A downrigger apparatus to hold a fishing line at a selected fishing depth in game fish inhabited water, and a sound emitting device attached to the downrigger cable of the downrigger apparatus. The downrigger apparatus includes a reel and a downrigger cable spooled on the reel. The free end of the downrigger cable extends to a depth beyond the selected fishing depth. A downrigger weight is attached at the free end of the cable. A sound emitting device is attached to the downrigger cable and emit...

A clumping animal litter comprises an organic material, a surfactant, and a clumping agent. The clumping agent may be a combination of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and guar gum. The material may comprise 1 2% CMC, 3 6% guar gum, 1 5% surfactant, and the remainder wood fiber. The material is formed into pellets with a uniform distribution of the various ingredients. The pellets are then crumbled to improve absorption characteristics. The mixture results in a fully-biodegradable, organic-based lit...

An apparatus (10) for transporting laboratory animals comprises a container (12), a cover piece (14), and a closure piece (16). The container (12) has an open top. The cover piece (14) is connectable with the container (12) for closing the open top of the container (12). The cover piece (14) has a passage (188) through which the at least one laboratory animal passes during insertion into and extraction from a cavity (28). The closure piece (16) includes a portion (234) that is rotatable relative...

A fishers lure including a spine having a first eye on a first end of the spine adapted to attach a fishing line and a second end on spine adapted to receive a hook. A flexible body surrounding the spine such that the first eye protrudes from the front of the flexible body. A fisher can bend the spine and flexible body into a bent shape and the spine will retain the shape and hold the body in the bent shape. The bent shape will give the lure unique movement in the water that can be adjusted by t...

A self-cleaning litter apparatus that separates and extracts clumped litter waste material from litter material contained therein during use includes a chamber adapted to contain a quantity of litter material. The chamber is rotatable about a centrally disposed axis. A rake is disposed within the chamber. The rake is rotatable about an axis which is spaced apart from the chamber axis. A drive assembly is provided for simultaneously rotating the chamber about the chamber axis and for rotating the...

A method and apparatus for the automated milking of dairy cattle employing live capture of the teats of a dairy cow without requiring identification of a particular dairy cow or the prior knowledge of the location of the individual teats. The live capture milking apparatus locates the individual teats of a dairy cow and attaches a teatcup to the teat without the need for human intervention. After the milking operation is completed, the live capture milking apparatus returns to a home position wh...

An automatic fishing device is comprised of a fishing rod support for supporting a fishing rod. A spring loaded fishing line puller is movably attached to the support and arranged to engage a portion of the line along the fishing rod. An actuating arm hinged to a fixed position on the support is attached to a forward end of the fishing rod. A latch connected to the actuating arm is arranged to secure the puller in a cocked position under spring loading. When the fishing line is pulled by a fish,...

The present invention relates to a pet bed that includes a heating layer which is formed of an enclosure and a heating composition sealed inside the enclosure. The enclosure includes a gas-permeable section such that the heating composition generates heat when a gas is received through the gas-permeable section. The pet bed further includes (i) a liner attached to the heating layer to engage a pet as the pet lies on the pet bed; (ii) a conforming layer attached to the heating layer such that the...

A grill member for use in a poultry feeder assembly has a generally curved rim member having an outward side surface which varies in radial distance relative to a center of the grill member and a top surface which varies in vertical height relative to a generally planar lower edge of the rim member without the need to adjust the grill member. The grill member also is configured to be rotated relative to a rotationally stable drop tube member in order to change both a position of a brood gate def...

An insect station for luring insects, baiting insects, trapping insects, monitoring insects or any combination of these functions includes a cover that can be moved to provide access to selected insect suppression devices, such as glueboards or baited pads. The insect station may have two changeable pad areas situated facing each other to provide a compact design. In addition, a base portion of the station may have a wall access opening to facilitate applying insecticide behind a wall. The insec...