GB2530483A

GB2530483A - A pet feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2530483A
Application number: GB1415701.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Larissa Hughes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-05
Filing date: 2014-09-05
Publication date: 2016-03-30
Also published as: GB201415701D0

Abstract

A pet feeding apparatus 1 comprises a food bowl 2 movably connected to a casing 3 to move between an enclosed position where the casing prevents access to the food bowl and a feeding position where a pet can eat from the bowl and a pet identification means 5 for identifying a pet next to the pet feeding apparatus 1, and to activate the motor to cause the food bowl to move from the feeding position to the enclosed position if the pet is identified as unauthorised, the pet feeding apparatus configured so that the food bowl will remain in the feeding position unless the presence of an unauthorised pet is detected. The movement means may comprise an electric motor 4. The identification means may comprise an RFID tag and reader.

Description

A pet feeding apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding pets. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that only allows access to pet food for a particular individual associated pet.

Background

In households with more than one pet, there is often one who is more dominant than the others, and who will use their dominant position to take food from the subordinate pet or pets when this is served by the owner. This can lead to overfeeding of the dominant pet, underfeeding of the subordinate pet(s), and subsequent difficulties for the owner, who either has to deal with the consequences of this, or increase their monitoring of their pets around mealtimes in order to ensure that the food is shared as intended.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: U320120227668 describes and shows a covered feeding or watering bowl for animals that uncovers for the animal for which the food or water is intended through the use of an authentication process which verifies the identity of an animal by a signal transmitted from a transmitter integrated into or onto the animal's collar when the transmitter is within the nominal range for the receiver, and a short-range proximity detector to validate that the animal is in front of the bowl in a feeding position.

US7895973 describes and shows an apparatus by way of which access to a pet feeder is prevented for animals that have exceeded their allowance (as dictated by programmable profiles) as well as preventing access by unauthorized animals (such as excluded pets, wild animals or animals on a special diet). The methods described can be applied to a broad range of feeders: for domestic pets, livestock, zoo animals and other managed animals. The invention is particularly well suited to dry food gravity feeders. The publication details electronic and electro-mechanical embodiments of devices intended for the described purpose.

W0201079328 describes and shows a feeding mechanism for animals, particularly pets, that has a scanner, microchip and means for regulation and provision of food.

An animal identification means scans animal identification implants for an identification signal indicative of an animal. When an authorised animal is identified a storage hopper is activated to dispense a predetermined amount of animal feed into a bowl for the animal, when an unauthorised animal is detected close to the feed or the bowl, a repellent, such as a puff of gas, squirt of water, loud noise or other sudden stimulus or shock is generated, so as to frighten off the unauthorised (intruder) animal.

In contrast the present invention provides a pet feeding apparatus that places no restraint on access to food for the correct pet, but which will remove access to food for an unauthorised animal.

Sum mary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a pet feeding apparatus, comprising: a food bowl configured to hold a quantity of pet food; an enclosing means, in which the food bowl and enclosing means are movably connected to move between an enclosed position wherein the enclosing means prevents access to the food bowl by a pet and a feeding position where a pet can eat from the bowl; a movement means configured to cause relative movement of the food bowl and enclosing means between the feeding position and the enclosed position; a pet identification means configured to recognise the presence of and identify a pet in the immediate vicinity of the pet feeding apparatus, and to activate the movement means to cause relative movement of the food bowl and enclosing means from the feeding position to the enclosed position if the pet is identified as unauthorised, the apparatus configured so that the food bowl is in the feeding position unless the presence of an unauthorised pet is detected.

The advantage of the apparatus is that it allows the food to be accessible to the correct pet at all times, with the food only becoming inaccessible if an unauthorised pet is in the immediate vicinity of the apparatus, rather than having the food dispensed or made accessible to an authorised pet when they are in the vicinity.

This allows an authorised pet to register the presence of their food and to eat if they wish, rather than having to loiter in the vicinity of a dispenser which will only dispense food or make this available when an authorised presence is detected.

