ni Transverse adjustment mechanism for bilateral half-spring type load-carrying head By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transverse adjustment mechanism for a bilateral half-spring type load-carrying head is installed in the casing of the load-carrying head of the lifting unit of a pit type unwheeling machine, fixedly connected with the casing, directly connected to an adjustment unit at the end of the load-carrying head, and installed on a lead screw of the adjustment unit. The transverse adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting nut, an adjusting nut guide, a guiding tube, and a guiding sleeve, a nut mounting plate, a flange plate, a compression spring and a sliding shaft. The invention is currently applied to the transverse adjustment of the no-loading heads and transverse fine adjustment of the load-carrying heads of a China Railway High-speed (CRH) train. The structure is reliable and practical, safe, convenient and energy-saving to use and satisfies the demand for the synchronous lifting operation of the entire CRH train of the compatible pit type unwheeling machine. Full Article
ni Brake and capture system for zip lining By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A brake and capture system for zip lining are disclosed. The brake has a housing with first and second ends. Inside the brake are a number of fixed guide plates, each with an angled slot. A number of wheels are mounted are movably mounted within the housing so as to be guided by the angled slots. When the brake is struck by a trolley with sufficient momentum, the wheels within the brake are driven inwardly by the angled slots, into rolling engagement with the zip line, to slow the trolley. The trolley and brake may be provided with complementary engaging structures, such that the brake may be sent out on the zip line to capture the trolley if it has insufficient momentum. Full Article
ni Transport system powered by short block linear synchronous motors and switching mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. Full Article
ni Amusement ride comprising a facial expression recognition system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The amusement ride 1 comprises a track 2 and a vehicle 3 being moveable along the track 2 at a velocity v. Within the vehicle 3 a video camera 4 is installed. The video camera 4 takes a video film of the face of a passenger received within the vehicle 3 during a ride. A sender 5 transmits the data 6 to a facial expression recognition system 7. The result 10 of the process carried out by facial expression recognition system 7 may be downloaded from a server 11 by a client 13. Full Article
ni Method and apparatus for communicating irrigation data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems control an irrigation system that includes an irrigation controller, a valve actuator, and at least one irrigation sensor connected by a communication circuit. A sensor charging pulse having a temporal duration less than a solenoid actuation time threshold for a solenoid is provided over the communication circuit. The sensor charging pulse charges a charge storage device in at least one irrigation sensor. A series of addressing pulses is also generated over the communication circuit, which indicate a device identifier of at least one irrigation sensor. The series of addressing pulses activate at least one irrigation sensor having the device identifier indicated by the series of addressing pulses such that the activated irrigation sensor provides a sensor signal indicative of an irrigation condition to the irrigation controller via the communication network. Full Article
ni High-pressure cleaning apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In order to improve a high-pressure cleaning apparatus comprising a pump unit adapted to be driven by motor, a first connection element for detachable connection to a liquid supply conduit, said first connection element being connected to the suction side of the pump unit, and a second connection element for detachable connection to a high-pressure conduit, said second connection element being connected to the pressure side of the pump unit, such that it can be handled in a more user-friendly manner, the invention proposes that the first connection element and/or the second connection element be oriented in a direction facing upward away from a supporting surface for the high-pressure cleaning apparatus. Full Article
ni Device for handling notes of value, comprising two intermediate storage units for the intermediate storage of notes of value By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a device (10) for handling notes of value, comprising a sensor unit (300) for detection of at least one feature of each note of value, and a control unit (28) which classifies the notes of value into accepted notes of value and sheet-shaped media to be returned, dependent on the feature to be detected by the sensor unit (300). A sorting gate (400) is arranged downstream the sensor unit (300), wherein the control unit (28) controls the sorting gate (400) to supply notes of value classified as accepted notes of value to a first intermediate storage (32), and notes of value classified as sheet-shaped media to be returned to a second intermediate storage (500). Full Article
