Abstract
This invention includes several variations of a machine for catching small creatures unharmed, particularly small fish and other aquatic creatures. Most embodiments include a hollow container, attached to a specially designed fishing rod via an insulated fishing line containing electrical wires. The user can lower the insulated fishing line into water and wait for a creature to swim into the hollow container, then the user can use electronic controls to remotely snap the hollow container shut, hopefully trapping the creature alive and unharmed within. The invention also makes a fun and interesting tool for children. Embodiments of the invention include the ability to monitor the temperature and other conditions inside the container, and also the ability to communicate remotely with the container, and monitor the conditions therein, through a program downloaded on the user's computer or phone.
Claims
1. An apparatus for safely trapping creatures, said apparatus comprising a at least one hollow container, said hollow container further comprising an interior space and a covering surrounding said interior space, and said covering being further split into multiple sections, where said sections are connected to each other in at least one location; said apparatus further comprising a means for moving said sections where said means for moving said sections is capable of moving said sections apart, creating said gaps between said sections while said sections remain connected at said at least one location, and further comprising that said means for moving said sections is also capable of moving said sections close enough together so that said sections form a continuous wall surrounding said interior space, while said interior space remains hollow; and where said sections are able to move apart, while said sections remain connected to each other at said one location; creating gaps between said sections so that said sections do not form a continuous barrier surrounding said interior space; and where said sections are able to close together, in a manner that allows each of the sections of said covering to touch another section of said covering and allows said sections to form a continuous wall surrounding said interior space, said apparatus further comprising a means for controlling said sections, where said means for controlling said sections is capable of commanding said means for moving said sections to move said sections apart, creating said gaps between said sections while said sections remain connected at said one location, and said means for controlling said sections is also capable of commanding said means for moving said sections to move said sections together so that said sections form a continuous wall around said interior space, while said interior space remains hollow, said apparatus further comprising that said means for controlling said sections is electrically powered.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising that said hollow container is shaped like a ball, when said sections form a continuous wall around said interior space.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising that said hollow container is divided evenly into two sections.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a main wire group of one or more insulated wires, said main wire group of insulated wires being operatively connected to said means for moving said sections; and said main wire group being operatively connected to a means of providing electrical power.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising that said main wire group is wound on a reel, said apparatus further comprising that, by winding said reel, the user may control the amount of length of said main wire group that extends beyond said reel, said apparatus further comprising that the connection between said main wire group and said hollow container is sufficiently strong to allow the user to change the position of said hollow container by winding said reel and increasing or decreasing the amount of length of said main wire group that extends beyond said reel.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising that said means for moving said sections of said surface comprises electromagnets located in the sections of said surface; said apparatus further comprising that the amount of magnetic power exerted by said electromagnets can be increased or reduced by said means for commanding said sections; said apparatus further comprising that said electromagnets move said sections via parts of some said electromagnets magnetically attracting parts of other said electromagnets when said electromagnets exert magnetic power.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a housing for said reel, and also comprising a rod, which projects out of said housing, said apparatus comprising that said main wire group of insulated wires is longer than said rod, said apparatus further comprising that said main wire group of insulated wires can be laid along said rod over the length of said rod, and, at the terminus of said rod, said main wire group of insulated wires can extend beyond the length of said rod.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising that some or all of the rod, the housing, the main wire group, the covering, the means for moving said sections, the electromagnets, and the reel are made of transparent material.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising that said rod is hollow and that said rod surrounds said main wire group as said main wire group exits said housing, and further comprising that said main wire group exits said rod at the terminus of said rod furthest away from said housing.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following; a) a light, situated in the interior space, and a means of providing electrical power, where said means of providing electrical power provides electrical power to said light, and a means for activating and deactivating said light; b) a protuberance, situated in the interior space, where bait can be placed on said protuberance; c) a main wire group of one or more insulated wires, said main wire group of insulated wires being operatively connected to said means for moving said sections; and said main wire group being operatively connected to a means of providing electrical power, and also a light, attached to a secondary wire group that splits away from said main wire group, where said secondary wire group transmits electrical power to said light, and a means for activating and deactivating said light. d) one or more detectors, located within said interior space, where said detectors are each an instrument which measures at least one characteristic of water within the interior space, from a group of parameters comprising Ph, temperature, salinity, motion sensor, chlorine concentration, nitrate and nitrate ranges, oxygen concentration ranges, and fluorine concentration, and said apparatus further comprising one or more of the following; i) one or processors, to which said instruments transmit information about the parameters they detect, and a means of displaying said information. ii) one or more transmitters that are capable of directly or indirectly receiving information about said parameters from the detectors, and transmitting said information wirelessly, and a faraway program, which runs on a pc with wireless transmission and reception capabilities, and which is capable of using the wireless reception capabilities of the pc to receive said information and using the display capabilities of the PC to display said information.
