Abstract: An animal holding chute with a head bar and means for moving the head bar from a storage positon to an operating position wherein the head bar engages the animal's head and moves the animal's head generally toward one side of the animal holding chute, the head bar operating to substantially secure or stabilize the animal's head and neck in this bent position.

Abstract: A bark trainer which allows a dog by its own barking behavior to control a level of electroshock stimulus. Circuitry in a collar-mounted electrical shock device detects the onset of barking and initially produces only a single low stimulus electrical shock pulse that gets the dog's attention, but does not produce a highly unpleasant level of stimulation. If the dog continues barking, the stimulation level of the electrical shock pulses are increased at the onset of each barking episode in a stepwise fashion until the stimulus becomes so unpleasant that the dog stops barking for at least a predetermined time, e.g., one minute. After that minute elapses, the circuitry resets itself to its lowest initial stimultion level and remains inactive until barking begins again, and then repeats the process, beginning with the lowest level of stimulation and increasing the stimulus level if barking continues. In one embodiment, a certain duration, i.e.

Abstract: An aquarium or fish tank as disclosed. The tank includes a mesh shelf spaced above the bottom and a port through a side of the tank below the shelf. A tube extends through the port with a downwardly opening nozzle at the end thereof. A valve is disposed at an opposite end and a drain hole. The drain hole is adapted to be attached to a source of vacuum so that debris on the bottom of the tank will be sucked through the nozzle and exit the tube at the drain hole. A valve is disposed at the drain hole to control opening and closing thereof. A resilient seal is provided where the tube extends through the port so that the nozzle end of the tube can be moved both laterally across the bottom and longitudinally toward and away from the port.

Abstract: A humane training aid comprising a collar loop and a muzzle loop that are mounted together to permit placement onto an animal such as a dog where the muzzle loop is slideably mounted through a ring held by the collar loop at the rear of the lower jaw and against the neck of the dog. The muzzle loop is placed over the muzzle of the animal. In order to make the humane training aide work effectively, the muzzle loop is made so that it closely fits the muzzle and has a portion that is positioned on the lower side of the ring held by the collar to which a leash can be attached so that upon applying a pulling force on the muzzle loop, the loop and the collar will provide pressure against the muzzle and neck of the animal to provide a calming effect and control. An adjustable slide-lock device is used to quickly adjust the muzzle loop. The slide-lock device has universal applications for adjusting loop sizes for various uses.

Abstract: Embodiments of a neew hummingbird feeder are disclosed, each effectively preventing birds and bees from feeding, yet allowing hummingbirds to feed, by providing upwardly projecting feeding channels with outer openings that are at least 3/4 of an inch (and preferably 13/8 inches) beyond the normal level of feeding solution in the dispensing cap.

Abstract: A marine fish farm includes a submersible cultivation cage having a rigid cylindrical body having annular rings spaced from each other within the cylindrical body and connected to each other by beams and crosspieces, an elongated body attached to the upper end of the cage and containing ballast tanks, and a column extending upwardly from the elongated body to the level above the sea surface and terminating with a tower, in which maintenance and personnel facilities are located. The depth of the cultivation cage is defined by the length of the column and adjusted by the ballast tanks so that the cage surrounded by a netting is always below the level of influence of sea waves.

Abstract: Automatic milking apparatus for hydraulic milking, in which there is no air bleed at or upstream of the clawpiece during milking of a cow. Each teat cup has a liner, within the rigid teat cup shell, which has a passage through which air may be admitted to the liner body from an air admission tube, at will after milking and before removal of the teat cups from the cow. The air admission tube runs from the liner body passage, between the liner and shell, through the pulse tube and into the clawpiece, where air admission is manually controlled.

Abstract: This improved cattle stanchion discloses an essentially coplanar and rectangular frame for automatically locking and manually releasing the heads of cattle. The frame unit consists of three vertical bars and two essentially horizontal bars, the top of which being slightly arched upwardly to form an apex over the center of the frame while the bottom bar is slightly arched downwardly to form a nadir under the center of the frame. These arches define an arc of travel for the central pivotally mounted vertical bar with an annular ring extension around the top arch of the frame. The annular ring cooperates with a locking mechanism consisting of pairs of elliptical latching sleeves mounted linearly apart and above the frame unit on a horizontal bar which may be operated by an attendant to either lock or unlock the stanchion.

Abstract: A poultry brooder pilot burner is provided wherein a pilot body removably mounts onto a mounting and attachment stud under pressure of a spring washer. Inwardly projecting pins traverse flat areas of the mounting stud to enter a circumferential channel and, upon rotating the pilot body, engage detents under pressure of the spring washer to secure the removable pilot body in place. A safety circuit thermocouple is disposed above and to the side of the pilot burner such that the thermocouple detects only such pilot flame as is capable of igniting the main gas burner.

Abstract: An animal training collar is described which is remotely controlled so that pressure can be applied to the neck of the animal from a remote location by the master. The collar contains a radio receiver and elements for applying pressure to the animal's neck on receipt of the appropriate signal from a transmitter.

