Abstract: A variable stroke crankshaft assembly includes a drive shaft surrounded by a sleeve. A crankshaft is disposed inside the drive shaft with the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft offset from the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. A gear projecting outwardly from the crankshaft through a window in a drive shaft engages angled gear teeth on the inner surface of the sleeve allowing sliding movement of the sleeve relative to the drive shaft to rotate the crankshaft. A crankpin is attached to the crankshaft but offset from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. Rotational movement of the crankshaft with respect to the drive shaft thus pivots the crankpin with respect to the rotational axis of the drive shaft creating a crank stroke that may be varied by sliding the sleeve back and forth.

Abstract: A boat loader and unloader has a vertical post which is mounted on the rear of a vehicle. A carriage is slidably and pivotally mounted on the top of the post by rollers. A reel assembly having a crank-operated, cable take-up tube is removably mounted transversely across the midportion of a boat. A cable is attached to and extends between the reel tube and carriage which is clamped to the boat transom. Acutation of the crank-operated reel tube winds the cable about the tube raising the boat from the ground to a position where the boat and carriage then can be pushed forwardly on the rollers to move the boat and carriage to a forward storage position on top of the vehicle. A reverse operation enables an individual to manually unload the boat from on top of the vehicle. An improved conrol mechanism is mounted on the reel and includes a plurality of spring-biased camming rollers which are engaged between ramp surfaces formed on a band brake and a stub shaft attached to the take-up reel.

Abstract: A paint guide includes a frame having a shield which terminates in a straight paint sealing edge that is spaced a predetermined distance from a window frame to provide a strip of weatherproofing paint on the window glass adjacent the frame when painting the frame. The shield is movably mounted by a pair of L-shaped brackets on a pair of supporting arms by cams. The cams are slidably mounted within slots formed in the arms to control the movement of the sealing edge. A compression coil spring extends between each of the brackets and associated arm and biases the bracket and shield upwardly from the window glass to move the sealing edge out of engagement with the glass. When downward pressure is applied to the frame, the paint sealing edge is moved vertically into engagement with the glass at a predetermined spaced distance outwardly from the window frame due to the sliding action of the cams within the arm slots. Continued pressure on the shield seals the paint edge tightly against the glass.

Abstract: A paint guide has an inverted U-shaped frame with a flexible paint shield terminating in a straight edge which is adapted to be spaced a predetermined distance from a window frame to provide for a strip of weatherproofing paint on the glass adjacent the frame. An L-shaped bracket is adjustably mounted on each of the ends of the frame and is pivotally slidably mounted on an elongated supporting arm by a link and slidable pivot pin arrangement. A coil leaf spring extends between the bracket and arm and biases the bracket away from the arm to move the paint shield edge out of engagement with the glass. A tab is provided on each of the arms and is located rearwardly of and beneath the fronts of the arms to support the paint guide on a pane of glass when the arm fronts are placed in abutting engagement with the frame.

Abstract: A boat loader and unloader having a vertical column post adapted to be mounted on a usual trailer hitch at the rear of a vehicle. A horizontal bar is mounted on the top of the column post and has a pair of spaced roller assemblies mounted thereon. An elongated carriage formed by a pair of spaced parallel rail members is slidably and pivotally mounted on the horizontal bar by the roller assemblies. A reel assembly having a crank operated bar is adapted to be mounted transversely across and secured to the midportion of a boat. A take-up cable is attached to and extends between the reel bar and one end of the carriage. The other end of the carriage is adapted to be clamped to a boat transom when the boat is in a horizontal position on the ground with the carriage extending vertically downwardly from the top of the column post. Actuation of the crank operated bar winds the cable about the bar pivoting the boat about the clamped end of the carriage from a horizontal to a vertical upstanding position.