Abstract: A fishing tool includes a main body and a holding assembly coupled to the main body. The holding assembly includes a bottom holding jaw and a top holding jaw rotatably coupled to the bottom holding jaw and movable relative to the bottom holding jaw between an open holding position and a closed holding position to selectively hold a fish hook in place. The holding assembly is rotatable relative to the main body and configured to be secured relative to the main body in a fixed number of positions.

Abstract: A live bait and artificial bait lock that can penetrate an external surface of the respective bait and releasable or repeatably secure the bait to a hook or a shaft of a hook, a barbed hook, or a fish hook.

Abstract: A tip-up system includes a base, a telescopic stand, a paddle fastener and a paddle. The tip-up system improves the process of finding a point of balance of the paddle of the tip-up stand. Particularly, the paddle includes a horizontal cavity and a pivot bar attached therewithin. The paddle pivots between a balanced position and a tipped position via the pivot bar. The pivot bar is movable within the horizontal cavity to allow a user to adjust a balance point of the paddle and thus find the correct point of balance for the paddle when in use with a fishing line and hook.

Abstract: Scratching apparatus 1 comprising a plurality of scratchable sacrificial elements 7 that can be assembled together to form a tower 5, and a base 3 having a first surface on which the tower 5 can be mounted so that the tower 5 is generally upstanding from the base 3 when the apparatus 1 is in use.

Abstract: A pest monitoring system and associated method includes pest monitoring devices for placement at a site and generating a signal upon detection of a pest, and a pesticide dispensing unit including a reservoir housing a diluent and a pesticide module housing a pesticide. A computer device remotely disposed to the pest monitoring devices receives generated signals therefrom, analyzes environmental and historical factor data for the site to determine an amount and placement location of the pest monitoring devices for monitoring the site, and directs deployment of the pest control monitoring devices according to the analysis. The computer device also receives data from the pesticide dispensing unit including an amount or rate of the pesticide substance dispensed from the pesticide module, to form treatment having a concentration of the pesticide substance in the diluent, the treatment being dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit to treat a detected pest at the site.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plant growing system (100), comprising: a plurality of plant growing zones (122); a control apparatus (120) configured to control one or more environmental conditions in each of the plurality of plant growing zones (122); and a receiver (142) configured to receive input data indicating plant type characteristics of a plurality of plant characteristics types to be grown in a plant growing apparatus (120). Also disclosed is a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types, and a computer program including computer-readable instructions executable to perform a method to control a plant growing apparatus (120) configured to grow a plurality of plant types.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to fishing lures, and more particularly, to attachable floats for artificial fishing lures. In one embodiment, a float comprises a buoyant body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an outer wall connecting the first and second ends. The float comprises a keeper extending from the body. The keeper is configured to attach the body to a polymeric artificial lure.

Abstract: A releasable attractor blade system is provided. One embodiment has an attractor blade defined by an aperture proximate to an edge of a leading blade portion, defined by a release slot proximate to an edge of a trailing blade portion of the attractor blade. A release system has a retainer at the first end of a cord that passes through the aperture and is configured to be frictionally retained outside of the aperture; a release hook at the second end of the cord that is inserted into the release slot of the attractor blade to releasably secure the releasable attractor blade system to the attractor blade release system; and an elastic portion secured between the first and second cord ends, wherein the release system holds the attractor blade in position along a longitudinal axis of the attractor blade during trolling so that the attractor blade attracts game fish.

Abstract: A knotless coupler for securing a fishing line to a fishing implement is disclosed. The knotless coupler comprises a shaft portion and a nut. The shaft portion is configured to be attached to the fishing implement. The shaft portion comprises a plurality of external threads and an external line-receiving groove formed across at least some of the external threads. The nut is configured to be threadably engaged with the external threads of the shaft portion. The nut is movable between a non-gripping position and a line-gripping position. A portion of the fishing line is inserted through an opening in the nut and into the external line-receiving groove when the nut is in the non-gripping position. The portion of the fishing line is secured within the external line-receiving groove by the nut when the nut is in the line-gripping position.

Abstract: A fishing lure has an elastomeric or soft plastic body containing multiple suction features along its surface. By being capable of sticking to the roof of the fish's mouth or the fish's tongue, the suction features help increase the chance that the lure remains in the fish's mouth a few more seconds prior to an angler's hookset. The combination of the suction features' tactile feel and their adhering ability results in a unique advantage for any type of soft plastic fishing lure.

