Abstract: A fishing lure having a water-tight cavity has a wire spring within the cavity, one end of the spring being rigidly affixed to the lure body and the opposite end carrying a weight. The relationship between the cavity size and the weighted spring is such that the spring will oscillate freely within the cavity without the weight striking the cavity walls during normal movement of the lure through the water. Alternate forms of the invention utilize an electronic oscillator driven transducer to produce vibration of the lure body.

Abstract: A holder and dispenser for utility knife blades includes a molded plastic back plate and a cover connected thereto by an integral hinge. Blade dispensing apertures are formed at the ends of the cover and a manually actuable follower moves in an opening extending the length of the cover.

Abstract: High speed turning characteristics of a vee type planing hull are increased by the use of after, outboard running surfaces which are concavely configured and include transverse wedges across the after, inboard halves thereof.

Abstract: A spring steel connector for extruded metal lengths such as picture frame members has, in addition to locking tines, a tine projecting in the opposite direction to permit release of the connector.

Abstract: In a rotary viscometer comprising a variable speed drive motor including a speed indicator, such as a tachogenerator or a similar device, and a measuring shaft driven by an output shaft of a rotor of said motor and carrying a measuring member immersible in a medium of which the viscosity is to be measured, the motor stator is rotatably displaceable against the action of a spring, the displacement being a measure of the viscosity. The driving connection between said motor and measuring shaft comprises at least one pair of exchangeable gears or toothed belts and said spring is exchangeable for one having a different spring characteristic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stove which burns a primary combustible material in a container placed on a horizontal plate which divides the stove into upper and lower combustion chambers. The plate has a central aperture therethrough which, in operation, is in registry with a central opening in the container bottom wall. A hollow perforated tube is positioned in the container in registry with the opening and the aperture and the combustible material fills the container, surrounding the wall of the tube. When a temporary starting fire is lit in the lower chamber, the flames thereof will be drawn up into the tube and will light the combustible material in the container through the perforations in the tube. The combustible material in the container will burn radially outwardly from the tube in a uniform manner, with air circulation being provided in the expanding annular space between the tube and the burning face of the combustible material.

Abstract: In anti-glare spectacles comprising a frame and a pair of lenses, each lens comprises a substantially circular central zone of substantially complete transparency and an adjoining light-absorbing annular zone over an angular range of substantially 45.degree. in which the light absorption increases sharply from the inside of the annulus and drops towards the outside of the annulus by the square of the angle. An outer zone of each lens has a low absorption.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for overriding the prior art automatic levelling system for vehicles riding on fluid suspensions such as air bags. Such systems utilize a link extending between the vehicle axle and a regulating valve whereby the valve is responsive to vertical axle movement to alter the pressurization of the air bags and hence the clearance height between the vehicle bed and the axle. In the present invention the link is replaced by a cylinder and piston actuator which is connected to a master control via a conduit. An incompressible fluid fills the actuator chamber, the conduit and the master control chamber. The master control chamber may be varied in volume to produce a corresponding change, via the fluid, in the actuator chamber resulting in relative movement between the actuator cylinder and piston and hence operation of the regulating valve.

Abstract: In the selection and dispensing of one of a plurality of recording discs stored in compartments in a juke-box, each of said discs bearing a different code, one of said discs is selected by depressing a key, whereupon the stored discs are scanned automatically and, on detection of the selected disc, a dispensing mechanism is actuated automatically.

Abstract: A game call having a sounding board covering the sounding chamber of a sound block to facilitate in the production of tones imitating the call of a wild turkey. The call is composed of two sections interfitted so that the vibratory peg extending from the sound block rests securely on a groove machined on the front and of the sound box for compact carrying and protection from damage.

Abstract: An expandable plug for use in effecting a fluid-tight seal at a remote location in a tube includes a compressible sleeve located between a rigid cylindrical member and a rigid sleeve. A bolt extends through the two sleeves and is threaded into the cylindrical member to apply compressive force to the expandable sleeve causing the sleeve to expand radially outwardly into fluid-tight sealing relation with the inner wall of the tube and radially inwardly into fluid-tight sealing relation with the bolt shank thereby protecting the bolt threads from contamination and corrosion. An eccentrically mounted disk is provided at the remote end of the cylindrical member to lock this member against rotation during installation of the plug.

