Abstract: A pet toy holds another item that can be chewed upon by a pet. The pet toy holds the item with a flexible retainer disposed within and protected by a central hub. The central hub can be provided with different external shapes including a round ball shape, an oval football shape, a flattened frisbee shape, an elongated bone shape, or a star shape with a plurality of arms. The central hub is configured to secure the retainer and protect the retainer from damage from the pet during use. The retainer can be a plurality of flexible fingers. The pet toy can have a plurality of arms projecting from the central hub. The central hub extends both above and below the arms to allow the pet to firmly hold the toy against the ground in a secure arrangement for both chewing on an arm of the pet toy and for chewing on a chew toy or edible item held by the pet toy.

Abstract: A system bypasses harvesting in an assembly line grow pod when it is determined that a plant in a cart is not ready to harvest. The system includes a track, a cart configured to move on the track, one or more sensors and a controller. The cart includes an upper plate that supports a plant. The controller receives information about the plant from the one or more sensors, determines whether the plant in the cart is ready to harvest based on the information; and transmits an instruction for bypassing harvesting the plant in the cart in response to determination that the plant in the cart is not ready to harvest.

Abstract: A method for reducing a population size of a colony of magnetosensitive insects includes placing wire loop near a nest sheltering the colony, driving the wire loop with an electrical current sufficient to produce a transmitted magnetic field stronger than the earth's natural magnetic field, exposing eggs and pupae from the colony to the transmitted magnetic field, and maintaining exposure of the colony to the transmitted magnetic field until the population size of the colony decreases.

Abstract: The leash assembly includes a leash mechanism with a body, a cord, a clip and a handle that extends from the body. The body presents two spaced apart circular sides with outer peripheral edges. The cord extends from an interior of the body between the circular sides to a free end. The clip is attached with the free end of the cord for attaching the cord with the collar of the animal. The leash assembly further includes a cover with first and second portions which at least partially cover the circular sides of the body of the leash mechanism. The first and second portions of the cover has outer peripheries which generally follow at least a portion of each of the outer peripheral edges of the generally circular sides of the body. The cover contains a high density material for increasing a mass of the leash assembly.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a fluid source and a fluid distribution manifold. The fluid distribution manifold includes a fluid inlet, a plurality of fluid outlets, a plurality of valves coupled within the fluid outlets and movable between an open position and a closed position, a plurality of biasing assemblies coupled to the of valves to bias the valves in the closed position, and a plurality of tension rings coupled to the biasing assemblies to adjust an amount of biasing force applied by the biasing assemblies. Fluid from the fluid source having a fluid pressure that exceeds the biasing force causes the valves to move to the open position such that a specific amount of the fluid is ejected from the fluid outlets.

Abstract: Pet litter box cleaning system including a base structure, sieve member, and, optionally, trash receptacle is provided. The base structure includes a bottom wall and side wall(s) extending upward from the bottom wall except in one portion to leave an open side for receiving the sieve member therethrough. In a first embodiment, the sieve member includes a back wall for extending across the open side, a sifter and handle. In a second embodiment, a door serves to close the open side and the sieve member does not include a back wall. The trash receptacle may extend from an upraised wall of the base structure. In use, the sieve member is inserted in the base structure to clean litter of waste by lifting the sieve member by the handle whereby clean litter passes through the sifter and waste collects on the sifter which then is disposed of into a trash receptacle.

Abstract: A green wall system includes a plurality of potted plants positioned within respective pots to form a wall of vegetation. The pots can be mounted to a support element and plumbing and electrical utilities of the green wall system can be positioned within a utility column adjacent to the wall of vegetation. The utility column can span from a bottom of the green wall system to a top of the green wall system. A fluid reservoir and a pump to pump fluid from the reservoir to the potted plants can be positioned within the utility column.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for reducing ammonia levels in animal bedding or litter, comprising 0.015-40% citric acid and one or more of a clay-based particulate, diatomaceous earth or an organic material. The composition can also comprise an anti-microbial agent. A method of treating animal bedding or litter to reduce ammonia is also provided.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing a predetermined amount of fluid in an assembly line grow pod are provided. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod including a tray held by a cart supported on a track, the tray including at least one section. The assembly line grow pod further includes a fluid source and a watering station. The watering station includes a robot device having a movable arm and at least one peristaltic pump coupled to the arm, the peristaltic pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet fluidly coupled to the fluid source. A predetermined amount of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to the at least one section of the tray via movement of the movable arm of the robot device to align the outlet of the peristaltic pump with the at least one section and via ejection of the fluid from the outlet.

Abstract: A system and method for cultivating plants is described. The system may include a tower structure having a vertical series of vessels for holding a netted pot or other container. The system may have a pressurized irrigation system that is in fluid communication with each vessel. The system may further include lamps to provide an adequate light source. The system may also include sensors, monitors and controls to establish and maintain environmental conditions suitable for proper plant growth. The system may further be implemented as a scalable system in which multiple tower structures may be installed into a scaffold system. Sets of towers may be slidably affixed to a scaffold such that the towers may be slid along a track thereby creating easy access to the plants, vessels, lights and the irrigation system. The system may be expanded to include multiple scaffolds affixed to a skeletal frame or compartment interior.

