Patents Examined by Joshua D Huson
  • Patent number: 11570964
    Abstract: [Problem to be solved] To provide a pet toilet sheet cover member that is provided so as to cover a pet toilet sheet laid on a floor surface and can be easily positioned with respect to the pet toilet sheet and can be easily moved, and to provide a pet toilet having the pet toilet sheet cover member. [Solution] A cover member 1 of a pet toilet sheet 3 according to the present invention includes: a frame member 7 that is provided on the rectangular pet toilet sheet 3 laid on a floor surface so as to over an outer peripheral edge part of the pet toilet sheet 3; and sheet fixing members 9 that are provided on the frame member 7 and fix the pet toilet sheet 3 to the frame member 7. The frame member 7 is formed to have an octagonal outer peripheral shape by obliquely cutting off corner parts of a rectangular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: RICHELL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisao Miwa, Satoshi Urabe
  • Patent number: 11570965
    Abstract: A dog waste collecting system that is fully compostable or biodegradable, and fully sustainable. The system is made of a cardboard box, a biodegradable liner, an optional cardboard cell divider, an absorbent coconut layer and a retaining coconut fiber mat that keeps the absorbent layer in place. The absorbent coconut layer absorbs the dog waste fluids while the coconut fiber mat holds the dog waste solids for removal by the owner. Perforations in the box define a lid that is removed prior to use to expose the mat. The system, after a few weeks of use, can be directly discarded in whole, in the compost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Yashar Shams
  • Patent number: 11564364
    Abstract: An apparatus for cultivating plants may include a cabinet forming a space in which plants may be cultivated; a door connected to the cabinet to open or close the space; at least one bed disposed in the space; at least one seed package separably seated on the at least one bed and having a medium including seeds of plants and nutrient solution; and a light assembly to radiate light to the at least one seed package disposed on the at least one bed. The at least one bed may include an upper bed on which the at least one seed package may be seated and a bottom bed on which the upper bed may be seated and that forms a water collecting portion that stores water, and the at least one seed package may be supplied with the water stored in the water collecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myeongha Yi, Soobeom Lee
  • Patent number: 11547064
    Abstract: A device for growing plants above a selected surface includes a bottom member disposed upon a selected surface; a top member disposed upon and secured to said bottom member via two longitudinal securing seams, whereby, said top member includes two outer longitudinal flap portions and a longitudinal center portion, which ultimately receives a growing material in which plants and/or seeds are disposed. The longitudinal flap portions are ultimately folded above the growing material whereby longitudinal edge portions of the flap portions are separated a predetermined distance for allowing water and light to engage the growing material. Pipe members are removably secured to longitudinal edge portions of each longitudinal side of the bottom member, thereby enabling the manual lifting and transport of the device for disposal upon a selected surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: David K. Ruger
  • Patent number: 11547070
    Abstract: A Vertical-Hive Green Box (or V-Hive Green Box) is a modular cultivation system utilized in a modular Vertical Farm or Plant Factory, as well as a warehouse-type or greenhouse-type of vertical farm or plant factory. The V-Hive Green Box includes growing boards, lighting boards, and an irrigation system arranged within a frame structure to maximize the quantity of crops that can be grown within an available volume of space in a modular Vertical Farm unit, warehouse or greenhouse per unit time. The V-Hive Green Box can also include aquaculture boards that can be used for aquaculture of aquatic fish and plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Joel L. Cuello, Yaser Mehdipour, Cody L. Brown, Ryan James Sullivan, Richard Jensen Thelander
  • Patent number: 11528858
    Abstract: A plant cultivating apparatus includes a body that defines a cultivation chamber, a cultivation bed disposed on the cultivation chamber and configured to move relative to the body, a nutrient storage configured to store nutrient solution, a pipe configured to supply the nutrient solution to the cultivation bed, a bed checker configured to detect movement of the cultivation bed, a level checker configured to detect a level of nutrient solution in the cultivation bed, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the bed checker and the level checker and to adjust the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation bed. The cultivation bed includes a signal connector that is disposed on one surface of the cultivation bed corresponding to the bed checker and the level checker and that is selectively connected to the bed checker and the level checker according to whether to move the cultivation bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongjin Lee, Youngsuk Kim
  • Patent number: 11523585
    Abstract: A dog toilet includes: a receptacle in which a dog urinates; a urination detection sensor that includes a first electrode and a second electrode; and an operating device that operates based on a conducting state of the first electrode and the second electrode of the urination detection sensor. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is spaced apart from the receptacle. The dog toilet further includes an insulating member arranged between the receptacle and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hiroshima, Takayuki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11490597
