GB2331222A

GB2331222A - Interlocking animal feeder

Info

Publication number: GB2331222A
Application number: GB9724206A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Patrick Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-18
Filing date: 1997-11-18
Publication date: 1999-05-19
Also published as: GB9724206D0

Abstract

An animal feeder which the parts can be distributed for self assembly. Trough/back 3 and side panels 2, 2A assemble by screwing together. Side panels 2, 2A have slots 14, for locating hooks 22 on the sides of the front panel,therefore locating the front panel. Trough divider panel 8 is provided with a combination of hooks and lugs with slots, along the top, back and front edge, the divider locates into slots provided in the front panel, and corresponding slots 21 in the trough front. To secure the dividers within the front panel and trough, a bar 9 is pushed through the lug slots 12 within the divider and screwed and bolted to the front panel and trough front. Slots 10,15,18 are also provided in each side panel for the location of a rear bracket 4 and upper 19 and lower 5 angle bracket that are bolted into position. Final assembly is by bolting the front and back returns to the side returns.

Description

(1) KMRLOCKING PANEL ANRY1AL FEEDER This invention relates to an animal

feeder.

2331222 Animal feeders are hollow containers designed to hold a quantity of feed. The container comprises two parts. The upper part is a hopper which contains the bulk feed. The food is distributed into the lower part of the container which is an open top trough, from which the animal can feed ad libitum. Dividers can be fitted into the trough to control the animals whilst feeding. Animal feeders are large but relatively light in weight when compared to their size. This make distribution expensive. Their assembly requires specialist fabrication skills and equipment.

According to the present invention there is provided an animal feeder which can be supplied in component parts for assembly by others using commonly available hand tools.

A specific embodiment of the assembly method will now be discribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 Shows an'exploded perspective view of the animal feeder components Fig 2 Shows assembly of the trough/back panel to the side panels and the locating of the rear brackets and lower angle brackets Fig 3 Shows assembly of the trough divider panel into the front panel Fig 4 Shows attachment of the bar to the trough divider panel and front panel Fig 5 Shows assembly of the front panel and trough divider panel sub assembly into the trough/back panel and side panels sub assembly. Fig 6 Shows attachment of Lower angle bracket and upper angle bracket and bar into the slot of the front edge of the trough divider panel.

Referring to Fig 1, the animal feeder comprises a trough/back (3) which is attached to the two side panels which are handed right hand (2) and left hand (M). The trough/back panel has a slot (2 1) or slots in the front edge of the trough to locate the trough divider panels (8) these slots correspond with slots in the front panel (7). The side panels have returns (17) bent into them to allow screw or nut and bolt attachment to the trough/back. A series of slots (10) is in each side panel to allow attachment of the rear brackets (4) (right hand side only shown), another series of slots (14) to allow attachment of the front panel (7) a long slot (15) to locate the lower angle bracket (5) (left hand side only shown) and slot (18) for locating the upper angle bracket (19) (left hand side only shown). The trough divider panel (8) has a series of hooks (11) along the back and top edge, on the top leading edge is a top lug (12) with a slot along part of its length, and on the front leading edge is a front lug (16) with a slot along part of its length, below this is the lower front divider lug (6). The hooks (11) and top lug (12) locate into slots (20) within the front panel (7), a bar (9) pushes through to slot in top lug (12) and is screwed to the front panel (7). The front panel (7) has a series of hooks (22) on each side which correspond with the slots (14) in the side panels (2) and (M).

Referring to Fig 2, the trough/back (3) is positioned into the side panels (2) and (M) and fixed to the returns (17)on the back edge and bottom edge of each side panel. The rear (2) brackets (4) are located into slots (10), in each side panel and fixed to the trough/back. The lower angle bracket (5) is located into the long slot (15) as shown and fixed to the side panel and to the trough/back this is repeated on the opposite side panel. This is the trough sub- assembly. Referring to Fig 3 which is a view of the outside face of the front panel(7). The trough divider panel (8) is fitted to the front panel (7) by locating the hooks (11) and top lug (12) into the slots (20) of the front panel. The trough divider is the pushed in a manner to fully engage the hooks (11) into the slots (20). Referring to Fig 4, which is an inside view of the front panel (7) with the trough divider panel (8) already located into the slots (20). To complete the location of the trough divider panel the bar (9) is pushed into the slot in the top lug (12) and fixed into place with a screw. This is the front panel sub assembly.

The front panel sub assembly is then positioned between the side panels as shown in Fig 5, tilting slightly forwards towards the person assembling, with the front lug (16) of the trough divider panel (8) located into the slot (2 1) in the trough front edge(24). The front panel sub assembly is then pivoted back on the front divider lugs until the hooks (22) on either side of the front panel locate with the corresponding slots (14) of the side panels. The hooks (22) are then pushed through the slots (14) by pressing the side panels (2 & 2A) toward each other, once all the hooks are through the slots, the front panel sub assembly is pushed downwards to fully engage each hook over the lower end of each slot. The formed return (23) on the top edge of the front panel can now be bolted to the top returns (17) on both side panels. In Fig 6 a bar (9) is pushed into the slot in the front lug of the divider, the bar is then bolted on either side of the front lug and through the trough front to firmly locate the divider in the trough. The lower angle brackets (5) are then bolted to the side panels (2 & 2A) and also through the trough front (25), the top angle brackets (19) are located in the slot (18) provided in side panel (2) & (M) then bolted to the side panels (2 & 2A) and bolted through the front panel (7), this completes the assembly.

(3)

Claims

1) An animal feeder for dry feed, the trough/back panel, side panels, front panel and divider panels adapted to allow hook and slot interlocking for ease of assembly.

2) An animal feeder for dry feed, as claimed in Claim 1, with slots in the trough to locate lugs on the trough divider.

3) An animal feeder for dry feed, as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 with bars provided for securing the dividers to the hopper panel and trough front by fixing with screws and nuts and bolts, for ease of assembly and to prevent the dividers being removed from the trough by the animal.

4) An animal feeder for dry feed, as claimed in Claim 3 wherein slots are provided in the side panels to locate hooks on the front panel.

5) An animal feeder for dry feed, as claimed in Claim 4 wherein hooks are provided on the edges of the front panel to locate in the slots of the side panels.

6) An animal feeder for dry feed, as claimed in Claim 5 wherein slots are provided in the side panels to locate the lower angle brackets.

7) An animal feeder for dry feed, as claimed in Claim 6 wherein slots are provided in the side panels to locate the upper angle brackets.

8)An 1 feeder for dry feed substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 -6 of the accompanying drawings