Abstract: A nail-pulling tool has a two-piece proximal handle pivotally joined with a two-piece distal jaw by a pivoting means. The distal jaw is operated like a standard hand tool with compression of the handle causing the jaw to close, and vice-versa. The distal jaw has an elliptical surface so that with the distal jaw resting on a work surface and closed about a nail protruding from the work surface, and with the handle laying adjacent the work surface, raising the handle away from the work surface in an arc, causes the nail to be pulled from the work surface at an ever increasing rate. Axially oriented jaw teeth provide improved gripping and a pair of tongue and groove opposing surfaces enable cutting and further improved gripping. A hammer surface enables driving of a nail into the work surface rather than pulling it out, and a claw element enables pulling a nail head up so as to be better gripped by the tool.

Abstract: An antitheft apparatus comprising a steering assembly for a vehicle, the steering assembly providing a centrally positioned hub portion enclosing a shock actuated airbag, and extending around the hub portion, a steering wheel portion; and a theft-resistant cover. The cover provides a circular face portion covering the steering assembly and a circular peripheral flange portion extensive circumferentially from the face portion and therefrom, around the steering wheel portion of the steering assembly. The cover is split into two opposing cover halves along a central split line. At one end of the split line and integral with the cover halves, a device for locking the cover halves about the steering wheel portion is engaged. And at the other end of the split line, and integral with the cover halves, a hinging device allows pivotal movement of the cover halves between a closed position engaging the locking device and an open position disengaging the locking device.

Abstract: A shock absorbing bicycle wheel hub apparatus uses an open ended, cylindrical shock absorber housing mounted concentrically within a wheel hub. The wheel hub is adapted for rotation about the shock absorber housing. A pivot tube is axially aligned with the shock absorber housing and rotationally mounted within its sidewall. Terminal ends of the pivot rod engage cover plates fixedly mounted thereon. A pressure tube is axially aligned with the shock absorber housing and extends through it so that its terminal ends may be fixed in the cover plates. A shock-absorbing medium is compressively positioned between the pressure tube and an interior surface of the shock absorber housing. The cover plates engage a bicycle fork so that weight supported by the bicycle fork is transmitted through the cover plates and the pivot tube and pressure tube, to the shock absorbing medium, and thereby, through the shock absorber housing and the wheel hub to a wheel of the bicycle.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an enclosure having a torroidal shaped body adapted for engaging a pool jet water supply pipe. The torroidal body encloses a light projecting device interconnected in an electrical circuit for switching lighting on and off. A water dispensing jet engaged with the water supply pipe directs water into a swimming pool. The light projecting device is adapted for directing light toward the dispensing jet for producing a light show in the directed water and for directing light toward the pool.

Abstract: A tool set is mounted within and on a tool case having tool receiving means supporting a first portion of the plurality of hand tools within the tool case and tool attachment means engaging a second portion of the plurality of hand tools exteriorly. The tool case and the second portion of the hand tools, together, roughly resemble a human form. The tool case is generally cylindrical in shape resembling a human torso and has a side wall terminating with opposing closed ends, and provides an access door in the side wall for access to an interior space within the tool case for storage of smaller tools.

Abstract: A hockey field goal apparatus comprises a frame providing a rigid structure including a pair of spaced apart and vertically oriented lateral legs and also a central vertical leg. The legs define an open face of the goal apparatus. A net is fixed to the frame for defining a defensive space within the goal apparatus. A plurality of relatively small target nets are selectively engaged with the legs of the rigid structure, wherein each of the target nets is positioned within the defensive space. The target nets each provide a biasing spring adapted for absorbing the energy of a puck received at high velocity within the target net during puck shooting practice.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing power steering fluid in an automotive power steering system, uses the components of an fluid receiving container; an fluid supply container; a utility fluid pump, a pressure actuated fluid valve; and a fluid conducting means. The components are arranged such that air is compressed in the fluid receiving container by entry of spent power steering fluid and builds to open the pressure actuated valve so as to drive replacement power steering fluid into the power steering system, replacing the spent fluid.

