Abstract: A fish hook remover for humanely removing a hook from a fish is particularly useful for catch-and-release fishing. The fish hook remover has a handle for a user to manipulate, a hook engagement member, and two rods which connect the handle and the hook engagement member. These connections are located such that the hook remover acts similar to a four-bar linkage. When the handle, forming one side of the four-bar linkage, is rotated one direction, the hook engagement member, forming the opposing side of the four-bar linkage, is rotated the same direction, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the motion of the hook engagement member. The hook engagement member has a channel running through it. An opening in the hook engagement member allows the user to insert the fishing line which is then used as a guide to properly place the fish hook remover. The hook engagement member is slid downward until the fish hook slides into a notch located in the bottom of the hook engagement member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hair removal are provided. A hand held, manually operated depilatory device removes hairs located along a length of a linear axis. A string-like, elongate element is positioned within a frame and may be removed for cleaning or replacement. Hair is engaged with and captured by a moving twisted engagement of an elongate, string-like element and pulled away and removed from the skin of a subject. The elongate element is removable and replaceable which improves hygienic maintenance and performance adjustment of the apparatus. The length of the twisted engagement and the number of its twists are adjustable by a user.

Abstract: A combination of materials comprised of an inner or core material and an outer material layer or coating on one or both sides of the core material whereby this combination of materials is to be used in conjunction with sheet metal forming equipment such as press brake and punch press machines to protect the sheet metal and equipment tooling during the sheet metal forming process as well as improve the quality of the finished sheet metal product.

Abstract: A self releasing hook is designed to work with a sliding sleeve that holds the hook in the straight position while fishing. These hooks have a straight. The eye of the hook is located on the outer edge of the hook at approximately the middle of the arcuate section. The hook in combination with the sliding sleeve complete the self releasing rig. After the angler catches the fish, the fish is removed by pulling the custom sleeve forward either by hand, trip rod or tag line. When the sleeve clears the shank of the hook, the hook is rotated by pulling on the main line which rotates the hook at the eye. When the hook has reached approximately 140-160 degrees, it releases itself from the flesh of the fish. By using barbless hooks or hooks with the barb on the back side of the bend, the hooks will release quickly and freely, with the minimum possible amount of damage to the fish. Also disclosed are throat blocking sleeves which extend outward from the arcuate portion of the hook.

Abstract: A fluid level controller which replaces fluid lost from a container thus maintaining the fluid level in the container. It is comprised of the following major pieces: an airtight reservoir (10) with cap (14), fill stem (12), feed lube (16), and tube attachment fittings (18a and 18b); several lengths of fluid conduit, (22a,b) and a u-bend (26) which form a siphon such that one end reaches into the bottom of reservoir (10) and the other reaches into the container below the desired fluid level; a length of conduit, (22c) which forms an air return line allowing air into reservoir (10); a stand (8) atop which sits the reservoir; a tubing clip (24); and a shut-off valve (20). The u-bend (26) allows the controller to preserve the initial prime of the system so that it only needs to be primed once. The shut-off valve (20) allows easy refilling of the controller once the fluid reservoir empties. These two features make the controller extremely easy to use.

Abstract: A method for performing transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) uses a cardioplegic agent to briefly stop the heartbeat long enough to create 10 to 40 carefully placed transmyocardial blood flow channels using a laser. The cardioplegic agent used may be adenosine or an adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel opener, such as aprikalim, or a standard hyperkalemic cardioplegic agent. The temporarily induced motionlessness of the heart allows accurate and efficient placement of the blood flow channels, while the short duration of the cardioplegic effect obviates the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. The blood flow channels can be formed from the exterior or the interior of the heart. Preferably, the TMR procedure is performed using an infrared laser, such as a CO.sub.

Abstract: A carrier convertible from a carrying and storage mode to a playing mode. There are two bins which, in the carrying mode, are positioned on either side of one or more boards. The bins interlock with each other and with the boards so that the whole device may be easily carried as a unit. The interlock may be formed from posts and holes, depressions and protrusions, etc. When a user wishes to play bingo or other similar type game, the carrier is quickly and easily converted to playing mode. The latches are disengaged to allow the two bins to separate. This frees the boards from their confinement by the interlock. There is a groove in the backs of the boards. When the boards are set up for play, the grooves are set to rest over and engage either the low front edge of the bins, or the higher back edge of the bins. In this position, the boards provide an inclined surface for holding and displaying multiple bingo cards for convenient viewing and playing.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing viscous liquids which dispenses from the bottom of the container and which has a self-closing, non-drip dispensing spout. The dispensing spout may be provided on the bottom of an upright container having a cap at the other extremity or as a part of a removable cap for the container having a flat upper surface for storing the container in an inverted position. A self-operating closure allows one-handed operation of the container. The self-operating closure has a pivotable dispensing tube and valve with an open position and a closed position which is operated by the pivoting action of the dispensing tube. The pivotable dispensing tube and the valve are biased into a closed position to make the closure self-operating. A detent may be provided for holding the pivotable dispensing tube in an open position against the bias.

