FR3115655A1 - Insulated drinker with interlocking lid - Google Patents

Abstract

Isothermal drinker for animals comprising a tank (2) intended to receive water and a cover (3), the drinker having a closed configuration and an open configuration, the cover (3) being configured to close the tank (2) in the closed configuration, the cover (3) comprising at least one opening configured to allow the animals to access water in the tank (2) in the closed configuration. In the open configuration, the cover (3) is removably fixed on the tank (2). Abstract Figure: Figure 3

Description

Insulated drinker with interlocking lid

The present disclosure relates to the field of isothermal drinking troughs for animals and proposes a solution making it possible to facilitate their cleaning.

Isothermal drinkers for animals prevent the water in the tank from freezing with the cooling of outside temperatures, especially in winter, and keep the water cool in summer. To do this, the tank and the lid of the drinker include internal and external walls between which there is a thermal insulator. In order to allow access to water, the lid has at least one opening allowing the animals to access the water contained in the tank. In order to limit heat exchange, the opening is partially closed or closed temporarily when the animals do not drink.

We know from the prior art, drinking troughs in which the lid is shaped to come to fit on the upper end of the tank. The lid is then held in place on the tank by a locking system comprising elastic latches for example.

To clean the drinker, the contents of the tank are emptied then the breeder cleans the cover before removing it to gain access to the inside of the tank. The lid is then placed on the ground, potentially soiled by urine and excrement, before being repositioned and locked on the tank. This poses a problem since bacteria can again be introduced into the drinker and contaminate the water drunk by the animals.

To overcome this drawback, there are drinkers in which the lid is connected by means of a hinge to the tank. You can easily clean the lid and then open the drinker by tilting the lid to access the tank. The lid is then held by the hinge in an open position during the cleaning of the tank and the lid is folded down at the end of the cleaning. This facilitates the handling of the lid during cleaning and prevents it from being soiled after having been cleaned.

This solution has several drawbacks. For one thing, the hinges can wear out quite quickly due to the weight the lid exerts on the hinges. In addition, the seals present on an upper edge of the tank are stressed during each opening and can also wear out. On the other hand, the recesses in which the hinges are mounted form thermal bridges which generate heat loss at the level of the lid.

Summary

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an insulated drinker allowing easy access to the interior of the tank during cleaning while preserving the cover from exposure to dirt. Another object of the present invention is to provide a more robust drinker.

An object of the present invention is also to provide an insulated drinker with improved thermal insulation compared to certain drinkers of the prior art by limiting the presence of thermal bridges in the drinker.

There is provided an insulated water trough for animals comprising a tank for receiving water and a cover, the water trough having a closed configuration and an open configuration, the cover being configured to close the tank in the closed configuration, the cover comprising at least one opening configured to allow animals access to water in the tank in the closed configuration. In the open configuration, the cover is removably attached to the tank.

Thus, the cover can be installed stably on the tank without touching the ground while providing easy access to the inside of the tank.

In one embodiment, the drinker comprises recessed shapes and complementary projecting shapes capable of receiving the recessed shapes when the drinker is in the open configuration, the recessed shapes being provided in one of the cover and the bowl and the protruding shapes being provided in the other of the lid and the bowl.

Thus, the connection between the lid and the tank is more robust, for example compared to that conferred by a hinge.

In one embodiment, the tank has, on a part of the tank, two protruding shapes and the lid has two recessed shapes, the protruding shapes and the recessed shapes being configured to retain the lid, in the open configuration of the drinker, in a substantially vertical position.

The substantially vertical position of the cover in relation to the tank facilitates access to the inside of the tank during cleaning. In addition, when the lid is in the vertical position, the torque take-up is low so that the position of the lid is stabilized.

In one embodiment, the cover has an upper face and a lower face connected by an edge; each protruding shape is located on a longitudinal outer wall of the tank, preferably on a zone of intersection between a longitudinal outer wall and a transverse outer wall of the tank; and the hollow shapes are on the edge of the lid and are further shaped to accommodate, in the closed configuration, the projecting shapes so that the projecting shapes do not prevent the closure of the tank.

