Abstract: A new and improved spring assembly for a trolling motor bracket which is used to mount an electric trolling motor on the deck of a watercraft or boat. The spring assembly includes a rod mount plate for slidably engaging the bracket arm of the trolling motor between first and second positions, and at least one spring operably engages the rod mount plate and biases the rod mount plate in a first position. The mount collar of the trolling motor is adapted for pivotally engaging the rod mount plate of the spring assembly. Accordingly, the rod mount plate slides on the bracket arm from the first position to the second position against bias imparted by the spring or springs, as the mount collar of the trolling motor pivots from a first configuration to a second configuration on the rod mount plate.

Abstract: Beverage container holders which typically include a single-cup beverage container holder, a dual-cup beverage container holder, a three-cup beverage container holder and a four-cup beverage container holder. The respective beverage container holders are each characterized by at least one container cup and a handle attached to the container cup, which handle is typically hollow and serrated or scalloped to facilitate non-rotatable nesting of the handles of two or more of the beverage container holders in either stored or functional configuration. The various configurations of the container cups on the handles facilitates selective positioning of the container cups of multiple nested beverage container holders, to enable an individual to carry a selected number of beverages using one hand at the nested handles.

Abstract: A hose siphon for cleaning sand, dirt and other particulate impurities from tanks or vessels. The hose siphon typically includes an aspirator conduit for receiving the pressurized water and a main conduit for receiving the pressurized water from the aspirator conduit. The main conduit includes a suction end for fluid communication with the tank or vessel and a discharge end for discharging the pressurized water from the main conduit. As the pressurized water flows through the aspirator conduit and into the main conduit, sand filtering medium and trapped impurities are aspirated from the vessel into the suction end of the main conduit, and discharged from the discharge end of the main conduit with the pressurized water. A water discharge hose is provided in fluid communication with the aspirator conduit for distributing a portion of the pressurized water to the tank or vessel and maintaining a suspension or slurry of the sand medium and particulate impurities in the tank or vessel.

Abstract: A trailer back-up mirror which can be-removably attached to the frame of a boat, camper, recreational vehicle or other trailer for facilitating alignment of the hitch ball on a towing vehicle with the trailer hitch as the vehicle is backed toward the trailer, in order to couple the trailer hitch to the hitch ball. In a preferred embodiment the trailer back-up mirror is characterized by a support shaft which is magnetically and removably attached to the trailer frame. An adjusting shaft is adjustably extendible from the support shaft and a flexible gooseneck shaft extension projects from the extending end of the adjusting shaft. A rectangular mirror mount plate terminates the shaft extension and a flat mirror and convex mirror are mounted on the mirror mount plate. In use, the gooseneck shaft extension is initially adjusted to position the mirror mount plate such that the trailer hitch and hitch ball appear in the convex mirror, and the trailer hitch appears in the flat mirror.

Abstract: A glow-in-the-dark plastic dental appliance typically for pediatric dental patients, and method of constructing the appliance. According to a preferred method of the invention, the dental appliance is constructed by first forming an impression of a patient's upper or lower dentition and constructing a cast from the impression. The appliance is thermoformed over the cast, typically using a vacuum or pressure thermoforming machine and a sheet, plate or disc of thermoformable plastic impregnated or coated with a phosphorescent material. The appliance is capable of glowing in the dark for a limited period of time after exposure to a light source and as the appliance is worn on the patient's dentition, and is capable of repeated phosphorescence throughout the dental treatment period.

Abstract: A meat and poultry roaster which is characterized by a one-piece drip pan or bowl and marinade container, wherein the marinade container extends upwardly from the center of the drip pan for supporting the meat or poultry in an upright position in an oven or cooker, and contains marinade for seasoning the meat or poultry. The drip pan or bowl and marinade container may be constructed of a rigid metal such as stainless steel and aluminum heat-resistant glassware or plastic, or it may be built of a flexible, disposable material such as aluminum foil.

