Abstract: An apparatus is provided that prevents a pet from tipping over a food dish. The dish is placed in an open framework having a lid that covers only a portion of the dish, allowing a pet to access the dish for feeding. The apparatus includes spikes to anchor the framework into the ground. Additionally, the apparatus includes extensions, to adjust the height of the dish above the ground.

Abstract: A modified snap hitch for connecting the cross tie ropes or trailer tie ropes to the halter on a horse comprises a quick release mechanism connecting the ring to the hook of a snap hitch. The quick release mechanism can take a variety of forms, such as a shear pin or other easily replaceable part. However, in the preferred embodiment, a plurality of ball detent mechanisms are used, and the ring and hook can be reconnected as soon as the horse is calmed.

Abstract: A fly rod reel seat butt protection device is comprised of a rubber body resiliently expandable for covering and conforming to shafts and rimmed butts of fly rod reel seats. The body has an axial bore at its front end and a conical exterior surface convergently tapering from the front end to a domed-shaped rear. An annular ridge and an inwardly projecting annular recess are formed about the conical interior surface of the body for receiving and attaching to an annular rim of the fly rod reel seat butt.

Abstract: An animal or dog kennel kit comprising a plurality of panels that can be connected or coupled together to form an enclosure. The plurality of panels includes at least one relatively small panel and one relatively large panel. The relatively small panel can be nested or placed within the relatively large panel to form a compact package for economical shipment.

Abstract: A shipping container for rodents includes a boxlike base defined by a bottom connecting with outwardly sloped side and end walls. In openings in these walls are filter units that entrap contaminants. An interior space of the base is dividable into compartments by longitudinal and a lateral partition that includes a feeding bin. A lid of the container includes an outer edge channel that snaps over a top edge flange of the base walls to form an airtight fit. The lid has raised end portions formed with pairs of openings for further filter units. For use, the base is selectively divided into compartments by the partitions. When filled with rodents and the lid installed, sets of containers may be vertically stacked. As stacked and then closely packed, the filter units of each container remain free for cross-circulation of fresh, filtered air.

Abstract: A waterfowl decoy anchor system and method for using the same. The anchor includes a bail secured to an anchor base, a band secured to the bail through a bore in the anchor base. A tether attaches the anchor to a decoy. The tether is wound about the bail and the bail is positioned over the forward edge of the decoy keel. The band is secured over the rearward edge of the decoy keel.

Abstract: A fish skinner for removing the skin from a fish filet that includes a cutting block in connection with a pivoting cover plate wherein the cutting block has a recess for receiving the skin of the fish filet and the pivoting cover plate is used to hold the fish filet in place while a filet knife is drawn across the top edge of the cutting block to cut the filet free from the fish skin.

Abstract: A timing mechanism for a shrimp processing machine including a cam wheel having a recess therein adapted to receive an end of a cutter bar to which a cutting blade is rotatably mounted. Rotation of the cam wheel causes the cutter bar, and the cutting blade to move. The cutter bar and blade are positioned proximate a main gear wheel to which shrimp are mounted, such that movement of the cutter bar and cutting blade causes the cuts to be placed into each shrimp. The timing mechanism includes mating gear teeth on the cam wheel and indexing gear mounted proximate the cam wheel. The cam wheel and indexing gear are held into engagement by the biasing force of a spring. The indexing gear may be disengaged from the cam wheel to allow the cam wheel to be rotated to change the timing of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A mechanical meat tenderizer having the features of a force-limiting apparatus and an orthogonal blade set. The tenderizer comprises a set of orthogonal knife cutting blades and a reciprocable head for releasably holding individual knife cutting blades for insertion into meat to be tenderized. The reciprocable head comprises a meat securing member such as a hold-down plate, a blade orienting member such as an orientation plate for orienting the knives, and a friction plate for providing a predetermined frictional release force for independently positioning and holding the set of orthogonal blades so that when any one of the orthogonal blades encounters a release force exceeding the predetermined release force the blade is released and not damaged. The orthogonal blade set preferably includes straight blades and orthogonal blades, each having a spring or frictional member for frictionally engaging a respective portion of a friction bar.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a conical tray formed with a central opening, a connecting member extending through the central opening and connected to the conical tray, and a cleaning unit mounted rotatably on the connecting member. The cleaning unit includes a plurality of tubular members, each of which is disposed above the conical tray, each of which is formed with an ejection open end, and each of which confines an ejection channel. The ejection open end opens in an ejection direction so as to permit rotation of the cleaning unit via a counteracting force resulting from ejection of water from the ejection open ends of the tubular members when water is supplied into the ejection channels of the tubular members.

