Abstract: A machine for forming cylindrical bales of crop material includes a mobile main frame and a novel combination of a material pickup and a bale forming belt conveyor in which a plurality of side by side belts are trained around a series of transverse rollers and an axially transverse rotary pickup element at the rear of the frame. The conveyor roller arrangement results in a substantial arc of contact between the conveyor belts and the bale, reaching about 180.degree. when the bale is fully formed. A stripper roller is located adjacent to but forward of and above the pickup element so that, after initiation of the formation of the bale, the pickup continues to feed material from the group into the growing bale but does not contact the bale and takes no part in propelling it along the ground.

Abstract: A pet commode composed of a housing having upstanding side walls and a recessed bottom to which a drain passage is connected, a floor disposed in the housing for supporting a pet and for receiving its bodily waste products, the floor being mounted to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis to permit waste products deposited on the floor to fall to the housing bottom, at least one water spray pipe located in the housing below the floor and arranged to direct water sprays upwardly against the floor while it is undergoing pivoting motion subsequent to the deposit of waste products thereon, and control devices for automatically pivoting the floor and initiating the water spray after a pet has left the commode.

Abstract: A roughage feeder unit for cattle or livestock comprises an upright gate assembly mounted on supports at opposite ends of the assembly and provided with ground engaging wheels and skids to support the gate assembly for movement over the ground. The unit includes a device coupled to the gate assembly for anchoring the gate assembly to the ground and adapted to restrict the gate assembly to movement over a predetermined distance relative to the ground. A preferred embodiment of the anchoring device comprises a telescoping brace adapted to be secured to the ground by a stake and provided with a stop to limit the movement of the gate assembly relative to the stake.

Abstract: A crop harvesting vehicle including a self-propelled chassis and a crop harvesting header coupled on the chassis. The header includes a variety of crop handling elements such as a cutter, a reel, a crop-consolidating conveyor, and conditioning rolls which cooperate in a hay windrowing operation. The chassis includes drive wheels driveable from an engine on the chassis through a hydrostatic drive system including two pumps and two motors hydraulically interconnected. The crop handling elements on the header are drivable through a third pump hydraulically connected to a motor on the header. The three pumps are mounted on the chassis with the rotary input drives thereof successively interconnected in coaxial alignment enabling the pumps to be simultaneously driven through a direct common input from the vehicle engine.

Abstract: An automatic height control for the header of a combine in which the elevation of the header relative to the ground is varied by hydraulic means under the control of the system using the presence or absence of light to lower or raise the header, the light being regulated by feeler members engageable with the ground and being responsive to changes in ground contour.

Abstract: A pull-type mower conditioner type harvester has a mobile main frame carrying a vertically adjustable header or subframe which carries a plurality of harvesting components that extend between the opposite sides of the header, including a reciprocating sickle type cutter bar. The cutter bar includes a transverse support member that spans the width of the header and carries the cutter bar components, including a wobble type drive at one end of the cutter bar.

Abstract: A safety deflector assembly for the discharge chute of a power lawn mower is provided. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector or guard plate pivotally mounted on the mower deck adjacent to the discharge chute and normally biased toward a guard position, and a latching mechanism automatically operable upon movement of the deflector to its guard position located in the path of movement of material discharged from the discharge chute for latching the deflector in its guard position. The latching mechanism is manually operable to unlatch the deflector to permit manual movement of the deflector away from its guard position out of the path of movement of the discharged material to permit attachment of a grass catcher to the discharge chute.

Abstract: A harvesting machine having a plurality of vertically reciprocal shaking elements is provided at the top of each of these elements with a distributing plate that extends the full length of the shaking elements and is pivotal about an axis on this shaking element. Each of these distributing plates is oscillated about its respective axis so as to loosen up and order the straw lying on the shaking elements and at the same time to separate grain from them. The plates have sawtoothed upper edges and may be oscillated at a rate equal to three times the vertical reciprocation rate of the shaking elements.

Abstract: Cutting height adjustment device for lawn mower blades: adjustment is obtained by adjusting the height of the mower wheel axle with respect to the mower chassis; the wheel axle is carried on a crank arm which pivots about a shaft fixedly positioned with respect to the chassis; the shaft is pivotable to a plurality of angular positions; a detent disc is secured to the shaft; a latch, non-shiftable with respect to the chassis, is operable to selectively engage in and disengage from the detents, thereby to position the blades at various heights; a pointer associated with and movable with the shaft indicates blade height on a scale on the chassis.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and feeding large hay bales comprising the separable, cooperative, combination of a coupler unit adapted to be attached to a three-point lift hitch on a tractor, and a lift fork unit which can be readily converted into a bale feeding container by removably securing a pair of upright wall assemblies to its opposite sides. The wall assemblies have feeding spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to reach a large hay bale supported inside the container on the lift arms of the lift fork unit. A latch device on the coupler unit is releasably engaged with coupling means on the lift fork unit in such a way that the operator of a tractor on which the coupler is mounted may actuate controls to release the latch from the tractor operator's seat.

