Abstract: An animal ball toy having an outer ball with a hollow chamber and at least one aperture defined therethrough. Disposed inside of the hollow chamber is an object, such as an inner ball. The object is made from a compressible material and/or the outer ball is made from a resilient material. During manufacture the object is compressed and/or the aperture in the outer ball is enlarged so as to pass the object through the aperture and into the hollow chamber of the outer ball. After being passed through the aperture, the object and/or the aperture are released to return to their original size and shape thereby prohibiting the object from exiting through the aperture.

Abstract: A strain reducing dog harness which comprises a single strap including a movable member disposed relative to the strap to define a single body loop of variable size. The strap is sized and arranged such that when mounted on the dog, the single body loop includes left and right strap portions which extend forwardly from the dog's shoulders, downwardly over the dog's chest, rearwardly under the respective left and right foreleg pits, and upwardly behind the dog's forelegs and over the dog's back. When the dog strains against a leash attached to the harness, a distributed pressure is applied to the chest, foreleg pits and back, to encourage the dog to relax to decrease the pressure. In another embodiment a single strap includes a first movable member and a second movable member which define a body loop and a neck loop.

Abstract: A litter and refuse retrieval device for sanitarily and single-handedly cleaning up after a pet. The device includes an outer frame having a handle at one end and outer nipples at the other end for pivotally mounting two scoops. Each scoop includes extended disk portions with holes therethrough that overlap with the disk portions of the other scoop placing the holes in alignment for insertion of the outer nipples of the outer frame. An inner control frame is carried by the outer frame and includes linkage arms having outwardly extending cylindrical portions having nipples extending therefrom for pivotally mounting the two scoops adjacent to the outer nipples. In operation, the inner control frame is squeezed by the user toward a stop potion of the outer frame, causing the scoops to pivot in opposite directions. Also provided is a spring biasing mechanism for closing the scoops after the user has released the inner control frame.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a fish tank is provided with an internally extending flange that circumscribes the top opening of the tank. A cover, having a screened opening, rests on the top of the tank and includes on its undersurface a locking mechanism which, by rotation of a removable key, engages the flange and prevents removal of the cover.

Abstract: A scoop for use in removing waste material from cat litter comprises a shovel portion and a handle portion. The shovel portion includes a base panel, two side panels and a rear panel, with each of the panels including a multiplicity of elongated slots for straining the cat litter. The handle portion is connected to the rear panel of the shovel portion near the top and a protective shield extends downwardly from the upper surface of the rear panel at an acute angle. The protective shield extends a distance sufficient to minimize the likelihood of a person's hand from contacting cat litter as it is sifted through the slots in the rear panel.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing apparatus for dry or liquid pet food of the type including a serving tray and a generally cylindrical storage container detachably secured to the tray so as to extend axially thereabove. The tray is provided with a generally circular opening for receiving the bottom of the storage container, and a flange projects radially into the opening. The flange is interrupted over a predetermined circumferential arc. The bottom of the storage container has a skirt portion that flairs downwardly and outwardly and has an outside diameter which is larger than the inside diameter of the interrupted flange. On the flaired skirt, a pair of diametrically opposed lugs project radially outwardly and each lug has a circumferential dimension which is smaller than the circumferential extent of the interruption in the tray flange. Immediately above the flaired skirt there is provided a downwardly facing annular seat.