Abstract: A teat cleaning system provides a cleaning brush having first and second rotatable brushes that are rotated to clean the teat of an animal and to deliver a disinfectant, germicide, and/or purified water to the teat of the animal. During a cleaning mode, the disinfectant, germicide, and/or purified water may be delivered through the cleaning brush, and during a drying mode, no disinfectant or germicide is delivered to dry brush the teat of the animal for whisking away fluid and drying the teat.

Abstract: Data is received identifying an interaction by an animal with a communication device, where the communication device includes a plurality of scent elements, each of the plurality of scent elements includes a different respective different scent, and a combination of the scents of the plurality of scent elements produces a combined scent, where the combined scent implements a scent marker, and the interaction is based on the scent marker. A meaning associated with the scent marker is determined based on the interaction. A communication by the animal is determined based on the interaction based on the meaning. Communication data is generated to identify the communication.

Abstract: A milking apparatus is described that includes a longitudinally extending liner made from a resiliently deformable material. The liner is mounted on a rigid support shell. The liner comprises an outer hood configured to lie over an outer surface of the rigid support shell, and an inner barrel configured to be disposed within the rigid support shell and to define an internal volume. The inner barrel extends in the longitudinal direction away from an opening at a first end of the liner, through which opening an animal teat is insertable into the internal volume. The inner barrel is connected to the outer hood at a plurality of longitudinally extending connection regions on an inner surface of the outer hood. These connections define boundary conditions that limit the deformation of the barrel that encloses the teat can be set by the configuration of the liner itself.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a launcher and a projectile for fetch games with pets. The launcher, in certain implementations, may be used to pick up and launch the projectile that has a core to engage with a head of the launcher. Same size cores may be used in projectiles of different sizes, appearances, shapes, and materials (for different pets) such that a common launcher can be used.

Abstract: A feeder includes a housing, an ejection structure, and a driving module. The housing includes a discharge channel. The discharge channel has an accommodating space and a discharge port communicated with each other. The ejection structure includes an ejection blade. The ejection blade is rotatably disposed in the accommodating space. The driving module is configured to rotate the ejection structure, so that the ejection blade ejects the feed located in the accommodating space away from the discharge port. The driving module includes a position-returning member configured to maintain the ejection structure in a first rotational orientation relative to the housing. The driving module is further configured to rotate the ejection structure relative to the housing to exceed a second rotational orientation and then release the ejection structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a planter apparatus and system. In one aspect, a planter system and apparatus can include one or more planting compartments, a water collection reservoir in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more planting compartments, and a water drainage system configured to drain water from one planting compartment into another planting compartment, drain water from one planting compartment into the water collection reservoir, or drain water from inside the water collection reservoir to outside the water collection reservoir, or a combination thereof. The planter apparatus may be further configured to include a water flow control component configured to: open for the flow of water through the water drainage system, and close, thus stopping the flow of water through the water drainage system based on the engagement and disengagement of a water drainage stopper mechanism at the base of the water drainage stopper.

Abstract: A dog vest has a back piece configured for covering at least a portion of the dog's back and sides, and a front piece configured for covering at least a portion of the dog's chest and belly. The back piece has left and right side panels for covering at least a portion of the dog's left and right sides, each of the side panels having a forward hinged flap and rearward hinged flaps overlying the forward and rearward portions of the side panel, respectively. The front piece has left and right forward straps, the free ends of which are adapted to be releasably engaged between a forward flaps and its respective side panels, and left and right rearward tabs, adapted to be releasably engaged between a rearward flap and its respective side panel.

Abstract: An animal restraint for dogs that maintains four points of contact to safely, securely, and humanely restrain the dog. The system includes a platform and four poles that can support the animal. The forward poles support a cross shoulder bar which prevents the dog's forward from rising. A belly strap or bar may be used under the belly of the animal to prevent the rear or bending of hind legs. An optional over strap may be used to loop around the animal's rear. The animal's leash may be mounted to the device, preferably at the top and center of the shoulder bar. The device may be adjustable in height and rotation of the poles. The system may be collapsible to allow for storage.

Abstract: A retractable leash assembly for an animal includes a first housing, a second housing, a cord member, and a retraction assembly. The first housing may be configured to be connected to a first collar. The second housing may be configured to be connected to a second collar. The cord member may be connected between the first housing and the second housing. The retraction assembly may be connected to the cord member. The first housing may include an opening configured to receive at least a portion of the second housing.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for monitoring and improving water quality to mitigate harmful algal blooms using smart rafts, including a raft made from a mycomaterial; one or more tube-shaped pods formed in the raft and configured to hold seed or media and configured with a root channel at the bottom of the pods extending through a bottom of the raft; and a sensor holder formed in the raft and configured to hold a water quality sensor accessing a water channel extending through a bottom of the raft. Remedial plants are grown in the tube-shaped pods with roots of the remedial plants passing through the water channel into water underneath the raft.

