AU2013100403B4

AU2013100403B4 - Stock feeder

Info

Publication number: AU2013100403B4
Application number: AU2013100403A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Scott; Gavin Scott
Original assignee: RAPID PLAS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RAPID PLAS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-02
Filing date: 2013-04-02
Publication date: 2013-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-02
Also published as: AU2013100403A4

Abstract

C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 A stock feeder with a base component in which a container is located and a roof component that supports a cover, elevated over the container, wherein the roof component is arranged to move the cover laterally to allow fresh feed to be deposited into the container.

Description

H:\cab\Inte env\NRortb\DCC\CAB\5339222I.doc-25/07/2013 STOCK FEEDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a stock feeder. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is known to feed stock such as cattle from a container that is provided with an elevated lid over the container to protect the feed from weather. The lid may be hinged to pivot or tilt upwardly in order to allow fresh feed to be deposited into the container. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention seeks to provide an alternative form of stock feeder. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a stock feeder with a base component for receipt of a feed container, a frame and a roof component mounted to the frame, the roof component supporting a cover in an elevated position over the container, wherein the roof component is hinged to a support leg of the frame to pivot about the leg, between an open and closed condition, in a substantially horizontal direction, whereby to move the cover laterally to allow fresh feed to be deposited into the container. Paragraph [0005] intentionally deleted.

H:\cab\lnterwoven\NRPornbl\DCC\CAB\533922_I1 do-25/07/2013 -2 [0006] Preferably, the roof component is coupled to the support leg by a sleeve that allows the roof component to pivot around the leg. [0007] Preferably, the feeder includes a lock to releasable hold the roof component in a closed position. [0008] Preferably, the feeder includes a ramp associated with the lock to direct the roof component into the lock when the roof component moves from the open to the closed position. [0009] Preferably, the frame includes a guide to resist vertical movement of the roof component as the roof component moves between an open and closed position. [0010] Preferably, the frame includes three support points for the roof component, a first support point at the hinge, a second support point at the guide and a third support point at the lock. [0011] Preferably, the frame includes at least three support legs projecting upwardly from the base component and defining the support points for supporting the roof component over the container, when the cover is in the closed condition. [0012] Preferably, the cover forms part of the stock feeder.

C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 -3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stock feeder, without a cover; Figure 2 illustrates a stock feeder with a roof component in a closed condition; Figure 3 illustrates the feeder with the roof component being moved into an open condition; Figure 4 illustrates the feeder with the roof component in an open condition; Figure 5 illustrates a guide for the roof component; Figure 6a is a top view of the feeder with a cover in a closed condition; Figure 6b is an isometric view of the feeder in a closed condition; Figure 6c is a front view of the feeder in a closed condition; Figure 6d is a side view of the feeder in a closed condition; Figure 7a is a top view of the feeder in an open condition; Figure 7b is an isometric view of the feeder in the open condition; Figure 7c is a front view of the feeder in the open condition; C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 -4 Figure 7d is a side view of the feeder in the open condition; Figure 8a is a side view of another stock feeder; and Figure 8b is a plan view of the stock feeder of Figure 8a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] Referring firstly to Figure 1, a stock feeder 1 is shown as including a base component 2 and a roof component 3. The roof component 3 is supported above the base component 2 on a frame 4 formed of three support legs 5,6 and 7. [0015] Each leg 5, 6 and 7 of the frame 4 defines three support points 8, 9, and 10 in the form of a hinge 11, a guide 12 and a lock 13. It should be noted the support points 8, 9 and 10 do not need to be provided by legs 5, 6 and 7 and any other suitable structure may be used instead. [0016] Figure 2 is a side view of the feeder 1, illustrating the roof component 3 in a closed condition. [0017] In order to move the roof component 3 to an open condition, the lock 13 firstly needs to be released. [0018] Once the lock 13 is released, the roof component 3 is pushed to the left as indicated by arrow "A" in Figure 3, but it should be noted the feeder could be assembled in mirror image to slide to the right. This causes a lower bar 14 of the roof component 3 to slide through the guide 12, enabling the entire roof component 3 to move laterally, about the hinge 11.

C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 -5 [0019] The roof component 3 is pushed further until a fully open condition is reached in Figure 4. In that position, further lateral movement is prevent by an upright member 15 of the roof component 3 engaging with the guide 12. [0020] A reverse operation is used to close the roof component 3. [0021] With further reference to Figure 4, the lock 13 is better illustrated as a bracket 16 with through holes 17 for receipt of a securing locking pin (not shown). When a locking pin is in place, the bar 14 is prevented from lifting vertically and the upright member 15 prevents the roof component 3 moving back to the open condition. [0022] The lock 13 has an associated ramp 18 attached to a top 19 of the leg 5 to help guide the bar 14 back into the lock 13, as the roof component 3 is closed, in order to accommodate any misalignment of the roof component 3. [0023] Referring now to Figure 5, the guide 12 is shown in more detail as including a loosely fitted clamp 20, which serves to inhibit vertical movement of the roof component 3 whilst allowing free travel of the bar through the guide 12 in a substantially horizontal direction. [0024] The bar 14 is also clearly shown in Figure 5 as having an arc shape, which enables the bar 14 to continue to slide through the guide 12 as the roof component 3 pivots about the hinge 11. [0025] Referring now to Figure 6, the feeder 1 is shown as including a cover 21 that is fixed on top of the roof component 3. The base component 2 is shown as having a support platform 22 and a circular ring 23 that holds a feed container 24. However, the base component 2 may only need to have one of the platform 22 or ring 23, as required.

