Abstract: A garden and lawn weed extractor tool enables removal of the weed with minimal invasiveness to the soil or turf. The weed extractor tool utilizes a foot-operated depression feature to insert the tool blade into the soil, at an angle to horizontal near the weed root. The user then uses the tool as a lever to pivot the blade relative to the weed root, which loosens the soil around the root and, hence, loosens the weed from the ground so that the weed is removable without carrying with it a large clump of soil. A spring-assisted soil retainer device and self-cleaning mechanism wipes or scrapes the tool blade as the tool is removed from the ground, and, in doing so, retains most of the soil in place at or near its original location. The tool, therefore, tends to prevent disruption to the garden and turf area, leaves each weed-removal site neat and miminally-disturbed, and keeps the tool blade clean for smooth and quick insertion at the next weed-site.

Abstract: A garden and lawn weed extractor tool enables removal of the weed with minimal invasiveness to the soil or turf. The weed extractor tool utilizes a foot-operated depression feature to insert the tool blade into the soil, at an angle to horizontal near the weed root. The user then uses the tool as a lever to pivot the blade relative to the weed root, which loosens the soil around the root and, hence, loosens the weed from the ground so that the weed is removable without carrying with it a large clump of soil. A spring-assisted soil retainer device and self-cleaning mechanism wipes or scrapes the tool blade as the tool is removed from the ground, and, in doing so, retains most of the soil in place at or near its original location. The tool, therefore, tends to prevent disruption to the garden and turf area, leaves each weed-removal site neat and miminally-disturbed, and keeps the tool blade clean for smooth and quick insertion at the next weed-site.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for trenchless, underground emplacement of man-sized product pipe between first and second shaft locations is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pilot tube assembly having a pilot tube segment and a steering head mounted to the pilot tube segment. The steering head is configured to operatively guide the pilot tube assembly from the first shaft location to the second shaft location. The apparatus further comprises an intermediate sleeve assembly having an intermediate sleeve segment and an intermediate cutting head mountable to the pilot tube assembly and to the sleeve segment. The intermediate cutting head has a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the pilot tube assembly and is configured to be operably guided by the pilot tube assembly. An enlarging assembly of the apparatus comprises a drive sleeve segment and an enlarging cutting head mounted to the intermediate sleeve assembly and to the drive sleeve segment.