GB2465569A

GB2465569A - Pet Feeder offering weight and time information.

Info

Publication number: GB2465569A
Application number: GB0821213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Peters
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-20
Filing date: 2008-11-20
Publication date: 2010-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-20
Also published as: GB2465569B; GB0821213D0

Abstract

A pet feeding device that includes an inner removable bowl and an housing with means for weighing bowl contents and an alarmed timer to announce periodic feeding times. The weighing and timing means may be mechanical or electronic and the alarm is both visual and audible. Controls for the device can be adapted to be suitable for the blind.

Description

Description For Measuring And Regulating Pet Feed Bowl.

This invention relates to an exact feed measuring device incorporating a timer to let feeding times be more accurately regulated.

The over feeding of pets as well as irregular feeding patterns will lead to obesity, and all the inherent health problems that this condition creates. This habit usually starts when the pet is first introduced into a household more often than not as a puppy and usually to act as a companion. For the purpose of convenience I have used a dog but it can just as easily be another pet like a cat.

To overcome this problem the above mentioned invention will utilise a normal shaped feeding bowl by adapting it to facilitate a weighing device while also incorporating a timer with an audible and visual alarm to alert the owner when a set period of time from the last feed has elapsed. This particular invention has the benefit of allowing an adult to entrust a child to safely feed the pet a good practice towards responsibility. It also has the added bonus of giving the poor sighted or even the blind a way to independently and correctly feed their dog. Busy households where there is more than two members will never have to worry about when and who last fed the pet as the alarm / timer will give indications.

The invention will now be described with an attached diagram for reference.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the bowl in its entirety.

The feeding bowl (A) is set inside a weighing base bowl (B).

Weighing base (B) has a built in visual display unit-LCD (C), which incorporates the controls and setting switches. The unit is powered by a battery which is located underneath of weighing base (B).

With the unit switched on the display is illuminated. By moving the selector switch (D) towards the embossed letter F (denoting feed) this will activate the weighing device.

A slide selector (H) with embossed symbols underneath gives the option of either self regulating the amount of feed by setting it on the 0 symbol and using the weighing device as a set of scales or by placing the selector under one of the other four embossed symbols: puppy, small dog, medium dog, large dog; when a preset feed portion weight is reached this will activate an alarm (J), the feed portion being set would be taken from the recommended daily average food allowance specific to each of the above mentioned category of size of dog. The feed weight portion will be displayed in grammes on the LCD screen.

The selector switch (D) is now moved from the embossed letter F to the embossed letter T (denoting timer), any audible alarms that may have been activated during the feed weighing cycle will now be silenced and the LCD screen will show zero.

The next feeding time, anywhere between 0-24 hours, can be set by depressing buttons (K) on the display unit the time chosen being displayed on the LCD. Once set countdown to the next feed will start automatically.

For partially or blind people the button (K) will be replaced by a dial knob with embossed multiples of hours setting stations (3, 4, 6, 12, 24) to allow for regular feed.

When the countdown time has lapsed an audible alarm will sound this will be accompanied by the visual display screen (LCD) flashing and also the flashing of LEDs (L) that have been randomly placed all around the outside of weighing base bowl (B). To silence and reset the alarm simply move the selector switch (D) to the embossed letter F and the whole feeding process starts again.

The feed bowl (A) is not physically attached to the weighing base bowl (B) so can easily be removed for cleaning. The feeder and weighing bowl can be manufactured from traditionally used materials: steel, ceramics and plastics. The weighing and timing devices can either be provedldetermined electronically or mechanically. The weighing base bowl will have two cut-outs opposite each other to act as handles.

When seated inside the weighing base bowl (B), the feeder bowl (A) has a lip(M) that will overhang the rim of the weighing base, this will ensure protection from the outside elements while also providing a leading edge enabling the easy removal of the feeder from the base. A thin flexible rubber matting (N) covers and protects the inner workings of weighing base this stretches over and sits on the rim of the base.

Claims

Claims.1. A measuring and regulating pet feed bowl comprising a removable feed bowl set inside an outer measuring / weighing and regulating timed receptacle, where the weighing /measuring and regulated timing are done using electronic / electrical circuitry. Audible and visual devices alert when weight and set time periods are reached.
2. A measuring and regulating pet feed bowl according to claim 1, in which the measuring / weighing and regulated timer are worked by mechanical means, sprung springs, balances and mechanical weights.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSClaims.
3. A measuring and regulating pet feed bowl according to claim 1 to aid the blind and partially sighted in the correct food diet management of their pet / guide dog.