The lid is thus fixed on a part of the tank which is not soiled and therefore does not have to be cleaned before opening the tank. In addition, the protruding shapes do not hinder the closure of the tank.

In one embodiment, the tank comprises a rib on the upper end of the tank, and the cover is shaped, on the one hand, to fit on said rib in the closed configuration and, on the other hand, to abut against said rib in the open configuration when the protruding shapes receive the recessed shapes.

When the upper end of the tank has a rib, the lid can rest on it. This increases the stability of the lid.

In one embodiment, the cover comprises at least one portion configured to abut against an upper face of the rib when the projecting forms receive the recessed forms.

The stability of the position of the lid is increased, especially in the presence of wind coming from the rear of the tank.

Advantageously, the water capacity of the tank is greater than 25 liters. The capacity of 25 L corresponds to the capacity of the isothermal drinkers currently on the market comprising a single opening intended for watering the animals.

Advantageously, the drinker is generally parallelepipedic in shape. In particular, the tank and the cover are generally parallelepipedic in shape.

Advantageously, each opening is partially or removably closed by a thermally insulating element so as to allow the animals to access the water permanently or temporarily. The thermally insulating elements can for example be insulating balls which move to release each opening when the animal presses with its muzzle on it and which return to position themselves on the opening when the animal releases the opening. It can also be insulating cups placed on the opening and configured to partly or partially cover each opening so as to be able to collect water arriving at the level of the cup.

Advantageously, the tank and the lid are formed by molding a synthetic material, from the range of thermoplastics. In particular, the tank and the lid can be formed by rotational molding of a synthetic material from the range of thermoplastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene for example. Other types of preferably UV-resistant thermoplastics can be used.

In one embodiment, the waterer further includes locking systems configured to lock the cover to the bowl in the closed configuration. Locking systems may include, for example, metal or plastic locking latches, toggles and/or latches. It will be noted that the locking systems are distinct from the recessed shapes and the protruding shapes which are configured to hold the lid in a stable position in the open configuration. In addition, the locking systems are configured to ensure the closing and the securing of the lid on the tank in the closed configuration and perform a function other than the hinges of the prior art described above. In fact, the hinges make it easier to switch from the open configuration to the closed configuration of the drinker and vice versa. In addition, the hinges keep the lid in a position that facilitates access to the inside of the tank when the drinker is in the open configuration.

Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

shows an insulated drinker according to one embodiment in the closed configuration.

Fig. 2

shows the drinking trough without the lid.

Fig. 3

shows a view of the trough from the in an open configuration according to one embodiment with the lid in a substantially vertical position.

Fig. 4

shows another view of the trough of the in an open configuration.

Fig. 5

shows a sectional view along the axis VV of the drinker in the open configuration of the .

Fig. 6

shows a sectional view along the VI-VI axis of the drinker in the open configuration of the .

Fig. 7

shows a sectional view along the VII-VII axis of the drinker in the open configuration of the .

Fig. 8

shows another view of the trough of the in closed configuration and shows a detail of the .

Fig.9

is a detail view of part of the waterer lid.

The drawings and the description below contain, for the most part, certain elements. They may therefore not only serve to better understand this disclosure, but also contribute to its definition, where applicable.

Reference is now made to the . There shows an insulated drinker 1 according to one embodiment of the invention in a closed configuration. The isothermal drinking trough 1 comprises a tank 2 and a cover 3, both of generally parallelepipedal shape. The tank 2 comprises internal walls continuously connected to each other which define a volume in which water can be stored. The tank 2 also comprises outer walls continuously connected to one another, including a bottom wall resting on the ground and side walls.

As more particularly visible on the , the side walls comprise two longitudinal walls 22, 23 and two transverse walls 24, 25. The wall 22 corresponds to the front of the tank and is also called the front wall in the rest of the description. The wall 23 corresponds to the rear of the tank and is also referred to as the rear wall in the remainder of the description. The walls 24 and 25 correspond to the sides of the tank.

