AU2018102116A4 - 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 containers for receiving food or water, said containers being adapted to be positioned in the hollow internal space of the housing; 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; 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; and a soft closure device coupled with the cover to produce a soft or quiet closing action when the operating position of the cover is switched from an open position to a closed position. - 134 150B, 24

Description

ANIMAL-ACTUATED FEEDER AND/OR DRINKER

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

BACKGROUND [001] 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.

[002] 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.

[003] 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.

[004] 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

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 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, 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.

[005] 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 [006] In an 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 containers for receiving food or water, said containers being adapted to be positioned in the hollow internal space of the housing;

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;

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 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; and a soft closure device coupled with the cover to produce a soft or quiet closing action when the operating position of the cover is switched from an open position to a closed position.

[007] In an embodiment, the soft closure device comprises:

a mounting member adapted to be mounted on one of the door or the housing; and at least one damping device positioned relative to the mounting member, the damping member being coupled with an arm extending outwardly from the mounting member and attached to the other of the door or housing;

wherein in the open position the arm extends outwardly from the mounting member and wherein when the when the operating position of the cover is switched from the open position to the closed position, the damping device retards the withdrawal of the arm in a controlled manner as the cover is gradually closed.

[008] In an embodiment, the damping device is positioned within the mounting device.

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 [009] In an embodiment, the cover comprises a top wall and one or more side walls depending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall being structured to be positioned above the upstanding walls of the housing in the open position and wherein the side walls lap over the upstanding walls of the housing in the closed position.

[010] In an embodiment, the animal feeder and/or drinker comprises a closure prevention arrangement to prevent complete closure of the cover.

[011] In an embodiment, the closure prevention arrangement allows the cover to be held in one or more intermediate positions in between said open and closed positions to prevent the full closure of the cover.

[012] In an embodiment, the closure prevention arrangement comprises one or more holes positioned at a plurality of locations along the one or more side walls of the cover, the holes being adapted to receive a stop member such that during use the stop member abuts the housing and prevents full closure of the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [013] 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 any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

2018102116 21 Dec 2018

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal feeder and drinker 100 shown in an open position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the animal feeder and drinker 100 shown in a closed position.

Figure 3 is a right hand side view of the animal feeder and drinker 100 shown in an open position.

Figure 4 is a right hand side view of the animal feeder and drinker 100 shown in a closed position.

Figure 5 is a left hand side view of the animal feeder and drinker 100 shown in an open position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of the soft closure device 160.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate enlarged views of the soft closure device 160.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [014] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, Figures 1 to 10 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.

[015] 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

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 members fastened together by any known fastening methods such as spot welding to form a cubical frame. The metal sheets 114 may be riveted on the frame 112 to define a hollow internal space or chamber to receive removable containers (now shown).

[016] Each of the containers 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 112 further comprises a plurality of spaced apart frame members 123 extending in between a pair of upstanding walls extending lengthwise. The spaced apart frame members 123 are adapted to engage and support the removable containers positioned thereon.

[017] The cubical hollow internal space defined by the upstanding walls of the frame 112 allows a plurality of the containers to be positioned in a single row. Such an arrangement is beneficial for two reasons. First, the containers are easily removable for cleaning or pouring food and water. Second, provision of multiple containers in the housing allows the apparatus 100 to be used simultaneously as a feeder and drinker. At least a first plurality of containers can be used for containing animal feed and at least a second plurality of containers can be used for containing water.

[018] The case 110 is coupled with a cover 130. The cover 130 is 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

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 (shown in Figure 1)food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers is accessible to an animal desirous of food and water. In the closed position (shown in Figure 2), food or water contained in one or more of the removable containers is not accessible to the animal.

[019] 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.

[020] The cover 130 comprises a top wall 132 and two opposed side walls 134 depending downwardly from the top wall 132. Each of the side walls 134 is structured to be positioned above the upstanding walls of the housing 112 in the open position as shown in Figure 1. In the closed position as shown in Figure 2, the side walls of the 134 of the cover lap over the upstanding walls of the housing 112.

