Abstract: A pair of dual-purpose pliers for connecting and disconnecting a master link of a chain comprises a single jaw handle and a double-jaw handle. The single jaw handle is formed with a grip at a first end thereof and a single jaw at a second end thereof. The double jaw handle is formed with a grip at a first end thereof and a left jaw and a right jaw at a second end thereof. After the single jaw handle and the double jaw handle are pivotally connected, the single jaw is located between the left and the right jaws, a groove of the single jaw and a groove of the left jaw are arranged in a face-to-face manner, and the groove of the single jaw and a groove of the right jaw are arranged in back-to-back manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, and a corkscrew mechanically associated with the motor. An outer sleeve is associated with the housing. A shuttle is displaceably positioned within a channel defined in the outer sleeve. A slide, having a slot therein, is associated with the shuttle. The slot is configured to intercooperate with a rail positioned on the sidewall of the channel. The slide interacts with the rail to render the shuttle nonrotatable about its axis as the shuttle is displaced over a first length of the channel. In a second length of the channel, the shuttle is free to rotate about its axis. The corkscrew extends through a recess defined in the shuttle. A portion of a bottle containing a cork is received within the outer sleeve to engage the shuttle whereby the corkscrew may be inserted into the cork. An operation of the motor causes the corkscrew to be imbedded into the cork.

Abstract: An improved bottle cap opener is provided which consists of a housing having an open top and an open bottom. A mechanism is for mounting the housing to a flat vertical surface. A structure at the open top of the housing is for removing a cap from a bottle. A device at the open bottom of the housing is for catching the cap after it is removed from the bottle, so as to keep the area about the opener clean, while caps can be collected for possible recycling.

Abstract: A cover member and replacing tool for disconnecting a cover from a sprinkler and removing it and also for replacing a cover on a sprinkler and connecting it. The tool has a handle with a cap member for placing over a cover. The cap member cooperates with radially placed outstanding lugs on the cover to rotate it in one direction to disconnect it and in the opposite direction to connect it. The cap member has projections extending therefrom for engaging surfaces on the cover for lifting it. The projections are movable for disengagement from the cover after the cover has been replaced and connected.

Abstract: A tool for removing the pins that block the opposite ends of an electrical component storage tube, each pin including a shank and an enlarged head at one end of the shank. The tool includes a wedge having a relatively sharp edge and opposite surfaces which diverge from that edge. At least one slot is formed in the wedge which extends between those surfaces and is directed away from the edge to a location on the wedge between those opposite surfaces exceeds the length of the pin shank. Preferably, a pair of guide members are mounted to the wedge member on opposite sides of each slot for engaging and guiding a tube in the general direction of the slot, the spacing of the opposing walls of each member pair being somewhat greater than that of the tube walls. Preferably, the tool is adjustably mounted to a support so that its tool engaging surface can be oriented horizontally, vertically or any angle in between to suite the user of the tool.

Abstract: Improvements in a hand manipulable device with bifurcated jaws for removing mushroom shaped stoppers from sparkling beverage bottles wherein each jaw contains a recess enabling the device to be repositioned directly around the stopper's stem and on top of the bottle when the stopper has been partially removed, thereby providing a means for additional leverage and lift capability; pivotally interconnected upper and lower levels which are interlocked, thereby eliminating the likelihood that the pivot action might be either too tight or too loose, and enabling the insertion of a hidden spring which eliminates the need for an exposed and perhaps hazardous spring between the handles; and without an exposed spring, grip means is permitted beneath the handles that provides an alternate method of stopper removal; the addition of clips to the upper jaw to prevent the stopper from ricocheting out from under the retaining arm; and a retaining arm which is either flexible or movable thereby permitting a downwardly direct

Abstract: A device which not only removes the stopper from a test tube or vacutainer without any human contact, but one which also stores and retains the removed stoppers is disclosed. The device has a container for receiving and retaining the removed stoppers which communicates with a stopper extractor. The stopper extractor has one extractor lip which bears against a first side of the vacutainer and a second extractor lip which engages an opposite side of the stopper such that relative pivoting movement between them exerts a force on the stopper to urge it out of the vacutainer. A spring device is attached to the stopper extractor and has a leaf spring which contacts one side of the vacutainer after it has been inserted into the stopper extractor. During pivoting movement between the stopper extractor and the test tube or vacutainer, the leaf spring is further displaced from its normal, at-rest position.

