Abstract: Lower sidewall portions (18, 20) of a vehicle tire (10) are spread apart by a spreader tool (28). Spreader bars (32, 34) are placed between the spread apart lower sidewall portions (18, 20) of the tire (10). Concrete (116) is poured in place in the tire. One or more iron members (120, 122, 124, 126) are placed in the tire (10) with lower portions in the concrete (116) and upper portions extending towards the inner side of the tread wall (26). At least one other iron member (120, 122, 124, 126) is positioned in the tire (10) with a lower end portion in the concrete (126) and an upper portion sloping upwardly and outwardly towards the inner side of the tread wall (26) on a diametrically opposite portion of the tire (10).

Abstract: A weight (18) is set into the lower portion of an annular space (34) in a tire (16). The weight (18) may be a precast concrete member shaped to fit into and extend chordwise of the annular space (34). The weight (18) is wider than the distance between the tire sidewalls (24, 26). When inserted into the tire (16), the weight (18) pushes the sidewalls (24, 26) apart and flattens the bottom portion of the tread (32). The weight (18) at the bottom of the tire (16) and an air space (48) at the top of the tire (16) act together to hold the tire (16) in a substantially upright position. Corrodible iron inserts may be added to the tire (16).

Abstract: A concave recess (14) is provided in a member (10) that includes a portion offset from the recess (14) for use as a handle. The base of the recess (14) is provided with a concave abrasive surface (16). A projecting imperfection (18) on the surface of the golf ball (GB) is moved into the cavity (14) and against the concave abrasive surface (16). Then, the tool (10) is moved relative to the golf ball (GB) so that the abrasive material (16) will wear away the surface projection (18) on the golf ball (GB).

Abstract: A weight (18) is set into the lower portion of an annular space (34) in a tire (16). The weight (18) may be a precast concrete member shaped to fit into and extend chordwise of the annular space (34). The weight (18) is wider than the distance between the tire sidewalls (24, 26). When inserted into the tire (16), the weight (18) pushes the sidewalls (24, 26) apart and flattens the bottom portion of the tread (32). The weight (18) at the bottom of the tire (16) and an air space (48) at the top of the tire (16) act together to hold the tire (16) in a substantially upright position. Corrodible iron inserts may be added to the tire (16).

Abstract: A golf club head (16) is provided with a rough heel end surface (40) that surrounds a threaded opening (38) that enters into the heel (36) of the club head (16) and extends substantially longitudinally of the club head (16). A thin washer (42) is placed against the rough surface (40) then, a similar rough surface (24) on a hosel eye (20) is moved into contact with the opposite surface of the washer (42). A connector bolt (18) is inserted through an opening (22) in the hosel eye (20) and is threaded into the opening (38) in the club head (16). The club head (16) is rotated relative to the club hosel (14) to place it into a desired loft angle. Then, the bolt (18) is tightened. This draws the rough surfaces (24, 40) into tight contact with the washer (42). The surfaces (24, 40) are harder than the washer material and when the bolt (18) is tightened, points or edges on the surfaces: (24, 40) dig into the washer material.

Abstract: A separator pan (18) is set into a rearwardly leaning position (FIG. 6). A lower portion of the pan (18) is positioned inside a bucket (10). The pan (18) is mounted for rotation on a frame (20). The frame (20) includes hooks (42) that hook onto the upper rim (32) of the bucket (10). The support leg or brace (82) projects rearwardly from a lower portion of the frame (20) to contact the sidewall (28) of the bucket (10), and establish a lean angle of the pan (18). The pan (18) is detachable from the frame (20) and the pan (18) and the frame (20) are sized to be placed inside of the bucket (10) so that the bucket (10) can be used for transporting and storing the assembly when it is not being used.

Abstract: A plurality of water cups (80) are mounted at the outer periphery of a rotating gold pan (12). In use, the gold pan (12) is supported in a rearwardly leaning position with a lower edge portion in water. During rotation of the gold pan (12), the water cups (80) collect water as they rotate into and through the water. The water cups (80) lift the collected water as they rotate up out of the water. The water cups (80) release water that they carry into the gold pan (12). The released water helps separate gold particles from other particulate material and moves substantially clean gold particles along the valleys (69) of the bottom wall (52) of the gold pan (12) to a hub cup (54).

Abstract: An artificial reef (10) that can provide a safehaven for small aquatic life and promotes phytoplankton growth (37), of which phytoplankton is food for the small aquatic life. The reef (10) includes at least one tubular vehicle tire (12) having a wall (14) that defines an exterior (16) and a hollow interior (18). The wall (14) includes oppositely situated sidewalls (20) that are interconnected by a treadwall (22) to provide a substantially U-shaped radial cross-section (23). At least one elongated corrodible iron insert (24) is inserted through each wall (14). Each insert (24) has a first end (26), a second end (28) and a center (30). The first end extends into the hollow. interior (18), the center (30) is securely positioned through wall (14) between the exterior (16) and the interior (18), and the second end extends externally of the exterior (16). The insert (24) is preferably a nail, but may be a staple or other shape.

