Patents Examined by Kimberly Berona
  • Patent number: 8844468
    Abstract: An aquarium landscape system that includes an aquarium that contains a combination of one or more aquatic animals and water, a base gravel mold with a top surface with 4 corners and a plurality of eye hooks that each have a threaded vertical insert portion and a circular eye portion that expose the circular eye portion of the eye hooks above the top surface of the base gravel mold. The system also includes one or more air hose connector valves that perpendicularly protrude from the top surface of the base gravel mold, a plurality of air valves that perpendicularly protrude from the top surface of the base gravel mold, the air valves emit the incoming air received by the air supply source into the aquarium and a pair of removable handles to remove the system from the aquarium for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Betty June Lockwood
  • Patent number: 8839742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aquaponics system and method. There is provided an aquaponics system including a tank (10) for housing at least one aquatic animal species; a plant growing apparatus (18) for housing one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and a biofilter module including a solids removal means (12) and a biological waste digestion unit (14) including a biological species for digesting solids to produce plant nutrients. Plant nutrients are transferred to the plant growing apparatus (18) and at least a portion of the water is returned to the tank (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Urban Ecological Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Bodlovich, Kevin Gleeson
  • Patent number: 8832989
    Abstract: A fishing apparatus is provided for ice fishing that can be used unattended. The apparatus can include a substantially vertical tower member, a crane member rotatably attached to the tower member and a fishing line spool rotatably attached to the tower member. Fishing line from the spool can be fed through a guide disposed on one end of the crane member to receive a hook. The crane member and spool can be held in place with threaded studs and wing nuts to keep the crane member and spool from rotating freely. The apparatus can also include means for visually indicating when a fish is hooked. These means can include fluorescent markings on one or both ends of the crane member or a self-powered light mechanism that lights a light bulb when the crane member is tipped downwards thereby indicating that a fish has been caught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Chad Elliot Martinella, Lawrence John Martinella
  • Patent number: 8826858
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a front wall, a rear wall positioned substantially parallel to the front wall, and first and second side walls each extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The first side wall includes a gate, and the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall such that the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The system includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion houses a robotic attacher configured to extend between the rear legs of a dairy livestock located within the milking box stall in order to attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 8826865
    Abstract: A grip (10) is provided for grasping with one hand, especially for holding a leash device (46) for rolling up and unrolling a leash for leading an animal. The grip has a rigid gripping part (12). The grip (10) makes possible a high carrying comfort for people having different hand sizes and/or hand widths. The grip includes an adjustable grip length limitation (11), provided for adjusting a grip length for different hand widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Flexi-Bogdahn Technik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Bogdahn, Michael Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8826585
    Abstract: A fishing hook assembly includes a base, a central axis extending through the base, and a first, second, and third hook member moveably connected to the base. Each hook member includes a shaft connected to the base and extending therefrom, an arm connected to the shaft at a bend and forming an obtuse angle with the shaft, and an engagement portion connected to the arm and including an engagement point, wherein the arm and the engagement portion connect at an acute angle. The hook assembly is moveable from a first configuration to a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Taylor Augustus Park
  • Patent number: 8813685
    Abstract: A method for keeping fish in a live and healthy condition, wherein the fish are placed in an endless flow fish tank, which occupies relatively little space, yet allows instinctively swimming fish to swim comfortably. Aerated water is pumped in one direction through a swim chamber, and water returns through a space between inner and outer container, through return flow piping, or through a second swim chamber which also serves as a return flow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Keepalive, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Vento
  • Patent number: 8813680
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a front wall, a rear wall positioned substantially parallel to the front wall, and first and second side walls each extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The first side wall includes a gate, and the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall such that the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The system includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion houses a robotic attacher configured to extend between the rear legs of a dairy livestock located within the milking box stall in order to attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 8793930
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing a barrier that minimizes or prevents mollusks, such as slugs and snails, from entering a garden or other vegetation area. A barrier may include a dry chamber in an inverted U-shaped area configured to retain rock salt or other mollusk deterrent. Mesh may be used to retain the deterrent within the inverted U-shaped dry chamber. In various embodiments, a bead or other feature may help prevent liquids, such as water, from entering the dry chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Robert P. Chilton
  • Patent number: 8789309
    Abstract: A detection device and method for monitoring the presence of crawling insects, such as bedbugs is provided. One embodiment of the device includes a strip of material, having opposed front and rear surfaces and a plurality of apertures extending through the material, and an adhesive strip applied to the rear surface of the longitudinal strip, thereby exposing the adhesive through the apertures in the longitudinal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Night Stick Company, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew Fabry
  • Patent number: 8782947