Abstract: A water pistol which has a water-collecting target mounted on it. The water pistol has a water firing mechanism that squirts a stream of water from the pistol. The water-collecting target is connected to the water firing mechanism of the water pistol so that water which strikes the target is collected and can be squirted again by the firing mechanism. The water pistol may also have a water reservoir connected between the water-collecting target and the water firing mechanism that can collect a supply of water sufficient for multiple squirts. Different water collecting targets and water firing mechanisms suitable for the invention are described. When the special water pistols are used in pairs, they can be used for a game of water catch where one player squirts a stream of water toward a second player, and the second player tries to catch the water in the water-collecting target of his or her water pistol and squirt it back to the first player. A number of variations of the water catch game are described.

Abstract: An improved and simplified apparatus and method for washing leafy plant products is provided. The invented apparatus utilizes hydro-energy for sufficiently cleaning plant products being processed thereby, while effectively using water recirculating therethrough. The apparatus comprises a plant product loading assembly coupled to a cleansing flume. The loading assembly comprises a conical receiving section having a plurality of spray nozzles located about the periphery thereof to form a turbulent water flow through the loading assembly that completely submerges plant product disposed in the receiving section. This ensures that a maximum amount of plant product mixes with the water to form a slurry that optimizes water usage and quickly cleans the product. The flow rate of the water flowing through the spray nozzles does not damage the plant product. The configuration of the loading assembly inhibits collection of debris for maintaining sanitation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A safety brake device (1) for hydraulic elevators acts by arresting the axial movement of the elevator ram (3) with respect to the main hydraulic cylinder (5) of the elevator. The safety brake (1) utilizes two lever acting brake arms (27) lined with an accretable metal (31), for example annealed copper, as the friction material. When actuated, the brake arms (27) contact the ram (3) circumferentially to slow and stop the falling ram. The lining material (31) is machined inside the brake arms (27) to a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the ram (3) and when actuated, the accretable material (31) on the brake arms (27) contacts the ram (3) with sufficient frictional force to stop the downward motion of the ram (3). The safety brake (1) may be actuated by loss of hydraulic pressure, by an electronic signal from a hydraulic pressure detector, by down overspeed or by an uncontrolled down motion detector.

Abstract: A support strap whose lower end is sewn to a hook-and-loop band which encircles the sheath portion of a urine-collecting catheter and the user's penis. Its upper end has male part snaps sewn to it, which cooperate with female part snaps on the undergarment's waistband. The strap and band prevent the external urinary catheter from slipping off of the penis. The band has multiple indicating marks on the loop side and one mark on the hook side, for accurate repositioning of the band each time it is reapplied. A second embodiment has a front section of a garment onto which is sewn a grooved retainer ring, which encircles the penis. An applicator ring is used to spread the rim of the condom catheter to facilitate fitting the condom onto the penis and for fitting the rim into the groove of the grooved retaining ring.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for measuring and visually displaying a user's body movement while performing a motion. Sensing means (22) such as potentiometers, are coupled to the joints of a user in order to quantitatively detect movement of the user's body while performing a motion. The sensors (22) generate signals indicative of the motion and are received by processor means (30) which in turn connects to a display means (32) for graphically displaying at least one image representing the movement. A second image may be displayed with the first image for comparison purposes.

Abstract: An inspection tool for verifying the relative planarity of a flat surface or for verifying whether a first planar surface is parallel to a second planar surface is described. The tool includes a dial indicator on the end of a flexible support arm which is rotatably mounted on a base with a planar bottom surface. The flexible support arm permits the dial indicator to be positioned in contact with the planar bottom surface of the base and the axis of rotation is adjustable with respect to the planar bottom surface which allows the device to be self-calibrating. One application of the device is verifying whether the ring carrier or probe card of a wafer prober is parallel with the wafer probe chuck. The planar bottom surface of the base is placed on the wafer probe chuck and the support arm is rotated with the dial indicator in contact with the ring carrier or the probe card. Any deviation in the dial indicator reading indicates that the surfaces are not parallel.