Abstract: A separator for separating gold particles from ore including a rotatable pan, and frame for mounting the pan through a recessed hub cup assembly at an angle from horizontal. The pan includes a frusto-conical side wall. The pan inner surface also includes a riffle spiraling inwardly from the outer end of the side wall to create loops that spiral to the hub cup. The riffle and the pan inner surface form a slide track in which the gold particles move along the riffle to reach the hub cup. One of the improvements includes a plurality of agitator knobules that are positioned between the loops of the riffle. Another feature is an easily removable insert cup inside the hub cup for easy collection of gold. In use, ore is introduced into the pan during rotation. Particles are agitated by the knobules to separate the particles from the ore and aid the particles down the slide track, moving the particles inwardly along the riffle into the insert cup.

Abstract: A prospector shovel and crevicing tool (10) having a first scoop (12) and a second scoop (14). Both scoops have a rigid tubular sidewall (16, 24), a closed end (18, 26), and an open end (20, 28). The closed ends (18, 26) abut each other to form one tool that has a scoop on each end that can be used to hold gold ore or to crevice rocks and other debris. Each open end (20, 28) of its respective scoop forms an angle (.varies., .phi.) with its respective sidewall (16, 24). In preferred form, the first and second scoops (12, 14) angularly abut at angle (.theta., .theta.') to provide better leverage for scooping in conjunction with the prospector's use of the second scoop as a handle. The diameter (d1) of the first scoop (12) is larger than that of the diameter (d2) of the second scoop (14).

Abstract: A sleeping bag with a flexible mesh ventilation panel. A removable and adjustable ventilation panel spans an elongated access opening of the sleeping bag and attaches to edge portions of the opening via an adjustable closure device, such as a zipper.

Abstract: An inexpensive rodent trap (10) is provided which may be set and emptied without a user contacting the trap (10) near a striker portion (36) of the trap (10). The trap (10) is effective for trapping a rodent (8) without bait since the trap (10) is configured such that the rodent (8) will enter the trap (10) as the rodent (8) moves along a floor (26) near a wall (14).

Abstract: Dredging apparatus (10) is provided with a flow conduit (18), a first pump (28), a second pump (30), and two valves (34, 44). The flow conduit (18) comprises a first leg (20) extending downwardly to a lower portion (22) and a second leg (24) extending upwardly from the lower portion (22). A fluidizing nozzle (32) is carried by the first leg (20). An intake aperture (26) is provided on the lower portion (22) and is directed downwardly. The dredging apparatus (10) may be used to dredge up material when the material is in a water suspension (48), and to probe through material by scattering material. The valves (34, 44) are operated to switch the apparatus between various modes of operation and to increase the effectiveness of the apparatus.

Abstract: A separator pan (10) is set into a rearwardly leaning position (FIG. 4 ). A lower portion of the pan sidewall (28) slopes downwardly as it extends outwardly from the pan bottom (12). A spiral rib (32), inside of the pan (10) slopes upwardly as it extends axially outwardly from the interior of the pan (10). Pan (10) is rotated in a direction causing the spiral rib (32) to coil inwardly. Large particles of gold ore, introduced into the pan (10), gravitate out from the pan, owing to the sloping nature of the lower portion of pan sidewall (28). Smaller particles, including small particles of gold, are trapped between spiral rib (32) and sidewall (28) and bottom wall (12) of pan (10). As the pan (10) rotates, these small particles are moved inwardly and into a hub cup (14).

Abstract: A separator pan (10) is set into a rearwardly leaning ng position (FIG. 4). A lower portion of the pan sidewall (28) slopes downwardly as it extends outwardly from the pan bottom (12). A spiral rib (32), inside of the pan (10) slopes upwardly as it extends axially outwardly from the interior of the pan (10). Pan (10) is rotated in a direction causing the spiral rib (32) to coil inwardly. Large particles of gold ore, introduced into the pan (10), gravitate out from the pan, owing to the sloping nature of the lower portion of pan sidewall (28). Smaller particles, including small particles of gold, are trapped between spiral rib (32) and sidewall (28) and bottom wall (10) of pan (10). As the pan (10) rotates, these small particles are moved inwardly and into a hub cup (14).

Abstract: A self-anchoring, artificial reef, and a self-anchoring beach stabilizer locatable to the bottom of a body of water, is provided from an assemblage (22, 22A, 22B) of used vehicle tires. Each vehicle tire (10) has sidewalls (16) and an interconnecting tread (12). At least some of the vehicle tires are radially severed completely through the sidewalls (16) and tread (12) to form opposite out ends (24), and partially severed substantially through the sidewalls (16) while maintaining an uncut tread portion (26). A plurality of cut tires (32) may be positioned together to form an assemblage (22, 22A, 22B). In the assemblage (22, 22A, 22B), the cut ends (24) of each severed tire (32) are oriented apart from each other. The configuration of the structure provides safe havens (14) for aquatic life when employed as a reef, and provides erosion stabilization characteristics when employed as a beach stabilizer.

Abstract: A high speed planing boat hull including a transom stern, freeboard side portions and a wide-keeled lower hull portion which comprises keel sidewalls forming steep relatively constant deadrise angles, and keel bottom surfaces which are flat at the transom and progress forwardly to form shallow deadrise angles. First steps having shallow deadrise angles are located adjacent the keel sidewalls, second steps having similar deadrise angles are located adjacent the side portions, and risers having steep deadrise angles interconnect the first and second steps.