Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: A poly tape accessory for an electric fence gate handle, the combination of the poly tape accessory and an electric fence gate handle configured to accommodate the poly tape accessory, and a method of securing the poly tape to the accessory is provided. The accessory is electrically conductive and includes a neck and a head with a plurality of slots through which the poly tape is woven to secure the poly tape while retaining adjustability. The neck of the accessory has a locating feature and a locking tab by which the accessory can be removably coupled to an electric fence gate handle through a quarter-turn motion of the accessory relative to the gate handle without the need for any tools.

Abstract: A chip-clip type snap trap for rodents is provided that includes a bait cup covered by a bait cap that prevents setting of the trap when the bait cap is in place, high side walls to properly orient a rodent before trap activation, and grip elements on the lid and base to prevent finger slippage when setting the trap. The lid and base of the trap snap together without the need for pins, fasteners or tools, providing for easy and cost-effective manufacture.

Abstract: A liquid ant bait pack having a primary bait well and a plurality of feeding reservoirs for holding liquid bait is provided in which the walls of the feeding reservoirs as well as the primary bait well are sloped to facilitate ant access to the liquid bait held therein while reducing the risk of the ants falling into the bait and drowning. Ant access is further facilitated by dry platform areas positioned between the reservoirs. The inclusion of multiple feeding reservoirs, the bait well and the dry platform areas provides an increased area over which ants can simultaneously access the bait. The entrance to the bait pack is sealed during manufacture and then readily opened by the consumer using a tear-off tab that can removed without the need for any tools.

Abstract: A pre-tensioned door opening assembly and a lock plate releasing mechanism for an animal cage trap having an entry door operative with an animal access opening and a locking mechanism that is engaged upon door closure to prevent the door from being opened by a trapped animal. The pre-tensioned door opening assembly includes a plurality of cable routing elements, and an automatic-return retracting mechanism having a cable. The housing of the automatic-return retracting mechanism is mounted outside the enclosure with the cable being routed through the cable routing elements and operatively coupled with the door. The lock plate releasing mechanism is mounted on the trap roof in functional cooperation with the locking mechanism. The lock plate releasing mechanism disengages the locking mechanism to allow the pre-tensioned door opening assembly to open the entry door of the trap.

Abstract: A chip-clip type snap trap for rodents is provided that includes a bait cup covered by a bait cap that prevents setting of the trap when the bait cap is in place, high side walls to properly orient a rodent before trap activation, and grip elements on the lid and base to prevent finger slippage when setting the trap. The lid and base of the trap snap together without the need for pins, fasteners or tools, providing for easy and cost-effective manufacture.

Abstract: A snap type rodent trap with remote notification capability is provided. The trap includes a non-conductive base, conductive bail and trigger components, and an electronic PCB assembly mounted on the trap base. According to a first embodiment, the base is wood and the PCB assembly is selectively coated or printed with a layer of a flexible conductive material that contacts bail and trigger wire components mounted on the upper surface of the trap base as well as a conductive strip positioned to be contacted by the bail when the trap is tripped and empty. According to a second embodiment, the base is molded plastic. The PCB assembly in both embodiments is configured to detect and provide remote notification of trap states using the bail as an antenna. A method of retrofitting a snap type trap with an electronics monitoring system is also provided.

Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: A liquid ant bait pack having a primary bait well and a plurality of feeding reservoirs for holding liquid bait is provided in which the walls of the feeding reservoirs as well as the primary bait well are sloped to facilitate ant access to the liquid bait held therein while reducing the risk of the ants falling into the bait and drowning. Ant access is further facilitated by dry platform areas positioned between the reservoirs. The inclusion of multiple feeding reservoirs, the bait well and the dry platform areas provides an increased area over which ants can simultaneously access the bait. The entrance to the bait pack is sealed during manufacture and then readily opened by the consumer using a tear-off tab that can removed without the need for any tools.

Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: A pre-tensioned door opening assembly and a lock plate releasing mechanism for an animal cage trap having an entry door operative with an animal access opening and a locking mechanism that is engaged upon door closure to prevent the door from being opened by a trapped animal. The pre-tensioned door opening assembly includes a plurality of cable routing elements, and an automatic-return retracting mechanism having a cable. The housing of the automatic-return retracting mechanism is mounted outside the enclosure with the cable being routed through the cable routing elements and operatively coupled with the door. The lock plate releasing mechanism may be a timed-release mechanism which is mounted on the trap roof in functional cooperation with the locking mechanism. The timed-release mechanism disengages the locking mechanism to allow the pre-tensioned door opening assembly to open the entry door of the trap and release a trapped animal through the animal access opening once the operator is a safe distance away.