11. A system for monitoring the well-being of organisms, said system comprising the faraway program, which runs on a pc with wireless transmission and reception capabilities, said faraway program including a creature database, and a receiving module, a sending module, and a comparison module, and a user interface, and an apparatus, where the detectors said detectors including one or more instruments which each measure at least one parameter of water within the interior space, from a group of parameters comprising Ph, temperature, salinity, motion sensor, chlorine concentration, nitrate and nitrate ranges, oxygen concentration ranges, and fluorine concentration, said system further comprising one or more apparatuses for holding aquatic creatures, each said apparatus including at least one interior space which can be fully or partially filled with water for holding said aquatic creatures; where each said apparatus includes one or more detectors which detects the value of at least one parameter of the water within one of the interior spaces of that said apparatus; and where each said apparatus includes that each detector is operatively connected to at least one processor, and where each said apparatus is operatively connected to at least one receiver and at least one transmitter; wherein, each said detector transmits information about the parameters that said detector detects to at least one processor, and said processor transmits said information to said receiver, and said receiver broadcasts said information to said pc, so that said faraway program can feed information into the creature database about how the creatures are doing and the creature database compares and contrasts the values of the measured parameters to the optimal and tolerance ranges for those measured parameters for the creatures inside the interior spaces, and said system further comprising that said faraway program has the ability to use the wireless transmission capabilities of the pc to compare the values of the measured parameters inside each interior space to the optimal and tolerance levels for the creature inside that interior space, and to display the results, and whether the actual values inside that interior space are outside the tolerance and optimal values for the creature inside said interior space.
12. The system of claim 11 including a bunch of apparatus, each equipped with a bunch of detectors, where the detectors feed information into a centralized creature database about how the creatures are doing and the creature database updates itself automatically based on their information.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a bunch of parameter influencers, and additionally further comprising that the faraway program is programmed to give an alert whenever any of the measured parameters in any of the apparatus is outside the optimal or tolerance range, and to fix it if needed.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising that some or all of the habitats have solar cells on their container balls
15. Setting preprogrammed systems for caring for the animals and updating as you get more information.
16. The system of previous claim, further comprising that the habitats are container balls using the present apparatus.
17. The system of immediately previous claim, further comprising that container balls are detachable.
18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising solar panels everywhere.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a Faraway Program.
20. The method of using the apparatus of the invention to use statistical analysis to analyze results from a large number of apparatus of the current invention. which can be manipulated by a user, a means of providing electrical power, said apparatus further comprising a rod projecting out of said handle,
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0308] FIG. 1A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the first embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0309] FIG. 1B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0310] FIG. 1C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open.
[0311] FIG. 1D shows a back view thereof.
[0312] FIG. 1E shows a front view thereof.
[0313] FIG. 2A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the second embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0314] FIG. 2B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0315] FIG. 2C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open.
[0316] FIG. 2D shows a back view thereof.
[0317] FIG. 2E shows a front view thereof.
