FR3120767A3 - PERFECTED DEVICE FOR CONTAINING ANIMAL FOOD - Google Patents

Abstract

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR CONTAINING ANIMAL FOOD The invention relates to a device for containing animal food (100); the device for containing food (100) comprises a base frame (T) and a bowl (1), which is connected to the base frame (T) and which comprises a trough (1v), a bottom (11) which delimits below said trough (1v) and a side wall (10) which delimits laterally, totally or partially, said trough (1v); the particularity of the device for containing food (100) is that it comprises quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) connected to the base frame (T) for hooking the device for containing food (100) to another adjacent food holding device (100). Figure to be published with abstract: Figure 1

Description

PERFECTED DEVICE FOR CONTAINING ANIMAL FEED

This utility certificate application concerns a device for containing animal feed.

Devices for containing food for domestic animals according to the prior state of the art comprise a bowl inside which food is intended to be inserted. It can also be associated with the bowl a distributor intended to contain the food, and, if necessary, to unload the food inside the bowl.

The term food is understood to mean both solid-type foods, for example kibble, and liquid-type foods, for example water or milk.

In the event that a user has a plurality of pets, it is good practice for each animal to have a corresponding bowl or two corresponding bowls, one for solid food and the other for liquid food. Therefore, the greater the number of pets, the greater the number of devices for containing food that the user will have to have in the dwelling itself. These devices for containing food will generally be placed on the ground in a scattered manner, which creates disorder.

In addition, these devices have a relatively light weight, which makes them quite susceptible to tipping over or slipping in the event of accidental low impacts with them. The overturning or slipping of the device on the floor inevitably results in the dispersion of food all over the floor. Such an experience is unpleasant and irritating for the user, who will necessarily have to clean and/or wipe the floor.

An object of the present invention is to design a device for containing animal feed which can be connected to one or more devices for containing animal feed in a stable manner, in order to be able to achieve an ordered structure, which, in the event of shocks accidental, does not move easily, thereby reducing the likelihood of food spilling out and scattering on the floor.

Another object of the present invention is to design a device for containing animal feed which is economical and simple to produce.

These objects are achieved by the present invention which relates to a device for containing animal feed, comprising: a base frame; and a bowl, connected to the base frame, and comprising a trough, a bottom which delimits said trough below and a side wall which delimits laterally, totally or partially, said trough; a food for an animal being intended to be placed inside the trough; characterized by the fact that the device for containing food comprises quick hooking/unhooking means connected to the base frame for the hooking of the device for containing food to another device for containing adjacent food.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the device for containing food comprises at least two quick attachment/detachment means for attaching the device for containing food to at least two other devices for containing food.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said quick hooking/unhooking means are configured in such a way as to: allow the vertical movement of the device for containing food with respect to the device for containing adjacent food; and preventing horizontal movement, and therefore separation, of the food holding device from the adjacent food holding device.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said quick hooking/unhooking means comprise male means and female means coupled together; in which: said male means are intended to be coupled to female means of the quick hooking/unhooking means of the device for containing adjacent foodstuffs; said female means are intended to be coupled to male means of the quick hooking/unhooking means of the device to contain adjacent food.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said male means comprise a sliding element in relief configured so as to include at least one notch; said female means comprise a cutout comprising two axial mouths and a narrow access mouth.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the device for containing food comprises a distributor intended to contain the food inside the latter and to discharge, if necessary, part of it into the trough of the bowl.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said distributor comprises distribution means configured so as to be moved between: an opening orientation, in which the food contained inside the distributor is free to come out of the distributor and to pour into the trough of the bowl; and a closure orientation, in which the food is held inside the dispenser.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the device for containing food comprises a support body, connected to said base frame, comprising a seat capable of receiving, at least partially, said dispenser so as to support it in a stable manner.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said seat of the support body and said trough of the bowl are in communication with each other.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said bowl comprises at least one side wall closed on itself, which laterally delimits said trough.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said bowl and said base frame are made in one piece.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said bowl, said support body and said base frame are made in one piece.

