Abstract: An animal trap having a hollow body with an opening at one end. A compartment to receive bait is located at the other end of the body. There is a striking surface at one side of the opening and a trap jaw extends into the opening adjacent the striking surface. The jaw is shaped to correspond generally to the inside of the opening. A spring moves the trap jaw towards the striking surface. A trigger is pivotally arranged within the body. A catch on the trigger engages the trap jaw and the trap jaw can be engaged in the catch to form a set position for the trap. Movement of the trigger releases the trap jaw from the catch to allow the trap jaw to move under the influence of the spring towards the striking surface.

Abstract: An animal trap having a pair of elongated rods joined to jaws that are bias to a closed position with a coil spring. The coil spring is concentrically located about a pivot pin that pivotally joins the mid-sections of the rods together. An over-centered toggle trip mechanism is pivotally connected to the rods to hold the jaws in their open position. The trip mechanism has a trigger operable by the animal to be trapped to move the over-center toggle trip mechanism to a position wherein it collapses whereby the spring biases the jaws to their closed positions.

Abstract: A bite indicator for use when fishing with a fishing rod. The indicator comprises a strain sensing element mounted to a support and electrically connected to an indicator. In one embodiment the support comprises a fishing rod support whereas in another embodiment it comprises the wall of the fishing rod. In both cases, movement of the fishing rod when a bite occurs is sensed by the sensing element and thereby actuates the indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a fishing rod. The apparatus comprises a body member having a top surface for supporting the rod thereon, at least one shoulder member formed at one end of the body member to define a first channel, and a clasp member mountable to said body member at an opposite end to define a second channel. The first channel has an open side substantially parallel to the body member's top surface, and the second channel has an open side substantially perpendicular to the top surface. The second channel is configured to resist certain forces imposed on the rod tip. The rod is placed in the rod holder to extend between the first and second channels with the butt of the rod extending beyond the second channel. The body member may be pivotally mounted at one end thereof, with an arm mounted at this one end. Means may be connected between the arm and a point spaced from the pivotally mounted end of the body member for dampening movement of the body member.

Abstract: This invention relates to the containment of poisoned baits in a manner that will isolate them from non target species while allowing a user friendly method of reloading the station. Specifically, the device is designed for use in areas accessible to children, pets, and wildlife and, the method of reloading the baiter allows the use of common types of packaging of retail rodenticides, in a manner that affords them with a reasonably protective containment in the aformentioned areas The baiter is designed to allow the introduction of a prepacked rodenticide product on one level of the device and, to allow a rodent access through a totally seperate level. This lateral division of the containment system and the set back of the rodent entry level makes it virtually impossible to reach the stored bait by attempting to compromise the structure of the device with fingers of common objects that might be found around a household.

Abstract: A longline assembly includes an elongated main longline element, a plurality of longitudinally spaced gangion lines attached to the longline element, and a plurality of hooks on the outer extremities of the gangion lines. The gangion lines each include a monofilament core element and a braided outer casing which is formed in a tight solid braid pattern over the core element to firmly secure the outer casing to the core element. The core elements add preselected degrees of stiffness to the gangion lines to maintain them in substantially outwardly extended relation to the longline element during fishing operations, and the outer casings provide improved surface characteristics which facilitate handling and knotting or otherwise terminating of the gangion lines.

Abstract: This invention provides a lighted fishing lure for use by commercial and sport fisherman in casting or trolling applications. This lure can also be attached to nets and draggers. The light source and its control are comprised of hardy solid state electronic components. The light sources may be multiple and on or extended from the body of the lure. The light source may be contained in the body of the lure and light brought to the surface by fiber optics. A method of manufacturing this lure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rodent trap especially suited for trapping mice or rats comprises a shell having two parallel sides and a top. A separate enclosure having a concave door, a concave roof and a convex connecting side rigidly connected to the door at one end and to the roof at the other end forming a triangular spaced interior. The enclosure is set inside the shell and pivotally connected to the side walls at the juncture of the door and connecting side of the enclosure. Thus the enclosure can be tilted to a stable position with the enclosure totally enclosed by the side walls and a less stable position with the enclosure partially outside the shell and the interior space of the enclosure is accessible to a rodent. When the rodent enters the enclosure, and climbs onto the connecting side for the bait, the rodent's weight tilts the enclosure backward to a totally closed position, and the rodent is thus trapped within.

Abstract: A fishing mitt for covering a user's hand and a portion of the fishing rod mounted on the fishing rod is disclosed, wherein the fishing mitt fastens around the wrist or forearm of the user. The rod protrudes from the front of the mitt, and an aperture is provided through which line passes from the fishing reel to the rod guides. The aperture is maintained in relatively fixed positions with respect to the fishing rod, in order to minimize the frictional resistance imparted by the aperture to line passing therethrough during casting or line retrieval operations. The reel handles protrude through the side of the mitt, and can be operated by the hand of the user opposite from the hand inside of the mitt.

Abstract: An artificial structure for attracting fish, which structure includes a ballast and anchoring subassembly having an elongated trunk detachably and pivotally connected thereto and extending in a generally vertical direction therefrom. A plurality of elongated leaf fronds are each centrally engaged with the trunk at longitudinally spaced intervals along the trunk.

Abstract: A carrying case for one or two assembled fishing rods and reels which includes a pair of pouches of flexible material which are connected along an extended mid-seam with each pouch having oppositely oriented carrying handles and an opening through which the end of a rod and the reel is selectively received and which openings are closable around the rods by interengagable surface closures. The carrying case permits one or two rods and reels to be selectively carried or stored and yet the reels shielded from the weather and other environmental conditions without the necessity of removing the reels from the rods.

