Abstract: A modular weed barrier mat comprised of a double layer of tire tread sections cut from used tires arranged so that the lengths of the upper sections are perpendicular to those of the lower sections. A pair of upper sections are positioned in spaced apart relationship so as to form a gap, with a central slit array cut into two immediately adjacent lower sections accessible within the gap. A slit cut through a width of one lower section directly below one of the upper sections on either side of the central slit array allows a post to be moved into the slit and then positioned in the central slit array. Corrosion resistant fasteners are removed and replaced as needed to allow the mat to be installed or removed as desired. One embodiment features lower and upper lap portions on opposite sides of the mat for modular installation.

Abstract: An Internet-of-Things management and control system for an intelligent orchard includes a server, agricultural machinery equipment, an image acquisition apparatus disposed on the site, and various sensors. The agricultural machinery equipment, the image acquisition apparatus and the various sensors are in communication connection with the server. The server includes an orchard management subsystem and an information monitoring subsystem. The orchard management subsystem includes a fruit tree planting planning module, a task management module and various information management modules, and the information monitoring subsystem includes a meteorological environment monitoring module, a soil moisture monitoring module and a disease and pest monitoring module. According to the Internet-of-Things management and control system, all-round management for an orchard from planning to picking can be achieved.

Abstract: A container for growing plants includes a bottom wall, a first side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall, and a second side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall and parallel to the first side wall such that the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall at least partially define a plant growing chamber. Furthermore, the container includes a lid configured to selectively occlude access to the plant growing chamber. Additionally, one of the bottom wall, the first or second side walls, or the lid includes a rail and another of the bottom wall, the first or second side walls, or the lid defines a groove such that the rail of the container is configured to be received within a groove of a first adjacent container and the groove of the container is configured to receive a rail of a second adjacent container.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an animal leash that includes a strap including first and second strap portions stacked one over the other, the strap having a first end and a second end. The leash includes a first coupling link attached to the first end of the strap, and a second coupling link attached to the second end of the strap. Along a middle section of the strap, the first and second strap portions form loops. The first coupling link is operable for attachment to any one of the loops. The disclosure also describes a storage attachment for use with an animal leash.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.

Abstract: An animal collar has an adjustable band having a first end and a second end, the first end and second mutually coupled and a platform disposed within the band. The collar has at least one adjustable arm depending from the platform disposed within the band, the adjustable arm comprising a returnably resilient elongated shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end of the shaft of the adjustable arm having a camera. A plurality of braces are disposed between the platform and the adjustable arm. The collar includes tracking and lighting.

Abstract: A hybrid grass support structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 710) comprising a growth medium layer (102), a stone wool layer (104) positioned below the growth medium layer, and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers (106). The growth medium layer comprises a growth medium. The synthetic grass fibers are incorporated at least into the growth medium layer.

Abstract: A toy for a pet generally includes a housing defining an opening, and an insert configured to fit at least partly within the opening of the housing. The insert is expandable from a first configuration in which the insert is capable of freely moving into and/or out of the opening of the housing to a second configuration in which the insert is inhibited from moving out of the opening of the housing. In some aspects, the insert is configured to substantially fill the opening of the housing when in the second configuration. In some aspect, the housing may have multiple openings, each capable of receiving an insert. And, in some aspects, the insert is expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration by heating the insert or exposing the insert to microwave energy.

Abstract: Disclosed are a pet water dispensing device, a pet drinking and eating disc, a water dispenser, and a pet food supply method. The pet water dispensing device includes a base and a water supply valve, a drinking and eating disc accommodating cavity is formed on at least one side surface of the base, the water supply valve corresponding to the drinking and eating disc accommodating cavity is disposed on the base, the water outlet end of the water supply valve communicates with the drinking and eating disc accommodating cavity, when the extension end of the valve rod of the water supply valve is configured to be driven by the pet drinking and eating disc placed at the drinking and eating disc accommodating cavity, the water supply valve is switched from a closed state to an open state.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for a portable corral panel. A portable livestock corral fence system includes a gate panel and fence panels, each fence panel including a bottom rail, a lock tab and a leg socket coupled to the bottom horizontal rail, and a foldable base including a peg mateable to the leg socket, a foot coupled to the peg, and a chain, the peg mateable to the leg socket in two distinct positions: a standing position, wherein the foot extends perpendicularly to the bottom rail in the standing position, and a stacking position, wherein the foot folds flat into the stacking position such that the foot is parallel to the bottom horizontal rail, and wherein the chain wraps around the bottom rail and engages the lock tab to lock the foldable base into either one of the two distinct positions.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems for inducing a desired response in an organism by controlling the duty cycle, wavelength band and frequency of photon bursts to an organism, through the photon modulation of one or more photon pulse trains in conjunction with one or more different photon pulse trains to the organism and duty cycle, where the photon modulation and duty cycle is based upon the specific needs of the organism. Devices for inducing a desired response in an organism such as growth, destruction or repair through the photon modulation of one or more photon pulse trains in conjunction with one or more different photon pulse trains to the organism are also provided. Further provided are methods for the optimization of organism growth, destruction or repair through the use of high frequency modulation of photons of individual color spectrums.