ni Gate mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a gate mechanism (100) mounted on a side frame (210) of a financial automated machine cash slot (230a), wherein the gate mechanism comprises a gate (10), a driving mechanism (20) and a pair of locking mechanisms (30) controlling the gate (10), with the lower end of the gate (10) being connected with a front end (240a) of the frame side (240) in such a way as to be able to slide up and down, and the upper end of the gate (10) being connected with an upper end (240b) of the frame side (240) in such a way as to be able to slide back and forth, and the driving mechanism (20) driving the upper end of the gate (10) in sliding back and forth at the upper end (240b) of the frame side (240), while causing the lower end of the gate (10) to move up and down at the front end (240a) of the frame side (240), thus achieving opening and closing of the gate (10). The gate mechanism (100) can reduce the motion enveloping space of the gate (10) and has the advantage of a compact structure. Full Article
ni Device for handling notes of value, comprising a stack merging unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a device (10) for handling notes of value, comprising two intermediate storages (32, 500) for intermediate storage of notes of value and a stack combining unit (802). The stack combining unit (802) combines a first stack formed by notes of value intermediately stored in the first intermediate storage (32) and a second stack formed by notes of value intermediately stored in the second intermediate storage (500) to a single combined stack. Full Article
ni Method for handling valuable documents having an aligning unit for aligning banknotes and checks By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A device for handling notes of value including a transport unit for transport of the notes of value in a transport direction along a transport path, and an aligning unit for alignment of the notes of value. The device further includes a sensor arranged upstream of the aligning unit for determining at least one feature of the notes of value, and a control unit that controls the aligning unit such that the aligning unit aligns each note of value depending on the determined expression of the feature of the note of value in a preset first target alignment or at least in a preset second target alignment that is different from the first target alignment. Full Article
ni Bezel assembly comprising image recognition for use with an automated transaction device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The bezel assembly for data reception, for use with a bill validator in a financial transactional device, includes a bezel housing and a data reception assembly. The bezel housing includes a customer-facing front portion and a back plate connectable to the bill validator that is mounted within the transactional device cabinet. The front portion includes an insertion/dispensing slot for receiving currency and a projecting protrusion forward of the casing. The forward-extending protrusion accommodates at least a portion of the data reception assembly. The bezel assembly can include a wireless communication function that is communicably connectable with a mobile device via a wireless communication method, a manual entry function, a biometric reader, one or more cameras for scanning and decrypting 2D barcodes and the like, thus enhancing the overall functionality of the financial transactional device. Full Article
ni Mobile communication device and method for identifying a counterfeit bill By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for identifying a counterfeit bill is provided. The apparatus includes a camera module configured to receive a captured IR image of a bill; a binary image generator configured to generate a binary image of the bill, based on the IR image; a distance value calculator configured to compare a predetermined area of the binary image with a predetermined area of a pre-stored real bill database corresponding to the predetermined area of the binary image; and a corrected image generator configured to generate a corrected image based on a result of the comparison. Full Article
ni Banknote handling device and passing unit used therein By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A banknote handling device includes a safe that protects banknotes (casing of a second unit), a first conveyance path externally provided to the safe, and a second conveyance path internally provided to the safe. The safe is provided with at least one opening portion through which the banknotes pass. A passing unit including a passing conveyance mechanism that passes a banknote between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path and a left-behind sensor that detects a banknote that is left-behind, is detachably installed inside the opening portion of the safe. Full Article
ni Cash handling system, cash handling method, management unit and cash accounting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a cash handling system capable of reliably storing sales proceeds and the like stored in a cash settlement apparatus into a cash accounting apparatus. A cash management system 1 includes a cash settlement apparatus 11, a cash accounting apparatus 21 and the cash transport cassette 30. The cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash accounting apparatus 21 have reading units 157, 257, respectively, which are configured to read out cassette ID information from a memory unit 35 of the cash transport cassette 30. In addition, the cash management system 1 further includes: a management unit 26 having a depositing judgment unit 26A configured to judge whether cash in the cash settlement apparatus 11 to be received by the cash transport cassette 30 can be deposited into the cash accounting apparatus 21 or not; a guide apparatus configured to guide information from the management unit 26; and a comparison unit 27 configured to compare the cassette ID information read out by the reading unit 257 of the cash accounting apparatus 21 and the information from the management unit 26. Full Article
