Abstract: A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion is operable to rotate such that at a first time, a nozzle is positioned generally on the bottom of the gripping portion, and at a second time, the nozzle is positioned generally on the top of the gripping portion.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising first and second arms which are pivotally connected together, the free ends of the arms being connected by a spring member, and a device for attracting squirrels at the end of a cable extending from one of the arms, the arrangement being such that the motion is imparted when a squirrel attempts to jump on the device.

Abstract: A mobile telephone adapts to use as a gundog training tool by interfacing with a dog collar using a wireless communication device, such as a WWAN text or IP interface, a WLAN interface or a radio transceiver that couples to the mobile telephone and is accessible to a training application running on the mobile telephone. The dog collar includes a GPS receiver to provide position information to the mobile telephone and a shock device to provide training stimulus to the dog. A wireless headset interfaces with the mobile telephone to provide audible indications of position to an end user, such as a dog point and tone indicators of directions to the dog. A wireless handset interfaces with the mobile telephone to accept inputs for application to the collar, such as training stimulus.

Abstract: A system for remote care of an animal comprises a housing, a mobility portion coupled to the housing and operable to move the housing, a wireless data communications system disposed within the housing and wirelessly communicatively coupled with an external data communications system, and a microprocessor disposed within the housing and controlling the mobility portion. The system further includes a smart collar worn by the animal for effecting a variety of functions.

Abstract: A device, assembled to subject at least one egg that normally has a longitudinal direction between a blunt end and a pointed end to a processing in a predetermined orientation of the longitudinal direction of the egg, such as injection or vaccination, candling or vacuum or grabber based pick-up. The device includes a processing station arranged to subject the egg to the processing; a holder arranged to hold the egg in said predetermined orientation for the processing station to subject the egg to the processing. The holder includes a support, arranged to engage one of said two ends of the egg; and a cylindrical accommodation comprising at least two arms extending from the support in use in the longitudinal direction of the egg to engage the egg at a distance from the support, wherein the arms are flexible and the cylindrical accommodation is curved in correspondence with the circumferential shape of the egg. The arms are arranged to yield and align the egg when the arms move over the egg.

Abstract: A pet toy is constructed of a resilient material that stretches and returns to its original shape when at rest. The toy further has a spiral, coiled, or wound shape that channels or directs stretch in a particular direction. The toy has stretch or shape-changing ability and can change in length by one and one-half times or more. In some instances an object can be used with the toy and be retained within an interior space of the toy.

Abstract: A system for housetraining pets through the use of separated sleeping and waste areas contained within a pet cage. The cage encloses a waste tray section that runs along the floor of the cage, which holds an absorbent pad, secured by improved retention clips, for collecting pet waste that can be removed and replaced when soiled. A bedding area made of up a rectilinear frame covered in bedding material is raised above the floor of the cage by engaging frame extensions with perforations in the exterior of the cage. The system and associated method serve to aid in conditioning a pet for proper housetraining while the pet is confined to a cage.

Abstract: An automated system for mitigating risk from a wind turbine includes a plurality of optical imaging sensors. A controller receives and analyzes images from the optical imaging sensors to automatically send a signal to curtail operation of the wind turbine to a predetermined risk mitigating level when the controller determines from images received from the optical imaging sensors that an airborne animal is at risk from the wind turbine.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the production of aquatic organisms under cultivation, including the steps of exposing the aquatic organisms to a submerged illumination source inside water of a rearing unit; and maintaining illumination in the rearing unit for a rearing period.

Abstract: A water circulation and filtration device for jellyfish aquarium, designed to be suspended from a top opening of the aquarium and partially submerged in water. It includes a pump house basket and a lid on top. The pump house basket has polygonal shape in horizontal cross sections, and tapered or straight in vertical cross sections. The pump house basket is divided into an intake chamber at the bottom with multiple inlet slits on its sides, a pump house chamber above the intake chamber to accommodate a pump, and a sealed return chamber around the pump house chamber. The sidewall of the pump house basket has a step feature which includes a plurality of flute style outlets disposed along the outside surface of the pump house basket above the inlet slits. The pump draws from the intake chamber and discharges to the return chamber and water is discharged via the outlets.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

Abstract: A multifunction animal collar. The collar including a plurality of electronic components for collecting and transmitting audio and visual information to and from a remote user in real time. The plurality of electronic components including a satellite communication chip, a GPS chip, a camera, a thermographic camera, infrared camera, a microphone, a speaker, and a light. The satellite communication chip capable of transmitting and receiving viewed images and sounds to a remote user for viewing on an external electronic device and back to the animal in real time.

Abstract: On leash, dogs enjoy being tethered together, provided they can detect directional changes in their partner's movements. The dog coupler includes a semi-rigid hollow tube, each distal end of which is pressure fitted with a clip fastenable to a dog's collar or harness. Fabricated of resilient plastic tubing, about 18 inches long, the tube, when relaxed, forms a shallow arch. Arched more deeply by compression or, alternately, straightened out, the tube acts like a weak spring but exhibits substantially stronger spring tension when stretched. Because of the tube's three distinct spring constants, two dogs, individually tethered at the tube's distal ends, can communicate, via tube, their relative positions as they move toward or apart from each other. Working to prevent negative feedback, each dog is trained to space itself properly instead of bumping into or pulling away from its partner, thus enabling the two dogs to walk or run well tethered together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are used at the end of a dairy animal milking process to stop milking pulsation in an off position and then applying a teat dip into a milker unit teat cup liner to improve dip coverage on the teat.

Abstract: A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion comprises at least one nozzle and is operable to rotate such that during a first time, the nozzle is positioned away from the top of the gripping portion, and during a second time, the nozzle is positioned generally on the top of the gripping portion.

Abstract: The invention is an assembly for discouraging flying creatures from approaching and/or landing including a housing with a base, a shaft, a shaft mount, a spindle associated with the shaft, a means of turning the spindle, and an actuator.

Abstract: A pet groom and vacuum cleaner including the pet groomer are provided. The pet groomer includes a main body having two sidewalls, an actuator container, and a hollow handle for connecting with the suction hose. A comb assembly is fixed between said two sidewalls, and includes a rotatable body, and a comb teeth arranged in an axial direction of the rotatable body. A driving assembly drives the comb teeth to rotate with the rotatable body. The comb teeth rotates between a first position and a second position. The driving assembly is isolated from the suction airflow and includes an actuator element exposed out of the actuator container and extending toward the hollow handle. Motion transmission elements of the driving assembly extends from the actuator element to the comb assembly, and includes three sections.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for testing and researching aquatic species is provided. The apparatus and system includes a housing rack for housing a tank. The apparatus and system further includes one or more dividers for dividing the at least one tank into one or more compartments. The apparatus further includes a collection channel and a downspout in each compartment for draining of water from each compartment. The apparatus further includes one or more lids for covering the one or more compartments.

Abstract: A feeder for animals has an enclosure that receives feed material. The enclosure has at least one vertical feed surface that retains the feed material and provides access to animals to the feed material. The vertical feed surface is movable in a horizontal direction. A biasing device is attached to the vertical feed surface. The biasing device moves the vertical feed surface horizontally as the feed material is depleted within the enclosure.

Abstract: A ground-mounted bird feeder includes a shield to prevent squirrels from accessing the feeder portion of the bird feeder. The ground-mounted bird feeder may include a post and a feeder mounted on the post, and a shield may be placed below a bottom of the feeder, and may also be above the feeder.