[0318] FIG. 3A shows a lower left view of an example of the third embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a light in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0319] FIG. 3B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a light in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0320] FIG. 3C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a light in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0321] FIG. 3D shows a back view thereof.
[0322] FIG. 3E shows a front view thereof.
[0323] FIG. 4A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a light that is not in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0324] FIG. 4B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a light that is not in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0325] FIG. 4C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a light that is not in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0326] FIG. 4D shows a back view thereof.
[0327] FIG. 4E shows a front view thereof.
[0328] FIG. 5A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed, and with a control panel visible, and with a small hole in one of the two halves of the container ball.
[0329] FIG. 5B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed, and with a control panel visible, and with a small hole in the top of one of the halves of the container ball.
[0330] FIG. 5C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed, and with a control panel visible, and with a small hole in the top of one of the halves of the container ball.
[0331] FIG. 5D shows a back view thereof.
[0332] FIG. 5E shows a front view thereof.
[0333] FIG. 6A shows a lower left view of an example of the sixth embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a rod to which bait can be attached situated in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0334] FIG. 6B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with a rod to which bait can be attached situated in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0335] FIG. 6C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a rod to which bait can be attached situated in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0336] FIG. 6D shows a back view thereof.
[0337] FIG. 6E shows a front view thereof.
[0338] FIG. 7A shows a lower right view of an example of the seventh embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a rod for bait and a light in between the two halves of the container ball.
[0339] FIG. 7B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open.
[0340] FIG. 7C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open.
[0341] FIG. 7D shows a back view thereof.
[0342] FIG. 7E shows a front view thereof.
[0343] FIG. 8A shows a bird's-eye, cut-away view of an example of the eighth embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0344] FIG. 8B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0345] FIG. 8C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open.
[0346] FIG. 8D shows a back view thereof.
[0347] FIG. 8E shows a front view thereof.
[0348] FIG. 9A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the ninth embodiment of the apparatus, with a transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible.
[0349] FIG. 9B shows a left view thereof, with a transparent container ball, which is open.
[0350] FIG. 9C shows a right view thereof, with a transparent container ball, which is open.
[0351] FIG. 9D shows a back view thereof.
[0352] FIG. 9E shows a front view thereof.
[0353] FIG. 10A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the tenth embodiment of the apparatus, with a transparent container ball, which is open, with a transparent handle, and transparent long rod, and with a control panel visible.
[0354] FIG. 10B shows a left view thereof, with a transparent handle, and transparent long rod, and transparent container ball, which is open.
[0355] FIG. 10C shows a right view thereof, with a transparent handle, and transparent long rod, and transparent container ball, which is open.
[0356] FIG. 10D shows a back view thereof.
[0357] FIG. 10E shows a front view thereof.
[0358] FIG. 10F shows a close-up view of the transparent handle that is shown in FIG. 10A.
[0359] FIG. 10G shows a close-up left view of the transparent handle that is shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E.
[0360] FIG. 10H shows a close-up right view of the transparent handle that is shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E.
[0361] FIG. 10I shows a close-up back view of the transparent handle that is shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E.
[0362] FIG. 10J shows a close-up front view of the transparent handle that is shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E.
[0363] FIG. 11A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the eleventh embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with an external reel.
[0364] FIG. 11B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with an external reel.
[0365] FIG. 11C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is open, and with a control panel visible, and with an external reel.
[0366] FIG. 11D shows a back view thereof.
[0367] FIG. 11E shows a front view thereof.
[0368] FIG. 11F shows a close-up view of a version of the handle and external reel that are part of the eleventh embodiment of the apparatus.
[0369] FIG. 11G shows a close-up back view thereof.
[0370] FIG. 11H shows a close-up front view thereof.
[0371] FIG. 12A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the twelfth embodiment of the apparatus, with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed, and with a control panel visible, and with a light that is powered by a small wire that splits off from the main wire group above the container ball.
