AU2019268071A1 - A bird deterring equine feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

A feeder comprises a rear panel and a front panel and the feeder has an upper region and a lower region. The feeder is configured for holding feed in the lower region between the front panel and the real panel in use. The front panel comprises an opening at the upper region, the front panel defining a flexible lower edge of the opening, the flexible lower edge extending partway across the feeder. As such, in use, a horse can deflect the flexible lower edge away from the rear panel to access the feed held in the lower region but when a bird alights on the flexible lower edge, the flexible lower edge falls towards the rear panel, thereby concealing the feed thereunder. 7

Description

A bird deterring equine feeder Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to an equine feeder for feeding equines such as horses, ponies and donkeys and, more particularly, a bird deterring feeder.

Background of the Invention

[2] Horse feed may comprise oats, barley, corn, sunflower seeds, cooked grain, molasses infused pellets and the like. Feed for racehorses is usually particularly high in protein. As horses are grazing animals, they need to eat many small meals by consuming and nibbling on feed throughout the day and night. Horse feeders are typically designed to provide horses with access to feed on an ongoing basis and the horse feed is not necessarily eaten by the horse all at once.

[3] Problematically however, wild birds feed on horse feed too and, whereas horse feed is usually held in open bins, troughs, buckets or the like, it is difficult to prevent bird access.

[4] Furthermore, bird droppings may render animal feed unpalatable or carry disease.

[5] The present invention seeks to provide a way to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[6] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[7] There is provided herein a feeder typically made of material, having a front and a rear panel which, in embodiments, may be generally triangular in cross-section and having side and base panels.

[8] The front and rear panels may meet at an upper edge thereof which may comprise connectors for hanging the feeder from the vertical structure, such as a farm gate, yard fence, stable/stall partition or the like.

[9] The feeder has an upper region and a lower region which, in embodiments, may meet substantially halfway.

[10] The front panel comprises an opening at the upper region and is continuous at the lower region such that the upper region can be used by a horse to access feed held between the front and rear panels at the lower region.

[11] The front panel defines a flexible lower edge of the opening which extends partway

across the feeder. The flexible lower edge may be substantially straight.

[12] In use, a horse is able to deflect the flexible lower edge away from the rear panel

using its muzzle to feed on the feed within the feeder. In embodiments, the front panel

may comprise webbing to allow the horse to breathe whilst feeding and to provide

structural integrity. The lower region may comprise a breathable material or fine mesh

against the webbing to prevent the feed from escaping between the webbing and webbing

interstices at the upper region may be open such that the horse does not feel confined

when feeding.

[13] However, when a bird alights on the flexible lower edge of the opening, the flexible

lower edge tends to fall towards the rear panel, thereby concealing the feed thereunder,

deterring the bird from feeding on the feed.

[14] As the equine feeder is typically hung from a vertical structure, the weight of the

feed therein may hold the front panel at an angle with respect to a vertical and, as such,

even the slight weight of a bird may cause the flexible lower edge to fall towards the rear

panel as opposed to open outwardly.

[15] Furthermore, as the equine feeder is collapsible between the front and rear panel,

birds may be deterred from entering the lower region for fear of being entrapped

therebetween.

[16] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present

invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[18] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a feeder in accordance with an

embodiment;

[19] Figure 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of the feeder;

[20] Figure 3 illustrates how a horse is able to access feed within the feeder; and

[21] Figure 4 illustrates how the feeder is able to conceal the feed therein when a bird

alights at the opening thereof.

Description of Embodiments

[22] A feeder 100 is configured for holding feed 110 therein and may be made of fabric material such as canvas, PVC or ripstop denier. In embodiments, the flexible material may comprise a strong 1680 denier waterproof, rip stop polyester material.

[23] The feeder 100 comprises a front panel 101 and a rear panel 102. The feeder 100 may be generally triangular shaped in comprising side panels 112 and a base panel 111.

[24] The side panels 112 and a base panel 111 may comprise pleating 108 to allow the feeder 100 to expand to accommodate feed 110 therein.

[25] The front panel 101 and the rear panel 102 may meet at respective upper edges thereof at which location the feeder 100 may comprise connectors 107, such as D-shackles for hanging the feeder 100 from a vertical structure 109, such as a farm gate, yard fence or the like in the manner shown in Figure 2. Sidle lower edges of the feeder 100 may comprise further connectors to prevent the feeder 100 being pulled from the vertical structure 109 from being flipped over.

