Abstract: A system and method of customizing a flush toilet to help train an animal to utilize the toilet when making waste. A primary tray is provided. The primary tray is placed over the toilet. An opening is formed in the primary tray. If a pet in training becomes tentative, the opening is reduced in size or eliminated by the use of a supplemental tray. The supplemental tray is sized to cover only the part of the primary tray that holds litter. With the litter removed, the supplemental tray is placed atop or under the primary tray. If no opening is desired, no opening is formed. If a smaller opening is desired, an opening of the appropriate size is made in the supplemental tray. The supplemental tray is then filled with litter and is used to train an animal as if it were part of the primary tray.

Abstract: The invention relates to an annular rotary platform (3) for a milking parlour and a mould and method for manufacturing the annular platform. The platform (3) is formed of a cementitious material. The platform comprises on an underside at least one protruding reinforcing portion (3d) formed of a cementitious material.

Abstract: A device and method for the sea-based culture of sea urchins and abalones includes two parallel lateral elements, where each one of their ends has a groove and a hole for the installation of four braces. The center areas of the braces have a plurality of parallel and equidistant guides for the installation of a plurality of vertically inserted plates, forming spaces between the plates that permit housing sea urchins or abalones on both faces of such plates. At the bottom of the device a horizontal tray holds algae for feeding sea urchins and the abalones; wherein, both the plurality of plates and the tray are enclosed in an elongated mesh, wherein the ends of the mesh are joined to the ends of the lateral walls of the tray, such that the length of the mesh wraps around the plurality of plates.

Abstract: A fish habitat which provides a habitat for fish to congregate consisting of individual strands of a buoyant material, such as polyethylene, secured to a body for installation on the bed of a body of water.

Abstract: A remote receiving circuit for providing and controlling an electric stimulus applied to an animal including an electronic switch powered by a battery in series on a primary of a high-voltage transformer and whose on/off state can be modified by control pulses to create a source of alternating current to supply the primary of the transformer. The circuit further includes a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in contact with the animal and connected to the respective ends of a secondary of the transformer, and a device for measuring the peak intensity of a stimulus current applied by the electrodes to the animal's body.

Abstract: A multi-configuration structure including a base member, a plurality of cylindrical tubular spacers and a plurality of shelf members. The structure is assembled by threadably inserting the male connectors of a first set of spacers into the threaded recesses of the base member, aligning the assembly holes of a shelf member with the threaded recesses of the first set of spacers, inserting the threaded male connectors of a second set of spacers into and through the assembly holes of the shelf member and threadably inserting the male connectors into the threaded recesses of the first set of spacers, installing additional shelf members, spacers and walls in a configuration desired by the user.

Abstract: A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes the at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.

Abstract: A lick deterrent device having a surface mounted battery pack that is in electrical contact with two sets of traces on the lick deterrent device. The surface mounted battery pack is readily attachable to the lick deterrent device, and in some embodiments, may be readily removable and replaceable. At least one of the battery terminals is in direct electrical contact with a trace on the substrate. The second terminal may have electrical contact with a different trace via a terminal extension element.

Abstract: A teatcup liner adapted to be mounted in a shell to form a teatcup to be applied to a teat of an animal, and a method of mounting a teatcup liner. The liner defines an inner space for receiving the teat and a longitudinal center axis. The liner has a head portion, a tubular barrel portion and, a tubular lower portion defining a milk channel having a cross-section area perpendicular to the center axis. The tubular lower portion has a primary engagement member to be engaged by a secondary engagement member of the shell. The liner includes a grip member extending from the tubular lower portion to be gripped by an operator when the liner is to be mounted. The grip member defines a force application zone on which a pulling force is to be applied and which seen along the center axis is located within the cross-section area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for aquaculturing marine life forms such as coral utilizing a rotating tray that exposes the marine life forms to variable water flow conditions during each revolution of the tray.

Abstract: A power-actuated animal paw cleaning device including an elongated handle having an anchor rod statically coupled to a distal end thereof, a casing pivotally mated to the anchor rod such that the casing is freely pivotal thereabout while the handle and anchor rod remain stationary, a splash guard pivotally coupled to the anchor rod and adjoined to an interior surface of the casing respectively, and a paw cleaning mechanism attached to the casing and the handle respectively. Such a paw cleaning mechanism is preferably provided with a brush head rotatably situated within the casing. In one embodiment, the present invention may further include a reservoir containing a liquid cleaning solution therein. Such a liquid cleaning solution may be directly deposited onto a paw of the animal prior to or during cleaning procedures for loosening debris, for example.

