Abstract: A light guiding film including: a light entrance portion which allows incident light from a light source to enter; a wavelength converting portion which absorbs the incident light and converts the wavelength of the incident light to a wavelength utilizable for growth of a plant; and a light exit portion which allows the light with the converted wavelength to exit.

Abstract: A device for and method of milking dairy animals, in particular cows includes teat cups that are connected by a robot arm to respective teats of the dairy animal. This makes it possible to start the milking of the teats of the dairy animal. A milk flow from the respective teat can be measured. The milking can be ended by a control unit in dependence on a comparison value which is calculated on the basis of a milking parameter representative of a milk flow from the respective teat and in dependence on a deactivation threshold. A second manner of calculating is used for calculating the comparison value of the last teat. The milking of the last teat can also depend on the moment of ending the milking of the one-but-last teat.

Abstract: A pivoting lid litter box assembly provides a litter box having a pan and a pivoted lid to facilitate access to contents of a pan. The assembly includes a pan having a bottom and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the bottom. A lid is pivotally coupled to the pan. The lid has a top and a sidewall extending down from the top. The sidewall of the lid rests on the perimeter wall of the pan defining an interior space. The sidewall has an opening providing access to the interior space through the opening in the sidewall. A pedal is coupled to the pan and operationally coupled to the lid for selectively pivoting the lid between an open position and a closed position. A scoop having an extended handle and storage compartment may be provided to facilitate removing waste from the pan.

Abstract: An improved poultry coop that facilitates the prevention of entry of predators and the transmission of pathogens to and between the housed birds. In a preferred embodiment, the coop, which advantageously meets bird flu guidelines, includes an insulated house, a covered run coupled to the house, and a covered feed house. All openings are preferably covered with ½? hardware cloth or mesh wire. the same cloth or mesh wire is preferably buried beneath the earth below the coop and coupled to the coop.

Abstract: A pet bed having a pet cushion for supporting a pet has a lower cushion for improving comfort when held on one's lap. Between the pet cushion and the lower cushion is an intermediate planar layer made of a stiff material. The pet cushion rests on or is affixed to a top surface of the intermediate planar layer and the top surface of the lower cushion is affixed or removably affixed to a bottom surface of the intermediate layer. When lifting or carrying the pet bed, the intermediate planar layer remains substantially planar, even while a pet rests on the pet surface of the pet cushion.

Abstract: An animal chew for an animal, comprising a body having a first outer shape and comprising a first relatively less durable composition, the shape including an opening extending at least part way through the body; a holder having a second shape and comprising a second material, the second material comprising a relatively more durable polymer, the second shape including a shaft portion complementary in shape to the opening in the body to provide an interference fit. The relatively more durable composition of the holder is characterized as having one or more of a variety of features that characterize the more durable composition with respect to the chewing behavior of an animal.

Abstract: An approach is provided for a leash for leashing animals. The leash comprises a strap, an auxiliary loop, a handgrip loop and a snap buckle. The strap reeves a first snap hook at a first end of the leash, which forms an upper-layer belt and a lower-layer belt. The first snap hook is used for attaching to an animal's collar. The auxiliary loop is connected to the lower-layer belt at a second end of the leash and having a ring surrounded the upper-layer belt. The handgrip loop is connected to the upper-layer belt at the second end of the leash. The snap buckle is connected to the auxiliary loop and the handgrip loop, and is configured to release the lower-layer belt selectively toward the upper-layer belt through the first snap hook. Thus, the leash provides the advantage of positive control of the length in a simple fashion.

Abstract: A sprout cultivation device has a carrying body, a controlling device, at least one container, a tube and a sprinkling device. The carrying body controls the amount of water by a water controller and changes the pumping time by a timer. Moreover, an actuating switch is mounted to the carrying body to start a motor to pump the fluid to a cultivation space via the tube. Because seeds of sprouts are embedded in a tray of the container and the fluid is regularly injected into the container via the tube by the motor, the sprout cultivation device is operated automatically without manpower and accelerates the mature time of the sprouts to increase harvest. Moreover, the carrying body interiorly defines a reservoir space for accommodating the fluid to significantly diminish the carrying body's size.

Abstract: An air filtration apparatus for use in horticultural applications provides, in the exemplary embodiment, a coupling portion configured for engagement about an un-filtered air source in fluid communication with an enclosed plant growing area. The coupling portion defines an opening extending therethrough. A support portion is integral about a free end of the coupling portion. A reticulated foam piece is coupled to, and configured for covering, an opposing end of the support portion. The opposing end of the support portion has a diameter relatively larger than that of the coupling portion. Thus, with the coupling portion engaged about the un-filtered air source, the apparatus is capable of removing or trapping impurities—such as dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, insects, pests, etc.—as the un-filtered air travels into the opening of the coupling portion and through the reticulated foam piece, thereby keeping said impurities out of the associated plant growing area.

