Compositions and processes are disclosed for forming hydrophobic coatings and lubricant-infused surface coatings. Coatings may be applied to various substrates without prior chemical or temperature treatment of the substrates and over large and irregular surfaces. Coatings are self-healing, antifouling, and have enhanced lifetimes.

An apparatus for facilitating delivery of conditioned air across a barrier in a cage for holding an animal patient to a blanket arrangement providing the conditioned air to the patient. The apparatus comprising a first duct part, a second duct part and a mounting mechanism arranged to mount the first duct part on one side of the barrier and the second duct part on the other side of the barrier opposite thereto, to provide a duct for ducting conditioned air across the barrier. The barrier comprising bars or mesh, and the apparatus further comprising a seal arrangement to provide at least a partial seal across the bars or mesh. The mounting mechanism comprises a fastening mechanism for fastening the first and second duct parts to each other across the barrier, wherein the fastening mechanism is a keyhole-style fastening arrangement utilising a plurality of headed projections on a flange of the first duct part engagable with respective keyhole-style apertures on a flange of the second duct part.

The present animal cooling mat apparatus includes a mat shell, at least one coolant sheet, at least one cushioning pad, and at least one foam pad. The coolant sheet is removably located within the mat shell, with the cushioning pad removably located within the mat shell above the at least one coolant sheet and the insulating pad is located within the mat shell below the at least one coolant sheet. The coolant sheet provides a heat sink to rapidly cool an animal, while the cushioning pad facilitates heat transfer and the insulating pad reduces the amount of ambient heat transferred from the environment. Multiple apparatuses may be combined to accommodate larger animals.

A water absorption treatment material includes a first grain and a second grain that absorb a liquid. The first grain includes a first core portion and a first coating portion. The first core portion has a grain-like shape. The first coating portion contains an adhesive material, and covers the first core portion. The second grain includes a second core portion and a second coating portion. The second core portion has a grain-like shape. The second coating portion contains an adhesive material, and covers the second core portion. The thickness of the second coating portion is smaller than the thickness of the first coating portion.

The present invention relates to the use of an activated carrot fiber for preparing products in the food or non-food area. The invention also relates to products containing the activated carrot fiber.

A packing product is disclosed herein that includes pieces that each have a shape for absorbing impact. The shape can be an elbow-like shape, a v-shape, a u-shape, a helix shape, a tubular shape, an angled hollow tube, a coiled spiral, or some other shape configured to absorb impact in various versions. Each of the pieces can be formed by shaping a pulp comprising paper, sawdust, an antimicrobial agent, and water. The pieces are configured to maintain structure under pressure without snapping or breaking. The product can be used for packaging and shipping an item, then repurposed as a pet waste product, and finally for composting or recycling such as for use in gardening or lawn care.

An animal litter treatment composition comprising: at least one sulfo-oxo compound defined by formula:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, amino, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylamino, halide, a substituted or unsubstituted haloalkyl, hydroxy, a substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyalkyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyalkyl, optionally, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the carbon the are attached form a ring of 3-7 atoms, and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, (un)substituted alkyl, (un)substituted alkenyl, (un)substituted aryl, (un)substituted sulfonyl radical resulting in a (un)substituted sulfonic anhydride or (un)substituted carbonyl radical resulting in a symmetrical or asymmetrical sulfonic-carboxylic anhydride, optionally, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together with sulfur, the carbon and the oxygen they are attached, form a ring of 5-7 atoms, is disclosed. A method of reducing ammonia level of an animal litter using the composition is also disclosed.

An absorbent floor pad, comprising a fluid impermeable layer; an absorbent layer; wherein the absorbent layer an upper layer relative to the fluid impermeable layer and adhered to the fluid impermeable layer; wherein the absorbent layer includes at least one folded edge region along an edge border region of the absorbent floor pad; wherein at least a portion of the at least one folded edge region is folded back over a base region of the absorbent layer at an acute fold angle to provide an overlap region of the absorbent layer which forms at least one edge pocket with the base region to capture liquid waste.

The present disclosure relates to the field of delivery systems. Described herein is a powdered composition comprising including granules having a hydrophobic active ingredient dispersed in a polymeric matrix, wherein the powdered composition contains a fireproofing agent. The fireproofing agent defined in the present disclosures includes talc that, when present in the powdered composition, prevents a dust explosion risk when the powdered composition is manufactured, handled or dosed into a consumer product.

A method of disposing of an absorbent pad may include pivoting a flexible bag from a storage position to a use position such that at least a portion of the flexible bag extends from the absorbent pad, folding a left and right portion of the flexible bag towards a center portion of the flexible bag to form a stacked portion, rolling the stacked portion towards the flexible bag to form a roll, and disposing the roll within a cavity defined by one of an outer surface or an inner surface of the flexible bag.