Abstract: A fishing bait delivery system is disclosed. The system has a remotely controlled bait delivery vehicle, a fishing pole assembly, and a remote control for controlling bait delivery vehicle. The bait delivery vehicle has a fishing bait holder that holds a baited end of a fishing line until the baited end is released at a desired location. The fishing bait is secured to the fishing pole assembly via the fishing line. The fishing pole assembly is made up of a conventional fishing rod and reel. The fishing bait can be natural, living or deceased, or artificial. For live bait, the bait delivery vehicle can include a live bait well. In various embodiments the release of fishing bait may be automated. The system can use fish finding technology, wherein the bait delivery vehicle includes a fish finding sensor which transmits data to a fish finder viewer.

Abstract: A nationwide, web-based pet registration, search and retrieval system. The system is implemented with a host computer (10) that may be accessed by users operating user computers (12) via a communications network (14) such as the Internet. Pet owners may register their pets with the host computer and finders of lost pets may search the host computer in an attempt to locate the owners of lost pets.

Abstract: A clip and rope combination is disclosed for holding a fish. The clip is shaped to securely hold the fish by gripping the lip of the fish. The rope is coupled to the clip such that any force exerted on the rope increases the gripping power of the clip.

Abstract: A feeder apparatus comprises a plurality of walls, mounting structure and a feed holder. The plurality of walls communicates with the mounting structure to accommodate mounting the feeder apparatus on the outside of an animal confinement structure, e.g. a cage. One or more walls of the feeder body and the feed holder have cooperating sliding structures, enabling the feed holder to be slidingly received into, and/or removed from the remainder of the feeder apparatus.

Abstract: A milking parlor for presenting an animal to be milked rearwardly loads the animal into a milking stall through an ingress/egress gate and forwardly unloads the animal from the milking stall through the same ingress/egress gate to pass along a unique exit path to a released area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bait device for inserting into panelling, having a bait bushing which is closed at one end and has an outer collar at the closed bushing end, having a bait holder which is arranged in the bait bushing and is intended for edible bait, and having means for securing the bait bushing against falling out of the panelling, and also relates to the use of the same for the abovementioned purposes.

Abstract: A pulsator controller for monitoring and controlling a designated pulsator in a milking system and method of using same is shown. The pulsator controller includes a first sensor operatively connected to a designated pulsator for receiving a pulsating vacuum and for producing a first signal representing the pulsating vacuum level. A processor has a memory for storing pulsator malfunction criteria reference table and reference signals representing a predetermined vacuum range of pulsating vacuum levels programmed as acceptable for milking system pulsators. The processor generates a one control signal when the designated pulsator pulsating vacuum level is at a vacuum level outside of the predetermined vacuum range and an information signal from the pulsator malfunction criteria reference table identifying the pulsator malfunction represented by the control signal. A control circuit is responsive to the at least one control signal for producing a signal representing a programmed condition.

Abstract: An automatic animal feeder includes a housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall having an opening therein. A plurality of food delivery assemblies is positioned in the opening. Each of the food delivery assemblies includes a food drawer slidably positioned in the opening. The drawer is selectively extended inwardly or outwardly of the housing when a rod threadably coupled thereto is rotated. A motor is mechanically coupled to the driving rod. A processor is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to each of the food delivery assemblies for selectively turning on the motors. A first time control is electrically coupled to the processor for selectively inputting a time and date when each of a selected one of the food trays will be extended outwardly from the housing. A cooling assembly is mounted in the housing for selectively cooling an interior of the housing.

Abstract: A guidance device for a domestic animal that can be attached to a dog's neck without twisting comprising means for reversibly connecting which is independent of internal rotation about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, at least one engine, and a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling manifold. The aircraft can further include an auxiliary fuel tank system operably coupled to the fuel system. The auxiliary fuel tank system can include a master tank assembly and at least one slave tank assembly. The master tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage, and can include a master tank body configured to hold fuel. The master tank body can be configured to pass through a door in the fuselage without disassembly. The slave tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage at least proximate to the master tank assembly, and can include a slave tank body configured to hold fuel.

Abstract: A fishing rod is strengthened with a metal reinforcement chosen from a metal coating deposited on a formed rod section and a metal wire in a substantially non-crossing arrangement, or a combination of these. In a base section of the rod, wire is wrapped in a single spiral direction so that the wire substantially does not cross itself. In a tip section, wire is arranged to follow the elongated section in a long spiral or substantially linear path, again not substantially crossing itself. The absence of crossing wires allows improved sensitivity and casting accuracy in the rod and eliminates the potential for crossing wires to separate when the rod flexes.

