Abstract: A weed guard for electric trolling motors including a generally semi-cylindrical lower portion to embrace the bottom portion of the electric motor and a forwardly upwardly angle portion from the lower portion, terminating at a point somewhat above the normal water line.

Abstract: A coupler for toy and model railway cars includes a pivotable coupler member having a coupler knuckle adapted to engage a complementary knuckle on an adjacent car. The coupler member is mounted for pivoting movement between a lower position substantially parallel to a trackway and an upper position and is normally maintained in the lower position by magnetic attraction existing between two permanent magnets secured, respectively, to the coupler member and to a support. Cars may be uncoupled by providing a pole of an uncoupling magnet on the trackway to attract at least one pole of the coupler member magnet to torque the knuckle to the upper position and thereby effect uncoupling. The coupler knuckle includes a projection formed on its lower side which is adapted to engage and hold the adjacent complementary coupler knuckle when cars are being pulled in a normal running mode to prevent the knuckles from unintentionally disengaging when coupled cars pass over the uncoupling magnet.

Abstract: A modular rear draft lug and center filler construction for railway vehicles comprising a pair of rear draft lugs which extend from the draft sill area along each side of the inside of the center sill and continue through the center filler area to rear draft lug stops. A number of slotted plates are fitted over portions of the draft lugs and attached to a bottom cover plate which nests into the center sill. A center plate has a mounting skirt with upwardly extending flanges to abut each end of the bottom cover plate to resist longitudinal impact forces. The rear draft lugs are mechanically attached to the center sill and the center filler plates, center plate and rear draft lug stops may be easily installed after the rear draft lugs are attached. The riveted construction provides for even force distribution and alignment and ease of replacement should damage or failure occur.

Abstract: A rail house car with side openings and doors for closing the openings by movement of the doors longitudinally along the car sides and laterally into and out of the openings. Cranks moveably support and retain the doors on longitudinal tracks below the doors and within longitudinal retainers above the doors. The cranks are selectively manually driven for lateral movement of the doors. The top cranks include combination skid and roller devices which permit the doors to move easily because of the rollers when they are longitudinally moved along the track and retainer but which permit the locating of the rollers within recesses in the surfaces of the retainers when the doors are located laterally substantially within their openings along the car sides.