For greater clarity of explanation, the description of the device for containing animal feed according to the invention follows, with reference to the attached drawing plates, having only illustrative and non-limiting value, and in which:

shows, in axonometric view, a first construction version of the device for containing food according to the invention;

shows, in axonometric view, two devices for containing food according to the clinging to each other;

shows, in axonometric view, the operating mode according to which a device for containing food is attached to another device for containing food;

shows, in plan view from above, four devices for containing food according to the clinging to each other;

shows, in axonometric view, a second structural version of the device for containing food according to the invention;

shows the device for containing food according to the , with the distributor being extracted;

shows, in axonometric view, two devices for containing food according to the , hooked to each other in a first configuration;

shows, in plan view from above, the two devices of the ;

shows, in axonometric view, two devices for containing food according to the , hooked to each other in another configuration;

shows, in plan view from above, the two devices of the ;

shows, in axonometric view, a plurality of devices for containing food according to the clinging to each other;

shows, in plan view from above, a detail of the device for containing food, illustrating in particular the quick hooking/unhooking means.

If one refers to the attached figures, there is described a device for containing animal feed according to the invention, generally indicated by the reference number 100.

The device for containing food 100 is designed, in particular, so as to be used for delivering food to domestic animals, for example dogs and cats.

In Figures 1 to 3 is shown a first structural version of the device for containing food 100 according to the invention, while in Figures 4 to 7 is shown a second structural version of the device for containing food 100 according to the invention.

The two embodiments of the device for containing food 100 have in common the fact that they comprise:

- a base frame T, and

- A bowl 1, connected to the base frame T and comprising a trough 1v, a bottom 11 which delimits said trough 1v below and a side wall 10 which delimits laterally, totally or partially, said trough 1v. Food for an animal is intended to be placed inside the trough 1v.

If one refers in particular to Figures 1 and 2, in the two embodiments of the invention can be distinguished a front F1, a rear F2 and two side flanks F3. The term front F1 is understood to mean the front part of the device for containing food 100 where it is generally provided that the animal stands vis-à-vis the device for containing food 100, during consumption of the food inside trough 1v of bowl 1.

The two embodiments of the device for containing food 100 have the particularity of comprising quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 connected to the base frame T for hooking the device for containing food 100 to a device for containing food 100 adjacent.

The device for containing food 100, or else the elements which constitute it, are all made, preferably, of plastic material.

Preferably, the device for containing food 100 comprises three quick attachment/detachment means 2, 3 for attaching the device for containing food 100 to as many devices for containing food 100. The attachment/detachment means 2, 3 are arranged, in particular, in correspondence with the two lateral sides F3 and the rear F2 of the device for containing food 100. In this way, it is possible to connect the devices for containing food 100 in different configurations each other.

In order to better understand the different configurations according to which two devices for containing food 100 adjacent to each other can be hung, it is defined, as sagittal axis Z of the device for containing food 100, the axis which crosses the device from front F1 to back F2.

Two devices for containing food 100 can thus be hooked to each other in three different modes:

a) a first mode provides for hooking the two devices for containing food 100 using their quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 arranged on their lateral flanks F3; in this case, the two devices for containing food 100 lie side by side opposite each other, and their sagittal axes Z are parallel to each other (see );

b) a second mode provides for hooking the two devices for containing food 100 using the quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 arranged on two rear F2; in this case, the two devices for containing food 100 will have the two sagittal axes Z that coincide with each other, and each will have the front F1 directed away from the front F1 of the other device for containing food 100 (see Figures 2 and 6A);

c) a third mode provides for hooking together the two devices for containing food 100 using hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 arranged on a lateral flank F3 of one and on the rear F2 on the other; in this case, the two devices for containing food 100 will have the sagittal Z axes orthogonal to each other.

By increasing the number of devices to hold food 100, a user can hook them to each other as he prefers. Two examples are shown in Figures 3 and 7.

Before describing in detail the configuration of said quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3, the two alternative embodiments of the invention will be described below.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 2A and 3, in the first construction version of the device for containing food 100 according to the invention, said bowl 1 has the side wall 10 which is closed on itself. In particular, the side wall 10 has a substantially rectangular plan shape with curvilinear or rounded corners.

The base frame T is constituted by a peripheral base shoe which extends at the base of the side wall 10 of the bowl 1.

Preferably, said base frame T and said bowl 1 are made in one piece with each other.

Alternatively, said base frame T and said bowl 1 can also be made in the form of two separate pieces and hooked to each other. Such a configuration allows, in the event of damage to the base frame T or to the bowl 1, the replacement of only one of the two parts, and not of the device for containing food 100 as a whole.

