Abstract: A litter box apparatus having a container with an open top and a closed bottom, a lid detachably affixed over the open top of the container and having a hole formed therein, a handle affixed to the container and extending outwardly beyond the lid, and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted adjacent to the closed bottom in a location directly below the handle. A liner having a bag shape is received within the container. At least one support member is affixed to the lid and extends into the container so as to retain the liner adjacent to a side wall thereof.

Abstract: A substrate for mushroom cultivation comprises a polyene fungicide, in particular, natamycin. Mushrooms cultivated in such substrates can be harvested earlier than mushrooms cultivated in substrates which do not include polyene fungicides. Alternatively, mushrooms grown in a substrate comprising a polyene fungicide achieve a greater size than mushrooms grown for the same amount of time in a substrate which does not include a polyene fungicide.

Abstract: A fishing device to assist in landing a fish in which the device comprises a net frame having a multiplicity of hinged members. A net engages the net frame, which frame is retractable into a hollow handle. A drive shaft is used to drive the hinged members of the net frame into and out of the handle, which drive shaft is comprised of a linear member dimensioned to fit within the hollow handle.

Abstract: An improved trap for a mouse of the type having a baseboard, a U-shaped jaw member that is pivotally mounted on the baseboard for pivotal movement from a cocked position to a sprung position, a bait pedal that is attached to the baseboard, and a trigger mechanism that has a longitudinal axis and which is operatively attached to the bait pedal and when the U-shaped jaw member is in the cocked position thereof the trigger mechanism is operatively connected to the U-shaped jaw member. The improvement includes the trigger mechanism allowing the U-shaped jaw member to achieve the sprung position thereof only when the trigger mechanism is rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: A leg part cutter (1) skins and cuts poultry leg parts, in particular thighbones (P), which parts are provided with a bone. A frame (2, 3) and skinning rolls (19) arranged on the frame for skinning the leg part. Knives (24, 25) are arranged on the frame for cutting through the leg part along the bone. A conveyor (4) conveys the leg part past the skinning rolls and after that past the knives.

Abstract: A method-and apparatus for attracting fish using a sound producing fishing accessory the mimics the sound of a fish's prey. The apparatus provides blind positive engagement of a hook and a sound producing device embedded with an artificial bait. A fisherman is able to positively engage the sound producing device to the hook by feel alone. The sound producing device is designed and adapted to guide a hook into positive engagement therewith.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder includes adjustable legs that are movebly attached to a housing and which include telescoping sections and an anchor unit that is telescopingly mounted on the housing. Rod clamp units attach a fishing rod to the housing.

Abstract: An ice fishing device for increasing the effective radial fishing range beyond the radius of a fishing hole comprising a fishing rig with a vertical post and a generally horizontal extendable arm. The vertical post moves axially and rotatably relative to the fishing rig and the extendable arm extends radially from the axis of the post for increasing the effective radial fishing range beyond the radius of the fishing hole.

Abstract: A method for tenderizing meat of a red meat slaughter animal includes separating a vertebra of the animal and applying electrical stimulation to the animal's musculature. The vertebra separating is performed prior to the onset of rigor mortis to enable stretching of muscle fibers in the carcass. The electrical stimulation is focused on a midsection of the animal.

Abstract: A toe web cutter has a pivoted inner hooked blade and stationary outer blades adjacent to the sides and end of the inner blade. Cutting edges on the adjacent blades produce an elongated cut to remove the web from between the toes of a carcass. The stationary outer blades allow the tool to be aligned before the cut is made by placing the stationary blades in contact with the web at the desired location for the cut. The inner blade is pivoted by a trigger-operated pneumatic drive mechanism, which includes a piston and a drive rod. The drive rod is connected through a link to drive the inner blade. The link produces a side load on the drive rod that is counteracted by a wheel mounted on the end of the drive rod and by a fixed reaction plate that supports the wheel as it rolls.

Abstract: The method and the system are applicable in household activities, healthcare, industry, agriculture, forestry, etc. for exterminating pests, weeds and pathogens. The system performing the method comprises a source of lethal impact which is a microwave generator (1) with a microwave guiding element (2) directed so as to face an antenna (3). The microwave generator (1) is placed by means of three supports (4) in the focus area of the antenna (3). The control input of the microwave generator (1) is connected to the output of a control unit (5) whose power supply input is connected to a power unit (6).

