Abstract: A device for forming bales of hay, straw or similar crops includes a container in which there is yieldably mounted a holding member situated between the inlet end and the outlet end of the baling chamber of the container. The device picks crops up from the ground and advances the same into the inlet end of the baling chamber so that the crops form a bale thereat, and the holding member presses against the forming bale for the entire duration of the formation of the bale. The holding member retards the advancement of the forming bale toward the outlet end of the baling chamber and yields only after the material of the forming bale has reached a desired degree of packing. The holding member may be a flap pivoted in the container or a shield mounted on a tiltable frame for movement relative thereto and for tilting therewith.

Abstract: A thresher for grain comprising a rotor and a stator disposed one within the other to define an annular tapered threshing space between them, the rotor and stator having interacting surfaces of generally truncated conical form at least one being lined with resilient material and the other with a friction producing material, the annular space having its larger diameter upwards, the rotor or the stator being axially movable to vary the width of the annular space and loaded to urge the member to decrease the width of the annular space to embed seed part-way into the resilient material to remove the hull from the seed.

Abstract: Honing and polishing instrument especially intended for dental use and being provided with a rotatable shaft. A replaceable honing or polishing unit made of a flexible elastic material can be attached to the free end of the shaft. An undercut indent in the unit embraces a radial sleeve at the free end of the shaft. The shaft also has an end portion extending axially beyond the sleeve which is inserted in a corresponding bore at the bottom of the indent in the unit.

Abstract: An improved articulator for monitoring and correcting masticatory surfaces of the upper and lower jaw portions of a dental prosthesis model is provided. The improved articulator includes a frame and two reproduction bodies movably mounted on the frame that are respectively designed to carry an upper and lower jaw portion of a dental prosthesis. Articulation means connected to the reproduction bodies move the bodies three-dimensionally in relation to one another to copy the articulative movements of a patient. Compensation means connected to at least one of the reproduction bodies provides three-dimensional adjustment of a jaw model portion in relation to the reproductive body, when the jaw model is attached to the body.

Abstract: A reusable badge is assembled by snapping a flanged concavo-convex lens of resilient sheet plastic material over the edge of a stiff but resilient backing plate with display material between them. The display material can be from a large sheet and sheared to size by the lens flange and backing plate as they are assembled. A press for assembling the components has an anvil with a centering boss that engages a hole in a clip secured to the backing plate. A hammer member presses the lens downwardly to snap its flange over the edge of the backing plate while flexing the edge of the backing plate slightly.

Abstract: An orthodontic tool for placing and measuring bends or twists in orthodontic arch wires, or the like, in order to place potential torquing forces in the wire, comprises first and second engaging means for engaging an elongated wire on respective opposite surfaces of the wire, one of the engaging means carrying an indicator member with a scale thereon and the other of the engaging means carrying a pointer. When the two engaging means are placed together and twisted around the arch wire, the pointer will indicate the exact degree of twist being placed in the wire on the indicating scale. The engaging means may comprise pliers, keyed members, or the like. Preferably, the scale is interposed between the engaging means to provide a bending space between the engaging means to prevent weakening of the wire when it is twisted. Also disclosed is a tool for bending orthodontic arch wires to provide second order bends.

Abstract: A safety clutch for an earring has a body member provided with a through hole arranged for receiving a post of an earring or other article to be releasably attached to the body member. Provided on the body member is a suitable resilient biasing arrangement disposed for normally engaging with the post of the earring and holding the post secure with respect to the body member. The retainer includes a clutch pin slidably disposed in a recess provided in the body member and arranged communicating with the hole so as to cause the clutch pin to selectively come into retaining engagement with a groove provided in the post of the associated earring. A coiled helical spring or other suitable biasing device is disposed in the bottom of the recess, beneath the clutch pin, for forcing the pin toward a position in which the pin engagingly holds the post in place in the hole provided in the body member.

Abstract: A locking device, in combination with a self-locking tag, insertable through a slit in the ear of an animal, includes a disc with a centrally disposed slit for more securely attaching the tag to the animal. Similar to the function of a pedestal, the device may also support the tag in an essentially upright position in the animal's ear. In addition, two locking devices may be utilized on both sides of the ear to prevent the tripping of the tag from either side of the ear. Another salient feature of the locking device is that it may be of a color which provides information concerning the animal. Additionally, the device may be impregnated with an insecticide repellent which will bleed out over a period of time thereby providing a measure of control over flies, lice, and other insects that may come near the animal's ear.

Abstract: A name plate assembly having invisible locking means requiring the use of an externally applied magnet.The name plate assembly includes the use of a base member having one or more dovetailed type rails on one face and a game plate having corresponding dovetail recesses for slidingly engaging with the rails of the base member. Mounted on the base member is a first magnet means which normally engage with the name plate to hold the name plate locked securely on the base member. The magnet means can only be disengaged from the name plate by the application to the assembly of a second magnet means withdrawing the first magnet means from locking engagement with the name plate.

Abstract: An instrument for processing artificial teeth and the like, which is utilizable for collecting precious metallic powder shavings produced during the processing of the teeth, and which comprises a handy bowl-like collector and a collector plate for supplementally collecting the powders which have not been caught by the handy bowl-like collector.

Abstract: A kick restrainer for an animal such as a cow which is arranged to be attached to a pair of vertically spaced bars which may form part of an animal stall or the like including upper and lower brackets arranged to be retained in a clamped position on the bars with a vertically extending support rod having an animal restraining member slidably mounted in the brackets, the upper bracket having a spring connected to the rod for urging the rod upwardly into an extended position and the lower bracket provided with a manually operated jack device for releasably retaining the support rod in an adjustable vertical position and for manually moving the support rod downwardly against the urging force of the spring on the upper bracket to position the restraining member against the back of an animal.

