Abstract: A mold for maintaining alignment between mold halves despite a thermal differential between the mold halves. The lock comprises (1) a T-shaped member, consisting of an enlarged, rectangular head and a tongue extending therefrom, and (2) a receptacle with an outwardly opening U-shaped pocket to receive the tongue of the T-shaped member, when the mold halves are pressed together. A vertical conduit is formed in the head and tongue of the T-shaped member, and a horizontal channel, extending through the tongue, intersects the lower end of the conduit. At lest one groove is defined in each side wall of the conduit. A grease fitting is located in a blind hole in the head of the T-shaped member, so that lubricant flows through the vertical conduit, into the horizontal channel, and into the grooves in the opposite side walls of the tongue. The grooves are usually formed in pairs, and are configured in an intersecting X configuration.

Abstract: An animal feeder, including a sturdy, molded plastic base, and a horizontally extending deck for receiving two or more water and food bowls, and legs or sidewalls secured to the deck for retaining same in an elevated position. Recesses are defined in the deck to receive the bowls. Wells are formed in the interior of the base, and communicate with the recesses. In the preferred embodiment, the wells store limited quantities of dry food, or treats, below each recess so that the food may be accessed by removing the bowl. In an alternative embodiment, the wells are formed with ledges or lips that engage the covers of food containers for “wet” food. Access to the wells, or to the interior of the base of a two component dog feeder, may be gained by removing the cover.

Abstract: An animal feeder assembly including a top and a base. The top comprising an upper surface with a depending sidewall, while the base comprises a bottom wall with an upstanding sidewall. Ribs are spaced about the interior surface of the depending sidewall of the top, and depressions are formed in the outer surface of the sidewall of the base. The top is slightly larger than the base, and fits thereover. The top can be rotated 180.degree. relative to the base, between two operative positions. In one operative position, the ribs pass through the grooves so that the top telescopes over the base to provide a Lowered feed assembly; in the other operative position, the top is extended, relative to the base, to form an elevated feed assembly. A large storage area is formed in the interior of the feeder assembly.

Abstract: Several embodiments of drip emitters are disclosed. These embodiments comprise (1) a molded plastic, body with an upwardly opening housing, and (2) a molded plastic plug including an enlarged head, a depending shank, and a helical thread defined about the perimeter of the shank. The body is executed in a relatively soft plastic, while the plug is executed in a harder plastic. The shank of the plug is press-fitted into the housing, and the threads on the shank of the plug cut into the softer plastic of the housing. By advancing or retracting the plug, the length of the helical flow path is altered and the rate of discharge of droplets from the emitter is changed to account for changes in line pressure, accumulation of debris in the emitter, and other operational parameters.

Abstract: A tote box with a separate security cover, both components being executed in plastic. The tote box is an upwardly opening rectangular receptacle. The security cover is symmetrical and has locking tabs on opposite ends thereof so that the cover can be snapped into locking engagement with slots defined in the receptacle. The security cover can also be flipped over, or reversed, and positioned atop the receptacle to increase its capacity. Tote boxes can be stacked upon one another with the security cover either locked or seated thereon, and the tote boxes can be nested one within another when the covers are removed.

Abstract: An integrally formed fastener molded of plastic material. Such fastener comprises an enlarged head, a shank, shoulders defined near the upper end of the shank, a pair of flexible wings joined to the lower end of the shank, and a pair of stops defined on the shank to limit the movement of the wings toward the shank. The wings flex inwardly until they contact the stops, and then the wings roll inwardly about the stops as the fastener is pushed through aligned apertures in security boxes, panels, etc. While the plastic material, such as polypropylene, possesses sufficient resiliency to be rolled inwardly, the wings will break and/or the shank may fail when the fastener is forcibly withdrawn from its seated position, thus providing a positive indication of an attempted breach of security.