C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 -6 [0026] The feeder 1 is illustrated with the roof component 3 in a closed condition so that the cover 21 is elevated and positioned immediately over the container 24, in order shelter the container 24 from rain and the elements. [0027] Referring now to Figure 7, the roof component 3 has been opened by firstly releasing the lock 13 and pushing the cover 24 in a clockwise direction (or anticlockwise had the feeder been assembled in the opposite style), as viewed, so as to pivot about the hinge 11 provided at the top 25 of the associated leg 5. In that position, the cover 21 is moved horizontally a distance sufficient to allow ready access to the container 24 so that additional feed can be loaded into the feeder 1. [0028] Once new feed has been added, the cover 21 can be rotated back to the closed condition and locked in place. This prevents inadvertent opening such as may be caused by livestock bumping into the feeder. [0029] The base component 2 is shown as having an outer stabilizing ring 26, however, the outer ring 26 may be replaced with a skid type base to allow for easy towing of the feeder. [0030] With reference now to Figures 8a and 8b, another stock feeder 27 is illustrated. The feeder 27 incorporates many of the same features as the feeder 1 and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. [0031] The feeder 17 includes a roof component 3 that supports a cover 21 over a base component 2. The base component 2 is formed of a three legged structure 30 to provide sufficient support and stability for a container 24 and the feeder 27 as a whole. However, any other suitably designed structure could instead be used for the base component 2.

C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 -7 [0032] The roof component 3 is shown coupled to a frame 4 that includes a single support leg 5 with a hinge 11 formed of a sleeve 28 mounted over the leg 5 to allow the roof component 2 to pivot about the leg 5. [0033] The hinge 11 also incorporates a locking mechanism 29 to secure the roof component is the closed condition. To open the feeder 27, the lock mechanism 29 is released and the roof component 3 is pivoted about the support leg 5, to open the cover 21 laterally/horizontally with respect to the base component 2 in order to provide better access to the container 24, as required. [0034] An advantage of having the roof component 3 move laterally relative to the base component 2, as opposed to being hinged upwardly, is there is no need to exert effort to lift the cover 24 up to a position that may be difficult to reach or too heavy to reach. Further, if a lid is lifted up there is a danger the lid could fall and injure people or stock. As such, for a tilted lid, there may be a need to lock the lid in a raised position, which could be difficult to manage whilst holding the lid up high. The present invention avoids those problems by allowing the cover 24 to be opened and closed in a horizontal direction. [0035] Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described. For example, the guide 12, hinge 11 and lock 13 need not be limited to the specific form described and the form, configuration and material used in the construction of the other components of the feeder 1 can be varied, as required. The stock feeder of the invention has been described primarily with reference to a frame having three support legs but any number of support legs may be used, as appropriate, as the invention would work with only one leg, such as described with reference to Figure 8.

C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\503525I_.DOC-2/04/20l3 LIST OF PARTS 1. Stock feeder 2. Base component 3. Roof component 4. Frame 5. Support leg 6. Support leg 7. Support leg 8. Support point 9. Support point 10. Support point 11. Hinge 12. Guide 13. Lock 14. Bar 15. Member 16. Bracket 17. Holes 18. Ramp 19. Top 20. Clamp 21. Cover 22. Platform 23. Ring 24. Container C:\NRPortb]\DCC\CAB\5:03525lI_.DOC-2/04/20l3 -9 25. Top 26. Ring 27. Stock feeder 28. Sleeve 29. Locking mechanism 30. Structure

Claims

1. A stock feeder with a base component for receipt of a feed container, a frame and a roof component mounted to the frame, the roof component supporting a cover in an elevated position over the container, wherein the roof component is hinged to a support leg of the frame to pivot about the leg, between an open and closed condition, in a substantially horizontal direction, whereby to move the cover laterally to allow fresh feed to be deposited into the container.

2. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the roof component is coupled to the support leg by a sleeve that allows the roof component to pivot around the support leg.

3. The feeder of claim 1, further including a lock to hold the roof component in a closed position.

4. The feeder of claim 3, further including a ramp associated with the lock to direct the roof component into the lock when the roof component moves from the open to the closed position.

5. The feeder of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frame includes a guide to resist vertical movement of the roof component as the roof component moves between the open and closed condition.