Abstract: An animal safety tether which provides several degrees of movement for the animal and simplified attachment and adjustment of the resulting confined boundaries.In the preferred embodiment, clamps attach to opposite walls of a pickup truck, securing a belt and leash assembly. This restrains the animal, but allows radial, circular and transverse movements of the animal. Transverse motion is limited by adjustable clasps on the belt and radial motion is limited by an adjustable leash fastener. Attachment to the walls of the pickup truck is by means of clamps with apertures or hook eyes to accept the belt in several orientations. The shape of the clamp and orientation in several different directions allow attachment to a variety of pickup truck walls or similar surfaces.

Abstract: A device for picking up animals such as chickens from a ground surface and for conducting them away, comprising a frame, a suction conveyor arranged on the frame and provided with suction means and delivery means adjoining said suction conveyor. The suction conveyor comprises a suction surface having suction apertures through which the suction means can suck in air and guiding and driving means for moving animals picked up by the suction surface towards the delivery means.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for controlling pasturage and irrigation of a field. A labyrinthine path for animals is defined in the pasture and a movable radially-extending arm carrying an electric fence causes the animals to traverse the labyrinthine path at a very slow rate, e.g. once every two weeks. The arm comprises structure for irrigating the pasture by a gentle drip feed method whereby efficiency in use of both water and land is obtained. The apparatus is disclosed in a very efficient arrangement.

Abstract: An improved poultry egg incubation structure comprising a plurality of ceiling panels, a plurality of side wall panels, a front end panel including at least one door, a rear end panel including at least one door, improved joining members for interconnecting the ceiling panels, side wall panels and end panels to form an incubation chamber, an air intake vent, an air exhaust vent, an environmental control apparatus for humidifying, heating and circulating air within the chamber, and an intake air flow control apparatus in communication with an intake air flow vent for controlling the mixing of cool external air with the heated and humidified internal air and for preventing the cool external air from flowing directly into the area of the incubation structure containing incubating eggs. The improved joining members including a corner support member, a ceiling electrical outlet assembly and a side wall gasket support member and gasket.

Abstract: There is disclosed a collapsible calf trim chute, also called a grooming chute, having a rectangular base fitted with a floor and a pair of upright pivoting rectangular members, one a head-stall-end and the other a tail-end member, each of which are pivotably swingable from a collapsed position on the base into an upright position, the rectangular end member frames being held apart laterally on each side of the chute, when in an upright position, by two-element brace-spacer members, fixedly pivotably swingably mounted near the top of each side of each head-stall-end and tail-end member, respectively, one of such pair of brace-spacer members configurations being of such construction as to permit the other side brace-spacer to be matingly engaged without disengagement of the first described brace-spacer member, a pair of telescoping side-movement restraining bars mounted between each upright end member on each side in a manner to provide freedom to allow angular positioning between the end members to permit gro

Abstract: An enclosure and housing assembly for an animal such as a dog, cat or like animal, sufficiently structured to be positioned at a given site to provide containment of the animal while at the same time providing housing facilities and protection from the elements. The assembly includes a lightweight material base such as rigid fiberglass molded into an integral, one-piece construction and an enclosure and cover secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom in surrounding relation to the base. A housing is mounted on the enclosure above the base and provides an enclosed shelter for the animal accessible from the interior of the closure means wherein the enclosure is dimensioned and configured for exercising of the animal in a safe and secure area and the housing structured for the sleep or rest of the animal in a dry, sanitary environment.

Abstract: A hog feeder comprises a generally overhead horizontal conveyor for transporting feed to a series of drop tubes which contain centerless augers for delivering feed downwardly through the tubes to feed pans therebelow. Attached to the auger at its lower end are elements for engagement by the hogs during feeding to drive the centerless auger and thereby positively deliver feed to the feed pans. The system further includes a limit switch in the down tube of a control feeder unit located above the pan and below the horizontal conveyor for ensuring that there is always feed in the various other feeder units attached to the overhead conveyor.

Abstract: A chewing toy for dogs and a process for its preparation, wherein a nylon piece, preferably having the shape of a bone, has an impregnated layer of caramelized sugar adjacent but below its surface to impart a dark brown color and a flavor to the near-surface region of the toy. The chewing toy is prepared by placing a piece of water-absorbent nylon into an aqueous solution of caramelized sugar at a temperature of about 250.degree. C. and an applied pressure of about 30 psi for a period of at least about 8 hours, so that the aqueous solution penetrates into the surface of the piece to impart the dark brown color to the near-surface region of the piece. The coloring and sweet taste provide an initial appeal to the animal, increasing its initial acceptance of the toy. The heat treatment also anneals the as-formed nylon to impart greater strength, reduce brittleness, and improve its resistance to shattering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel insecticidal animal ear tags and a method for controlling insects.

Abstract: A composition of ground clay and crushed limestone is disclosed. The composition is particularly useful as a cat litter.

Abstract: A bringing-up apparatus is disposed in a channel having a fresh water inlet and outlet and provides in the channel areas of repose for yolk sac fry released to the channel. The bringing-up apparatus includes a plurality of groyne plates disposed in the channel such that they extend in a direction crossing the water flow in the channel and are spaced apart in the direction of the water flow for providing places of gentle water flow in the channel and also includes at least one support disposed on the bottom of the channel for supporting the groyne plates such that a space is maintained between adjacent groyne plates.

