Abstract: An adaptive planter system enables a container in which plants grow to be secured to the ground. It also allows for use of the space above the plants in decorative, artistic or practical ways. A shaft anchors the body of the system to the ground and provides a way to attach banners, handles, figures or the like to the opposite end.

Abstract: A bat deterrent system to deter bats from approaching wind turbines may include a first deterrent box having a first and second transducer bank. The first transducer bank may include a first set of transducers located on a first plane and a second set of transducers located on a second plane. The second plane may be different from the first plane. The bat deterrent system may also include a second deterrent box having a third and fourth transducer bank. The third transducer bank may include a third set of transducers located on a third plane and a fourth set of transducers located on a fourth plane. The fourth plane may be different from the third plane. At least one transducer may simultaneously emit a different ultrasonic output waveform than the ultrasonic output waveform emitted from another transducer.

Abstract: A toy is provided that simulates hide-and-seek or peekaboo action moving randomly in and out in a non-sequential pattern about the housing, thereby catching the pet's attention and stimulating the animal's instinctive curiosity. An outer housing forms a travel guide defining a travel path of a generally concave polygon pattern. A motorized mechanism contained within the housing urges an elongated, flexible target about the travel guide so that the target can pass by egress openings located at the vertices in a bidirectional, random fashion.

Abstract: A toy is provided that simulates hide-and-seek or peekaboo action moving randomly in and out in a non-sequential pattern about the housing, thereby catching the pet's attention and stimulating the animal's instinctive curiosity. An outer housing forms a travel guide defining a travel path of a generally concave polygon pattern. A motorized mechanism contained within the housing urges an elongated, flexible target about the travel guide so that the target can pass by egress openings located at the vertices in a bidirectional, random fashion.

Abstract: A pet treat holding device may comprise a head and a plurality of opposable arms. The plurality of opposable arms may be articulably attached to the head and movable between a first position and a second position. The arms may define a cavity configured to receive an end of an elongated treat such as a bully stick. The device may comprise a twist ring that threadedly engages the opposable arms and operates to secure the arms of the device around the inserted end of the elongated treat.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods that facilitate animal enrichment and breeding in animal containment environments. Provided in certain embodiments are animal containment enrichment compositions that include one or more sheets, where at least one of the one or more sheets comprises an array of scores defining a flat array of strips in the sheet. Provided in certain embodiments are animal containment enrichment compositions that include one or more sheets, where at least one of the one or more sheets comprises an array of scores defining a flat array of sections of the sheet.

Abstract: A growth chamber chip includes a base surrounding a growth chamber; a growth medium within the growth chamber; a sensor package within the growth chamber; a sensor feedthrough extending from the sensor package through a portion of the base to an outer surface of the base; and a transparent seal covering the growth chamber. In one or more embodiments, the base includes a nutrient channel connected in fluid communication with the growth medium and exposed to an outer surface of the base. One or more embodiments provide an array of growth chamber chips, with a movable arm that is movable across the array to individually scan each of the growth chamber chips.

Abstract: A method for shipping live plants that require illumination during shipping including steps of selecting an illuminated shipping container that includes a lower pot configured to hold soil and a plant, and an upper lid with pendent side wall and an upper closed end made of material that allows light from an illuminating light source attached to its upper closed end. Soil is placed into the lower pot and a light requiring plant in embedded in the soil with the stem, branches, and leaves extending above the soil. Next, an elastic seal is places around the stem of the plant and pressed against the soil to hold the soil in the pot during shipment. Next, the lower edge of the upper lid is attached to the upper edge of the lower pot. A tamper resistant indicator then disposed between the pot and lid. Next, the illuminating source is activated. The shipping container containing the plant is then shipped to the desired destination.

Abstract: An irrigation apparatus and feeding system for dispersing liquid through a plant growing medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first and a second geometrically shaped container each having an outer wall with an inner surface, an open top, and a base portion configured to cover the plant growing medium. Second container is configured to be positioned within first container such that base portion of second container sets atop base portion of first container and is secured therein from an open position to a closed position thereby forming a single unit. Each base portion is configured with a plurality of elongated holes for receiving liquid therethrough such that holes of first and second container are offset from one another for blocking light from penetrating therethrough when second container is secured within first container in closed position.

Abstract: The described technology relates to a water culture block, which can be stacked in multiple stages along a wall surface, and a water culture device having the same. The water culture block can include a block body including side plates each having an opening, and a bottom plate connected to the side plates to form a receiving space, and at least one overflow tube having a hollow portion and configured to pass through the bottom plate to communicate an inside of the block body with an outside thereof. The water culture block can also include a water tray body formed at an upper portion of the block body and having a through hole for providing a fluid to the receiving space, and a pipe in communication with the through hole and coupled to the water tray body to support the water tray body on the bottom plate.

Abstract: An automated horse feeder includes a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and an interior feed chamber. The rear wall includes a pair of L-shaped hangers for suspending the housing from a stall board or other suitable support surface. At predefined, programmable intervals, a controller opens a release hatch on the bottom wall of the housing and rotates an internal auger to gradually dispense feed from the chamber into an underlying nosebag.