Abstract: A multi-lead leash system has a housing that is configured to removably capture ends of a plurality of animal leads within the housing with the leads extending outwardly from the housing. The opposite ends of the leads each have coupling to attach the lead to an animal collar. The housing and captured ends are configured such the capture ends are freely movable within the housing to prevent tangling of the respective leads while walking animals attached to the leads, for example. The housing also has a user lead coupling for the removable coupling of a user lead to the housing, the user lead being grasped by a user using the leash system.

Abstract: An animal leash has a flexible line extending from a connector that attaches to the animal. A grip handle is supported for sliding at an intermediate location along the line. The grip handle has a main body with a leash passage receiving the line therethrough and an outer surface for gripping in a hand of a user. Two cavities formed within the main body at a location between one of the major surfaces of the leash passage and the outer surface so as to define a material bridge extending radially outward from the major surface to the outer surface whereby a radially compressive force applied to the outer surface is transferred through the material bridge to the major surface of the passage so as to collapse the passage and grip the line to prevent sliding of the grip handle along the line when applying compressive force.

Abstract: A hydroponic system is provided. The system includes a grow assembly. The grow assembly includes a body including at least one aperture, and a porous layer. The system may include a support to support the grow assembly. The system includes a fluid table that may be disposed underneath the body. The system includes a fluid reservoir that may be disposed underneath the fluid table. The system may include a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The system includes a fluid riser in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the fluid table. A method for utilising a hydroponic system is also provided.

Abstract: A storage apparatus for a pet collar and a pet leash wearable by a pet may be described as an annular sheath that includes an inner base component, and first and second walls that, together with the inner base component, define a channel in which a collar for a pet, and an attached leash, can be stored. Particular embodiments provide an improved apparatus that is snag-free, provides for convenient and facile storage (of collar and leash) and facile re-storage of an extended/removed leash. Side walls may be elastically biased towards each other to help secure a stored collar (and leash) within a channel of the sheath. Particular embodiments may include, inter alia, collar unbuckling facilitators and/or a band located at a sheath separation site.

Abstract: A dog toy assembly includes an elongated stick with a toy attachment on an end. A toy is attached to the toy attachment. By holding and manipulating the stick during play, a user obtains leverage to accurately and quickly control the toy. The toy attachment may be removably attached to the stick, may be rotatable, and may include loops, hooks, concave sections, and rings. A locking sleeve may be included to keep the toy attached. The stick may include a handle and may be flexible. A leg strap including an eyelet through which the stick passes may be worn by the user to provide a pivot point and allow one-handed play while seated. Door mounts, floor mounts, seat mounts, and support racks include stick holders to give the user a break while the dog continues to play. The toy attachment and toy itself may be fully chewable and removable.

Abstract: Provided herein is an animal head protection device, or a protective dog collar assembly including an upper stabilization element and a lower support structure. The upper stabilization element is a hexagonally-shaped halo designed for encircling a neck of a dog. The lower support structure is a smaller hexagonally-shaped halo and includes a blocking element to restrict downward movement of a head of the dog.

Abstract: An automatic milking system controlled by receiving a parameter representing a measured flow of milk extracted from at least one teat of an udder of an animal being milked in a milking operation via at least one teatcup of the milking system, wherein the milking system is controlled to stop the milking operation based on a first criterion indicating that the flow has reached a decline phase, and a second criterion indicating that the flow decreases faster than a threshold slope, the milking operation being stopped in response to fulfillment of the second criterion on or after a point in time when the first criterion has been fulfilled. As a result, a particular amount of milk is left in the udder of the animal, irrespective of an overall milking time for the animal.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus, disposed in a detecting room having therein a target object, includes a fixing element, at least one target sensing unit, a rotating element, a driving module, and a control unit. The fixing element includes at least one lens disposed on a sidewall of the fixing element. The lens converges an infrared radiation in the detecting room onto the target sensing unit which then generates a position signal corresponding to the target object. The rotating element is disposed on one side of the fixing element. The rotating element includes a discharge channel. The driving module is connected to the rotating element. The control unit is coupled to the target sensing unit and the driving module to receive a position signal from the target sensing unit and control the driving module to drive the rotating element according to the position signal.

Abstract: Animal umbrellas adapted to protect animals, more specifically household pets, from precipitation and sun radiation. The animal umbrellas include a shade held at a distance from an animal's body by a plurality of ribs and stretchers, and is attached and extends from at least one collar or harness placed on the animal. A leash can be incorporated and releasably attached thereto.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates milking systems and, in particular, automatic milking systems. The disclosure presents methods, apparatuses and computer program for providing a reference value to be used for controlling a calibration of at least one milk meter in a milking system. In accordance with one embodiment, a method may comprise obtaining (510) milk flow data for a plurality of milking animals to determine a milk flow profile for each milking animal of the plurality of milking animals; comparing (520) the determined milk flow profiles to establish a subset of milk flow profiles that meets a pre-defined selection criteria; determining (530) said reference value based on the established subset of milk flow profiles; and providing (540) the determined reference value for controlling a subsequent calibration of at least one milk meter in a milking system.