ni Reductant delivery unit for automotive selective catalytic reduction with gasket anti-deposit shielding structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reductant delivery unit (10) includes a fluid injector (12) and a flange (20) coupled with the fluid injector. An exhaust boss (28) has a surface (39) defining a through-hole (40) that communicates with a vehicle's exhaust flow path. The flange is coupled to a mounting surface such that the outlet of the fluid injector communicates with the exhaust flow path so as to control injection of urea solution into the exhaust gas flow path. A gasket (32) is sandwiched between the flange and the mounting surface. The gasket has a surface (37) defining a through-hole (38) therein that communicates with the through-hole in the exhaust boss to permit the urea solution to pass from the fluid outlet to the exhaust flow path. Gasket shielding structure (44) covers the surface defining the through-hole in the gasket to prevent the urea solution from contacting the gasket. Full Article
ni Stator seal structure in uniaxial screw pump By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a stator seal structure in a uniaxial eccentric screw pump by which the abrasion resistance of sealing mechanisms is improved and the pumped fluid can be prevented from stagnating in the sealing mechanisms. The stator seal structure is provided with a pair of sealing mechanisms for sealing between a housing and an intake side end portion, and between the housing and a discharge side end portion of the stator. The pair of sealing mechanisms is provided with ring-shaped secured rings respectively secured to the housing. The secured rings are respectively attached with elastic bodies for ensuring contact pressures between the sliding seal surface of the stator and the sliding seal surface of the secured rings with the elastic forces of the elastic bodies and for sealing between the secured rings and the housing. Full Article
ni Fiber reinforced elastomer anisotropic annular blowout preventer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A packer unit for an annular blowout preventer including an annular elastomer body including an elastomer having a unidirectional grain and a quantity of fiber longitudinally aligned with the grain of the elastomer. A method of forming a packing unit for a blowout preventer including forming a fiber reinforced elastomer by aligning fibers with a grain of an elastomer; cutting a portion from the fiber reinforced elastomer in the direction of the grain; loading the cut portion in a packing unit mold such that the grain of the fiber reinforced elastomer of the cut portion is parallel to a packing unit axis; and heating the loaded packing unit mold. Full Article
ni Transition assemblies for building opening By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sealing assembly for securely and insulatively maintaining a window or door and surrounding frame arrangement within an opening of a building wall. The sealing assembly comprises an elongated foam cell body member arranged within a channel of the surrounding frame arrangement of the window or door, wherein the elongated cell body member has a wall-opening-facing side. An elongated caulking band flange member is arranged in abutting relationship with a corner of the elongated foam cell body member. A thin flexible air fin is arranged in close environmental sealing relationship with the elongated foam cell body member and the opening in the wall of the building. A securement member is arranged to fasten the window or door surrounding frame arrangement, the elongated foam cell body member and the air fin, all to the building wall opening. Full Article
ni Pumping seal having projections for axially positioning a biasing member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seal assembly is for sealing between a housing and a rotary shaft includes an annular sealing member coupled with the housing and having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and a plurality of projections extending radially from the outer surface and spaced circumferentially about a central axis. Each projection has first and second axial ends and the plurality of projections define first and second projections. An annular biasing member is disposed about the sealing member outer surface and exerts an inwardly directed force on the sealing member. The biasing member has first and second ends and is arranged on the sealing member with the biasing member first end contacting the second end of each first projection and the biasing member second end contacting the first end of each second projection. As such, the biasing member extends axially and circumferentially between the first and second projections. Full Article
