Abstract: An animal watering valve preferably includes a valve body, a valve stem, a retention plug, a stem o-ring and a compression spring. A valve bore is formed in the one end of the valve body to receive the valve stem. A plug bore is formed in the opposing end of the valve body. The valve stem preferably includes a sealing base, an actuation end, a plug end and a spring flange. An o-ring groove is formed in the sealing base to receive the stem o-ring. The retention plug preferably includes a threaded portion, a rotation flange and a stem portion. A stem bore is formed through the retention plug. The stem bore is sized to loosely receive the plug end of the valve stem. The plug end is inserted into the compression spring. The retention plug is threaded into the plug bore to retain the valve stem.

Abstract: Embodiments of a hydroponic growing system include raft segments that can be reversibly attached together to form a raft. Rafts can have one or more plant holes to support a plant body, and one or more thermal chimneys to provide for gas transport from underneath the raft to the upper surface, to control temperature and humidity of the plant. Additional embodiments include wireless sensors that may or may not be part of a raft, and a growing environment control system that can receive data from one or more sensors of environmental conditions of a plant and in other embodiments, can detect discrepancies between the actual environmental conditions and desired conditions. In still further embodiments, a growing environment control system can automatically adjust an actuator to return an environmental condition to a desired state.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder includes a base tray having a receptacle defining an upwardly-opening interior for holding food which is attractive to fruit flies and further includes a top cover which is positionable atop the base tray. The receptacle has a substantially circular opening through which the food is placed into the interior of the receptacle, and the receptacle interior is bordered by upwardly-directed cylindrical walls which encircle the interior. The top cover has a top portion for covering the receptacle interior and a cylindrical portion which extends downwardly from the top portion. The cylindrical portion is accepted by the cylindrical walls of the receptacle when the top cover is placed atop the base tray, and each of the top portion and the cylindrical portions include through-slots which provide a hummingbird with access to the interior of the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for the portion wise dispensing of animal feed as reward or training aid and methods of use. An exemplary apparatus including an oblong handle, with a rear opening for inserting rod shaped animal feed, a front opening for leaving out, dispensing, or exposing the animal feed, a transport mechanism which comprises a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel which serves as a counter wheel, wherein the animal feed can be transported by rotating the first drive wheel forward as well as backward, and laterally arranged spring elements that prevent animal feed from falling from the apparatus.

Abstract: An animal litter, process for preparing the animal litter and a method for removal of animal waste using the animal litter are provided. The animal litter generally includes at least about 10 weight % finely ground pine wood powder. Further the animal litter includes a lubricant and a cohesiveness agent. The animal litter is in the form of discrete plural particles which lend to agglomerate when wetted.

Abstract: The automatically detachable collar pendant system is structured so that when the system receives a signal, one end of the collar is released from the rest of the collar body, thereby unfastening the collar and allowing the collar to fall off of a target animal. The “signal” may comprise a magnetic or induction heat signal. In the preferred embodiment, the signal is received (and the collar is unfastened) when the target animal feeds at a specially-equipped bait station.

Abstract: The disclosure includes various embodiments of an irrigation mat. In some embodiments, the mat is generally installed so that plants meet the layer of moisture formed by a nonwoven textile web in a relatively short time due to growth of roots. Some embodiments include a web where the roots of plants can grow into the web and thus those plants can be supplied with moisture.

Abstract: A reduced-weight poultry cage is used in conjunction with a reduced-weight trailer to transport live poultry for maximizing the poundage of poultry being transported while reducing the number of trips and fuel expenses. The poultry cage includes a combination of aluminum and plastic elements that reduce cage weight, provide for nesting of cages in stacks as well as easy replacement of failed parts. Furthermore, a drop-deck aluminum trailer with a reduced floor and guide rail alignment stops allows for a durable yet lightweight trailer that can haul a plurality of stacks of these poultry cages, thereby maximizing cubic feet availability while being compliant with various road and bridge laws.

Abstract: A pet toy can be used as a fetch toy, chew toy and/or a treat dispenser, and/or also optionally as a dental aid. The toy includes a body having a central toy axis which extends between opposed poles of the body, the body further including at least three circumferentially spaced-apart ribs which extend between the poles to define an outer envelope of the pet toy. The material comprising the body is advantageously an elastomer, including natural or synthetic rubber, or a suitable plastic having elastomeric properties.

Abstract: An edible pet chew has a member of meat based material chewy sheet. The “meat based material” chewy sheet imitates the durability and strength property of known rawhide sheet and simultaneously has inherent attraction to dogs with meat in its formula. A first aspect of present invention is that, the edible pet chew has a SINGLE chewy sheet of meat based material. A second aspect of present invention is that, the edible pet chew has a meat based material chewy sheet member and additionally an edible material member being wrapped therein. A third aspect of present invention is that, the edible pet chew has an edible material member and additionally a meat based material chewy sheet member being wrapped therein. A forth aspect of present invention provides a method for making the edible pet chew with the essential member of meat based material chewy sheet.

