Abstract: A rodent barrier system includes a plurality of panels joined together into an enclosure surrounding a motor vehicle and preventing access to the vehicle by small rodents. The system includes a number of relatively flexible panels that can be bent to define corners of the enclosure. Each of the panels has a smooth outer surface that resists scaling by rodents. The panels also include attachment structures that aid in joining the panels together.

Abstract: A height adjustability mechanism including a height adjustability mechanism including a spring-biased first lever including a first lever body comprising a first rod hole including a first hole perimeter face pivotally engaged with a guide rail extending through the first rod hole, a spring-biased second lever including a second lever body including a second rod hole including a second hole perimeter face pivotally engaged with the guide rail extending through the second rod hole, wherein the spring bias of the first lever frictionally engages the first hole perimeter face against the guide rail, and wherein the spring bias of the second lever frictionally engages the second hole perimeter face against the guide rail.

Abstract: A method for the automated operation of a greenhouse which has at least one first plant growth room which is operated without artificial lighting and which has at least one second plant growth room which is different from the first plant growth room and which is equipped with artificial light sources for generating artificial light. An associated supply device and an associated greenhouse can be operated automatically.

Abstract: A said Device comprises an animal sleeping bag with sewn, integral, or otherwise attached connectors. At least one connector, from a variety of connectors, releasably fastens the Device substantially within the interior and to the entrance of an animal enclosure, such as a dog house, a sectional dog house, animal crate, or other suitable animal housing structure. The preferred Device comprises at least two layer members, or the Device can comprise a single-layer member or cover. At least one layer member of the Device is shaped so that it swathes an animal inhabitant. The releasable fastening of the Device to an animal enclosure causes the Device to remain in a substantially stable configuration, ensures that an animal inhabitant can have at-will accessibility to a lodging compartment, and makes the Device removable for cleaning or replacement. A connector can comprise off-the-shelf hardware or can be manufactured from available products.

Abstract: A reversible pet harness includes a body portion having a first side and a second side and one or more straps coupled to the body portion and configured to secure the body portion to a chest/belly of a pet. An aperture defines an opening that extends through the body portion from the first side to the second side. A ring is positioned in the opening and a central strap extends across the opening and through a center of the ring to moveably couple the ring relative to the body portion. The opening and central strap are configured to allow the ring to extend outwardly at least primarily from the first side of the body portion in a first position and outwardly at least primarily from the second side of the body portion in a second position.

Abstract: A closed farm system for efficient plant production is provided. The closed farm system may have an air flow control system operable to direct air flow past plants growing within the system. The air flow control system may be operable to control heating and cooling of lighting panels and air flow ductwork within the closed farm system. The closed farm system may also have a plurality of LED lights mounted on one or more sheets supported by a frame assembly.

Abstract: A management and distribution device for insect breeding includes a main body, an upper cover, and a lower cover. The upper cover is clamped to a top portion of the main body, and the lower cover is clamped to a lower end of the main body. Three partition plates for insects to climb are clamped in an inner portion of the main body, and the three partition plates are wave-shaped. A notch is defined at a lower middle portion of each of the three partition plates, a plurality of through holes for insect faeces to pass through are defined on a bottom of the main body, an insertion opening is defined at a lower end of an outer wall of the main body, and a hinge door is rotatably disposed at the lower end of the outer wall of the main body.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a crustacean trap can include a cage configured to trap one or more crustaceans, and a propulsion system connected to the cage and configured to provide propulsion to the cage. In certain embodiments, the trap can include a controller configured to control the propulsion system to autonomously pilot the trap.

Abstract: A device suitable for attachment to a milking platform at a “milking position” has a strippings viewing area and a light source, which is operable to illuminate in a suitable manner the strippings viewing area to enhance the visibility to an operator of any mastitis symptoms in use and/or to illuminate the udder to facilitate inspection or treatment. The light source may also be operable to give continuous or intermittent colour signals to the operator and the device might also include an alpha-numeric area. The device might form part of a leg separator and/or sprayer and/or milk hose support. A milking platform with such a device is also claimed.

Abstract: Provided are: a plant cultivation method for improving the crop acreage of plants that are cultivated indoors, a plant cultivation system, and a rack that is comprised in the plant cultivation system. The plant cultivation method of the present invention comprises: setting a cultivation vessel 2 for cultivating a plant P in a rack 1; adjacently arranging a plurality of the racks 1 on a travel line in order of growth of the plant P; intermittently advancing the rack 1 according to a growth state of the plant P; and separating the first rack 1 from the following rack(s) 1, and making a new rack 1 adjacent to the last rack 1 of the following rack(s) 1.