In an embodiment, the movement means comprises an electric motor. This provides a simple, robust and reliable movement mechanism In an embodiment, the enclosing means comprises a casing. This is a simple structure that can be easily and inexpensively created and/or manufactured In an embodiment, the pet feeding apparatus further comprises a drawer, the food bowl and drawer configured so that the food bowl removably locates in the drawer in use, the movement means connecting to the drawer to drive the drawer into and out of the casing. This provides a simple structure that can be easily formed and which provides the required functionality and reliability.

In an embodiment, the electric motor is connected to the food bowl via a belt drive.

This provides a simple and reliable mechanism.

In an embodiment, the casing further comprises a gasket located between the enclosure and the drawer and configured to wipe across a portion of the drawer to prevent food from becoming trapped when the drawer is moved from the feeding position to the enclosed position. This helps to prevent food from entering the interior of the casing, which helps to minimise the time and effort which a user will spend on cleaning the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the enclosing means is a lid configured to locate onto and close the top of the bowl in the enclosed position. This provides a useful alternative mechanism to the drawer which can help to provide a more compact and discrete apparatus where space is a concern.

In an embodiment, the lid is rotatably connected to the food bowl via a pivoting hinge.

This provides a simple and reliable mechanism for movement of the lid.

In an embodiment, the pet identification means comprises an REID reader configured to read an RFID tag in proximity to the apparatus. This provides a reliable and inexpensive mechanism.

In an embodiment, the pet feeding apparatus further comprises an REID tag configured for mounting on a pet collar. This provides a user with a complete turn-key system so that they do not have to source separate items for their pets.

In an embodiment, the pet identification means further comprises a movement sensor configured to sense pet movement in proximity to the apparatus. This helps to ensure that all pets and other animals in the proximity of the device are recognised and taken into consideration, not just those who respond to an RFID interrogation.

In an embodiment, the pet feeding apparatus further comprises warning means configured to communicate with the pet identification means and provide a warning signal to an unauthorised pet in close proximity to the pet feeding apparatus. This helps to ensure that unauthorised pets and other animals will be kept away from the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the warning means is a loudspeaker and the warning signal is an audible warning. This provides an inexpensive, effective and reliable way of providing a warning.

In an embodiment, the warning signal can be pre-recorded by an owner. This personalises the warning and can help to increase the effectiveness.

In an embodiment, the pet feeding apparatus further comprises a WIFI connection module configured to allow WIEI connection to a remote device for monitoring and control of the apparatus. This allows a user to monitor the apparatus via a computing device such as a smartphone, laptop or tablet device.

In an embodiment, the pet feeding appalatus further comprises a secondary bowl fixed to the enclosure. This allows a single apparatus to provide both water and food.

In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a displaceable outer shell, which shell may be displaced or replaced so as to allow cleaning and customisation.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the side and above of an embodiment of the pet feeding apparatus of the present invention, showing a casing and a drawer that can slide in and out of the casing, a food bowl locating into the drawer to hold pet food, the casing enclosing the drawer when the drawer is closed, the drawer shown open so a pet can access food in the bowl.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the pet feeding apparatus of figure 1 from generally the same angle, showing detail of the drawer and bowl movement mechanism and detail of a pet identification apparatus located in the casing and configured to recognise the presence of and identify a pet in the immediate vicinity of the pet feeding apparatus, and to activate the bowl movement mechanism to cause the drawer and bowl to move from the open or feeding position to a closed or enclosed position if a pet in close proximity to the open drawer is identified as unauthorised.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the pet feeding apparatus of figures 1 and 2 with the drawer in the open position.

Figure 4a shows a view from in front and slightly above of an alternative version of pet feeding apparatus, where the bowl has a lid that moves downwards to enclose or close the bowl when the presence of an unauthorised pet is detected.

Figure 4b shows a cross-sectional view from the side of the pet feeding apparatus of figure 4a, showing detail of an RFID reader and sensors and a motor connecting to the lid, the motor activating to close the lid when the presence of an unauthorised pet is detected via the RFID reader and sensors.

