Abstract: An animal restraining harness, that helps to increase control over the animal when attached to a leash or a similar connection point. The harness works to reduce pulling/tension on a leash or a similar connection point by way of a slip system outlined in the claims, when the animal pulls or puts tension on the leash connection point the harness compresses on the animal and the animal is guided towards the point where the leash is being held, thus guiding the animal to that point.

Abstract: The invention provides an animal feeder augmentation apparatus, system and method of operation thereof. The apparatus provides for the controlled dispensing of animal feed from an animal feeder including a controller coupled to an actuator, where the controller provides power access from a battery to at least two communication modules, namely a low-power communications module and at least a first higher-power communications module. The low-power communication module includes a low-energy radio for substantially continuous operation when the animal feeder is being used. The first higher-power communications module includes a cellular telecommunications device for operation when the animal feeder needs to send or receive data outside of the range of the low-power communications module. The controller is coupled to the low-power communications module, and to the first higher-power communications module.

Abstract: An example device includes a flexible bag dispenser pocket for use with a leash for a pet, and an opening formed in the flexible bag dispenser pocket. The opening is closed in a default state, and widens when opposite sides of the flexible bag dispenser pocket are squeezed toward each other. The device also includes an attachment for attaching the flexible bag dispenser pocket to the leash. At least one waste bag is inserted into the flexible bag dispenser pocket and can be removed from the flexible bag dispenser pocket by pulling the waste bag through the opening. In an example, a stowable carrying pouch for carrying used waste bags may also be provided as part of the device. A handle of the carrying pouch may be looped around the leash and the dispenser pocket may serve as a stop to keep the carrying pouch from sliding down the leash.

Abstract: A plant growing vessel includes an impervious outer vessel, a cover, a first permeable membrane, a nutrient chamber, and a pocket. The impervious outer vessel includes an inert substrate in a root zone. The cover is positioned over the impervious outer vessel. The first permeable membrane is in contact with the inert substrate. The nutrient chamber includes solid nutrients. The nutrient chamber is between the cover and the first permeable membrane or between the first permeable membrane and a bottom of the impervious outer vessel, and the solid nutrients are in contact with the first permeable membrane. The pocket is configured to allow seeds, seedlings, or shoots of plants access to the inert substrate through an aperture in the cover.

Abstract: A plant hanger assembly having multiple level plant trays, useful for growing plants in an upright configuration is provided for use with a trolley conveyor. A plurality of plant trays of selected size and shape are provided spaced apart along a vertical axis. A vertical support shaft has an upper end and a lower end. The plant trays may be circular in shape, with sloping sidewalls. The sloping sidewalls may be angled out sufficiently that the plant trays can be stacked in a nested configuration for storage. The plant trays include a base having grooved channels for transfer of water on the obverse side, and reinforcing ribs for strength, on the reverse side. Apertures between the obverse side and the reverse side allow excess water in an upper plant tray to drain downward into a plant tray therebelow. Shaft couplers are provided, with attachment rings or pins, to securely join the plant trays to the vertical support shaft.

Abstract: A small animal harness comprising an elastically deformable forechest pouch for carrying a ball, snacks or other objects. The pouch is carried by a quadrilateral base member to which is attached a pair of flexible shoulder straps and a pair of flexible brisket straps whose ends converge over the animal's withers into a rigid connection plate so that the brisket straps are slidable within the plate and extend outwardly to be connected to a leash.

Abstract: A vegetable production method includes seeding, causing a cotyledon to sprout from a seed in a first period, growing a vegetable in a second period subsequent to the first period, further growing the vegetable in a third period subsequent to the second period, and harvesting the vegetable. The vegetable is grown with first light having a first maximum value of a light intensity in a wavelength range of 420 to 490 nm and including at least portion of light in a wavelength range of 500 to 600 nm in a later part of the second period, and is grown with second light having a second maximum value of a light intensity in a wavelength range of 590 to 650 nm, having a peak light intensity less than the second maximum value in a visible light wavelength range of less than or equal to 500 nm.

Abstract: An automatic self-cleaning and self-filling outdoor fluid feeding system for an animal, including for example a pet, includes a sink; a fluid transport system; a housing supporting the sink and containing the fluid transport system; and a control assembly configured to control the automatic self-cleaning and self-filling operations of the system.

Abstract: A plant-growing tray for containing cylindrical stabilised media for growing plants comprises an array of flared columns, a lower end of the columns being wider than an upper end. The columns define an array of cells therebetween for containing cylindrical stabilised media, and a column comprises one or more contact edges defined by an intersection between a wall of the flared column and a virtual cylindrical surface in a cell, such that the contact edges are suitable for contacting a cylindrical stabilised medium positioned in the cell.

