Abstract: An improved toilet seat usable by either a human or a pet animal, the toilet seat having a rim member with a central aperture and a shelf assembly mounted to the rim member which adjusts the size of the central aperture in a protracted position to support the weight of the pet animal user. A support assembly supports the rim member above a floor surface for training a pet animal user, the support assembly having a leg assembly connected to the rim member by hinges and extendible therefrom for supporting the rim member during animal pet training. A training tray is supportable by the rim member for selectively providing a litter holder cavity below the central aperture.

Abstract: A shower mounted hygiene dispenser for discharging a stream of water or a mixture of water and hygienic fluid for oral irrigation, the dispenser having a conduit housing connectable to a domestic water source. A dispenser assembly contains a collapsible bag of hygienic fluid which selectively discharges the hygienic fluid into the conduit housing in response to differential pressure exerted upon the bag to provide a mixture of water and hygienic fluid. An applicator assembly comprising a hose and a nozzle assembly delivers either pressurized water or a mixture of water and hygienic fluid for personal hygiene usage, such as for oral irrigation. A pressure regulating valve regulates the water pressure through the conduit housing.

Abstract: A toilet seat device and associated training method for pet animals that permit dual purpose use of a household toilet by both humans and pets, the toilet seat device comprising a toilet seat supported by a commode and having a plurality of shelf segments. The shelf segments are extendible to a protracted position to reduce the size of the central aperture of the toilet seat by a handle member operably connected to a cable and roller assembly which interconnects the shelf segments, and are automatically retractable in response to the weight of a human occupant on the toilet seat, or by manual manipulation of the handle member.

Abstract: A system for controlling the feed rate of a feed stock to processing equipment by monitoring and controlling the length of the feed stock in an accumulator assembly. The control system regulates the feed rate of the feed stock by initially forming a line of the feed stock in the accumulator assembly, detecting the extent of the length of the line with respect to preselected set points, controlling the length of the line in the accumulator assembly by adjusting the feed rate of the feed stock from a base feed rate in response to preselected minimum and maximum values for the length of the feed stock line, and adjusting the base feed rate with each excursion of the line from the preselected minimum and maximums.

Abstract: Disposal of land filled-produced leachate, gas and condensate, comprising combusting a first portion of a land filled-produced gas to produce hot flue gas, contacting the landfill-produced leachate and condensate with a portion of the hot flue gas to vaporize all of the leachate and condensate liquids to form a composite gas stream, and combusting the composite gas stream to convert any noxious components remaining therein to non-polluting compounds. Further, solids entrained in the composite gas stream can be separated from the composite gas stream. Following combustion of the composite gas stream, only non-polluting compounds are discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Cooking tong apparatus for handling food items on a grill, the cooking tong apparatus having first and second jaws disposed in opposing gripping engagement, wherein the jaws open and close in a vertical direction and each jaw has a plurality of tines that are properly spaced apart and sized to fit between standard cross-members of a grill. The cooking tong apparatus has first and second handles which lie in a substantially horizontal plane, allowing a user to operate the cooking tong apparatus in a manner which is most comfortable for the user's hand and wrist.

Abstract: A stirrup swivel attachment which includes a stop for stopping the pivotation of the stirrup so that the stirrup pivots freely only within a limited range. The stirrup swivel attachment includes a first horizontal web portion having a midpoint and a longitudinal axis; a horizontal u-shaped member having a second horizontal web portion with a midpoint, a longitudinal axis and two ends, and having flange portions that extend vertically upward from the ends of the second horizontal web portion; a pin for pivotally connecting the first and second horizontal web portions at the midpoints thereof; and a stop disposed on the first horizontal web portion at a point removed from the midpoint thereof for stopping the second horizontal web portion when the first horizontal web portion is pivoted about the pin so that the longitudinal axes of the first and second horizontal web portions cannot become vertically aligned.

Abstract: An improved container for growing a plant intended to be transplanted is provided. In one embodiment, the sidewall of the container includes an outer sidewall portion and at least one inset sidewall portion. The outer sidewall portion has a plurality of upwardly facing internal ledges positioned in spaced relationship one above the other. Each internal ledge serves to direct laterally growing roots to grow along the internal ledges. The inset sidewall portions of the sidewall are connected to and displaced inwardly from the outer sidewall portion, defining a plurality of root-pruning openings between the inset sidewall portion and the outer sidewall portion. Each root-pruning opening is aligned with an internal ledge so that roots growing along the internal ledges are directed to the root-pruning openings for air-root pruning. In an alternative embodiment, the sidewall of the container comprises a plurality of connected, rectangular sidewall sections disposed one above the other.

Abstract: A pipe laying apparatus for assembling segments of pipe into a pipeline, the pipe laying apparatus having a pipe storage assembly supported by a driving assembly. A pipe removing assembly removes individual pipe segments to a queuing area. A pipe orienting assembly orients the pipe axially, if required, and a supporting and aligning assembly lowers the oriented pipe segment to axial alignment with the pipeline being constructed, while a pipe coupling device installs the aligned pipe segment with the pipeline end. A sag control assembly provides support for the pipeline and lowers same to a desired location as the pipe laying assembly is driven along a selected pipeline construction route.

Abstract: A toilet seat device and associated training method for pet animals that permit dual purpose use of a household toilet by both humans and pets, the toilet seat device comprising a toilet seat supported by a commode and having a plurality of retractable shelf segments which are biased inward to reduce the central aperture of the toilet seat. The shelf segments are extended and retracted radially by fluid pressurization and are actuated to retract when the weight of a human is supported on the toilet seat.