Abstract: A vacuum machine has a flat deck, a first side wall extending downward from a first side edge and a second side wall extending downward from the second side edge, an opening through the deck with a length and width less than the length of the opening in the direction of the length of the deck, a first plenum affixed to an upper surface of the deck, a fan assembly joined to the plenum, the fan assembly having a first internal fan driven by a motor with fan blades adapted to be manually adjusted individually in attitude, perforated panels in a second plenum having openings of a size and geometry to destroy insects drawn through the openings; and a translatable substantially flat panel joined by fasteners through slots in the translatable panel to an underside of the deck proximate the opening through the deck.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling animal pests comprises a housing having a passage extending into the housing from an entrance, an impacting member movable across the passage and a planar sensor spaced apart from the kill bar by a predetermined distance along the passage towards the entrance, the planar sensor configured to sense the presence of the animal pest across a sensing plane across the passage wherein the impacting member is operable to be released to rapidly move across the passage when the planar sensor indicates the presence of the animal pest as passed through the sensing plane.

Abstract: A rat trap includes a frame with a tunnel or arch at a first and, the tunnel formed with a slit over the entrance. A spring is mounted on the frame and a locking mechanism can temporarily maintain the spring in tension. A cable is attached to the spring and includes a noose at a distal end. With the noose disposed in the slit, a switch such as a mechanical switch or an electrical switch is arranged to detect the presence of a rat in the tunnel below the slit. The switch operates to release the spring and withdraw the noose from the tunnel at a high rate of speed to capture the animal in the tunnel.

Abstract: A fishing lure assembly that includes a crank bait lure, a treble hook coupled to the rear loop of the crank bait lure, a spinner blade, a spinnerbait jig, and a fixture wire that couples the crank bait lure, the spinner blade, and the spinnerbait jig to define the fishing lure assembly, spaces the crank bait lure, the spinner blade, and the spinnerbait jig apart from one another, and provides a common connection point for securing the crank bait lure, the spinner blade, and the spinnerbait jig to a fishing line.

Abstract: A multi-directional spreader bar assembly includes a specially formed rudder bird assembly attached to the center of a spreader bar member for trolling a plurality of lures from a fishing boat in a spread pattern. The rudder bird assembly includes a bird-like longitudinal body having an airfoil shape with fins on either side and a pair of diagonal crossing grooves centrally formed on the bottom of the body with a hole made therethrough that is off-centered from the longitudinal axis of the body and spaced apart from the crossing grooves. A rudder plate welded to a threaded stem is adapted to engage a selected one of the bottom grooves while the threaded stem extends through the off-centered hole and held in place under coaxial spring compression so that the rudder plate and stem may be released and reset into the alternate groove to switch the trolling direction of the assembly.

Abstract: Fishing rods that have a rod body comprising a shape memory material. The shape memory material useful with the rod body of the fishing rod can be a shape memory metal, a metal alloy, a shape memory polymer, or some combination of carbon fiber, fiberglass and metal, metal alloy, or polymer with shape memory attributes.

Abstract: An adjustable fishing rod butt includes a first elongate member hingeably attached to a second elongate member. The first elongate member includes an opening on a bottom surface thereof extending at least into an interior thereof, and an alignment locking member secured about the opening on the bottom surface thereof. The alignment locking member includes an opening coaxially aligned with the opening in the first elongate member. The second elongate member includes an adjustable reel seat portion on an upper surface, and an angle positioning arm extending from a bottom surface and oriented to be received by the openings in the first elongate member and the alignment locking member. A locking pin locks the angle positioning arm to provide the butt with a specific angular relationship.

Abstract: A modularized spinnerbait rig includes an embedded fork system to change a spinnerbait head in real time and includes a pivoting assembly to cause the spinnerbait head to pivot.

Abstract: An angling device comprising a housing arranged with an arm with a pivot to the housing at a proximal end and a line capture jaw at a distal end, a location means for location of the line capture jaw in use on a line of an angling rod, and a mechanism for pivoting the arm from a second position where the line capture jaw locates on the line in a second location on the rod, to a first position where the line capture jaw locates on the line in a first location on the rod, wherein the mechanism is activated automatically after movement of the line to the second location on the rod.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved fish fighting apparatus that can be used by youth anglers, such as children, to assist in the capture of fish. The fish fighting apparatus includes a base frame having a plurality of vertical supports extending upwardly therefrom, an upper frame attached to the vertical supports and positioned above the base frame, a seat attached to the base frame, where the base frame, the upper frame, the vertical support, and the seat together define a seating area, a rod holder attached to the base frame and forming a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart openings between the base frame and the upper frame, and a mounting assembly attached to an underside of the seat and configured for mounting on a gunwale of a fishing vessel.

