Abstract: A pitchfork tine replacement apparatus for replacing a broken pitchfork tine includes a semi-tubular base configured to selectively engage a tine crossbar of a pitchfork. The base has a set of tine apertures extending therethrough. At least one tine sleeve is coupled to the base. Each tine sleeve is hollow and is coupled to an outer face of the base around one of the tine apertures. Each tine sleeve is configured to receive one of a plurality of pitchfork tines coupled to the tine crossbar of the pitchfork. A tine spike has a hollow base portion coupled to the outer face of the base around one of the tine apertures and a solid spike portion extending from the base portion. The base portion is configured to receive a remnant of a broken tine of the plurality of pitchfork tines.

Abstract: A pail separation device comprised of two halves, each half having a wedge at the end of an exterior brace, an interior brace having a curved face, and which is attached to the exterior brace, and a handle attached to the interior brace and to the exterior brace. Also included is a fastener for locking the two halves together. The two halves further include ridged surfaces that mesh together to reduce slipping. The first and second wedges are dimensioned to fit between pails in a stack of pails such that force applied to the first and second handles can push the first wedge and the second wedge between the pails of a stack of pails so as to separate those pails.

Abstract: Digging and tilling tools with both a central step and an offset shaft are disclosed. The central step allows a user to apply pressure directly over the centerline of the tool head, and the shaft, offset to one side, allows clearance for the knee. The handle on the other end of the shaft may be offset in line with the centerline of the tool head. In some embodiments, the offset shaft may be connected with the tool head by means of connecting members which connect between the shaft and sides of the tool head, leaving a central opening and acting as “stirrups” or guides for the user's foot. In addition to the horizontal offset of the shaft, the tool head may be rearwardly offset from the shaft. Also disclosed are tool heads with tines having L- and T-shaped cross-sections.

Abstract: A battery powered microprocessor-controlled fondue fork has a thermal sensor, a timer, a color LED display for indicating degree of doneness, and a control switch for selecting a predefined cooking time. When the fondue fork is placed into a heated liquid for cooking, the thermal sensor activates the microprocessor-controlled timer which then illuminates the LED display. The LED displays flashing green to indicate the food is cooking, yellow to indicate the food is cooked rare, steady green to indicate the food is cooked medium, red to indicate the food is well-done, and flashing red to indicate an overdone stage of cooking.

Abstract: Shovels and trowels are formed from metal and plastic for enhanced soil and sand penetration, and for cutting into roots. The shovels and trowels can each have one or more narrow tip teeth edges extending outward from the front end of the blade, the teeth edges each having embossed surface portions for strengthening the blade and disbursing stress during digging applications. The embossed portions can be indented. The embossed portions can be raised. A shovel version can also have foot brakes on both side of the handle above the rear end of the blade, to allow for a stable and safe foot placement.

Abstract: Conventional multi-tined implements such as cutlery and serving forks, pitchforks and front-end loader machine forks, all have smooth tine surfaces from which the respective items being picked up and transferred by a user may unintentionally slip off and cause harm. All such implements are provided enhanced ability to retain their respective loads during their intentional transfer by a user by the provision of a plurality of topographic discontinuities on selected load-contacting surfaces of their tines. These topographic discontinuities include small barb-like elements generated by wedge-shaped recesses extending into the tines and/or by barb-like projections extending from the tines into inter-tine gaps between adjacent tines. On thus improved food-handling implements all intersections, corners, edges and points incidental to formation of any topographic discontinuities are smoothed out to prevent physical harm to users.

Abstract: A rake having a handle, and a rake head. The rake head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of the handle; a plurality of tines, the plurality of tines comprising: a movable inner tine section, the movable inner tine section having a first movable inner tine section, a second movable inner tine section and at least one fixed inner tine between the first movable inner tine section and the second inner tine section; and a fixed outer tine section on each side of the inner section; a support member extending across the plurality of tines, the support member comprising a plurality of supports positioned between the tines; and at screening material, which separates a wanted material from an unwanted material.

Abstract: A device for repairing a stall cleaning tool that has a broken tine is a tine having a first clamping member integral therewith located at an end of the tine. The first clamping member has a clamping surface with at least one channel therein for receiving at least one structural member of the stall cleaning tool. A second clamping member has a clamping surface with at least one channel therein for receiving at least one structural member of the stall cleaning tool. The first and second clamping members are secured to one another with the clamping surfaces of the clamping members adjacent to one another and the channels in the clamping surfaces aligned with one another.

Abstract: A tool head including a metal, generally U-shaped body with two tines and a curved area, and a metal rod integral to and extending from the curved area of the U-shaped head. Each of the two tines has a tip, a tine body, and an end that joins with the curved area. One tip is straight and one tip is angled so that the angled tip is not coplanar with the plane defined by the tine bodies of the two tines. A tool including the tool head, a handle with a ferrule end and a non-ferrule end, where the handle is integral to the metal rod of the tool head at the ferrule end, and a metal ferrule integral to the handle at the ferrule end of the handle.

