Patents Examined by Shadi Baniani
  • Patent number: 7841124
    Abstract: A rod holder having a multidirectional mounting feature. The rod holder includes a tube sized to receive a fishing rod. A multi-directional mounting feature is attached to the tube. The multi-directional mounting feature includes a plate defining at least two intersecting mounting channels. A cap is configured to mate with the plate in at least two positions, thereby allowing the rod holder to be multi-directionally mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: C.E. Smith Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Wegman
  • Patent number: 7832358
    Abstract: An aquarium includes a filter housing disposed in a container, the housing includes a number of spaced guide fins extended into the housing and arranged to form a peripheral passage around the guide fins, a filter member engaged in the guide fins, and a water pump attached to the housing for pumping the water into the passage of the housing and for guiding the water to flow through the guide fins and to flow from various directions into the filter member and for allowing the water to be guided to flow through an outer peripheral portion of the filter member and for preventing the water from flowing through only a small portion of the filter member and for preventing the filter member from being quickly blocked by dirt or contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Hsueh-Lee Tsai
  • Patent number: 7827731
    Abstract: A fishing lure having a reusable and interchangeable lure body is generally disclosed. The lure body can be changed without having to cut and retie the fishing line to the fishing lure. The fishing lure has two separate components that can be interchanged: the weighted hook and the lure body. A fishing line can be tied to the weighted hook. Different lure bodies can be affixed to the weighted hook to be fished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Normark Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Gibson
  • Patent number: 7806086
    Abstract: This invention relates to a Pet toy, comprising a body structure (1) provided with a plurality of retaining compartments (2) presenting openings (3), arranged to enable hiding and retrieving of objects (4) therein, wherein said body structure (1) comprises a plurality of flexible, sheet formed layers (10, 11, 12) fixedly attached to each other one on top of the other, at least one lower layer (11) has a larger size than a layer (12) positioned on top of the lower layer (11), and wherein said retaining compartments (2) are in the form of pockets between next to each other positioned layers (10, 11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Nina Ottosson
  • Patent number: 7802540
    Abstract: A collapsible soft crate comprising a frame having at least one top member, at least one bottom member, and at least two side members. The at least one top and bottom members are hinged along a length thereof. The at least one top member and the at least one bottom member are connected to the at least two side members. At least four panels are connected together and surround at least a portion of the frame. This configuration allows the crate to collapse more compactly than those in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Vermont Juvenile Furniture Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Jakubowski, Scott S. Jakubowski, Chris Jakubowski
  • Patent number: 7802399
    Abstract: A plant stand with a circular base, locking arms and a main shaft. The plant stand can reside in a plant pot, with the circular base and locking arms fitting precisely with the bottom and sides of the plant pot. Additional plant pots may be placed upon the main shaft of the plant stand in a visually appealing fashion. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventors: Nancy Shelton, Jerry Shelton
  • Patent number: 7762212
    Abstract: A self-cleaning, low-maintenance, water-saving automated animal watering device (10) is provided which includes a watering tank (12) moveable between a lower, water-full condition and an upper, water-low condition. Preferably, one end of the tank (12) is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft (64), while the other end of the tank is biased upwardly via a lower lift spring (72). The device (10) also has a water fill assembly (16) operably coupled with tank (12) to selectively fill the tank (12) when needed, and a drain valve assembly (18) also coupled with tank (12) in order to completely drain the tank (12) on a periodic basis. A control assembly (20) is coupled with at least the tank (12) and drain valve assembly (18), and is operable to actuate the drain valve assembly (18) after a predetermined number of movements of the tank (12) between the elevated and lowered positions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: James S Drouillard, Jared Henry, David M Sattler
  • Patent number: 7735260
    Abstract: A one-piece molded hanging plant saucer includes three pairs of opposed hook arms connected to a bowl-shaped base. Each pair of hook arms is formed by the frictional interengagement of two arms extending vertically from a living hinge formed at an extension of a generally circular planar lip extending outwardly around the upper periphery of the base. Each pair of interconnected hook arms provides a double thickness of material to increase strength of support for the hanging plant saucer. As manufactured in the molded condition, the hook arms are generally co-planar with the planar lip so that multiple saucers are readily stackable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J. Holliday
  • Patent number: 7730664
    Abstract: A plant container assembly (1) comprising two detachably connectable enclosure sections (3, 4), the assembly comprising attachment means (39) which is adapted to secure the sections in the direction of the height of the container, wherein, in an assembled condition, the attachment means is located internally of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Alan John Larwood
  • Patent number: 7707772
    Abstract: A spray catcher apparatus and method includes a fluid capture surface where the fluid capture surface is conformed to direct captured fluid from the surface. A support stake includes a first end and a second end and the first end is connected with the fluid capture surface. The second end is placed near an object to which the captured fluid is directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Russell Alexander Baird
  • Patent number: 7699025
    Abstract: An improved structure of a feeder for supplying water and pet food is disclosed. Therein, a base has a shifting space adjacent to a side of a bowl settled in the base so as to receive a dispensing controller. A container unit equipped with a hopper and a water supplier is provided on top of the dispending controller. The dispensing controller can be shifted in the shifting space so that an opening limit is formed when projections formed on two rear ends of the dispensing controller abut against blocks provided bilaterally in the shifting space, and a closing limit is formed when a groove of the dispensing controller abuts against a stop plate formed at a rear section of the shifting space. Thus, the container unit can be easily opened to dispense pet food or closed to not dispense pet food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ying Yeeh Enterprise Ltd.