Abstract: A self-watering planter features wicking devices whose outer tubes feature a skeletal upper structure having a plurality of columns periodically interconnected by rings spanning circumferentially around the wicking material to delimit windows of large area for optimum water seepage to the soil. A flange at the bottom of the tube's skeletal upper portion cooperates with snap features at the top of a lower portion that hangs in the water reservoir to provide snap-fit installation of the wicking devices on a divider wall of a permanently enclosed planter. A soil drainage filtration device features filtration fabric held in a sandwiched state around a drainage opening in the divider wall by one or more mounting plates. In one embodiment, the fabric forms a sack that hangs into the reservoir to suspend a volume of soil therein, whereby the suspended soil serves as wicking agent in the absence of excess rainwater needing drainage.

Abstract: There is provided a planter for growing plants. The planter comprises a framework supporting a plurality of shelves (16, 16a, 16b), wherein the framework comprises two upright frame members (2, 4) at a left side of the framework, two upright frame members (6, 8) at a right side of the framework opposite the left side, a first cross member (11) connected to and spanning between the two upright frame members (2, 4) at the left side of the framework, a second cross member (12) connected to and spanning between the two upright frame members (6, 8) at the right side of the framework, and a shelf support member (14) connected to and spanning between the first and second cross members (11, 12). A first end of the shelf support member (14) rests in a cradle of the first cross member (11), and is repeatedly removable and attachable therefrom.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system, including: a first end that screws into a light bulb socket; an internal light source; an electric insect control mechanism disposed around and proximate to the internal light source; and a visible light source disposed at an opposite end with respect to the first end. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical-physical method of producing mushrooms enriched with biologically active substances including steps of isolation and pre-seeding development of the mycelium of a desired fungal species, maturation of the substrate, mycelium sowing and incubation with development of fungal primordia under conditions controlled and assisted by machines and processors designed to adjust temperature, humidity and radiation, development of carpophores, their collection and treatment with pulsed light in order to stimulate the production of vitamin D2. Physical treatment includes exposing the environment to electromagnetic fields (EMF) during all the previous steps the collection, and chemical treatment includes adding the substrate with egg powder.

Abstract: A pet protection system includes a leg portion having a first end having a first cross-section having a flexible opening to insert a pet foot therethrough; an angled portion coupled to the first end and having a second cross-section greater than the first cross-section; and a second end coupled to the angled portion, wherein the second end has a third cross-section greater than the second cross-section; and a body portion coupled to the leg portion, the body portion forming a loop that fits securely on a body of the pet.

Abstract: A retractable leash device for animal control is disclosed, having a multitude of settable maximum leash line extensions providing leash line retraction at each set extension length. The device includes a leash line connectable to an animal, a housing having an axle and an outlet aperture, a reel having a hub and mounted on the axle, a reel biasing spring to retract the leash line, a maximum extension brake having an arresting member and a brake control. The leash line is wound on the reel and exits the housing through the aperture. The arresting member crosses the leash line thereinbetween the hub and the aperture. Upon engagement of the brake therewith the reel and extension of the leash line, an eventual interaction of the arresting member therewith the leash line prevents further extension of the leash line. The brake control engages and disengages the brake with respect to the reel.

Abstract: A leash-with-variable-anchor may have two opposing fastener structures, one for removable attachment to a collar or to a harness; and another for fastening back onto a portion of leash-with-variable-anchor, forming a closed looped structure, an anchor. The anchor may function as a handle. The anchor may also be quickly, easily, and safely attached to various articles, such as, but not limited to, posts; and without a need of detaching from the collar or from the harness. In some embodiments, the loop structure of the anchor may be variable (i.e., adjustable) in size. In some embodiments, at least portions of loop structure of the anchor may elastic.

Abstract: A toy for improving an intelligence of dogs has a hollow prism body of trapezoidal cross section on a base plate. Lateral surface panels that rise up obliquely from the base panel are formed apertures beneath which it is possible to place a reachable dog treat. The prism body is delimited on either side by vertical flank panels, which project beyond the lateral-surface panels of the prism body at a constant projection height and which are formed with a guide channel along the lateral surface panels. A plurality of adjacent rollers project into the guide channels and they are movable along the channel. The rollers cover one of the lateral-surface panels and at least one aperture formed therein. The dog can shift the rollers from one lateral surface panel across an apex to the opposite later surface panel so as to expose the apertures and reach for the treat.

Abstract: An enrichment system and method for animals in captivity is disclosed. Generally speaking, the system includes an automated dispenser and a plurality of tokens to be placed about an animal enclosure. The dispenser includes a suitable housing, a reservoir for containing animal-suitable rewards, a token receptacle, a reward output connected to the reservoir, and a mechanism for releasing animal-suitable rewards from the reservoir into the reward output when tokens are deposited into the receptacle. The mechanism for releasing animal suitable rewards is activated by the deposit of a token in the token receptacle.

Abstract: A beehive pest trap includes a first surface, second surface, and side beams. The side beams are coupled to and support the second surface. The side beams are coupled to and positioned on the first surface. The second surface is coupled to and positioned on the side beams. The first surface, second surface, and side beams form a gate entrance. The second surface is positioned parallel to the first surface. The second surface is wider than the first surface. The gate entrance is positioned proximate to an insect trap. The second surface is L-shaped. The trap also includes a screen and a trap drawer. The first surface comprises a lateral side. The lateral side and the side beam form a cavity. The trap door is slidably positioned in the cavity. The insect trap includes the trap drawer. The second surface includes a pest door slidably coupled thereto.