Abstract: A method of forming an oral care implement. The method may include providing a body having a base and a bridge extending from a distal end of the base, the bridge terminating in a free end, mounting a plurality of tooth cleaning elements to the bridge, bending the bridge toward a proximal end of the base, and coupling the free end of the bridge to a proximal end of the base, thereby forming a head of an oral care implement.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral care implement. The method may include providing a body having a base and a bridge extending from a distal end of the base, the bridge terminating in a free end, mounting a plurality of tooth cleaning elements to the bridge, bending the bridge toward a proximal end of the base, and coupling the free end of the bridge to a proximal end of the base, thereby forming a head of an oral care implement.

Abstract: An oral care implement having movable and fixed tooth cleaning elements. The oral care implement may include a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head may include a base that is coupled to the handle and a resilient bridge coupled to the base. The resilient bridge may be flexible between a normal state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is spaced from the base by a gap and a flexed state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is moved toward the base. Tooth cleaning elements may be coupled to the resilient bridge. Furthermore, the resilient bridge may include one or more apertures through which tooth cleaning elements that are fixed to the base may extend.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle, a head, and at least one movable cleaning element coupled to the head. The movable cleaning element may be used as an interdental cleaner. The movable cleaning element may be positioned within a loop formed by fixed cleaning elements on the head. The movable cleaning element may be coupled to an actuator that moves the movable cleaning element between a first position wherein a distal tip of the movable cleaning element is spaced a first distance from a front surface of the head and a second position wherein the distal tip of the movable cleaning element is spaced a second distance from the front surface of the head, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The movable cleaning element may maintain the first and second positions until subsequent actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: An oral care implement in one embodiment includes an elongated body comprising a head portion supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a handle portion. The tooth cleaning elements are disposed on longitudinally extending bristle carrier sections hingedly coupled together about a common pivot axis. The axis may be formed by a flexible web. A slidable actuator mounted in the handle portion is mechanically coupled to the bristle carrier assembly by an elongated operating rod. Moving the actuator in opposing rearward and forward directions opens or folds the bristles on the carriers outwards or inwards respectively about the common pivot axis. In the folded position, the bristles are configured for interdental cleaning of the teeth. In the open or extended position, the bristles are configured for general purpose cleaning of the teeth.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle, a head, and at least one movable cleaning element coupled to the head. The movable cleaning element may be used as an interdental cleaner. The movable cleaning element may be positioned within a loop formed by fixed cleaning elements on the head. The movable cleaning element may be coupled to an actuator that moves the movable cleaning element between a first position wherein a distal tip of the movable cleaning element is spaced a first distance from a front surface of the head and a second position wherein the distal tip of the movable cleaning element is spaced a second distance from the front surface of the head, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The movable cleaning element may maintain the first and second positions until subsequent actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: An oral care implement having movable and fixed tooth cleaning elements. The oral care implement may include a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head may include a base that is coupled to the handle and a resilient bridge coupled to the base. The resilient bridge may be flexible between a normal state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is spaced from the base by a gap and a flexed state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is moved toward the base. Tooth cleaning elements may be coupled to the resilient bridge. Furthermore, the resilient bridge may include one or more apertures through which tooth cleaning elements that are fixed to the base may extend.

Abstract: An oral care implement in one embodiment includes an elongated body comprising a head portion supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a handle portion. The tooth cleaning elements are disposed on longitudinally extending bristle carrier sections hingedly coupled together about a common pivot axis. The axis may be formed by a flexible web. A slidable actuator mounted in the handle portion is mechanically coupled to the bristle carrier assembly by an elongated operating rod. Moving the actuator in opposing rearward and forward directions opens or folds the bristles on the carriers outwards or inwards respectively about the common pivot axis. In the folded position, the bristles are configured for interdental cleaning of the teeth. In the open or extended position, the bristles are configured for general purpose cleaning of the teeth.

Abstract: A retractable leash having an internal spooling mechanism, active damping/braking mechanism and sensor activated ultrasonic whistle. The spooling mechanism is contained in a handle and oscillates linearly up and down when the leash member is unwound. A finger separator is contained in the handle, the finger separator having an internal channel with openings to permit the leash member to be unwound therethrough.

Abstract: A retractable leash having an internal spooling mechanism, active damping/braking mechanism and sensor activated ultrasonic whistle. The spooling mechanism is contained in a handle and oscillates linearly up and down when the leash member is unwound. A finger separator is contained in the handle, the finger separator having an internal channel with openings to permit the leash member to be unwound therethrough.

Abstract: A retractable leash having an internal spooling mechanism, active damping/braking mechanism and sensor activated ultrasonic whistle.

