Abstract: A new lifting aid device for a shovel for helping a user to easily lift a shovel, in particular a shovel having an offset type handle. The inventive device includes a brace member with an elongate shaft portion and a rest portion. The mounting end of the shaft portion is mountable to a portion of an offset-type handle shaft of a shovel. The inner surface of the rest portion is designed for abutting a portion of a leg, such as a thigh, against it. The pivot end of the shaft portion is pivotally coupled to the outer surface of the rest portion at a midpoint between the upper and lower edges of the rest portion to allow proper pivoting of the rest portion during use.

Abstract: A multi-layered article is provided wherein at least one of the layers is made of an inert material that strongly resists adherence of adhesives thereto. The inert substrate of the multi-layered article has a thin plasma deposited film thereon, and an adhesive layer bonds another substrate to this thin plasma deposited film.

Abstract: The tip electrode member has a rounded or bullet shaped distal end and has grooves etched into the distal end to increase the surface area of the electrode member within a small displaced surface area to minimize polarization of the tip electrode member while ensuring sufficient electric current flow to cause heart muscle depolarization. Preferably, the tip electrode member is made of titanium or a titanium alloy and is coated with carbon.