frame assembly.

Abstract: A portable tree stand for elevating a hunter or observer above the ground is described. The tree stand can be sized such that it can accommodate one or two users. The tree stand includes a frame assembly that can be reconfigured to allow a user or users to face multiple directions. The railings are adjustable to maximize the functionality of the tree stand in each of the multiple directions.

Abstract: An electric starter for a walk-behind, powered, rotary cultivator having a gasoline engine having a crankshaft and a recoil starter connected to the gasoline engine. The electric starter includes an electric motor connected to the crankshaft between the recoil starter and the engine so that activation of the electric motor starts the engine and the recoil starter can also be used to start the engine; a battery connected to the electric motor; a start switch between the battery and the electric motor; and a battery charger. The electric starter is intended for use on cultivators generally having less than about 2 horsepower. The recoil starter is intermittently engageable with the crankshaft through the electric motor. The electric motor may also act as a generator supplying electric current to the battery to charge the battery.

Abstract: A rear-tine roto-tiller with a chassis having a forward end and a rearward end; a set of rotating tines at the rearward end; a set of ground-engaging wheels between the forward end and the tines; and a tine transmission mounted on a substantially vertical shaft at the rearward end with a substantially horizontal shaft holding the tines. The tine transmission is rotatable about the vertical shaft between a first position in which the tines rotate in the same direction as the wheels and a second position in which the tines rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the wheels, thus allowing easy conversion between SRT mode and CRT mode.

Abstract: A tree climbing apparatus consisting of two movable platforms, each of which is secured to the tree trunk by a flexible strap that has a non-scratching cover that will not harm the bark of the tree. Each of the flexible straps has a construction that includes an elastic stiffener that causes the flexible strap to be self-straightening when one end of the flexible strap is removed from the platform.