Abstract: A fish grip having a touch control locking mechanism includes a base. A front end of the base is provided with a left gripper and a right gripper that cooperate with each other. A locking member is movable relative to the base for locking a trigger when the left gripper and the right gripper are in an open position. A triggering member is also connected to the base for automatically triggering the locking member when the left gripper or the right gripper extends into the mouth of a fish thus driving the left gripper and the right gripper to a closed position. During use, the trigger is pulled or pushed to open the left gripper and the right gripper, and the trigger may be locked by the locking member to maintain the open position of the left and right gripper.

Abstract: A safety system for an electric motor controller is provided. The safety system includes a torque safety monitor having a first processor distinct from a second processor of a main motor controller. The first processor is configured to one of decrease or shut down AC (alternating current) power, sent from a DC/AC (direct current to alternating current) inverter to an electric motor, in response to an estimated torque of the electric motor differing from a commanded torque associated with the main motor controller by more than a set amount.

Abstract: A protective sealing plug system for towing hitch receivers is provided having a main body for fittingly engaging within the cavity of a towing hitch receiver. The body is formed of a resilient or flexible material that retain oils or other corrosion inhibiting substances and hold them in place against the inside of the female receiver tube. A mechanism for urging the flexible material to compress slightly and, in the process, expand slightly allows the main body to be engaged within the hitch receiver in a manner that both prevents access by outside elements, but also prevents egress of the main body from the hitch receiver until desired by the user. When installed in the female hitch receiver, the expansion of the resilient body will seal the female receiver tube and prevent the ingress of water, dirt or other damaging elements. Retraction of the resilient body will cause the flexible body to retract, allowing removal from the receiver hitch.

Abstract: A ratchet strap apparatus includes a tensioning strap adapted to be selectively tensioned and a cargo strap adapted to be secured to the apparatus using an inboard pin and an outboard pin and bending the cargo strap into a loop. In one embodiment, the outboard pin is secured to a side wall and an opening is provided between the outboard pin and another side wall whereby the outboard pin may be inserted into a cargo strap loop. In another embodiment, the outboard pin is slidingly received through a hole in one side wall and is selectively unseated from a saddle on the other side wall for insertion into the cargo strap loop. In yet another embodiment, the outboard pin is secured between two side walls and the inboard pin is selectively removable from and seated on saddles in each of the walls whereby the inboard pin extends therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for restraining, feeding, and watering an animal is provided. The apparatus comprises a bowl assembly, a rod, a ring element, and a ground securing element. The bowl assembly comprises a base component connected to a feeder component comprising a bowl for containing food and water. The animal may be chained or leashed to the ring element which freely pivots around the rod between the bowl assembly and the ground stabilizing element when the rod is secured within the ground. The ground stabilizing element help the apparatus resist lateral forces that occur when the animal pulls on the leash, thereby keeping the rod upright.

Abstract: A double dog run system utilizes a system of uniquely configured swivel members attached via a ground anchor to a container with sloped surfaces. Two dog leashes are connected to the swivel members by rotatable clamp members. The resulting system causes separation of the leashes when they are crossed, and compels the leashes to slide down the sloped surface of the container to the ground. The system guarantees that the leashes will never tangle, regardless of the speed and direction of movement of the dogs attached at the other ends of the leashes.

Abstract: The retractable leash support includes a bracket mounted on a rotatable platform the rotatable platform being mountable to any fixed structure. The bracket has two extension tubes spaced for receiving the grip portion of a typical retractable pet leash, the extension tubes also being adapted to accommodate a plate having complementary tubes that fit over the extension tubes to secure the pet leash between the bracket and plate. The extension tubes and complementary tubes of the plate have holes that can be aligned. Pins are inserted into the aligned holes to lock the pet leash grip securely in the leash support.

Abstract: A flexible loop for restraining animals during handling such as during grooming or examination or operation or in bath tubs with a swivel snap closure mechanism or fixed means at its top and, at the bottom of the flexible loop, fixed means. The loop is suitable for attachment to a grooming arm or to tethers to cross-tie the animal in place. The fixed means is preferably a D-ring.

Abstract: A significantly improved leash has a strap or belt with a carabiner at a lower end and a loop at an upper end. The loop may be a preconfigured holding loop or it may be an adjustable loop that can be adjusted by clipping a carabiner into eyelets in the leash. The leash permits even an animal that is pulling strongly on the leash to be held in check, by a hand grip disposed in the holding loop, or adjacent to the holding loop.

Abstract: A mechanical restraining system for use in situations where it is desirable to restrain a detainee, such as a prisoner, psychiatric patient or accused criminal defendant, while minimizing the ability of the public or certain courtroom participants to readily observe that the detainee has been placed in or is being held by some type of restraining device.

Abstract: A combination leash anchor and container support. The combination includes a securement member for securely attaching the combination to the ground, a leash fastener for coupling a dog leash, for example, to the securement member, and a container support for holding containers, such as food or water bowls. The securement member, which has a ground boring means attached thereto, and the container support are preferably constructed in one-piece and the container support is designed so that it can be grasped to manually drive the combination into the ground without the need for any tools or strenuous labor. The combination can be removed from the ground and relocated in a similar manner. Removable bowls can be used with the combination in order to facilitate cleaning and refilling at a location away from the combination, if desired.

Abstract: An animal accommodation station includes a base positionable upon a selected surface and supporting a shaft in an upright position. A canopy is carried at the upper end of the shaft. At an intermediate location, a cantilevered beam extends radially from the shaft. Food receptacles are detachably carried by the beam. A collar, rotatably coupled with the shaft intermediate the base and the beam, supports a radially extending arm having a free end to which is attached an animal leash.