Abstract: A rotary milking parlor swivel comprising a stationary central core defining a milk line and a media inlet port; a rotating sleeve disposed at least partially around the stationary central core, and the rotating sleeve includes a first segment defining a milk inlet port in communication with the milk line and a second segment defining a media outlet port in communication with the media inlet port.

Abstract: An animal scratching post with food dispenser is described. Embodiments of the animal scratching post can include, but are not limited to, a base structure, a control module, an activation module, a food dispensing device, and one or more scratch pads operatively connected to the activation module. The base structure can include one or more perches and an internally located conduit for delivering food from the food dispensing device to a lower section of the base structure. The control module can be configured to receive a signal from the activation module indicating the scratch pad has been interacted with by an animal and send a signal to the food dispensing device to dispense food.

Abstract: A water movement system and method configured to eradicate and/or control mosquito or insect populations that lay eggs in treated, stagnant water environments. The system is comprised of a water pump configured to function in cooperation with an underwater insect attractant device. The insect attractant device is suitably constructed to generate carbon dioxide for attracting insects to a water extermination zone or trap. In one embodiment, the underwater insect attractant device contains organisms such as mycelia for generating the carbon dioxide. Insects are attracted by the carbon dioxide generation device to reproduce in the water extermination zone, using the treated water to lay eggs, and grow larvae and pupae for the subject insects. A solar-powered water pump device is configured to direct the flow of water from the water extermination zone toward filters of the water pump device to trap and kill insect progeny including eggs, larvae, and pupae.

Abstract: A method for converting a conventional manually monitored capture-and-release rodent trap of a type having a box-shaped container with opposed one-way entry corridors communicating with a capture chamber into a remotely-monitored rodent trap. In one aspect, the method includes attaching a smart-sensor to the lid of the trap and press-fitting a bracket having a rodent opening into the space between the one-way entry corridors such that the rodent opening in the bracket restricts movement of a rodent into the capture chamber to a pathway in sufficient proximity for detection by the smart-sensor and signaling to a remote monitoring location.

Abstract: Described herein is a fishing flasher. The fishing flasher may comprise a main body portion which may comprise a passage. A fin may extend from a surface of the main body portion proximate to the trailing end of the main body portion. The fishing flasher may also comprise a removable panel which is sized and shaped to fit within the passage and may be held within the passage by at least one fastener. It is also described herein a fishing flasher kit comprising a main body portion comprising a passage, a fin, and a plurality of removable panels. Each removable panel may have a different surface feature on one or both of the first surface and/or the second surface.

Abstract: An animal tether system and method wherein the rate of extension and retraction of the tether and/or the length of the tether can be actively controlled at least in part as a function of the angular direction and/or speed and/or length of which the tether extends/retracts. The system can be used to maintain an animal in a non-circular boundary, such as a rectangular space, by controlling how far the tether can extend at certain angular positions. The system also allows a user to block off certain areas within a space from access by the animal.

Abstract: This present invention relates to an ice fishing hole cover. The cover features a hinged door attached to the cover through mechanical attachments. The ice fishing hole cover includes a fishing line hole to allow a user to setup a fishing bait line through the cover. The hinged door enables the user to open a portion of the cover, and not the entire cover, to set up the fishing bait line or to access and land a fish caught while ice fishing. The ice fishing hole cover enhances the overall ice fishing experience of the users and eliminates the inconvenience of maintaining an open ice hole while fishing.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides a device in which a pet stroller comprises at least three wheels, a battery, a motor, and a treadmill. The treadmill is positioned inside of the stroller and has a belt upon which an animal walk and run. The battery is configured to power the motor, and in at least some contemplated embodiments, movement of one or more of the wheels of the stroller can be used to directly move the belt of the treadmill, and/or indirectly power the belt by providing power to the battery.

Abstract: A poultry drinker system includes a liquid container, which is filled with water; a drinking trough, which is fluidly connected to the liquid container; a float valve assembly, which is configured to regulate the flow of the liquid from the liquid container into the drinking trough; such that the float valve maintains the water level in the drinking trough as poultry drink the water.

Abstract: A brush device for brushing an animal, in particular the back, head and/or tail of the animal, such as a cow, includes a rotatable brush, as well as an electric drive motor, which is configured to supply a drive torque for rotatably driving the brush in at least one rotation direction. The drive torque supplied by the drive motor is set in such a manner that the brush can be turned back by means of muscular power of the animal and/or an individual counter to the driven rotation direction while said drive torque is being supplied by the drive motor.