Abstract: A line cutter is disclosed made up of an integrally molded plastic part having a bottom flange adapted to rest on a fishing rod or the like and an upwardly extending vertical plate-like flange having recesses. The recesses communicate with a razor blade which is integrally molded into the plastic body. The line cutter can be supported on a fishing rod or the like by a Velcro support or other suitable support. A fisherman can cut his line by holding a piece of line in two hands and engaging the exposed pieces of razor blade in the recesses.

Abstract: A spring-loaded, double-acting fish hook having a pair of oppositely directed barbed hooks at the ends of a pair of legs of a spring member. The spring is disclosed as of the safety pin type, bent in a loop at its midpoint and having a catch on one leg engageable by a latch pivotally mounted on the other leg to maintain the spring in a flexed position with the hooks overlapping one another. Pressure on a trigger arm extending integrally from the latch to a position closely adjacent one of the hooks releases the latch, allowing the biasing force of the spring to move the legs, and thus the hooks, in opposite directions.

Abstract: An elongated, hollow artificial lure is filled with live worms by placing the worms in the chamber of a syringe, applying pressure to the chamber and injecting the worms through a small diameter nozzle into the interior of the lure. The resulting lure has not only the scent of the natural bait but also motion imparted by the motion of the live worms injected therein.

Abstract: A movable fish net buoy top, having the framework of a buoy top in association with a grid port which can be drawn up by 105 degrees, and pushed down by 75 degrees, so structured that as the top is laid on the surface of water the grid port on either side thereof will, owing to water buoyancy, be pushed up in bearing against a mortise joint catch furnished on top of the strut. When the buoy top is taken off the water surface, a mortise joint catch furnished at the bottom of the strut is deflected by 90 degrees, so as to prevent the grid port from moving downward toward either side due to gravitation, thereby preventing it from opening. To pour out the catch entrapped in the fish net, the mortise joint on top of the buoy top is turned to a setting in parallel with the surface level of the framework, and reverse the framework of the buoy top, so as to bring the grid port to open downwards along either side, so that the catch can be poured out, conveniently and effectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which enables a continuous horizontal casting of thin slabs operates on the principle of cooling the molten steel and the cooling mold from the top and bottom while the sides of the cooling mold are comprised of refractory materials which prevent solidification along the short sides of the mold. Consequently, during the initial phases of the solidification process the steel solidifies from the top and the bottom forming sheets of increasing thickness which squeeze and sandwich the molten liquid center. The process avoids formation of voids or other irregularities in the finished metal slabs and it results in a very low rejection rate of finished product. Particularly for application wherein thin metal slabs measuring less than 4 or 5 inches in thickness are produced, the upper side of the mold curves upwardly toward the inlet opening to prevent freezing of the molten metal at the opening.

Abstract: A twin-roll type continuous casting apparatus comprises a pair of rotatable drums and a pair of side dams disposed on both axial ends of the drums so that a pool of molten steel is defined by the drums and the side dams. As the drums are rotated in counter directions, the molten steel is cooled so that the molten steel is partially solidified to form solidification shells which are then pressure-bonded to each other as they pass through the narrowest gap defined between the drums, so that a steel sheet is formed by continuous casting. The side dam is composed of a side refractory part which functions to maintain the pool of molten steel and a metallic member which supports the side refractory part and which serves as a cooling plate for cooling the steel.

Abstract: A tool for positioning and retaining boiler pipe sections in aligned, spaced relation and enabling the boiler pipe sections to be joined by heliarc welding which incorporates a split block having opposed recesses therein which cooperate to define a passageway for receiving the adjacent ends of boiler pipe sections to retain the boiler pipe sections in alignment. The two split block components are slidably interlocked by a tongue and groove connection and spacers are provided in the tool for engaging adjacent end of boiler pipe sections to retain the pipe sections in aligned and spaced relation. Each of the split block components includes access openings which enable access to opposite surfaces of the opposed ends of the boiler pipe sections to enable heliarc welding of a portion of the adjacent ends of the boiler pipe sections. An over-center pulling device is provided to pull the boiler pipe sections into aligned adjacent relation so that the split block can be assembled onto adjacent boiler pipe sections.

Abstract: Injection moulding core for pipe bends, with at least one straight pipe terminal portion, wherein the bend core is divided in various segments (a) which are preferably wedge-shaped when viewed sideways and which are connected by appropriate elements preferably mushroom-shaped projections (c) to form a chain so that the medial line (b) of the chain of segments may form a straight line, and which are mutually fixed by appropriate elements, preferably centering pins (d) or adjusting springs and/or an edge overlapping the various segments (a), in order to avoid any displacement and torsion, and which comprise one or a plurality of holes (e) through which pass one or a plurality of traction elements, preferably metal cables (f) which are connected to the last segment (a) of the chain, whereas they are connected to displacement elements (i) at the other end of the chain by means of a core (h) fixed preferably to that end of the chain and provided for the straight pipe terminal portion.

Abstract: A gaff hook includes a rod member with a pointed hook part and a shank part terminating in a top end. A first collar is fixed coaxially to the shank part near the top end, and a second collar has an axial bore which recieves a top end portion of the shank part to allow rotational movement of the second collar relative to the shank part. The first and the second collars have engaging surfaces facing one another which surfaces are urged into frictional engagement by a bias mechanism to prevent free rotation of the second collar about the shank part. A gaff handle with a bottom opening for accommodating the top end portion of the shank part is fixed to the second collar.