Detailed Description of Figures

An embodiment of the pet feeding apparatus will now be described with reference to figures ito 3.

The pet feeding apparatus 1 has a casing 3, and a drawer 7 that can slide (move generally horizontally) in and out of the casing 3 via an opening at the front of the casing 3. In the closed position, where the drawer 7 is enclosed within the casing 3, the front face of the drawer 7 fills and substantially closes the casing opening. The drawer 7 holds a food bowl 2 that sits in the drawer and holds a quantity of pet food in use. In the closed position, with the drawer 7 enclosed within the casing 3, the bowl 2 is also enclosed within the casing 3 so it cannot be accessed. In the open or feeding position, a pet can access the bowl in the normal manner to eat food in the bowl 2.

The drawer 7 is connected to the casing via a movement mechanism such as the belt drive 8 shown in figure 2, which is connected to a motor 4 that can drive the belts of the belt drive 8 in either direction to open and close the drawer 7.

A controller 9 is connected to the motor 4 to control the motor 4. The controller 9 has an REID reader 5 that can read an REID tag in close proximity to the pet feeding apparatus 1. The controller 9 also has a movement sensor 11 such as an ultrasonic sensor that is mounted in window 10 at the front of the pet feeding apparatus 1 above the drawer 7 and which can sense movement at the front of the pet feeding apparatus 1 and which operates in a low power mode until movement is sensed.

In use, the drawer 7 defaults to the open position so that the bowl 2 can be filled as required and so that an authorised pet can register the presence of food and eat as they desire. Authorisation is carried out by interrogation of an RFID tag on the pet, for example on their collar, by the REIS reader 5 on the controller 9. If the pet is authorised, then the drawer 7 remains in the open or feeding position. If the controller 9 assess that the RFID tag is not authorised, or if the movement sensor 11 senses proximal movement and no RFID tag is detected, then the controller activates the motor 4 to operate the belt drive 8 to move the drawer from the open/feeding position to the closed or enclosed position inside the casing 3, so that the pet or other animal who is attempting unauthorised feeding from the bowl 2 cannot access the food. A gasket 12 is located between the casing 3 and the drawer 7 so that it will wipe across the top of the drawer as the drawer closes to wipe off food on the drawer to prevent food from entering the casing 3 and becoming trapped when the drawer 7 is moved from the open/feeding position to the closed position. This helps to prevent food from entering the interior of the casing 3, which helps to minimise the time and effort which a user will spend on cleaning the apparatus, and helps to ensure food will not come into contact with internal moving parts and cause these to become inoperative.

The advantage of the apparatus as described is that it allows food in the bowl 2 to be accessible to an authorised pet at all times, with the food only becoming inaccessible if an unauthorised pet is in the immediate vicinity of the apparatus. This is in contrast to having the food inaccessible as the default and only dispensed or made accessible to an authorised pet when they are in the vicinity. This allows an authorised pet to register the presence of their food and to eat if they wish, rather than having to loiter in the vicinity of a dispenser which will only dispense food or make this available when an authorised presence is detected.

In the embodiment described and shown, the pet feeding apparatus 1 further comprises a loudspeaker (not shown) connected to the controller 9. The controller 9 can either be provided with a default warning signal or signals, or a user can record their own and upload this to the controller 9. The warning signal can be activated to sound when the presence of an unauthorised pet or other animal is detected. This could be a high loud tone or siren, or a recording of user making a forceful warning statement such as a sharp no!'. This helps to reinforce a massage to an unauthorised animal that they are not supposed to eat from the apparatus 1. The warning signal could also be a water jet or gas jet that provides a short sharp non-harmful but shocking burst to an animal in close proximity to the apparatus 1. This helps to ensure that unauthorised pets and other animals will be kept away from the apparatus.

The controller 9 can also include a WIFI connection module configured to allow WIFI connection to a remote device for monitoring and control of the apparatus. This allows a user to monitor the apparatus via an app. loaded into their smartphone, or via a similar computing device such as a laptop, desktop PC, or tablet device. This allows a user to over-ride operation of the device and open or close the drawer 7, or to communicate with the device to record and upload their warning message or similar.

