Abstract: A system for calculating one or more dimensions of an animal. The system comprises at least three fiducial reference points, each having different X, Y, and Z coordinates in 3-dimensional space. In addition, the system further comprises at least two sensors for obtaining dimensional measurements of the fiducial reference points and the animal from at least two different fields of view. In one embodiment, the at least two different fields of view are at least a side view and a top view. The system also comprises a processing system configured to receive the dimensional measurements from the at least two sensors and calculate one or more dimensions of the animal by relating positions of animal features to known locations of the fiducial reference points. The system also may create and measure a 3-dimensional image of the animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for the automatic milking of animals. The animals enter the milking stall (5) from a gathering area (A) via an access path (B). The milking stall comprises a feeding device (7) and automatic milking equipment (6). After they have been milked, the animals leave the milking stall via an exit path (C) and move to the living area (D). According to the invention, a feeding stall (20) for supplying an amount of feed which is determined by the control system is incorporated in the exit path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing non-homogeneous bodies. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention may be employed for aseptically slaughtering and processing animals for food, food products, chemicals, or hides. The methods and apparatus of the present invention require little or no human interaction with the animal carcass during slaughter and processing thereby reducing the possibility of injury to workers and contamination of the carcass through human contact.

Abstract: A watering insert [18] for chick transport trays [1A, 1B] utilizes a plurality of watering nipples [17] connected to, and communicating with, a central water tank [27]. The insert utilizes a support surface [44] along the periphery [50] of the insert for supporting the insert in the open top of the tray at a height sufficient to allow chicks to activate the watering nipples. The water tank comprises an upper removable portion [28] and a lower portion [30] containing the nipples. A vented fill cap [21] allows convenient filling of the insert tank and provides a vacuum break when the nipples are activated.

Abstract: A weighted pet leash assembly including a housing for containing the leash in a retracted condition. The housing includes a handle which is integrally formed with a handle of a hand weight such as a dumbbell such that gripping the dumbbell handle places the finger of a user proximate the leash assembly trigger for selectively activating a stop mechanism to terminate travel of the leash through an opening in the leash housing. The weighted pet leash assembly can be used in combination with a conventional dumbbell or other hand weight such that each arm of the user is being exercised simultaneously.

Abstract: A squirrel teasing hanger assembly for a bird feeder emits sounds or illuminates lights when a squirrel or large bird alights on the bird feeder attached a lower support of the hanger assembly.

Abstract: A method and means for creating a casing on a sausage making machine involves the method steps and apparatus wherein a strip of thermoplastic casing material is wound on a rotating hollow sausage stuffing horn. The casing material has side edges forming a series of contiguous helixes of casing material with the side edges of one helix overlapping the side edges of an adjacent helix. A source of heat is applied on at least a helical portion of the adjacent overlapping edges of adjacent helixes to cause the overlapping side edges adjacent the source of heat to fuse together to create a hollow casing. The source of heat is applied to only a short helical path superimposed only over a corresponding helical segment of the overlapping side edges of adjacent helixes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for producing aquatic specie for consumer consumption within a closed aquaculture system. It provides for growing algae in artificial saltwater under controlled conditions in an algae subsystem, flowing the algae to an artemia subsystem containing adult artemia for feeding the adult artemia which produce smaller artemia, and flowing the algae and artemia to an aquatic specie subsystem containing an immature adult specie. As the immature aquatic specie consumes the algae and artemia, they mature into adult aquatic specie for harvesting. The invention also includes a data acquisition and control subsystem for automated control of the aquaculture system. A unique filtration subsystem accepts waste from the aquatic specie subsystem, pumps the waste through a series of filters, and returns the filtered saltwater to the algae subsystem, the artemia subsystem and the aquatic specie subsystem.

Abstract: A method of modifying the growth of plant roots is provided in which the roots are grown in proximity to a membrane from which water is released during the growth of the roots, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane. The method may also be used to collect materials exuded from plant roots by growing the plant roots in a growing medium that is surrounded by a membrane such that moisture is released into the growing medium from the membrane whilst materials exuded from the plant roots are retained within the growing medium by the membrane, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane.

Abstract: A tethering and restraint safety harness for transporting a large equine or bovine animal in their natural upright position in a trailer is disclosed. Adjustable front and rear girt straps encircle the front and rear parts of the animal immediately behind its front legs and just in front of its hind legs and an adjustable body strap extends around the lateral sides, breast and buttocks of the animal. Front and rear pairs of tether straps connect the harness to eye bolts on an overhead support structure of the trailer to maintain the animal in a natural standing position. The harness substantially reduces the likelihood of the animal tripping or falling and from being, tossed around in the trailer and injuring himself in the event of abrupt stops, sudden swerves, or a collision.

Abstract: An autonomous stratospheric airship comprising a hull which contains an equipment bay, forward and aft ballonets, forward and aft air management sub-systems, a propulsion system, and a control system is described. The airship also comprises a regenerative solar energy power and storage sub-system which allows powered daytime and nighttime operations. Further, the control system of the airship enables autonomous operation between selected waypoints or along a specified line of sight. The solar arrays utilized by the airship are internally mounted and gimballed so as to provide maximum collection efficiency and not impede the aerodynamic profile of the airship. A greatly simplified and slightly less controllable version of the airship, which makes use of alternative solar array control and ballast management systems, while carrying the equipment bay on the exterior of the hull, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fish holder featuring a shortened handle section and teeth lining the entire length of the jaws of the holder is disclosed. The teeth in the jaws provide multiple points of contact against a fish, thereby enhancing control and grip on the fish. The disclosed invention may be constructed of two convex jaws or a combination of one convex jaw and one concave jaw. Teeth may also be arranged in a plurality of rows extending the length of the jaws. Use of the invention prevents contact with sharp body parts of the fish, such as teeth or spines.

