Patents Examined by Lisa Tsang
  • Patent number: 9288971
    Abstract: A fishing lure having a bent half-moon shape body. The top portion of the fishing lure having at least one attachment point. The bottom portion of the fishing lure is angled relative to the top portion. The shape of the fishing lure resulting in an up and down motion of the lure as it is dragged through the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: James Joseph Yelton
  • Patent number: 9282727
    Abstract: A seed port for a bird feeder, the seed port being insertable into an aperture formed in the wall of the bird feeder, the seed port having at least one protrusion formed on a rear face of a front wall, the protrusion extending into a notch formed in a wall defining the aperture in the side wall. The seed port is not removeable after insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Brome Bird Care Inc.
    Inventor: Paul L. Cote
  • Patent number: 9265241
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of insect pests and their eggs is disclosed. A collapsible enclosure is provided which operates under positive pressure to heat treat household or other items placed therein. A controller may be provided in certain embodiments to allow programming of a treatment cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Hetta Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Rein Arvo Raud, Joel Boyd Danielson
  • Patent number: 9265231
    Abstract: A portable poultry waterer is provided having a manifold with a connector placed on the back surface to attach the manifold to a water storage vessel. The connector extends outward in a substantially perpendicular fashion to the manifold. Holes are placed into the manifold to accept a plurality of longitudinally spaced poultry nipples. One or more holes are placed into the manifold to accept a clean out plug(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ChickenWaterer.com, LLC
    Inventor: H. Mark Delman
  • Patent number: 9265374
    Abstract: A trunk mounted Christmas tree water level measuring and alarm device includes a housing configured to be mounted to the tree trunk of a Christmas tree through at least one variable length attaching strap. A first water level sensor rod extends down from the housing and configured to extend into a water reservoir of a tree stand supporting the Christmas tree at a low water level. Another sensor rod may extend to a high water level. The housing including a power supply and at least one water level alarm configured to activate when the sensor rod(s) indicate a water level in the water reservoir below the low water level or, optionally, above the high water level. The housing further includes a light sensor and an alarm override wherein the alarm is overridden when the light sensor indicates the presence of less than a preset threshold of light around the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Marc Rasschaert
  • Patent number: 9237739
    Abstract: A pet console seat system for bridging a gap between a front seat and a back seat in a vehicle has a pet console seat forming a pet console seat assembly having a Tee-shaped cushion including a first end, a second end, a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side; a bottom-board insert; and a protective cover coupled to the Tee-shaped cushion. The pet console seat bridges a gap between the front seat and the back seat of the vehicle by creating the seat and a planar path for the pet to travel between the front seat to the back seat. The pet console seat protects a console of the vehicle from damage caused by nails scratching and chewing with sharp incisors of the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Inventors: Barbara Tomlin, Verceena Brown-Coody
  • Patent number: 9232774
    Abstract: A polymer reinforced wooden hive can comprise a wooden hive box built with joints and having an exterior surface, and interior surface, and at least one rim for receiving a hive top or a hive bottom. A continuous polymeric coating is applied to the exterior surface and the rim, but not to the interior surface. The continuous polymeric coating can provide mechanical reinforcement to the joints, strengthening the wooden hive box. Hive tops and hive bottoms can also be included as part of the polymer reinforced wooden hives, and can likewise be coated with a continuous polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas G. Hopkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9220256
    Abstract: A rodent trap covered base defines an enclosed interior accessible through a sliding plastic tunnel defining a passageway for rodents into the interior. The tunnel has a projecting strike member, and is biased by an underlying spring to a retracted position. A trigger engaging member extends from the tunnel to be retained by a catch on a trigger mounted to the base. When a rodent passes through the tunnel into the base interior, it is directed by barriers towards a rodent attracting bait. To reach the bait, the rodent must press against a pivotably mounted trigger, thereby dislodging the trigger from the trigger engaging member which releases the tunnel to be driven by the spring to retract along parallel tracks to bring the strike plate forcibly against the rodent within the trap, usually killing it, and closing the trap, which is then presented covered within the trap for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: OMS INVESTMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Walsh, Daniel C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9185897
    Abstract: Methods to create and maintain pre-designed geometrically shaped volumes of an effective dynamic mixture of volatile compounds encompassing an object of protection for very long times, up to one or more years, for control of pests and pest-borne diseases in open outdoor environments of importance to humans, animals and plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: AUBURN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Maurice M. Boyd, Ronald D. Neuman, Andrew B. Shelton, Wiley M. Cauthen, Ralph H. Zee
  • Patent number: 9185875
    Abstract: Milk flow detecting method and device monitors a flow of milk in a milk line which is connected to a teat cup and which has an aeration opening, like in a milking device. For this purpose, the milk filling level is monitored in a measuring section of the line. If the variation therein is too little, the absence of a flow, or at least an inadequate flow, is established. If, additionally, a (sufficient) filling level is detected, it can be concluded that there is an obstructed aeration opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Gerlof De Groot
  • Patent number: 9179651
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a process and method of screening an avian embryo feather color (pre-hatching) and determining the sex of the avian embryo, based at least in part, on the feather color or the color of feather precursors is provided. In an alternate embodiment, a process and method of screening chick embryo sex is provided, comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a chicken egg; (ii) exposing the chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation emitted from an electromagnetic radiation source; (iii) determining the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg by using an imaging system; (iv) comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database; and (v) determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg, at least in part, as a result of the comparing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: James C. McKay
