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 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 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 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.

Abstract: A trellis is described herein, including a series of upright posts, cross beams supported by the posts in an elevated state, at least one line holder fitted to each beam, each holder having one or more downwardly facing retaining slot or slots, and vine lines connected to the holders such that they are located in and pass through the retaining slots so that the lines run laterally in rows and can be non-destructively removed from the slots by exerting downward pressure on the lines.

Abstract: Plant supplement delivery assemblies are provided that can include an insert having collapsible insert sidewalls complimentary to the exterior sidewalls of the delivery assembly housing, the collapsible insert sidewalls defining at least a portion of a container configured to house a plant supplement. A butt end of the insert can be configured to operably engage a biased member. Methods for providing plant supplements are also provided. The methods can include operably engaging a biased member with a butt end of a container to collapse sidewalls of the container and provide plant supplement from the container through a stem into a plant. Methods for recycling components of a plant supplement delivery assembly are also provided. The methods can include, after providing plant supplements from an insert of a plant supplement delivery assembly, removing the spent insert from the assembly and replacing the spent insert with a sealed insert.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a non-spring based lock mechanism, described as a lock and lever, telescoping slide assembly comprising an elongated, stationary, multi-faceted tube. Also disclosed is a snaring tool employing the non spring based lock mechanism for gripping items such as industrial pipe and other large moving items which can be ensnared. An optional locking pin mechanism can be added to the lock and lever slide assembly to avoid accidental release of the gripping means.

Abstract: A door assembly (13) for an animal enclosure, the door assembly comprising: a frame (23) for mounting over an aperture (21) in a wall of the enclosure; a door (19) moveably mounted in the frame (23), the door (19) being moveable between a position where the aperture in the wall is open for the passage of an animal and a position where the aperture in the wall is closed thereby to prevent the passage of an animal; and a motor (37) for driving the door (19) between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a kit is provided for euthanizing animals. The kit makes use of an enclosure and a canister. The enclosure is configured to hold one or more animals. The canister holds the reactants that are combined to form the euthanizing agent and provides a mechanism for the reactants to be delivered to and mixed together in the enclosure. The canister is designed and configured to allow for the reactants to be added rapidly and nearly simultaneously into a chamber while preventing one or more animals held in the enclosure from direct contact with the reactants.

Abstract: An agricultural trellis system is provided and generally includes an anchor stake configured to extend at least partially into the ground, a mounting plate coupled to the anchor stake, and at least one trellis arm pivotably coupled to the mounting plate. The mounting plate can have a pivot aperture, a first plate aperture, and a second plate aperture configured to position the trellis arm at different angles relative to a plane orthogonal to a major axis of the anchor stake. The trellis arm is pivotable between alignment with the first plate aperture and disposed at a first angle, and alignment with the second plate aperture and disposed at a second angle different than the first angle. A pin can couple the trellis arm to the mounting plate via the first or second plate apertures. In use, the system can have two trellis arms disposed at the same or different angles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides generally for an improved system to constrain animals. More specifically, the present disclosure describes an animal safety constraint system that may be used to safely and securely restrain animals, such as for grooming, veterinary inspection, or shearing, as non-limiting examples. The animal safety constraint system may be customized according to the needs of the user or the occupant. The animal safety constraint system may be mobile or stationary, depending on the configuration the user sets up for the animal safety constraint system.

Abstract: A method to inhibit bees from escaping a hive through a hive entrance, including the steps of providing a source for cooling air, and operating the source for cooling air to provide air cooling at the hive entrance to a temperature below 14° C. to provide thermal conditions at the hive entrance that inhibit bees from leaving the hive through the hive entrance.