Abstract: Pests, such as fleas and ticks, are repelled from domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, by attaching an ultrasonic compressional wave energy source to the animal in such a position that a beam of the compressional wave energy is directed downwardly toward a surface on which the animal is located. Energy in the beam is reflected from the surface back to the animal. The energy has sufficient intensity, as reflected back to and incident on the animal, to repel the pests. The energy is pulsed on and off at a relatively low duty cycle at a rate above a predetermined minimum, such that during each pulse the envelope amplitude varies.

Abstract: Device for packing poultry in a box comprising an endless belt (19) running over a plurality of rolls (14-18) with horizontal axles and provided with spaced apart rows of fingers (20), which are hingedly connected with the belt (19) said belt (19) having an upwardly running part at which the fingers project forwardly and move from the floor with the belt and the picked-up poultry upwardly said poultry in normal position being taken over by a series of substantially horizontal guide cams (25) at the level of the top reverse roll (15) at which level the fingers are withdrawn and move downwardly with the belt while the poultry is taken over by endless belts (27, 29) which feed them to a feed regulating device (30) which discharges into a box (36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing aerated water to a tank used for the rearing of aquatic animals. Positioning of the intake posts and exit drains to establish one or more vollutes of water which substantially fill the tank provides a self-cleaning tank with reduced areas of inhabitability. The method and apparatus permits tanks to be lengthened without a need to add turbulence to the water. An improved method and apparatus for oxygenating water while maintaining nitrogen concentrations within acceptable limits is disclosed as well as a system for energy efficiently maintaining the temperature of the water in the tank.

Abstract: An intake cup apparatus is provided for delivering feed from a drop tube to a rotating auger-like conveyor. The apparatus comprises a housing extending above and around the auger-like member and having a top inlet portion for connection to the drop tube for receiving feed therefrom; and a feed metering gate structure mounted interiorly of the housing for directing and controlling the rate of flow of the feed to the auger-like conveyor. This gate structure comprises a pair of generally parallel plates spaced apart by a dimension similar to the diameter of the auger-like conveyor and having lower edges thereof extending about the auger-like conveyor. These plates are vertically movable relative to the auger-like member to thereby control the flow rate of feed thereto.

Abstract: A pet litter box is disclosed which stores pet litter and automatically dispenses a measured amount of litter to a pet sanitary floor and collects used litter into a storage area within the litter box. The simultaneous removal of used litter from the pet sanitary floor and resupply of fresh litter from the supply is accomplished after filling an upper bin by tipping the box on one end which fills a temporary holding area and at the same time dumps the used litter into second holding area. Return of the box to its normal upright position causes the fresh litter to descend through an inclined chute to the pet sanitary floor and allows the used litter to fall from the second holding area to the collection storage area. The litter box includes a system of inclined baffles which define a generally triangular fresh litter storage volume, two parallel chutes and a generally triangular used litter collection bin. A removable bag or litter collection box fits in the collection bin.

Abstract: A housing with separate chambers into which individual quantities of animal food can be located has a cover located over the top of the chambers leaving an entrance opening via which foodstuffs can be loaded therein. A generally vertical housing front wall includes exit openings in communication with each of the internal chambers. Door panels, one for each exit opening are pivotally connected to the housing to swing from a first position closing off a chamber exit opening, to a lower position under the action of gravity leaving the exit opening unimpeded by the door panel. Latches having parts which are biased by gravity to lockingly secure a door panel are movable in a direction to release the door panels by a continuous moving closed-loop actuator.

Abstract: A timed, automatic pet food and water dispenser (10) which incorporates a leveraged loading storage bin (28,12) for receiving a supply of particulate pet feed and having means for mixing water with said particulate feed (62,20,70) therewith to produce a gravy and a softening of said particulate feed. A feed dispensing auger (60) measures a predetermined amount of said particulate feed and furnishes said feed to a feed dish (22) at predetermined time intervals controlled by a timer system (74). A water container (24) comprising level control means (26) provides water for drinking purposes independently of said timer system.

Abstract: A bird perch easily attached to a vertical surface and containing a surface to collect bird droppings and position the bird a distance from the window sufficient to limit the soiling of the window surface by the bird.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a nipple particularly adapted for feeding liquid to fowl and/or small animals, the nipple including a housing having an insert defining a passage through which liquid is adapted to pass from an upstream portion to a downstream portion thereof, a valve in the passage defined by at least one peripheral valve seat and a metallic spherical ball normally resting upon the peripheral valve seat, a stem defined by a head and a pin, the pin having a cylindrical outer surface housed within the downstream passage portion, the downstream passage portion including a frusto-conical outlet surface defined in part by an axial outermost major diameter and an axially innermost minor diameter, the insert further including an annular seat upon which the head normally rests, a flow-control surface between the annular seat and the minor diameter of the frusto-conical outlet surface, the flow-control surface defining with the pin cylndrical outer surface a generally annular flow-control channel throug