Abstract: An animal trap for catching animals in an unharmed manner, comprises a cage having a top, a bottom, a pair of side walls, a first end wall, and a second end wall. There is an opening in said cage, and a door means located in the first end wall. A platform is adapted to receive and retain bait used to attract animals and also adapted to receive at least a portion of the body of an animal to be trapped, said platform having a set position and an actuated position, with retaining means for retaining said platform in said set position. The retaining means releases the platform upon introduction of at least a portion of the weight of the animal, whereby the platform is moved from its set position to its actuated position upon being released. The door means has a set position and an actuated position, and is in the set position when the platform is in its set position.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding or carrying fishing rods having a pivotable rod support arm and two pivotable support stands which can function as legs for the apparatus or as carrying fixtures for fishing rods when the apparatus is carried in a vertical position. Also included is a spill-proof tackle box which has a lid which fits flush with the tops of the tackle compartments therein.

Abstract: An insect or vermin trap having a main housing and high voltage generating means within the housing. The generating means generates a voltage of sufficient magnitude for exterminating insects, vermin or the like entering the trap. One or more entries into the main housing when the electrodes are in that housing or into the separate housing if the electrodes are in a separate housing the the entries enabling insects or vermin to enter the trap. Two spaced electrodes either within the main housing or separate housing supplied with the voltage generated by the generating means for exterminating insects or the like which bridge the space between the electrodes. Control means is present for providing controlled alternation between an on period for which the electrodes are supplied with the high voltage and an off period for which the electrodes are not supplied with the voltage.

Abstract: A fishing weight comprising a bullet shaped lead body portion having an axial bore therethrough, an enlarged recess formed in one end of the body portion, a flexible, rubbery material substantially filling the recess, a cavity formed in the rubbery material in the recess, the cavity opening into the axial bore and having another opening extending outwardly opposite the axial bore for receiving the eye of a fishhook, the other opening being of a smaller size than the cavity and releasably retaining the fishhook eye therein until a force is exerted upon the fishhook for withdrawing the fishhook therefrom; a fishing lure includig the improved weight; and a method for releasably affixing a fishing weight to the eye of the fishhook.

Abstract: A clamping device suitable for clamping objects such as large fish which includes clamps disposed in scissor-like fashion pivoting about a common point and biasing means such as a rubber band which biases the clamps in a normally closed position. A locking assembly is provided to releasably lock the clamps in an open position and which is released by contacting the clamps against the object to be clamped.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scoop net for catching fish, which includes a net coupled with a water-tight plastic fabric and connected to the scoop net frame. The plastic fabric is having one circular end adhered to the middle part of the net to define a scoop-like water chamber, and having the other elongated end fixedly connected to the curved side portion of the scoop net frame to define a water channel.

Abstract: A connector for a concrete structure including two generally flat plates connected together along one edge to form an elongated structure having substantially an L-shaped cross section. One plate has an opening sized to allow unset concrete to flow through the opening and to hold the plate firmly within the concrete when it is set. When this plate is held within the concrete, the other plate protrudes from the concrete and is available for connection with another such connector by direct welding or clamping of the two plates together.

Abstract: An artificial spoon-bait or the like, characterized in that, in use, it can simultaneously act as ground-bait by means of at least one container situated near the spoon which forms part of the spoon-bait, the container being adapted to hold one or more substances which are intended to perform the attracting function of ground-bait, that is, to provide above all a smell, but possibly also a taste, attractive to fish, by means of the substances which are tasty and desirable to fish when the ground-bait substances are discharged in solution in the water during use of the artificial bait.

Abstract: A snag-proof safety fishing lure includes a J-shaped hook having a barb at a curved end and an eyelet at the other end. A shield is pivotally connected to a shank of the hook below the eyelet to cover the lure when it is not submerged. When the hook sinks, submersion of the shield is limited to effectively lift the shield from the sinking barb. When the lure is lifted from the water, the weight of the shield causes it to be lowered onto the barb, effectively covering it to prevent snagging.

Abstract: A method of explosion welding magnesium-alloyed aluminium to high strength material.

Abstract: An improved arrow tip with locking barb is shown. The tip is drilled by two spaced holes, and a spring wire is folded into four segments. A long segment is the wire barb, the next is a rotational portion for positioning in one of the holes and the last two segments position a lock tab in the second hole to assure positive barb locking.

Abstract: A hook setting device for securing a hook in a fish, which device includes a bifurcated frame having a lever pivotally secured in the frame bifurcation or slot, with one end of the lever secured to the bottom end of the frame by means of an elastic band and the opposite end of the lever receiving one end of a trigger line or cord. A trigger mechanism includes a ball attached to the trigger cord and adapted to seat in a ball seat located in the bottom end of the frame against the bias of the elastic band when the device is in cocked configuration. The top end of the frame is secured to a tree or other fixed support above a water body, in order to facilitate attaching a fishhook to the extending end of the trigger cord, baiting the fishhook, placing the fishhook in the water and setting the fishhook responsive to a fish taking the bait and tensioning the trigger cord to unseat the ball.

Abstract: A rigid wobble-type fishing lure comprising one single shaft weedless hook loosely secured to the lure at two locations which permit the hook to swing and tilt from side to side to enhance vibration of the lure and emit fish attracting sound vibration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rotational gripping device in the form of a torque handle which overcomes the problem of frictional slippage and provides mechanical rotational leverage. The handle includes a body portion having radially projecting rib members angularly displaced 120 degress about an axis of rotation. A rotational force is applied through the rib members by the user's hand and fingers. The rib member provide a positive no-slip drive. The torque handle is suitable for application to hand tools such as screw drivers, chisels, clamps, brushes, shovels, sports equipment such as rackets, baseball bats, golf clubs, boat oars and other similar implements.

Abstract: A fishing spinner, comprising a body and a hook attached to the rear part of the body. Means are provided for holding the hook in a retracted position underneath of the body during its displacement in water. Means may be provided for preventing weed, vegetation or algae from being collected by the hook during its displacement in water in its retracted position.

Abstract: An artificial lure has an elongated body which is shaped as tetrahedron and provided with connectors for attaching a fishing line and a fishing hook to the body.

Abstract: The insect pickup device is comprised of a plurality of detachable components including a first elongated head having a triangular cross-sectional configuration, a second elongated head having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, an elongated handle structure having the first and second heads detachably secured at opposite ends thereof. The handle structure includes a plurality of tubular members and a dowel for interconnecting the tubular members to provide an elongated handle structure.

Abstract: An apparatus to strike a fishing line. The apparatus has a base. A reel for a fishing line can be mounted on the base. There are guides on the base for a fishing line. The apparatus includes a device to impart a rapid upward motion to the line. Then releasing the line by the use of a spiral design on the frame, such that secondary control of the line is maintained by the use of preset drag on the reel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for animating decoys on a water surface in a manner simulating live waterfowl. An elastic band adapted for retraction by a pulley means enables movement of the waterfowl. A plurality of stake-mounted pulleys disposed in a pattern enables movement of the decoys in an irregular pattern on the water surface. The invention further includes stake insertion/removal means for easy drive/removal of the stakes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using a pressurizable bladder for maintaining a hole open in outdoor ice atop a body of water. The apparatus has a top plug with an air tube and valve, an elongate bladder extending down from the plug, and radially spaced apart longitudinal cords in the bladder which constrains elongate growth but enable diameter growth of the bladder. The method has steps of placing the ice plug over a hole, weighing the ice plug, inflating the bladder to a pressure of about 2-3 PSIG, and restraining the ice plug in the hole with a diametrically expanded lower part of the bladder underneath the ice.