Abstract: An electric fish-scaring device for water inlet and discharge plants includes electrodes positioned below the surface of the water and connected to a voltage supply unit. To enable the device to operate effectively in scaring away fish of different respective sizes, the voltage supply unit is coupled to an automatic control unit for the generation of different voltage pulses.

Abstract: An animal headgate including a pair of neckbars attached to the gates in such a manner that the neckbars are movable and adjustable independently from the movement of or adjustment of the gates. The neckbars are biased to pivot away from each other. Contact of the neckbar lever with a locking mechanism acts to overcome the biasing force and positions and locks the neckbars in a predetermined desired spaced relationship when the headgate is in the latch position. When the locking mechanism is released, the neckbars immediately release from the animal's neck while the shoulder bars gradually release from the animal's shoulders as the gates open.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a cylindrical body having front and rear plugs in opposite ends thereof with a piston disposed in a centrally disposed chamber in the body, and a probe having an elongate tubular outer member with a proximal end received in an axial bore in the front plug and a closed distal end with a port therein and an elongate tubular inner member slidably disposed in the outer member with a distal end movable across the port to provide a cutting action and a portion fixed in an axial bore in the piston such that the probe inner member is moved with the piston, the rear plug having an axial bore therethrough aligned with the probe inner member to permit evacuation of cut material through the surgical cutting instrument and a second bore therethrough for supplying pressure to the chamber to move the piston against a spring bias.

Abstract: The present invention is an entertainment and exercise apparatus (10) for cats; wherein the apparatus comprises a housing unit (11) and a mouse suspension and retraction unit (12) including a simulated mouse member (26) moveably attached to the housing unit (11) and provided with a weighted member (26) that retracts the mouse member (26) and produces an audible sound through a sound producing means (31) at the point of full retraction.

Abstract: A collapsible A-frame house providing a common site for a cat to rest, exercise and play comprised of a roof of carpet-like material including two integral roof panels with their bottom edges connected to opposing edges of a floor panel also of carpet-like material. Stiffening panels are affixed onto the backside of the roof panels. A cord has two ends slidably passing through the peak into the house, with cat amusement objects connected to each end. The cord additionally provides a manual handle for lifting the house.

Abstract: A livestock feeding apparatus which includes an endless belt conveyor. Feed is supplied to the upper run of the belt and is selectively discharged from either side of the conveyor belt by a feed discharge unit. The feed discharge unit includes a frame mounted to travel in a reciprocating path above the belt and the frame carries a feed diverting plow and a rotatable brush. The plow and brush are disposed in generally parallel arrangement and can be pivoted between a first diagonal position with respect to the side edge of the belt to a second diagonal position. Movement of the conveyor belt is transmitted through a drive mechanism to rotate the brush about its axis. As the feed discharge unit moves relative to the belt, feed is discharged from the side edge of the moving belt by the plow and the brush acts to remove residual feed from behind the plow.

Abstract: A microsurgical knife having a shroud that can be locked in two or three positions. The knife has a body with a blade at one end, and an enlarged cap at the other, the cap acting as a stop for the shroud. Grooves along the knife body receive projections on the shroud allowing the shroud to slide but not rotate. Locking grooves extend circumferentially from the grooves so the shroud can be rotated to place a projection in a locking groove and prevent inadvertent longitudinal movement of the shroud. Locking grooves are placed so the shroud can be placed in blade covering position, in the extreme rearward position, and in an intermediate position wherein the shroud acts as an enlarged centrally located handle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for exercising a horse is provided. The apparatus includes a rectangular tank for holding a pool of water, a vertically adjustable treadmill is lowered into the pool of water so that the effective weight of the horse on the treadmill, may be adjusted. The speed of the treadmill is also adjustable for providing a variable exercise program to control exertion of the horse.

Abstract: An improved animal activity monitor of the type in which an animal is positioned in an arena having an array of two perpendicular sets of parallel light beams above the arena for detecting the animal position. In the improvement, transparent walls parallel to the beams subdivide the arena into areas, diagonally related ones of which may be used as subarenas for testing smaller animals. Each subarena has a unique pair of perpendicular beams which cannot be blocked by any other animal. The light beam array for each subarena is separately detected and processed in the manner formerly done for the entire arena. Individual switches associated with each arena or subarena or software routines to detect the presence and absence of an animal in each arena are used to enable or disable the collection of data from the arena or subarena. Each animal may be, in sequence, prepared and then inserted into the arena or subarena.

Abstract: A milking apparatus comprises sets of electrodes for detecting milk flows sucked by individual teat cups capped on individual teats, tubes connected to pressure chambers of the respective teat cups, change-over valves operative to supply atmospheric pressure and vacuum periodically and alternately to the tubes, counters for counting times for non-detection of the milk flows by the sets of electrodes, and controller for actuating the change-over valves to supply only atmospheric pressure to the tubes when the counted times of the counters exceed a predetermined time.