Abstract: A connector (10) includes a housing (34) and an arm (43) pivotally connected to the housing (34). A hook (48) is formed on one end of the arm (43) and a spring (49) is positioned between the arm (43) and the housing (34). The connector (10) can be used to attach two items of many configurations together, but it is particularly suited to attach strap ends of an item such as a halter (11) having a strap (12) and a strap (13) interconnected by a plurality of tab straps (20, 21, 22). The strap (12) is interrupted to form a portion (32) carrying the connector (10) and another portion (31) carrying an o-ring (29) which can be engaged between the hook (48) and the housing (34).

Abstract: A secure fishing pole and reel locking assembly comprising a pole holder rack and a reel cover which is adapted to be mounted to a wall and locked. When the reel cover is locked, the reel cover locks the fishing poles in the pole holder rack and covers the reels. The reel cover is adapted to be locked via a pad lock or other locking mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of cutting ribs (10), and more specifically, a method of cutting larger ribs (10) to make at least two smaller ribs (14 and 15) of a more manageable size. The larger ribs (10) are cut by removing the brisket portion (12) at a point dorsal to the curvature of the costal cartilages, the rib tail portion (11), and the rib sections (13) from the shoulder end of the ribs (10). Then, after these portions have been removed from the ribs (10), the remaining whole spare rib portion (16) is further sectioned longitudinally to yield at least two shorter spare rib portions (14 and 15).

Abstract: A device for connecting a meat portioning-filling machine to a clipping machine, comprising a tube which is adapted to convey the meat and to support the tubular casing to be filled; the tube has, at its output section, a fixed contrast cutter which is adapted to work in cooperation with a cutter provided with an actuation for moving the cutter substantially at right angles to the output section.

Abstract: A snood for a long line including a fastening device for securing the snood to the long line. The snood further includes a snood line provided with a hook at one end. The opposite end of the snood line extends through an aperture formed in the fastening device. The aperture ends in a chamber formed in the fastening device, the chamber being adapted to rotatably receive a thickening provided at the extremity of the second end of the snood line and being integrally formed therewith by injection molding. The snood line is made of a plastic material being different from and having another melting point than that of the plastic material from which the fastening device is made.

Abstract: There is provided a deer tail decoy which simulates the communicating and motion characteristics of a deer's tail. The decoy includes flexible and paired front and rear tail-shaped light colored background and dark inlaid materials, each of which is frayed or slit about their peripheral margins to provide contrasting inner and outer flaps which flutter in the wind. The top section of the decoy includes a rigid support such as a wire so as to permit the decoy to flag in the wind. When secured to a mounting site with a cord or wire, the wind blown deer tail decoy partially rotates about the wire, swings as a pendulum, ripples through its entire fabric structure and creates contrasting fluttering and flapping in the wind so as to emulate a deer's tail in motion.

Abstract: A method of processing pork bellies to produce sliced bacon comprises receiving at least one pork belly, having a flank end and a shoulder end, from a pork belly treating process. The flank end and the shoulder end of the at least one pork belly is docked. The docked pork belly is placed on a slicing machine and sliced to produce sliced bacon.

Abstract: A rodent trap particularly adapted for rats has a plastic base to which a plastic upper jaw is pivotably mounted by a steel pin. A spring is engaged between the base and the upper jaw and urges the jaw to close upon the base. A trigger is pivotably mounted by the pin to ears which project upwardly from the base. A catch mechanism operates to restrain the upper jaw in a set position until the trigger is actuated. A plastic bait container has radially protruding flanges which permit it to be extended through a hole in the base beneath the trigger and secured to the base such that the bait within the container is accessible through another hole in the trigger. In one embodiment, the bait container is generally cylindrical and is twisted into place. The bait container is readily removed for replenishment.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically rinsing and scraping bi-valve mollusks and the like. The mollusks are placed into a perforated drum that is rotated by a motor, the drum having a plurality of agitation protrusions for churning, lifting and dropping the mollusks so they become frictionally engaged with one another and the plurality of abrasive elements contained therein thereby effectively scraping off any barnacles or other like debris. Jet streams of water are emitted to shower the mollusks during operation and a housing assembly that maintains the perforated drum therein also forms a basin that retains the effluence and creates an agitating, churning bath to facilitate cleaning. The front panel of the housing assembly is hinged to a bottom plate thereof and has two perpendicular side panels extending therefrom to form a chute for unloading the mollusks in an orderly manner into a bucket or other like container.

Abstract: An effective insect trap comprises a housing that substantially encloses an interior space for trapping and killing insects. A conduit is attached to or formed from the housing, where the conduit is shaped to facilitate entry of insects into the trap interior space, based on the insects' natural motion and its attraction to light radiating from within the trap. The conduit, or preferably multiple conduits, narrows in cross sectional area to a conduit end that is open to the interior space. A socket used to secure a light bulb is positioned such that, when the bulb is in the socket, the bulb is within about one inch of the conduit end. Overall, the trap hinders the escape of trapped insects through the conduit and under some conditions is selective to biting insects, such as mosquitoes, mosquito types, and sub-miniature biting midges, over other types of insects.