Patents Examined by Monica Williams
  • Modular planting system for roof applications
    Patent number: 9338947
    Abstract: A green roof modular system includes at least four planter modules each including a planter including a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls that cooperate with the bottom wall to form an interior space, and a biodegradable insert including a plurality of sidewalls that cooperate with one another to form an interior space, wherein the insert is adapted to retain a plant matter in the interior space of the insert, the plurality of sidewalls of the insert extending above the plurality of sidewalls of the planter, and wherein the plurality of the sidewalls of the insert are adapted to retain a plant matter that extends above the plurality of sidewalls of the planter, such that one of the planter modules abuts each of the remaining three planter modules and substantially no gap exists between the abutting planter modules in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Hortech, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. MacKenzie
  • Plant pot holder tray
    Patent number: 9338948
    Abstract: A plant pot tray having receptacles configured to receive pots of various sizes, with the receptacles including a side wall portion, a base wall portion, and one or more tabs with a longitudinal hinge portion connecting the tab to the side wall portion. The tabs each extend inwardly toward an interior of the receptacle with the tab configured to pivot along the longitudinal hinge portion whereby the tab is able to pivot upon insertion of a plant pot into a receptacle with the tab providing a biasing force against the plant pot to aid in retention of the plant pot in the tray and accommodate differently sized pots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: East Jordan Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn DeYoung, Mark Lercel, Nathan Diller
  • Cartridge, and a teatcup
    Patent number: 9339004
    Abstract: A teatcup and a cartridge to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked. The cartridge includes a sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving the teat. A pulsation chamber is provided between an inner side of the sleeve and an outer side of the teatcup liner. The teatcup liner includes an upper end portion located at the upper end of the sleeve, a barrel portion and a lower end portion extending beyond the lower end of the sleeve. The lower end portion forms an end nozzle beyond the lower end of the sleeve. The end nozzle has a tapering external shape configured to be received in a milk conduit for transporting the milk from the cartridge to the milk conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: DELAVAL HOLDING AB
    Inventors: Carlos La Torre, Anneli Lidmar, Michael Persson
  • Livestock oiling and scratching device
    Patent number: 9332730
    Abstract: A livestock oiling and scratching device facilitates dispensing of oil and insecticide onto livestock as the livestock rubs against the device. The device includes a base and a pole coupled to the base. A reservoir for holding a fluid is coupled to the pole proximate an upper end of the pole. A cable is coupled to and extends between the pole and the base. A top section of the cable is in fluid communication with the reservoir wherein the cable is impregnated by the fluid. The cable extends through each of a plurality of tubes and discs. Each of the discs is positioned between an associated adjacent pair of the tubes. A circumferential edge of each disc is positioned in outwardly spaced relationship to the associated adjacent pair of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: David Maag
  • Finch bird feeder with adjustable port access
    Patent number: 9332737
    Abstract: A bird feeder is provided having adjustable port access. The feeder includes a seed reservoir with a side wall that has at least one seed access opening and an adjustable feed port element. According to one embodiment, the adjustable feed port element is a feed port assembly. The feed port assembly includes a base with a rotatable insert having a perch coupled thereto in fixed relationship so that the perch and insert rotate as a unit. According to another embodiment, the adjustable feed port element rotates around the perch between a first position in which the perch is below a feed port being accessed, enabling birds to feed while standing on the perch, and a second position in which the perch is above a feed port being accessed, requiring birds to hang upside down from the perch to feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Ray Vaughn, Jr., Judith Kim Hoysak
  • Reflective articles and methods for increasing photosynthesis
    Patent number: 9320201
    Abstract: Provided is a reflective article including a first reflecting material and a second retro reflecting material; where sunlight that is photosynthetically active is at least partially reflected by the article and sunlight that is not photosynthetically active is at least partially retro reflected by the article. Also provided is a method for growing a plant, where the method includes placing the reflective article under, around, or in the proximity of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Milking system shut-off and sensors
    Patent number: 9313998
    Abstract: A method, comprises receiving a flow of milk at an inlet of a manifold. The inlet comprises a first end coupled to a hose that receives a flow of milk from a teat cup and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold. The manifold comprises one or more other inlets and a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets includes one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. The method proceeds by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding milk collector outlet by causing a shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to open, and by causing a drain valve corresponding to the inlet to close. The method concludes by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding drain outlet by causing the shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to close, and by causing the drain valve corresponding to the inlet to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Absorbent article for pet