[26] The feeder 100 comprises an upper region 103 and a lower region 104. In embodiments shown in Figure 4, each of the upper region 103 and a lower region 104 occupy approximately half the height of the feeder 100 but not necessarily.

[27] The upper region 103 comprises an opening 105 through the front panel 101 whereas the lower region 104 is enclosed by the front panel 101. As such, the opening 105 through the front panel 101 at the upper region 103 can be used by a horse to access the feed held between the front panel 101 of the rear panel 102 at the lower region 104.

[28] In embodiments, the front panel 101 may comprise webbing 114 including for airflow for allowing an animal to breathe during feeding.

[29] The lower region 104 may comprise a fine mesh 113 to prevent the feed 110 from escaping between the webbing 114.

[30] Interstices between the webbing 114 at the upper region 103 may be left open, aiding visibility to reduce the likelihood of a horse feeling confined when feeding.

[31] The front panel 101 defines a flexible lower edge 106 of the opening 105 extending partway across the feeder 100. In embodiments shown, the opening 105 may be generally rectangular such that the flexible lower edge 106 is substantially straight.

[32] In the embodiment wherein the front panel 101 comprises webbing 114, the flexible lowered 106 may comprise a strip of webbing therealong.

[33] Figure 3 illustrates how a horse can deflect the flexible lower edge 106 away from the rear panel 102 to access the feed 110 held in the lower region 104 of the feeder.

[34] However, Figure 4 illustrates how, when a bird alights on the flexible lower edge

106, the flexible lower edge 106 falls towards the rear panel 102, thereby concealing the

feed 110 thereunder.

[35] Given that the rear panel 102 is normally held vertical against the vertical structure

109, the front panel 101 is therefore held out by the feed 110 at an angle with respect to

the vertical. As such, even the slight weight of a bird causes the flexible lower edge 106 to

tend inwardly towards the rear panel 102 as opposed to outwardly, thereby concealing the

feed 110 from the bird thereunder.

[36] In one embodiment, the feeder 100 may comprise a height of approximately 70 cm,

a width of approximately 70 cm and a maximum depth that the lower region 104 of

approximately 35 cm. However, the size of the feeder 100 may be adjusted according to

the size or type of horse or amount of feed to be held within the feeder 100.

[37] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature

to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one

skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention.

Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented

for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to

limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and

variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and

described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical

applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and

various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use

contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[38] The term "approximately" or similar as used herein should be construed as being

within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.

Claims (16)

1. Claims 1. A feeder comprising a rear panel and a front panel, the feeder having an upper region and a lower region, the feeder configured for holding feed in the lower region between the front panel and the real panel in use, wherein the front panel comprises an opening at the upper region, the front panel defining a flexible lower edge of the opening, the flexible lower edge extending partway across the feeder, such that in use, a horse can deflect the flexible lower edge away from the rear panel to access the feed held in the lower region but when a bird alights on the flexible lower edge, the flexible lower edge falls towards the rear panel, thereby concealing the feed thereunder.
2. 2. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeder is generally triangular in cross section in comprising side panels and a base panel.
3. 3. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeder is collapsible in that the front and back panels to move together.
4. 4. A feeder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side panels and base panel are pleated.
5. 5. A feeder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front and rear panels meet at upper edges thereof.
6. 6. A feeder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the feeder comprises connectors at the upper edges.
7. 7. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper region and the lower region each occupy approximately half a height of the feeder.
8. 8. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible lower edge is substantially straight.
9. 9. A feeder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the opening is generally rectangular.
10. 10. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front panel comprises webbing.
11. 11. A feeder as claimed in claim 10, further comprising breathable material against the webbing at the lower region.
12. 12. A feeder as claimed in claim 10, further comprising mesh against the webbing at the lower region.
13. 13. A feeder as claimed in claim 10, wherein webbing interstices are open at the upper region.
14. 14. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeder comprises a height of approximately 70 cm.
15. 15. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeder comprises a width of approximately 70 cm.
16. 16. A feeder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeder comprises a depth of

    approximately 35 cm at the lower region.