Patents Examined by Katelyn T Truong
  • Patent number: 11570958
    Abstract: A tower catch mechanism that facilitates loading of vertical grow towers in a vertical farming structure having associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a load conveyance mechanism that transfers grow towers to a loading position where grow towers are loaded onto a select grow line. Each grow line may include a grow tower conveyance system that moves vertically-oriented grow towers to select positions along a grow line. The system may include a tower catch mechanism that registers grow towers in position at the loading position for insertion into a select grow line. In some implementations, the tower catch mechanism can be integrated into other structures of the vertical farming system, such as a gutter basin corresponding to a select grow line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MJNN LLC
    Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Brice Leon Klein
  • Patent number: 11564373
    Abstract: A system for heating animals. The heating system uses an elongated curved reflector around an elongated infrared light source to reflect heat off of the elongated curved reflector and onto piglets provided in the piglet creep of a farrowing crate. The system has a reduced thermal gradient to efficiently transfer heat to animals, such as piglets, without overheating other nearby animals, such as sows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FARRPRO, INC.
    Inventor: Amos Issac Petersen
  • Patent number: 11528850
    Abstract: An insertable planter system may include a container and an insert. A container may include a rim, an outer wall comprising an inner surface, a bottom portion comprising a floor, wherein the inner surface and floor may define a liquid reservoir. The floor may further include a positioning structure. An insert may include a lip, a sidewall, and a bottom. The sidewall and bottom may define a plant chamber. The insert may further include a complementary supporting structure, such that the container receives the insert so that the insert can be rotated into a suitable orientation where the complementary supporting structure of the insert engages the positioning structure of the container. A plant delivery method or system including such inserts, and a computer readable medium containing instructions for same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: DOTCHI, LLC
    Inventors: Harry Tchira, Lars Holme Larsen, Elin Stavenow
  • Patent number: 11510399
    Abstract: A grip for fishing rod and a fishing rod including the grip that is disposed at a rear end portion of a fishing rod body of an elongated rod shape are disclosed. The grip includes a core body having a cylindrical shape of a predetermined thickness, and a tail end body. The core body is configured to be fitted onto an outside of a core having a cylindrical shape at the rear end portion of the fishing rod body 11. The tail end body is configured to cover a rear end opening of the core body. The core body and the tail end body are integral. The core body has a peripheral wall that has a void portion along a grip axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Matsuda, Yuki Tokuyama, Nobuhiro Suganuma
  • Patent number: 11510374
    Abstract: An outer pot configured to accommodate an inner plant pot. The outer pot includes a bottom and at least one side wall extending from the bottom to an opening configured to enable inserting the inner plant pot through the opening. The outer pot is configured for use in an ebb-and-flood grow system, in that: the bottom and the side wall define there between a fluid reservoir. A dome extending from the bottom and the side wall includes at least one through hole for fluid supply to or fluid discharge from the outer pot, where the through hole is arranged at a distance from the bottom to define a volume of the reservoir. Assemblies, ebb-and-flood based watering systems, methods of assembling and growing plants, associated with the outer pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Waterwick B.V.