  • Patent number: 9179659
    Abstract: A fish bite indicator that provides an indication of the fishing line being pulled from the reel during night-time or low light conditions is described. The fish bite indicator has a light source attachment feature that is configured on the spinning portion of the reel, such as the reel top. When a fish bites the lines and pulls the fishing line from the reel, the reel spins and the spinning light is clearly visible to a nearby angler. The fish bite indicator is detachably attachable to a reel in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the fish bite indicator has a body forming an enclosure around the light source with one or more openings in the body. The light projected from the openings creates a repetitive flash when the reel spins. A glow-stick type or LED light may be used with the fish bite indicator described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Fish Element LLC
    Inventor: Jordan Berthiaume
  • Patent number: 9179647
    Abstract: An animal collar includes a neck strap with magnetic elements on the neck strap's two opposite ends. The magnetic elements are configured to self align during installation and hold an encircling neck strap around an animal's neck. In one embodiment, the magnetic elements are one or more pairs of magnets attached to the opposite ends of the neck strap. The poles of each magnet pair are aligned so the magnets in each pair attract. The neck strap also includes two perpendicularly and transversely aligned closed eyelets mounted on the opposite ends. When the opposite ends are placed side-by-side, the magnetic elements are aligned and forced together and the two eyelets are side by side and parallel. A leash clip can then be attached to the two eyelets to hold them together when walking. When the leash clip is disconnected, the magnetic elements are configured to separate when a light force is exerted on the neck strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Brian A. Lambert
  • Patent number: 9181079
    Abstract: An adjustable horse bit that acts as a snaffle bit (direct-pressure) under normal circumstances and transforms into an elevator bit (leverage bit) when a threshold force is applied to a hingedly attached lever section of the horse bit cheek piece. Absent the threshold force, the lever section retracts to transform the elevator bit back to a snaffle bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Marieke Gaudet
  • Patent number: 9179641
    Abstract: A barn in which dairy animals can freely move about, lie down and eat includes a floor, a light-transmitting roof construction, and a wall construction. The floor consists for the greater part of a moisture absorbing, pourable layer which is able to collect moisture from manure and urine. This moisture is removed by means of solar heat and wind drying, and if this is not sufficient, by means of a floor heating. There is thus only required a very limited stationary sub-floor with a manure collecting device, i.e. only below the milking implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventors: Serge Louis Loosveld, Aart van 't Land, Marc Havermans
  • Patent number: 9179609
    Abstract: Guide and fastening device for plant support wires, in particular for rows of grapevines, the device having at least one pair of vertical upright elements, fastened to a head pole and provided with longitudinal guides within which are made to slide fastening elements for the lateral containment wires for the growing vegetation. To each pair of upright elements for the lateral containment wires is associated a further vertical upright provided with a guide within which is made to slide a fastening element for at least one carrying wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventors: Claudio Bortolussi, Franco Bortolussi
  • Patent number: 9179664
    Abstract: A note pad is attached to a device having a handle and a base. Kinetic force is applied through the device to stun or crush a target pest between a top sheet of the note pad and a wall or floor. The top sheet does not have previously applied adhesive for trapping insects, and hence does not generally adhere to the wall or floor. The note pad top sheet can be removed, wrapped around the target's remains, and placed in a wastebasket for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: John Ogilvie
  • Patent number: 9179661
    Abstract: A horseshoe with a stabilizer-feature and splaying has a U shaped metallic unitary body with left-right wings and an integral compliant leaf-spring disposed proximate to or in the horseshoe toe area. The leaf-spring may be crescent-shaped or chord-shaped and resiliently deforms upwards, exerting sideways-pressure causing splaying of the left-right wings. The leaf-spring may have a groove on either side to assist preparation before horseshoe installation. The crescent-shaped leaf-spring forms a cavity with the hoof underside in use, which cavity is optionally filled with a resilient material, e.g., silicone, obviating accumulation of dirt/debris. Stabilizers comprising a plurality of rows of beads formed integrally with the horseshoe bottom form a negative camber on the horseshoe-underside. The stabilizer rows may be staggered and assist in the stability of the horse during racing, especially at track-curves. The horseshoe may be cast/forged, blanked, or welded and can be mass-produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Murali Mahidhara
  • Patent number: 9179646
    Abstract: A walking aid for a four-legged animal having disabled hind legs comprises an engagement member for engaging a body portion between fore legs and hind legs of the animal; a collapsible resting mechanism connected to the engagement member and to at least one wheel assembly in contact with an underlying surface; and a locking mechanism operatively connectable to the at least one wheel assembly in such a way that the at least one wheel assembly is freely rotatable during forward motion of said walking aid but is rotationally immobilizable following rearward motion of the walking aid. The resting mechanism is operational to facilitate movement from a walking state to a resting state or from a resting state to a walking state only when the at least one wheel assembly is rotationally immobilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignees: NEKUDA D.M. TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN LTD., NIR SHALOM
    Inventor: Nir Shalom
  • Patent number: 9179652
    Abstract: A water exchange device for cleaning a birdbath with a basin comprises a turret, a stationary mount, a first channel, a second channel, and an inlet channel. The turret is coupled to a center point such that the turret may rotate around the center point, and the mount mounts the turret of the water exchange device to the birdbath basin to be cleaned. Both the first and second channels include an aperture, and the inlet channel is coupled to the first and second channels such that when water flows into the inlet channel, the water flows out the apertures of the first and second channels into the basin. When the water does flow at a certain pressure, the turret rotates around the center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: John Barton Huber