The cover 3 comprises an upper face 31 and a lower face 32 connected by an edge 33. It will be noted that the lower face 32 is more particularly visible on the . The lid 3, via its underside 32, is configured to come to fit on an upper end 21 of the tank so as to close the tank more particularly visible on the .

The cover 3 comprises, in the embodiment described here, two openings 4 allowing the animals to access the water contained in the tank. The drinker described here has a capacity of 75 L. The capacity and the number of openings can be adapted to the number of animals and the type of animals to be watered. For example, there are 40L drinkers intended to water 15 animals such as cows and 75L drinkers intended to water 30 animals.

These openings 4 can be closed temporarily by thermally insulating balls 5 floating on the surface of the water as illustrated in the . All the animals have to do is push the balls away with their muzzle to gain access to the water contained in the tank. In a variant embodiment, these openings 4 can be partially closed by thermally insulating elements such as polyethylene cups for example, allowing the animals to access the water contained in the cup. Such means for partially or temporarily closing the openings are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in more detail here.

Thus, in the present application, the term "face" is used in the broad sense, that is to say that a face may include reliefs and openings as visible in Figures 1 and 4 for example.

In addition, the drinker 1 includes locking systems 6 configured to lock the cover on the tank when the drinker is in the closed configuration. The locking systems 6 comprise two complementary parts, intended to cooperate with each other, one being fixed to the cover and the other to the tank. The locking systems can include, for example, toggles 6a configured to cooperate with complementary closing lugs 6b as seen on the .

The drinker 1 further comprises drain plugs 7 screwed onto drain holes 8 positioned on the bottom of the tank 2 on the front wall 22. When cleaning the tank, these drain plugs 7 are removed in order to empty tank. Advantageously, the internal wall forming the bottom of the tank is inclined so as to facilitate the evacuation of the water present in the tank. The drain plugs can be replaced by drain plugs configured to close the drain holes 8, which in this case are not threaded.

The drinker further comprises a floating valve system 9 more particularly visible on the , making it possible to keep the water level 10 in the tank constant. The floating valve system 9 is connected to a water pipe guaranteeing water replenishment. Typically, the pipe is connected to a water supply network and the pipe is buried deep enough to ensure that the water in the pipe does not freeze.

As more particularly visible on the , the tank 2 has an upper end 21 configured to serve as an interface with the lid in the closed configuration but also in the open configuration as described later with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

In the example described here, the upper end 21 may include a rib 21a and optionally a groove 21b. The upper end 21 of the tank 2 cooperates with the lower face 32 of the cover 2 to ensure tight closure of the tank. The cover 3 is in particular configured to fit on the upper end of the tank, and in particular on the rib 21a, in the closed configuration.

The drinker 1 also includes seals 11 and 12 also visible on the making it possible to ensure a good seal between the cover 3 and the tank 2 and to limit heat losses. These seals 11 and 12 bear on the rib 21a of the upper end 21 of the tank.

It is recalled here that the cover 3 is shaped to fit over the upper end 21 of the tank 2. The rib 21a, the groove 21b and the associated gaskets improve the thermal insulation between the tank and the cover. , in particular when the wind arrives perpendicularly on one of the outer walls 22, 23, 24, 25 of the tank. It will be noted that the lid 3 further comprises on its edge 33 a rim 33a, more particularly visible on the . The rim 33a makes it possible to improve the thermal insulation when the wind hits one of the outer walls 22, 23, 24, 25 of the tank.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the drinker 1 in the open configuration according to two different views. There corresponds to a side view of the drinker and the corresponds to a rear view of the drinker in the open configuration. It will be noted that for greater visibility only the cover 3 and the tank 2 are shown.

In the open configuration, the cover 3 is removably fixed to the tank 2 by positioning the cover such that two recessed shapes 13 present on the cover cooperate with two complementary projecting shapes 14 provided on a wall of the tank 2 The recessed shapes 13 can be found for example, as illustrated here, on the edge 33 of the cover 3. As more particularly visible on the , the projecting shapes 14 are preferably located on one of the longitudinal outer walls of the tank, here on the rear wall 23.