Abstract: A fishing rod butt is provided with a first segment and a second segment and a hinge assembly coupled between the first segment and the second segment. The hinge assembly includes a first joint portion and a protrusion extending perpendicularly from the first joint portion. The protrusion includes a second joint portion forming a right angle between the first joint portion and the second joint portion. An angle-selector grip extends from the second joint portion of the protrusion into a cavity formed within a bottom side of the second segment. The angle selector-grip includes a locking pin pinhole in coaxial alignment with pinholes disposed on each side of the second segment. The first segment pivotally attaches to the second segment and the angle selector grip lockably repositions the first segment to the second segment via a locking pin.

Abstract: A universal tip top for a rod blank includes a leg member defining a channel for receiving a distal end of a rod blank, a frame connected to the leg member, and a ring forming a line guide supported by the frame. The channel has a longitudinal opening configured to facilitate attachment of the universal tip top to rod blanks of different diameters.

Abstract: Disclosed are livewell systems and methods of operating livewell systems. A livewell system may include a livewell tank having a chamber formed therein, a fill sensor configured to detect a fill level of the chamber, an intake pump configured to selectively convey water into the chamber, and a control unit including a processor and a memory storing instructions. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive a fill signal, determine whether the chamber is filled to a predetermined fill level; and in response to the fill signal and a determination that the chamber is not filled to the predetermined fill level, cause the intake pump to convey water into the chamber.

Abstract: A ripple apparatus for a wing spinning waterfowl decoy is provided. The ripple apparatus includes a decoy attachment element having a pair of attachment members, a body member pivotably coupled to the pair of attachment members via a pin, and a lower attachment member hingedly attached to the body member, wherein a first attachment member of the pair of attachment members is configured to be removably attached to a rotating motor shaft and a second attachment member of the attachment members is configured to receive a spinning wing of the decoy. A motion transfer element coupled to the lower attachment member. A ripple producing element is removably secured to the motion transfer element, wherein the ripple producing element is configured to be positioned approximate to the water surface such that ripples are created when the decoy is in operation.

Abstract: An animal trap for safely trapping animals that may be safely set with a single hand. The trap has a frame with an opening and a pair of doors that are pivotally affixed to the frame adjacent to the opening. The doors are movable between an open and closed position. A rotating assembly is connected to each door through a corresponding linkage that are pivotally connected to the rotating assembly and one of the doors. The rotating assembly is rotatably affixed to the frame and rotatable between a set position and a tripped position about an axis. A spring biases one of the doors toward its closed position and when the rotating assembly is in its set position. A trigger mechanism is pivotally affixed to the frame and has a set position and a tripped position, rotating the trigger mechanism will trip the trap.

Abstract: A scarecrow mount for mounting a scarecrow to a first support, the scarecrow having a hollow base with an aperture formed on a bottom of the hollow base. The scarecrow mount includes a first rigid leg of unitary construction and mountable to an upper surface of the first support and having a scarecrow holder formed thereon and configured for installation to the scarecrow through the aperture on the bottom of the scarecrow to engage the bottom of the scarecrow and apply a spring tension to hold the scarecrow on the leg. The scarecrow holder is configured as an elongate double curved member having a proximal end directly connected to the first leg and an opposite free end. The scarecrow holder is shaped to have an upward curve just outward of the proximal end and an oppositely extending downward curve just inward of the free end, such that the free end is angled upwardly away from the first leg.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a non-spring based lock mechanism, described as a lock and lever, telescoping slide assembly comprising an elongated, stationary, multi-faceted tube. Also disclosed is a snaring tool employing the non spring based lock mechanism for gripping items such as industrial pipe and other large moving items which can be ensnared. An optional locking pin mechanism can be added to the lock and lever slide assembly to avoid accidental release of the gripping means.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a decoy apparatus comprising: a motor unit securely connected to a base, at least one wing member operatively connected to the motor so as to be rotated by the motor when the motor is engaged, a power source to operate the motor, and a shell that mimics the look of an avian animal that can be incorporated with the motor so as to cause the rotating wing members to appear as if they were the wings of the avian animal. In alternate embodiments, the motor is encased in a motor housing that defines a structure and the shell is a soft body in the shape of a bird with a cavity that is substantially to the size and shape of at least the top of the motor housing such that at least a portion of the motor housing is capable of being inserted into the decoy body, filling a portion of the cavity. In one or more embodiments, the wings are configured to spin at a rate of at least 300 rpm.

Abstract: An improved crab trap having a selectable counting device that actuates floatable transmitters that indicate when a certain number of crabs have entered the trap. The transmitters are connected to receivers that can determine which traps have crabs allowing the fisherman to improve and optimize the counting of crabs and pulling of crab pots.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pest control device, crafted to mimic a tree, amalgamates physical, chemical, and biological lures, including light, ultrasound, infrared, and specific chemicals, to efficiently attract target insects. Periodically, the device photographs a set area, such as the trunk of the faux tree, equipped with electrified nets. Leveraging a pre-trained machine learning processor, the system detects the presence of specific insect species within these images. Upon identifying a target insect, an electric shock is released in the respective area, neutralizing the insect. The device also features a system to collect and process the insect remnants. Furthermore, these artificial trees can be interconnected to form a network, utilizing big data and machine learning, thereby enabling the formulation of optimal strategies for pest control across specific geographical regions.