[021] 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

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 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.

[022] Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 6 a soft closure device 160 is also coupled with the cover 130 to produce a soft or quiet closing action when the operating position of the cover 130 is switched from the open position to the closed position. The soft closure device 160 comprises: a mounting member 162 adapted to be mounted on the side wall 134 of the cover 130. A damping device 164 is positioned inside the hollow mounting member 162. The damping device 164 is coupled with an outwardly extending arm 166 which is attached with an upstanding wall of the housing 120. The provision of the soft closure device 160 allows the cover 130 to be closed softly or quietly when the operating position of the cover 130 is switched from the open position to the closed position. Specifically, the damping device 164 retards the withdrawal of the arm 166 in a controlled manner as the cover 130 is gradually closed.

[023] The provision of the soft closure device 160 is advantageous for several reasons. First, any sudden closure of the cover may injure smaller animals or birds and the gradual closing of the cover 130 prevents such injuries to the animals or birds. Secondly, repeated sudden closure of the cover 130 can be accompanied by an undesirable thud and can also cause damage to the panels of the housing 112 and the cover 130.

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 [024] The animal feeder and drinker 100 also includes an optional closure prevention arrangement to prevent complete closure of the cover 130. The closure prevention arrangement allows the cover 130 to be held in one or more intermediate positions in between the open and closed positions to prevent the full closure of the cover 130. The inventor has found that providing the closure prevention arrangement allows animals or birds to be more easily trained to use the treadle for actuating the opening of the cover 130. In the preferred embodiment, the closure prevention arrangement comprises two holes 172 and 174 positioned at a plurality of locations along the one of the side walls 134 of the cover 130. The holes 172 and 174 are adapted to receive a stop member (shown in Figure 7) such that during use the stop member 175 abuts the upper edge of the housing 112 and prevents full closure of the cover 130.

[025] 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.

[026] 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.

2018102116 21 Dec 2018 [027] 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.

Claims (7)

1. An animal feeder and/or drinker comprising:

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

one or more containers for receiving food or water, said containers being adapted to be positioned in the hollow internal space of the housing;

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;

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; and a soft closure device coupled with the cover to produce a soft or quiet closing action when the operating position of the cover is switched from an open position to a closed position.

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2. An animal feeder and/or drinker in accordance with claim 1 wherein the soft closure device comprises:

a mounting member adapted to be mounted on one of the door or the housing; and at least one damping device positioned relative to the mounting member, the damping member being coupled with an arm extending outwardly from the mounting member and attached to the other of the door or housing;

wherein in the open position the arm extends outwardly from the mounting member and wherein when the when the operating position of the cover is switched from the open position to the closed position, the damping device retards the withdrawal of the arm in a controlled manner as the cover is gradually closed.

3. An animal feeder and/or drinker in accordance with claim 2 wherein the damping device is positioned within the mounting device.

4. An animal feeder and/or drinker in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover comprises a top wall and one or more side walls depending downwardly from the top wall, the side wall being structured to be positioned above the upstanding walls of the housing in the open position and wherein the side walls lap over the upstanding walls of the housing in the closed position.

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5. An animal feeder and/or drinker in accordance with any one of the preceding claims comprising a closure prevention arrangement to prevent complete closure of the cover.

6. An animal feeder and/or drinker in accordance with claim 5 wherein the closure prevention arrangement allows the cover to be held in one or more intermediate positions in between said open and closed positions to prevent the full closure of the cover.

7. An animal feeder and/or drinker in accordance with claims 5 or 6 when dependent upon claim 4 wherein the closure prevention arrangement comprises one or more holes positioned at a plurality of locations along the one or more side walls of the cover, the holes being adapted to receive a stop member such that during use the stop member abuts the housing and prevents full closure of the cover.