Abstract: A clock apparatus comprises a clock case made of either an opaque material or a translucent material, the clock case enclosing an electronic circuit comprising electronic circuit elements including: a clock timer, a source of electrical current, a power switch, a switching device, and a means for illumination. The clock case comprises a pair of cubes, with an upper one of the cubes mounted at one corner, on a face of a lower one of the cubes. The cubes provide apertures having a distribution on the clock case in correspondence with the dots of a pair of dice. Windows made of either an opaque or a translucent material, cover the apertures so that light from the illumination means of the electrical circuit is visible through either the clock case or the windows as a light show in accordance with the switching device. A clock face is engaged with the clock timer and is mounted on one of the faces of the upper one of the cubes so as to be visible to a viewer of the light show.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a natural gas well bore, including a master valve capping the well bore, the master valve supporting a blowout preventor and injector head. The master valve is interconnected with a pressure vessel through a first control valve and the pressure vessel is interconnected with a compressor and with a gas pipeline through a second and a third control valves. The compressor provides compressed natural gas from the pressure vessel to the well bore through the injector head and the master valve via a tubing reel inserted into the well bore.

Abstract: A fastener apparatus comprises in combination, a mechanical binding device such as a staple. The staple engages substrates such as sheets of paper forming a document. A microcomputer is mounted integrally with the staple and includes a data storage device such as a solid state memory providing a capacity for receiving and transferring a quantity of digital data. The microcomputer also provides a data processing device such as a microprocessor which provides a capacity for calculation using the digital data. A bi-directional data transfer port is adapted for receiving the digital data for transfer to the data storage device and to the data processing device and for transferring the digital data from the data storage device and from the data processing device. Data may be stored and retrieved electrostatically, magnetically, optically and mechanically so as to identify the document for identification and retrieval.

Abstract: A chair provides a chair seat portion and a chair back portion and an umbrella assembly adapted for mounting on the chair back portion. The umbrella assembly includes a receiver tube adapted for receiving an umbrella post to support the umbrella in an upright attitude. The receiver tube provides a pair of L-shaped ears extending from an exterior surface, and the chair back portion provides a mounting block engaged on a rear surface of the chair back portion. The mounting block is adapted for receiving the pair of L-shaped ears within a corresponding pair of L-shaped holes within the mounting block so as to stabilize the umbrella assembly on the chair.

Abstract: A molded baby bottle cap of a soft rubber and a molded water bottle cap of a hard plastic, the baby bottle cap providing an annular portion extending axially within the baby bottle cap. Plural molded circular ribs are engaged within the water bottle cap thereby interlocking the two caps. The apparatus is thus engagable with a baby bottle in a typical manner using a threaded compression ring, or with a water bottle using threads molded into the water bottle cap.

Abstract: A vehicular drive apparatus comprises in combination, an off-road vehicle including an internal combustion engine drive system and a liquid propulsion jet drive system jointly functional in a single engine case of the off-road vehicle for enabling forward motion of the vehicle. The jet drive system provides a means for engaging and disengaging with the internal combustion engine drive system. An outrigger floatation device engages with the off-road vehicle and is adapted for adjustment between a stored attitude and a deployed attitude. When the vehicle enters deep water, the jet drive may be employed to propel the vehicle, and the floatation gear may be employed to maintain buoyancy.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a device enclosure supporting a front panel and a monitor housing supporting a first monitor screen. The monitor housing is pivotally engaged with the device enclosure, and enabled for pivotal movement between a closed position wherein the first monitor screen is approximately parallel to front panel, and an open position, placing the first monitor screen at an angle to the front panel. A sliding assembly supports a second monitor screen. The sliding assembly is enabled for sliding movement between a concealed position within the monitor housing and a viewing position lateral to the monitor housing. The sliding assembly is further enabled, when placed in the viewing position, for pivotal movement relative to the monitor assembly for improved viewing, jointly, of the first and the second monitor screens.

Abstract: A near-net shape titanium club face for a metal wood golf head is manufacturing with improved product structure and performance. More specifically, the invention provides a metal wood golf club head face consisting of layers of grain fibering by controllable grain flow along face-orientation and surface contours, similar to composite structures, for improved directional strength, impact strength and toughness, as well as hitting face thickness design flexibility for improved hitting sound and increased coefficient of restitution without sacrificing face performance and durability. The hitting face is made by precision hot-die forging in closed dies through large (&agr;+&bgr;) forge deformation to net or near-net shape from a &bgr;-treated work piece. Alternatively, the process may be applied to aluminum alloys or steels.