    Abstract: A system comprising a first transmitter for transmitting a first signal at a first frequency and a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal at a second frequency. The system includes a collar unit comprising a filter for receiving a combined signal, wherein the combined signal comprises the first signal and the second signal, wherein the filter includes a first antenna for detecting the first signal and a second antenna for detecting the second signal. The collar unit includes at least one signal analysis component configured to analyze the first signal and the second signal. The collar unit is configured to instruct a stimulus delivery unit to deliver a stimulus to the animal when the first signal voltage falls below a first value and the second signal voltage exceeds a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Seltzer, Duane A. Gerig
  • Patent number: 11484003
    Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup for obtaining milk, a measuring chamber which is in flow communication with the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk, and having a sensor device for measuring at least one property of the milk. The sensor device comprises at least three mutually separate electrodes for measuring values of a first milk property using an electrical and/or electromagnetic variable, and a sensor control unit for actuating the sensor device and for processing the measured values. The sensor control unit is configured to repeatedly select a pair of the electrodes in a targeted manner, the pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode which differs from the first electrode. The sensor device is configured to measure the value of the variable between the electrodes, and to determine the value of the at least one milk property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventors: Gerard Mostert, Rik Steenbergen, Frans Emo Diderik Van Halsema
  • Patent number: 11483989
    Abstract: An automatic and modular system for handling trays (32) used for containing plants or the like to be grown through hydroponic, or aeroponic, or aquaponic farming, comprises a first module (30) with a quadrangular plan and a vertical arrangement delimited by respective vertical supports (31), said first module (30) comprising two lateral zones, each of which includes a plurality of substantially horizontal and overlapping supporting seats or guides (37, 37?) for trays (32), and a central zone in which a vertical tray transfer device (33) operates, slidably along a vertical axis (Z) arranged on a movement means activated by motorization assemblies (34) able to translate said vertical transfer device (33) from a lowered position to a raised position for bringing itself to each tray (32) and vice versa, said vertical transfer device (33) being provided with a resting shelf (33?) for a tray (32) and with a first means adapted to translate along a first horizontal axis (Y) said tray from and towards a respective se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ONO EXPONENTIAL FARMING S.R.L.
    Inventor: Thomas Ambrosi
  • Patent number: 11484008
    Abstract: A feeder for pigs includes a hopper and a trough for receiving the feed where an elongate opening is defined by an elongate shelf to control the amount of feed discharged from the hopper to the trough. An adjustment linkage for lifting the shelf against the weight of feed in the hopper includes a first lift screw and a second lift screw each for applying a lifting force to the elongate adjustment member located at spaced positions from the end walls of the hopper. Each of the screws includes a gear box with a shaft connected between the two gear boxes to communicate drive therebetween for simultaneous operation of the lift screws by a hand crank connected to one at the top of the feed in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan Kleinsasser, Tom McAdams
  • Patent number: 11464199
    Abstract: An end effector of a robot arm that is configured to participate in an animal-related operation, where the end effector is comprised of an actuator and a housing that is provided with a first aperture at a first end portion, where the actuator participates in the animal related operation via the first aperture, and the housing is provided with a second aperture providing access to an interior of the housing, wherein a passage extends through the housing along at least part of the actuator, from the second aperture to the first aperture such that the housing may be flushed through for removing dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DELAVAL HOLDING AB
    Inventor: Magnus Larsson
  • Patent number: 11457613
    Abstract: A feeding system for measuring, monitoring and managing feed intake to determine feed efficiency of individual animals of a dairy herd. The feeding system includes at least one feed trough that contains feed to be consumed by the individual animals of the dairy herd. At least one load cell is coupled to the at least one feed trough for detecting a weight of the feed contained within the at least one feed trough. Lifting assemblies support the at least one load cell. The lifting assemblies can be actuated to move the at least one load cell and the at least one feed trough between a set feeding position, in which the individual animals consume the amount of feed contained within the feed trough, and a pivoted discharge position in which the amount of feed is discharged from the feed trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GROWSAFE SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Camiel Huisma
  • Patent number: 11457614