Abstract: A crop-gathering table for a combine harvester has a tubular main cross beam on which are supported at spaced intervals a plurality of angle iron ribs extending downwardly and then forwardly to support the back wall and then the bottom wall of the table and to support the cutter bar at the front end of the ribs. A stiffener plate is secured to the bottom of the ribs so that with the bottom wall of the table a plurality of hollow cells are formed to provide a rigid but lightweight table structure.

Abstract: A flexible pick-up conduit is connected to a source of vacuum for picking up leaves and the like. The conduit is mounted to an assembly which includes at least three longitudinally expandable accordian-like tubular control members normally extending parallel to the conduit. Pressurized air flows through the control members, and the relative air flow therethrough is selectively variable, as by a proportioning valve, thereby causing the tilt angle of the conduit and its mouth to change. A momentarily actuatable piston functions through a valve control plate to increase or decrease the expansion of the control members so as to lengthen or shorten the conduit without changing its angular disposition.

Abstract: A reflective safety harness for a quadruped animal such as a cat or a dog. The harness includes a pair of substantially identical elements that are mounted on opposite sides of the animal, each element having a light reflective surface. Each element includes a semi-flexible sheet that lies against the side of the animal's body and conforms thereto, and a planar member that projects outward and generally normal to the sheet so that it stands out from the animal's body and receives and reflects light impinging thereon. At the corners of the sheet are fastened straps which circumscribe the animal's body at the front and rear of the harness. Extending from the front strap at the top point thereof midway between the two elements is an auxiliary strap having at the distal end thereof a loop through which the dog's regular collar is passed, thereby assuring immovable attachment of the harness on the dog's body.

Abstract: Platform is provided with an opening in which a hollow cylindrical member is mounted. The cylindrical member includes an opening for admitting a small animal to the platform and carries a post on which a dome is rotatably mounted with its encompassing sidewall coacting with the platform to cage the animal. The dome carries food compartments depending to a position closely adjacent the platform. An opening in the bottom of each food compartment permits food to be dropped onto the platform beneath the compartment in a position such that the animal must push against the compartment to rotate the dome and expose the food.

Abstract: A drive incorporated in a power rake includes a clutch mechanism for selectively transmitting power from a power source to the reel for rotation thereof and including a member movable relative to a position providing power transmission between the power source and the reel, a spring biasing the member away from the power transmitting position, a control mounted on the handle for movement relative to a position adjacent to the handle portion, and a linkage connecting the control and the member so as to retain the member in the power transmitting position against the action of the biasing spring when the control is retained in the position adjacent to the handle portion and to permit movement of the member away from the power transmitting position and movement of the control away from the handle portion in response to action of the biasing means when the control is not held in adjacent relation to the handle portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment thereof, the means comprises an elongate blade-like element which is centrally bored for drive coupling thereof to the power shaft of a lawn mower. The element has leading and trailing edges, the former being sharp for cutting purposes. Also, the leading and trailing edges are discontinuous; cut-outs are formed in the leading edge, and teeth have been turned up therefrom, and slots are formed in the trailing edge, and burrs have been turned up therefrom. The teeth, as well as radial ends of the elongate element, have cutting edges formed thereon. Additionally, radial ends of the element, at the trailing edges thereof, also have been bent upwards to define triangular control tips thereat.

Abstract: A harvesting machine, such as a combine, may be adapted for the harvesting of row crops by attaching a series of laterally spaced-apart, individual row units across the header of the combine. Each unit attachment is of low-profile configuration having a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending, obstruction-free dividing members which become disposed on opposite sides of a crop row during operation, the drive for gathering mechanism on the members being disposed below and to one side of the crop delivery passage defined between each pair of dividing members whereby to render the passage wholly unobstructed from top-to-bottom and front-to-rear thereof to facilitate the orderly, clog-free movement of crops rearwardly through the passage and into the header for further processing.

Abstract: A feed tray, bowl or dining mat for animals which, in addition to serving as a receptacle for food, contains an insecticidal composition capable of maintaining the said tray, bowl or mat essentially free from insects.

Abstract: A removable trash bag assembly for lawn mowers, wherein the bag is made of plastic and is hung from a frame attached to the mower. The bag is provided with hanging loops for easy mounting and removal with respect to the frame; and the mounting is arranged to flex the bag in tension to open slits provided in the side of the bag at its mouth due to the increasing weight of the trash as the bag progressively gets filled to exhaust the air when the primary vents in the mid-portion of the plastic are blocked. These slits also function to prevent bursting of a closed filled bag when it is dropped by providing vents at the top of the bag for any entrapped air. These slits are also functional to pass the folded open end portion of the bag therethrough to close the bag.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower with various interchangeable parts can be utilized not only as a standard lawn mower but also a vegetation chopper or shredder, a leaf blower or a snow blower. A vacuum attachment is also provided to permit inaccessible areas to be maintained.