    Patent number: 9314000
    Abstract: An absorbent article for pet includes: a top sheet; a back surface layer; an absorbent core, a first end portion and an opposing second end portion; side portions orthogonal to the first and the second end portion, a hook member disposed along a width direction of the absorbent article on a top sheet side in the first end portion; a first engaged portion provided on the back surface layer side in the second end portion, engageable with the hook member; folding lines extending in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article; and a second engaged portion provided on the top sheet side in the first end portion on outer sides of the folding lines in the width direction of the absorbent article. The second engaged portion is engageable with the hook member with a smaller engagement force than that of the top sheet with the hook member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Komatsubara, Takeshi Ikegami
  • Excrement treatment material
    Patent number: 9307742
    Abstract: The present invention provides an excrement treatment material capable of being treated by a water-disintegration treatment after use. The excrement treatment material contains a water retaining material including at least one material of papers, fibers, woods, plants, plastics, rubbers, organic sludge and animal waste, an adhesive and a water absorbing resin, and is formed in a granular shape, wherein the water retaining material has a grain size of 0.6 mm or less, and the adhesive is contained in an amount of 5 wt % to 20 wt % with respect to a total weight of the excrement treatment material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ito
  • Method of making clumping cellulosic animal litter
    Patent number: 9301492
    Abstract: A method of making a clumping cellulosic animal litter with enhanced clumping rate and improved flushability when spent using cellulosic granules to about 1%-5% by weight of an inner coating of a polyacrylate is first applied and then to which about 1%-4% by weight based on the weight of the granules of an outer coating of guar gum and/or guar gum substitute is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KADANT GRANTEK INC.
    Inventors: Ricky L. Yoder, Robert V. Wiedenhaft
  • Livestock feeder
    Patent number: 9301495
    Abstract: A livestock feeder has a hopper, a feed outlet opening through the hopper for dispensing the feed, a feed trough operably positioned beneath the hopper for receiving the feed, and a broadcast spreader mechanism that includes a sling plate that is operably mounted to cover the feed outlet opening. The broadcast spreader mechanism has a motor for spinning the sling plate for broadcasting the feed outwardly when in operation. A retracting mechanism retracts the sling plate to uncover the feed outlet opening when the sling plate spins, so that the feed from the hopper falls downwardly into the broadcast spreader mechanism to be broadcast and dispensed. A tubular skirt surrounds the broadcast spreader mechanism for catching the feed as it is broadcast, and directing the feed downwardly into the feed trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Bogart
  • Horn wrap
    Patent number: 9295229
    Abstract: Horn wraps are disclosed for protecting the horns and head of a steer, e.g., during team roping. The horn wraps can be easily and safely applied to a steer, can be left on the steer for an extended period of time, and have a relatively long use life due to the replaceability and interchangeability of the parts of the horn wrap. In some implementations, the horn wraps are attached to the steer using an attachment system that includes replaceable closures having hook and loop fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Brett W. Mills
  • Pet safety system
    Patent number: 9295234
    Abstract: A pet carrying system for carrying a pet by a wearer and securing the pet in a vehicle, including a pet harness and a carrier harness. The pet harness includes a pet harness panel and a pet strap coupled configured to selectively secure the pet harness panel to the pet. A pet harness attachment member is coupled to the pet harness panel. The carrier harness includes a carrier harness panel and a carrier harness attachment member coupled to the carrier harness panel and selectively engageable with the pet harness attachment member. A posterior support is coupled to the carrier harness panel and is configured to support a posterior portion of a pet. An anterior support is coupled to the carrier harness panel and is engageable with the posterior support. A carrier strap is coupled to the harness panel and wearable by the user or connectable to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Carolyn Shewfelt
  • Battery-powered animal feeder having improved metering
    Patent number: 9295226
    Abstract: A feeder for feeding animals selected from domestic pets, cage birds, chickens, fish and wild birds. A hopper holds feed, an electric motor and a battery holder A chamber receives feed from the hopper, and has a discharge outlet for discharge of feed. An augur is mounted for rotation and receives drive from the electrical motor. As the augur rotates, it moves feed along the chamber towards the discharge outlet. An indexing mechanism indexes individual turns of the augur. The feeder supplies feed to the discharge outlet in metered amounts. The feeder is formed as two units, namely a base unit with a hopper unit mounted on the base unit. The base unit mounts the electric motor and battery holder. The hopper unit includes the hopper itself, the chamber and the augur. The hopper unit is freely separable from the base unit for cleaning or for filling the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: PET MATE LTD.