[0372] FIG. 12B shows a left view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed, and with a control panel visible, and with a light that is powered by a small wire that splits off from the main wire group above the container ball.
[0373] FIG. 12C shows a right view thereof, with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed, and with a light that is powered by a small wire that splits off from the main wire group above the container ball.
[0374] FIG. 12D shows a back view thereof.
[0375] FIG. 12E shows a front view thereof.
[0376] FIG. 13A shows a bird's-eye view of an example of the thirteenth embodiment of the invention, without a control panel, and with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed.
[0377] FIG. 13B shows a left view thereof, without a control panel, and with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed.
[0378] FIG. 13C shows a right view thereof, without a control panel, and with a non-transparent container ball, which is closed.
[0379] FIG. 13D shows a back view thereof.
[0380] FIG. 13E shows a front view thereof.
[0381] FIG. 14 shows a cut-away view of a version of the fourteenth embodiment of the apparatus. The container ball is transparent, and is open. There are some small holes in the top of both halves of the container ball, through which the detectors (10) and parameter influencers (12) will fit when the container ball is closed. The detectors and parameter influencers are connected to a transmitter and receiver inside the container connection device. This transmitter and receiver are connected to a processor (19), which, in turn, is connected to the main wire group, which also connects to another transmitter and receiver inside the handle.
[0382] The transmitter, receiver, a processor in the handle, and the main wire group all draw power from a battery (13) which is inside the handle. The main wire group transmits some power to the transmitter, processor, receiver, and linking mechanism inside the container connection device. The battery (13) receives some power from a solar cell (14), which is attached to the handle (1). The transmitters are transmitting information about the measured parameters inside the container ball to the faraway program, which is running on the PC (a cellular phone in this case), and the faraway program is sending a command to change the temperature to the receivers, inside the handle and container connection device.
[0383] FIG. 15 shows a cut-away view of a container connection device, with a container ball connected to the container connection device, in a version of the invention with more than one container ball, that can be interchanged, and both connected with the container connection device. The flexible hinges that connect the two container ball latches (21) to the container ball can be seen. The transmitter in the container connection device, and its proximity to receivers in the container connection ball, can also be seen. This particular container ball has two food containers (15) on its sides. The user can open them, to place food inside, and they can open upon the interior of the food container. Another, larger, but thinner, container ball is shown to the side, also with latches, and flexible hinges.
[0384] FIG. 16 shows a cut-away view of a version of the invention where the magnets in the container ball are clearly seen, and are a different color from the rest of the container ball. This version of the apparatus also has charging ports (20) in the container ball, container connection device, and handle. The electromagnets are present in the other versions of the container ball shown in these drawings, but the electromagnets are the same color as the container ball in the other drawings with pictures of a clear container ball, so the electromagnets are not visible in the other drawings. The detectors and parameter influencers are in between two halves of the container ball, and connect to a processor in the container connection device, where a processor in the container ball is also connected to a transmitter and a receiver in the container ball.
[0385] FIG. 17 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention with an alert light (24) on the long rod and digital gauges, and controls, including measured parameter controls, on the handle. The digital gauges respond to information received via the main wire group from the detectors in the container ball. These detectors feed information to a processor in the container ball. This particular example of the apparatus includes a much longer main wire group than the other examples of the apparatus in other figures.
[0386] FIG. 18 shows a cut-away view of a container connection device, with a container ball connected to the container connection device, in a version of the invention where the two container ball latches latch into specialized grooves in the container connection device. The flexible hinges that connect the two container ball latches (21) to the container ball can be seen. The transmitter in the container connection device, and its proximity to receivers in the container connection ball, can also be seen. The receivers in the container ball connect to processors in the container ball.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0387] In many of the figures below, the number of wire holding rings will vary. The inventor would like to clarify that the invention can use as many, or as few, wire holding rings as desired, except in embodiments where the main wire group is encased in the long rod. In such embodiments, wire holding rings would be unneeded. A variation of the invention is also possible, where the wire holding rings can be attached to, and detached from, the long rod, meaning that the number of wire holding rings can be varied to suit the tastes of the user.
