Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing items of food to pets is disclosed comprising a container and a cord. The container has a first opening through which the cord is inserted. The container has a chamber in which at least one item of food can be placed. The first opening of the container is large enough to allow the at least one item of food to pass through the first opening while the cord is in the first opening of the container. The first opening may be located at a first end of the container and the cap portion may be located at a second end of the container. The cap portion can be removed to allow insertion of one or more items of food into the chamber of the container through a second opening of the container. A method is also provided comprising inserting a cord through a first opening of a container so that the cord lies partially in a chamber of the container, placing an item of food into the chamber; and preventing the cord from coming completely out of the container.

Abstract: A method of making a tubular member such as a bird feeder hopper having offset members extending integrally from the inside surface of the peripheral wall thereof into an internal cavity. A sheet-like member is initially formed with a plurality of wall sections interconnected by integral hinges and the offset members integrally formed on one surface thereof. The sheet-like element can then be folded or pivoted about the integral hinges to form the peripheral wall of the tubular member, with the offset members extending into the internal cavity defined thereby and the edge portions of the end sections secured as by heat sealing, complementary locking members, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An animal feeder support device for maintaining a feed container on a substantially vertically extending support member a distance above the ground. The animal feeder support device comprises a stabilizing member, a container support frame, an arm, a first cable, a second cable, and an adjustable strap assembly. The stabilizing member is disposable in a substantially vertical position on the substantially vertically extending support member. The container support frame has an opening sized to receive a feed dispenser of the feed container when the feed container is positioned on the container support frame. The arm has a medial portion connected to the stabilizing member. The first and second cables are adjustably connected to the container support frame. The adjustable strap assembly is connectable to the arm near the medial portion of the arm so that the strap assembly is extendable about the vertically extending support member.

Abstract: A pet dish for holding pet food or water includes a dish portion having a top wall and a peripheral side wall that is attached to a peripheral edge of the top wall and extends downward therefrom. The top wall has at least one depression therein and defines a food receptacle. The at least one depression is centrally disposed in the top wall such that a margin of the top wall is formed extending around the depression. A handle is attached to the margin and extends upwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A mobile livestock feeder is provided, comprising a dual-axle gooseneck hitch trailer with two parallel troughs and a storage unit, a hinged gate, a mineral feeder connected to the rear of the trailer, a fly dust bag above the mineral feeder, a fly oil holding tank supplying a rope wick-style automatic oiler, and two heavy duty jacks to level the trailer. The mobile livestock feeder has particular utility in connection with providing a large portable feed capacity along with minerals and fly control.

Abstract: An adjustable loop leash construction (10) for use with a pet collar (70) having an attachment ring (71). The construction (10) includes a one piece elongated leash member (11) having looped openings (25) formed on the opposite ends (22), (23) of the leash member (11). The looped openings (25) are dimensioned to encircle the ring portions (30) of a pair of snap ring swivel members (12). The leash member (11) is further provided with a plurality of grommet members (13) that are spaced along the length of the leash member (11) and adapted to be engaged by the snap portion (32) of either of the snap ring swivel members (12).

Abstract: A screen assembly for storing wild game meat comprising: a mesh cylinder fabricated of mesh material and having an open upper end; and a top section fabricated of waterproof material and affixed over the upper end of the mesh cylinder, a locking clip having a cable extending therefrom and through the upper section, the cable being fixed relative to the upper section, the clip adapted to be coupled around a tree limb in an operative orientation, the cable having a lower end including a hook for hanging wild game meat.

Abstract: A game skinner device having a winch and a roller deposed at opposite ends of a main support. The main support is adjustably secured to the hitch of a vehicle. The game skinner device does not support the weight of the game.

Abstract: The first skirt portion has an outward extension in the form of a substantially smooth upper circumferential edge, wherein the upper edge itself has an extension in the form of a second skirt portion extending downwardly and outwardly to a lower circumferential edge. The bottom portion has on its lower face an adhesive member such as a two-sided adhesive. The ratio of the average inner diameter of the first skirt portion to the inner height of the bowl is at least about 3, and advantageously ranges from about 3.5 to 7.5, and preferably, from 4 to 6.

Abstract: An adapter for converting a foldable pet shelter into a self encased pet crate. The crate adapter has an end panel and a bottom panel, both of which may be joined together. The end panel is removably attachable to the foldable pet shelter along the back edge perimeter of the left side, right side, and top panels of the foldable pet shelter, while the bottom panel is removably attachable to the foldable pet shelter along the bottom edge perimeter of the left side, right side, and front side panels of the foldable pet shelter. Component lock elements positioned along various locations on the end and bottom panels of the adapter provide elements for removably securing the adapter to the foldable pet shelter, thereby converting the joined components into a self encased pet crate having a top panel, a right side panel, a left side panel, a front panel, a back panel, and a bottom panel.