    Inventor: Steve Brooks
  • Lighting system for plants
    Patent number: 9295201
    Abstract: A method for encouraging maturation and growth of a plant includes a provision of at least one stroboscopic lamp disposed adjacent the plant. The stroboscopic lamp is cycled through at least one on-period and at least one off-period for a predetermined cycling time. The plant is exposed to strobed high-intensity light during the at least one on-period, and not exposed to strobed high-intensity light during the at least one off-period. A maturation rate and the growth of the plant are thereby encouraged. A related system includes the at least one stroboscopic lamp and a controller for controlling the stroboscopic lamp according to the method, for encouraging maturation and growth of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FIREFLY-ONE, LLC
    Inventor: Richard S. Bostdorff
  • Puzzle pet toy and treat dispenser
    Patent number: 9288969
    Abstract: A puzzle pet toy and treat dispenser comprising of a housing, a lid, an inner chamber, a drum aperture, a motor assembly, and an external chamber. The inner chamber is divided by a plurality of vertical radial walls, creating a plurality of containers formed by the inner surface of the vertical radial walls, a plurality of tangential walls parallel to the vertical surface of the drum aperture, the inner surface of the drum aperture, and the lid. The plurality of containers hold non-liquid pet treats, and an opening on the drum aperture aligned vertically with the tangential walls allows the pet treat on a given container to be released into the external chamber, where said treats can be dispensed outside of the pet toy and treat dispenser during play. A motor assembly rotates the drum aperture to the next opening, creating a revolver action to dispense the contents of the next chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventors: Tristan M Christianson, Gregory Snyder
  • Method and apparatus for aeroponic growth
    Patent number: 9288951
    Abstract: A system for growing plants without soil uses removable V-shaped baskets to support plants in a tiered, self-contained unit. Nutrient enriched water is sprayed on the plant roots. The roots are held by perforations in the elongated V-shaped basket and a plant blanket. The unit is multilevel and can be set over an aquarium. The growing shelf can have a worm bag in order to add natural nutrients. Baskets can be comprised of a pair of identical halves that can be readily mutually coupled. Coupling mechanisms can include those that snap together and those providing for a pivoting coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventors: Karen Hansen, Jeffrey Lawrence Harlan
  • Reinforced feeder for livestock
    Patent number: 9288965
    Abstract: A livestock feeder with improved corrosion resistance and collapse resistance is described. The feeder comprises a polymeric cylinder with an open top and an interior surface. The interior surface defines a hollow interior where feedstuffs can be placed. One or more feeding portals extend through the cylinder to provide livestock access to feedstuffs. The feeding portals include a lower ledge against which livestock exerts a force while accessing feedstuffs in the feeder interior. A reinforcing annulus extends around the interior surface of the feeder proximate to and below the lower feeding portal ledge. The reinforcing annulus may be integrally formed with the polymeric cylinder or separately formed and attached to the polymeric cylinder. The feeder can withstand repeated feedings without collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Rick Patterson
  • Network layer with biodegradable substance
    Patent number: 9284666
    Abstract: A network layer is provided that contains at least one thermoplastic biodegradable substance. The network layer contains at least one colored first material in a first direction, the first colored material exhibiting a first absorption coefficient, and at least one colored second material in a second direction, the second colored material exhibiting a second absorption coefficient. The colored first material and the colored second material are in contact with each other, a coloration of the first material is different from a coloration of the second material, and the second absorption coefficient is different from the first absorption coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: BONAR N.V.
    Inventors: Ives Jean Jenny Ghislain Swennen, Kris Luc Rob Coen
  • Milking box with robotic attacher
    Patent number: 9282718
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma