Abstract: A removable and safe covering adapted to be placed over the entire length of an existing ladder thereby covering the rungs and the spaces therebetween and providing a surface for animals to be able to traverse upwards and downwards along the length of the ladder without falling between the rungs and becoming injured.

Abstract: A fishing lure comprising a hollow lure body which is equipped with a forwardly slanting lip on one end, in which the hollow lure body contains in a center-of-gravity movable tube comprising a longitudinally straight tube body and a weight in the form of a stick which is capable of moving in the tube in the longitudinal direction, in which the tube is installed in the lure body in the position lower than the middle height of the hollow space of the lure body, and the weight has a vertical section symmetrical in its width direction and is in the form of polygon, semicircle or other.

Abstract: A pet litter device includes: a base configured to be placed on a support surface, the base defining a recessed portion that comprises a recess surface defining an opening, and a drum rotatably connected to the base and partly received in the recessed portion. The drum has an outer lateral surface. The recess surface and a portion of the outer lateral surface that faces the recess surface define a gap and form a passage in communication with the opening. The recess surface is to guide litter particles entering the passage to pass through the opening to fall on the support surface.

Abstract: A trolling head includes first and second body portions. Each body portion includes a first end and a second end with a body portion thru-hole therebetween. Each body portion includes a mating surface extending from the first end to the second end. Each body portion includes a groove disposed within the mating surface, which extends from the first end to the second end. The mating surfaces of the first and second body portions are configured to attach together such that the grooves of the first and second body portions align to form a tunnel. The tunnel extends from the first ends to the second ends of the first and second body portions and is sized to receive a fishing line therethrough. The body portion thru-holes of the first and second body portions also align to form a trolling head thru-hole sized to receive a fish eye mimic therein.

Abstract: A method of mitigating the risk of a horse fleeing and becoming lost, comprising: fastening a horse-stopping apparatus to a horse, wherein the horse stopping apparatus for slowing and stopping the horse after a rider has been involuntarily separated, comprises: a leading segment configured to be detachably fastened to the horse's head piece; a trample segment fastened to the leading segment; and, a trailing segment detachably fastened to the trample segment and also configured to be connected to the rider; whereby if the rider is involuntarily separated from the horse, the trailing segment will extend the trample segment and the forward motion of the horse will carry the trample segment under the hooves of the horse; whereby the hooves of the horse will trample the trample segment thereby pulling the horse's head downwardly and thereby slowing and stopping the horse.

Abstract: A wall-mounted scratching structure assembly for cats includes a mounting frame affixed to a vertical surface, the mounting frame including a wall-facing surface mounted against the vertical surface, a post-facing surface facing away from the vertical surface, and an attachment mechanism affixing the mounting frame to the vertical surface. The attachment mechanism may further allow a plurality of assemblies to be connected so as to create a stable, continuous climbing path for a cat.

Abstract: A duck decoy includes a support and a decoy body carried on the support. The support includes a base section, a decoy support section and a stanchion connecting the base section to the decoy support section. A related method for carrying a plurality of duck decoys together in a single hand includes the steps of displacing each decoy body on each support from a home position to a carry position, stacking the base sections together while orienting the decoy bodies in different directions with chests together and holding the stacked base sections in one hand.

Abstract: An aquarium includes a container defining a perimeter and an aquarium space that contains a fluid. A filter holder is coupled to the container and defines a filter space and a pump housing is coupled to the filter holder. A bypass outlet and a filter outlet each defined by one of the filter holder and the pump housing. A pump is disposed within the pump housing and is operable to draw a portion of the fluid from the aquarium space to produce a fluid flow. A spout is coupled to the filter holder and includes a spout outlet. The spout is movable between a first position in which the filter outlet is open and the fluid flow passes from the pump to the spout outlet and the bypass outlet is blocked such that the fluid flow does not pass through the bypass outlet, and a second position in which the filter outlet is blocked and the bypass outlet is open such that the fluid flow passes through the bypass outlet.

Abstract: A duck decoy includes a support and a decoy body carried on the support. The support includes a base section, a decoy support section and a stanchion connecting the base section to the decoy support section. A related method for carrying a plurality of duck decoys together in a single hand includes the steps of displacing each decoy body on each support from a home position to a carry position, stacking the base sections together while orienting the decoy bodies in different directions with chests together and holding the stacked base sections in one hand.

Abstract: A medical device configured to prevent bug infestation is disclosed. The medical device may be a dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis machine) for conducting dialysis treatments. The medical device (e.g., dialysis machine) including an ultrasonic generator and emitter arranged and configured to emit an ultrasonic high frequency sound to prevent bug infestation.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a feeder may be comprised of a body, a lid, and a cover. A food sheet may be engaged with an exterior portion of the body and a cover may be positioned over the food sheet, such that the food sheet is positioned between the body and the cover. A lid may be engaged with a terminal end of the body to secure the relative position of the cover with respect to the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to pre-conditioning an animal(s) to (the risk of) heat stress. The invention provides a control device for controlling a lighting device to illuminate at least one animal in a space, wherein the control device is configured to: obtain prediction data indicative of a value of an environmental condition in said space during a future time period; determine said value of the environmental condition based on the prediction data; determine a prediction of heat stress of the at least one animal in said space during the future time period if said value of the environmental condition falls within a predefined limit for heat stress; control, upon determining said prediction of heat stress, a lighting device to illuminate the at least one animal in said space with a lighting characteristic at least partly before said future time period.

Abstract: An aquarium system includes a tank, a motion sensor, and a light source. The motion sensor is adapted to sense motion within a predetermined distance from the tank. The light source has a controllable intensity projecting light into the tank. The intensity varies responsive to motion sensed by the motion sensor. When the motion sensor senses movement, the light is on at 100% intensity. After some period of no-motion, such as about 60 seconds, the lighting slowly dims to around 20% of full brightness. When it senses movement again, the lighting slowly ramps up to 100% intensity.

Abstract: A fishing lure assembly that includes a crank bait lure, a treble hook coupled to the rear loop of the crank bait lure, a spinner blade, a spinnerbait jig, and a fixture wire that couples the crank bait lure, the spinner blade, and the spinnerbait jig to define the fishing lure assembly, spaces the crank bait lure, the spinner blade, and the spinnerbait jig apart from one another, and provides a common connection point for securing the crank bait lure, the spinner blade, and the spinnerbait jig to a fishing line.

Abstract: A dog harness assembly comprising: a harness body adapted to be positioned on a chest portion of a dog, a pair of restraint loops coupled with the harness body and adapted to pass respectively under the left and right foreleg pits of the dog, each loop comprising a clasp adapted to be releasably fastened to a fastening arrangement provided in the harness body; a connector located in the harness body for engaging with a locking portion of a leash for allowing a user to exert a force for controlling movements of the dog wearing said harness when the harness is connected to the leash through said connector; a key or combination actuated locking arrangement coupled with said connector to provide a lockable connection between the leash and the harness wherein in a locked configuration the leash connector is prevented from being uncoupled from the connector; wherein the locking arrangement is coupled with said fastening arrangement such that in the locked configuration the clasps of the restraint loops engage with

Abstract: A multi-directional spreader bar assembly includes a specially formed rudder bird assembly attached to the center of a spreader bar member for trolling a plurality of lures from a fishing boat in a spread pattern. The rudder bird assembly includes a bird-like longitudinal body having an airfoil shape with fins on either side and a pair of diagonal crossing grooves centrally formed on the bottom of the body with a hole made therethrough that is off-centered from the longitudinal axis of the body and spaced apart from the crossing grooves. A rudder plate welded to a threaded stem is adapted to engage a selected one of the bottom grooves while the threaded stem extends through the off-centered hole and held in place under coaxial spring compression so that the rudder plate and stem may be released and reset into the alternate groove to switch the trolling direction of the assembly.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable dog kennel for providing a safe animal enclosure that saves space when not in use. The collapsible and expandable dog kennel generally includes top panels, side panels, a rear panel and a front panel. The kennel is rapidly mountable and dismountable to and from a vertical surface and thereby provides a secure and stable enclosure for an animal.

Abstract: Fishing rods that have a rod body comprising a shape memory material. The shape memory material useful with the rod body of the fishing rod can be a shape memory metal, a metal alloy, a shape memory polymer, or some combination of carbon fiber, fiberglass and metal, metal alloy, or polymer with shape memory attributes.

Abstract: The transfer machine comprises an input and output system (8) for inserting trays filled with incubated eggs into the transfer machine and for removing the emptied trays therefrom and a transfer system (9) for transferring the eggs from the trays to the floor of the poultry house. The transfer system (9) comprises a set of egg pickup members (28) mounted on a first sub-frame (30). The first sub-frame (30) is mounted on a second sub-frame (31) such that it can move up and down, the second sub-frame mounted on the frame (5) of the machine such that it can move back and forth between a first position, wherein the set of egg pickup members (28) is above the filled trays that have been inserted, and a second position, wherein the set of egg pickup members (28) is above the floor of the poultry house.

Abstract: A beehive assembly has a column of hive bodies which are releasably connected to a sheet metal spine of a sleeve which encircles a post mounted to the ground. The sleeve has a rack which engages a pinion mounted to the post with a handle which rotates the pinion and moves the sleeve and attached beehive vertically. A latching pawl is selectively released by a foot pedal mounted to the post. By turning the crank the column of hive bodies is caused to ascend into an operating position where the bee colony within the hive bodies is elevated above the ground, or is lowered to be accessible by a beekeeper.