Abstract: A motion assisted manure fork having a handle, a fork head having a plurality of tines, a leverage assembly and a motor assembly that imparts a sinusoidal motion to the plurality of tines. The fork head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of a handle and a plurality of tines. The plurality of tines has an inner tine section, and an outer tine section on each side of the inner section with a hinge positioned between the inner tine section and each of the outer tine sections. The fork head also has an angle of inclination, which divides the plurality of tines into an upper portion of tines at a first angle to the handle and a lower portion of tines at a second angle to the handle. A support member extends across the plurality of tines, which includes a plurality of supports positioned between the tines to provide strength to the fork head during use.

Abstract: A removing utensil for solid waste deposited by a small animal comprised of a support; a plurality of elongated members that extend from the support that form a removing surface; a pair of elongated members having distal sections that obliquely face away from positioned superior to the removing surface whereby solid waste is funneled unto the removing surface; a handle assembly comprised of a handle member and a projector of a beam of light and a bracket that extends from the support having first leg in the plane of the removing surface and second leg that connects to the handle assembly which is shaped so that a projected beam of light illuminates the removing surface and an area forward.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separator devised to separate packaging sheets that are stacked on top of each other and are each provided with cavities embossed therein, the cavities of each packaging sheet being arranged in multiple rows of a given length and fitting into the cavities of neighbouring packaging sheets that are stacked therewith. This separator basically comprises a handle to which are attached at least two rigid blades which are parallel to each other and each provided with a bevelled end opposite to the handle in order to be easily insertable between two stacked packaging sheets in order to facilitate their separation. The blades are spaced in such a manner as to be displaceable between two parallel rows of cavities in order to separate those of the packaging sheet under which the blades are inserted from those of the neighbouring packaging sheet located thereunder. Such facilitates the requested separation with risk of damaging the packaging sheets.

Abstract: An excavation tool having a lever with an end adapted for receiving force from a user's foot, an excavation head mounted to the other end of the lever, and a fulcrum mounted on the lever at the upper end of the excavation head for resting against the soil surface. The excavation tool may also have an excavation head for insertion into the soil with an upper end adapted for receiving a user's foot along the centerline of the excavation head, and a lever fixedly mounted to the excavation head, having an end adapted for receiving force from a user's foot. The excavation tool may have an opening above the upper end of the excavation head for receiving a user's foot on the upper end of the excavation head along the centerline of the excavation head. A fulcrum may be mounted on the lever at the upper end of the excavation head for resting against the soil surface.

Abstract: A motion assisted manure fork having a handle, a fork head having a plurality of tines, a leverage assembly and a motor assembly that imparts a sinusoidal motion to the plurality of tines. The fork head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of a handle and a plurality of tines. The plurality of tines has an inner tine section, and an outer tine section on each side of the inner section with a hinge positioned between the inner tine section and each of the outer tine sections. The fork head also has an angle of inclination, which divides the plurality of tines into an upper portion of tines at a first angle to the handle and a lower portion of tines at a second angle to the handle. A support member extends across the plurality of tines, which includes a plurality of supports positioned between the tines to provide strength to the fork head during use.

Abstract: A motion assisted manure fork having a handle, a fork head having a plurality of tines, a leverage assembly and a motor assembly that imparts a sinusoidal motion to the plurality of tines. The fork head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of a handle and a plurality of tines. The plurality of tines has an inner tine section, and an outer tine section on each side of the inner section with a hinge positioned between the inner tine section and each of the outer tine sections. The fork head also has an angle of inclination, which divides the plurality of tines into an upper portion of tines at a first angle to the handle and a lower portion of tines at a second angle to the handle. A support member extends across the plurality of tines, which includes a plurality of supports positioned between the tines to provide strength to the fork head during use.

Abstract: For conserving bedding material such as wood shavings when cleaning livestock environments such as horse stalls, a lightweight manure fork, specially configured with an open flat working region with relatively short tines, is combined with a highly efficient fan-type blower unit attached to the handle. Delivering air-flow onto the tined working region in short blasts under finger control, the worker simply manipulates the fork in the normal manner to remove the manure; the loose bedding material is blown off the fork and back onto surrounding regions of the stall, thus saving a substantial portion of the usual replenishment costs. The invention thus accomplishes substantial overall cost savings and environmental conservation without requiring special supervision, unusual diligence, effort or skill on the part of the worker.

Abstract: An ergonomic yard or garden tool includes a generally straight handle and a head having a working portion and structural supports. The head includes an ergonomic bend angled away from the handle. The bend and the structural supports provide an offset between the working portion and an axis of the handle. The offset may reduce the amount of bending necessary to use the tool.

Abstract: The novel, hand-held apparatus aids in the removal of old shingles from the roofs of structures. The tool is comprised of a handle; an elongated pole member; and a set of two tines affixed together at an angle which is then mounted onto said pole member. The set of tines is upwardly curved with respect to the handle portion. The first set of tines initiates the stripping of the shingles with a plowing motion, while the second set of similar tines is affixed to the upper surface of the first set of tines, with an upward curvature, to facilitate the lifting and removal of the shingles. The apparatus herein described can equally be utilized as a short handle pitch fork having a dual set of tines making a multitude of agricultural and horticultural tasks more efficient.