Abstract: A chip-clip type snap trap for rodents is provided that includes a bait cup covered by a bait cap that prevents setting of the trap when the bait cap is in place, high side walls to properly orient a rodent before trap activation, and grip elements on the lid and base to prevent finger slippage when setting the trap. The lid and base of the trap snap together without the need for pins, fasteners or tools, providing for easy and cost-effective manufacture.

Abstract: A liquid ant bait pack having a primary bait well and a plurality of feeding reservoirs for holding liquid bait is provided in which the walls of the feeding reservoirs as well as the primary bait well are sloped to facilitate ant access to the liquid bait held therein while reducing the risk of the ants falling into the bait and drowning. Ant access is further facilitated by dry platform areas positioned between the reservoirs. The inclusion of multiple feeding reservoirs, the bait well and the dry platform areas provides an increased area over which ants can simultaneously access the bait. The entrance to the bait pack is sealed during manufacture and then readily opened by the consumer using a tear-off tab that can removed without the need for any tools.

Abstract: A snap type rodent trap with remote notification capability is provided. The trap includes a non-conductive base, conductive bail and trigger components, and an electronic PCB assembly mounted on the trap base. According to a first embodiment, the base is wood and the PCB assembly is selectively coated or printed with a layer of a flexible conductive material that contacts bail and trigger wire components mounted on the upper surface of the trap base as well as a conductive strip positioned to be contacted by the bail when the trap is tripped and empty. According to a second embodiment, the base is molded plastic. The PCB assembly in both embodiments is configured to detect and provide remote notification of trap states using the bail as an antenna. A method of retrofitting a snap type trap with an electronics monitoring system is also provided.

Abstract: A liquid ant bait pack having a primary bait well and a plurality of feeding reservoirs for holding liquid bait is provided in which the walls of the feeding reservoirs as well as the primary bait well are sloped to facilitate ant access to the liquid bait held therein while reducing the risk of the ants falling into the bait and drowning. Ant access is further facilitated by dry platform areas positioned between the reservoirs. The inclusion of multiple feeding reservoirs, the bait well and the dry platform areas provides an increased area over which ants can simultaneously access the bait. The entrance to the bait pack is sealed during manufacture and then readily opened by the consumer using a tear-off tab that can removed without the need for any tools.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder is provided that has a nectar container with a lower end liquid flow opening, a nectar basin positioned below the nectar container and removably coupled thereto, and a recessed elastomeric sealing member. The nectar basin includes an upper part and a lower part that are separable from one another and configured to be engaged along adjacent surfaces thereof. The recessed elastomeric sealing member is held against a retaining structure and is positioned to be engaged between the upper and lower parts of the nectar basin to create a liquid tight seal of the nectar basin when the feeder components are assembled.

Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: A bird feeder cable lid lock is provided for a bird feeder having a feed reservoir body with a removable lid having an aperture therein, and a wire or cable threaded through the aperture by which the feeder is suspended in use. The cable lid lock includes a threaded bolt having an axial hole through which the hanging cable is fed and an internally threaded base element in abutment with the lid and having a stepped or tapered bore with a diminishing diameter that receives the bolt. The bolt has a relief cut in the shank to form at least two arms on different sides of the cable. The arms are pressed toward one another as the bolt is tightened into the diminishing diameter base element bore, squeezing the cable where it extends through the bolt and exerting a significant force normal to the cable that, with the coefficient of friction, creates a very effective locking action on the cable to secure the lid against the feed reservoir body.

Abstract: A poly tape accessory for an electric fence gate handle, the combination of the poly tape accessory and an electric fence gate handle configured to accommodate the poly tape accessory, and a method of securing the poly tape to the accessory is provided. The accessory is electrically conductive and includes a neck and a head with a plurality of slots through which the poly tape is woven to secure the poly tape while retaining adjustability. The neck of the accessory has a locating feature and a locking tab by which the accessory can be removably coupled to an electric fence gate handle through a quarter-turn motion of the accessory relative to the gate handle without the need for any tools.