GB2262697A

GB2262697A - An animal feeding device

Info

Publication number: GB2262697A
Application number: GB9125810A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Richard Broome
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-04
Filing date: 1991-12-04
Publication date: 1993-06-30
Also published as: GB9125810D0

Abstract

An animal feeding device (10) comprises a container (20) having an opening (21) which is closed by a door (30), the door (30) being responsive to movement of an animal (34) relative to the device (1D) so that opening and closing of the door (30) is effected by the animal. <IMAGE>

Description

An Animal Feeding Device This invention relates to a feeding device particularly, but not exclusively, for domestic animals.

It is a common behavioural pattern of domestic animals that they do not consume in a single session all of the food which has been prepared for them but, rather, they return infrequently to consume portions of the food over a period of time. In consequence, the food is exposed and attracts insects, the consequence of which is that the insects lay their eggs on the food and the eggs are consumed by the animals resulting in sickness of the animals.

It has been proposed to provide animal feeding devices in which prepared food is protected from the environment but is made available at predetermined intervals. Such devices are not entirely satisfactory because they uncover the food when an animal is not present thereby attracting insects and vermin and offer no advantage compared with placing the food in an uncovered receptacle.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide an animal feeding device in which prepared food may be stored within a protective cover and yet which is available on demand for consumption by animals.

According to the present invention, there is provided an animal feeding device comprising a container for containing food, a housing for enclosing the container, the housing having an aperture, and a door for closing the aperture, the door being responsive to movement of an animal relative to the device so that opening and closing of the door is effected by such movement when the animal is within a predetermined range of a location inside the device.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of an animal feeding device in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a cross section on the line A - A of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a cross section on the line B - B of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of an animal feeding device 10 comprising a substantially rectangular base 11 having an upstanding circumferential wall 12 and, a substantially rectangular bowl 13 having an upstanding circumferential wall 14 and a contiguous outer skirt 15 forming with the wall 14 a circumferential slot 16. The arrangement is such that the bowl 13 is located on the base 11 when the circumferential wall 12 of the base 11 is received in the slot 16.

The device 10 also comprises a transparent or translucent cover 17 of rectangular configuration in plan having a lower circumferential skirt 18 for locating therein the skirt 16 of the bowl 13. The cover 17 comprises an upwardly extending forwardly inclined rear wall 20, an upwardly extending rearwardly inclined front wall 21 and an elongate transverse compartment 22 extending above and forwardly of an upper portion of the front wall 21, the compartment 22 having a rectilinear lower surface 23 contiguous with the front wall 21, a convex outer front surface 24 contiguous with the lower surface 23 and a rectilinear upper surface 25 contiguous with the front surface 24 and the rear wall 20. The front wall 21 has a rectangular aperture 26 therein.The compartment 22 has opposite end walls 27, 28 in each of which is journalled a corresponding one of end portions of a spindle 29 extending longitudinally of the compartment 22 and which is formed with a planar rectangular door 30 having an integral planar web 31 intermediate the door 30 and the spindle 29.The arrangement is such that the door 30 and the web 31 each extends at an angle of 90 degrees to the other and the integral combination of the spindle 29, the door 30 and the web 31 is pivotable on a central longitudinal axis of the spindle 29 such that the door 30 is pivotable from a fully open position when moved rearwardly of the cover 17 towards the rear panel 20 thereof such that the plane of the door 30 is adjacent and substantially parallel to the rear wall 20, as shown in full lines in Figure 4, to a forward closed position in abutment with a rear surface of the front wall 21, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.

Preferably, the spindle 29 is provided with a weight 32 located below the axis of the spindle 29 when the door 30 is in a closed position the effect of which is that the rest position of the spindle 29, in terms of angular movement, is as shown in Figure 4 whereby the door 30 is in a closed position.

However, in order to reduce any tendency for the door 30 to be moved from the closed position by extraneous forces, such as air currents, spring means, (not shown) may be provided for biasing the door 30 to the closed position.

The device 10 is provided with food 33 for an animal 34 by removing the cover 17 from the bowl 13, locating the food 33 in the bowl 13 and replacing the cover 17 on the bowl 13. The food 33 therefore is protected by the cover 17.

However, since the cover 17 is transparent or translucent, the food 33 is on view to the animal 34 and the animal 34 can feed itself by butting the door 30 inwardly of the cover 17, as shown in Figure 4, whereby the cover pivots relative to the central longitudinal axis of the spindle 19 against the bias of the spring means. When the animal 34 withdraws its head from the cover 17, the door 30 returns to a closed position due to the effect of the weight 32 and the bias of the spring means.

In hot ambient conditions, the bowl 13 may be removed from the base 11 so that ice packs may be located on the base 11. The bowl 13 is then replaced on the base 11 and the cover 17 is re-mounted on the bowl 13. In this manner, when the food 33 is placed on the bowl 13 the temperature of air contained within the cover 17 is lower than ambient temperature and the food 33 therefore is maintained in a fresh condition.

It will be appreciated that the technique of butting the door 30 of the device 10 by an animal 34 to gain access to the food 33 located therein is a technique which many domestic animals have mastered in order to operate proprietory mechanisms for permitting domestic animals to enter and leave dwellings.

It will also be appreciated that the device 10 may be provided with a latch for restraining movement of the door 30 from a closed position, the latch being operable by a timing mechanism such that food may be left in the device 10 in advance of feeding time. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the latch mechanism would be operated to release the door. With such an arrangement, the latch mechanism may also be controlled by signals from a transducer adapted to sense the presence of an animal within a predetermined range of, for example, 1m.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that an animal feeding device in accordance with the present invention provides a hygenic enclosure for petfood with no restrictions for an animal to access food contained therein but which provides an effective barrier to prevent insects from entering the device and contaminating the food.

Claims

1. An animal feeding device comprising a container for containing food, a housing for enclosing the container, the housing having an aperture, and a door for closing the aperture, the door being responsive to movement of an animal relative to the device so that opening and closing of the door is effected by such movement when the animal is within a predetermined range of a location inside the device.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the aperture is located in a wall of the housing.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the door is mounted for pivotal movement on an axis located adjacent an upper portion of the wall.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the said axis is located forwardly of the said upper portion of the wall.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the wall extends downwardly and forwadly relative to the said axis.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the door comprises two planar portions each extending at an angle to the other.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein there is provided means for releasably securing the door in a closed position.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein there is provided a transducer for sensing the presence of an animal and for generating a signal for controlling the said means.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims comprising means for maintaining the container at reduced temperature.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein there is provided restoring means for returning the door to a closed position after an animal has withdrawn from the device.

11. An animal feeding device substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.