Abstract: A system for managing a group of dairy animals to be milked fully automatically, where the dairy animals go through a lactation cycle comprising phases of calving, inmilking, producing milk, and being dry. The system includes a computer executing program instructions for recording information and processing data indicating a division of the group of dairy animals into subgroups of a plurality of dairy animals, an insemination period determined per subgroup within which the dairy animals of the subgroup concerned are to be inseminated, which insemination period is so short that substantially all dairy animals in the subgroup concerned go simultaneously through the lactation cycle, and a separation of pregnant dairy animals of at least one of the subgroups in a separate area, around the beginning of the being dry phase of the subgroup concerned.

Abstract: A combined climate-controlled kennel supporting enclosure and carrying kennel for providing a safe and comfortable environment for an animal during transport procedures may include a carrying kennel to safeguard an animal therein and a supporting enclosure. The enclosure may include a body and cavity centrally formed therein. The body further may include a base member to maintain the carrying kennel elevated above a ground surface. A plurality of storage compartments may be housed within an uppermost region of the cavity. Each storage compartment may be independently toggled between open and closed positions while the carrying kennel remains statically nested within the cavity. Further, a mechanism may be included for automatically regulating a real-time internal air temperature level within the cavity. The mechanism may operate such that the real-time internal air temperature level may be constantly maintained within a predetermined and safe temperature range during transport procedures.

Abstract: An aquarium includes: a box having an accommodating space therein; a dividing board disposed in the accommodating space of the box to divide it into a cultivating layer and a nitrobacteria layer; a pump for drawing water and air, mixing them into bubbles, and sending the mixture out via a transporting pipe; a foam remover connected with the transporting pipe and having a foam outlet and a water outlet. The bubbles received from the transporting pipe are broken into smaller bubbles in the foam remover. The protein impurities in the water are expelled with the bubbles via the foam outlet. The processed water flows via the water outlet into the nitrobacteria layer to decompose the proteins.

Abstract: A device for humanely controlling an animal's behavior while on a restraining device such as a leash by using the resistant force between animal and restraint to engage a trigger that activates release of a distracting or deterrent spray or gas, or a sound. The device is attached to the animal's body, with the triggering mechanism against the animal's skin. In its application as a means to train dogs to walk on a loose leash, the trigger may be situated inside a collar, such that triggering occurs when the dog pulls the leash taut. Triggering can also occur if the user pulls back on the leash to administer a correction. The trigger's springiness additionally provides shock-absorbing protection to the animal's neck. Embodiments with enhanced features, based on the same mechanical principle, are also described.

Abstract: A method of feeding an animal in a feeding box including in no particular order, at least the actions of: a) registering the presence of the animal in the feeding box, b) closing the feeding box and locking the feeding box in such a way that access to the feeding box is impeded for an animal outside the feeding box, c) supplying feed to the animal in the feeding box in a chosen eating period of time. For an animal that does not leave the feeding box after an initially chosen eating period of time has elapsed, the initially chosen eating period of time beginning immediately after the performance of step b), within a first waiting time span chosen contiguously to said period of time, in which the animal is given the possibility of leaving the feeding box, step c) is repeated at least once.

Abstract: To provide a movable hood which can be opened and closed smoothly even though a distance between the movable hood and a fixed hood is reduced. An animal litter box 1 comprises an evacuation container 2; and a hood 3, the hood 3 having a fixed hood 31, a movable hood 32, and a pair of connecting portions, wherein the movable hood 32 is configured to be moved rotatably outside or inside the fixed hood 31 in the state that an end edge is proximal to the fixed hood 31 with maintaining a prescribed distance, and wherein at least one of the fixed hood 31 and the movable hood 32 is provided with a convex restricting portion 6 which prevents a distance between an end edge on at least the one end of the movable hood 32 and the fixed hood 31 from being less than the prescribed distance.

Abstract: A cross piece socket assembly includes a first resting bracket spaced from a second resting bracket. The cross piece socket assembly further includes at least one hoop support. The hoop support includes a hoop anchor portion selectively engageable with one of the first and second resting brackets. First and second arms extend from the hoop anchor portion. A cradle socket is fixed between the first and second arms, and the cradle socket is configured to secure the cross piece bar within the cradle socket where the cross piece bar is struck with an impact force less than an impact force capable of causing a horse or rider to fall. When repositioning the cross piece bar at a different height the hoop anchor portion is disengaged from the first resting bracket and moved to the second restring bracket with the cross piece bar continuously secured in the cradle socket.

Abstract: A device and a method for removing teat cups from the teats of a lactating animal, having at least two traction members driven by a common drive for removing the teat cups; and at least one clutch is provided for coupling the traction member to the common drive.

Abstract: A versatile and mobile pet leg restraining device used to secure dogs in a stationary position while performing bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinarian exam operations. The pet leg restraining device attaches to most grooming tables, tubs and sinks and consists of suction cups, suction cup attachment hooks, adjustable straps and hook and loop or Velcro attachments. The pet leg restraining device is designed to secure the animal in a variety of positions by its legs to impair movement in a safe and comfortable manner.