Abstract: The present disclosure relates to treating articles suspected of being infested with bed bugs using carbon dioxide.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent composition for water-based liquids, wherein dusting normally associated with handling of powdered absorbent materials is significantly reduced. The composition can be an animal litter, such as cat litter. The composition is formed by mixing a filler with a de-dusting agent and spraying an aqueous slurry of a deodorizing agent onto the mixture. The mixture is then added to a water absorbing material such as clay to uniformly mix the deodorizing agent with the water absorbing material.

Abstract: A caged rodent trap assembly catches a rodent by placing bait within a cage to make it harder for the rodent to escape. The assembly includes a platform. A jaw is pivotally coupled to the platform and pivotable between an open position and a closed position. A biasing member is coupled to the jaw and configured to bias the jaw toward a front edge of the platform such that the jaw is forced downwardly against an animal to be caught. A hold-down bar is mechanically coupled to the jaw and configured to retain the jaw in the open position. A trigger plate is positioned above the top surface and configured for receiving bait thereon. The jaw is pivoted onto the animal when pressure is applied to the trigger plate. A cage is coupled to the trigger plate and configured to inhibit the animal's access to the bait.

Abstract: A process where materials are applied to a plastic fishing lure surface, producing a lure that possesses chromatic vicissitude as a result of water temperature fluctuations. A non-thermochromatic base layer of one or more colors is applied to the plastic fishing lure. This layer acts as the visual appearance of the fishing lure in the absence of temperature fluctuations. Clear extender is then used as an additive to the thermochromatic ink. This addition to the ink then allows the ink to be sprayed onto the surface of the lure. This ink-extender amalgam can be applied in multiple layers however the bottom layer must have the least amount of hue saturation. Each layer thereafter would increase in hue saturation. Multiple hue combinations can be utilized. Once the desired number of thermochromatic layers has been applied, an ultra-clear super high gloss lacquer finish is sprayed on to the exterior of all layers.

Abstract: An aerator assembly for an animal watering device having a rotor mount removably inserted in a discharge opening of a cover of the device and a rotor carried by the mount that is rotated by discharged water. The mount includes a conduit having one end inserted in the cover and an outlet at its opposite end conveying a discharged stream of water against rotor baffles causing rotation. The mount includes an arm that offsets an axis of rotation of the rotor relative to the stream so water impinges against a baffle. A pin can be included that engages the arm that is received through a rotor hub rotatively attaching the rotor to the arm. Such an aerator not only aerates water discharged during fountain operation, it also reduces noise by reducing splashing. The present invention is also directed to a pet fountain equipped with such an aerator assembly.

Abstract: A small animal litter container is provided with an enclosed design that keeps animal elimination products contained within the litter material and/or the container without leakage and avoids spillage of these materials beyond the container. Cylindrical telescoping interior and exterior housing sections engage to form a covered elimination area within the container. A corresponding keyhole-type of opening in each housing section aligns when the housing sections are engaged to form an animal access door with a unique angled shape that guides an animal to the inside elimination area. A base housing section is formed with a circular cross-section unitary wall with a height that effectively captures and contains all products of elimination without leakage or spillage beyond the container. The present small animal litter container may be used effectively by all kinds of pets, including cats and dogs, whether they exhibit typical or atypical elimination behaviors or habits.

Abstract: An animal kennel comprises front, rear, top, bottom, and opposite side walls that collectively define a cavity. At least a portion of the cavity has a horizontal cross-section that is bordered by the front, rear, and opposite side walls. The cross-section has a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion is narrower between the opposite side walls than the rear portion. A majority of each of the front, rear, top, bottom and opposite side walls is formed of a material that is translucent and radiolucent.

Abstract: A pet toy is configured for receiving a food item. The pet toy comprises a durable and resilient outer wall, an interior chamber, and at least one opening for inserting and/or retrieving the food item. The outer wall can comprise one or more regions of greater rigidity and one or more regions of less rigidity. The pet toy is further configured to selectively retain the food item during a pet's play with the pet toy. After repeated or sufficient compression of the pet toy, the food item can be dislodged, in either a single piece or in multiple smaller pieces, from the pet toy as the pet's reward.

Abstract: A structure of a handle for a retractable leash comprises a holding piece; the holding piece is formed integrally as one piece by soft gel; a housing of the retractable leash is an assembly of a left housing and a right housing; the holding piece is fitted between the left housing and the right housing.

