Abstract: Disclosed herein are pet chew products and methods for making them. The methods include sewing together strips of material obtained from a bovine or from other animals to form an outline of a desired shape; interweaving additional strips of rawhide, animal penis or both under and on top of the strips forming an outline to form a pet chew product of desired shape and size; and drying the pet chew product to the desired moisture content.

Abstract: A combination pet leash and sanitary solid pet waste pickup device has a body with an upper housing having a carrying handle, a lever rotatably held in a guide and a retractable leash mechanism mounted therein. The pet leash extends outwardly through an opening in the upper housing. A pickup mechanism containing a flexible containing element is held by mechanical elements secured in an open lower housing. An open plastic bag is inserted and held within the flexible containing element and a pair of flexible lines is connected between the lever and the pickup mechanism so that moving the lever to a closed position closes the flexible containing element and the plastic bag to pick up solid pet waste. In the closed position a user may carry the device and dispose of the plastic bag and solid pet waste, when desired, by moving the lever to the open position.

Abstract: A milk conduit, that connects to a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked, includes a first end portion defining a first end and configured to be connected to the teatcup, a second end portion defining a second end, and a conduit portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion. The milk conduit defines a milk channel extending through the first end portion, the conduit portion and the second end portion. The first end portion is received in an opening extending through a bottom wall of the teatcup. The first end portion includes a first circumferential groove configured that engages in the bottom wall of the teatcup.

Abstract: A structural cell system for supporting hardscape, allowing tree root growth, and managing stormwater underneath the hardscape. The system may include: a base having a plurality of receptacles and a plurality of support members interconnecting the receptacles; a plurality of legs each sized and shaped to be attachable to the base within one of the receptacles so as to extend from the base, and to be attachable to another of the legs so that pairs of legs attached to each other collectively extend from the base; and a top attachable to the legs. Outer edges of the base, the top, and the legs attached thereto define a volume, and are configured to support at least that portion of the hardscape overlying the top as well as a commercial vehicle traffic load thereon, while maintaining soil in a substantially uncompacted state throughout at least approximately ninety percent of the volume.

Abstract: A system includes a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The milking box stall comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The system further includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion comprises a separation container for use with only the milking box stall and that is operable to receive milk from the dairy livestock to be discarded if it is determined to be bad milk. The equipment portion further comprises a receiver jar for use with only the milking box stall and that is operable to receive milk from the dairy livestock if it is determined to be good milk.

Abstract: An aquaponic system, having at least one farming section; each farming section has an aquaculture unit, a vegetable farming unit and a water circulation unit; the aquaculture unit has an outer tank and an aquaculture tank inside the outer tank; the vegetable farming unit has a vegetable farming column and a water collection tank at a bottom part thereof; the water circulation unit has a filter tank, a water pump, and at least one guiding pipe extending from the aquaculture tank to the vegetable farming column; a water inlet of the filter tank is connected with a water outlet of the aquaculture tank; a water outlet of the filter tank is connected with a water inlet of the aquaculture tank; one end of the water pump is connected with the water collection tank, another end of the water pump is connected with the aquaculture tank.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a front wall, a rear wall positioned substantially parallel to the front wall, and first and second side walls each extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The first side wall includes a gate, and the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall such that the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The system includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion houses a robotic attacher configured to extend between the rear legs of a dairy livestock located within the milking box stall in order to attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock.

Abstract: A pet training apparatus and waste receptacle that allows a pet to simulate urinating outdoors in an indoors environment. A base frame supports a grated cover on which a permeable sheet is positioned. As a pet urinates, the urine is passes through the permeable sheet and through a plurality of openings in the grated cover. The urine is then collected in a receptacle positioned below the base frame. The permeable sheet includes a plurality of synthetic fibers in order to give the appearance of natural grass. An enclosure can be attached to the base frame, such that the together the enclosure and base frame form a pet crate in which the pet can urinate. A bed can also be placed on the permeable sheet in order to differentiate a sanitary area for the pet to rest. A splash guard prevents urine from leaving the confines of the grated cover.

Abstract: A pet toy (100, 600) formed from a substantially rectangular a sheer center cloth portion (100, 600) with at least one edge a hemmed cloth side formed along the at least one edge (120, 122, 140, 142, 620, 622, 640, 642). The material is light weight and breathable. One or more images (112) are disposed on the sheer center cloth portion (100, 600). The center portion and the hemmed portion are made from natural fiber, synthetic fiber, or a combination thereof. One or more straps 1260, 1262) may be coupled to the hemmed cloth side. A pocket may be formed in the at least one edge to hold catnip.

Abstract: Three-dimensional vegetation growing systems provide an enclosed hydroponic environment for growing plants. The system serves to uniformly expose the plants to nutrients, liquids, and light from multiple directions while the plant rotates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for containing a living organism, a docking station for docking the container, and a transportation system comprising the container and the docking station. The container comprises a docking for docking the container to a docking station. The docking station comprises a light emitter. The container comprises light-guiding means for guiding at least part of the light emitted by the light emitter to the living organism. The effect of the measures according to the invention is that the light required for illuminating the living organism is generated by the light emitter of the docking station. As a result, no light emitters are necessary in the container according to the invention which reduces the cost of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training a grape vine. The apparatus is a linear grid composed of transverse and longitudinal elements that are configured to result in a network of spaces that are sized to substantially provide a separate space for each vine shoot. The apparatus is mobile within the vine canopy serving various functions as the growing season progresses. The mobility of the grid apparatus allows repositioning throughout the growing season while still retaining the shoots within the grid openings.

Abstract: An animal restraining harness or jacket and a method of use thereof, for protecting the shoulder and upper abdomen when experimental/surgical procedures are performed and when the experimental/surgical sites must be protected from biting, scratching, and other unwanted contact. The jacket generally includes a shoulder region and collar extensions, where the shoulder region is connected to the collar extensions. The collar extensions are wrapped and secured around the collar or neck area of the animal, and the shoulder region is wrapped and secured around the shoulder and torso area of the animal. Preferably, the collar extensions and shoulder region are secured on the dorsal side of the animal, thus providing a dorsal gap therebetween. This harnesses the animal effectively and prevents escape from the restraining jacket.

Abstract: A brush configured for removing debris and hairs is provided. Included in the brush are at least one surfaced body having a pad, and a plurality of first bristles extending from the pad. One end of each first bristle is connected to the pad, and an opposite free end of each first bristle has a radially extending head portion. At least one additional head portion is disposed in a spaced relationship along a longitudinal axis of the first bristle.

Abstract: An indoor-outdoor garden unit including a basin having an overhead canopy, connected to a water source via a main water tube and holding a plurality of opaque growing trays with removable opaque lids for optimal sprout growth in the dark. The main water supply tube operationally communicates with an on-off timer controlling water cycles. Bottom holes in each growing tray allow water, infused into the basin by any of three selectable mechanisms, to flow upwardly to water the sprouts from underneath, and serve to drain water from the growing trays and to aerate the plants between watering cycles. Sprayers on the underside of each growing tray lid allow watering from the top side. Water can be infused into the basin by the direct basin fill inlet or by a water fountain from which water impacts a water catcher member undermounted on the canopy to shed droplets into the basin.

Abstract: One or more sound producers disrupt auditory communications among animals in a defined locale. The sound is defined by (i) a frequency range commensurate with a communication frequency range used by at least one species to carry out auditory communications, (ii) colored noise in the frequency range, and (iii) a sound level of the colored noise in the frequency range at a perimeter region of the defined locale not to exceed approximately a peak sound level associated with auditory communications of one or more species.

Abstract: Biodegradable mulch of the type used in various agricultural applications is made by multi-layer extrusion from a mixture of two compostable biodegradable polymers that comply with the EN13432 standard and that include potato starch, a black masterbatch and biodegradable recycled polymers. The mulch self-degrades in a short period of time, becoming a compostable material that enriches the soil, avoiding the collecting and cleaning tasks that are necessary in conventional mulches.

Abstract: A feces and urine disposal device for cats includes a support structure having parallel, vertically extending wall members, a bottom chamber, and an elevated relief area between the opposing wall members and above the bottom chamber. The relief area includes a pair of longitudinal channels disposed in spaced, parallel relation to one another and an open longitudinal gap between the channels and communicating with the bottom chamber. In use, a cat stands in the relief area with the left paws in one channel and the right paws in the opposite channel so that the cat is straddling the gap. When the cat relieves itself, feces and urine pass through the gap and into a removable trough positioned in the bottom chamber or directly into a toilet bowl. Cat litter or another odor absorbing or containing substance can be placed in the trough, as well as the relief area.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding back, and diverting, fish in bodies of water by the arrangement of parallel cables (S) braced between two or more abutments (W), wherein the distance between the cables is small enough to prevent fish from swimming through the apparatus.

Abstract: A pet amusement device includes a housing; a processing unit disposed in the housing; a transceiver for transmitting signals to the processing unit; an image fetching unit disposed in the housing and configured to encode digital images and videos of a pet, storing the recoded images and videos in digital files, and sending them to the processing unit; an amusing unit for amusing the pet; a feeding unit disposed on the housing and configured to feed the pet; and a power source for supplying power to the processing unit, the transceiver, the image fetching unit, the amusing unit, and the feeding unit respectively. The processing unit controls the transceiver, the image fetching unit, the amusing unit, and the feeding unit respectively.