Abstract: A spring clip break-away is used as the upper swivel point on a collar which secures a trolling motor to a retractor mounted on the bow of a fishing boat. The spring clip break-away has at least one spring clip secured to an upper support arm of the retractor with an arcuate section defining a recess for receiving a pin which is rotatably secured to the motor collar. During normal retractor use, the pin is held by the spring clips within the recess. When an unusually large torque is applied to the motor shaft, for example by the motor shaft hitting a submerged log, the motor rotates about a lower swivel point and pulls the pin out of the jaws of the spring clips, thereby allowing the motor and shaft to rotate under the bow and avoid damage to the retractor and the motor. After the log is removed, the pin may be quickly and easily re-positioned in the spring clips to permit immediate use of the retractor and motor.

Abstract: A foam filled die cast metal baseball and softball bat has an all metal skin welded into a unit. The bat is formed by die casting the cylindrical handle and barrel of the bat in one piece and by welding an end cap to the cylindrical barrel to form the unitary skin structure of the bat. A foaming, sound-deadening and strengthening plastic material is then introduced into the hollow interior of the bat through an opening in the handle portion of the bat. The added material foams to fill the interior with a reinforcing semi-rigid foam. The bat has a steel safety rod embedded in the foam center of the bat. The end cap structure is formed of a roughly hemispherical cap and has a sleeve which fits into the interior of the barrel end of the bat. A shoulder on the cap abuts the bat end and extends outwardly radially past the periphery of the bat. The cap is joined to the barrel portion by resistance welding in a rotating lathe under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A foam filled die cast metal baseball and softball bat has an all metal skin welded into a unit. The bat is formed by die casting the cylindrical handle and barrel of the bat in one piece and by welding an end cap to the cylindrical barrel to form the unitary skin structure of the bat. A foaming, sound-deadening and strengthening plastic material is then introduced into the hollow interior of the bat through an opening in the handle portion of the bat. The added material foams to fill the interior with a reinforcing semi-rigid foam. The bat has a steel safety rod embedded in the foam center of the bat. The end cap structure is formed of a roughly hemispherical cap and has a sleeve which fits into the interior of the barrel end of the bat. A shoulder on the cap abuts the bat end and extends outwardly radially past the periphery of the bat. The cap is joined to the barrel portion by resistance welding in a rotating lathe under an inert gas atmosphere.