    Inventor: Anthony Visser
  • Patent number: 11490588
    Abstract: Presented is a pet carrier for retaining small pets. The pet carrier essentially includes a carrier body and a carrier support arrangement for mounting the carrier body on the bicycle's handlebars or the car's seat. The carrier body includes a front door section, a head section, and a base section. The carrier body also includes a built-in handle at the head section enabling a user to carry the pet carrier from one location to another. The front door section is selectively openable and includes a self-locking latch mechanism that self-locks, when a user places the pet inside the pet carrier and closes the front door section. Further, the base section of the pet carrier includes a mounting/dismounting mechanism that allows the carrier body to click or attach onto the carrier support arrangement designed to removably mount the carrier body on to a bicycle's handlebar or a car's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Garrett Blood
  • Patent number: 11484132
    Abstract: A climate controlled display cabinet includes a frame. A stationary shelf is coupled to the frame. A plurality of operable shelves is coupled to at least one of the frame and the stationary shelf. The operable shelves are moveable between open and closed positions. A heat source is in thermal communication with the stationary shelf and the plurality of operable shelves. At least one temperature sensor monitors a temperature of an area proximate the stationary shelf and the plurality of operable shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Jim Ward
  • Patent number: 11470835
    Abstract: A mouse trap is disclosed comprising a jar that is attached to a housing and includes a plastic bag inside. The housing and jar include a mouse entrance that leads inside the plastic bag, which is intended to include some bait at a distal end to lure the mouse into the jar. The trap includes a pressure or motion detector that senses when a mouse has entered the jar. The trap includes a solenoid that triggers a spring loaded hollow rod to close the jar when the mouse enters, and actuates a vacuum that removes the air from the plastic bag with the mouse inside. The removal of oxygen from the bag causes the mouse to lose consciousness, and eventually suffocate in its sleep. Once the mouse is dead, the bag can be removed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Stephen P. Shoemaker Trust
    Inventor: Stephen P. Shoemaker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11464210
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting a human in detecting an exception animal, for which an abnormal measurement value has been detected, wherein a geographical position is obtained of the exception animal, a geographical position if obtained of a user equipment of the human, a distance is determined between the obtained geographical position of the exception animal and the obtained geographical position of the user equipment, and when the determined distance is smaller than a threshold limit, an indication is sent to the user equipment confirming the proximate presence of the exception animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DELAVAL HOLDING AB
    Inventor: Anders Umegørd
  • Patent number: 11464214
    Abstract: A water change system comprises a water change device that performs automated water changes. The water change device automatically drains an amount of water needing replacement from a reservoir and replenishes the reservoir with a predetermined amount of clean water. The water change device comprises a reservoir port, an output port, an input port, a controller, and an enclosure. In a draining mode, water is pumped from the reservoir, through the reservoir port and into a drain or output tank via the output port. In the reservoir filling mode, clean water from an input tank or water source is pumped into the input port of the water change device and to the reservoir via the reservoir port. The water change device automatically performs water changes in accordance with a water change schedule or in response to user input. The water change device is configurable via a touch display or remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Navpreet Singh Sethi
  • Patent number: 11452267
    Abstract: A plant training device includes a first portion including a first portion base and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart first indexing elements extending along an exterior of the first portion base. A second portion includes a second portion base having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The second portion base defines an interior cavity structured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base therein, the interior cavity including a plurality of angularly spaced-apart recesses. Each recess is structured to complementarily slidingly engage and receive therein a first indexing element of the first portion whenever at least a portion of the first portion base is received in the second portion interior cavity at the second portion base first end, to rotationally secure the first portion and the second portion with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Gabriel Pena
  • Patent number: 11445666
    Abstract: A planter and planter stack are described. The planter includes a planter pot configured to be nestable with other such planter pots. The planter pot includes a base, a planter sidewall integrally formed on the base and extending upwards towards a rim, and a hollow support pillar formed on the base and extending substantially vertically upwards with a drain opening at the top of the hollow support pillar in communication with an exterior side of the base. The planter further includes a removable riser configured to be nestable with other such removable risers. The removable riser includes a plate supported by an interior of the planter sidewall by an interference fit, and an aperture configured to accept a corresponding hollow support pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CLASSIC HOME & GARDEN, LLC
    Inventors: Fred Joseph Ryan, Hamilton Scott Team
  • Patent number: 11406093
    Abstract: A coupling assembly to releasably couple two or more tubes together. The tubes can be assembled and disassembled with conventional hand tools. A line or cable can be routed through the tubes. The coupling assembly can prevent snagging of lines on the exterior of the tubes. The coupling assembly can flex with the tubes under load, and the line can be fed through the coupling assembly without snagging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GEM Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ashford Gravely, Jason Sarnowski, Matthew Stewart Onorato
  • Patent number: 11399518
    Abstract: An energy efficient aquaculture system combining mixed-cell and raceway configurations. The system comprises a raceway tank, a raceway channel, a first water purification subsystem, and a second water purification subsystem. The system may include one or more of a hatching subsystem, a nursery subsystem, a feeding subsystem, a finishing subsystem, and a fish pumping system for transfer of fish between raceway tanks. A method of growing fish for commercial production using the aquaculture system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JLH CONSULTING INC.