Abstract: Containers and methods for storing animal waste, such as feline or canine waste, human waste, and/or soiled waste products, and controlling associated odor are described. A container having a compressible body with an open top, is provided, the body of the container including a material substantially impermeable to vapor to prevent permeation of odor through the body. Waste is deposited within the container, and a closing member is used to secure the open top of the container in a closed position to at least partially prevent exodus of air carrying the odor from the interior. A filtering member secured within the interior of the container further removes odor to minimize exodus of odor from the container into the surrounding environment. The container can thereby effectively store waste while controlling associated odors, enabling indoor storage, or similar temporary retention of the contained waste until outdoor disposal becomes convenient.

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft includes a rotatable nacelle that supports a rotor assembly and is pivotally attached to the air-craft's fuselage. A wing extension attaches to an outboard section of the nacelle. The wing extension provides additional yaw control during helicopter mode and additional lift during airplane mode. A method for controlling at least a portion of yaw movement includes positioning the rotor assembly in helicopter mode, creating rotor wash with the rotor assembly, and pivotally rotating the wing extension in the rotor wash.

Abstract: A trap for capturing a plurality of animals. The trap can comprise an enclosure having an opening through which the at least one animal can pass to enter the enclosure. A gate, movable between an open position and a closed position, is positioned therein the at least one opening and can be selectively moved from the open position to the closed position when desired. Methods are also provided for capturing at least one animal by providing a trap with a gate, positioning the gate in an open position, monitoring the trap until at least one animal has entered the trap, and remotely triggering the gate to move from the open position to a closed position.

Abstract: A cage for confining small animals in which Zeolite can be used to capture and contain offensive odors contained in the urine and feces of these animals. The cage comprises a top cage and a bottom container, wherein the bottom container has a top made from a fine mesh screen capable of holding the bedding and offing of the small animals. Under this screen, a pad containing a Zeolite in a drawer formed within the bottom container so that the Zeolite can be kept out of the area containing the small animal but may act to remove the aforementioned odors.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for generating an attention indication for a dairy animal that is kept in an environment with a freely accessible robotic milking system, including measuring a plurality of visit intervals, milking intervals, respectively of said dairy animal, determining a value of a statistical parameter regarding the measured plurality of intervals from the measured intervals, generating the attention indication, in particular a mastitis alarm signal, if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Precious information can be derived from the spread of or change in the values.

Abstract: A protective boot for the ankle of a horse includes a flexible panel with a middle portion and two opposing side portions extending outwardly therefrom. The middle portion is suitable for abutting the digital flexor tendon of the horse. The two opposing side portions are suitable for wrapping around the ankle of the horse. A slot is provided which extends along the digital extensor tendon and is defined by the two opposing side portions. A cup is formed at a bottom of the middle portion, the cup receiving the proximal sesamoid bones of the ankle of the horse. Lateral grooves are provided, which are positioned over the palmar digital veins of the horse. The flexible panel includes an outer foam layer and an inner heat-absorbing layer. A reinforcing elastic wrap is removably affixed around the flexible panel.

Abstract: A versatile perching block comprising a shaft with a top end and a bottom end, a plurality of head portions connectable to the top end, and a plurality of bases connectable to the bottom end. The perching block is part of a system that includes interchangeable parts, including interchangeable head portions and interchangeable basis.

Abstract: A sustainable food production system, known as aquaponics, is housed in at least a portion of an intermodal shipping container. In some embodiments, the food production system can be housed fully in one intermodal shipping container or may span multiple shipping containers that can be stacked vertically, end-to-end or side-to-side. An ecosystem is created in the shipping containers where fish fertilize plants and plants clarify the water for the fish. The containers are designed to be plug-and-play and are expandable. Because they are intermodal (ISO) shipping containers, they can be easily shipped anywhere in the world. In the area of a standard parking space (8 feet by 20 feet), about 1,500 fish per year and hundreds of vegetables monthly can be raised.

Abstract: A grooming tool or hair grasping device suitable for effectively and efficiently removing unwanted hair from an animal's coat. The device includes a handle portion extending along a handle axis and having a first end including a stripping surface. The stripping surface is substantially tapered in a direction transverse to the handle axis and may include a roughened surface.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for restricting access by a pet to food in a feeding bowl in which a covering piece is supported at an elevated position extending partially over food in the bowl, thereby impeding access to the food thereby deterring a too rapid ingestion of food. The pedestal is preferably detachably fixed to the bottom of the bowl as by a suction cup mount. The covering piece can be detachably mounted to an upper end of the pedestal to be easily replaced.

Abstract: An aircraft includes an insulation system for thermal and acoustic insulation. The insulation system includes a cabin, an outer skin, a sound insulating unit, and a heat insulating unit. The sound insulating unit is designed to acoustically insulate the aircraft. The heat insulating unit is designed to thermally insulate the aircraft. The sound insulating unit and the heat insulating unit are arranged between the cabin and the outer skin.