Abstract: An animal shelter includes a base unit that has a peripheral support element that contains cooling gel releasably attached thereto. A frame unit includes a plurality of ribs each of which contains cooling gel. The ribs are releasably attached to the peripheral support element. A tent-like cover is releasably attached to the peripheral support element.

Abstract: A device for determining the spatial position of an animal's teat having a first transmitter element for emitting a first ray or beam of rays in a first sub-area of a space which includes the presence of the teat, and a second transmitter element differing from the first transmitter element for emitting a second ray or beam of rays in a second sub-area in such space, the first sub-area and the second sub-area overlapping by a few degrees where the join. A first receiver element receives a reflection of the first ray or beam of rays and a second receiver element differing from the first receiver element receives a reflection of a second ray or beam of rays. A mirror having reflections or both of the rays or beams of rays from the transmitter elements.

Abstract: A pet dish apparatus includes a dish-shaped base unit which has a first dish lock portion in the form of an annular groove on an inside surface of the dish-shaped base unit and includes a dish member received in the dish-shaped base unit. The dish member includes a second dish lock portion in the form of an annular tongue on the outside surface of the dish member which is engageable with the first dish lock portion annular groove. The dish member is received in the dish-shaped base unit in a nesting manner. An annular peripheral top ring extends outward from a dish wall of the dish member. Two dish-shaped base units can be connected together with an annular peripheral top ring in a form of a figure-eight.

Abstract: A combination stuffing horn (60) and skin brake (70) allows for a stuffing apparatus (10) for meat products (130) to be utilized. The stuffing horn (60) includes an elongate member (62) with a bore (62a) through which the meat product passes. The elongate member (62) has an outer cross section. The skin brake (70) has an inflatable bladder which is positioned around the elongate member. The bladder, when inflated, conforms to the outer cross section, wherein pressure is exerted on a shirred casing as the casing is being pulled over the horn (60) as the meat product (130) is stuffed into the casing.

Abstract: A pet fountain includes a water reservoir, and a spout connected with a water discharging end of the water reservoir. The water reservoir is provided in a ventilation end with a through hole, and an elastic ventilation block. The elastic ventilation block is provided with a fitting portion, and a projection extending from the fitting portion which is fitted airtightly and removably into the through hole of the ventilation end and is provided with a ventilation hole. The projection is extended into the interior of the water reservoir and is provided with a slit in communication with the ventilation hole of the fitting portion.

Abstract: A valve device for self-watering of livestock has a valve with a valve housing located in frost-free surroundings, a subterranean well. The valve device has a sliding valve body arranged to open by actuation of an animal for discharging water through an outlet opening provided in a delivery tube. Water is discharged into a drinking bowl or nozzle disposed at a level above ground convenient for the animal. The valve body is arranged to close for water discharge through the outlet opening under subjection of water pressure in an inlet opening. The valve body may be controlled remotely from the drinking bowl or the nozzle. The valve body is arranged such that the delivery tube and the valve housing are automatically emptied of water when the valve is closed, for example, when only the valve body is subjected to water pressure.

Abstract: A thrust collar for slidably mountable on an elongated hollow stuffing tube of a meat emulsion encasing machine, comprises a main body having a center bore and a radially extending annular flange, and a disk rotatably mounted on a forward end of the main body and having a center bore registering with the center bore on the main body and being adapted to engage an end of the tubular casing on a stuffing tube so that the disk can rotate with respect to the main body.

Abstract: Bird bath incorporates water reservoir and filter disposed above reservoir. Pump circulates water from reservoir to a bowl. Water from bowl received from water surface directed to filter. Agitator causes particles in bowl bottom to be directed to filter. Cascading shower aerates water. Filter captures particles and sanitizes water.

Abstract: A multiple pet leash includes an elongated handle portion having a loop at one end and a swivel at another end, which engages at least two pet tethers. Each of the tethers includes a swiveled, snap hook members located at the distal end for attaching the tether to a dog collar. The proximate end of each tether is permanently but slidably attached to a“D” shaped portion of the swivel, which helps avoid tangling of the tethers due to pets crossing paths. The length of the handle portion is adjustable to allow the handler adjustment of the handle portion The lengths of the pet tethers are adjustable, enabling pets of different sizes to walk around, over or under each other without requiring the handler to constantly disconnect, untangle and reconnect the leashes in order to resume orderly walking.

Abstract: An automatic food dispenser for animals, fish or the like, comprising a housing, controls, and with a hopper within, for containing food, the base of the hopper having an opening for the food to exit, and the opening is in close proximity to a dispensing mechanism. The mechanism has a surface, thus creating a sufficient seal to prevent the undesired escape of food from the hopper and has an aperture on its surface, whereupon, with the rotation of the dispensing mechanism about its axis, and the subsequent alignment of the aperture with opening at the base of the hopper, feed may escape from the hopper through the aperture, and hence directly through the open base of the dispensing mechanism, the volume of feed dispensed being a function of the variable speed of rotation, and the number of “to and fro” motions of the dispensing mechanism past the feed exit.