IE83732B1 - An animal feed trough - Google Patents

Description

An animal feed trough The present invention relates to an animal feed trough, and in particular, though not limited to an animal feed trough forfeeding a foal or other young animal. The invention also relates to a method for restricting access to animal feed in an animal feed trough for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the animal feed.

Foals, horses and mares typically share the same field, paddock or rearing unit.

Thus, feed which is provided for foals in, for example, a feed trough is likewise available to the mares and horses, and in general, is consumed by the other animals to the detriment of the foals. This is undesirable, since it can lead to foals not receiving an adequate feed ration, with consequential detrimental effects to the animals. Similar problems arise where other animals are housed with their young, in that the young can be deprived of an adequate feed ration by the older, bigger and stronger animals.

There is therefore a need for an animal feed trough which overcomes this problem.

The present invention is directed towards providing such an animal feed trough, and the invention is also directed towards providing a method for restricting access to animal feed in an animal feed trough for preventing animals over a predetermined age or size gaining access to the animal feed.

According to the invention there is provided an animal feed trough defining a hollow interior region for animal feed, and an upwardly facing open mouth for providing access to animal feed in the hollow interior region, the feed trough comprising at least one elongated restricting barfor extending across the open mouth for restricting access to the hollow interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow interior region, a plurality of selectable pairs of receivers for selectively locating the at least one restricting bar for facilitating varying the amount of restriction to the hollow interior region, the respective receivers of each pair of receivers being located on respective opposite sides of the feed trough for receiving the at least one restricting bar with each restricting bar extending across the open mouth, a retaining means extending across each receiver for retaining the at least one restricting bar in the selected pair of receivers, a restricting bar accommodating opening being provided to each receiver for accommodating longitudinal movement of the at least one restricting bar within the selected pair of receivers for facilitating insertion and removal of the at least one restricting bar, and a securing means for restricting longitudinal movement of the at least one restricting bar through the restricting bar accommodating openings for securing the at least one restricting bar retained in the selected pair of receivers by the corresponding retaining means.

Preferably, the respective pairs of receivers are independently selectable.

Advantageously, at least two restricting bars are provided, each restricting bar being selectively locatable in one of the pairs of receivers.

Advantageously, each receiver comprises a receiving recess formed in the trough.

Advantageously, each retaining means is formed by a bridge piece extending across the corresponding receiver.

Preferably, the securing means comprises an elongated securing bar located in the animal feed trough for abutting an adjacent end of each restricting bar adjacent the restricting bar accommodating opening of one of the receivers of the selected pair of receivers. in another embodiment of the invention the feed trough comprises a base, front wall and a spaced apart rear wall extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the base and joining the front and rear walls, the front, rear and side walls defining the hollow interior region, and the front, rear and side walls and the base defining an upper rim which in turn defines the upwardly facing open mouth. Preferably, the respective receivers of each pair of receivers are formed in the front and rear walls. Advantageously, the restricting bar accommodating opening of each receiver is provided in the corresponding one of the front and rear walls.

In one embodiment of the invention the animal feed trough is sized to accommodate animal feed for one or more foals.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one pair of receivers, the receiving means and the at least one restricting bar are provided for restricting access through the open to animal feed in the hollow interior region so that access to the animal feed is permitted to a foal only, and not to a larger animal.

Additionally, the invention provides a method for restricting access to animal feed in a hollow interior region of an animal feed trough according to the invention, through which access to the hollow interior region is provided through an open mouth thereof, the method comprising the step of locating at least one restricting bar in a selected pair of receivers of the animal feed trough for restricting access to the hollow interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow interior region, and securing the at least one restricting bar in the selected pair of receivers by the securing means.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that an animal feed trough is provided which allows for animals of different size to be fed in the same location without danger of bigger and stronger animals consuming rations in the animal feed trough which are provided for smaller animals only. A particularly important advantage of the invention is achieved when a plurality of selectable receiving means are provided for facilitating varying the amount of restriction to the hollow interior region of the trough, in that as the smaller animals grow, the amount of restriction being provided to the hollow interior region can be varied, and thus, decreased for accommodating the mouth region of the head of the animal as the animal grows. By decreasing the amount of restriction as an animal grows, one can still restrict access to the hollow interior region to larger animals. A particularly important advantage of the invention is achieved when the animal feed trough is suitably sized for feeding foals in that by appropriately restricting the access to the hollow interior region foals may be permitted access to the animal feed in the hollow interior region, while mares and horses would be prevented from accessing the animal feed. Additionally, the restriction to the hollow interior region may be decreased as the foals grow.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an animal feed trough according to the invention, Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the animal feed trough of Fig. 1, but with portions of the trough removed, Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the animal feed trough of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a transverse cross—sectional side elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig. 1 on the line Vll—Vll of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated an animal feed trough according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, which is particularly suitable for feeding foals, while at the same time preventing access to animal feed in the feed trough to mares, horses and other older, larger and stronger animals. The feed trough 1 is of plastics material and comprises a dish shaped base 2, spaced apart front and rear walls 3 and 4, respectively, extending upwardly from the base 2 and joined by upwardly extending side walls 5, all of which with the base 2 define a hollow interior region 6 for the animal feed. The front and rear walls 3 and 4, and the side walls 5 return inwardly at 7 to form returns 8, which in turn define an upper rim 9 which defines an upwardly facing open mouth 10 to the hollow interior region 6 for providing access to animals to feed in the hollow interior region 6. A portion 11 of the rear wall 4 extends upwardly beyond the upper rim 9, and is provided with a pair of spaced apart openings 12 for receiving fixing screws (not shown) for securing the feed trough 1 to a wall (also not shown) or other suitable mounting structure. An opening 13 in the rear wall 4 is also provided for receiving a fixing screw or other fixing for securing the trough 1 to the wall (not shown) or other structure.