ni Seal mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seal mechanism, including: a plate spring having a main body portion which has a curved shape and a pair of hook portions which are formed by bending the main body portion; and a seal member having a seal surface and a pair of projecting portions which are formed on an opposite side of the seal surface to catch the hook portions. Full Article
ni Speaker diaphragm, speaker, and electronic equipment and mobile device using the speaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A speaker diaphragm of the present invention is formed by mixing polylactic acid as a plant-derived resin, bamboo fibers and a natural binder. It is thereby possible to realize a speaker diaphragm capable of obtaining sufficient sound velocity, while having low environmental load and high sound quality. Full Article
ni Positioning an input transducer for an earpiece based upon dynamic data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. Full Article
ni Digital communication system for loudspeakers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A communication system for communicating with at least one loudspeaker is described where the loudspeaker is connected to audio equipment over standard two-wire speaker wire operable to carry an audio signal. The communication system includes a master node in electrical communication with a signal path carrying the audio signal between the audio equipment and the loudspeaker, the master node also including an interface with the audio equipment, a data encoder operable to encode data signals, a data transceiver operable to place the data signals onto the audio signal at frequencies above audio frequencies. The communication system also includes at least one slave node in electrical communication with the audio signal and each loudspeaker, the slave node including a data transceiver operable to receive data signals from the master node, a data decoder, and an interface able to communicate with the loudspeaker. Full Article
ni Protective enclosure for enhancing sound from an electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective enclosure for an electronic device can include a waveguide to direct and enhance sound waves emanating from a speaker of an electronic device when installed in the protective enclosure. The waveguide can include a first end and a second end. The first end of the waveguide can be located proximate the speaker of the electronic device. The waveguide can increase in cross-sectional area between the first end and the second end. Full Article
ni Protective enclosure for enhancing sound from an electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective enclosure for an electronic device can include a waveguide to direct and enhance sound waves emanating from a speaker of an electronic device when installed in the protective enclosure. The waveguide can include a first end and a second end. The first end of the waveguide can be located proximate the speaker of the electronic device. The waveguide can increase in cross-sectional area between the first end and the second end. The second end of the waveguide can be located proximate a front surface of the protective enclosure and can direct sound waves toward a user of the electronic device. Full Article
ni Sound suppressor device for an air drying unit of a compressed-air supply system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sound suppressor device for an air drying unit of a compressed-air supply system having a sound suppressor housing on which is arranged an inlet opening for the supply of condensate-laden compressed air to be discharged from the air drying unit and at least one outlet opening for the discharge of the condensate-laden compressed air to the outside, wherein the inlet opening issues into at least one pre-chamber of the sound suppressor housing, which pre-chamber issues into post-chambers which are connected in parallel and which are arranged around a heating rod arranged centrally in the sound suppressor housing. Full Article
ni Garnish double ring for speaker seal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adaptive speaker panel is provided. The speaker panel can have a speaker opening and a pair of concentric sealing ribs proximate to the speaker opening, the pair of sealing ribs having a first sealing rib and a second sealing rib towards a center of the speaker opening from the first sealing rib. The first sealing rib is first sealing rib dimensioned to seal against a first speaker basket and the second sealing rib dimensioned to seal against a second speaker basket that is smaller than the first speaker basket. Also, the first sealing rib and the second sealing rib are operatively arranged such that without modification to the speaker panel the first speaker basket or the second speaker basket can be attached to and sealed against the panel. Full Article
ni Sound absorbing body and electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sound absorbing body includes parts of different densities including a plurality of non-dense parts of lower density and a plurality of dense parts of higher density. The non-dense parts and the dense parts are alternately laminated obliquely. Full Article