Referring to Figures 4, 4A, 5, 5A, 6 and 6A, in the second embodiment of the invention, the device for containing food 100 also comprises, in addition to the base frame T and the bowl 1 mentioned above, a distributor 4 intended to contain the food inside the latter, and to discharge, if necessary, part of it into the trough 1v of the bowl 1.

In this case, the device for containing food 100 comprises a support body 6 comprising a seat 60 (see ) adapted to accommodate, at least partially, the dispenser 4 so as to support it stably.

Dispenser 4 consists of a vertically extending box-shaped body, which can be inserted into or removed from seat 60.

The distributor 4 may further comprise distribution means 5 configured so as to be able to be moved between:

- an opening orientation, in which the food contained inside the distributor 4 is free to come out of the distributor 4 and to flow inside the trough 1v of the bowl 1; and

- a closed orientation, in which the food is kept inside the distributor 4, and, therefore, the exit of this same food from the distributor 4 is prevented.

In the preferred embodiment of the second embodiment of the device for containing food 100, the bowl 1 is not closed, but rather has a side opening. In other words, the side wall 10 is not closed on itself, but it has an open part defining the previously mentioned opening. Also, the support body 6 has an opening arranged in front of the opening of the bowl 1. The seat 60 and the trough 1v are in communication with each other by means of a channel C which connects the two previously mentioned openings.

If we refer to the two dispensers are shown, one used to hold and dispense kibble (left), while the other is used to hold and dispense liquid (right).

The distributor 4 intended to contain and distribute croquettes comprises a passage 4P which is made on a side wall of the distributor 4 in correspondence with a lower edge of the distributor 4.

Passage 4P of distributor 4 is intended to be directed towards trough 1v of bowl 1.

The distribution means 5 are constituted, in this case, by a movable partition SP intended to block at least said passage 4P. When the mobile partition SP blocks the passage, it prevents the exit of the kibbles from the distributor 4, while, when it does not block it, it allows the exit of the kibbles from the distributor 4, these then flowing into trough 1v of bowl 1.

The mobile partition SP preferably comprises a bottom edge in the form of a comb.

If we always refer to the , the other dispenser 4 has no movable partition SP, and is intended, as mentioned above, to contain liquid-type food. This distributor 4, intended to contain liquids, is also shown in and in .

The distributor 4 for liquids, in this case, has a lower edge which is at a certain distance from the bottom of the seat 60, so as to define a passage gap for the liquid food from the distributor 4 towards the trough. 1v from bowl 1.

As is known, according to the laws of hydrostatics, as the animal consumes the liquid in the trough 1v, the level of the liquid inside the dispenser 4 drops in such a way that the liquid in the 1v trough always remains constantly at the same level.

Preferably, the bottom of the seat 60 and the bottom of the channel C slope towards the trough 1v so that the food coming out of the distributor 4 rushes and pours into the trough of the bowl 1.

If we refer to the , the base frame T comprises an annular shoe which extends below the bowl 1 and the support body 6.

Also in this case, said bowl 1, said support body 6 and said base frame T are preferably all made in one piece.

Nevertheless, as for the first version, the bowl 1, the support body 6 and the base frame T can also optionally be made as separate parts and hooked to each other.

It will be described here in what follows the quick hooking / unhooking means 2, 3 in their preferred construction embodiment.

Above all, said quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 are configured so as to:

- allowing vertical movement of the food holding device 100 relative to the adjacent food holding device 100; and

- prevent the horizontal movement, and therefore the distance, of the device for containing food 100 with respect to the device for containing food 100 adjacent.

If we refer in particular to Figures 1, 4 and 8, the quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 comprise male means 2 and female means 3 mutually side by side.

Said male means 2 are intended to be coupled to female means 3 of the quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 of the device for containing food 100 adjacent.

Said female means 3 are intended to be coupled to male means 2 of the quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 of the device for containing food 100 adjacent.

In particular, said male means 2 comprise a sliding element in relief configured so as to comprise at least one notch, while said female means 3 comprise a cutout comprising two axial mouths and a narrow access mouth.

The quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 arranged on one and the other lateral flanks F3 are mutually symmetrical with respect to the sagittal axis Z.

