GB2404559A

GB2404559A - Pet food dish with a barrier to flying insects

Info

Publication number: GB2404559A
Application number: GB0318722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Chalmers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-08
Filing date: 2003-08-08
Publication date: 2005-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-08
Also published as: GB2404559B; WO2005013676A2; WO2005013676A3; GB0318722D0

Abstract

The pet food dish comprises a base 1 having an annular vent 3. Through the action of an electric motor 9 driven fan 8, air is forced upwards through the base of the device and outwards through the annular vent at the top, the resulting cone of moving air forms a barrier to flying insects. The electric motor is coupled to a sound activated switch 10 and a microphone 8, the switch is tuned to the wing frequencies of small flying insects and will trigger as flying pests approach. The cone of rotating air may be produced by angled vanes 4 located in the vent.

Description

2404559

I

PET FOOD DISH WITH A BARRIER TO FLYING

INSECTS.

Pets are typically fed once or twice a day, the food may not be consumed immediately but may be returned to by the animal several times during the day, food left unprotected in this way attracts insect pest which can readily render the food spoiled. Although passive mechanisms have been devised for dealing with walking pests such as ants, these barriers or water filled moats are ineffective against flying insects. Active mechanisms have been described that protect food with a cover which is released by a timer mechanism. Although these devices provide protection whilst the cover is closed, the protection is immediately lost when the food is made available to the pet. Active mechanisms have been described that aim to provide acute protection from flying insects whilst providing feeding access to the pet, however, these devices require that the pet learn to use the feeding environment.

The invention described here uses an annular ducted fan to direct a cone of rotating air over the dish providing an impenetrable barrier to flying insects. The fan is actuated by a sound driven switch tuned to the wing beat frequency of the pest. This device will provide an active barrier to the flying insect actuated by the pest rather than the pet.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the pet food dish three quarter view illustrating its functional parts.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view showing the annular duct.

Referring to the drawings, this invention comprises the pet food dish body (1) including a depression in the top (2) for containing the food, this depression might be used to contain an insert such as a saucer to contain the food and thereby to aid in cleaning. An annular vent (3) surrounds the central depression and from this vent air is directed into a rotating cone by the angled vanes (4) and the dish outer lip (5). The presence of a flying pest is detected by a microphone (6) situated at the dish edge.

Figure 2 shows a cross section through the device. The depression (2) to contain the food is within the boundary of the annular vent (3), a central duct (7) channels air from beneath the dish to the vent (3) driven by a fan (8). Small feet serve to provide the necessary gap for air to enter beneath the dish. The motor (9) is actuated through the action of a microphone (6) coupled to a frequency filter and a sound activated switch (10). A battery power supply (11) is coupled to a switch (12) for when the dish is not in use. The frequency filter will be tuned to bracket the wing beat frequency of the flying pest to activate the device with discrimination.

1,

Claims

CLAIMS. A pet food dish or dish retainer incorporating an annular ducted fan A sound activated switch to control the fan as in claim 1, whereby the switch is tuned to the wing beat frequency of the flying pest. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 3

1. A pet food dish comprising a body within which is located a fan, the body having an annular duct so that in use the fan produces a cone of rotating air above the dish to provide a barrier to flying insects.

2. A pet food dish according to claim 1 whereby the fan is powered by an electric motor located in the base.

3. A pet food dish according to claim 2 wh ereby the motor is powered by a battery power supply located in the base.

4. A pet food dish according to claim 3 whereby the base has a power switch coupled to a battery power supply.

5. A pet food dish according to claim 1 in which the annular duct contains angled vanes.

6. A pet food dish according to claim 2 whereby the body contains a sound activated switch to control the motor.

7. A pet food dish according to claim 6 whereby the sound activated switch is coupled to a microphone.

8. A pet food dish according to claim 7 whereby the sound activated switch is tuned to detect the wing beat frequency of the flying insect and on detection actuate the motor.