Abstract: An impact-activated illuminating leg wrap is configured to provide light on a moving animal. The impact-activated illuminating leg wrap includes a first layer joined to a second layer wherein the second layer further comprises a hook fastener. An upper strap is fixed to the loop fastener and attached to an upper strap loop fastener. The upper strap is adapted to be wrapped around a leg of an animal forming a rear leg wrap concave contour. An upper reflective strap is attached to the hook fastener and perforated with a series of upper reflective strap perforations. A series of upper reflective strap light emitting diodes is inserted through the series of upper reflective strap perforations and connected to the upper reflective strap. A first microcontroller is attached to the second layer with a first elastic strap.

Abstract: A system for controlling a moisture content below a surface area, where the system is installable in a recess above which the surface area will be located. The system comprises a substantially water impermeable first layer, a porous second layer and a water control basin which comprises means for controlling a moisture level of the porous second layer. The system enables liquid from the water control basin to be transported through the second layer by utilization of capillary forces, providing for an efficient sub-surface irrigation system which is easy to maintain. A method for providing such an irrigation system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An animal restraining or tethering device for permitting movement of an animal along paths having their extent defined by a telescoping elevated rod adapted to be mounted between opposing passenger grab handles in a vehicle or between opposing mounting locations in a truck bed, is described. One end of a component rod member and one end of a tube member are fitted with adjustable end connectors for reversible attachment of the rod assembled therefrom to the passenger grab handles or the truck bed attachment locations. At least one sliding member adapted to slidably move along the rod is attached to a leash or chain which is in turn connected to an animal collar or harness. The sliding member can also be fixed at a chosen location along the rod, if desired. Various rings and loops may be fastened to the rod at chosen locations for holding items placed in the vehicle, and for preventing these items from being thrown about as a result of vehicle movement.

Abstract: A fully self-contained collar monitors the location of a pet. A look-up table has rows and columns representing geographic location, and machine-stored values at each table location represent a particular one of several guidance zones. The real-time guidance zone determination is made by first determining present location. The corresponding table location value representing guidance zone is retrieved. Each guidance zone has an associated set of characteristics used by collar electronics and stimulus generators to generate well defined and positive stimulus to train the pet to stay within a predetermined area. In addition, using location history the collar electronics also predictively alerts the pet of an impending exit from a safe zone. This departure alert may be further combined with inertial validation and dynamic position request intervals to provide a much more reliable and robust system that is then able to much more efficiently and effectively train a pet.

Abstract: In order to avoid negative changes in the teat ends of a cow, in particular to avoid hyperkeratoses, the invention proposes a method for operating a milking system in which at least one of the parameters from total pressure per cycle, minimum total pressure per cycle or the ratio of total suction to total pressure is determined for at least one animal of a herd during at least one part of a milking process, and is compared with at least one reference value.

Abstract: An animal treat delivery system includes an elongated body formed of an animal digestible material and having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines a cavity and includes a plurality of projections extending from the interior surface into the cavity. One or more of the plurality of animal digestible treats are retained within the cavity of the elongated body by the projections.

Abstract: An oxygen box is secured in an oxygen box hole through a panel of an aircraft cabin by fasteners that are positioned in an interior volume of the oxygen box and are inserted through holes in a back wall of the oxygen box that are aligned with fastener openings in an exterior bracket positioned behind the panel and behind the oxygen box opening where the fasteners are received by the fastener openings in the exterior bracket and the fasteners removably attach the oxygen box to the exterior bracket.

Abstract: A flow interrupting device may cause a flow to separate from a wingtip device at a desired angle of attack. The flow interrupting device may be coupled to a leading edge of a wingtip device where a flow disruptor may be configured to alleviate a load on the wingtip device. The flow disrupter may comprise an edge that extends into a boundary layer at a threshold angle of attack that may disrupt the boundary layer and cause a flow to separate from the wingtip device. This separated flow may reduce stresses experienced by the wingtip device and wing during various flight conditions where a transverse flow is encountered.

Abstract: A milking device includes a support device (1) supporting a milking member (2) having a claw (3) and a number of teatcups (4) to be attached to a respective teat of an animal. The support device (1) includes a rear portion (6), an attachment part (9) attaching the support device to a structure, and an arm section (7) having a proximal end portion attached to the rear portion (6) and a distal end portion movable between an active position in the proximity of the animal to be milked and a rest position. A first cavity extends along the arm section and houses a retracting member for retracting the milking member from the teats of the animal. A second cavity for conveying a fluid flow extends along the arm section. The arm section includes an extruded part enclosing the first cavity and the second cavity.

Abstract: A pet toy. The pet toy may comprise: a base, roller assembly, return coil, and flexible sheet. The base may comprise a first arm portion and a second arm portion disposed in parallel relation. The first arm portion may comprise a first receiving cavity, and the second arm portion may comprise a second receiving cavity. The first receiving cavity may engage with a first end of the roller assembly, and the second receiving cavity may engage with a second end of the roller assembly to hold and rotatably secure the roller assembly. The roller assembly may comprise a flap hingedly coupled to the roller assembly. The flap may be adapted to grasp a portion of the flexible sheet. The return coil may be coupled to the base and the roller assembly and may bias and rotate the roller assembly back towards its original position when the roller assembly is rotated.