Advantageously, each projecting form 14 is located on an intersection zone between the rear wall 23 and one of the walls present on the side of the tank, namely one of the walls 24, 25 of the tank 2 in order to maximize the distance between the two protruding shapes 14. This ensures that the protruding shapes 14 are able to withstand greater forces. The protruding shapes 14 are preferably located close to the upper end 21. The cover 3 is thus more easily mounted on the protruding shapes 14.

Advantageously, the recessed shapes 13 and the projecting shapes 14 are complementary, simple in shape and easy to make. The recessed shapes 13 can be formed by recesses which are more particularly visible on the . Each recess has three perpendicular walls 13a, 13b, 13c oriented along the XY, XZ and YZ planes, respectively. Such a recess can be easily formed in the lid by including a positive form of simple geometric shape in the mould. The projecting shapes 14, more particularly visible on the for example, can be formed by a wall corresponding to the rear wall 23 and three walls 14a, 14b, 14c defining the projecting part with respect to the rear wall 23. In the open configuration, when the two recessed shapes 13 cooperate with the two protruding shapes 14, the walls 14a, 14b, 14c of the protruding shapes 14 rest on the walls 13a, 13b, 13c of the recessed shapes, respectively.

To mount the lid on the protruding shapes 14 and pass from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the lid 3 is rotated by 90° along the X axis towards the rear of the tank and the lid is rotated 180 ° along the Z axis as shown by the arrows on the . Thus, in the open configuration, the upper face 31 of the cover is oriented towards the inside of the tank, whereas in the closed configuration, the upper face 31 is oriented towards the outside of the tank.

It will be noted that, in the present application, the cover is removably fixed since the cover can be separated from the fixing means present on the tank, here the projecting shapes. This is not the case when using hinges, the hinges being permanently fixed to the lid and the tank.

Advantageously, the cover 3 is retained in a substantially vertical position relative to the tank, the cover 3 being in the horizontal position when the drinker is in the closed configuration. The substantially vertical position of the cover makes it possible to stabilize the position of the cover and to limit the forces exerted on the projecting shapes 14 as is more particularly visible on the . The protruding shapes 14 and the recessed shapes 13 are more particularly visible on the which shows the trough seen from behind and on the which is a sectional view of the along the VV axis.

Moreover, as particularly visible on the , the lower face 32 is shaped to fit on the upper end 21 of the tank in the closed configuration as more particularly visible on the . The underside is also shaped to guide the balls 5 towards the openings 4 when the animals no longer drink.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate how the cover 3 cooperates with the tank in the open configuration. In particular, the shows the way in which one of the recessed shapes 13 is received in one of the projecting shapes 14 while FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the way in which the cover is shaped to come into abutment against the rib 21a of the tank open setup.

Indeed, when the upper end 21 of the tank has a rib 21a as described previously, the cover 3 can be configured to come into abutment against this rib in order to reinforce the stability of the cover, in particular in the event of strong winds arriving on the cover in direction D indicated by the arrow on the . This is visible on the which shows a section along the VI-VI axis of the . Zone 31a of cover 3 can then be shaped to come into abutment against the bottom of this rib 21a.

Moreover, as more particularly visible on the , the lid 3 may also, in addition to the zone 31a, comprise at least one portion 15 configured to come into abutment against the rib 21a, when the projecting shapes 14 receive the recessed shapes 13 in the open configuration. In the example described here, the lid has two projecting portions 15 . In an alternative embodiment, the cover 3 may comprise only the portions 15 coming into abutment against the bottom of the rib 21a.

Thus, in both cases, the upper end 21 cooperates with the lower face 32 of the lid to stabilize the lid in the open configuration.