Abstract: A water heater including an elongate tubular case, a block and a plug in spaced relationship in the case defining a chamber, an elongate heater tube with a helical portion within the chamber, and defining a central longitudinal opening, means connecting the ends of the tube with water supply and delivery lines, an elongate resistance heater unit extending longitudinally through said tube, an end extending from one end of the tube, a power supply line extending from a power source to the unit and means to control the supply of power from the line to the unit including a temperature sensing device positioned in the opening defined by the coiled tube and operable to stop and start the flow of power to the unit when the temperature of air in said opening is above and below a set temperature.

Abstract: A mowing device includes at least a pair of cooperative rotary cutting mechanisms. Each cutting mechanism comprises a driven carrier and at least one cutter pivotally connected thereto and projecting radially therefrom. Mounted below each carrier is a cutting plate having a cutting edge above which the associated cutter sweeps. The cutting edge of the cutter normally lies along a line which defines an acute angle with at least portions of the cutting edge of the cutting plate so as to effect a scissors action therewith, and which line also is angularly offset by more than 90.degree. with respect to a line passing through the center of gravity of the cutter and the axis of rotation of the carrier.

Abstract: A toy wheel runway including a vertically disposed hollow body member with a flat base and closed upper end with a projecting handle thereon, and having an open front and an elongated slot in its rear wall. Spaced track forming ribs are longitudinally arranged within the body laterally of the slot to accommodate an axled wheel member therebetween, with the ribs being notched adjacent their upper ends to receive and retain the wheel axles therein so that, when the body member is tilted relative to a flat surface and the wheel is lifted to free the axles from the notches, the wheel will gravitationally roll over the ribs and be propelled from the lower end for free rolling over the flat surface.

Abstract: This invention is a weed puller apparatus connectable to the rear or front portions of a tractor and can be used jointly with a cultivator to loosen the soil. The weed puller apparatus includes (1) a main support means selectively connected to the rear or front of the tractor; (2) a weed pulling means connected to the main support means; and (3) a power and control means operably associated with the power supply of the tractor and connected to the weed pulling means to drive same. The weed pulling means includes cooperating pairs of contacting weed pulling assemblies, some are driven by the power means and others are driven by frictional contact between adjacent ones.

Abstract: A raking device with a forward elongated rectangular or trapezoidal frame has coupling points that can be coupled to the three-point lift of a tractor. Two groups of rake wheels are pivoted to the frame and obliquely arranged in V formation, the point of the V being open and at the rear with respect to the direction of travel. The frame and beam members are normally positioned above the axles of rotation of the wheels so that windows will not be disturbed until engaged by the rake wheels and moved to the center of the device. Each group of rake wheels can be adjusted along the length of the elongated frame and a further rake wheel can be attached to the rear of either group of wheels. Each group of wheels preferably includes two pairs of rake wheels that are mounted on respective yokes journalled to a respective group beam that is pivoted to the frame and spring suspended. The device can be operated at high speeds and the rake wheels can match ground irregularities.

Abstract: The ground rolling machine for forming large round bales of a windrowed crop material has a rotatable material pickup device movably supported on a portable frame for movement relative to the rear end of the frame from a lower material pickup position to an elevated position wherein the formed bale can pass thereunder for discharge from the machine. A continuous flexible means movable in a generally upright path longitudinally of the machine is trained about the pickup device with a lower run extended between the pickup device and a bottom roller arranged forwardly of the pickup device at a position adjacent to the ground surface. As the portable frame is advanced along a windrow, the material gathered by the pickup device is rolled forwardly and engaged by the lower run of the belt means for compaction against the ground surface between the pickup device and the bottom roller.

Abstract: This invention relates to toys of the kind consisting of tablets which are preferably rectangular in shape and which are able to move under gravitational influence, being connected uninterruptedly together by tapes so as to be able to move in such a way that if the first tablet is taken hold of and the other tablets are allowed to hang free, then one face of the tablets is visible and if the first tablet is turned down in front of the next tablets below it, then all the tablets which are not held automatically turn over, whereupon the other face of the tablets is visible. According to the invention the tapes consist of segments of equal length having thickened end-pieces and each tablet is given cut-outs parallel to and spaced from the narrow sides of the tablet, which are adjacent adjoining tablets: the shape of the cut-outs allow them to receive and interengage with the end-pieces of the tapes.

Abstract: A tractor drawn and powered impeller mower-conditioner includes a transverse cutter bar comprising a series of pairs of side-by-side contra-rotating cutting disks. An impeller rotor with free swinging flails is mounted above and slightly to the rear of the cutter bar with its axis of rotation parallel to the cutter bar. A hood over the rotor includes a confining forward conditioning plate conforming fairly closely to the rotor periphery to form a conditioning zone and a rearwardly extending deflecting and windrow forming portion. The rotor is disposed and rotated so that the flails intercept cut material delivered rearwardly by the cutter bar and carry it, inside the hood, up and over the rotor through the conditioning zone to be discharged rearwardly into a windrow. The flow of cut material from each pair of disks tends to be concentrated into a rearwardly directed stream by the bite or convergence of the contra-rotating disks.

Abstract: A crack in a horse's hoof is repaired by forming holes through the hoof on opposite sides of the crack, threading an elongated strand or suture through the holes in the hoof and filling the crack with adhesive material which enters into the air spaces of the strand to thereby prevent the crack from enlarging.