Abstract: A bifurcated habitat includes a bifurcated frame having a divider traversing the frame and a plurality of compartments defined on opposed sides of the divider. One compartment is isolated from the remaining compartments for maintaining a predetermined volume of water therein. Another one of the compartments includes a cage and a lower section in fluid communication therewith. The cage further includes a pivoting door situated adjacent to one end portion thereof. The habitat further includes a cover positioned onto a top portion of the frame and includes a plurality of pivotally connected doors. Each of the cover doors is independently movable between open and closed positions and includes a light-emitting source connected to one of the cover doors.

Abstract: A fishing device has a substantially rigid lower member, a lee attached to the lower member, and a net having a lower end attached to the lower member and an upper end vertically spaced from it, the net being slidable over the lee so that when fish hits the net the net slides over the lee and forms a bag in which fish is caught.

Abstract: A unisex protective garment worn by both male and female animals, particularly dogs, the garment having a first forward harness portion and a rear genitalia protection portion. The rear portion includes a woven vinyl mesh material covering both the male genitalia and the female genitalia, in the same unisex garment, which would allow fluid flow, such as urine therethrough, but would prevent contact between male and female genitalia. This garment, when worn by either a male of female dog, would allow the dog to urinate and defecate, but would not allow the dog to copulate with the opposite sex.

Abstract: Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, at least one engine, and a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling manifold. The aircraft can further include an auxiliary fuel tank system operably coupled to the fuel system. The auxiliary fuel tank system can include a master tank assembly and at least one slave tank assembly. The master tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage, and can include a master tank body configured to hold fuel. The master tank body can be configured to pass through a door in the fuselage without disassembly. The slave tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage at least proximate to the master tank assembly, and can include a slave tank body configured to hold fuel.

Abstract: A bird feeder having a container, a selector, and a base is disclosed. The selector has at least one large opening and at least one small opening. The base includes at least one feeding port. When one of the openings is aligned with the feeding port, the other opening is covered by a perimeter wall of the base. In preferred embodiments, the base includes a rain guard above the feeding ports.

Abstract: To provide an inflator which can be easily manufactured in a simple manufacturing process so as not to be disassembled. In an inflator, an orifice member 16 of a bottle 3 is provided with projections 43 formed on the periphery of the orifice member 16, extending in the axial direction thereof, and key grooves 47 formed in the periphery of the orifice member 16, extending in the axial direction thereof. A diffuser 7 is provided, in the inner periphery thereof, with guide grooves 49 for guiding the projections 43 of the orifice member 16 when the diffuser 7 and the orifice member 16 are coupled with each other, grooves 41 which mate with the projections 43 after the diffuser 7 or the orifice member 16 rotates, and key grooves 51 which associate with the key grooves 47 of the orifice member 16. Keys 45 which are inserted into the key grooves 47 and 51 and thereby prevent the orifice member 16 or the diffuser 7 from rotating are also provided.

Abstract: Insulation for use in an aircraft fuselage is formed wherein at least one layer made from an open-celled foam that provides acoustic and thermal insulation. The open-celled foam is compression fitted into the airplane fuselage so as to provide effective attachment to the fuselage. The open-celled foam requires minimal attachment treatments. Further, compression fit of the open cell layer is used as an interface around brackets and unrelated hardware to provide superior close-out of gaps that would normally occur using traditional insulation to bracket interfaces. The preferred foam for the open celled compression layer is also relatively moisture resistant (i.e. hydrophobic) in nature and is compressible to between about 0.5 and 10 percent compression, with about 2% compression being ideal for most applications.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a size of a feed gate and a position of a brood gate of a feeder assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of increasing a size of a feed gate by increasing a distance between a distal end of a drop tube member and a pan member, and changing the position of a brood gate relative to the pan member by changing a distance between the brood gate and the pan member. These steps are achieved by either rotating only a grill member in a first direction relative to the drop tube member, or by manipulating only the grill member.

Abstract: A lighter-than-air aircraft (1) having a gas-filled hull (2) and a pair of spaced apart landing gear units (11, 12) on the underside of the hull arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinally extending central vertical plane of the hull. Each landing gear unit (11, 12) comprises bag skirt means (5–7, 5?–7?), means for supplying air to and removing air from the bag skirt means and actuating means operable to move the bag skirt means between an operative configuration for containing one or more air cushions and an inoperative configuration.