Abstract: A launching device for training dogs to retrieve comprising a plurality of projectiles arranged to be launched by the launching device of the type which can be retrieved by the dog, a projectile mount arranged to support the plurality of projectiles such that the plurality of projectiles can be positioned one at a time to be launched automatically, a gas chamber wherein the gas is arranged to produce a force to launch the projectile, an actuating arrangement to actuate the gas in the gas chamber, at least one gas supply container for supplying the gas to the chamber, a remote operating means to launch the projectiles from a distance and a valve arrangement for controlling the amount of gas entering the gas chamber. The projectile mount is on a shaft having an axis in which the projectile mount can rotate. A motor is arranged to drive the shaft about the axis. A disk is mounted at a respective end of the shaft arranged to rotate about the axis.

Abstract: A fish hook (10) comprising: a hook portion (11); a shank (12) extending from the hook portion (11); and a line attachment portion (13) to engage a fishing line (17) to secure the fishing line (17) to the hook (10), said attachment portion (13) comprising a pair of a legs (14, 15) which extend to a junction, with one of the legs (14, 15) having a free end (16) and the other leg being a continuation of the shank (12), said legs (14, 15) each having a line engagement portion (33), with the line engagement portions (33) being spaced by a distance of at least one time the diameter of the fishing line (17). A knot to secure the hook (10) and a method of forming it is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic paintball gun, comprising means for monitoring and/or controlling one or more parameters of the gun's operation and alphanumeric display means for displaying data related to said monitoring or control on a display panel integral with the gun.

Abstract: A method and a device for destroying drifting sea mines (5). According to the invention, a capture-and-destroy device (11) is brought into the vicinity of the drifting sea mine (5) with the aid of a buoyant body (12, 22) having a coupled-on drive system (13) or a drive device (24), and the mine is captured in that the sea mine (5) is surrounded by deployment of a capture net (16) normally located in a capture unit (11.1) of the capture-and-destroy device (11). A motorized element (17) disposed in the capture unit (11.1) draws the capture net (16) together automatically until the captured sea mine (5) rests directly against a destroyer unit (11.2) with a destructive charge (15). The destructive charge (15) is then automatically detonated to destroy the mine.

Abstract: A muzzle flash and blast suppressor comprising a body of reticulated refractory foam generally surrounding the projectile path adjacent the muzzle of a device. One side of the body of foam is exposed to the pressure within the projectile path just behind the projectile, and the other side is exposed to the unconfined ambient pressure. The foam is required to be possessed of sufficient structural strength to permit its exterior side to be exposed without confinement to the ambient environment. Hot exhaust gasses flowing laterally of the projectile path pass through the body from the high to the low pressure side. In such passage the gasses are cooled by expansion and by contact with the interstices of the body. Debris is filtered out and the pressure is substantially reduced. Typically, the refractory foam has from approximately 30 to 100 pores per inch and is from approximately 90 to 50 percent void volume.

Abstract: A washer shaped chum that can be secured to a fishing line that is particularly designed to release scent in a controlled release manner, the controlled release mechanism allows an extension of the time the fish would be attracted to the region surrounding the bait and the hook, said chum being composed essentially of fishmeal, fish oil, an inorganic salt, an organic hydrophobic substrate and a glident.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing countermass assembly for a weapon has a crushable section, a piston at the forward end of the crushable section, and at the rearward end of the crushable section. The countermass can be a rupturable enclosure filled with a dispersible material.

Abstract: A device for repelling insects from the vicinity of a support surface for the repelling device. The repelling device has a base which can be placed against an upwardly facing support surface to thereby maintain the repelling device in an operative position, a first arm connected to the base and in an elevated position above the upwardly facing surface on which the repelling device is maintained in the operative position and rotatable around a vertically extending axis, a first element depending from the first arm and rotatable with the first arm around the vertically extending axis, and a drive which is operable to rotate the first arm around the vertically extending axis to thereby cause the first element to trace an annular path around the vertically extending axis.

Abstract: An in-line initiator and firing device assembly includes a shock tube assembly. An in-line initiator is provided for initiating a shock wave along the shock tube assembly, and includes an end sleeve having a bore extending between input and output ends. At least a portion of a surface defining the bore toward the output end of the end sleeve is threaded for threadably receiving and forming threads on an outer surface of the input end of the shock tube assembly. A first retaining device is associated with the end sleeve for receiving a shock wave triggering device and securing the triggering device to the input end of the end sleeve. A firing device assembly is activated by a shock wave transmitted through the shock tube assembly. The firing device includes a barrel having a bore extending between input and output ends. The input end of the barrel communicates with the output end of the shock tube assembly and the output end communicates with a firing device.