Abstract: A tethering device (10) comprising a support member (12) and a rotatable member (14) rotatably mounted on the support member (12) and about which a flexible tether line (16) can be wound for tethering an animal or object to the support member (12).

Abstract: A pet restraint system includes anchors at either end with a cable extending between the anchors. Intermediate cable supports are positioned between the anchors. A trolley with a pet leash attachment slides along the cable with three wheels engaging the cable. One of the wheels is movable and moves to a second position to permit the trolley to travel across the intermediate cable supports.

Abstract: A rigid animal tether assembly comprises a rigid outwardly extending tie section and a rigid, hollow inwardly extending tilt section. The tie section includes tie elements for tethering an animal at a distal end section thereof and being connected at an opposing coupling end section thereof to an open outer end of the tilt section. A base structure includes base surface configuration that contiguously mates with an open inner end of the rigid tilt section. The coupling end section of the rigid tie section includes a biasing member for connecting the coupling end section inside the tilt section for drawing the rigid tie section and rigid, hollow tilt section under tension in a direction towards the base surface configuration.

Abstract: The present invention includes an adjustable and collapsible pole structure having a telescoping inner and outer pipe providing an adjustable pole length. The outer pipe is crimped for hammering into the ground and the inner pipe receives a carousel member for rotation about the pole proximate the inner pipe top end. Two carousel extensions are spaced for receiving the grip portion of a typical retractable pet leash, the extension also being adapted to accommodate an insertion member that secures the pet leash within the carousel extensions. The insertion member can be a U-shaped member with elongated ends received by holes in the carousel extensions and the pet leash grip, or an insertable member with holes for a pin or pins sized to prevent removal of the member from the openings in the carousel extensions and the pet leash grip A hammering pin is insertable into the top of the carousel.

Abstract: A stake assembly includes a spike having a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal axis of the stake assembly. A flange is connected at the second end of the spike and extends laterally therefrom and defines the upper end of the substantially inflexible portion of the stake assembly. A resilient fastening member is connected to the spike, extends upwardly therefrom and is resilient in both lateral and longitudinal directions. A controlling member is connected to the spike, extends upwardly and is connected to the second end of the resilient fastening member. A tether or leash may be fastened to the second end of the resilient fastening member.

Abstract: A large pet exerciser utilizes but two readily available major components. One is a galvanized pipe or post embedded in concrete. The other major component is an extension or tension spring having a loop or ring on each end. The spring is anchored in the top of the post by means of one loop while a leash is connected to the other or extending top loop. The spring not only elongates when subject to tensile forces, but being mostly free of the post flexes or bends laterally of the post axis in any azimuth or direction. Both actions of the spring exert a bias on any pull by a pet secured to a leash in turn secured to the top or projecting end of the spring. This provides significant decelerating strain relief.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for tethering an animal such that it has freedom to roam, yet is confined in an area that is devoid of fencing. A common problem with tethering is that the animal wanders, dragging a rope behind him, becoming entangled in the rope himself or the rope becoming entangled in objects within the animal's range. A common remedy of this problem is a retractable leash attaching to a tethering post. While prior retractors have solved the problem of entanglement, they had done little to resolve a second problem with tethering, that of an animal running to the limit of his tether only to be jerked by the neck when the tether suddenly becomes taut. The present invention offers a solution to both the entanglement and the jerk stop problems. To alleviate these two problems, the present invention is equipped with a recoil spring retractor in combination with a braking shoe which engages the retractor reel to gradually slow the play out of the line as it reaches its limit.

Abstract: An economical pet restraint device and method of making thereof for use in one's lawn which is readily installed and removed. A concrete block having a ringed pin with the ring disposed in a cylindrical recess defined in the top surface of the concrete block is implanted in the lawn. The pet's tether can then be attached to the ring by a spring clamp. Multiple animals can be leashed to the anchor.

Abstract: A pet restraint constructed from an elongated stake having a leash-receiving section positioned near the upper end of the stake and a ground-insertable section at the lower end of the stake. At least one snag-free surface member having a ground-engaging element is connected to the stake near the leash-receiving section and extends between the leash-receiving section and the ground to provide a snag-free, tangle-free pet restraint. The snag-free surface member is preferably further adapted to maintain the upper end of the pet restraint at a certain height from the ground so as to be conspicuous to any passerby.

Abstract: An improved system for tethering an animal in a desired region, comprising a bar perpendicular to a below ground stake section for anchoring and stabilizing the device; supporting an upper removable or detachable above ground shaft portion having a rotary tethering assembly intermediate between lower and upper bearing sections.

Abstract: A horse securing device and method therefor, comprising a lanyard, an animal halter attachment member, a stationary object coupling member, a weight, and an adjustment member allowing the adjustment of the length of the lanyard. The horse is secured to the lanyard by the animal halter attachment member and the lanyard is secured to a stationary object by the stationary object coupling member to secure the horse to a stationary object to prevent the horse from leaving.

Abstract: A stake assembly includes a spike having a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal axis of the stake. A flange is connected at the second end of the spike and extends laterally therefrom, the upper surface of the flange forming the axially and extremity of the second end of the spike. A receptacle is recessed axially into the flange and second end of the spike. A resilient fastening member, such as a coiled spring, has a first end connected in the receptacle between the flange and the first end of the spike and a second end extending out of the receptacle beyond the upper surface of the flange. A tether or leash may be fastened to the second end of the resilient fastening member.

Abstract: The animal anchor disclosed has a substantially horizontally extending body member which includes a central hub portion, an annular outer portion surrounding the hub portion, and spoke portions interconnecting the central hub and annular outer portions. The hub has a swivel hook for connecting a leash or chain. A majority of the weight of the body member is disposed in the annular outer portions making the anchor difficult to tip.