Abstract: A rotomolded plastic wall and ladder structure (10, 50, or 58)), which may be an article such as a window well (10) or a manhole (50 or 58), includes a thermoplastic wall (12), a ladder (16) whose rungs (18) each include an elongated metallic core (20) and a thermoplastic sleeve (22). Mold apparatus (70) includes a thermoplastic rotomold (72), an elongated hollow metallic core (20) having a heating passage (74) therein, and means for flowing hot air through the heating passage (74). The method includes disposing the hollow metallic core in a mold, placing a quantity of a thermoplastic inside a mold, heating the mold, rotating the heated mold, flowing heated air through the hollow metallic core, and bonding a layer of the thermoplastic onto the hollow metallic core.

Abstract: A rotomolded plastic wall and ladder structure (10, 50, or 58)), which may be an article such as a window well (10) or a manhole (50 or 58), includes a thermoplastic wall (12), a ladder (16) whose rungs (18) each include an elongated metallic core (20) and a thermoplastic sleeve (22). Mold apparatus (70) includes an exterior-contour mold (72), an elongated metallic core (20) having a heating passage (74) therein, and means for flowing hot air through the heating passage (74). The method includes disposing a hollow metallic core in a mold, placing a quantity of a thermoplastic inside a mold, heating the mold, rotating the heated mold, flowing heated air through the hollow metallic core, and bonding a layer of the thermoplastic onto the hollow metallic core.

Abstract: A building ornament, building ventilator, roof ventilator, or cupola (10 or 50), includes a top portion (12 or 52), a base portion (14 or 54), one portion (12, 14, 52, or 54) preferably is translucent. Optionally, the cupola (10 or 50) includes an illumination unit (82), elongated ventilation slots (32, 74), a plastic screen (76), to exclude bugs, that preferably is welded into one of the portions (52 or 54), and multiple V-shaped flanges (92A, 92B, or 92C) of different pitches that provide means for attachment to double-pitched roofs (42) having different pitches (40A, 40B, or 40C).

Abstract: A vehicle and luggage box assembly (40) includes a vehicle (42) and a luggage box (44). The luggage box (44) includes an open-ended chamber (61) with a flange (62) that extends perimetrically around an open end (49). A perimetrical chamber (66) is molded inside the flange (62). A perimetrical groove (68) is cut through the flange (62) and into the perimetrical chamber (66), thereby forming a perimetrical T-slot (70). A resilient gasket (72) is inserted perimetrically into the perimetrical T-slot (70), and a door (48) of the vehicle (42) closes against the resilient gasket (72). The molding process forms two separate chambers (66 and 94) in a single mold (100) by constructing a throat opening (122) with a dimension (120) that results in bridging across the throat opening (122), and that thereby results in the perimetrical chamber (66) being isolated from the closed chamber (94). Subsequently, removal of a web (92) transforms the closed chamber (94) into the open-ended chamber (61).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for use in enticing baby pigs (42) to rest and sleep at a safe distance from a sow (38) includes an elongated partition (12) with first and second elongated cuddle surfaces (16) that are disposed on opposite sides of the partition (12), first and second pig blankets (18) with first and second comfort surfaces (44). A base mat (20) that extends under the partition (12) and both pig mats (18), cooperates with cuddle walls (14) of the partition (12) to enclose a space (26) that extends below both pig mats (18) and their comfort surfaces (44), and between the cuddle walls (14) and their cuddle surfaces (16). One or more radiant panel heaters (46 or 52) having constant watt density per square meter are disposed in the enclosed space (26), being kept in a generally planar shape, or being curved to generally conform to the combined shape of the comfort (44) and cuddle (16) surfaces.

Abstract: A pig feeding mat (10) is provided for use over a grated floor (12). The pig feeding mat (10) includes a rectangular surface (14) having first and second ends (16 and 18) and a perimeter (20). A rim (22) around the perimeter (20) restrains movement of solid material transversely over the perimeter (20). A plurality of spaced-apart gaps (24) in the rim (22) allow liquid to drain from the pig feeding mat (10). Paired lugs (26and 28, or 32 and 34) disposed at respective ends (16 and 18) of the mat (10) are used to position the mat (10) under a partition (50 or 52) of a feeding stall (44) by invertedly straddling the mat (10). The mat (10) can be cut along a joggled groove (40) to separate the rectangular surface (14) into first and second surface portions (36 and 38), to be used in separate feeding areas (64 and 66).

Abstract: A dispensing device (10) for dispensing food or water for animals or fowl includes a dispensing unit (12) having a reservoir (18) and a neck (20), and a base unit (14) having a pan (24) and a neck-receiving collar (30). When liquid is dispensed, the outlet (38) of the dispensing unit (12) is abutted against the inside bottom surface (26) of the pan (24), and a first effective opening (42) is provided between the outlet (38) and the inside bottom surface (26) of the pan (24) because the outlet (38) is disposed at an angle (40) to the inside bottom surface (26). When the dispensing device (10) is used for dry feed, the outlet (38) of the dispensing unit (12) is positioned with a second, and larger, effective opening (48) between the outlet (38) and the inside bottom surface (26) of the pan (24).

Abstract: A feeder (10) for dispensing feed to livestock includes a hopper (14), a discharge opening (28) in a lower portion (18) of the hopper (14), a vertical shaft (32) in the hopper (14) that extends downward through the discharge opening (28), an animal-actuated actuator arm (66) that extends radially outward from the shaft (32) below the discharge opening (28), and a flexible agitator (70) that is disposed in the hopper (14) that has a tip (88) at a first radial distance (74), and that elastically bends to reduce the first radial distance (74) to smaller (96, 106, and 110) radial distances in response to various resistances of packed feed, thereby reducing the torque that is required to agitate packed feed.

Abstract: A novel feeding system and feeder unit for supplying feed to hogs and like animals is disclosed. The feeding system includes a plurality of the novel feeders, and a feed conveyor adapted to deliver feed to each feeder. Each feeder comprises an immobile pan, and superstructure affixed over and to the pan. A threaded shaft is journaled so as to extend upwardly from the pan. A rotor gate is journaled over the pan and is threaded on the shaft means. Under normal conditions, the rotor gate simply turns within the pan and agitates the feed being consumed by the hogs. However, when a latch is depressed, the threaded shaft is immobilized, and rotation of the rotor gate about the immobilized shaft acts to raise and lower the rotor gate relative to the pan. This relative motion adjusts the size of at least one feed-delivery gate space defined between the rotor gate and the pan.