AU2018100407A4 - Animal-actuated feeder and/or drinker - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal feeder and/or drinker comprising: a housing comprising a frame with upstanding walls defining a hollow internal space; one or more removable containers for receiving food or water, said containers being adapted to be positioned in the hollow internal space of the housing, said containers comprising edge portions for engagement with said frame; a cover coupled to the housing, said cover being operable to be pivoted between an open and closed position wherein in an open position food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers is accessible to an animal desirous of food and water and wherein in a closed position, food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers is not accessible to the animal; a treadle coupled to the cover, said treadle being adapted to be tread upon by the animal desirous of food or water; and an actuating arrangement coupled to the treadle and the cover for actuating the opening of the cover such that, upon being tread, movement of the treadle results in the cover being position in an open position. 120 110 12 ' -162

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to animal feeders and/or drinkers.

BACKGROUND

Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

Animals and birds such as chicken prefer dry food that is not stale and moist food that has not dried out. Therefore, it is desirable to use a feeder that does not expose the food for prolonged periods. This poses a problem for most feeding dishes and other exposed feeders. Being exposed, the food becomes stale or dried out and is not consumed. Such uneaten food is typically discarded, representing an undesirable expense to the owner and a loss of nutrition to the animal.

Another problem associated with feeding animals and birds relates to using different apparatus for feeding and hydrating animals. By way of example, separate drinker are typically provided for hydrating animals and birds. As a result, it can be difficult to provide separate feeders and drinkers.

Yet another problem with animal feeders and drinkers, particularly larger feeder and drinkers is that they can be difficult to clean. Additionally, a wide variety of creatures find animal foods desirable. Some of the most bothersome are birds, toads, rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, and other small vertebrates. Such creatures may spoil the food,

2018100407 29 Mar 2018 scatter the food, and soil the food and nearby areas with droppings. The persistent efforts of these creatures to steal animal food may pose a loss of food and a source for the spread of disease.

In view of the above, it is desirable to provide an animal feeder or drinker that addresses some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides an animal feeder and/or drinker comprising:

a housing comprising a frame with upstanding walls defining a hollow internal space;

one or more removable containers for receiving food or liquid, said containers being adapted to be positioned in the hollow internal space of the housing, said containers comprising edge portions for engagement with said frame;

a cover coupled to the housing, said cover being operable to be pivoted between an open and closed position wherein in an open position food or liquid contained in one or more of the removable containers is accessible to an animal desirous of food and liquid and wherein in a closed position, food or liquid contained in one or more of the removable containers is not accessible to the animal;

a treadle coupled to the cover, said treadle being adapted to be tread upon by the animal desirous of food or liquid; and an actuating arrangement coupled to the treadle and the cover for actuating the opening of the cover such that, upon being tread, movement of the treadle results in the cover being positioned in an open position.

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In an embodiment, the housing comprises two pairs of opposed and spaced apart upstanding walls defining a cubical shaped hollow internal space and wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of spaced apart frame members extending in between a first pair of upstanding walls, said frame members being adapted to engage and support the removable containers positioned thereon.

In an embodiment, said container comprises an upwardly positioned edge portion defining the opening of the container and downwardly dependent container walls forming a hollow food receiving cavity to receive food or liquid therein.

In an embodiment, the edge portion extends radially and outwardly relative to the hollow food receiving cavity such that an underside of the edge portion engages the frame during use.

In an embodiment, the animal feeder comprises a plurality of removable containers positioned in a spaced apart arrangement in the casing.

In an embodiment, the animal feeder or drinker further comprises a base comprising feet portions for being positioned on a supporting surface and upwardly extending leg portions for supporting the housing in a raised configuration relative to the supporting surface.

In an embodiment, the actuating arrangement comprises a treadle arm extending between two ends wherein a first end of the treadle arm is linked to the treadle and a second end of the treadle arm is linked to a transversely disposed actuating arm, said actuating arm being coupled to the cover whereby downward movement of the treadle by application of force by the animal causes upward movement of the treadle arm and the linked actuating arm to open the cover and wherein removal of the force results in closing of the cover.

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In an embodiment, two of said actuating arrangements, each of said actuating arrangements being positioned at opposed ends of the housing.

In an embodiment, one or more of the containers is formed from a transparent or translucent material.

In an embodiment, the containers comprise visual indicia for indicating volume of food or liquid in each container.

In an embodiment, a locking arrangement to prevent opening of the cover by treading of the animal on the treadle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in anyway. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an animal feeder and drinker 100 in accordance with an embodiment. Removable containers 120 are shown separately.

Figure 2 illustrates the animal feeder and drinker 100 in a first in-use configuration (open position).

Figure 3 illustrates the animal feeder and drinker 100 in a second in-use configuration (closed position).

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, Figures 1 to 3 illustrate an animal actuated feeder and drinker 100. It will be understood that the feeder and drinker 100 combination may be used as a feeder or a drinker or a feeder-drinker combination depending on requirements of the user and the animal. For the sake of describing the preferred embodiment, reference numeral 100 will be referred to as a feeder in the following passages.

The feeder 100 comprises a housing formed from sheet metal (such as galvanized steel sheets) mounted on a frame 112. The frame 112 is formed from frame members fastened together by any known fastening methods such as spot welding to form a cubical frame. The metal sheets may be riveted on the frame 112 to define a hollow internal space or chamber to receive removable containers 120. The removable containers 120 may be formed from a transparent or translucent material. In the preferred embodiment, the containers are made from injection moulded polymeric material. However, the invention is not limited to containers made from any specific material. The containers 120 may also be provided with visual indicia (markings on the walls ofthe containers 120) to indicate volume of feed or liquid(water) in the container

120.