Abstract: A landscaping border segment includes about two dozen rigid unit pieces arranged in a series and held together with top end base elastic joining members. Male and female connection features are mounted at opposite ends of the landscaping border segment. A plurality of ground penetrating stakes extend away from a ground contact surface. The landscaping border segment may assume a straight configuration in which the rigid unit pieces are held apart from one another by the elastic joining members, but may also assume a continuum of curved configurations. A landscaping border may be created by joining a plurality of landscaping border segments end to end in a series.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system for automatically sensing and spraying plants and/or plant precursors as they are planted or otherwise distributed on and/or within the ground is disclosed.

Abstract: A collar for conditioning behavior in an animal and system and method for same are disclosed. The collar includes a main body configured to generate electric stimuli. A pair of conductive polymer multi-ridge electrodes extends outward in a concave configuration from base portion of main body at first end and second end of base portion such that electrodes and base portion form a unitary component. The pair of electrodes is configured to have inner and outer indentations integrally formed with base portion such that inner indentations are suitable for receiving smaller animals and outer indentations are suitable for receiving larger animals. A housing receives main body and is integrally formed with a pair of elongated planar members extending orthogonally from band portion of collar at first end and second end of housing such that collar is positioned around animal neck while inserted to main body for support.

Abstract: An absorbent article for pet to be worn and wrapped around a waist thereof, includes: a liquid permeable top sheet; a liquid impermeable back surface layer; an absorbent core; a first end portion and a second end portion opposing to each other; a first side portion and a second side portion opposing to each other, a first gather portion that is disposed on a top sheet side of the first side portion and configured to stand upright from the top sheet; a second gather portion that is disposed on the top sheet side of the second side portion and configured to stand upright from the top sheet; and a pair of releasably-joined portions in which the first gather portion is releasably-joined to itself in a state of being folded outward in the width direction of the absorbent article for pet, in the first end portion and the second end portion.

Abstract: The flower arrangement support includes a floral saddle that is adapted to be bolted atop of a tombstone via a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a pair of mounting clips that attach onto opposing sides of the floral saddle, and extend downwardly there from. The pair of mounting clips each affix to a threaded rod that is adapted to extend through a drill hole formed in the tombstone. The floral saddle is further defined with a perimeter wall that extends upwardly from a saddle surface. The perimeter wall includes mounting slots on opposing sides that enable the pair of mounting claps to clip there to in order to secure the floral saddle to the tombstone.

Abstract: A hydroponic rotating drum device comprising a hydroponic drum assembly rotatably mounted on a framework assembly and comprising multiple arrays of plant module configurations disposed through exterior openings of a rotating drum of the assembly; an external fluid injector system; an external drain system disposed in a sequential circumscribing configuration, a plurality of sector end light reflectors, and a plurality of longitudinally extending and radially outwardly projecting growth lighting devices operatively coupled to the drum for rotation therewith.

Abstract: An animal exercising treadmill and waste disposal apparatus including a parallelepiped platform having side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a hollow interior base. Each of a pair of rollers, a drive roller, a tension roller, and a plurality of support rollers is disposed between the front wall and the rear wall within the hollow interior base. A conveyor belt is connected to the first pair of rollers, the drive roller, the tension roller and the support rollers. A motor assembly rotates the rollers. Each of a removable solid waste container, a second liquid waste reservoir, and a third water reservoir is disposed within the hollow interior base below the conveyor belt. A collection plate disposed within the hollow interior base collects waste, and a pair of spray nozzles is configured to rinse the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An overflow system is disclosed for use with a tank having a side wall. The overflow system includes an overflow device having a front wall, a back wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall all secured to a bottom wall and extending upward therefrom to create a chamber having an open top. The front wall, back wall and first and second sidewalls have a plurality of slots formed therethrough. The overflow device is positioned in the tank such that a portion of the plurality of slots is disposed below the fluid line of the tank so as to receive fluid from the tank into the chamber. The bottom wall has an enlarged aperture formed therethrough. The overflow system also includes a first aperture formed through the sidewall of the tank. The first aperture is positioned below the bottom wall of the overflow device. An attachment mechanism attaches the bottom wall of the overflow device to an inside surface of the sidewall of the tank. The attachment means passes through the first aperture.

Abstract: A transport device structured to carry an animal includes a first component having a handle and a second component having a base and at least a first wall. The first component is structured to be located on the second component to form an enclosed region situated generally between the first and second components. The transport device also includes a cushion apparatus situated adjacent at least one of the base and the at least a first wall and a liquid resistance apparatus located on the second component and that is structured to resist penetration of a liquid from an interior region of the transport device to an exterior region of the transport device.

Abstract: A generally circular enclosure is provided defining a generally circular track about which a prey decoy is located and travels. Openings or apertures in its housing permitting the prey decoy to travel about the track. The prey decoy is secured to a rotating wheel that imparts a rotary motion about the circular shaped track. The prey decoy is further spring urged in a vertical direction, perpendicular to the plane of rotational motion. The track opening has at least one break, making it noncontiguous. As the decoy is deployed about the track and impinges against the housing at the break in the track, the decoy is urged downward, and subsequently is urged upward when it reaches the track opening at the opposing side of the break. This circular motion in which the prey decoy appear to be moving upward and downward as it travels about the circular path stimulates the animal to paw at and engage the prey.