[0388] FIG. 1A shows a version of the first embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with the container ball open. The viewer can see how the main wire group can be extended from the handle, to lower the container ball into water, or onto land. The main wire group goes through the wire holding rings. Wire holding rings are not required for the first embodiment, but it would most likely be to the user's advantage to employ wire holding rings. The main wire group is rolled on an internal reel, and extends out of a hole in the handle along the long rod. This version of the first embodiment includes a control panel on the handle.
[0389] FIGS. 1B-1E show the first embodiment of the apparatus from several other angles.
[0390] FIG. 2A shows a version of the second embodiment of the apparatus viewed from the left, with the container ball open. This version of the second embodiment includes a control panel on the handle. The main wire group extends through the wire holding rings which are on top of the long rod. The viewer can see that this embodiment of the invention includes a container ball that has a different angle, relative to the main wire group, from the first embodiment.
[0391] FIGS. 2B-2E show the second embodiment of the apparatus from several other angles.
[0392] FIG. 3 shows a version of the third embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the lower left, with the container ball open. This version of the third embodiment includes a control panel on the handle. A small light can be seen, inside the container ball. Small creatures may be attracted to the light and caught inside the container ball. In this particular version, the small light is connected to the container connection device, and draws power from a wire, inside the container connection device, that connects to the main wire group. The light can also be controlled, and turned on and off, independently of the container ball, via the control panel on the handle. A version of this embodiment that includes the ability to control the intensity of the small light, and make it dimmer or brighter, using a light control, is also part of the present invention. Such a light control will most likely be part of the control panel.
[0393] In other versions of the third embodiment, the light may be powered by a wire that splits off from the main wire group above the container ball, or a wire that connects to one or both parts of the container ball.
[0394] FIGS. 3B-3E show the third embodiment of the apparatus from several other angles. FIG. 4A shows a version of fourth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with the container ball open. This version of the second embodiment includes a control panel on the handle. The control panel is designated by (7). (9) designates the light, and (6) designates both halves of the container ball. The light is powered by a wire that splits from the main wire group before the main wire group reaches the container connection device.
[0395] FIGS. 4B-4E show the fourth embodiment of the apparatus from several different angles.
[0396] FIG. 5A shows a version of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with the container ball closed. A small opening can be seen on the top of one half of the container ball.
[0397] This version of the fifth embodiment includes a control panel on the handle. The main wire group extends over one of the wire holding rings, but through the others.
[0398] FIGS. 5B-5E show the fifth embodiment of the apparatus from different angles.
[0399] FIG. 6A shows a version of the sixth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with the container ball open. The user can see the bait inside the container ball. If a creature eats the bait, the user will have an opportunity to catch the creature by causing the container ball to close.
[0400] FIGS. 6B-6E show the sixth embodiment of the invention from different angles.
[0401] FIG. 7A shows a version of the seventh embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the lower right, with the container ball open. Bait and a small light can be seen inside the container ball. (9) designates the small light and (6) designates the container ball. This particular version of the seventh embodiment does not have wire holding rings, but other versions of the seventh embodiment can have wire holding rings.
[0402] FIGS. 7B-7E show the seventh embodiment of the apparatus from different angles.
[0403] FIG. 8A shows a cut-away version of the eighth embodiment of the invention, viewed from the left, with the container ball open. The main wire group can be seen inside the long rod.
[0404] FIGS. 8B-8E show the same version of the apparatus, from several different angles.
[0405] FIG. 9A shows a version of the ninth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the right, with the container ball open.