    Abstract: A system and associated methods use an animal harness attached to an animal to improve security at a location (e.g., a home, office, warehouse, etc.). The animal harness collects health status data of the animal, and the health status data is processed using one or more algorithms that detect changes in one or more of excitement, agitation, stress, and/or anxiety in the animal. These changes are interpreted, using a behavioral model of the animal, to determine whether the animal is witnessing a security event at the location, and when the health status data indicates the security event, the system may generate an alert. The behavioral model may be updated over time to improve performance of the algorithms to detect security events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: VetMeasure, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Maher, Joel Adrian Moritz, Jr., Dennis Matthew Schultz
  • Patent number: 11452277
    Abstract: A milking system for milking a dairy animal includes a milking cup having a first milk outflow opening, a measuring chamber having a milk inlet which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, with a second milk outflow opening to a milk hose, and with a vacuum connection, and a level sensor for measuring a milk level in the measuring chamber. The milking system further includes a controllable valve having an adjustable passage opening, which is provided in or downstream of the second milk outflow opening, and a control unit which is operatively connected to the level sensor and the valve, and which control unit is configured to adjust the passage opening of the valve on the basis of the measured milk level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventors: Gerard Mostert, Rik Steenbergen, Frans Emo Diderik Van Halsema
  • Patent number: 11452271
    Abstract: A hydroponic apparatus includes a cultivation tank and planting containers. The cultivation tank includes an inner space and a top planting groove. Each of the planting containers includes a container body and a container brim The planting containers can be arranged on the planting groove along a width direction of the planting groove, and the planting containers can be moved along a length direction of the planting groove. A hydroponic method includes: placing the planting containers at n positions arranged along the planting groove, wherein each position corresponds to a plant growth and development stage, and is consistent with an order of the plant growth and development stages; and harvesting the plant at the position n at a specified time point, and moving the planting containers at other positions one by one to the positions corresponding to the next plant growth and development stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIAN SANAN SINO-SCIENCE PHOTOBIOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shaohua Li, Yangyin Huang, Zemin Song, Jing Li
  • Patent number: 11452270
    Abstract: An automatic system for control and management of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation of plants in a water-based solution contained in a main reservoir includes: a pump connected to the main reservoir; an analysis chamber connected to the pump; a sensor module with sensing probes; an additive module; an injection module; an electronic control board; and a user interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic control board. The sensor module includes a conveyor plane displaceable horizontally by a motor to accurately position the sensing probes and two linear actuators provided with rack and managed, in turn, by two corresponding servo-motors configured to immerse and independently remove the sensing probes, moving them on two axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: WALLFARM SRL
    Inventors: Giulio Caselli, Christian Cervone, Massimiliano Carbone, Jacopo Teodori, Ares Ferrigni
  • Patent number: 11445694
    Abstract: A milking system for milking of a milk animal, including a milking cup for obtaining the milk, the milking cup having a teat space with a first milk outflow opening, and a measuring chamber directly and rigidly connected to the milking cup for at least temporarily containing the obtained milk. The measuring chamber is provided with a milk inflow opening which is in flow communication with the first milk outflow opening, a second milk outflow opening, a vacuum outlet, and a sensor device for measuring a property of the milk in the measuring chamber. The sensor device includes an optical sensor device having a plurality of optical sensor elements, at least one light source, and a control unit which is configured to process sensor signals into values of at least two parameters of the milk in the measuring chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventors: Gerard Mostert, Frans Emo Diderik Van Halsema, Rik Steenbergen
  • Patent number: 11427328
    Abstract: A seat indexing system and method for an internal cabin of a vehicle include a seat assembly, and an indexing wheel coupled to the seat assembly. The indexing wheel is configured to be moved between a stowed position, in which the indexing wheel is disengaged from a seat track, and a deployed position, in which the indexing wheel engages the seat track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Rachelle N. Ornan, Mark L. Cloud, Raymond Roeder, Dean Hettick
  • Patent number: 11399474
    Abstract: An integrated fence irrigation and grow system is provided. The system includes one or more post members, one or more bed members disposed on the post members and an irrigation system coupled to a water supply and connected to each of the bed members to introduce water to each of the bed members. The bed members each include a tubular body having a top surface and a bottom surface. The tubular body is formed by a wall, and the wall defines an interior cavity in the bed member. The wall includes a plurality of openings disposed along a top surface of the bed members. When growing medium is disposed within the interior cavity of the bed members, plants planted in the growth medium in proximity to the openings grow therein, and foliage thereof is at least one of viewable and harvestable above the plurality of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: John Anthony Woerner