ni Gun dog training tool and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gundog training tool prevents gun shyness by gradually allowing a pup to adapt to the sound of a gunshot. A pop gun shoots treats upon creating a simulated gunshot so that the dog grows used to the sound of a gunshot and creates positive reinforcement rewarded by the treat. As the pup learns, a charge in a housing is introduced to provide a simulated gunshot that expels a treat that trains the dog to feel excitement at the sound and smell of a gunshot. The size of the charge adjusts to create louder simulated gunshots as the pup learns so that the pup is prepared for introduction to actual gunshots, such as from a shotgun shooting at a bird. Full Article
ni Animal identification system and related method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for identifying an animal comprises an identification tag/transponder device surgically implanted into tissue of the animal and a scanning unit. As the animal passes in a vicinity of a scanning unit, the system causes the identification device to send a signal to a receiving portion of the scanning unit, and processes the signal, and identifies the animal from the signal. The system is of particular benefit to veterinary surgeries in assisting their smooth operation. Full Article
ni Lightweight clumping animal litter and method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Animal litter having up to a sixty percent reduction in bulk density can be produced by combining flat-shaped cellulosic materials and sodium bentonite clay. Not only is the resulting litter lighter, but it also maintains a high clump strength as compared to clay-based animal litters that contain greater than ninety percent by weight sodium bentonite clay. Full Article
ni Animal keeping installation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Animal keeping installation comprising a floor (11) provided with a mat (12) on which the animal treads when setting foot on the floor (11) and which mat (12) is arranged to be intermittently propelled by a drive roll (13) placed internally in relation to the mat (12), wherein the drive roll (13) is connected to and mounted in bearing journals (15) for rotation about its center axis in a pendulum (14) which allows the drive roll (13), on the one hand, to bear against the inner side of the mat (12) and, on the other hand, to be released from the said bearing contact in dependence on the position of the pendulum (14), and wherein the drive roll (13) is connected to a drive member (18, 19, 51, 62) for driving the roll (13) at least into a position where the drive roll (13) bears against the mat (12). Full Article
ni Animal run line cornering mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An animal run line cornering mechanism with a corner component and leash component. The corner component is dumbbell shaped with a narrow body, a ball at one end with an aperture for the line, and a support attachment. The leash component has a tubular line ring with a shaped gap so that it appears C-shaped in end view, and leash ring attached to the line ring. The gap is wider than the corner component body and narrower than the line so that it is captured by the line. The line ring diameter is larger than the corner component ball and line diameters so that it moves freely along the line. The gap is defined by opposed edges of the line ring walls that taper to a rounded apexes. When the body hits the a tapered line ring wall, the body slides along the wall until it slides through the gap. Full Article
ni Method of and system for managing a group of dairy animals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a system and method of managing a group of dairy animals. More particularly, the invention relates to measuring one or more milk parameters, comparing this parameter to a criterion, and allowing an animal access to a pasture based on this comparison. The milk parameter is related to the composition of milk obtained from a dairy animal in as far as the composition is defined by at least one of the amount of protein and the energy intake of the dairy animal. The measured milk parameter is, for example, urea. Access to the pasture will be completely or partly blocked for a dairy animal having a high content of urea. This dairy animal is thus prevented from taking in an undesirably large amount of protein. Full Article
ni Method and system for enhancing growth and survivability of aquatic organisms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for enhancing the production of aquatic organisms under cultivation, including the steps of exposing the aquatic organisms to a submerged illumination source inside water of a rearing unit; and maintaining illumination in the rearing unit for a rearing period. Full Article
ni Animal emotion display system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An animal emotion display system 100 including: a transmitter 10 which is attached to an animal; and a receiver 20 which is capable of communicating with the transmitter, wherein the transmitter 10 includes: a tail wagging detection sensor 12 to detect a plurality of kinds of tail wagging of the animal as a plurality of kinds of emotion of the animal, respectively; and a transmitting section 15 to transmit emotion data corresponding to the respective kinds of tail wagging detected by the tail wagging detection sensor 12 to the receiver 20, and the receiver 20 includes: a receiving section 22 to receive the emotion data transmitted by the transmitting section 15; a display section 25; and a display control section 24 to display a display content corresponding to the emotion data received by the receiving section 22 on the display section 25. Full Article