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a barrier against arthropod crawling along a structure. The barrier comprising an outer housing defining a cavity and an access opening. An inner shaft is disposed along a common axis with the outer housing having a mounting member for connecting to an associate structure. An arthropod deterring ingredient is disposed in the cavity for creating an arthropod deterring environment. A baffle cap is slidable along the inner shaft and moveable from and extended position abutting a baffle platform and collapsible to engage the outer housing in a closed position, each position having a snap close fit. Positioning lugs are adapted to fasten the baffle cap in the extended position. The positioning lugs comprise a radial protuberance that is perpendicularly extended from the common axis along the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Ernest H. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8776429
    Abstract: A trolling diver device includes a cylindrical body carried by a guide plate and a fin extending away from the cylindrical body for positioning a lure or bait at a predetermined depth. The diver is lowered and maintained at the predetermined depth while a fishing line connected to a boat pulls the diver through the water. A release arm is pivotally mounted to the guide plate and releasably movable between a locked and unlocked position for orienting the diver device in water so as to minimize drag while raising a hooked fish and the diver device toward the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Grayden Outdoor, LLC
    Inventor: Randolph K. Ford
  • Patent number: 8769861
    Abstract: A fishing pole includes an outer tubular member having a tubular wall defining an axial hole, and an inner rod member inserted telescopically and axially into the outer tubular member. The tubular wall has small and large diameter wall sections, and a shoulder between the small and large diameter wall sections. The inner rod member has an extension portion extending out of the outer tubular member through the small diameter wall section, an enlarged engaging end portion provided at one end of the extension portion, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart openings extending axially from the enlarged engaging end portion toward the extension portion, and a plurality of compressible resilient pawl plates each extending axially between two adjacent ones of the openings. The resilient pawl plates are compressed within the large diameter wall section, and frictionally contact an inner surface of the large diameter wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ningbo Ever Winner Industrial Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Hsiang Lee
  • Patent number: 8770151
    Abstract: A lightweight sanitary disposable tail cover for pets and animals that provide protection to the injured portion of the tail. The tail cover has elongated optional split access sleeves and resilient cushion enclosure chamber which can be adjustably positioned on the pet's tail according to length and orientation of the injury thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Scott McCuskey
  • Patent number: 8769862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade bait fishing lure apparatus with a barbed tail for securing interchangeable soft bait components. The blade bait has a plurality of upper apertures for connecting a fishing line and a plurality of lower apertures of attaching fishing hooks. The front end of the blade bait fishing lure includes a weighted component for balancing the blade bait in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Justin R. Blanchar
  • Patent number: 8769864
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a fishing line bobber includes a bobber body having a length and an exterior surface. The bobber body includes an aperture that extends through the length of the bobber body and a slot extending along the length of the bobber body and connected to the aperture through sidewalls that extend from the exterior surface of the bobber body inward to the aperture. The fishing line bobber includes a closing mechanism movable with respect to the bobber body between an open position that permits insertion of a fishing line into the aperture and a closed position that retains the fishing line within the aperture. The closing mechanism is configured to enable the fishing line bobber to function as an attachment bobber that maintains a fixed position on the fishing line and as a slip bobber that is moveable along the fishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick John Kavanaugh
  • Patent number: 8769863
    Abstract: A fishing lure includes a plurality of segments flexibly joined by a flexible line linkage to form a substantially linear array of segments. One or more fish hooks are secured to one or more of the segments. A fish line attachment is provided at the front most segment of the linear array. A plurality of angled slots are formed between each segment due to the spaced linear array. Each segment defines an internal buoyancy chamber and one or more vent apertures are provided which control the flow of water into the buoyancy chambers when the fishing lure is emerced. The lure provides a variety of travel paths and performance under the control of the user through manipulation of the attached fishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Greg Baker
  • Patent number: 8763300
    Abstract: This invention is a modification of a Diver. Added to the diver is an insert that is a semirigid, cylindrical rod. The diver is modified with a cavity with cupped ends with open top and sides in which the insert is placed. A strap arches over the center of the cavity and the insert. The insert can be a chemical light, a chemical light coated with fish attractin scent fish attracting scent or coated with fish attracting scent. The insert are interchangeable. In the preferred embodiment, the diver has two inserts that can of same type attractant or a different type of attractant. The two fish attracting insert within the cavities run parallel to the centerline of the main body and parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: James D. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8756854
    Abstract: An ice fishing alarm and light used in a fish house for alerting a fishing person of a fish strike on a bait attached to a fish line. A fishing rod having a baitcast reel is downwardly mounted on an arm assembly pivoted to a support. A switch assembly having a movable actuator accommodates the fish line whereby when a fish pulls on the fish line the actuator allows the switch assembly to connect an alarm to an electric power source causing the alarm to produce an audible sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Clements B. Michaels
  • Patent number: 8757094
    Abstract: A device comprising: a support base and an chamber, located on the support base, having an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; wherein the chamber includes an axis of rotation that forms an angle of about 80 degrees or less with a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Automated Pet Care Product, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jason Smith