Abstract: This animal watering valve is designed to enable the animal to obtain its own water within its mouth, by biting on it. Primarily, the valve includes a main body which is threaded into a water source pipe, and the main body includes an activating shaft or stem in its bore, which is normally seated by a coil spring. It further includes a rivet which acts as a trigger for urging the shaft or stem angularly off of its seat, to enable water to flow into the mouth of the animal.

Abstract: A wire mesh floor for use in hog houses. The warp wires in the woven flooring are shaped with a flat surface on top and have a cross-sectional shape so that the widest portion of each warp wire is at or near the top flat surface. This construction improves the comfort and cleanability of the finished flooring without any loss of strength or rigidity.

Abstract: A milking inflation or liner of the soft tubular rubber kind arranged for fitment in a rigid tubular teat cup shell to which pulsating air/vacuum is applied, the invention comprising the provision on the inner wall surface of the contained teat engaging body part of the inflation of a plurality of annular ripples or undulations at intervals along the major part of the length of the contained body part. The minimum bore at the peaks of the uppermost ripples or undulations being fractionally greater than the minimum bore at the peaks of the lowermost of the ripples or undulations. The arrangement provides for a positive but gentle grip on an animals teat to resist upward crawl and/or accidental dislodgement during milking operations, and further providing for stimulation of the animlas teat in assisting milk let-down.

Abstract: A method of milking is disclosed for a double action milking system having teat cups which alternate time periods of release and squeeze of the teat to allow milk to flow and to provide for rest respectively. Milking is initiated at one ratio of milk period to rest period and then increased to a selected higher ratio. Milking is then done at the selected higher ratio for a selected segment of time or until the milk flow rate falls below a predetermined value, after which the ratio is decreased so that milking is completed at a lower ratio.

Abstract: A compact, animal-operated animal feeder is disclosed in which the feeder housing has a pair of foldable doors mounted over a feed opening and latched in a closed position. The doors can be unlatched by the animal, which carries a latch release device about its neck, and the natural tendency of the animal to push toward the feed will fold the doors laterally to an open position permitting access to food inside the feeder. A magnetic latch release assembly in which a plurality of permanent magnets are arranged in an array to provide a key for release of a latch having correspondingly arranged magnets is also disclosed. A compound door including a magnetically releasable latch assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cage door assembly for easy one-hand operation is disclosed. The cage door is comprised of a pair of legs secured to the ends of a base member. The door is hingedly secured to a cage. An L-shaped hook is attached to each of the free ends of the legs and these hooks engage with cage wires. The door is opened by squeezing the legs together which disengages the hooks from the cage wires. A bracket is positioned above the door and extends between the legs to prevent those legs from being squeezed together. The bracket can be moved from between the legs by pushing it upwardly with the index finger of the hand being used to open the door. The legs can be squeezed together to disengage the hooks from the cage wires once the bracket is removed from between the legs. The door can easily be opened with one hand. A cage assembly incorporating the cage door is also disclosed which has a feed trough upon which the door can rest upon when opened so as to provide a platform.

Abstract: A univeral animal grooming post is provided which accommodates animals of varying sizes without the necessity for adjusting the mounting of the post on a grooming table. The universal grooming post includes a hollow upright stanchion and a hollow arm projecting laterally therefrom. A tether is provided which includes an inelastic portion protruding from the laterally projecting arm and an elastic portion coupled thereto that is secured within the stanchion. A locking mechanism allows a selected length of the inelastic portion of the tether to extend from the arm. A greater length of the inelastic portion of the tether extends from the arm to accommodate small animals, while the locking mechanism is adjusted to allow a much shorter length of the inelastic portion of the tether to extend from the arm to accommodate animals of larger size.

Abstract: A cat litter composition, which is absorbent, odorless, trackless and biodegradable, comprising about 60-94% by weight absorbent, about 1-35% by weight gypsum, and about 3-12% by weight water. The composition is pelletized so that it may easily be disposed of by flushing it down the toilet. This is particularly desirable when the composition is used as a cat litter.

Abstract: Collecting apparatus for catching and elevating animate or inanimate objects comprises a mobile supporting framework mounting two elongate members (14, or 20, 21, or 30,31) adapted to be driven counter to one another and disposed with their axes parallel to one another and in use, to a supporting surface (9) across which the framework is intended to be moved. The members define therebetween a passage. Means (16) lesser in length than the passage is deep outstand from around the members.

Abstract: The specification discloses a portable stock race and yard including a stock race supported on wheels and a plurality of wings swingably connected to the stock race and arranged to be folded out to form a stockyard. A tongue is pivotally mounted to the race so that the tongue can be moved out of the stock passageway defined by the race. Wing supports are pivotally connected to the sides of the race to support the wings when folded against the race. Further included are shields releasably mountable below the wings, when the wings are folded out to form the stockyard, to prevent small animals within the stockyard from passing under the wings. A wheel support assembly is provided to shift the wheels on either side of the trailer between transportation and retracted positions. A lever assembly is releasably mountable on the wheel support assembly to provide a mechanical advantage in moving that assembly.