Abstract: A milking device including at least one milking cup with a teat space and a pulsation space, a pulsator connected by a pulsation line to the pulsation space of the milking cup and provided with a vacuum source, a vacuum line provided with a first controllable valve between the vacuum source and the pulsation line, an aeration line provided with a second controllable valve between the pulsation line and a source of higher pressure, and a pulsator control system for the first and second valves. The pulsator control system includes a flushing mode for opening and holding open the first and second valves during at least a predefined flushing time which is at least as long as the pulsation period.

Abstract: A fully automated, sensor driven catch system for a livestock squeeze chute includes an elongated sensor support member mounted on the upper end of the squeeze chute which has first, second, third and fourth sensors mounted thereof. A fifth sensor is built into one of the head gate hydraulic cylinders. A sixth sensor is built into the hydraulic cylinder for controlling the side squeeze panels of the chute. A seventh sensor is built into one of the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the tail gate hydraulic cylinders. The sensors are connected to a control module which is connected to a hydraulic valve module. The sensors send signals to the control module which controls the hydraulic cylinder of the tail gate assembly, the side squeeze panels and the head gate assembly. The sensors sense the movement of the animal as it passes through the chute which in turn controls the hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: Provided is a raised-bed gardening container, including a base, a feeding tube, and a cover frame. The base may include a bottom edge; a top rim at least 36 inches above the bottom edge; an exterior sidewall extending between the bottom edge and the top rim; an interior sidewall extending from the top rim to a bottom interior, the interior sidewall and bottom interior defining an interior volume for containing a gardening media, the interior volume having a diameter of greater than approximately four feet; a feeding tube support generally centrally disposed in the base; and a gardener passage extending to the feeding tube support and having a width configured to allow a gardener to walk through the gardener passage to the feeding tube support.

Abstract: An aeroponic column comprises a base, a planter section attached to the base, wherein the planter section defines a hollow interior, a channel and plant holder openings adapted to receive a plant holder, a nutrient distributor attached over the planter section with fluid openings adapted to allow fluid to flow down the planter sections, and a conduit assembly operatively connected between the base and the nutrient distributor, and adapted to carry fluid from the base to the nutrient distributor. The conduit assembly comprises a conduit formed separate from the planter section, the conduit extends through the channel of the planter section, and the conduit has a male threaded first end and a female threaded second end.

Abstract: An implement for automatically milking a dairy animal, such as a cow, comprises a milking parlour, a sensor for observing a teat, and a milking robot for automatically attaching a teat cup to the teat. The milking robot comprises a robot control that is connected to the sensor. The sensor comprises a radiation source for emitting light, a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the dairy animal, a lens, and sensor control unit. The sensor comprises a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers. The sensor control unit is designed to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate the distance from the sensor to a plurality of points on the part to be observed of the dairy animal.

Abstract: An implement for automatically milking a dairy animal, such as a cow, comprises a milking parlour, a sensor for observing a teat, and a milking robot for automatically attaching a teat cup to the teat. The milking robot comprises a robot control that is connected to the sensor. The sensor comprises a radiation source for emitting light, a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the dairy animal, a lens, and sensor control unit. The sensor comprises a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of receivers. The sensor control unit is designed to determine for each of the receivers a phase difference between the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate the distance from the sensor to a plurality of points on the part to be observed of the dairy animal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for lifting and positioning four-legged animals, in particular dogs, comprising a main frame to be placed on the ground or floor, and a lifting device (2) supported by the main frame. The lifting device (2) comprises a vertically positioned or positionable column (3) that includes a vertically adjustable lifting cross-beam (4) and bars (5) which project from the lifting cross-beam (4), preferably in an orthogonal direction, and which support a mat, a cloth, a net or a plurality of straps acting as a holder for the animal.

Abstract: The door system disclosed herein includes a frame and a door fabricated from a plurality of horizontal and vertical wire rods. The door may have an inverted hook which is aligned to a horizontal wire rod of the frame when the door is pivoted to the closed position. To close the door, the door is dropped so that the horizontal wire rod of the frame is traversed into the inverted hook. At this point, the animal inside of the pet crate cannot open the door by pushing on the door. Rather, the door must be raised so that the inverted hook clears the horizontal wire rod of the frame to pivot the door to the opened position.

Abstract: An odor filter apparatus for a litter box comprising: a rear wall; a first side wall located on one side of the rear wall, and orientated orthogonally to the rear wall; a second side wall located on an opposite side of the rear wall from the first side wall, and orientated orthogonally to the rear wall, the walls configured to rigidly attach to a litter box bottom, a vent located in the rear wall; a filter housing attached to the rear wall, on a side opposite the first and second side walls; an active odor removing element located in the filter housing; a fan assembly housing removeably attached to the filter housing; a blower fan located in the fan assembly housing; a mounting opening in the fan assembly housing; a fan exhaust sealing device attached to the mounting opening.