Abstract: A secure enclosure for pets which permits pet owners who have installed a “doggie door” to remove the threat of coyotes and other wildlife from attacking small dogs and cats.

Abstract: The invention taught is a method and apparatus to mix a special polymer, hot water or other hot water material containing additives and a special mixture of dry growing substances mixed in a particular way so that they may be applied to structures such as to ceilings, walls, and any grade of vertical slants, commercial roofs, courtyards, indoor and outdoor applications. The purpose is to coat any surface and grow any plant for any reason be it erosion control, beautification of an area. The invention would help in reforestation after fires and such. This invention has a wide range of applications and so it is impossible to limit it to just one of these applications. Green parking lots and green areas that before could not be made green is just one area for the invention.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for supporting a pet along trapezii and behind a neck of a user. In one implementation, a core assembly of a bolster has a middle section disposed between a first end section and a second end section, and the middle section positionable behind the neck of the user. An elongated body of the core assembly is positionable along the trapezii of the user in a horizontal orientation. The elongated body extends continuously from the first end to the second end. A padded body of the core assembly extends about the elongated body. A cover is engaged to the core assembly. A securing assembly has a first strap connected to the first end section and a second strap connected to the second end section. The core assembly is releasably securable to the user in the horizontal orientation using the securing assembly.

Abstract: A therapeutic toy device for an animal user. The device comprises an internal spine simulator comprising a plurality of weighted vertebra simulators, all coupled together in a manner intended to somewhat resemble the spine of a prey animal. The toy device is configured so that when the animal user plays with the toy, the act mimics the sensation of tackling an actual prey animal. This satisfies the animal's predatory instincts, and thus gives the animal a more meaningful and satisfying sensory-motor experience, thus improving well-being. The device may optionally be surrounded by a covering, which may be a removable washable covering, and optionally configured with other elements such as one or more straps, limb simulators, internal stuffing or padding, and other features. The toy device may be configured in varying weights and configurations based on the size, weight, and play-drive of an animal user.

Abstract: A hinge locking system is provided for locking pivotable hinge parts at a desired angular position relative to one another. The hinge locking system includes a locking pin, a plate with a locking pin receiver, a movable pin receiver defining an axial bore for receiving the locking pin, and a pair of spaced-apart limit stops along the plate. The movable pin receiver is movable relative to the plate, and the limit stops are selectively contacted by the movable pin receiver to limit the maximum relative movement of the movable pin receiver. When the axial bore of the movable pin receiver aligns with the plate's locking pin receiver, the locking pin is insertable through the locking pin receiver and the axial bore in the movable pin receiver, to thereby lock the movable pin receiver and the hinge parts against further movement.

Abstract: The present invention is about turning the gaseous envelope that encoats, protects certain arthropods from their external environment against them. It teaches to apply radiation to the arthropods body in order to dysfunction the exacting geometry needed to maintain this protective envelope. This absorbed radiation thus makes the arthropod vulnerable to pesticides and other chemical agents. It also interferes with the arthropods ability to adequately breathe through their plastron covering by forcing it to increase its rate of metabolism via this absorbed radiation.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a crustacean trap can include a cage configured to trap one or more crustaceans, and a propulsion system connected to the cage and configured to provide propulsion to the cage. In certain embodiments, the trap can include a controller configured to control the propulsion system to autonomously pilot the trap.

Abstract: A method for measuring and analyzing the productivity of Angora rabbit is provided. Firstly, the Angora rabbit to be tested are simultaneously sheared at the age of 18 weeks, and are reared in a single cage to the age of 29 weeks according to standard conditions for test, and the individual consumption of Angora rabbit during the test period is recorded; secondly, the wool samples were sheared from the middle and upper part of the body side of the Angora rabbit with an electric wool clippers. The weight of the Angora rabbit, the weight of the wool sample, and the length of the wool fiber were measured and bagged for recording; in the third step, the wool fiber diameter of each wool sample was measured by fiber projection method; in the fourth step, the measured values were substituted into the given estimation formula.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for automatic sea lice monitoring in fish aquaculture, the method comprising submerging a camera (4) in a sea pen (300) comprising fish, using the camera to make an image of at least one of said fish, analysing the image to differentiate between individual sea lice present on the fish and the fish itself and assessing the number of sea lice present on the fish, wherein the camera is attached to a device (1, 10, 100) for guiding the salmon along an imaging track (5), the camera being directed to the track.