Abstract: A utility hitch provides a shaft defining a longitudinal axis. A socket is affixed to the shaft and at least partially receives a ball. A slide lock coupled with the shaft is translatable parallel with the shaft longitudinal axis. A tongue protrudes from the slide lock. The tongue secures the ball into the socket by engaging the ball at a bottom surface, and alternatively releases the tongue from the ball bottom surface to enable the ball to release from the socket. Retracting pins protrude from the shaft to retain the slide lock and tongue in a first position immediately adjacent to the ball, and are operative to retract inside the shaft and slide lock when the slide lock is translated to a second position distal to the ball, to permit the slide lock to translate or reciprocate relative to the shaft. Wings may be provided to facilitate actuation of the retracting pins.

Abstract: A hand-propelled or vehicle-towed convertible deer cart incorporates side walls that are locked vertically when collapsed to a first geometry of very small size for storage and transport, and also when readily reconfigured for use as a larger transport cart or trailer. When further reconfigured for use as a hunting stand, the side walls are pivoted from vertical to horizontal and form a part of a larger platform in combination with the cart bed. A pair of ladders may be stored within the cart bed when configured as a transport cart. The ladders are pivoted about their longitudinal axis to convert to the larger transport cart, and then extended to full-length ladders in the hunting stand geometry.

Abstract: A hand-propelled or vehicle-towed convertible deer cart incorporates side walls that are locked vertically when collapsed to a first geometry of very small size for storage and transport, and also when readily reconfigured for use as a larger transport cart or trailer. When further reconfigured for use as a hunting stand, the side walls are pivoted from vertical to horizontal and form a part of a larger platform in combination with the cart bed. A pair of ladders may be stored within the cart bed when configured as a transport cart. The ladders are pivoted about their longitudinal axis to convert to the larger transport cart, and then extended to full-length ladders in the hunting stand geometry.

Abstract: A low profile linear movement lock-up system that uses a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism to open and close a sliding jaw to selectively tighten and loosen a print carrier sheet on a print roll. The rack-and-pinion gear mechanism includes a sliding cam with diagonal cam slots and locking clip with pins that slide within the cam slots to open and close the jaw. The rack-and-pinion lock-up device may be configured for installation on a print roll, either in a new machine or in a retrofit application. The rack-and-pinion lock-up device may also be deployed within a print roll, or as a printing machine including a print roll with a rack-and-pinion lock-up device. An existing printing machine may be retrofitted by replacing its existing lock-up system with the rack-and-pinion lock-up system.

Abstract: A edge clip for attachment to a print carrier sheet. The edge clip includes a clip portion, typically having a J-bar shape, that is configured for removable interface with a lock-up device carried by a print roll, and a crimp fitting attached to the clip portion and configured to be crimped shut to secure a print carrier sheet to the edge clip. The edge clip is typically uniform in cross-section, elongated in a longitudinal direction, and formed from a continuous extrusion. A print carrier sheet may be constructed by attaching one or more of these edge clip the longitudinal edges of a backing. The print carrier sheet may then be attached to a print roll using a suitable a lock-up device to interface the crimp-on edge clips.

Abstract: A low profile linear movement lock-up system that uses a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism to open and close a sliding jaw to selectively tighten and loosen a print carrier sheet on a print roll. The rack-and-pinion gear mechanism includes a sliding cam with diagonal cam slots and locking clip with pins that slide within the cam slots to open and close the jaw. The rack-and-pinion lock-up device may be configured for installation on a print roll, either in a new machine or in a retrofit application. The rack-and-pinion lock-up device may also be deployed within a print roll, or as a printing machine including a print roll with a rack-and-pinion lock-up device. An existing printing machine may be retrofitted by replacing its existing lock-up system with the rack-and-pinion lock-up system.