Abstract: A tree support system and method for temporarily supporting a tree that is easy to install and remove, and does not impart damage to the tree. A plurality of one-piece molded support blocks which are designed to be strapped to the trunk of a tree encircling the trunk. Each support block is specifically configured to avoid causing damage to the tree by including a padded tree-engaging surface to protect the tree from damage, and a pair of strap-receiving loops which are disposed on the block so as to be spaced from the tree trunk such that securing straps are maintained in spaced relation from the tree trunk. The support blocks further include an angled cavity having a generally rectangular cross-section sized for receiving a wooden support post or leg, such as a 2×4, thereby ensuring proper angled positioning of the support posts.

Abstract: An aquaponics and greenhouse system, includes a solar greenhouse insulated on north, east and west sides and with glazing on a south side at an angle to maximize winter sunlight, and housing a fish tank, grow beds, and a hard filter. The grow beds and hard filter include geyser pumps in the fish tank powered by air pumps that pump water from the fish tank to the grow bed or hard filter and aerate fish tank water. The hard filter includes algae layer with an air stone powered by an air pump underneath to aerate the algae. Grow beds on the north side have a barrier layer over media, and with a mushroom bulk substrate layer disposed thereover. The air intake of the air pump of the hard filter or the air stone extract CO2 from the mushroom bulk substrate and pump the extracted CO2 to the algae layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for artificial illumination of a plant, wherein the illumination of the plant is controlled based on the amount of light being reflected from the plant. The invention also relates to a corresponding illumination system, use of the illumination system and a computer program product.

Abstract: A feeder for dispensing feed to livestock includes a trough and a hopper mounted above the trough. The hopper includes a sidewall, a bottom, a central feed discharge hole through the bottom, and a plurality of gravity flow feed openings arranged around the central feed discharge hole. A deflector is mounted in the hopper above and vertically spaced from the hopper bottom to cover the central feed discharge hole to restrict gravity flow of feed from the hopper through the central feed discharge hole. A sweep member is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis for sweeping feed under the deflector to the central feed discharge hole for discharge into the trough. A closure system is associated with the gravity flow feed openings to automatically close the gravity flow feed openings once animals start moving the sweep member to sweep feed to the central feed discharge hole.

Abstract: A water supply for an animal feeder includes a valve member on a nipple controlled by the animal connected to a water supply duct for supplying water to the valve member. A regulator is provided for controlling a flow rate and the nipple controls the flow rate by defining a housing through which the water passes with a resilient cylindrical body mounted in the housing. The resilient body defines a convoluted or serpentine water flow path therethrough or thereon for flow of water along the flow path through the housing with the flow path defining a rate of flow of the water. The housing has an adjustment member for adjusting application of pressure to the resilient body to change an amount of compression of the resilient body so as to distort the water flow path and change the rate of flow. The serpentine path is also of increased length to restrict the flow.

Abstract: A tree sap collecting device having at least one hollow main conduit extending between a first end adapted to be inserted into a tree and a second end. The main conduit has an external surface and at least one protuberance extending outwardly from the external surface. The at least one protuberance occupies a circumferential extent on the external surface that is less than a circumference of the external surface. The at least one protuberance engages a collection tube upon said collection tube being mounted to the external surface.

Abstract: A collar-mounted GPS and stimulation unit includes a body. Quick-mount retention clips extend from the superior and inferior lateral edges, bend in a 90 degree angle towards the center, and extend for a short distance before terminating. The preferred embodiment collar mounted GPS unit is preferably slightly wider than a standard nylon dog collar. The collar is made of a flexible material, such as nylon, leather and most other common collar materials, and can operatively be pinched to fit in between the quick-mount clips, then released to expand into normal shape within the space between the retention clips and the ends of the collar-mounted GPS and stimulation unit. A special stimulation unit is used in combination to protect the animal from harm.

Abstract: Pylon mounting assemblies are provided for mounting an engine (e.g., a turbojet engine) to a wing of an aircraft. The pylon mounting assemblies include an upper pylon connection member, and a lower pylon connection box, wherein the upper pylon connection member and the lower pylon connection box respectively include multiple opposed pairs of connection lobes. At least one pair of the connection lobes includes a pin connection to restrict degrees of freedom thereat along an x-axis and a mutually perpendicular z-axis, while at least one other pair of connection lobes includes a connection rod to restrict degrees of freedom thereat along the z-axis.

Abstract: A device for fastening and adjusting the carrying wires on a row of plants, such as a vineyard, and in particular to support and manage the row of plants, so as to make both manual and mechanized operations simpler and more functional.

Abstract: Landing gear doors may be opened in an emergency event, e.g., a failure of the normal landing gear actuation system that requires a gravity free-fall deployment. The retractable aircraft landing gear door actuation mechanism will include a landing gear door and a door support bracket attached to the landing gear door. The support bracket is attached to aircraft structure for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed condition whereby the landing gear door covers an aircraft landing gear when retracted relative to the aircraft structure, and an opened condition whereby the landing gear door is moved laterally and upwardly relative to the aircraft landing gear when extended relative to the aircraft structure. A gear door actuation assembly is operatively connected to the door support bracket for moving the door support bracket and the gear door supported thereby between the closed and opened conditions thereof.