Abstract: A weed pulling device includes a handle, a shaft, a blade, a step member, and a leverage member for the removal of weeds. The blade may be integrally formed with the shaft or may be attached to one end of the shaft. The shaft extends partially into the handle for attachment of the shaft to the handle. The step member and the leverage member are attached to the handle and the shaft, either singly or in combination. The blade has a forked portion for engagement with the weed and a tapered portion for facilitating insertion of the blade into the ground. The leverage member may be used for pivotal movement of the weed pulling device, for providing leverage during removal of the weed, and for compressing loose din removed during the weed removal process. The handle is sized so that a person may remove a weed from a standing position, without kneeling on the ground and with minimal bending.

Abstract: A tool extender to bridge the space between a person and a portable tool to be remotely actuated by the person includes cradle means engageable with the tool and at least one guide rod attached to the cradle means and slidable within a bridge support. A strap is attached to the bridge support and is adjustable to engage a handle of the tool, whereby the strap and cradle means jointly support the tool. A mount, such as a shoulder mount, arm mount, elbow mount, or the like is attached to an elongated arm structure which extends to the bridge support. A trigger actuation mechanism includes a cord which extends from a grip element, along the elongated arm structure, to a hook engageable with a tool trigger. The trigger actuation mechanism is operable by manual squeezing of the grip element toward the mount and away from the hook. The guide rods, cord, and strap are adjustable for accommodating various sized tools. A handle is removably attached to the elongated arm structure.

Abstract: The portable boat dock includes a first dock section, a second dock section and a hinge for pivotally attaching the first and second dock sections together. The first dock section has at least one hole for receiving a stake to secure the boat dock to the ground or other supporting surface. The second dock section has at least one hole for receiving a support member which rest on the supporting surface for supporting the second dock section. The first dock section has a first channel and the second dock section has a second channel. A reinforcing member is sized and adapted to be disposed within one of the channels and engagable with the other of the channels for alternating between pivoting movement and rigid support of the first and second dock sections. A detent device secures the support member to the second dock section and may be repositioned in various holes of the support member for adjustment of the support member for various depths of water.

Abstract: An ophthalmic kit contains a foldable intraocular lens and a disposable lens insertion device in a sterile condition with the lens positioned in its normal unfolded configuration between open jaws of the insertion device until needed for lens implantation. When needed for lens implantation, the jaws of the insertion device are closed about the lens to fold the lens to a compact folded configuration while the insertion device and lens are on the tray. The insertion device is then placed in a reusable handle to form an ophthalmic instrument which holds the jaws closed with an anterior tip portion of the insertion device projecting beyond the anterior end of the handle for insertion into a patient's eye through an incision, and plunger is moved forwardly through the handle and insertion device to eject the folded lens into the patient's eye.

Abstract: A litter box system and method for containing and separating animal waste from litter includes a first box and a second box forming a container which houses the litter, a floor card, and a cover sheet for absorbing odors. The litter box system also includes an additional floor card for use during the cleaning process, which includes installation of the additional floor card, a clean cover sheet, and a filter bag. The litter box system is inverted, depositing the litter into the filter bag for filtering litter through apertures in the filter bag, while retaining animal waste within the filter bag for disposal. Each of the boxes is substantially identical having an opening for passage of animal waste into the litter box system. A flange surrounds the opening for helping to retain the litter within the litter box system during use by an animal. The cover sheet may be coated with a protective material, such as wax, for substantially preventing the passage of liquid animal waste therethrough.

Abstract: An intraocular implant for use in a human eye following cataract, refractive or other eye surgery. The implant has a holder and imaging optics which may be folded to a compact configuration, inserted into the eye separately, and then assembled by the surgeon in the eye by mounting the optics on the holder after the holder has been implanted in the eye. These optics include a lens which is adjustable within the eye relative to the holder by the surgeon during surgery to focus the optics on the retina of the eye and are adjustable postoperatively by the implantee to near and distant focus positions by movement of the implantee's head and by magnetic action.

Abstract: Absorption retardant substances, such as water-repellents, are applied to ballistic energy absorbing fabric before the fabric is encased in a resin system to form an armor piece. Tiles made from boron carbide, other ceramic material or steel can be attached to or incorporated into the cured resin and fabric system to make composite structural armor pieces. The fabric can be made from polyaramid fibers or fiberglass fibers.

Abstract: A drain valve assembly for positively sealing an aircraft waste system drain line to prevent waste fluid leakage and the formation of so-called "blue ice" due to such leakage during high altitude flight. The valve assembly has an inlet for connection to the drain line, an outlet for connection to a waste drain hose of an airport waste disposal facility, and an outer valve cover and inner ball valve between the inlet and outlet which provide truly redundant seals for the drain port in flight, can be opened with relative ease when frozen, are relatively immune to improper sealing due to obstruction by waste, enable removal of a frozen waste blockage in the waste flow path without a sudden large waste dump, and permit inspection and easy replacement, if necessary, of the valve seals.