Abstract: A pet watering system. The pet watering system includes a housing and a waterspout. The waterspout is connected to a water source and is configured to allow water to stream from the water source to the exterior of the housing. The pet watering system also includes a trough, where the trough is configured to receive water that has streamed from the waterspout. The pet watering system further includes a proximity sensor, where the proximity sensor is configured to allow a pet to control the flow of water from the reservoir to the waterspout.

Abstract: Loose particulate materials can be problematic in various aspects. For example, loose particulate materials may generate dust or be difficult to consolidate together. Fines in loose particulate materials may also be an issue. Coated particulates may alleviate some of the foregoing issues. Suitable coated particulates may comprise a particulate material comprising sand or a ceramic, and a polysaccharide composition coated upon the particulate material, the polysaccharide composition comprising a functionalized polysaccharide. Other particulate materials such as wood chips and animal litter particulates may be coated with functionalized polysaccharides to achieve similar advantages.

Abstract: An extended-release plastic matrix formulation (PMF-ExR) comprising a polyethylene-comprising polymer, a plasticizer, and at least one insecticide as active components is described. The PMF-ExR may be used in the manufacture of a wearable device for treating ectoparasitic infestations.

Abstract: A restraint system for simultaneously maintaining a plurality of animate objects in an untangled position while the user is hands free is provided. The present invention embodies a 360-degree waist harness that operatively associates with a plurality of retractable bungee assemblies, each bungee assembly adapted to removably attach to a comprehensive vest or harness or a child or a pet, respectively. The bungee assemblies are selectively releasable from the 360-degree belt or the comprehensive vest or harness.

Abstract: A protective garment for an animal includes a torso portion and an elongated groin strip extending rearwardly from a rear of the torso portion. The torso portion has a bottom, a first side and a second side, and a torso closure configured to wrap around an animal's torso when the garment is placed on the animal, and is configured to secure the first and second sides to each other at the animal's back. The elongated groin strip has an end portion and a length sufficient for the groin strip to wrap around a rear end of the animal and to be secured to the torso forward of the tail. The groin strip has a transition portion with an opening positioned and sized to permit the animal's tail to pass there through and to allow the animal to freely defecate while the garment is worn.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for using a smart collar to monitor a pet are described. The system includes a smart collar, a mobile computing device including a display screen, and a pet monitoring mobile application stored on the mobile computing device. The smart collar includes a global positioning receiver, a communications device, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a rechargeable battery, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller calculates a distance of a current location of the smart collar from a desired location, determines when the distance is greater than a first distance threshold, and generates a communications packet including the current location, the perimeter, and the distance of the smart collar from the desired location, and transmits the communications packet. The mobile computing device receives the communications packet, and the pet monitoring mobile application displays the current location on a display screen of the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.

Abstract: Animal training device disclosed. The animal training device for being worn on an animal being trained and for training by use of stimulus includes a device body, being worn on a neck of the animal being trained by a fastener, wherein the device body comprises a plurality of module bases in which a plurality of unit modules are respectively disposed, a body base having a plurality of compartments in which the plurality of unit modules are respectively disposed and at least one module connecting portion connecting two compartment, a plurality of module covers being respectively disposed on the plurality of module bases to form a space, PCB portion, being disposed in the space, and a contact terminal, being disposed on a part of the plurality of module covers.

Abstract: A dog rope leash with a storage function, including: a rope body, a handle on one end of the rope body, a clasp on the other end of the rope body, and a connection box mounted on the handle and/or rope body. The inside of the connection box has a storage cavity, and the surface of the connection box has an access port connected to the storage cavity. Garbage bags or other items in the storage cavity of the connecting box by designing the connection box on the dog rope leash, which is simple in structure and convenient in use.

Abstract: A hydroponic growing apparatus, system, and method is provided. The hydroponic grower includes one or more seed beds each having a length and a width operably supported by a framework. A seed belt is rotatable around each of the one or more seed beds between loading and offloading positions to and from a seed growing position. Seed is discharged onto the seed belt for hydroponically growing a seed atop of the one or more seed beds. Seed growth can be offloaded through the path of a stream of liquid exiting a liquid nozzle for cutting through offloaded seed growth in at least one direction.

Abstract: A pet tether comprising a flexible and stretchable cord comprising first end and a second end, a first cord clamp and a second cord claim. The first cord clamp is configured to clamp the first end of the cord when the first end of the cord passes through the first cord clamp and loops back into the first cord clamp. The second cord clamp is configured to clamp the second end of the cord when the second end of the cord passes through the second cord clamp and loops back into the second cord clamp.