Abstract: A liner for use in a horticultural planter contains an integral water tray which is located between inner and outer fibrous layers of a liner. The water tray extends from a bottom surface of the liner to a peripheral top edge. The water tray is integral with the liner and located between outer and inner fibrous layers. The water tray extends also from the bottom surface to a peripheral edge which is spaced apart from the peripheral top edge of the liner. An overflow region is therefore formed between the peripheral top edge of the liner and the peripheral edge of the water tray.

Abstract: An animal restraining apparatus and animal restraining procedure for using the same are provided. The experiment begins by preparing a live experiment animal, such as a mouse or rat coupled to a femoral vein/artery catheter via surgery. The experiment animal in a conscious state is then placed in a restraining apparatus. The restraining apparatus comprises a plurality of partitioning boards to partition the restraining space, such that the animal is restrained in the restraining space to prevent interference and infection from other animal, a supporting structure to carry the experiment animal, a rack for food and water, a signal receiver base, and a tail-fixing component fitted below or above the supporting structure.

Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a bottom which may be closed, and the sleeve is sized to cover a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for exposing an avian embryo to light during incubation. The methods may be used to increase a bird's weight, increase muscle weight in a bird, and decrease the mortality rate of a bird.

Abstract: A hay saver insert is adapted to be removably positioned on and within a conventional cylindrical hay feeder. The insert includes an upper end portion which rests upon the upper end of the conventional feeder and a conical-shaped portion which extends downwardly into the interior of the feeder. Hay is placed within the insert and the animals have access thereto. Hay being pulled from the insert by the animals may fall into the area between the conical-shaped portion of the insert and the interior of the feeder which prevents the hay from being trampled.

Abstract: A vibrating fishing lure provides a circuit board to control application of power from a battery to an electric motor within a cavity of the lure body. The circuit board includes pin receptacles that receive conductor pins of one or more of the various components to allow the components to be plugged in and frictionally fixed to the circuit board to establish electrical connection. Furthermore, the conductor pins frictionally fixed to the circuit board may be non-corrosive so that they may be exposed to the water without corroding.

Abstract: A readily attachable window assembly for efficient installation and maintenance of aircraft windows is provided. The aircraft has a sidewall having an inner perimeter that defines an opening. The window assembly includes an outer window frame. A center window frame is attached to the outer window frame, and an inner window frame is attached to the center window frame. The inner window frame is readily attachable to the sidewall adjacent to the opening of the inner perimeter. The inner window frame includes a releasable coupling mechanism that includes first and second engaging mechanisms that positionally lock the first mechanism to the second mechanism via a torsion spring assembly and engageable teeth of each mechanism. The first engaging mechanism is locked onto the sidewall when torque is applied through at least one pinhole. The window assembly is disengaged by disengaging the first and second engaging mechanisms via a disengagement tab.

Abstract: An animal feeding device includes a housing having a front opening directed toward a food dish, a paddle device rotatably received in the housing with a shaft and having a number of blades to dispense the food through the opening of the housing and into the food dish when the paddle device is rotated relative to the housing. A motor is coupled to the paddle device to rotate the paddle device to dispense a predetermined quantity of the food into the food dish, preferably in a predetermined time interval by a timer. The paddle device includes a partition extended from the shaft, and perpendicular to the shaft, to separate the blades into two parts.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflation fluid source (50) for providing inflation fluid (152) for inflating the protection device. The apparatus (10) also includes an opening (170) through which the inflation fluid (152) flows from the inflation fluid source (50). A member (190) is movable to control flow of the inflation fluid (152) through the opening (170). A volume of a field responsive fluid (230) resists movement of the member (190). The field responsive fluid (230) has a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus (10) further includes means (232) for varying the viscosity of the field responsive fluid (230) to vary the resistance to movement of the member (190).

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for connecting two shafts which may be of dissimilar materials from each other. A stub shaft of ceramic material is attached to an impeller shaft via a support hub and a steady bearing radially restrains the stub shaft.

Abstract: An animal feeder, including a sturdy, molded plastic base, and a horizontally extending deck for receiving two or more water and food bowls, and legs or sidewalls secured to the deck for retaining same in an elevated position. Recesses are defined in the deck to receive the bowls. Wells are formed in the interior of the base, and communicate with the recesses. In the preferred embodiment, the wells store limited quantities of dry food, or treats, below each recess so that the food may be accessed by removing the bowl. In an alternative embodiment, the wells are formed with ledges or lips that engage the covers of food containers for “wet” food. Access to the wells, or to the interior of the base of a two component dog feeder, may be gained by removing the cover.