    Inventors: John Pearson Holder, John Leslie Holder
  • Patent number: 11388895
    Abstract: An in-line planer board assembly incorporates hydrofoil designs at various key locations in order to maximize fluid movement efficiencies. Optionally, the planer board assembly further includes a spring-loaded fishing line release, also exemplified in a universal embodiment for use with other planer boards. Another option is a snap-in forward line release bracket useful when an angler wishes to fish from the opposite side of the boat, or for creating a smaller storage space requirement while storing the planer boards away between angling trips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DESIGN ADVANCEMENT, LLC
    Inventor: David L. Vergara
  • Patent number: 11388893
    Abstract: A pivoting fishing jig is provided. The device includes a jig body having an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section is pivotally affixed to the lower section at a first end of each of the upper section and the lower section. The jig body is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position. A first hook is affixed to a second end of the upper section. A connector is affixed to the first end of the lower section, wherein the connector is removably securable to a fishing line. In some embodiments, a notch is disposed along an interior surface of the lower section, wherein the notch is dimensioned to receive an interior edge of the upper section therein when the jig body is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Garrie Naumovitz
  • Patent number: 11382315
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cultivating or accumulating climate-focused marine target products are described herein. The target product may be microalgae, macroalgae, plankton, marine bacteria or archaea, filter feeders (such as oysters or clams), or crustaceans either for the purpose of bioremediation, eventual cultivation or for sequestering carbon dioxide; or the target product may be direct chemical or biological accumulation of carbon or carbon containing organisms. The system is primarily a floating apparatus designed to hold the target product in a region of the water column and in a spatial region of the water where it will best accumulate target product mass. In some embodiments the system is designed to achieve eventual passive sinking (transformation from a floating to sinking apparatus) into the deep ocean. In some embodiments, the system is equipped with purpose-chosen sensors to instrument and quantify the various biological and mechanical processes occurring onboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Running Tide Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Merrill, Max Chalfin, Andrew Clyde Thompson, Margaux Martin-Filippi, Finnian Cradock Donovan, Matthew Jordan Odlin
  • Patent number: 11375684
    Abstract: An animal litter box includes at least two separate parts. The main part is the tray which holds the litter, and the secondary part is the hood, or cover, the area in which the animal stands. The hood or cover may clip or clamp onto the tray. Because of the construction of the hood, or cover, the available surface area for the pet to stand in is substantially less than the total surface area of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Bradley J. Finney
  • Patent number: 11369080
    Abstract: A piece of furniture for pet cats includes an outer frame and an inner house. The outer frame is a polyhedral frame structure. The inner house is fixedly suspended in the outer frame by a plurality of connection members. The inner house is provided with at least one entrance. According to the pet furniture for cats with this structure, the pet cat can jump and play between the outer frame and the inner house. Further, when the pet cat climbs on the outer surface of the inner house or slaps on the outer surface of the inner house with the cat's claw, the inner house will shake due to an external force, so the pet cat and receive the response and have more fun in playing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Xiamen Sunnypet Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kongzhi Lu
  • Patent number: 11337411
    Abstract: A fishing rod includes a rod body. The rod body includes a plurality of strips, each of the plurality of strips includes a tip strip portion having a first narrowing section which gradually narrows in width towards the rod end side and an end strip portion having a second narrowing section which gradually narrows in width towards the rod tip side. At least a part of the first narrowing section and at least a part of the second narrowing section overlap with each other to form an overlapping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Soshi Iwata, Yuki Tokuyama