Abstract: When the stomach, intestines, and other viscera have been pulled from the visceral cavity of a bird traveling in series with other birds on a suspended conveyor line, the gullet holds the viscera in a position suspended outside of the bird where it can be inspected by a health official. The gullet cutter 20 is moved downwardly by its cam roller following the sloped cam track 15 until its tube 1 and rod 2 reach into the visceral cavity of a bird. The rod 2 that is inserted into the visceral cavity and its hook-shaped protrusion 5 are rotated by gear wheels 8, 21, 22 to create a scissors-cutting effect between the protrusion 5 and its notch 4 to cut the gullet. During cutting, the bird is urged by a rotatable bracket 10 into a desired position so that the gullet of the bird is urged into the hook-shaped protrusion, effecting an accurate cut of the gullet by the protrusion.

Abstract: A bird feeder construction (10) wherein, a conventional transparent beverage receptacle (100) forms the seed dispensing unit (12) which is captively engaged in a framework member (40) attached to a base member (20) wherein, the framework member (40) includes a front wall (45) and a rear wall (41) that engage the front and rear of the neck portion (101) of the beverage receptacle (100) which is penetratingly engaged by a rod member (50) that extends through the front (45) and rear (41) walls and a pair of cross-arm elements (47) (47) which are disposed on top of the front (45) and rear (41) walls to provide lateral support to the beverage receptacle (100) in its vertically upright position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging live fish in sealed containers. A plastic container is partially filled with water, before receipt of fish, with at least some of the air evacuated from the container and replaced with a gas. An air-tight lid is sealed to the container capturing a layer of gas, such as oxygen, in a void over the water. The use of a clear or transparent container and lid, allows the container to operate as a miniature aquarium allowing storage of the fish for an extended period of time. The fish are acclimated to a point-of-use aquarium by weighting of the container for placement in the aquarium. The container includes printed marks for puncture holes to allow the exchange of water between the container and the receiving aquatic environment. The puncture holes permit a predetermined amount of air to escape the container while slowing being displaced by the water of the aquatic environment. The container is designed to sink providing an absolute indicator that fluid admixing is complete.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system, device, and method for covert, wireless communication between a human handler and a trained animal. A small receiving unit is placed in a cured material which has conformed to the contours of a trained animal's inner ear thereby eliminating the need for an invasive method for implanting anything into the animals ear. The receiving unit has no external communication features such as wires or external antennae and thus it is covert. The transmitting unit may be hand-held by the animal's handler or used with a headset and attached microphone. Neither the transmitting or receiving units have any wires or external antennae that may be dangerously snagged while the animal is performing service or be noticed by any onlookers.

Abstract: A kite which in a simplest embodiment comprises a central rectangular section having one edge joined to an edge of one rectangular side section and an opposite edge joined to an edge of an opposite side section wherein, reach edge to edge junction has a tube secured to the sheet along a junction line. Each of four corners of the kite are secured to one of four cords respectively, permitting a user to maneuver the kite while the kite is in flight. The use of tubes permits joining one such kite, to another, by inserting one end of a rod into one tube of one kite and another end of the rod into a tube of another kite such that the central sections of the kites are coplanar and each side section of each module is coplanar with a side section of the other kite respectively. Use of tubes to construct the frame provides strength and light weight to the kite construction.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for transporting laboratory animals comprises a container (12), a cover piece (14), and a closure piece (16). The container (12) has an open top. The cover piece (14) is connectable with the container (12) for closing the open top of the container (12). The cover piece (14) has a passage (188) through which the at least one laboratory animal passes during insertion into and extraction from a cavity (28). The closure piece (16) includes a portion (234) that is rotatable relative to the cover piece (14) between a first position in which the portion (234) of the closure piece (16) closes the passage (188) in the cover piece (14) and a second position in which the passage (188) in the cover piece (14) is open to permit the insertion and extraction of the at least one laboratory animal through the passage (188).

Abstract: More than one clips are attached to the handle section of a divided fishing rod. The clips can be permanently attached to the fishing rod or can be snapped onto the rod. The upper part of the clip is horseshoe-shaped and spring loaded inwardly such that the free end section of the fishing rod can be inserted into the upper part of the clip and held in parallel orientation to the lower, handle section of the fishing rod. The lower part of the clip can either be a base which is glued or molded to the fishing rod or can be another inwardly biased horseshoe-shaped clip. The lower part of the detachable embodiment can be snapped onto the handle section of the rod at at least two locations. When the free end section of the rod is attached to the upper part of the clip, the two halves of the rod are held in parallel orientation to each other. The upper part of the clip also has outwardly turned ears to enable easier insertion of the rod into the clip.

Abstract: A bird feeder that uses the standard size half-gallon rectangular milk type containers commonly used for liquids. The bird feeder includes a base having a front and back. A back support is attached near the back of the base. Two side supports are attached to the base and the back support. A front support is attached between the two side supports. A feed lip is attached to the base near the front of the base. A container area is formed by the front, back, and side supports and is sized just enough to receive and fit the milk type container. A container lip support mounted in the container area between the side supports and near the base to aid in retaining a lip of the milk type container in position.