Abstract: An improved electrode design is provided for a baited, shock-producing, deer repellent device deployed in an area to be protected. This device has straight, parallel, positive and negative, un-insulated metal electrodes extending vertically from the top. The electrodes are spaced and sized so that they surround and protect the bait. This electrode design increases the chance that a deer will make effective contact with the electrodes while also allowing easy access to the bait for servicing. This electrode design also decreases the chances of the device collecting ice or snow, and it decreases the chance of discharge of the device by moisture or by contact between the electrodes.

Abstract: An improved electrode design is provided for a baited, shock-producing, deer repellent device deployed in an area to be protected. This device has straight, parallel, positive and negative, un-insulated metal electrodes extending vertically from the top. The electrodes are spaced and sized so that they surround and protect the bait. This electrode design increases the chance that a deer will make effective contact with the electrodes while also allowing easy access to the bait for servicing. This electrode design also decreases the chances of the device collecting ice or snow, and it decreases the chance of discharge of the device by moisture or by contact between the electrodes.

Abstract: An improved electrode design is provided for a baited, shock-producing, deer repellent device deployed in an area to be protected. This device has straight, parallel, positive and negative, un-insulated metal electrodes extending vertically from the top. The electrodes are spaced and sized so that they surround and protect the bait. This electrode design increases the chance that a deer will make effective contact with the electrodes while also allowing easy access to the bait for servicing. This electrode design also decreases the chances of the device collecting ice or snow, and it decreases the chance of discharge of the device by moisture or by contact between the electrodes.

Abstract: In order to deter pest animals, particularly deer, from a protected area, a portable, wireless, shock producing, animal repelling and training device is provided having two or more bare electrodes and having an electrode separator which maintains the electrodes in close proximity to each other and insulated from each other, while allowing full exposure of the electrodes to the target animal and while greatly reducing the chances that the device will be discharged by the electrodes contacting each other or by precipitation. The animal control device is deployed such that the target pest animals in the protected area will be attracted to touch the device and so will contact the electrodes, receive an electric shock, and be frightened from the area. Target animals will then continue to avoid the protected area because of a scarecrow effect provided by the presence of the device.

Abstract: In order to deter deer from a protected area, a baited, shock-producing deer repellent device is provided having an improved electrode configuration with the bare wire alternating positive and negative electrodes being substantially semicircular in shape and with the electrodes being variously sized and arranged to form an approximate hemisphere and with the electrodes being substantially parallel and substantially equidistant from each other. This configuration provides an approximately even chance that a deer will make contact with a positive and a negative electrode simultaneously, regardless of the angle or direction of the deer's approach, or of the size of the deer.

Abstract: A means to kill or disable flying insects is provided having a lightweight, long-handled racquet, similar to a badminton racquet, with the elliptical hoop of the racquet being woven with tightly stretched, small diameter wire or other inelastic filaments and with the adjacent wires being spaced closely so that a flying insect will be hit by one or more of the strands when the racquet is swung to hit the insect. The small diameter wire is difficult for the insect to see and it does not build up an advance air pressure wave which might warn the insect to avoid the approaching racquet or move the insect out of the path of the racquet. The rigid racquet and the tightly stretched, relatively inelastic wire effectively convey the momentum of the racquet to the small area of the wire that hits the insect and so delivers a concentrated blow that is very damaging to the insect. The device can be used to control the flying insect population, indoors or outdoors, without the use of insecticides.

Abstract: In order to deter deer from a protected area, a baited, shock-producing deer repellent device is provided having an improved electrode configuration with the bare wire alternating positive and negative electrodes being more or less semicircular in shape and with the electrodes being variously sized and arranged to form an approximate hemisphere and with the electrodes being more or less parallel and more or less equidistant from each other. This configuration provides an approximately even chance that a deer will make contact with a positive and a negative electrode simultaneously, regardless of the angle or direction of the deer's approach, or of the size of the deer.

Abstract: In order to deter deer from a protected area, a portable, wireless, shock producing, deer repelling and training device is provided comprising a field unit having an improved scent dispenser which is aerodynamically configured such that air movement across the device causes a negative pressure and turbulence inside the scent dispenser which increases evaporation and dispersal of the perfumed oil used as an attractant scent source on the device. The deer repellent devices are deployed such that deer in the protected area will be attracted by the scent to touch the device, whereupon they will receive an electric shock and are frightened from the area. Deer will then continue to avoid the protected area because of a scarecrow effect provided by the presence of the device.

Abstract: In order to deter pest animals from certain areas, an unbaited, portable, wireless, capacitor powered animal repelling and training device is provided for pest control applications where the use of bait would be undesirable. This device is deployed such that pest animals attracted to the protected area by incidental attractants, such as shelter or garbage, will contact the electrodes, receive an electric shock and be frightened from the area. Pest animals will then continue to avoid the protected area because of a scarecrow effect provided by the presence of the device.

Abstract: In order to deter deer from yards and gardens, an improved electrode design for a baited, shock-producing deer repellent device is provided. The devices are deployed in the area to be protected and deer, attracted to the scent oil used as bait, will receive a shock and be frightened from the area. The device consists of a protective housing which shelters the electronic components and batteries, and serves as the base for a long thin support stem which holds the scent dispenser and the electrodes at the desired height. The improved electrodes are configured to be almost complete circles which crisscross, without touching, at the top. The circular electrodes more completely surround the scent dispenser, thus improving the chances of a deer contacting the electrodes, regardless of the height or angle of the device or the size or approach angle of the deer.

Abstract: In order to remove liquid fats that collect on the surface of hot soups or stews during cooking, a long handled ladle with a shallow cylindrical cup is provided. The bottom of the cup is modified into the shape of a truncated cone open at both ends, with the large lower end of the cone opening into the underside of the cup and with the small upper end of the cone opening into the reservoir for collected fat of the ladle. The sides of the ladle are higher than the small end of the cone to prevent overflow. The large end of the cone can be covered with a removable, coarse screen to separate floating particulate matter from the fat to be separated and to prevent the device from becoming clogged by particulate matter during use.