A secondary bowl 13 is fixed to the top of the casing 3, and can be used to provide water or a different foodstuff. The secondary bowl 13 is not enclosed and is permanently available to any animal in the vicinity of the apparatus 1.

The apparatus as pictured in Figure 2 has an outer shell 33, which may be displaced and/or replaced independently so as to allow customisation of the apparatus according to preference. In some embodiments the shell may comprise a substantially different shape or structure, for example so as to enable the shell to interfit with other structures, or provide storage solutions. The shell may be independently provided, wherein the apparatus is configured to attach to such.

A second embodiment is shown in figuies 4a and 4b. The functionality of this embodiment is very similar to that of the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the bowl and housing are formed as a single food bowl, with a hollow space between an inner bowl and an outer housing which contains a movement sensor or sensors, an RFID reader, a controller, a motor and a drive mechanism similar to the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the enclosing means is a lid configured to locate onto and close the top of the bowl in the enclosed position. The lid is rotatably connected to the food bowl via a pivoting hinge at the rear of the bowl, driven by the motor. Operation is the same as for the first embodiment: the lid remains open unless the presence of an unauthorised pet is detected via the motion sensor(s) and/or RFID reader, at which point the controller activates the motor to close the lid. This provides a useful alternative mechanism to the drawer and can help to provide a more compact and discrete apparatus where space is a concern.

For both embodiments, the lid will re-open, or the drawer will re-open after a certain time has elapsed, controlled by the controller as a pre-set time period. This can be changed by the user via their interface (e.g. app on smartphone) as required.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A pet feeding apparatus, comprising: a food bowl configured to hold a quantity of pet food; an enclosing means, in which the food bowl and enclosing means movably connected to move between an enclosed position wherein the enclosing means prevents access to the food bowl by a pet and a feeding position where a pet can eat from the bowl; a movement means configured to cause relative movement of the food bowl and enclosing means between the feeding position and the enclosed position; a pet identification means configured to recognise the presence of and identify a pet in the immediate vicinity of the pet feeding apparatus, and to activate the movement means to cause relative movement of the food bowl and enclosing means from the feeding position to the enclosed position if the pet is identified as unauthorised; the apparatus configured so that the food bowl is in the feeding position unless the presence of an unauthorised pet is detected.
2. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movement means comprises an electric motor.
3. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the enclosing means comprises a casing.
4. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a drawer, the food bowl and drawer configured so that the food bowl removably locates in the drawer in use, the movement means connecting to the drawer to drive the drawer into and out of the casing.
5. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the electric motor is connected to the food bowl via a belt drive.
6. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the casing further comprises a gasket located between the enclosure and the drawer and configured to wipe across a portion of the drawer to prevent food from becoming trapped when the drawer is moved from the feeding position to the enclosed position.
7. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the enclosing means is a lid configured to locate onto and close the top of the bowl in the enclosed position.
8. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lid is rotatably connected to the food bowl via a pivoting hinge.
9. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the pet identification means comprises an RFID reader configured to read an REID tag in proximity to the apparatus.
10. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising an RFID tag configured for mounting on a pet collar.
11. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the pet identification means further comprises a movement sensor configured to sense pet movement in proximity to the apparatus.
12. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising warning means configured to communicate with the pet identification means and provide a warning signal to an unauthorised pet in close proximity to the pet feeding apparatus.
13. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the warning means is a loudspeaker and the warning signal is an audible warning.
14. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the warning signal can be pie-recorded by an owner.
15. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 further comprising a WIEI connection module configured to allow WIEI connection to a remote device for monitoring and control of the apparatus.
16. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 further comprising a secondary bowl fixed to the enclosure.
17. A pet feeding apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 further comprising a displaceable outer shell.
18. A pet feeding apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to figures ito 3.
19. A pet feeding apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to figures 4a and 4b.