[0406] FIG. 10A shows a version of the tenth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with the container ball open. The viewer can also see, inside the handle, an internal reel, and see how the main wire group is wrapped around this reel. The viewer can also see wires going from several controls to a small processor, inside the handle. The main wire group enters the handle and wraps around the internal reel. The small processor controls the internal reel, and also sends signals to the main wire group. Signals can then be sent through the main wire group to the container ball, causing the container ball to open and close.
[0407] FIGS. 10B-10E show the tenth embodiment of the apparatus, from different angles.
[0408] FIGS. 10F-10I show close-up pictures of the handle of the tenth embodiment of the apparatus.
[0409] FIG. 11A shows a version of the eleventh embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the right, with the container ball open. The external reel (4) is visible, and the drawing indicates that FIG. 11F shows a blown-up version of the reel.
[0410] FIGS. 11B-11E show the eleventh embodiments of the apparatus from different perspectives.
[0411] FIGS. 11F-11H show the external reel (4) from different perspectives.
[0412] FIG. 12A shows a version of the twelfth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with the container ball closed. This version of the apparatus has the light powered by, and connected to, a separate small, insulated wire that splits off from the main wire group (2). The main wire group continues to the container ball (6).
[0413] FIGS. 12B-12E show the twelfth embodiment of the apparatus from several additional perspectives.
[0414] FIG. 13A shows a version of the thirteenth embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the left, with a non-transparent container ball, that is closed. The thirteenth embodiment does not have a specific control panel.
[0415] FIGS. 13B-13E show the thirteenth embodiment of the apparatus from several additional perspectives.
[0416] FIG. 14 shows a cut-away view of a version of the fourteenth embodiment of the apparatus. The container ball (6) is transparent, and is open. There are some small holes in the top of both halves of the container ball, through which the detectors and parameter influencers will fit when the container ball is closed. The detectors and parameter influencers are connected to a processor (13), which is also connected to a transmitter and receiver inside the container connection device. The transmitter (17) and receiver (16) are connected to the main wire group, which also connects to another transmitter and receiver inside the handle. The transmitter and receiver in the handle, and the main wire group, draw power from a battery (13). The transmitters are transmitting information about the values of the measured parameters inside the container ball to the faraway program, which is running on the PC (a cellular phone in this case), and the faraway program is sending a command to change the temperature to the receivers, inside the handle and container connection device.
FIG. 15 shows a cut-away view of a container connection device, with a container ball connected to the container connection device, in a version of the invention with more than one container ball, that can be interchanged, and can each be connected with the container connection device. The flexible hinges that connect the two latches to the container ball can be seen. The transmitter in the container connection device, and its proximity to receivers in the container connection ball, can also be seen. This particular container ball has two food containers (15) on its sides. The user can open them, to place food inside, and they can open upon the interior of the food container. Another, larger, but thinner, container ball is shown to the side, also with latches, and flexible hinges.
FIG. 16 shows a cut-away view of a version of the invention where the electromagnets in the container ball are clearly seen, and are a different color from the rest of the container ball. The electromagnets are present in the other versions of the container ball shown in these drawings, but the electromagnets are the same color as the container ball in the other drawings with pictures of a clear container ball, so the electromagnets are not visible in the other drawings. A food compartment (15) is also visible on each side of the container ball. The container ball and container connection device are covered with thin-film solar cells, which feed power into batteries in the container ball and container connection device, respectively.
FIG. 17 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention with an alert light (24) on the long rod and digital gauges, and controls, including measured parameter controls, on the handle. The digital gauges respond to information received via the main wire group from the detectors in the container ball. These detectors feed information to a processor in the container ball. This particular example of the apparatus includes a much longer main wire group than the other examples of the apparatus in other figures.
FIG. 18 shows a cut-away view of a container connection device, with a container ball connected to the container connection device, in a version of the invention where the two container ball latches latch into specialized grooves in the container connection device. The flexible hinges that connect the two container ball latches (21) to the container ball can be seen. The transmitter in the container connection device, and its proximity to receivers in the container connection ball, can also be seen. The receivers in the container ball connect to processors in the container ball.