ni Animal watering system with improved electrical isolation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for monitoring and mitigating leakage currents is disclosed. The data acquisition system records data from multiple monitoring locations over extended periods of time to identify stray voltage and/or leakage currents present at the monitoring location. The data is processed to identify trends in the stray voltage and/or leakage currents and to suggest methods for mitigating the same. Full Article
ni Aquarium with a self-contained cleaning apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to an aquarium cleaning apparatus, systems and methods for removing debris from the aquarium, and in particular, a self-contained cleaning apparatus that utilizes a siphon effect created by pouring water in an aquarium tank and/or pulling water out of an aquarium tank, such as via a vacuum. In a preferred embodiment, the siphon operation occurs because of the difference between the water level of the aquarium tank and the vertical height of a spout attached to the top of a vertical tube. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to immerse their hands in the aquarium water to operate the cleaning device. Full Article
ni Ultrasonic stimulating pet toy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates generally to an ultrasonic stimulating pet toy and, more specifically, to a mouse-like pet toy comprising a sound chip assembly that emits ultrasonic vocalizations that replicate those studied in mice. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Full Article
ni Multi-level aquaculture device for benthic organisms such as bivalves, aquaculture method, and biofilter using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An elongate rectangular cultivation box having an open top, is configured so as to allow an outer tank, which serves as a cultivating water storage part, and an inner tank, which serves as a receptacle for bivalves (benthic organisms) S that are to be cultivated, to be both combined and separated. A gap that serves as a water supply opening and a gap that serves as a space in which sediments can accumulate on the bottom of the outer tank are defined when the inner tank is accommodated in the outer tank. Water passage holes are provided in the bottom of the shellfish receptacle (inner tank) and a mesh filter such as netting is stretched across the top face of the bottom. The cultivation boxes are arranged in a vertically stacked manner, with the front portions and rear portions thereof staggered so that cultivation water W that overflows over a front ledge of a shellfish receptacle flows downward into the supply water storage part of a lower cultivation box. Full Article
ni Dog chew toy for canine dental care and method for making chew toy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A chew toy for canine dental care formed of a plurality of elongated rawhide strands, each strand defining a width within the range of about 0.20 to 7.5 millimeters and a thickness within the range of about 0.20 to 3.0 millimeters. The strands are braided together so as to define at least one rawhide braid of a desired size. The rawhide braid is wound or twisted and tied to define a desired chew toy size and shape that, upon be chewed by a dog, provides a messaging of the dog's gums and a cleaning and flossing of the dog's teeth. The chew toy can be soaked in an aqueous solution containing one or more therapeutic agents and/or an animal attractant and baked dry to impregnate the agent(s) or attractant within the rawhide for release when chewed by a dog. Full Article
ni Soiled animal litter separating device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for separating clean litter from soiled litter comprising a receptacle with one inlet and two discharge outlets. Soiled animal litter enters the receptacle through the inlet and clean litter is separated out from the soiled litter. When the container is tilted in a first direction, feces exit the container through the first outlet and clean litter is retained in the receptacle. When the container is tilted in a second direction, clean litter exits the container through the second outlet and clean litter is retained in the receptacle. Full Article
ni Method and device for milking a dairy animal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a device for and method of milking dairy animals, in particular cows. The device and method have been improved in order to enhance the efficiency of use. In one embodiment, for the milking, teat cups are connected by means of a robot arm to respective teats of the dairy animal. This makes it possible to start the milking of the teats of the dairy animal. A milk flow from the respective teat can be measured. The milking can be ended by means of a control unit in dependence on a comparison value which is calculated on the basis of a milking parameter representative of a milk flow from the respective teat and in dependence on a deactivation threshold. According to the invention, the milking of the last teat is ended in dependence on a last-teat period to be calculated. Full Article
ni Animal leash and harness By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A collar/harness and optionally leash system and method for assembling, using and manufacturing the same is provided. The system may include a single strap including means for connecting attached along the strap at positions predefined to be assembled to form a first loop adapted for use as a collar and a second loop adapted for use as a harness. The first and second loops of the assembled strap may form a figure-eight design. Full Article