Abstract: A downhole coiled tubing recovery apparatus and method which utilizes vibration and resonant vibration in particular, to remove coiled tubing and/or other objects which are stuck or jammed downhole in a well. In a preferred embodiment the coiled tubing recovery apparatus includes an oscillating apparatus suspended from a rig and fitted with a coiled tubing bail for mounting the coiled tubing and the method includes guiding the coiled tubing from a reel through the bail and into and from an injector head and the well, responsive to raising and lowering of the oscillating apparatus and the tubing bail. One or more rod clamps are typically used in connection with the coiled tubing bail for manipulating the coiled tubing through the injector head to and from the reel. In another embodiment of the invention the coiled tubing bail is omitted and the coiled tubing is suspended directly from a fitting attached to the oscillator and extends through the injector head into the well.

Abstract: A reciprocating barge coupling device for removably coupling adjacent barges floating on a water body and allowing vertical movement of the barges with respect to each other typically due to the wave-induced rise and fall of the barges. In a preferred embodiment the reciprocating barge coupling device is characterized by a pair of coupling units of substantially identical construction mounted on the responsive barges, each of which coupling units is fitted with an elongated, vertical coupling channel and a T-bolt. In application, the barges are positioned in adjacent, end-to-end relationship to each other, with the vertical coupling channels of the respective coupling units in substantially aligned, facing relationship with respect to each other.

Abstract: A self-contained, portable rainwater collecting and purifying system for collecting, filtering and disinfecting rainwater or other precipitation primarily for drinking purposes. In a preferred embodiment the portable rainwater collecting and purifying system is characterized by a housing which contains the system components. The bottom of the housing is typically fitted with skids or wheels, and a pair of sloped water collection panels is typically hinged to the housing for receiving the falling rainwater. A collection gutter receives the rainwater from the panels and drains the rainwater into a vertical standpipe fitted with a typically screen filter or filters. As the rising water in the standpipe eventually overflows, the overflowing, partially filtered water leaves the standpipe and enters a water collection tank through a hopper typically fitted with a gravity-flow filter or filters.

Abstract: A laminated shoehorn which is characterized by an elongated, flexible shoehorn body having a substantially rough backing layer and a substantially smooth foot contact layer laminated to the backing layer. The shoehorn body is typically shaped with an elongated center portion having a circular grip at one end and a widened, arcuate heel guide at the other end of the center portion for supporting the user's heel. A hanging opening may be provided in the grip to facilitate hanging the shoehorn from a nail, hook or the like. The smooth foot contact layer facilitates slipping of the user's foot into a shoe, and the rough backing layer of the shoehorn body contacts the shoe and prevents the shoehorn from sliding into the shoe beneath the user's foot. In a preferred embodiment the backing layer is thin cheesecloth, polyester or foam rubber and the foot contact layer is vinyl.

Abstract: A tubular injector with snubbing jack and oscillator, which eliminates the need for overhead tubular and oscillator support structure and utilizes resonant vibration to remove tubulars (2) and other objects which are stuck in a well. In a first embodiment the apparatus includes a mechanical oscillator (22) mounted on a snubbing jack (30), wherein the tubular load on the snubbing jack (30) can be released and transferred to the oscillator (22) when the tubular (2) is stuck, for vibrating and loosening the tubular (2) in the well. In another embodiment the apparatus is designed to handle coiled tubing (6) and a snubbing-type jack (39) is used in association with a conventional coiled tubing guide (37) and a coiled tubing injector (14), for guiding the coiled tubing (6) from a reel through the guide (37) and through a hollow tubular stem (9) in the oscillating apparatus (22), into the injector (14) and the well.

Abstract: An exercising device for strengthening the muscles used in pitching or throwing a baseball or softball or swinging a baseball or softball bat. In a preferred embodiment the exercising device is characterized by a base and a vertical support post upward-standing from the base. A pulley housing is provided on the support post and a pulley and an eccentric cam wheel are rotatably mounted in the housing. A cam tensioning device is provided on the rear of the housing for exerting a preselected torsional resistance on the cam wheel and a torque cable connects the pulley and cam wheel, such that the cam wheel rotates with the pulley. A pull cable trained on the pulley extends through an opening provided in the pulley housing and a baseball, softball or the impact end of a bat is removably attached to the extending end of the pull cable.