Abstract: A harvester for harvesting only the blade or lamina from a mature kelp plant uses a plurality of harvester mechanisms for movement through a kelp bed adjacent the sea bottom. Each mechanism has a pair of helically formed spindles parallel to each other for relative counter-rotation, the helices being of opposite hand. A kelp stipe, encountering the spindles is moved upwardly thereby to bring the attached lamina into a channel forward of the spindles, adjacent which channel a cutter is positioned. When the lamina starts to engage the spindles they separate slightly and operate a linkage which in turn actuates the cutter to sever the lamina. The severed laminae are collected in a basket connected to the harvesting mechanisms. By harvesting only the lamina the plant can regenerate a new lamina and it is possible to have repeated harvests from a single plant.

Abstract: An exercise device which enables one to experience the benefits of rope climbing exercise while remaining on the ground. A rope extends between upper and lower winding drums. Tensioning springs are associated with the upper drum to provide increasing tension on the rope as it is pulled downwardly.

Abstract: A harvester for plants such as Irish moss is disclosed. The harvester may be towed along the sea bed by a surface vessel and provides for the continuous pumping of harvested plants to the vessel by way of an enclosed conduit. The harvester includes a plurality of axially spaced harvest rollers rotatably mounted in a frame. A plurality of guide rollers are pivotally mounted relative to the harvest rollers in advance thereof with each guide roller being longitudinally aligned with a corresponding space between adjacent harvest rollers. A continuous mesh-like harvest belt extends around the guide and harvest rollers with the lengthwise members thereof being entrained around the guide rollers and positioned in the spaces defined between the harvest rollers. The transverse members of the belt are flexible and extend between the endless members so as to be positioned, in the lower run thereof on the sea bed, and so as to engage and conform to the contour of the harvest rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for frying instant noodles wherein a portion of steamed noodle to be fried is contained in a receptacle with a telescoping lid, the receptacle and the lid being mounted on the first and second conveyors respectively so as for the lid to telescope into the receptacle for a certain time according to the movement of the conveyors, during which time the telescoping depth of the lid is caused to vary to obtain a good frying condition.

Abstract: An edge protector and anchor member for the upper edge portion of the side wall of a pick-up truck box is formed as a generally U-shaped channel member. One leg of the member extends into the interior of the box to protect the upper inside portion of the side wall. The other leg extends downwardly on the outside of the side wall and has a plurality of spaced apart anchor means along the marginal edge thereof. Each anchor means comprises a tab flanked by notches struck from the leg with the tab being bent inwardly of the channel member. A rope or other tie-down device may be connected to the tabs for securing a load in the box.

Abstract: Panels for cladding floors, walls and ceilings of rooms for locating ducting for carrying heating/cooling media for controlling the room temperature.Mounting panels are formed from thermally insulating foamed plastics material with projections of different diameter in rows and columns to locate flexible tubing thereon. The mounting panels have jigsaw-like edges to allow for interlocking. The projections are solid and flat structural panels typically of steel or aluminium and adapted to be screwed or glued to the protrusions. Location of the structural panels is assisted by annular rims on the underside thereof around the screw holes, which penetrate into the projections.Methods of moulding the mounting panels from foamed polystyrene are described and a preferred form of mould to give differential foaming.A fixing screw having particular relationships between thread and core dimensions is described for securing to foamed plastics materials and the like.

Abstract: A ladder support for imparting lateral stability to a ladder includes a C-shaped channel member for each side leg of the ladder. A first shoe member is slidably received and lockable longitudinally within each channel and is pivotally connected to a brace member which in turn is pivotally connected to a second shoe member which is also slidably receivable within the channel member. The second shoe members may be positioned outwardly of the ladder on an appropriate support surface and the first shoe members locked in place. The ladder is held by the support assemblies against any lateral forces which might tend to otherwise tip the ladder. When not in use the shoe members are compactly stored within their corresponding channel members.

Abstract: The performance characteristics of a vee type planing hull are significantly increased by a combination of features for reducing drag and increasing attitude control.Exemplary of the former are a concave running pad to which air is inducted to reduce hull drag and an angled transom terminating at a transverse hull "step" which permits the outboard propulsion unit to be carried higher reducing unit drag. The presence of longitudinal "wedges" increase hull lift as planing speed is approached allowing the hull to plane at a lower speed.Transverse wedge elements positioned outboard of the concave running pad maintain a stern lifting torque for controlling bow up angle.