Abstract: A motion assisted manure fork having a handle, a fork head having a plurality of tines, and a motor assembly that imparts a sinusoidal motion to the plurality of tines. The fork head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of a handle and a plurality of tines. The plurality of tines has an inner tine section, and an outer tine section on each side of the inner section with a hinge positioned between the inner tine section and each of the outer tine sections. The fork head also has an angle of inclination, which divides the plurality of tines into an upper portion of tines at a first angle to the handle and a lower portion of tines at a second angle to the handle. A support member extends across the plurality of tines, which includes a plurality of supports positioned between the tines to provide strength to the fork head during use. The outer tine sections are attached to and extend from the frame, while the inner tine section is not fixedly attached to the frame except by the hinge.

Abstract: A motion assisted manure fork having a handle, a fork head having a plurality of tines, a leverage assembly and a motor assembly that imparts a sinusoidal motion to the plurality of tines. The fork head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of a handle and a plurality of tines. The plurality of tines has an inner tine section, and an outer tine section on each side of the inner section with a hinge positioned between the inner tine section and each of the outer tine sections. The fork head also has an angle of inclination, which divides the plurality of tines into an upper portion of tines at a first angle to the handle and a lower portion of tines at a second angle to the handle. A support member extends across the plurality of tines, which includes a plurality of supports positioned between the tines to provide strength to the fork head during use.

Abstract: A device is used to extract manure from bedding material in a manner that maximizes the amount of manure extracted from the bedding material. The device includes a detachable scoop head having a plurality of apertures, a detachable motor assembly coupled to the scoop head for vibrating the device, and a detachable handle coupled to the motor assembly via a connector. The handle can include a power pack for supplying electrical power to the motor assembly. The apertures are preferably formed between elongated elements. The power pack, which can be housed within the handle, forms a counterweight to the scoop head when the device is lifted. The device can further include a stand having a release mechanism coupled to the device, wherein the release mechanism releases the stand in a fully deployed position to facilitate raising the scoop head.

Abstract: A temperature sensing utensil including a handle and a plurality of modular, detachable utensil heads. The handle includes an engagement region, having an engagement member moveable between locking and release orientations, a temperature indicating display assembly and a voice synthesizer to convert a temperature signal into audible output. The detachable heads may be selected from a fork head, a spatula head and a probe with a flexible extension member. Each of the detachable heads includes a receiving region having a receiving member and temperature sensing circuitry, as well as a food piercing member for sensing the temperature of food at an internal location thereof.

Abstract: According to principles of this invention, a fiber shovel has a scoop assembly including a scoop and elongated pointed members attached to a front of the scoop, with the pointed members including V-shaped teeth formed in sheet metal of the scoop. The V-shaped teeth have side edges extending at angles of over 50° with a plane perpendicular to an elongated handle of the fiber shovel with side edges adjacent to other V-shaped teeth intersecting the side edges thereof to form V-shaped troughs between the V-shaped teeth. Further, a length of each pointed member, from its outer tip to an adjacent trough is at least 5 inches and this length is not less than 30% nor more than 50% of the total length of the scoop in the direction of the elongated handle. In the preferred embodiment there are four pointed members, and in one embodiment the pointed members are formed by the V-shaped teeth with tines extending from outer tips thereof.

Abstract: For conserving bedding material such as wood shavings when cleaning livestock environments such as horse stalls, a manure fork is combined with an air blower directed into the working region of the fork. The air flow is directed to blow the loose bedding material past the fork tines and onto surrounding regions of the stall automatically, while the worker simply works with the fork in the normal manner to remove the manure. The bedding material remains in the stall, thus saving a substantial portion of the usual replenishment costs. The invention thus accomplishes substantial overall cost savings and environmental conservation without requiring special supervision or unusual diligence on the part of the worker.

Abstract: Provided in accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of a Superior Stool Tool for improving the ease and sanitary conditions associated with removal of animal refuse from a surface, more specifically from grass surfaces wherein the grass may be higher than normal or wherein the grass has partial grown through the refuse. The invention includes a handled secured to a base portion, the handle providing a lever means, similar to a conventional shovel, for removing the refuse from the surface. The base portion generally includes a storage portion and a plurality of teeth secured to the base portion. In operation a user grasps the handle and forces the teeth under the refuse, thereby separating the refuse from the surface, and further sliding the refuse back onto the storage portion of the base portion.

Abstract: A temperature sensing utensil including a handle and a detachable head. The handle includes an engagement region, having an engagement member moveable between locking and release orientations, and a temperature indicating display assembly. The detachable head includes a receiving region having a receiving member and temperature sensing circuitry. The receiving region releasably receives the engagement region such that positioning of the engagement member in a locking orientation relative to the receiving member locks the detachable head onto the handle, while creating an electrical connection between the temperature sensing circuitry and the temperature indicating display circuitry. However, positioning of the engagement member in a release orientation permits detachment of the head from the handle, and disconnection of the electrical circuit. The temperature sensing utensil may take the form of a fork, spoon, probe or other utensil.