Abstract: Lightweight, insect-barrier garments of reflective/illuminative, moisture wicking or otherwise breathable covering for protection of a quadruped animal. An ensemble of from one to three garment sections is provided to cover portions of the animal's body that are susceptible to harassment by biting or stinging insects. Illuminative character is present in the invention in modes and at locations that attain the highest profile of visibility, in respect of ambient visibility and the task to which the animal is placed, e.g. daylight/dusk, under saddle, hunting, turnout, etc. A bonnet section of the ensemble, with the neck section, is fashioned to stand away from the animal's eyes, thereby protecting its sight by providing a protective insect-resistive guard or debris barrier.

Abstract: A pet nail cover has a sack portion that is shaped and dimensioned so as to cover at least the main toe and nail of the animal and extends into a groove between the toe's small flesh pad and a large flesh pad on the bottom of the animal's foot, thereby leaving the large flesh pad exposed, allowing for the animal's traction, mobility and comfort. The pet nail cover eliminates scratches on wooden floor surfaces made by a pet's nails, scratching or scarring on the eyes and ears of the animal, and allows the animal to run with traction and mobility on indoor floor surfaces without slipping. It is attached to the animal with a fastener portion secured around the ankle portion of the animal's leg. It may also have ventilation holes in the nail cover surface for comfort.

Abstract: A feed distribution system with feed dispensers (20), dispenser trays (22) of which have a convex edge (27) with successive edge areas (61) which have a relatively large radius of curvature and edge areas (62) which have a relatively small radius of curvature; a suitable shape in this connection is an elliptical shape a triangular shape, a hexagonal shape. The invention provides improved animal welfare, inter alia through a larger feeding space and also larger living space when the birds are not feeding. The invention further provides improved economic efficiency for the breeder, inter alia by reduced costs per bird.

Abstract: The invention is a firearm safety indicator that is spring-loaded, thus enabling self-ejection when a firearm's bolt is actuated. To attain this, the indicator comprises a main body and cantilever spring body joined together. A peg extends perpendicularly from the main body. In use, the peg is positioned inside the firing chamber of a firearm through the ejection port. The main body covers the ejection port and the cantilever spring body is therefore compressed to attain proper positioning. The rifle's bolt is then used to engage and hold the peg in place. When actuated, the bolt releases the peg and the spring body is released, thrusting the indicator away from the firearm. Alternately, a metal spring may be utilized in the place of the cantilever spring body.

Abstract: A vibrating fishing rod has a vibratory module mounted within a handle cavity of the fishing rod. The vibratory module is accessible through an end opening defined by end edges of the handle cavity. A switch is located in the fore grip, and an electric motor and eccentric weight in the vibratory module are activated in response to actuation of the switch.

Abstract: An insect trap comprises an outer casing (3) having an opening, a light source (2), and a cover (1c) substantially closing the opening of the casing. The cover (1c) tapers from a first cross-section which matches that of the opening of the outer casing to a second cross-section which defines an insect entry port (4) leading into a chamber (5). The cover (1c) is made of a material that is substantially transparent to light having the frequency of the light source (2), and the light source is positioned so as to be visible from the open end of the outer casing (3) through the cover.

Abstract: The floatable planter is employed in a body of water, such as a fish pond, in order to prevent the growth of algae. The planter employs an aquatic pot for receiving a plant, a peat pot having a planting medium for receiving the aquatic pot, a floatation ring about the aquatic pot, a mass of decomposable material selected from the group consisting of barley straw and lavender, and a mesh bag that envelopes the pots, floatation ring and decomposable material. As the decomposable material decomposes, hydrogen peroxide is produced in order to act as an algaecide in the body of water. The floatation ring ensures the proper floatation of the straw or lavender in the water.

Abstract: A container which is a flattened sleeve which includes a lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion and optionally an upper portion attached to the base portion. The container contains a growing medium and a botanical item without having a pot disposed therein.

Abstract: A firearm safety system restricts the use of the firearm by reference to biometric data received by a sensor coupled to the firearm trigger. The biometric data is compared to at least one record of biometric data associated with a permitted user to determine whether firearm actuation is permitted. Firearm actuation is controlled by a latching track that is coupled to the firearm trigger. Firearm actuation is prevented when the latching track prevents the sliding of a ring rigidly coupled to the trigger. Firearm actuation is permitted when the latching track allows for the sliding of the ring past the predetermined location on the track.