Abstract: A bottle cap opener in the form of a fixed base includes a laterally directed U-shaped bottle neck embracing hollow portion for receiving a portion of the neck of the bottle below a rim. A lever is pivotally mounted to and overlies the base. The lever includes a front arm having an end abutting the U-shaped hollow portion of the base and engagable with the lower edge of the bottle cap to the side of the opener proximate to the handle. A spring mounted to the base engages the lever to bias the front arm downwardly and toward the U-shaped hollow portion. A magnetic appendix is hinged to the U-shaped hollow portion to the side thereof diametrically opposite the pivoted handle and extends in line with the handle for movement between a first position overlying and in contact with the top of the bottle cap in an upwardly oblique raised position with respect thereto, permitting manual removal of the cap from the appendix after the cap is separated from the bottle rim.

Abstract: A device and method for removing closures from laboratory sample containers is the subject of the present invention. The device consists of a tubular member which is large enough to contain a laboratory sample container or vial. Integral with one end of the tubular member is a housing member which is large enough to contain the stopper or closure for the laboratory vial and is thus of a diameter larger than the tubular member. The end of the housing opposite the tubular member is closable with an irreversibly locking cap. A vial with a stopper to be removed is placed into the cap end of the housing member and is received by the tubular member unitl the stopper rests on the bottom surface of the housing member. The cap on the housing member is closed and a force is exerted on the vial to dislodge the stopper from it. The vial is pulled through the tubular member, leaving the stopper in the housing member.

Abstract: A tool for applying a spring clamp comrising a pair of handles, a pin joining said handles for relative rotation, a pair of jaws on said handles, a cam carried by one of the jaws and a pair of side plates pivotally supported by the other of said jaws having cam control tracks therein for effecting and controlling radial movement of said cam to complete closure of said clamp.

Abstract: A bottle opener for bottles having twist-off caps including a container having an end wall with an opening therein adapted for insertion of a bottle-mounted cap therein. A cylindrical member is connected to and extends into the container from the opening. The cylindrical member is open at the end thereof opposite the opening in the end wall and has a passageway adapted for passage of bottle caps through the cylindrical member and into the container. Longitudinal ridges on the interior of the cylindrical member hold an inserted bottle-mounted cap so that turning of the container about a longitudinal axis thereof extending perpendicular to the end wall causes the removal of the cap from its bottle. Preferably the opener includes means such as resilient fingers for preventing detached caps in the cylindrical member from falling out through the opening in the end wall.

Abstract: A stopper extractor includes a housing having an open end and a closed end and a side-facing cutout on one side of the housing wall with a grip disposed for axial movement within the housing. The grip has an inwardly disposed circular flange, a side-facing cutout and an axial extension which passes through the closed housing end. The side-facing cutouts are sized to allow the enlarged head of a stopper to be inserted laterally into the grip. A crescent shaped cam is pivotally mounted to the extension and bears against the outer surface of the closed end. A handle is used to pivot the cam which pulls the grip axially upwardly. A spring, between the grip and the housing, biases the grip axially toward the open housing end. The extractor is mounted over the stopper with the open end against the container and the grip lip under the lower edge of the cork head. Rocking the handle pivots the cam to raise the grip.

Abstract: A clamping device specially structured to provide conformingly shaped jaws and precisely positioned, leveraged fingers adapted to bend metal fence-attaching clips into locking position around adjacent portions of wire fences and round gate posts.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique are provided to automatically align an insert for insertion into a hole of a predrilled board. The hole is located by a retractable centering pin on the apparatus to ensure an accurate alignment with the insert, and, once aligned, the insert is inserted into the hole with a force axially applied by the apparatus.