Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods, systems, and devices relating to vertical structural supports, including acute Z-shaped piers and further including vertical structural features that provide additional structural support for various types of piers.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a durable, magnetic cup holder having one or more magnets disposed in a housing, such as a metal or steel housing. The magnetic cup holder can have more than one opening or lumen, so as to be configured to house both a drink and a mobile phone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods, systems, and apparatuses relating to vertical structural supports, including acute Z-shaped piers and further including vertical structural features that provide additional structural support for various types of piers.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to the design principles for forming a welded joint between two sections of tubing or pipe. The material at the end portion of a first section of tubing to is folded inwardly to create a support surface. This support surface improves the ability to weld light gage material with traditional arc welding and it creates conditions to allow brazing to be as strong as traditional arc welding by using A shaped piece of filler material which is located at the intersection between the support surface of the first section of tubing and a side wall section of the second section of tubing. While holding together the first and second sections of tubing with the filler material, heat is applied at the intersection at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to melt the filler material and form the 3t joint.

Abstract: An animal feeder for the feeding of animals in a remote location. The trough of the feeder has a retractable cover controlled by an actuator that is programmable to open the trough to allow feeding and close the trough to prevent feeding over desired intervals.

Abstract: An animal feeder for the feeding of animals in a remote location. The trough of the feeder has a retractable cover controlled by an actuator that is programmable to open the trough to allow feeding and close the trough to prevent feeding over desired intervals.

Abstract: A fence post for use in building a post and rail fence over varying terrain or of varying curvature. The post is perforated by a hole having a reduced diameter center section that is flanked on either side by an enlarged diameter section. The posts thus permit the support of rails that are not restricted to a straight, horizontal orientation and provide and improved overall appearance.

Abstract: A fence panel that includes a self-contained connector system which can be used to interconnect, in assembling an animal enclosure, up to four of the panels quickly and easily without the need for additional posts, connectors, or other apparatus.

Abstract: The litter disintegrating machine is tractor drawn over a poultry raising area. Ripper teeth extended forwardly of and mounted on the side walls of the machine act with the forward edges of the side walls to provide a section of litter for travel between the side walls. On advance of the machine, the section of litter between the side walls is acted upon by a rotary flail unit extended between and mounted on the side walls rearwardly of the ripper teeth for disintegration and discharge back to the ground floor for reuse. The density of the discharged litter material may be varied by varying its rate of discharge from the machine.

Abstract: An animal gate latch mechanism having upper and lower latch units movable successively and alternatively between gate open and gate latching positions therefor by a linkage system including a single actuating arm. From a gate open position of both latch units, movement of the actuating arm in one direction will independently move the latch units to the gate latching positions therefor. An intermediate latched condition of the gate is thus provided which can quickly and easily be effected by an operator on horseback. With both latch units in the latched position therefor, the gate is securely latched at two spaced-apart locations to prevent twisting of the gate by a confined animal and its possible escape therethrough.

Abstract: An animal handling device including a ground supported base frame and a squeeze chute pivotally supported on the base frame by an upright lever assembly. The squeeze chute includes two side members, a flat first side member and a second, generally open second side member, that are pivotally connected at their lower end portions to permit movement of the second side member relative to the first side member into and out of an animal restraining position. By means including the upright lever assembly, the squeeze chute is pivotally movable with the lever assembly toward the first side member relative to the base frame between an upright animal receiving position and an animal shift position and then independently of the lever assembly to a substantially horizontal operational position wherein easy access to the animal for treatment procedure can be made through the second side member.

Abstract: A rotary mower having a central section and extension wings or end sections relatively pivotably movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the central section. Each of the sections includes a plurality of cutting units mounted for rotation about vertical axis to provide a horizontal cutting plane across the width of the mower when the extension wings are in a lower or mowing position. Each cutting unit is carried on a horizontally disposed pneumatic tire wheel. An external drive rotates one of the tire wheels. The other tire wheels are mounted in frictional circumferential engagement with each other and the driven tire wheel so that all wheels are driven in the mowing position. When either of the extension wings is pivotally raised to a position greater than approximately 30.degree. relative to the center section, its tire wheels are moved out of frictional engagement with the tire wheels of the center section so that its cutting units are rendered inoperable.

Abstract: The animal holding gate is operable either manually or automatically to hold an animal. In an automatic operation, a pair of animal engaging members are initially adjusted to positions permitting the head of an animal to pass therethrough and then are automatically operated to continuously move inwardly against opposite sides of an animal's neck and to be releasably locked against outward movement to maintain an animal holding position. The initial gate setting mechanism is in a readily visible position and conveniently accessible for quick and easy manipulation to accommodate in succession animals of varying size.

Abstract: The chain gate has a pair of reversely inclined end posts which extend upwardly in a diverging relation and movably support the ends of a plurality of chain members extended therebetween. When the chain gate is in a gateway closing position the chain members are in a vertically spaced relation and in a gateway opening position the chain members form a mass on the ground surface between the end posts. The adjacent ends of the chain members are interconnected by a flexible actuating member so that on closing upward movement of the chain members from lowered ground positions the opposite ends of each chain member are concurrently moved upwardly so as to sequentially move the chain members to their horizontally extended vertically spaced relation defining the gate closing position. The chain members vary in length relative to the reversed inclination of the end posts so as to be drawn taut between the end posts in the gate closing position. The chain gate may be opened or closed either mechanically or manually.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention is capable of handling large bales of hay weighing fifteen hundred pounds or more without requiring the use of hydraulic, electrical or any other special source of power. The apparatus includes a portable frame connectable to a tractor and a hay buck or fork unit carried on a lift frame assembly which is movably supported on the portable frame to provide for a movement of the fork unit between a lowered bale loading position and a bale transport position. The fork unit is movable by gravity from the transport position to the bale loading position therefor, wherein the bale is loaded by a rearward movement of the portable frame relative to such bale. As the bale approaches a fully carried position on the fork unit, a leverage means is automatically actuated to elevate the lift frame assembly to a transport position in response to a forward advance of the portable frame.