    Inventor: Ying-Kuan Ho
  • Patent number: 7694652
    Abstract: A bird feeder with a magnetically supported perch includes a bird feeder with a feed hopper body having a feed access opening therein to permit feeding birds to access bird feed stored within the bird feeder and a perch assembly mounting element mounted on the feed hopper body and a magnetic perch assembly including a longitudinally elongated perch bar having inner and outer ends. The perch bar includes a perch bar magnet section adjacent the inner end thereof, the perch bar magnet section being magnetically attracted to the perch assembly mounting element such that the perch bar is releasably magnetically mounted on and extends outwards from the perch assembly mounting element whereby the perch bar magnet is adapted to serve as a perch for birds landing thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: Patrick S. Fahey
  • Patent number: 7665422
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self cleaning rotary brush with means for accumulating collected hair for disposal. The invention includes a primary cleaning cylinder with a series of tines that are adapted to clean the fur of the animal. The invention further includes a secondary cleaning cylinder with associated tines that are designed to intermesh with the tines of the primary cylinder. A collection tray is located to the rear of the secondary cleaning cylinder. As fur is collected by the primary cylinder, it is removed by the tines of the secondary cylinder. Thereafter, as the secondary tines come into contact with the edge of the collection tray, the fur is deposited within the collection tray for subsequent disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Waldemar F. Kissel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7654228
    Abstract: The nature of this invention is to develop a new way to clean dog's paws of any debris, such as mud, etc., which it may encounter. The present invention provides a safe, easy, efficient, innovative way to clean the paw. It will eliminate the use of several towels for this purpose and save the life of the owner's carpeting and floors. A main unit (28) will house a rechargeable battery (60); however an ac adapter (52) is also available. Two canisters (20, 24) will provide a container (20) for clean water and a container (24) for dirty, waste water. Each canister is easily removed for filling and cleaning, yet secured onto the main unit via the construction of the molding (90, 92, 94). The paw is placed into a pouch (70). The pouch (70) is secured by means of an elastic band (72). When a spray switch (46) is depressed, water is released through a hose (34) and onto the paw with sufficient pressure to remove debris from the paw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Sunny Lyn Graham, Vincent Edward Graham
  • Patent number: 7647888
    Abstract: A poultry feeder is provided which can be selectively switched between a mode in which it operates as a flood-type feeder and a mode in which it operates as a shallow-fill type feeder with adjustable height pan walls. The feeder includes a feed tube assembly comprising a drop tube and a feed flooding tube. The drop tube is movable axially relative to the feed flooding tube, which rests on the feed pan. The drop tube and feed flooding tube have windows which are brought into and out of alignment by raising and lowering the drop tube. When the feed flooding tube window is opened, the feeder operates in a flood mode and when the feed flooding tube is closed, the feeder operates in a shallow-fill mode. In this second mode, the effective height of the pan wall can be adjusted to allow chicks and chickens access to the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: The GSI Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Slankard, John M. Frankovich
  • Patent number: 7637056
    Abstract: The present invention provides a planting device for plants to be formed mainly on a rooftop, a roof of a building, or the like. The planting device for plants comprises a body portion provided with a first fixing means and a second fixing means. The first fixing means is firmly fixed to a mounting surface of the body portion. The second fixing means is linked to the first fixing means. The body portion is provided at a bottom with a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means. A water receiving means is provided at a side wall of the body portion. Soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls and desired plants (or a desired plant) are planted on the soil. A planting structure in which multiple adjacently arranged planting devices may be used is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Tajima Ryokka Incorporated
    Inventors: Kunio Tajima, Yoshiaki Gotou
  • Patent number: 7627982
    Abstract: A plant and watering and feeding device (10) including an elongate tubular body having an upper portion (38) and a lower portion (16), said elongate tubular body having a hollow cavity for receiving water and feed therein, said upper portion (38) having an opening (14) in fluid communication with said hollow cavity for supplying said water and feed into said device (10), said lower portion (16) having a plurality of apertures (18) in fluid communication with said hollow cavity and the exterior of said device (10), wherein said device (10) is positionable relative to a plant such that said lower portion (16) of said device (10) is surrounded by soil proximate the roots of said plant, and wherein said water and feed may be introduced into said device (10) through said opening (14) and subsequently slowly released into said soil proximate said roots of said plant via said apertures (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventors: James Desmond Beasley, James Robert Beasley
  • Patent number: 7617797
    Abstract: A pet utility device for reversibly converting from a pet bed to a pet carrier or pet seat, the device comprising a shell portion, wherein the shell portion includes lateral portions, a rear portion, a bottom portion, shell gusset portions, and sealable flap portion; a pad portion, for detachable attachment to a portion of the shell portion wherein the pad portion includes pad gusset portions; sealing device located on the periphery of the lateral portions, the sealable flap portion, and the bottom portion of the shell portion; wherein when the sealing device is utilized during the reversible conversion from a pet bed to a pet carrier or pet seat, the bottom portion engages the lateral portions such that the shell gusset portions and pad gusset portions retract and fold-up upon themselves thereby sealing the bottom portion of the lateral portions and the sealable flap portion to the lateral portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Pui Yue Lam
  • Patent number: 7549393
    Abstract: A two sided feeder for feeding animals as they grow from a first smaller size to a larger size includes a trough with a shelf mounted above the base of the trough with a feed hopper positioned for depositing feed onto the shelf and a water pipe formed from a rectangular tube and extending along the trough at a position underneath the shelf with a plurality of water nipples at spaced positions along the water pipe. A plurality of divider members are clamped on the pipe each between two of the water nipples such that the divider members together act to separate one side of the trough from the other side to prevent the passage therebetween of the animals when at the smaller size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Crystal Spring Colony Farms Ltd.
    Inventor: Jonathan Kleinsasser