Abstract: A spear gun assembly for propelling a sharpened spear in an underwater hunting environment. The assembly includes a holding bar rigidly attached to the gun which engages a hole in the spear. A trigger assembly is actuatable to pivot a lifter for lifting the spear from the holding bar, thereby releasing the spear from the gun. The trigger assembly is provided with a safety mechanism for preventing the lifter from pivoting and a lanyard which is disengaged as the trigger is actuated.

Abstract: A hitch control system includes various sensors, an operator command lever, a spring-centered three position raise/lower switch, a control unit which generates control signals as a function thereof and an actuator which moves the hitch in response to the control signals. The control system permits the operator to move the hitch to a working position via manipulation of the command and a single manipulation of the raise/lower switch. The control system ignores switch manipulation unless the manipulation persists for at least a certain time period, or if the switch is manipulated in a different manner within a certain time of the earlier manipulation. In a failure mode the control system permits the hitch to be moved to a working position via manipulation of the raise/lower switch when the command lever cannot be so used.

Abstract: the end stretch cables of the rigging for a compound bow are provided as take-up and let-off segments which attach to opposite ends of a cross-bolt anchor member jounraled through the eccentrics of the rigging.

Abstract: An articulated ballast cleaning system utilizes a pair of ballast cleaners each dedicated to cleaning only a portion of the ballast bed of a railroad track, such that one cleans the peripheral ballast while the other cleans the center ballast. Spoil or waste ballast is conveyed forwardly along the apparatus for disposal, while cleaned ballast is conveyed rearwardly for replacement aft of an undercutter device. Fresh ballast may be conveyed forwardly along the apparatus to supplement the cleaned ballast.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system is provided which includes a pair of transversely spaced rockshaft cylinders which are plumbed in parallel and connected to opposite ends of a rockshaft on the central portion or main frame of a wide implement such as a field cultivor or chisel plow. The left-hand rockshaft cylinder is connected in series with a right-hand outer cylinder located near the right end of the implement. The right-hand rockshaft cylinder is connected in series with a left-hand outer cylinder on the opposite side of the implement. When a ground condition exists which causes, for example, the left side of the implement to dig more deeply and the left-hand wing cylinder to retract, the right-hand rockshaft cylinder will also be caused to retract so the right side of the implement tends to dig in more deeply.

Abstract: An orthopedic support device comprises a resilient pad having a length and a width, covered by a woven or non-woven fabric having a pair of ends which are adapted to be joined together, whereby the support device may be wrapped around a body at a desired location, and the ends of the device fastened together to support the body at that location, characterized in that the device is provided with a lengthwise extending first strip of hook and pile closure material, and there provided, in association with the device, a complementary second strip of hook and pile closure material, whereby the ends of the device may be releasably fastened together with a complementary strip of closure material.

Abstract: Self-propelled sod harvesting apparatus for cutting sod from a field into strips and stacking the sod on pallets. The apparatus includes a magazine storage area for pallets, a pallet loading area, and mechanism for transferring a pallet from the storage area to the loading area. A conveyor carries each cut sod strip to a platform and causes the sod to be rolled, and a stacking mechanism is used to collect rolls from the platform and stack them on the pallet. When the pallet is loaded it is discharged onto the ground and a fresh pallet is transferred from the storage area to the loading area. Only one person is required to operate the apparatus.

Abstract: A tool for cutting hexagon turf plugs has a base secured to upright legs and a hexagon-shaped cutter. A handle is attached to the legs to facilitate moving the cutter into turf to cut a turf plug. Wedge members secured to the inside of the cutter retain a cut turf plug within the cutter. Rods and a ring attached to the base and legs cooperate with the legs and wedge members to hold stacked cut turf plugs on the tool.

Abstract: A weed remover (14) for eradicating, killing, collecting and dispensing weeds without the user having to touch the soil or weeds comprises a frame (22), a handle (16), a foot bar (34), a digging blade (36), a vacuum inlet tube (40), a vacuum blower (86), an outlet hose (94), and a weed collecting housing (48) secured to frame (22). A weed disposal bag (44) is secured to the weed collecting housing (48) and tubes (40, 42) provide a track for weeds to be sucked into a disposable weed bag (44) by vacuum generated from an electric motor (28). A battery charger (100 ) is provided as well as a tank (26) for weed killer or other fluids and delivery tubing is provided (50, 58, 150) for delivering the weed killer to soil near the severed weed root.

Abstract: The bulldozer blade control mechanism according to the present invention has a U-shaped frame (22) fixed to the lower intermediate portion of the rear surface of a blade (20) so that the frame (22) can be turned in all directions, left and right lifting and angling hydraulic cylinders (62, 64) respectively fixed pivotably to between the left and right portions of the rear surface of the blade and the left and right portions of a chassis via arms (36, 38), left and right pitching and tilting hydraulic cylinders (40, 42) respectively fixed pivotably to between those portions of the arms (36, 38) which are in the vicinity of the rear ends thereof and the left and right upper portions of the rear surface of the blade, and left and right levers (56, 58) respectively fixed pivotably to between the left and right parallel leg portions of the U-shaped frame (22) and either of left and right hydraulic cylinders (62, 64) and left and right arms (36, 38).

Abstract: A trigger assembly for spearguns with a reversible safety and improved trigger pull. The safety has an operator that extends over the trigger area and is positioned so the fisherman's index finger can operate it while his hand is on the speargun grip.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful power driven golf hole cutting apparatus comprising an engine, an elongated shaft having first and second ends and operatively connected at or near the first end to the engine and driven in rotation by the engine, and a cutter head operatively connected to the second end of the shaft whereby the head is driven in rotation by the shaft, the cutter head comprising a somewhat elongated cylindrical member having upper and open lower ends and the outside diameter of which member approximates the inside diameter of a golf hole. A plunger arrangement is provided for removing a turf plug from the cutter head.