Abstract: The apparatus comprises: a running conveyor (1) with hooks (2) for suspending a set (5) of organs by the diaphragm (6) and conveying it in a conveying direction of the conveyor (1); a slit device (10; 11) arranged below the conveyor (1) with a slit (13; 44) for guiding horizontally in the slit a connective tissue part (9; 6) of the set (5) of organs during the conveyance of the set of organs on the conveyor with an organ (8; 7) located below the slit (13; 44), a retaining device (14-16; 40) arranged in a conveying path which the organ (8; 7) follows with the connective tissue part (9; 6) guided by the slit (13; 44), the retaining device (14-16; 40) being adapted to retain the organ (8; 7) on the retaining device by the conveyor's (1) pull in the set (5) of organs; and (22, 23; 49-51, 54) for causing separation between the organ (8; 7) and the connective tissue part (9; 6) when such retention has been provided.

Abstract: A hook spinning fishing bait comprising a pliable flat material, artificial or fresh, of an inverted tear-drop design having a vertical cut centered in the top portion of the inverted tear-drop design and one half the length of the inverted tear-drop design with two small holes one above the other in the bottom portion of the inverted tear-drop design for use as bait that can be attached directly to a fish hook forming a propeller like shape that spins the fish hook with the bait material when pulled through the water on a fishing line that is not permanently attached and is removable from the fish hook producing a bait of simple design that is interchangeable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a punched out sheet for use in making a bird-nesting box without using tools or other aids and to a bird nesting box made from the same. The sheet has an interconnected outer part and an inner punch-out part. The outersheet has a carrier handle and devices for adjustment and reinforcement of the entrance and exit hole of the box. The inner part has bipartite suspension devices, a surface device in the form of a ladder and a transverse device in the form of a guard against predators.

Abstract: A fly fishing assembly includes a rod with an elongated sleeve mounted thereon and a cowl on one end of the sleeve for partially surrounding the rod in the vicinity of the reel to inhibit sliding of the hand of a user from the handle. By providing a flange on the bottom trailing end of the cowl, contact between the little finger of the hand holding the rod and the reel is prevented. Thus, the little finger can be positioned in front of the flange so that the caster can safely use it to lead the proper timing of casing.

Abstract: A game hoist and carrier comprises a rack having expandable sides for transporting game from a hunting site. A hoist mast is mounted to the rack, and a vertical support shaft is attached to the rack for stabilizing the game hoist and carrier above a surface during the lifting of an animal carcass.

Abstract: An animal feed support stand includes a plurality of elongated support legs. A protective housing is mounted on the legs, and defines an open bottom adapted for receiving an above-ground feed container for storing and dispensing animal feed. A carriage carries the feed container. A hoist cable moves the carriage vertically between a lowered fill position, whereby the feed container is located beneath the protective housing for filling, and a raised feed-dispensing position, whereby the feed container is located within the protective housing for dispensing feed to a ground surface below.

Abstract: A mouse trap includes: a main body including a top plate and right and left side plates, of resilient material and suspended downwardly from opposite ends of the top plate, to be oppositely closed by their own resiliency, for holding and capturing a mouse therebetween; a bottom plate pivoted at one end to the lower end of one of the side plates; a stopper having a pair of engagement projections fixed to the other end of the bottom plate at its upper surface; an engagement releasing lever pivoted to both projections and having one end rising slantwise inside the main body and another end disposed under the lower end of the other side plate; a bait placing member pivoted to and erected at one end of the engagement releasing lever and freely inclined onto one side; and an adhesive sheet detachably stretched over the inner surface of the main body.

Abstract: A series of multi-compartmented, multi-tier poultry cages are staged for loading by a poultry loader that moves transversely to the direction of a plurality of side-by-side poultry receiving and batching bins each having parallel conveyor belts longitudinally arranged for individual discharge of batches of poultry onto a conveyor belt of the poultry loader arranged for alignment with both individual bin conveyor belts, and individual front opening poultry cage compartments frontally presented by the cage stager. The stager removes a filled cage, relocates it to another position where it frontally faces in the same direction in which as an empty cage it was placed on the stager, for removal by a fork lift, while in the meantime another cage is placed on the stager and moved into position for filling, in a continuing process, until all poultry are loaded.

Abstract: An automated cutting apparatus and method having a coordinated three axes of motion wherein one axis is designated as a master and provides a master time source and the other two axes are designated as slaves and more proportionately to the master axis. A controller and input device are coupled to the three axes to control the movement thereof. The input device preferably presents an operator with selectable input parameters that allow the operator to divide the piece of meat into groups and designate varying thicknesses for each group.