Abstract: A feed trough with rocking action for feeding livestock comprises a frusto-cylindrical body member being adapted to form a horizontally disposed channel having two side walls and a rounded bottom wall in contact with the ground. Each end of the channel is closed by an end wall that is connected to the body member and each of the side walls has a roll stop attached to the side wall such that the roll stop is not in contact with the ground when the body member is in an upright position with the rounded bottom wall in contact with the ground. The combination of the rounded bottom wall and the roll stops provide a rocking action, such that when the trouch is stepped on by an animal, the trough will rock in the direction of the force exerted by the animal until the roll stop comes into contact with the ground and operates to return the trough to its upright position.

Abstract: A growing fish population, started in a single tank is sub-divided as the fish grow so that the capacity of the fish to absorb nutrients and produce waste, throughout the growth process, is matched to the capacity of the container in which they are housed. Each such container is essentially an independent closed loop system with a relatively fixed capacity to aerate heat and filter water as water is recirculated. Preferably several populations are cultured simultaneous, with each at a different stage in the growth process. In this manner relatively constant and efficient use is made of all tanks at all times and the fish harvest is semi-continuous.

Abstract: An easily transportable pet restraint which is adapted to keep a pet within certain bounds in a vehicle and which will serve to prevent injury to the pet in the event of a vehicle accident. The restraint is a harness having an adjustable flexible belly band, a flexible chest band joined to the belly band, a flexible collar joined to the chest band, a member connecting the belly band and the collar at a clasp secured to the member to join with the existing seat belts in a vehicle.

Abstract: A milk-claw for collecting milk sucked from cow's teats through teat cup liners and sending it to a vacuum milking machine, in which the horizontal sections of the collecting chamber in the milk-claw are formed polygonally to prevent the milk which flows into the milk collecting chamber through liner nipples from forming a whirlpool, and the vertical section of the collecting chamber is formed polygonally to prevent milk directed forcibly through a liner nipple into the milk collecting chamber from flowing backward through another liner nipple.

Abstract: A device for safe and convenient removal of loose hair and fur balls from a cat having a frame mounted to a wall. Attached to the frame are two planar surfaces upon which are placed catnip receptacles and a plurality of bristles. The plurality of bristles are of appropriate number, placement, and size to catch and hold a cat's loose fur. The receptacles of catnip serve to lure the cat to the device so the cat is likely to scratch itself on the bristles.

Abstract: This animal containment structure is so designed, as to be easily put together by a multiple number of cubical connectors and plugs, and panels are so designed for being readily received in rail members that receive the cubical connectors and plugs.

Abstract: An animal restraint to securely restrain an animal in a truck bed having bed side walls comprises an elongate threaded rod of a length somewhat less than the distance between the truck bed side walls, terminating in two side attachment portions for connection to the side walls. These side attachment portions each enable length adjustment so that the system can be adjusted to fit in various widths of truck beds. A restraint centering device serves to secure a swivel member at some point along the length of the threaded rod. A restraint lead is connected, as by a clamp, to this centering device swivel member, and terminates in a snap or fastener attachable to an animal collar. Therefore, an animal attached to the restraint lead snap is prevented from reaching either truck bed side wall.

Abstract: An animal safety seat belt disclosed herein includes, an upper and a lower restraint, a front and a rear strap, and a securement strap. Each is fabricated from woven webbing. The upper restraint is of predetermined length having a plurality of loops for inserting the straps therethrough and is adapted to be disposed adjacent the spine of the animal. The lower restraint is of predetermined length having a plurality of loops for inserting the straps therethrough and is adapted to be disposed adjacent the stomach and chest of the animal. The front strap is secured to the upper and lower restraints by being passed through forward loops. A buckle, disposed to an end of the front strap, adjusts the front loop circumference. The rear strap is attached to a rearward loop of said upper restraint and a corresponding loop of said lower restraint and also has a buckle for adjusting the circumference of a rear loop.

Abstract: A fish breeding apparatus with an exchangeable net comprises a hull shaped fish cage with side platings, a bottom plating, screen bulkheads and a deck. A pay out roller for paying out a net into the cage is provided, along with a device guiding the net so that an end of the net passes through a predetermined course. A coil-up roller is provided for coiling up the net. Edges of the net each are connected to a guide rope and guide floats, the guide rope is turn being connected, through joint wires, to a side edge portion of the net. The guide floats are fixed to the guide rope and hold the guide rope in the guide rail.

Abstract: An animal feed distribution device that includes a feed conveyor system which fills animal feeding station feed supply bins from central storage. The bins are connected in parallel to the conveyor system, and they receive feed from the system in sequence. At least the last bin designed to receive feed contains an end-looking, infra-red emitting diode component, and a counterpart photo-transistor sensor component, the components providing input information to an electrical control system circuit as the result of the interruption or non-interruption of an infra-red beam passing between the components. The control system circuit activates or deactivates the conveyor system in response to such interruption or noninterruption, which occurs as a conseqence of the feed level in the bin. Both sensor components are mounted opposite each other so as to extend inwardly for a minimum distance from the interior of the bin walls.