Preferably, said cutout has a trapezoidal cross-section with decreasing dimensions towards the narrow mouth, and said raised slider has a trapezoidal cross-section with increasing dimensions towards the outside.

In other words, said cutout and said embossed slider are in the shape of a dovetail, and have mutually conforming sections.

It should be emphasized that the fact of arranging the quick attachment/detachment means 2, 3 comprising male 2 and female 3 means mutually side by side and the fact of ensuring that the quick attachment/detachment means 2, 3 of the two lateral flanks F3 are mutually symmetrical make it possible to obtain an advantage in terms of flexibility of the device for containing food 100.

In particular, this flexibility can be appreciated when two devices for containing food 100 must be hooked with their sagittal axes Z orthogonal with respect to each other.

The device for containing food 100 which is connected orthogonally to the rear F2 of another device for containing food 100 can be connected indifferently with the front F1 directed on one side as well as on the other side . In other words, the device for containing food 100 posterior can present at the back F2 of the device for containing food 100 anterior indifferently one as well as the other side F3.

Also, although the attached figures show at least two food containing devices 100 of the same construction version hooked to each other, two food containing devices of different versions can also be connected together, or, otherwise said, connecting together a device for containing food 100 according to the first version of construction (shown in ) and a device for containing food 100 according to the second construction version (shown in ).

The fact of having designed the device for containing food 100 equipped with quick hooking/unhooking means 2, 3 makes it possible to obtain a more or less extensive structure (based on the number of devices for containing food 100), which is orderly and stable, to the point that in the event of accidental shocks it does not move (or moves minimally) and does not overturn, therefore avoiding the exit and the dispersion of the food placed in the bowl.

Many variations and modifications of detail can be made to the present embodiments of the invention, within the reach of a technician in the field, but falling within the scope of the present invention.

By way of example, the dispenser 4, instead of comprising the box-shaped body, can be constituted by a conventional liquid (milk or water) dispenser. In this case, the distribution means 5 will comprise a tap comprising a manually or automatically movable valve.

Claims (12)

Device for containing food (100) for animals, comprising:
- a base frame (T), and
- a bowl (1), connected to the base frame (T), and comprising a trough (1v), a bottom (11) which delimits said trough (1v) below and a side wall (10) which delimits laterally, so total or partial, said trough (1v); a food for an animal being intended to be placed inside the trough (1v);
characterized by the fact that the device for containing food (100) comprises quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) connected to the base frame (T) for hooking the device for containing food (100) to another adjacent food holding device (100). Device for containing food (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) for hooking the device for containing food (100) to at least two other devices for containing food (100). Device for containing foodstuffs (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) are configured so as to:
- allowing vertical movement of the food holding device (100) relative to the adjacent food holding device (100); and
- prevent the horizontal movement, and therefore the distance, of the device for containing food (100) with respect to the device for containing food (100) adjacent. Device for containing food (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) comprise male means and female means coupled together; in which :
said male means (2) are intended to be coupled to female means (3) of the quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) of the adjacent device for containing food (100);
said female means (3) are intended to be coupled to male means (2) of the quick hooking/unhooking means (2, 3) of the adjacent device for containing food (100). Device for containing food (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that:
said male means (2) comprise a sliding element in relief configured so as to include at least one notch;
said female means (3) comprise a cutout comprising two axial mouths and a narrow access mouth. Device for containing food (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a distributor (4) intended to contain the food inside it and to discharge it , if necessary, a part in the trough (1v) of the bowl (1). Device for containing food (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that said dispenser (4) comprises dispensing means (5) configured to be moved between:
an opening orientation, in which the food contained inside the distributor (4) is free to come out of the distributor and to flow inside the trough (1v) of the bowl (1); and
a closed orientation, in which the food is held inside the dispenser (4). Device for containing foodstuffs (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a support body (6), connected to said base frame (T), comprising a seat (60) able to accommodate, at least partially, said distributor (4) so as to support it in a stable manner. Device for containing food (100) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the said seat (60) of the support body (60) and the said trough (1v) of the bowl (1) are in communication with one the other. Device for containing food (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the said bowl (1) comprises at least one side wall (11) closed on itself, which laterally delimits the said trough ( 1v). Device for containing food (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the said bowl (1) and the said base frame (T) are made in one piece. Device for containing food (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said bowl (1), said support body (6) and said base frame (T) are made in one piece.