Abstract: An insect exterminating device which is characterized in a first embodiment by a handle having a handle base attached to a downwardly-extending probe frame fitted with a bracket and a spring for receiving an aerosol or pressurized fluid canister containing an insect treatment fluid. A probe projects from the probe frame and a spring-loaded activator button is provided on the handle base for activating the pressurized fluid canister valve to dispense the treatment fluid from the canister, through passages provided in the activator button, the handle base, the probe frame and the probe, into an insect bed. In a preferred embodiment the bracket is adjustable for accommodating pressurized fluid containers of various length. In a second embodiment the fluid canister is seated on a spring in a round frame and the treatment fluid is dispersed from the canister through a tube to the probe by pressing a spring-loaded activator button.

Abstract: Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages having extending or projecting shoulder surfaces to facilitate a simulated swimming action by the drag and eddy principle of water flow. One or more shoulders are provided in the surfaces of the flexible fishing lure tails to facilitate the swimming action as the lure to which the tail or appendage is attached is retrieved through a water body. This swimming action due to the vibration of the tail and appendage segment and the body of the fishing lure is unique and simulates live lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows and the like, a primary characteristic that attracts fish. The tail and appendage segments can be removably or permanently fixed to both hard and soft body lures or molded in combination with a lure body of selected length, size, color and plastic composition characteristics to facilitate the desired swimming action and vibration and thus the attraction to game fish of every variety.

Abstract: Heat-exchanging devices for cooling or heating liquids in a bottle or can, which include in a first embodiment, an elongated cooling or heating tube having a tube bore filled with a refrigerant/heating fluid such as water and sealed at the top, with liquid flow openings provided in the tube, or in a tube connector attached to the tube above a tube seal. The tube or tube connector is fitted with a cap having internal threads for engaging the external threads of the bottle neck of the bottle into which the cooling tube is inserted. In second and third embodiments the insertable tube contains a pair of interconnected reservoirs containing liquids that will create an exothermic or endothermic reaction when mixed. A disc separating the liquids is ruptured by button action at the base of the tube to facilitate mixing of the liquids by gravity.

Abstract: A tandem rod or cable apparatus for bursting and replacing pipe, which includes a frame, two sets of oppositely-disposed hydraulic cylinders having piston rods, each of which pairs of piston rods are attached to a yoke, with a gripping element provided in each yoke for independently gripping a rod or cable extending through the aligned gripping elements. One end of the rod or cable is attached to a bursting and stored energy head and the other end extends through the gripping elements, typically to a reel (in the case of a cable) for taking up slack in the cable. Advancement of the bursting and stored energy head through a defective pipe to be burst and typical simultaneous replacement with an attached replacement pipe is effected by operation of the two sets of hydraulic cylinders and the corresponding gripping elements to push or pull the rod or pull the cable.

Abstract: Shaped neon light spark plug connectors which include a continuous length of neon tubing fitted with electrodes at each end and configured to extend between and connect to the spark plug and coil of a motorcycle engine. The spark plug connectors are each characterized by a continuous, shaped neon tube light source that pulsates and flickers with operation of the engine at low engine speeds and displays a substantially continuous glow of a selected color at higher engine speeds. A specially designed jig is provided for bending the heated neon tubing into the desired configuration and fitting it between the spark plug and the coil locations.

Abstract: A dead bolt lock having a slot or slots for insertion on a dead bolt and legs for spanning the underlying door knob of a door to secure the dead bolt. In an adjustable embodiment the dead bolt lock includes a lock housing having a circular rim and downwardly-extending legs, with notches disposed around the curved top portion of the housing rim. A round opening in the center of the housing rotatably accommodates at least a middle plate, closed by front plate, and a rear plate, the middle plate provided with a middle plate profile slot for receiving a sliding retainer block. The retainer block alternately recesses in a corresponding retainer block slot adjoining the middle plate profile slot and extends into the middle plate profile slot for selective engagement with the dead bolt when the dead bolt lock is in locked configuration. The front plate and rear plate are connected to the middle plate and each have slots that correspond to the middle plate profile slot for accommodating the dead bolt.

Abstract: A tile flood pump for attachment to a tile or drain pipe and pumping water from a field through the tile or drain pipe to a drainage ditch or canal. The tile flood pump is characterized by a cylindrical pump housing fitted with a flange for removably bolting to the existing tile or pump embedded in a levee or dike separating the field from the drainage canal and a cylindrical impeller housing enclosing one or more shaft-mounted rotating impellers, the impeller housing extending into the pump housing in angular relationship for pumping water from the field through the pump housing and the tile and into the ditch. A pump housing flapper valve on the intake end of the pump housing can be selectively open or closed by a control rod mechanism to facilitate a flow of water by direct drainage through the pump housing and the tile into the ditch, or for pumping water through the impeller housing, the pump housing and the tile when the water in the ditch is at a higher level than the water in the field.

Abstract: An adjustable counterweight pendulum bow sight which is fitted with a sight ring having monofilament crosshairs and optionally provided with a source of black light or alternative target enhancing devices such as fiber optic systems, for illuminating the sight ring area under conditions of low lighting. The pendulum bow sight is mounted to a bow in pivoting fashion and includes a pendulum bracket fitted with adjustable counterweights of various design, facilitating convenient and accurate sighting of the target in a direct line of sight, regardless of the elevation of the hunter. The sight ring in the pendulum bow sight is mounted on the pendulum bracket, which is pivotally and adjustably attached to a frame mounted on the bow. The pendulum bracket and thus, the sight ring, may be stabilized by operation of a stabilizing pin and supported in a limited pivoting configuration with respect to the frame, by means of a pendulum bracket support.