It is also noted in these figures that the tank 2 and the cover 3 are formed by internal walls PI and external walls PE interconnected. The internal PI and external PE walls are formed by molding a synthetic material from the range of thermoplastics, such as polyethylene or polypropylene for example. Between the inner walls and the outer walls there is a heat insulator, for example polyurethane foam. The tank and the cover can be formed by rotational molding for example. Since the drinkers are exposed to the sun when they are outdoors, the thermoplastics are preferably anti-UV treated. Of course, the notions of internal and external walls are relative and are defined in relation to their orientation towards the inside of the tank here in the open configuration.

There shows the drinker in the closed configuration and more particularly the way in which the cover is configured to allow the tank to be closed when the lower face 32 of the cover is again oriented towards the inside of the tank.

Advantageously, as is particularly visible also on the which is a top view, the recessed shapes 13 located on the edge 33 of the lid are further shaped to accommodate the projecting shapes 14. This is made possible by the fact that the lid is turned over at an angle 180° in the Z direction when switching between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

This disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, solely by way of example, but it encompasses all the variants that those skilled in the art may consider within the framework of the protection sought. Thus, it is possible to place protruding shapes on the lid and recessed shapes on the tank in order to be able to fix the lid in a removable manner on the tank. Furthermore, other types of protruding shapes and recessed shapes can be used, just like other conformations of the cover and/or of the tank, to reinforce the stability of the cover in the open configuration and/or the thermal insulation in closed configuration, especially when the wind is blowing in the D direction.

Claims (10)

Isothermal drinking trough for animals (1) comprising a tank (2) intended to receive water and a lid (3), the drinking trough (1) having a closed configuration and an open configuration, the lid (3) being configured to closing the tank (2) in the closed configuration, the cover (3) comprising at least one opening (4) configured to allow the animals to access the water in the tank (2) in the closed configuration,
characterized in that, in the open configuration, the cover (3) is removably fixed on the tank (2). Isothermal drinking trough for animals (1) according to claim 1, in which the drinking trough comprises recessed shapes (13) and projecting shapes (14) which are complementary, capable of receiving the hollow shapes (13) when the drinking trough is in open configuration, the recessed shapes (13) being provided in one of the cover (3) and the tank (2) and the protruding shapes (14) being provided in the other of the cover (3) and the tank (2). Isothermal animal waterer (1) according to claim 2, in which:
- the tank (2) comprises, on a part of the tank, two projecting shapes (14) and
- the lid (3) has two recessed shapes (13),
the protruding shapes (14) and the recessed shapes (13) being configured to retain the lid (3), in the open configuration of the drinker, in a substantially vertical position. Isothermal animal waterer (1) according to claim 3, in which:
- the lid has an upper face (31) and a lower face (32) connected by an edge (33),
- each protruding form (14) is located on a longitudinal outer wall (23) of the tank (2), preferably on a zone of intersection between a longitudinal outer wall (23) and a transverse outer wall (24, 25 ) of the tank (2), and
- the recessed shapes (13) are on the edge (33) of the cover (3) and are further shaped to accommodate, in the closed configuration, the protruding shapes (14) so that the protruding shapes (14) prevent the closing of the tank (2). Isothermal animal drinker (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which:
- the tank (2) has a rib (21a) on the upper end (21) of the tank, and
- the cover (3) is shaped, on the one hand, to fit on said rib (21a) in the closed configuration and, on the other hand, to be in abutment against said rib (21a) in the open configuration when the protruding shapes (14) receive the recessed shapes (13). Isothermal drinking trough for animals (1) according to claim 5, in which the cover (3) comprises at least a portion (15) configured to abut against an upper face of the rib (21a), when the projecting shapes (14 ) receive the recessed shapes (13). Isothermal animal drinker (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the water capacity of the tank is greater than 25 litres. Isothermal drinking trough for animals (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each opening (4) is partially or removably closed by a thermally insulating element (5) so as to allow the animals access to the water permanently or temporarily. Isothermal drinker for animals (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tank (2) and the cover (3) are formed by molding a synthetic material, of the range of thermoplastics. An insulated animal drinker (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the drinker further comprises locking systems (6) configured to lock the cover (3) to the tank (2) in the closed configuration.