Abstract: A tubular casing that is capable of receiving a product therein in an outstretched state, said casing comprising: a pleated accordion shaped envelope section; a front-end section on the opposite end from the pleated accordion shaped envelope section, the front-end section being tucked back at a central portion thereof across the longitudinal direction of the casing, the front-end section being stretched and crimped lengthwise with respect to the length of the casing; a middle section that is adjacent to and between the front-end section and the accordion shaped section, wherein the middle section is crimped lengthwise with respect to the length of the casing; wherein the middle section and the front end section are tied off, and the casing has a fluid moisture content of 18 to 35 wt.-% based on the total weight of the casing.

Abstract: A game skinner device having a winch and a roller deposed at opposite ends of a main support. The main support is adjustably secured to the hitch of a vehicle. The game skinner device does not support the weight of the game.

Abstract: A tethering and restraint safety harness for transporting a large equine or bovine animal in their natural upright position in a trailer is disclosed. Adjustable front and rear girt straps encircle the front and rear parts of the animal immediately behind its front legs and just in front of its hind legs and an adjustable body strap extends around the lateral sides, breast and buttocks of the animal. Front and rear pairs of tether straps connect the harness to eye bolts on an overhead support structure of the trailer to maintain the animal in a natural standing position. The harness substantially reduces the likelihood of the animal tripping or falling and from being, tossed around in the trailer and injuring himself in the event of abrupt stops, sudden swerves, or a collision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging live fish in sealed containers. A plastic container is partially filled with water, before receipt of fish, with at least some of the air evacuated from the container and replaced with a gas. An air-tight lid is sealed to the container capturing a layer of gas, such as oxygen, in a void over the water. The use of a clear or transparent container and lid, allows the container to operate as a miniature aquarium allowing storage of the fish for an extended period of time. The fish are acclimated to a point-of-use aquarium by weighting of the container for placement in the aquarium. The container includes printed marks for puncture holes to allow the exchange of water between the container and the receiving aquatic environment. The puncture holes permit a predetermined amount of air to escape the container while slowing being displaced by the water of the aquatic environment. The container is designed to sink providing an absolute indicator that fluid admixing is complete.

Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system including a floral sleeve having a decorative pattern thereon. The sleeve may have a lower portion sized to cover a pot and an upper portion which dan surround a plant disposed in the pot and which can be detached after the protective function of the upper portion is complete or which can be used to support the sleeve from a support device prior to use. The decorative pattern preferably has an arcuate upper boundary in the flattened condition which when opened, gives the sleeve the appearance of having an upper edge which is parallel to the upper rim of the pot disposed within the sleeve.

Abstract: An arrangement for managing a herd of freely walking animals includes an area (1) for receiving the animals, a milking station (2) and a plurality of waiting station (3) leading from the receiving area (1) to at least the milking station (2). The waiting station (3) is arranged to receive one animal and comprises one identification device (7) for identifying the animal entering the waiting station (3). The arrangement comprises a memory device (8) arranged to provide a value of a parameter related to the milk production of an animal identified by the identification device (7) and present in the waiting station (3) and by an analyzer (9) for analyzing the parameter and determining if the animal is to be milked in response to the value.

Abstract: A teat cup comprising a liner having movable thin-wall portions which are adapted to be differently pressurized is disclosed.

Abstract: A aquarium for containing Siamese fighting fish which includes a rectangular housing having a plurality of long, narrow width compartments oriented parallel to a front viewing wall for maintaining fish contained in the compartments in a swim direction parallel to the front viewing wall for enhanced viewing and for interaction with fish passing in adjacent compartments.

Abstract: A tangle free lead device has a coupler with first and second bores in axial alignment. A first linear element is rotatably received in the first bore and a second linear element is rotatably received in the second bore. A head on each linear element, positioned in a central aperture of a main body of the coupler retains the linear element axially in the coupler. The relative position of the heads of the respective elements also delimit the axial movement of the linear elements relative to each other.

