Abstract: A powered, directionally steerable trailer jack that can be used to elevate and lower a trailer tongue and having a caster wheel assembly affixed to a lower end of the jack. The caster wheel assembly includes a shroud having the wheels' axle journaled for rotation at a lower end thereof along with a pair of shafts also journaled for rotation in the shroud and oriented parallel to the axle. A chain and sprocket arrangement provides a low-speed, high torque transmission between one of the shafts and the axle and a high-speed, low torque transmission between the other of the shafts and the axle. The trailer jack assembly can be tilted out of its vertical disposition to provide adequate clearance when the trailer is being pulled over uneven road surfaces. The power for driving the wheels may be provided manually by means of a crank for turning one or the other of the shafts or by an electric motor coupled one of the shafts.

Abstract: A powered, directionally steerable trailer jack that can be used to elevate and lower a trailer tongue and having a caster wheel assembly affixed to a lower end of the jack. The caster wheel assembly includes a shroud having the wheels' axle journaled for rotation at a lower end thereof along with a pair of shafts also journaled for rotation in the shroud and oriented parallel to the axle. A chain and sprocket arrangement provides a low-speed, high torque transmission between one of the shafts and the axle and a high-speed, low torque transmission between the other of the shafts and the axle. The trailer jack assembly can be tilted out of its vertical disposition to provide adequate clearance when the trailer is being pulled over uneven road surfaces. The power for driving the wheels may be provided manually by means of a crank for turning one or the other of the shafts or by an electric motor coupled one of the shafts.

Abstract: A security brace for impeding forced entry into a room through an entry door. The brace comprises a plurality of elongated pole members with foot members secured at a first end of the pole member, and a block member operatively coupled to a second end of the pole members. The block member has a top planar surface with a yoke projecting upward from the top planar surface. The yoke is adapted to receive the shaft of a door knob lock set. When an uninvited intruder applies force to open the entry door, the force vector is directed down the pole members and holds the foot members against the floor, thus impeding the door from swinging open.

Abstract: A lock device for securing a building entry door that can be readily carried in a purse or pocket comprises a three-part assembly of a rigid, generally rectangular strap member of a predetermined length and width dimension and that has a cylindrical stud affixed to and projecting normally from a first major surface of the strap member proximate one end thereof, the strap member also including a pattern of apertures each at a differing distance from the first end of the strap. The second piece comprises a flat rigid plate that is sized to span a gap between a surface of the entry door and a surface of the adjacent door jam with the door closed and formed through the thickness dimension of the plate is a slot through which the strap member can slide.

Abstract: A lock for selectively allowing and preventing relative longitudinal displacement of an outer and inner telescoping tube segments. It comprises a tubular cam adapted to plug into and rotate with one end of the inner tube segment. It has associated with it a pair of arcuate cam followers, each with an outer and an inner cylindrical surface where the outer cylindrical surface can be forced by the action of the tubular cam to frictionally engage the inner surface of the outer telescoping tube segment upon rotation of the inner telescoping tube segment.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle guard comprises a one-piece, molded plastic, box-like enclosure having one open end and an opposite end wall with a slot. The seat belt buckle fits through the open end into the enclosure with its latch plate receiving slot aligned with the slot in the housing. The latch plate on one belt half can be inserted through the housing slot to make with the buckle. Formed in the top wall and the end wall is an opening for gaining access to the buckle release button. In one arrangement, the opening is a narrow slot through which a flat object, such as a key, can be inserted to operate the buckle's release button. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the opening is a circular aperture of a size permitting one's finger to be inserted to operate the release button. The opening is surrounded by a tubular stub or neck threaded on its exterior to receive a child-resistant safety cap of the type commonly used on medicine bottles.

Abstract: An apparatus for resealing a standard aluminum beverage can, once its lid had been punctured, consists of a cover having a threaded pour spout projecting from one surface thereof and a flared skirt surrounding the periphery of the cover along with a collar which is adapted to cooperate with the flared skirt portion of the cover to compress same against the exterior side wall of the beverage container. The collar serves as a clamping ring for maintaining a gas-tight seal between the can and the cover. A threaded cap is provided which can be screwed onto the threaded pour spout to complete the seal.

Abstract: A security bar for preventing uninvited opening of a building door comprising an elongated tubular pole which may be formed from telescoping segments and which has a footpad secured to the lower end thereof and a specially designed head member affixed to the opposite end, the head member having an angled face such that when the plane of that face abuts the planar surface of a door, the pole will be at a predetermined angle to the horizontal. The head also includes an arcuate recess formed inwardly from its top surface for cooperating with a door knob of the lockset used with the door. When the head member straddles the door knob with the angled face thereof resting against the door surface, the pole extends at an angle to the floor acting as a brace to prevent the door from being opened against the device.

Abstract: A lock for selectively allowing and preventing longitudinal displacement of an outer and inner telescoping tube segments comprises a plug member fastened to one end of the inner tube segment which includes a S-shaped cam projecting outwardly for cooperating with a pair of cam followers that are shaped so that when the inner tube segment is rotated in a first direction relative to the outer one, the two cam followers are drawn out of contact with the inside surface of the outer tube segment. When the inner tube is rotated in the opposite direction, the cam forces the cam followers radially outward so as to abut with substantial friction the inner surface of the outer tube segment.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for fixing the first and second telescopingly disposed tubular poles longitudinally relative to one another includes a longitudinally extending channel of rectangular cross-section projecting radially from the outermost tube and running the length thereof and an elongated rack having a plurality of spaced, parallel teeth projecting radially outward from the inner tubular member and fitted into the channel of the outer tubular member. Affixed to one end of the outer tubular member is a sleeve on which is rotatably mounted a locking ring having a notch extending along the width dimension thereof and a plurality of parallel, arcuate spaced-apart teeth circumferentially adjacent the notch. When the rack on the inner tubular member is aligned with the notch in the ring, the outer and inner tubular poles can slide relative to one another.

Abstract: Stabilizer apparatus for attachment to an extension ladder for inhibiting sideways tipping and downward/rearward slipping thereof. Attached to the opposed side rails of the ladder proximate the upper end of the lowermost section are hinge blocks for pivotally joining a pair of tubular, telescoping, extensible legs to the ladder. The hinge brackets are specially designed to permit the tubular legs to be swung parallel to and directly adjacent with the ladder's side rails when the ladder is to be stowed and which the legs to be rotated laterally outward and forward of the base of the ladder during use. An articulated brace extends between the pair of legs and their associated ladder side rails to limit the extent to which the legs may be splayed relative to the ladder.