Abstract: A locking cover assembly has a cover supporting base containing an opening circumferentially surrounded by a cover seat, and a cover movable to and from a closed position on the base in which the cover engages the cover seat to close the base opening. A cover locking mechanism on the cover includes cover locking levers mounted on the inner side of the cover, and a lock actuator movable through the cover and connected to the locking members for moving the levers between cover locking positions in which the levers are extended to engage the base about the base opening and clamp the cover to the base and cover unlocking positions in which the levers are retracted from the base to permit removal of the cover from the base.

Abstract: A handrail positioning apparatus for accurately positioning a handrail during the process of installing the handrail in an inclined position on a building wall above an inclined stairway. The apparatus may include two vertically adjustable stanchions positionable at the upper and lower ends of the stairway. Miniature platforms are tiltably mounted on the upper end portions of the stanchions to underlie end areas of a handrail. C-clamps may be used to clamp the handrail to the platforms. The platforms are so tiltable that the platforms can seat flatwise against the handrail, whatever the slope or inclination of the rail, and the stanchions are vertically adjustable to control the rail slope and rail height.

Abstract: Liquid sampling devices and methods for sampling flowing or other liquid to determine its composition. The preferred sampling device has an upper liquid catch basin 40 for receiving a liquid to be sampled, a lower sample collection chamber 20, a liquid inlet 24 communicating the basin and collection chamber, and an inlet valve 26, 28 for closing the inlet against entry of liquid and foreign matter into the chamber and escape of liquid and vapor from the chamber except when the inlet is submerged in liquid to be sampled and the collection chamber contains less than a predetermined volume of the liquid. The sampling device is placed in sampling position such that the inlet valve 26, 28 remains closed until liquid covers the inlet 24, whereupon the inlet valve opens to permit liquid flow into the collection chamber 20 and later recloses in response to filling of the chamber with a predetermined sample volume.

Abstract: Armor is constructed by sewing together a multiplicity of plies of energy absorbing cloth made of polyaramid fibers with stitching thread of relatively lower tensile strength in a pattern such that, upon impact by a projectile, the stitching threads break at multiple locations in response to stresses from fibers stretched by the impact. The armor can be sewn together to form a blanket or vest garments, etc., for protection of persons from projectiles.

Abstract: A cover assembly for manholes and the like has a hinged cover which is urged closed by gravity and open by an opposing bias force acting between the cover and cover base in such manner as to reduce the force required to open a relatively heavy cover whose weight exceeds the maximum single person lifting weight permitted by OSHA and union regulations to a value equal to or less than such maximum lifting weight. A manually releasable latch prevents uncontrolled closure of the cover by gravity in the event of failure of the bias force.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens to be implanted within the natural capsular bag of a human eye from which the natural lens matrix has been removed through an anterior capsulotomy in the bag circumferentially surrounded by a capsular remnant. During a postoperative healing period following surgery, the anterior capsular remnant fuses to the posterior capsule of the bag by fibrosis about haptics on the implanted lens, and the lens is deflected rearwardly to a distant vision position against the elastic posterior capsule of the bag in which the posterior capsule is stretched rearwardly. After fibrosis is complete, natural brain-induced contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle relaxes and stretches the fused remnant and increases and reduces vitreous pressure in the eye to effect vision accommodation by the fused remnant, the posterior capsule, and vitreous pressure.

Abstract: A carrier for necked containers has a pair of split collars with conically tapered container neck-engaging fingers disposed at a 30-45 degree conical taper angle relative to planes transverse to the collar axes for engagement over the container necks to positions wherein the collar fingers are disposed below and in vertical supporting engagment with the container neck rings, and a bridge section joining the collars and forming a handgrip by which the carrier may be held in a normal position wherein the weight of supported containers bends the ends of the bridge section downwardly. The bridge section has upstanding ribs at its upper side which reinforce the bridge section against excessive bending and form upwardly opening cavities having drain holes for draining liquid from the cavities.

Abstract: An electrical vehicle transportation system in which a steerable electrically powered automotive vehicle receives electrical power from electrified conductors located above a roadway or affixed to the roadway, through an electrical pickup on the vehicle having electrical contacts engageable with the roadway conductors in a manner which permits steering movement of the vehicle laterally of the roadway and switching of the vehicle from one traffic lane to another with no interruption, or only momentary interruption, in the flow of electrical power to the vehicle. An electrically powered vehicle and electrical pickup for the transportation system.

Abstract: A fishing weight assembly includes a weight body with a central bore to receive a fishing line and an opening transversely of the bore, a retainer member adapted for insertion into the opening with portions compressible by walls of the opening upon insertion of the retainer member to clamp the line. Serrations on confronting portions off the retainer can better clamp the line. One embodiment has a radially extending slot for insertion of a fishing line. Edge portions of the weight adjacent to the weight body opening may be deformable to provide retaining ridges to prevent exit of the retainer.