Abstract: A cantilever umbrella characterized by a folding canopy which is mounted in cantilever fashion on a support post rotatably mounted in a base and can be positioned at a selected location in the orbit of the canopy around the support post for shelter against rain or sunlight. In a preferred embodiment a support arm extends in angular relationship from the support post. A canopy support sleeve is mounted on a descending segment of the support arm, and multiple canopy support ribs which support the canopy are pivotally mounted on the canopy support sleeve in radially-extending relationship therefrom. Multiple spreader struts are pivotally attached at one end of each to the corresponding canopy support rib, and the other end of each spreader strut is pivotally mounted on a common strut support sleeve. A winch is mounted on the support post and a cable attached to the winch engages a pulley provided on the strut support sleeve.

Abstract: A self-contained symmetrical outflow meter for resting on a non-skid surface such as pavement and timing the rate of water drainage from the surface. The outflow meter is characterized by a circular base, a pair of handle supports which extend upwardly from the base and a handle which spans the top end portions of the handle supports. A funnel is mounted between the handle supports beneath the handle and a vertical water discharge tube for containing water is mounted in the base, beneath the funnel. A spring-loaded plunger is mounted in the discharge tube for selectively sealing a water discharge opening provided in the base. Upper and lower adaptors are suspended from the funnel inside the water discharge tube, and upper and lower switch floats are vertically displaceably mounted on the respective upper and lower adaptors. A timer is provided on a timer support which spans the upper ends of the handle supports, and is wired to the switch floats.

Abstract: A thermoformed plastic dental retainer and method of construction including rapid cooling of the retainer, typically using a refrigerant coolant, as the retainer sets on a dental impression cast. The dental retainer is constructed by first forming an impression of a patient's upper or lower dentition and constructing the cast from the impression The retainer is vacuum-thermoformed over the cast using a sheet, plate or disc of thermoformable plastic and a vacuum or pressure thermoforming machine. As the thermoformed plastic retainer sets on the cast, the retainer is rapidly cooled typically by spraying a refrigerant coolant on the retainer.

Abstract: An apparatus for bursting and replacing gas, water, sewer or other underground utility pipes. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus is characterized by a specially-designed rod-pulling device which is situated typically in a manhole or excavation, at one end of the pipe to be replaced. A rod is extended from the rod-pulling device through the pipe and is attached to a stored energy head disposed in a tapered bursting head which initially engages the opposite end of the pipe. A pneumatic hammer is typically seated in the stored energy head and a replacement pipe is removably attached to the bursting head. In typical operation, the rod-pulling device pus the stored energy head against the bursting head and thus, the bursting head against the pipe as the pneumatic hammer repeatedly strikes the stored energy head against the bursting head.

Abstract: A spray hood assembly for containing the spray mist of pesticides or other liquid agricultural chemicals in an application area as the pesticide or other liquid is applied to soil or vegetation. In a preferred embodiment, the spray hood assembly includes an elongated hood characterized by a selected number of arcuate hood segments attached to each other in end-to-end relationship and mounted on a trailer hitched to a tractor or other towing vehicle. As the suspended hood migrates over soil or vegetation, the pesticide or other liquid is sprayed into the hood. Air intake openings in the front of the hood segments permit entry of turbulent air which promotes mixing of the air and sprayed mist inside the hood and substantially uniform application of the mist to the soil or vegetation within the confines of the hood. In a preferred embodiment, a mist curtain extends downwardly from the curved front and rear panels of the adjacent hood segments for enhancing confinement of the mist in the hood during application.

Abstract: A saddlebag support for supporting a pair of computer speakers on opposite sides of a computer monitor, above the monitor-supporting surface. In a preferred embodiment the saddlebag support is characterized by a flexible, generally Y-shaped, right speaker support having a pair of parallel monitor top engaging strips for resting on the top of the computer monitor and a similar, flexible, left speaker support having a pair of attachment strips for removable attachment to the respective monitor top engaging strips of the right speaker support. A right speaker support panel element of the right speaker extends from the monitor top engaging strips on the right side of the computer monitor and an elongated, right speaker mount strip extends from the right speaker support panel. A left speaker support panel of the left speaker support extends from the attachment strips on the left side of the computer monitor and a left speaker mount strip extends from the left speaker support panel.