Abstract: An improved poultry bedding litter composition is used which includes byproduct or waste material from citrus juice extraction. The citrus peel byproduct or waste is in a dried state. Such bedding litter compositions improve poultry characteristics and enhance feed conversion when compared with traditional poultry bedding litters.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for keeping lactating animals in a loose-housing system. A milking stall is provided between a resting and a feeding section. First to third identification gates respectively are arranged between the resting and feeding sections and fourth identification gate is arranged at an entrance gate to the milking stall. By means of a transponder carried by each animal and a transponder reader located at each identification gate a control device is activated. The control device is associated with operating equipment related to each gate to maneuver the gates dependent on the transponder-related status of the animal.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the production of chain-like or concatenated foodstuff products. A pasty filling material is conveyed by a filling pump through a filling tube which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and introduced into a tubular case or skin which partially surrounds the filling tube. The filled skin is fed to a portioning device having a plurality of dividing elements. The filled skin is engaged by two dividing elements which are disposed in opposite paired relationship and acted upon by a clamping force. A torque is applied to the skin by the filling tube so that the filled skin is caused to rotate at least in a portion between an exit opening of the filling tube and the portioning device and is locally prevented from rotating by application of the clamping force by the dividing elements, so that a twist-off location is produced. At a location spaced from the twist-off location, a further twist-off location is produced on the filled skin, to produce portioned sausages.

Abstract: An equine body brush is specially formed to produce a combined cleaning and brushing action for each single stroke of the brush in a desired stroke direction by using two distinct stiffness of bristles arrayed in a linearly tapered height arrangement. The leading edge bristles are shorter and harder than the following bristles which are longer and softer. The hard bristles first pull up the dander, loose animal hair and other debris and the following soft bristles sweep them away before they get a chance to settle back down. The correct cleaning and brushing directional action can be maintained regardless of which hand the user employs by virtue of either a unique pair of handles disposed on opposite ends of the central bristle-carrying brush portion, or a smaller palm-sized hand brush.

Abstract: A system for automatically milking animals comprising an area where the animals can move about freely. A milking robot in a milking compartment automatically connects teat cups to an animal's teats. The milking compartment has a concentrate station. The entire system is computer controlled. Doors in the milking compartment automatically open for the entry and departure of animals. An automatic cleaning member cleans the animal's teats and a cleaning system automatically cleans the entire milk line system or a selected part thereof. The herd is divided by a computer into milk production groups with a computer defined priority criteria for admitting a specific group of animals into the milking compartment prior to another group.

Abstract: When a salmon ovary is cut, the salmon ovary is held and transferred and in a whole state, the ovary is locally pushed at predetermined gaps, eggs in a membrane are divided into a plurality of clusters by this pushing operation, and the pushed portions of the membrane are then cut.

Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping about a floral grouping and a method for wrapping the floral grouping, the wrapper having a handle formed from a portion of the sheet of material for carrying the wrapper with the floral grouping disposed therein. The wrapper may comprise one or more sheets of material. The sheet may have more than one handle portion formed thereon.

Abstract: A growing system includes an outer pot of net material and an inner pot holding water and nutrients fed through a tube extending to the top of the outer pot. Peat growing medium is provided in both pots including the space between the inner and outer pots. An outer watering saucer may be provided for plant growth in a first warm climate while a stabilizing pot may be used in a second climate for securing the outer pot to a substrate of ground soil. The plant roots grow into both the inner and outer pots and through the bottom wall of the outer pot into the ground soil. Additional plants may be positioned to grow through the side openings in the outer pot. The heat growing medium may be dehydrated to 15% of its normal moisture for transport between the first climate to a second climate with hydration occurring at the second climate.

Abstract: A teat cleaning device for animals includes a plurality of circumferentially separated elongated brushes individually rotatable about a vertical longitudinal axis, each of the brushes having bristles extending outwardly from a vertical shaft, the brushes together defining a central teat receiving space where the bristles of a lower portion of each brush are inclined upwardly from the vertical shaft.

Abstract: Christmas tree stand watering apparatus includes a water container which may be located somewhat remotely from a Christmas tree stand and then a conduit extends from the container into the Christmas tree stand. In the embodiment illustrated, the container comprises a pair of reservoir elements, with a connecting conduit connecting the two reservoir elements. A relatively long conduit extends from the connecting conduit to the Christmas tree stand. A pump, with appropriate check valves, is disposed in the conduit for starting the siphon action from the container to the Christmas tree stand. An element, which may be metallic element, is disposed in the conduit to keep the bottom of the conduit from contacting the bottom of the Christmas tree stand and the element extends upwardly within the conduit to provide a stable and secure routing path over the top wall of a stand.

Abstract: A tippet dispenser apparatus with several different spools each of which has a different diameter tippet on it. A common support shaft mounts each of the spools on it and this shaft is supported by a frame structure with two separate leg members. The frame structure has a frame extension used for the tippet holder which permits the different tippet's ends to be held in a separated manner so that they may be dispensed by a user. Also, on the upper part of the frame is a garment or apparel attachment device to permit the tippet dispenser to be attached to a user's clothing.