Abstract: The present invention provides a releasable catch, such as for releasable attachment to a dog collar or the like. In particular, the present invention provides a releasable catch comprising a body having a first elongate portion and a second elongate portion, the first and second elongate portions being engaged with one another at a pivot region and pivotable relative to one another about the pivot region between an open configuration in which the second elongate portion contacts the first elongate portion at a first contact location to define a first closed aperture adjacent the pivot region and a second open aperture distal to the pivot region, and a closed configuration in which the second elongate portion also engages the first elongate portion at a second contact location along its length and close the second aperture distal to the pivot region, and wherein the second elongate member is biased in a direction towards the second contact location so as to bias the catch in the closed configuration.

Abstract: An automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes a horizontal-to-vertical grow tower interface between a vertical grow structure that includes vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, and a processing system that performs one or more processing operations—such as harvesting, cleaning and/or transplanting—on the grow towers in a substantially horizontal orientation. The present disclosure also describes an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that selectively routes grow towers through various processing stages of an automated crop production system.

Abstract: A pet water fountain is described comprising a bowl for holding an aqueous drinking fluid. The pet water fountain includes a housing configured to cover a portion of the bowl and have a fluid reservoir. The pet water fountain includes a rotatable cone positioned within the housing, the cone tapering outwardly from a bottom end to a top end, the cone bottom end having a fluid inlet to allow the passage of fluid from the bowl through the inlet and into the interior of the cone, the cone top end being in fluid communication with the housing fluid reservoir. The pet water fountain includes a filter ring coupled to the cone top end, the filter ring having an exterior housing and a filtering media positioned within the exterior housing, and an electric motor coupled to the rotatable cone for rotatably driving the rotatable cone.

Abstract: A system, comprising a harness configured to be releasably attached to a portion of an animal; a retractable leash assembly comprising at least one structural feature; a receptacle coupled with the harness, the receptacle comprising at least one structural feature; wherein the at least one structural feature of the retractable leash assembly is configured to be releasably mated with the at least one structural feature of the receptacle upon application of a force on the retractable leash assembly causing at least a portion of the retractable leash assembly to be releasably mated with the at least one structural feature of the receptacle.

Abstract: A buoyancy system is for a fish pen. The fish pen has an enclosure for keeping fish confined in the fish pen, the enclosure being secured to an inner flexible buoyancy body floating on a water surface. The buoyancy system has an outer buoyancy body on the outside of the inner buoyancy body. The inner buoyancy body is attached to the outer buoyancy body with a mooring so that the outer buoyancy body and the inner buoyancy body move independently of each other relative to waves.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering digestible products to hatchling fowl includes a controller and a metered delivery mechanism, the metered delivery mechanism electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver a pre-defined quantity of digestible products to the container. The digestible product includes an edible and digestible semisolid material.

Abstract: Apparatus to enable an elongate leash to coil, when not in use, around an animal's neck while attached to the animal's collar includes retainers each including a polarized magnet and first and second parts that have an at least partly separated state that enables placement of the leash between the parts at any one of a plurality of different, user-selectable locations along a length of the leash and an engaged state in which the parts are fixed to the leash at a user-selected location along the length of the leash. The retainers are configured, with respect to the polarity of the magnets therein, to enable them to magnetically couple to one another and provide the leash with a coiled state around the animal's neck. The leash has an extended, use state in which the magnets in the retainers are not magnetically coupled to one another.

Abstract: A plant pallet has a plurality of wells arranged in rows and columns to receive leafy tree seedlings. The wells each have a well bottom with at least one drainage opening. The well bottom of each well merges laterally into a peripheral side wall. A top side of the plant pallet is formed by side walls of adjacent wells merging into one another. To prevent lateral rooting being impaired or adversely affected by the side wall, protrusions which extend further upwards are arranged on the top side such that they partially continue the side walls upwards.

Abstract: An elongated bag for use as a ready-to-use grow bag. The bag is manufactured as an elongated plastic body with a sealed bottom and a sealable top. The bag includes one or more gussets defined by folds in the bag and a score line for a tear strip in an area sufficiently below the top and above the fill material to allow the bag to lie flat for transportation and deploy into a cylinder for planting. The bag includes drain holes near the bottom of the bag and microperforations along the bag for respiration.