AU664903B2

AU664903B2 - Improvements in feeders

Info

Publication number: AU664903B2
Application number: AU41434/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ross Gordon Mcinnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-22
Filing date: 1993-06-22
Publication date: 1995-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-22
Also published as: AU4143493A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: ROSS GORDON McINNES Ross Gordon McInnes SHELSTON WATERS Clarence Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDERS" r Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- This invention relates to a feeder and in particular to an animal feeder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of keeping birds out of feeders and/or at least to provide the public with a useful feeder choice. In a preferred embodiment the invention provides a means of keeping rain out of feeders.

The invention has application to feeders or troughs for most animals including cattle, calves, sheep, goats and pigs.

The present invention consists in a feeder having an opening through which the animal to be fed must pass its head to gain access to food in the feeder, said opening being screened by a plurality of substantially vertically hanging top-suspended transparent flexible strips which substantially cover the opening.

The above gives a broad description of the present invention, preferred forms of which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show typical applications to rectangular and cylindrical openings. Thus; Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a feeder according to the 15 invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the feeder shown in Figure 1 along line II-1I; Figure 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of a feeder according to the invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of the feeder shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a first embodiment of a feeder 5, which is designed to be hung from a rail or the like by means of a plurality of hooks such as extending from the rear wall 16. The feeder 5 has a substantially rectangular opening 17 .a in the front through which the animal to be fed must pass its head to gain access to the 0 000 0r @000 S ~r we...

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r)S S @6 hO S S 0S *000 It~> T% a -3food contained, in use, in the bowl shaped portion 19. The opening 17 is screened by a plurality of substantially vertical hanging top-suspended transparent flexible strips 1 which substantially cover the opening. In this embodiment, the strips 1 are stapled at their top to a transverse wooden strip 10 which is secured within a longitudinal channel 18 moulded into the feeder. The channel 18 may conveniently be rotationally moulded from polyethylene. The strip 2 is held in position by screws 3 inserted from the top of the feeder.

The strips 1 are preferably from 75 to 300mm wide and from 2 to 5mm thick.

They are preferably spaced with gaps 6 of 3 to 5mm from each other and from the side edges 21 of the opening 16. The strips 1 are also preferably spaced with a gap 7 about above the bottom of the opening so that they clear the lip 20. This clearance allows the strips to swing freely inwards when an animal seeks food by passing its head S.through the opening and swing freely backwards to their original position when the animal withdraws its head. Although not shown in Figure 2, the strips may be spaced 15 outwardly away from the bottom lip 20 of the opening 16 to ensure that rain running down them does not drip into the feeder.

There are many ways in which the strips may be vertically suspended. In a first 0* example each strip is folded, at its top, around a metal bar and then heat welded to itself so that the bar passes through the tunnel formed by the welded strip. The bar can then be 29 fastened to the feeder, for example, by screws or bolts. In another method, the strips are sewn at their top to a flexible material, for example a reinforced plastic cloth, which is wrapped and sewn around a rope which can then be threaded through a retaining channel -4such as those used for caravan awnings. The channel is then fastened in a suitable position at the top of the feeder.

Although it is possible to have the strips 1 overlapping one another, small gaps are preferable so that the strips swing freely inwards when an animal seeks food and thereafter swings easily back to their original position when the animal withdraws its head.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention in the form of circular feeder 9. In this embodiment, the strips 11 are individually fastened to the top 14 of the feeder by means of screws, bolts or blind rivets 13. In the embodiment shown the strips are provided around the whole circumference.

Although the invention is simple and can be implemented in a number of ways, it has soved long-standing problems associated with animal feeders and has met with

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S* enthusiastic market approval.

In summary the invention is useful where it is desired to bird-proof and perhaps 0 *0 15 rain-proof animal feeders particularly meal feeders or cattle feed bins. Essentially this is achieved by hanging strips of flexible clear plastic down cver the opening through which stock normally put their heads to gain access to the food. Stock appear to have no 0 ohesitation to putting their heads through the screen as long as it is clear, and it is effective in keeping birds out. By incorporating modifications discussed above, rain can also be kept out of the animals food.

The strips found to be useful are from 75mm wide to 300mm wide and from 2 to thick. One strip which has been successfully trialed is 150mm wide by 3mm thick.

S Where there is a rectangular opening to be screened, the screen strips may be suspended from a length of timber to which the individual strips have been nailed or otherwise fastened and the length of timber may then be bolted or screwed to the top of the feeder or some roof apparatus over the feeder. On the assumption that the screen will fully cover the only means of ingress into the feeder, birds will be effectively prevented from gaining access to the food. It is of course possible to fasten the individual strips directly to the top of the feeder by blind rivets, screws or similar fasteners.

Where the feeder is circular it is preferable to attach the individual strips directly to the top of the feeder although it will be appreciated that they could be attached to a length of aluminium or steel bent into an appropriate circular shape and fastened to the top of the feeder.

It is best to leave small gaps of say 3 to 5mm between the strips so that they can hang freely and it is also best that they terminate about 5mm above the lower edge of the feeder opening to ensure no contact is made with the lower edge such that the strips hang substantially straight.

15 Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

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Claims

1. A feeder having an opening through which the animal to be fed must pass its head to gain access to the food in the feeder, said opening being screened by a plurality of substantially vertically hanging top-suspended transparent flexible strips which substantially cover the opening.

2. A feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strips terminate above a lower edge of the opening.

3. A feeder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strips terminate approximately above the lower edge.

4. A feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the strips are spaced horizontally outwardly away from the lower edge of the opening so that any rain "running down the strips does not drip iato the feeder.

5. A feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the top of the strips are stapled to a transverse wooden strip which is fixed to the feeder.

6. A feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the top of the strips are sewn to a flexible material which is wrapped around a rope, and the rope is threaded through a retaining channel fastened to the feeder.

7. A feeder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the top of the strips are folded at around a metal bar and heat welded in position and the bar is fastened to the feeder.

8. A feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the strips are from 75 to 300mm wide and from 2 to 5mm thick. -7-

9. A feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the strips are spaced 3 to 5mm from each other and from the side edges of the opening.

A feeder substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A feeder substantially as herein described with reference to, Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 30th Day of August, 1995 ROSS GORDON McINNES Attorney: Caroline M. Bommer Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS S.. S S ee 090: S* S 0 ABSTRACT A feeder having an opening through which the animal to be fed must pass its head to gain access to the food, said opening being screened by a plurality of substantially vertically hanging top-suspended transparent flexd le strips which substantially cover the opening. S *o S S**