GB2251778A - Animal feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal feeder comprising a bin (10) which is slidably mounted above a trough (12) by means of a fixed bracket (56). Upward sliding movement of the bin is restricted by a member 64 pivoted to a fixed point, the member 64 being pivoted to a remote position to release the bin. <IMAGE>

Description

ANIMAL FEEDER This invention relates to a device for the feeding of animals and particularly to a device for the feeding of young pigs.

Pig feeders which are secured to a wall bracket have been provided in the past. Such feeders have been constructed with three major components, namely a bin to contain feed, a trough which receives the feed, and a bracket for attachment to a wall to hold the feeder in an upright position.

Although constructed as separate components, the components were secured together at the factory or prior to installation in the feeding area. As a result, the components could not be separated to permit easy removal of the components or of the assembled feeder from its mounting bracket for cleaning.

It is very important that feeders for pigs or other young animals be kept free from disease. Cleanliness of the surroundings is important to the prevention of disease.

It is particularly important that the feed container for such animals be kept clean and free from contamination so that the animals do not become diseased from the intake of contaminated food.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a feeder comprised of separate components and having a connecting strap and pivoted element for holding the components together during use, but permitting ready disassembly and removal for cleaning.

In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a feeder according to the present invention comprising a storage bin portion, a trough portion and a bracket.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the feeder, parts being broken away to show details of construction; FIG. 4 is an enlarged, detailed fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view of the feeder without the bracket showing a portion of the junction between the bin and the trough; FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the assembled feeder showing the connecting strap and pivoted bracket releasably holding the components in assembled condition; and FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a reduced scale of the feeder of FIG. 5 illustrating the manner of removing the bin from the other components.

Referring to the drawings, an animal feeder constructed according to the invention includes a bin portion 10 and a trough portion 12. The bin portion 10 includes a removable top 14 formed in a truncated pyramidal shape which covers an opening 15 through which the bin 10 is filled with feed 19. The bin 10 includes a front wall 16 and a back wall 17 which are generally parallel except for a lower portion 18 of the front wall 16 which is angled inwardly and rearwardly so as to approach the back wall at the lower edge thereof. The lower angled portion contains a dispensing aperture or opening through which feed flows in a restricted manner into trough 12. A variable gate 21 is slidably positioned in the dispensing opening so as to selectively occlude or restrict the flow of feed from the storage bin 10 by operably decreasing or increasing the size of the opening.The gate is held in place by a threaded bolt and nut assembly 23 or the like which is vertically slidable within a slot 21A.

Sidewalls 20 of bin portion 10 each includes generally semicircular configured ribs 22 disposed substantially vertically. At the top of each rib 22 is a horizontal member 24 which serves as a stop. Each rib 22 comprises a lower portion 26 and an upper portion 28, the lower portion 26 being of a smaller semicircular diameter than upper portion 28.

Trough 12 has a substantially horizontal floor 30 with substantially vertical sidewalls 32. Inwardly projecting portions 38 of wall 32 each are of a generally U-shaped configuration to present a gap 46 which opens toward the rear of the trough 12. Grooves 48 on projecting portions 38 are aligned so that each of the lower rib portions 26 will slidably mate with an associated one of grooves 48.

The bottom of upper rib portions 28 rests on the top of corresponding portions 38.

A rib 54 extends vertically upwardly from the trough floor surface 30. The height of rib 54 is such that the angle formed between any line from any point on the top of the rib 54 to the maximum height of the bin dispensing opening and a horizontal line will be less than the angle of repose of any feed to be used in the feeder. The rib 54 on the trough floor surface adds strength thereto.

A bracket 56 is used to securely position the feeder to a fixed object. The bracket 56 is generally U-shaped in configuration and comprises a web 58 and integral, identical opposed vertically aligned flanges 60 at opposite sides of web 58. Each flange 60 is shaped and spaced to fit inside the respective gaps 46 of trough 12. Bracket 56 is mounted on a stationary supporting device such as a wall or the like (not shown). An elongate, rigid strip 62 is secured to and extends vertically upwardly from web 58 a distance substantially equal to the height of bin portion 10 when the bin is positioned in bracket 56. An L-shaped tab member 64 is pivotally attached to the top of strip 62 in a manner to allow the tab to be pivoted into position across top 14 on bin portion 10, to releasably secure bin 10 in bracket 56.

In use, bracket 56 is mounted on a stationary supporting device such as a wall or the like inside a pigpen in a position to allow access by young pigs. Trough portion 12 and bin 10 are slidably attached to bracket 56.

Bin 10 is filled with feed and top 14 is placed in position on bin 10. Tab 64 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG.

5 to secure bin 10 to bracket 56. The gate is positioned so as to cooperate with vertical rib 54 such that feed exiting the bin lower opening flows freely from bin 10 yet does not flow over rib 54.

A suitable material for construction of the feeder is a durable plastic such as a high density polyethylene, but the feeder may be made from sheet metal or the like.

Preferably, the bin is blow moulded and the trough injection moulded.

Claims (2)

1. An animal feeder comprising a bin which is slidably mounted above a trough portion by means of a fixed bracket, the bin being removable from the feeder by upward sliding movement; and an L-shaped member pivoted to an upright strip disposed to releasably secure the bin against inadvertent upward movement for removal from the feeder.

2. An animal feeder substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.