Abstract: A hanger assembly for hangingly supporting a potted plant that includes a supporting collar and a plurality of flexible support members. The supporting collar includes at least one aperture extending therethrough to receive one or more potted plants. The flexible support members are connected to at least one supporting collar so that the supporting collar may be slidably adjusted along the length of the flexible support member.

Abstract: It is an object of the current invention to provide a trim cylinder that is cost effective; it is further an object of the invention to provide a cylinder that has few parts, less than one-third the number of parts of present art; it is further an object of the invention to provide a unique and simple check valve for operation as a shock absorber and further to provide passages integral of the extruded or molded body allowing plumbing to be attached at one end only of the cylinder; also to eliminate the plastic shroud which normally covers unsightly plumbing.

Abstract: An outdrive system for watercraft includes use of plastic or other relatively flexible material, e.g., compared to metal, especially as a housing material, and techniques which enable and/or at least facilitate use of such housing material. One of those techniques employs a flexible member, such as a belt, to couple power between the input and output of an outdrive and another employs a cooling system to remove heat. The invention also relates to use in a vehicle drive, especially for watercraft, of housing materials that are not subject to corrosion, galvanic action and the like.

Abstract: An electrical component (21) for mechanical mounting and electrical connection with respect to plated through holes (34) of a printed circuit board (20) compatibly with a surface mount attaching process includes an electrically non-conducting body (30), plural generally elongate contacts (31) extending from the body for insertion into such plated through holes (34), and the component (21) having a strip of solder type material (33) for melting, for flow into respective plated through holes, and for re-solidifying mechanically and electrically to couple the component to such printed circuit board. The strip preferably encircles the contacts and has reduced cross section portions between adjacent contacts. Preferably the component is a connector, such as a header, and the contact pins or leads thereof provide an interface connection between the printed circuit board and a separate or portable connector.

Abstract: A test clip for a plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) includes a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting with respective leads of the PLCC, an electrically non-conductive body for supporting such contacts in spaced-apart positions, and a retaining mechanism for holding the test clip in operative position with respect to the PLCC. The retaining mechanism includes plural latching arms at respective corners of the test clip and a slide actuator therefor. The slide actuator also is operative to deflect the contacts from a normally open position to a closed position engaging respective leads of the PLCC.

Abstract: A test clip for a plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) includes a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting with respective leads of the PLCC, an electrically non-conductive body for supporting such contacts in spaced-apart positions, and a retaining mechanism for holding the test clip in operative position with respect to the PLCC. The retaining mechanism includes plural latching arms at respective corners of the test clip and a slide actuator therefor. The slide actuator also is operative to deflect the contacts from a normally open position to a closed position engaging respective leads of the PLCC.

Abstract: An electrical component for mechanical mouting and electrical connection with respect to plated through holes of a printed circuit board compatibly with a surface mount attaching process includes an electrically non-conducting body, plural generally elongate contacts extending from the body for insertion into such plated through holes, and the component having a reservoir for retaining solder type material for melting, for flow into respective plated through holes, and for re-solidifying to mechanically and electrically couple the component to such printed circuit board. Preferably the component is a connector, such as a header, and the contact pins or leads thereof provide an interface connection between the printed circuit board and a separate or portable connector.

Abstract: An electrical component for mechanical mounting and electrical connection with respect to plated through holes of a printed circuit board compatibly with a surface mount attaching process includes an electrically non-conducting body, plural generally elongate contacts extending from the body for insertion into such plated through holes, and the component having a reservoir for retaining solder type material for melting, for flow into respective plated through holes, and for re-solidifying mechanically and electrically to couple the component to such printed circuit board. Preferably the component is a connector, such as a header, and the contact pins or leads thereof provide interface connection between the printed circuit board and a separate or portable connector.A method for attaching such an electrical component to a printed circuit board compatibly with surface mount attaching processes and an apparatus to carry out such method also are part of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a fishing rod, includes receptacle and cover members pivotably connected to each other and movable about a pivot axis between open and closed positions, the two members when in an open relation being adapted to receive a portion of a fishing rod therebetween, and the two members when in a closed relation cooperating to define a housing circumscribing at least part of the contained portion of a fishing rod while supporting the fishing rod in a rest position with the axis thereof generally parallel to such pivot axis, and the two members being cooperative to engage with a part of the fishing rod to resist pivoting movement toward an open position in response to forces in the fishing rod tending to tilt the same on an angle with respect to such pivot axis, and an opening device or portion responsive to force applied by such fishing rod to the cover member in a direction generally perpendicular to such pivot axis to open the members to permit removing such fishing rod.

Abstract: A load supporting apparatus includes a base, and a platform adapted to support the load is pivotally supported on the base for movement between first and second positions, the platform becoming increasingly tilted as it moves from the first to the second position. A drive mechanism cooperable with the platform is provided for effecting pivotal movement thereof, and a control mechanism cooperable with the drive mechanism is provided for automatically actuating the drive mechanism to effect movement of the platform toward the second position in response to a shift in the distribution of the load thereon, thereby further tilting the platform and effecting a redistribution of the load. The control means is also responsive to the redistribution of the load caused by tilting of the platform for automatically deactuating the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A closed loop feed trough having a feed chain moveable lengthwise therein to distribute feed from a hopper associated with the trough provided with an impeller which rotates in response to movement of the chain to assist in returning uneaten feed to the hopper. The impeller is mounted in the hopper adjacent its inlet and is fabricated in two halves which are fastened to opposite sides of a drive sprocket which engages the feed chain. Each half of the impeller has a hub and a series of vanes extending outwardly and rearwardly at spaced intervals from the hub to provide a series of buckets between the vanes. A baffle overlies the impeller to shield the buckets from feed in the hopper as they rotate downwardly toward the inlet while affording unloading of feed from between the vanes as they rotate upwardly away from the feed chain.