Abstract: A snow removal apparatus for safely removing snow from irregular surfaces covered with debris such as small stones and gravel. The snow removal apparatus includes at least one roller for spacing a snow removal member of said apparatus a fixed distance above a highest point on a surface below the snow removal member. In a first aspect of the invention, a ground shield and a roller are mounted on a lower portion of a snowblower. In a second aspect of the invention, a ground shield and multiple rollers are mounted on a lower portion of a snowblower which is carried on a small tractor.

Abstract: A mechanic's bench vise which is easy to use and increases the maximum level of clamping force on a workpiece in a pair of jaws of the vise. Another benefit is that it allows a vise to be used performing operations such as installing bushings, die punching holes, and setting rivets. One feature of the invention is that it measures the amount of torque which is applied to the torque arm. The invention broadly comprises a vise having at least one long slender torque arm for opening and closing a pair of jaws of a vise and a ratchet for opening and closing a pair of jaws of the vise. In a first aspect of the invention, the torque arm is not intended to be removed from the vise during normal service. In a second aspect, the length of the torque arm is adjustable. In a third aspect, the torque is removable for shipping and storage and to allow the use of different style and length torque arms.

Abstract: A mobile telephone system for aiding impaired hearing persons and others in overcoming the undesirable effects on incoming calls of ambient noises, such as engine, wind, road and traffic noises. The telephone system comprises a signal conditioning module for reducing feedback and amplifying signals received from a telephone handset, a vehicle entertainment system for amplifying and broadcasting incoming telephone calls and a pair of releasable interfaces. One of the interfaces releasably couples the signal conditioning module to a receiver portion of the handset. The second interface releasably couples an output of the signal conditioning module to a tape player of the vehicle entertainment system. In a second aspect of the telephone system, the signal conditioning module is releasably coupled to the vehicle entertainment system by a low power transmitter which is in series with the output of the signal conditioning module and an RF stage of a radio of the vehicle entertainment system.

Abstract: A holder for use in a three-wire measurement of thread pitch diameter comprises a pair of holder elements for holding respective ones of the three wires. The holder elements are generally rectangular in shape and are relatively movable toward and away from each other in a straight line in the direction of the diameter across which the measurement is being taken. The holder elements support measuring wires in parallel planes diametrically on opposite sides of the thread. Each holder element is provided with a central aperture providing access to the wires at their points of contact with the thread so that a micrometer measurement across the three wires is obtained. The pitch diameter is calculated from the micrometer measurement and the diameter of the wires.