Each of the containers 120 (as shown clearly in Figure 1) comprises an upwardly positioned edge portion defining the opening of the container and downwardly dependent container walls forming a hollow food receiving cavity to receive food or water. The outer edge portion of each container 120 extends radially and outwardly relative to the hollow food receiving cavity such that an underside of the edge portion engages one or more of the frame members during use. The frame 122 further comprises a plurality of spaced apart frame members 123 extending in between a pair

2018100407 29 Mar 2018 of upstanding walls extending lengthwise. The spaced apart frame members 123 are adapted to engage and support the removable containers 120 positioned thereon.

The cubical hollow internal space defined by the upstanding walls of the case 110 allows a plurality of the containers 120 to be positioned in a single row as shown clearly in Figure 2. Such an arrangement is beneficial for two reasons. First, the container 120 are easily removable for cleaning or pouring food and water. Second, provision of multiple containers 120 in the case 110 allows the apparatus 100 to be used simultaneously as a feeder and drinker. At least a first plurality of containers 120 can be used for containing animal feed and at least a second plurality of containers 120 can be used for containing water.

The case 110 is coupled with a cover 130. The cover 130 is hinged fastened to an upper portion of the case 110 by way of one or more hinges. The cover 130 is hingedly fastened to be pivoted between an open and closed position. In the open position food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers 120 is accessible to an animal desirous of food and water. In the closed position, food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers 120 is not accessible to the animal. An elongate treadle 140 extending along one side of the frontal wall of the case 110 is coupled to the cover 130. The treadle 140 is adapted to be tread upon by the animal desirous of food or water to open and close the cover 130. An actuating arrangement 150 is coupled to the treadle 140 and the cover 130 for actuating the opening of the cover 130 such that, upon being tread, movement of the treadle 140 results in the cover 130 being positioned in an open position.

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Actuating arrangements 150A and 150B are provided at each end of the elongate treadle 140. Each of the actuating arrangement 150 comprises a treadle arm 152 that extends between two ends wherein a first end of the treadle arm is linked to the treadle and a second end of the treadle arm is linked to a transversely disposed actuating arm 154. The actuating arm 154 is coupled to the cover 130 whereby downward movement of the treadle 140 by application of force by the animal causes upward movement of the treadle arm 140 and the linked actuating arm 154 to open the cover 130 and wherein removal of the force results in closing of the cover 130. The treadle arm 152 and the actuating arm 154 form a rigid link assembly with link pivots that permit sufficient movement of the treadle arm 152 and actuating arm 154 relative to the treadle 140 and the cover 130 to allow opening and closing of the cover 130 when an animal treads on the treadle 140.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of’ is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

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Claims (11)

1. An animal feeder and/or drinker comprising:

a housing comprising a frame with upstanding walls defining a hollow internal space;

one or more removable containers for receiving food or water, said containers being adapted to be positioned in the hollow internal space of the housing, said containers comprising edge portions for engagement with said frame;

a cover coupled to the housing, said cover being operable to be pivoted between an open and closed position wherein in an open position food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers is accessible to an animal desirous of food and water and wherein in a closed position, food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers is not accessible to the animal;

a treadle coupled to the cover, said treadle being adapted to be tread upon by the animal desirous of food or water; and an actuating arrangement coupled to the treadle and the cover for actuating the opening of the cover such that, upon being tread, movement of the treadle results in the cover being position in an open position.

2. An animal feeder in accordance with claim 1 wherein the housing comprises two pairs of opposed and spaced apart upstanding walls defining a cubical shaped hollow internal space and wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of spaced apart frame members extending in between a first pair of upstanding walls, said frame

2018100407 29 Mar 2018 members being adapted to engage and support the removable containers positioned thereon.

3. An animal feeder in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said container comprises an upwardly positioned edge portion defining the opening of the container and downwardly dependent container walls forming a hollow food receiving cavity to receive food therein.

4. An animal feeder in accordance with claim 3 wherein the edge portion extends radially and outwardly relative to the hollow food receiving cavity such that an underside of the edge portion engages the frame during use.

5. An animal feeder in accordance with any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of removable containers positioned in a spaced apart arrangement in the casing.

6. An animal feeder in accordance with any one of the preceding claims further comprising a base comprising feet portions for being positioned on a supporting surface and upwardly extending leg portions for supporting the housing in a raised configuration relative to the supporting surface.

7. An animal feeder in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuating arrangement comprises a treadle arm extending between two ends wherein a first end of the treadle arm is linked to the treadle and a second end of the

2018100407 29 Mar 2018 treadle arm is linked to a transversely disposed actuating arm, said actuating arm being coupled to the cover whereby downward movement of the treadle by application of force by the animal causes upward movement of the treadle arm and the linked actuating arm to open the cover and wherein removal of the force results in closing of the cover.

8. An animal feeder in accordance with claim 7 comprising two of said actuating arrangements, each of said actuating arrangements being positioned at opposed ends of the housing.

9. An animal feeder in accordance with any one of the claims wherein one or more of the containers is formed from a transparent or translucent material.

10. An animal feeder in accordance with any one of the claims wherein the containers comprise visual indicia for indicating volume of food or liquid in each container.

11. An animal feeder in accordance with any one of the claims further comprising a locking arrangement to prevent opening of the cover by treading of the animal on the treadle.

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FIGURE 1

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FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3