Abstract: Bird decoys for attracting predators, one of which decoys may be rotatably deployed on a rod with one wing folded, the other wing extended and both moving to simulate a wounded bird. Other embodiments include a mechanical flying bird supported on a rotating arm in a single bird flying configuration, a pair of mechanical flying birds deployed in tandem on a common rotating arm and a stacked flying bird configuration of four birds. A method for attracting predators using bird decoys which simulate dove, quail, crow, hawk, duck, geese or the like, and includes the steps of rotatably deploying a bird decoy with a folded wing on a rod or stake and causing the extended wing to flap and the folded wing to vibrate, thus simulating a wounded bird. The method also includes mounting one or more mechanical flying birds on a rotating arm or arms attached to an upright support for simulating circling of the various decoy birds in selected locations to attract predators.

Abstract: A hammer-operated stapling apparatus which is characterized by a spring-loaded plunger having a staple drive plate that slidably extends between a front head and a back head to sequentially contact staples seated in a staple magazine attached to the back head. The staple magazine is closed by a pivoting cover fitted with a removable spacer and includes removable staple rails for accommodating staples of various size, which staple rails are fitted with a sliding follower biased against the staple string or cartridge by a follower spring seated on the staple rail. A handle is mounted to the front head and back head assembly and typically includes a hand guard for safely positioning the ends of the front head and back head on a wire or other element to be stapled to a post or board and facilitating striking of the plunger by the hammer to drive a staple into the board or post and secure the wire or element in place.

Abstract: Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages having extending or projecting shoulder surfaces to facilitate a simulated swimming action by the drag and eddy principle of water flow. One or more shoulders are provided in the surfaces of the flexible fishing lure tails to facilitate the swimming action as the lure to which the tail or appendage is attached is retrieved through a water body. This swimming action due to the vibration of the tail and appendage segment and the body of the fishing lure is unique and simulates live lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows and the like, a primary characteristic that attracts fish. The tail and appendage segments can be removably or permanently fixed to both hard and soft body lures or molded in combination with a lure body of selected length, size, color and plastic composition characteristics to facilitate the desired swimming action and vibration and thus the attraction to game fish of every variety.

Abstract: A cable pulling apparatus for pulling a work load attached to a cable, including at least one cable-pulling device for engaging the cable. The cable-pulling device or devices each includes at least one cable-pulling member fitted with a cable-gripping element for pulling the cable and the workload.

Abstract: A bedding clamp for securing bedding such as a light blanket or sheet on a mattress at selected corners of a bed, which bedding clamp includes a pair of clamp members, each fitted with a clamp hinged to a clamp plate for clamping the bedding therebetween in a friction-fit and securing the bedding in place by means of a band connecting the clamp members and positioned beneath the corners of the mattress. In a preferred embodiment each clamp plate is characterized by a clamp hinged in a clamp opening in the clamp plate and shaped to define a resilient lobe to removably engage a corresponding receiver opening shaped in the clamp plate as the bedding is removably captured between the clamp and the receiver opening. The clamp members are typically connected by an elastic or resilient plastic band and may be quickly and easily manually opened and closed by means of clamp tabs to insert and remove the bedding from between the respective clamps and receiver openings.

Abstract: An underwater filtration operator which can be suspended in a river, lake, pond or other water body to filter water from the water body. The underwater filtration operator may be electrically charged to discharge impurities in the water body and increase filtering efficiency and the operator includes a housing having a selected configuration and divided into one or more filtration units, each of which includes a filter medium for filtering water from the water body. A pump is provided in the housing for receiving the filtered water from the filtration units and pumping the filtered water to a collection tank or dispenser or directly to an end user or to a reverse-osmosis water filtration unit for further filtration.

Abstract: A progressive shear assembly which is suitably adapted for connecting a marine propeller to a propeller drive shaft in such a manner that a selected resilience and torsional resistance of the propeller with respect to the drive shaft is achieved. An adaptor shaft provided on the propeller drive shaft drivingly engages the propeller through multiple sets of shear rods each having a selected composition and resilience. In the event that the rotating propeller inadvertently strikes an underwater object, the shear rods absorb the torque shock. Accordingly, the shear rods tend to deform and shear to prevent damage to the propeller and propeller drive train components, and can be easily and inexpensively replaced.

Abstract: A boat-carrying rack which is removably fitted to the bed of a pickup truck for carrying a pirogue or other lightweight boat on the truck. In a preferred embodiment, the boat-carrying rack is characterized by an elongated, rectangular rack frame having a pair of fixed outriggers and two pairs of padded, lever-operated foot plates mounted on adjustable outriggers which are selectively extended from opposite sides of the rack frame, respectively, to engage the opposing side walls of the pickup truck bed and removably secure the rack frame in the bed. The rack frame receives the boat, and a bow mount provided on the front end of the rack frame is removably fastened to the bow of the boat by means of a cord. A pair of upward-standing boat guides provided on respective sides of the rack frame receive an adjustable tie-down strap for securing the boat on the rack frame.