Abstract: An integrated fan shroud air intake system for a tractor provides an air passage through a fan shroud positioned between the radiator and internal combustion engine. The air passage has an intake and an outlet laterally displaced from the intake. An air filter is mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tractor, with a dirty air inlet plugged directly into the outlet of the air passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to small vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors and more specifically to an oil filter cartridge or assembly usable with the transmissions of such vehicles. The cartridge is comprised of a filtering element, a strainer element and a by-pass valve. The by-pass valve is housed within the strainer element and is adapted to direct oil flow through the strainer element, but not the filter element when the oil viscosity is high and only through the filter element when the oil viscosity is low. In this way, the parasitic horsepower loss caused by routing oil through the strainer element at all times is eliminated. The cartridge is also housed within the transmission case to reduce mounting bracketry outside the transmission case and minimize the likelihood of insufficient oil supply available for the filter, pump and hydraulic system functions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to small vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors and more specifically to an oil filter assembly used with the transmissions of such vehicles. The filter assembly is housed within the transmission case to reduce mounting brackets outside the case and minimize the likelihood of insufficient oil supply to the filter, pump and hydraulic system functions. The replaceable oil filter assembly is comprised of a filtering element, a strainer element and a by-pass valve. The by-pass valve is housed within the strainer element and is adapted to direct oil flow through the strainer element, but not the filter element when the oil viscosity is high and only through the filter element when the oil viscosity is low. In this way, the parasitic horsepower loss caused by routing oil through the strainer element at all times is eliminated.

Abstract: A simple twist and lock or unlock structure is provided for use with high pressure hydraulic lines used on small vehicles such as Lawn and Garden tractors. The locking structure utilizes the combination of a tab and slotted member secured to adjacent end portions of the hydraulic lines to releasably secure them together. No tools are required to rotatably manipulate the locking structure into its locked or unlocked position. With this structure, no clamping hardware is needed to secure the lines together nor are any anchoring brackets required to mount the lines to the vehicle or its components. Accordingly, leaks caused by engine vibrations or vehicle encounters with small obstacles are minimized.

Abstract: A spring loaded snubber brake is provided for a Power Take Off (PTO) shaft of a tractor. The brake is carried by the PTO shaft and utilizes the centrifugal force created by the spinning shaft to become disengaged as the shaft rotates and become engaged as the shaft is declutched. Since the brake does not apply any frictional force on the shaft as it rotates, there is no parasitic loss of PTO output horsepower. As the shaft is declutched and comes to rest, the brake springs urge it into engagement with the shaft to prevent inadvertent rotation of the shaft due to residual forces produced by hydraulic fluid forces operating on the PTO drive components.

Abstract: A simple twist and lock or unlock structure is provided for use with high pressure hydraulic lines used on small vehicles such as Lawn and Garden tractors. The locking structure utilizes the combination of a tab and slotted member secured to adjacent end portions of the hydraulic lines to releasably secure them together. No tools are required to rotatably manipulate the locking structure into its locked or unlocked position. With this structure, no clamping hardware is needed to secure the lines together nor are any anchoring brackets required to mount the lines to the vehicle or its components. Accordingly, leaks caused by engine vibrations or vehicle encounters with small obstacles are minimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to small vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors and more specifically to an oil filter assembly used with the transmissions of such vehicles. The filter assembly is housed within the transmission case to reduce mounting bracketry outside the case and minimize the likelihood of insufficient oil supply to the filter, pump and hydraulic system functions. The replaceable oil filter assembly is comprised of a filtering element, a strainer element and a by-pass valve. The by-pass valve is housed within the strainer element and is adapted to direct oil flow through the strainer element, but not the filter element when the oil viscosity is high and only through the filter element when the oil viscosity is low. In this way, the parasitic horsepower loss caused by routing oil through the strainer element at all times is eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to small vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors and more specifically to an oil filter cartridge or assembly usable with the transmissions of such vehicles. The cartridge is comprised of a filtering element, a strainer element and a by-pass valve. The by-pass valve is housed within the strainer element and is adapted to direct oil flow through the strainer element, but not the filter element when the oil viscosity is high and only through the filter element when the oil viscosity is low. In this way, the parasitic horsepower loss caused by routing oil through the strainer element at all times is eliminated. The cartridge is also housed within the transmission case to reduce mounting bracketry outside the transmission case and minimize the likelihood of insufficient oil supply available for the filter, pump and hydraulic system functions.

Abstract: A spring loaded snubber brake is provided for a Power Take Off (PTO) shaft of a tractor. The brake is carried by the PTO shaft and utilizes the centrifugal force created by the spinning shaft to become disengaged as the shaft rotates and become engaged as the shaft is declutched. Since the brake does not apply any frictional force on the shaft as it rotates, there is no parasitic loss of PTO output horsepower. As the shaft is declutched and comes to rest, the brake springs urge it into engagement with the shaft to prevent inadvertent rotation of the shaft due to residual forces produced by hydraulic fluid forces operating on the PTO drive components.