Abstract: A laser pet toy including a light source with a focused beam of light of a predetermined shape and programmable random travel across an opaque surface such as a floor or wall to create an engaging image for a pet to play with the image for entertainment or exercise.

Abstract: A container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from a periphery of the base. A pair of supports are movable between a nesting position and at least one stack position. In one embodiment, the container includes projections outwardly from opposed walls that can be supported on the supports of an identical container.

Abstract: A bakery tray includes a base and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from side edges of the base. Front and rear walls extend upward from front and rear edges of the base. A plurality of recesses for receiving bakery items therein are formed in the base. This increases the number of bakery items that can be received in the tray and/or permits a decrease in the stacking height of the trays, thereby permitting another tray to be received on the stack. In one embodiment, the recesses are a plurality of parallel troughs formed in an upper surface of the base. In another embodiment, the plurality of recesses are formed in the ribs in the base, such that the bakery items are received in the recesses.

Abstract: A motorized cat toy having a suspended teaser toy at the end of a detachable stretchable string connected to a flexible swing arm biased against a waveguide within a housing having a programmable electronic control, a gearbox with meshing gears including one spur gear on the rotor of the motor to provide control of the teaser toy movement to include a twitch and other erratic movements pleasing to a cat.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.

Abstract: A crate or container, such as for transporting egg cartons or other items includes a base, opposed side walls and a rear wall extending upward from the base. A front wall opposite the rear wall includes an upper section and a lower section having a pair of rails extending upward therefrom. The upper section is selectably slidable on the rails between an upper, closed position and a lower, retracted, open position. In the retracted position, access to the interior of the crate is provided through the front of the crate.

Abstract: A collapsible container according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base and a plurality of walls, including a first wall, collapsible onto the base. A support is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first wall, such that an identical container would stack on the collapsible container at a first height when the support is in the first position and at a second height when the support is in the second position. In another embodiment, different stacking heights can be achieved by rotating the upper container 180 degrees relative to the lower container.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.

Abstract: A bottle carrier includes a base wall and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from side edges of the base wall. Front and rear openings are defined at front and rear ends of the base wall. Upper edges of the side walls may protrude outwardly to form lips. A plurality of bottles may be supported on the base wall between the side walls. A wrap may be wrapped around the bottles and the side walls to retain the bottles in the carrier. The wrap may include a tear strip to facilitate removal of the wrap from the carrier.

Abstract: A container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from a periphery of the base. A pair of supports are movable between a nesting position and at least one stack position. In one embodiment, the container includes projections outwardly from opposed walls that can be supported on the supports of an identical container.

Abstract: A container is provided which includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls, and a pair of opposed end walls which are transverse to the side walls. A support is pivotably mounted to each of the end walls. The support is configured to extend into the container and to fully retract out of the container. The support extends far enough into the container to reliably support another container thereon. The side and end walls may be pivotably connected to the base between an upright position generally perpendicular to the base and a collapsed position on the base.

Abstract: A vibrating sensor comprises an elongated element arranged to vibrate at a frequency dependent upon an external stress applied to the sensor, and an optical fiber for coupling light into an end of the element to excite it into vibration. A light-absorbing layer is provided on a longitudinal surface of the element such that the element will change its configuration, e.g. by bending, as the layer absorbs light and heats that side of the element, this alteration in configuration causing a reduction of radiation which is absorbed so that the element restores. The element may define a Fabry-Perot interferometer between its opposite ends.

Abstract: An optically driven microresonator sensor comprising a sensor member having a vibratory bridge onto which a light beam is directed at a non-zero angle relative to a normal to said bridge, the light beam causing the bridge to oscillate at its resonant frequency, in use, in the direction of said normal, between a first position, where most of the incident light is reflected by the bridge to a light intensity measuring system, and a second position, where most of the incident light is not intercepted by said bridge, so that the reflected incident light sensed by said light intensity measuring system is reduced, the resonant frequency of oscillation of the bridge thus determined from said system, being dependent upon the nature of an applied force, such as stress, exerted on the sensor member.

Abstract: A resonant beam sensor is excited into resonance by directing onto it a drive signal comprising light which has been amplitude modulated at the resonant frequency. A portion of the drive signal reflected by the sensor is demodulated by a photodetector to provide a measurement signal.

Abstract: A finger jointing machine in which timber is fed on a horizontal support table and is clamped against this table and against a vertical guide fence adjacent the table. The timber is clamped with the rear end of one piece of timber spaced from the front end of a second piece of timber at a defined spacing.A cutting and gluing unit is movable vertically through the space and carries two rotatable cutters, rotatable about horizontal axes, each cutter having axially spaced teeth, the teeth of one cutter being axially spaced from those of the other by half the spacing between the teeth. The cutters are caused to rotate in opposite directions so that the teeth of one cutter engaging the rear end of the one piece of timber and the teeth of the other cutter engaging the front end of the other piece of timber are both moving upwardly as the cutting and gluing unit is caused to move upwardly.