Abstract: A landscape edging system has edging strip material with ends having a laterally extending projection and adapted for overlapping relation when assembled and having end edges disposed in edge to edge relation. A stake clip member is mounted to each of the laterally extending projections and defines a stake receptacle. An installation stake extends through the vertically aligned stake receptacles and secures the end portions of adjacent strips of landscape edging material in said overlapping edge to edge relation and supports the landscape edging strip material in upright position. The installation stake and stake receptacles have interacting wedge shaped geometry that locks the ends of the strip material in assembly.

Abstract: An automated system for the distribution of substances to animal containment devices in an animal housing facility. The present invention also relates to a dosing device of substances, such as solid or liquid feed, which is part of said system, and to the method for dispensing feed implemented by said system. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for automated dispensing of substances to animal containment devices in an animal housing facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milking parlor and a method for manufacturing same, the milking parlor comprising a work area for an operator and a platform elevated relative to the area, which forms a standing and walking area for the animals to be milked, the platform comprising a substructure on its side facing the work area where a utility space is left open beneath the standing and walking area, and wherein the substructure is formed by load-bearing elements positioned one after the other in the lengthwise direction and configured to be substantially identical.

Abstract: A vertical garden assembly, concerned with the field of gardening, more precisely for use in the decoration of internal and external environments by means of adequately suspended vases, to which an original constructive arrangement is given, aiming to reach a different functional option from the models previously developed by the inventor.

Abstract: A carrier sling for supporting and carrying a four-legged animal off the ground has a sling formed of flexible fabric material having leg openings for receiving the forelegs and back legs of the animal that extends along an underside of the animal including the shoulder and hip areas and around the sides of the animal and has a longitudinally extending loop along opposed shorter sides which contain a rigid support rod. Strap handles and a shoulder strap are secured to each shorter side and support rod. When the animal is supported in the sling and lifted by the handles or shoulder strap, the support rods are positioned closely together substantially parallel with one another and extend longitudinally above the animal's back and spine including the shoulder and hip areas to evenly distribute the animal's weight and significantly reduce twisting or bending stresses applied to the axis of the spine.

Abstract: A top-filling watering system configured to provide water to livestock, includes a water basin having an upstanding wall, and a reservoir securely mounted to the water basin. The reservoir includes a top wall integrally formed with a circumferential wall defining an open end connected to an interior cavity defined between the top wall and the circumferential wall. A filling opening is formed through the top wall. The filling opening is configured to allow water to be filled into the interior cavity. Another reservoir is capable of nesting within the interior cavity when the reservoir is not securely mounted to the water basin.

Abstract: A fish cage formed from a molecularly oriented single strand filament that is crossed and welded at the intersections to make a net or screen configuration. The filament being molecularly oriented by stretching ratio of about 3:1 and has a cross section of the filament being at least 2 mm2. The filament is an extruded thermoplastic material made from nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane or polypropylene having a preferred cross section in a D or oval shape to better facilitate welding the intersections. An antimicrobial or biocide may be added to the filament. The screen or net is preferably of a bright color such as yellow, green, white or a translucent white. The screen can also be formed by connecting small injection molded segments together thereby producing a larger screen.

Abstract: A semi-automated crop production featuring a growing module with grids of cells for growing plants and a lighting and airflow fixture positioned above each cell. The lighting and airflow fixture features a fan disposed in a housing, a light emitting diode (LED) assembly board comprising LEDs disposed below the fan; a light diffuser disposed below the LED assembly board, and an adjustable air flow nozzle extending downwardly from the fan and protruding through the LED assembly board and the light diffuser. The adjustable air flow nozzle provides directed air flow downwardly toward a bottom area of the housing.

Abstract: An animal feeding apparatus that comprises an outside body that is made of a durable material and an inside unit attached to the outside body but located inside of it. The inside unit is made of disposable material. The outside body has grooves at the bottom. The inside unit has notches at the bottom wherein those notches fit into grooves to prevent inside unit from moving while animal is eating from the feeding apparatus. The apparatus of this invention solves the hygiene issue and does not require continuous cleaning.

Abstract: An aquarium system for aquatic organisms easily performs maintenance of a purifying device and a circulation pump and downsizes a purifying zone. The system includes an aquarium, a partition wall dividing the aquarium into a nurturing zone and a purifying zone, a circulation pump for circulating water between the nurturing zone and the purifying zone, and a purifying device selected from a filter for filtering water by making the water pass through a filtering material, a protein skimmer for removing proteins contained in the water by making the proteins adhere to air bubbles, and an ultraviolet light irradiator for sterilizing the water by irradiating ultraviolet light to the water. The circulation pump and the purifying device are mounted on a mounting frame and are accommodated in the purifying zone in a removably inserted manner.

Abstract: Animal litter is provided that causes little damage to the legs or the like of animals using a litter box and generates a small amount of ammonia. The animal litter includes a plurality of particulate matter, in which the plurality of respective particulate matter includes a group of particles configured with an inorganic porous material and an inorganic binder which binds the group of particles together, and the inorganic binder includes a non-cement solidifying agent.