Abstract: A contraceptive method for living animals (including human beings) can utilize a polyurethane or polyvinylacetate (PVA) disc as an inert carrier for contraceptive preparations, the disc being implanted before intercourse to engage the external os of the cervical canal. Preferred contraceptive preparations include (1) the copper (II) salt of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTACu) and L-L-ascorbic acid; (2) the sialic acid-removing enzyme neuraminidase; and (3) an asialoglycoprotein, such as asialofetuin. Of these preparations, which can be used separately or in any combination, the first two act on the cervical mucus to change it from the open cellular structure found at midcycle of the menstrual period to the closed cellular structure and thus form an impenetrable barrier for spermatozoa. The second and third preparations remove sialic acid from spermatozoa, the presence of which is necessary for successful fertilization.

Abstract: A combination archery bow stabilizer and embedded arrowhead extractor having an elongated shaft with an enlarged head at one end and an elongated weight having a central bore extending therethrough in which the shaft is inserted in one direction for use as a stabilizer with the opposite end of the shaft extending from the weight and threaded for mounting in a bow mounting socket. When used as an embedded arrowhead extractor the shaft is reversed in the weight bore. The bore diameter at one end is large enough for the shaft head to slide therethrough to impact against an internal radial shoulder in the weight. The opposite end of the shaft includes a threaded internal bore for coupling to an arrowhead stem whereby reciprocating sliding motion of the weight against the shaft head functions as a slide hammer to remove the embedded arrowhead. A mounting socket in the shaft enlarged head enables additional accessories to be mounted to the bow in series with the stabilizer utilizing a single bow mounting socket.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method and apparatus for launching a ring. The apparatus includes a frame with three frame limbs. Each frame limb includes a longitudinal axis, a neck, a shoulder, an arm and a port. The frame limbs are joined at a common axis along their longitudinal axes. An elastomeric band is connected to each arm and bridges each port. A trigger stretches the bands into their respective ports, this stretching action causes a concomitant rotational action associated with the bands. This rotational action will provide a rotational motion to the ring while the releasing of the trigger will provide an axial motion to the ring. This simultaneously imparted rotational and axial motion launches the ring from the frame for prolonged and stable flight.

Abstract: A shovel having a bottom portion with a surface edge adjacent to a surface to be scraped, top portion, one side portion at an acute internal angle with the surface edge at one end of the shovel and one side edge at an oblique internal angle with the surface edge on the other side. The side portion is located against a curb to direct the path of the shovel as well as to prevent material wedging between the shovel and the curb. The top portion has a means for preventing material for rolling over its top. A handle is attached to the shovel at an acute internal angle so that the user walks directly behind the shovel so as to maximize the transfer of energy for the removal of material. The bottom, top and side portions may be removably connected to the shovel blade so that they can be rotated to expose new wearing surfaces. The shovel may be rotated approximately 90 degrees and the same gutter may be scraped; or, without rotating the shovel, the user may cross to gutter on the other side of the road and scrape it.

Abstract: A device for determining the depth below the ground surface of a working member of an earth moving equipment, comprises a sensor for transmitting electromagnetic signal from underneath and toward the ground surface and for receiving a portion of the signal reflected from the ground surface. The sensor is positioned underneath the ground surface in fixed spatial relationship to the working member such that the sensor means is under the ground surface when at least a portion of the working member is under the ground surface. A circuit is provided for processing the received reflected signal to thereby indicate the depth under the ground surface of the working member, whereby the depth is proportional to the time of travel of the signal to the ground surface and the reflected signal to the sensor means.

Abstract: A protective device for an arrow fletching comprising an elongated enclosure having front and rear members. The front member is provided with an opening for the arrow shaft and slot like extensions for the arrow fletching. The rear member is provided with a chamber or web for attaching the arrow to the enclosure and for holding the arrow fletching in alignment with the extensions in the front member. Bands, rings and clips are also disclosed for attaching a plurality of the devices together.

Abstract: The archery bow assembly includes an archery bow having a pair of limbs connected to a central riser handle defining an arrow window and interconnected by a bowstring. It also includes a pendulum-type disappearing arrow rest with a side pressure point. The rest includes a pair of generally flat, forwardly extending, flexible, resilient inner and outer blades. The inner blade lies next to the sidewall of the arrow window and includes a front support adapted to project through a notch in the outer blade to support an arrow when the inner blade is biased outwardly. The outer blade serves as a side pressure plate and may have a single pressure point. The rear ends of the blades are connected to a transverse bar slideably or threadably received in the rear end of a mounting block connected to the sidewall of the riser opposite the window and extending rearwardly thereof. A pin is slideably disposed in a hollow tube passing transversely through the riser into communication with the window.

Abstract: A method of constructing a fire-stop collar assembly involves the steps of choosing a dummy pipe (14) at a factory which is an approximate size and shape of a pipe at an installment site on which a fire-stop collar assembly (10,54) produced by this method is to be mounted and, at the factory, wrapping an intumescent collar (34,82) into an approximate ring about an outer surface of the dummy pipe. Also, at the factory, a metallic band (32) is wrapped about the intumescent collar while the collar is wrapped about the dummy pipe and the end portions (36,38) are held together by a fastening device (40,56) while the collar is wrapped about the dummy pipe. Still at the factory, the dummy pipe is removed from the intumescent collar and the metallic band by longitudinal movement along the dummy pipe, thereby leaving rings of intumescent collar and the metallic band held together as an integral fire-stop collar assembly.