ni Microcosm terrestrial and aquatic landscape habitat: a freestanding “miniature mountain” chain, topiary, upper pool, waterfall and pond-aquarium hybrid habitat with natural curves By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The “Microcosm Terrestrial and Aquatic Landscape Habitat” is a Main Basin Pond 4 surrounded on three sides by artificial rock, “Miniature Mountains” 3 a, 3 b, 3 c or Natural Looking Imitation Rocks. The fourth, front side has no “Miniature Mountains” or Natural Looking Imitation Rocks to enclose the Main Basin Pond. Instead, here I adhere on a Pane of Glass 2 a to the imitation rock surface using Silicon Sealant 2 b or other sealants 2 c: A pond-aquarium hybrid! The “Miniature Mountains” are higher than the water level in the Main Basin Pond. On the top or sides of the “Miniature Mountains” is an Upper Pool 5. Water in the Main Basin Pond is circulated up to the Upper Pool using a Submersible; Electric, Aquatic, Pump 8. From the Upper Pool, the Water then flows down a Water Course to the Waterfalls and back to the Main Basin Pond to oxygenate the water. Full Article
ni Web assembly for making and maintaining a contour of a baseball or a softball glove By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A web assembly can be used for making and maintaining a contour of a baseball or softball glove. The web assembly comprises a plurality of horizontal straps comprising a top strap and a bottom strap mechanically coupled to a plurality of vertical straps comprising a left strap and a right strap. A right durable strap and left durable strap are mechanically coupled to at least one horizontal strap where the at least one horizontal strap is further mechanically coupled to the right strap and the left strap. In this manner, a user can wrap the web assembly around the glove and affix the right durable strap to the left durable strap with a hook and loop fastener, and allowing for the straps to deform slightly to make and maintain the contour of the glove. Full Article
ni Long handled sock donning tool and method of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A long handled sock donning tool includes a handle portion adapted to be gripped by a user and an opposing sock engaging portion. The sock engagement portion includes first and second flanges spaced from an elongated support by first and second spacers. Each of the flanges include a sock engagement arm for retaining a sock thereon, and an opposing stabilizing arm for supporting the tool during the mounting of the sock onto the tool. First and second rubber sock gripping portions help retain the sock on the tool. Once an upper portion of a sock is folded over the sock gripping portions, a user's foot can be inserted into the sock comfortably without being forced into contact with a hard plastic wall of the tool. Additionally, the tool can be used as a shoe horn by fitting one of the first and second flanges into the heel of a shoe. Full Article
ni Device for conditioning a glove and methods of forming and using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A device to aid in conditioning a baseball glove, namely in the formation and/or maintenance of a baseball pocket, typically includes one or more balls, two or more looped straps, and a means for coupling the two or more looped straps to the one or more balls. The one or more balls are placed in a baseball glove proximate a desired location for the baseball pocket, and the two or more looped straps are fed through a slot of the glove interposing an interior of the glove and an exterior of the glove and wrapped around the exterior of the glove to force the ball deeper into the desired location for the baseball pocket and secure the glove around the ball. Full Article
ni Insertion guide for animal footwear By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a paw insertion device. In one embodiment, the device includes two pivotally interconnected arms. Each of the arm can include a paw insertion guide at a distal end. The insertion guides are designed to be inserted into an article of animal footwear. The opposite grip ends of the arms can then be brought together to spread apart the insertion guide and permit the animal paw to be easily positioned within the footwear. A lock subassembly is also included for permitting the insertion device to be locked in the opened position. Full Article
ni System and method for recycling of carbon-containing materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT There is described a system and method for recycling carbon-containing material, in particular tires and plastics materials. The system includes a heating arrangement for anaerobically heating carbon containing material to produce carbon-containing gases. A condensing arrangement is also used to condense a proportion of the carbon-containing gases to provide condensed gases and non-condensed gases. In addition, a recirculating arrangement is provided for recirculating the non-condensed gases into the heating arrangement. Further systems and methods for pre- and post-processing of the carbon-containing material are also disclosed and products of the systems and methods are also described. Full Article