Abstract: An improved latch for securing together two portions of enclosure in which a rotary latch member is secured for rotation to an upstanding wall of one of the portions of the enclosure. The latch member includes a generally circular disk having an annular wall formed about the periphery thereof, the annular wall having an interruption therein and the latch member being rotatable between locked and unlocked positions. A lug is formed on an upstanding wall of the second portion of the enclosure upon assembly of the two portions of the enclosure, the lug is received interior of the annular wall through the interruption therein and the latch member is rotated to the locked position to confine the lug within the annular wall. A stop member extends from one of the upstanding walls generally adjacent the periphery of the disk and includes a locking aperture. A locking lug extends generally outward from the annular wall of the latch member and generally tangentially to the periphery of the disk.

Abstract: A latching mechanism having utility in securing a pivotable member with respect to a stationary structure. The housing includes a base that is adapted to be mounted adjacent the pivotable member (e.g., a cage door). A pair of spaced flanges is affixed to the base, with each of the flanges extending away from the door and lying in planes which are generally perpendicular to the base. Each of the flanges has two openings which are adapted to slidably receive first and second elongated appendages, with both appendages being slidably held with respect to the housing, and with each appendage having an outer region extending outwardly away from the housing. The two latching appendages are adapted to move in different directions to engage a portion of the stationary structure (i.e., the cage enclosure) so as to hold the cage door in a closed position. The latching mechanism includes a control device for manipulating the appendages so as to slidably move the latching appendages inwardly (with respect to the housing).

Abstract: A hand-held trotline holder adapted for safety accumulating, storing, and dispensing a trotline having a main line with spaced drop lines carrying hooks. The trotline holder includes an arcuate handgrip and spool-like member that rotates with respect to the handgrip. The spool-like member comprises a hollow cylindrical hub with two circular flanges; one of those flanges is attached at each of the two ends of the hub. The trotline is accumulated around the hub and contained between the two flanges. The hub is adapted to rotate about its central (longitudinal) axis, and the two flanges (which are preferably formed integrally with the hub) therefore rotate in planes perpendicular to the hub's central axis. Rigidly affixed to the outer face of the first flange is a series of peripherally and outwardly opening compartments; each compartment has at least one radially extending slot for storing one or more hooks attached to the drop lines.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having utility as a toy for entertaining domestic cats. The toy includes an elongated housing having a top, a bottom and two spaced structures (such as walls) for connecting the top and bottom. The housing may be linear or it may be in the form of an annulus or a triangle or a figure 8 or some other "closed loop" figure. At least one of the connecting structures has an elongated opening or slot through which a cat can insert a paw. The bottom of the housing has a configuration to support a ball in rolling contact. A ball is captured within the housing and is sized for rolling along the bottom of the housing. Also, the size of the ball is such that it will not pass through the elongated opening in the connecting structure, so that the cat may reach through the elongated opening in the connecting structure in order to swat the ball and cause it to roll within the housing, but the cat is prevented from extracting the ball from the housing.

Abstract: A molded plastic container has first and second portions which are relatively movable between open and closed configurations; and the two portions have first edges which are juxtaposed when the portions are closed. A T-shaped rail is fixed to the first edge of one of the container portions, and the rail extends along said edge for a significant length--except for a location where it is interrupted by two adjacent gaps. A pair of posts are fixed to the first edge of the second container portion, and the posts are positioned so as to be insertable into the two rail gaps when the two container portions are in their closed configuration. The posts have a transverse configuration which matches the transverse configuration of the rail, so that the posts may be described as forming geometric extensions of the rail when the two container portions are closed. A slide has an interiorly facing opening which is sized for engaging the rail and for being captured thereby.