Ten selectable receiving means provided by ten pairs of receivers formed by respective pairs of receiving recesses 14a to Me are located in the returns 8 of the front and rear walls 3 and 4 adjacent the upper rim 9 for selectively receiving restricting means, namely, elongated restricting bars 15 for restricting access through the open mouth 10 to the hollow interior region 6 for preventing animals larger than foals gaining access to the animal feed. The restricting bars 15 are of tubular steel of circular cross-section. The pairs of receiving recesses 14 are arranged in groups of five on respective opposite sides of a centre line 18 of the feed trough 1, and corresponding pairs of receiving recesses 14a to Me are equi-spaced on the opposite sides of the centre line 18, the receiving recesses 14a being closest to the centre line 18. The receiving recesses 14 define upwardly facing access openings 19 for receiving the restricting bars 15. Restricting means accommodating openings, namely, restricting bar accommodating openings 20 in the returns 8 of the front and rear walls 3 and 4 accommodate the restricting bars 15 beneath retaining means, namely, retaining bridges 21 extending over the receiving recesses 14 for retaining the restricting bars 15 in the receiving recesses 14.

A securing means for securing the restricting bars 15 in the receiving recesses 14 beneath the retaining bridges 21 comprises an elongated securing bar 25 of box section steel. The securing bar 25 is releasably secured to a platform 26 formed in the return 8 of the rear wall 4 by bolts (not shown) and nuts (not shown) through openings 27 in the platform 26 and corresponding bores (also not shown) in the securing bar 25. The restricting bars 15 are of length just less than the distance A between an inner face 28 of the front wall 3 and a face 29 of the securing bar 25 for preventing removal of the restricting bars 15 when the securing bar 25 is secured in place to the platform 26. However, the length of the retaining bars 15 is such that when the securing bar 25 is removed each retaining bar 15 can be inserted into the selected receiving recesses 14 by initially inserting the retaining bar 15 in the receiving recess 14 in the return 8 of the rear wall 4 of the selected pair of receiving recesses 14, and then urging the restricting bar 15 through the restricting bar accommodating opening 20 in the return 8 of the rear wall 4 until the other end of the restricting bar 15 has cleared the retaining bridge 21 of the receiving recess 14 in the return 8 of the front wall 3, so that the restricting bar 15 can be inserted in the receiving recess 14 in the return of the front wall 4. The receiving bar 15 is then urged forwardly to abut the inner face 28 of the front wall 3 for facilitating securing of the securing bar 25 to the platform 26. in use, with the animal feed trough 1 secured to a wall or other structure the appropriate number of restricting bars 15 are secured in selected receiving recesses 14 to provide the appropriate amount of restricted access to the hollow interior region 6. As described above with the securing bar 25 removed from the platform 26, the restricting bars 15 are initially inserted into the selected receiving recesses 14 in the rear wall 4, and urged through the restricting bar accommodating openings 20 for facilitating insertion in the receiving recesses 14 in the front wall 3. The restricting bars 14 are then urged forwardly to facilitate securing of the securing bar 25 to the platform 26. The securing bar 25 is then placed in the hollow interior region 6 and offered up to the platform 26 where it is secured by nuts and bolts (not shown) through openings 27 to the platform 26.

The receiving recesses 14a to Me into which receiving bars 15 are to be inserted are selected to suit the size and age of the foal or foals which are to have access to animal feed in the hollow interior region 6 of the animal feed trough 1, and also in order to prevent such access to larger animals, such as, for example, a mare or mares. Fig. 1 illustrates four restricting bars 15 located in the receiving recesses 14b and 14d. However, needless to say, any other selection of receiving recesses may be made. Indeed, in the case of relatively young foals, restricting bars 15 may be provided in the two pairs of receiving recesses 14a, and also in the two pairs of receiving recesses 14d. As the foals increase in size the restricting bars in the receiving recesses 14a may be moved to the recesses 14b, and so on to the recesses 14c and in turn the recesses 14d.

Needless to say, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any combination of receiving recesses may be selected, and it is not essential that the selected recesses be selected to be symmetrical about the centre line 18. Needless to say any number of restricting bars may be used, and in certain cases, one single restricting bar in a single pair of receiving recesses may be sufficient to provide the desired amount of restricted access to the hollow interior region.

The restricting bars 15 prevent access to animal feed in the hollow interior region 6 through the open mouth 10 to animals whose heads are of a size greater than the spacing between adjacent restricting bars 15, and also between the side walls 5 and the restricting bars 15 adjacent the side walls 5, while permitting access to the feed in the hollow interior region 6 through the open mouth 10 to foals or animals whose heads are of size which can be accommodated between the adjacent restricting bars and the side walls 5 and the adjacent restricting bars 15.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. An animal feed trough defining a hollow interior region for animal feed, and an upwardly facing open mouth for providing access to animal feed in the hollow interior region, the feed trough comprising at least one elongated restricting bar for extending across the open mouth for restricting access to the hollow interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow interior region, a plurality of selectable pairs of receivers for selectively locating the at least one restricting bar for facilitating varying the amount of restriction to the hollow interior region, the respective receivers of each pair of receivers being located on respective opposite sides of the feed trough for receiving the at least one restricting bar with each restricting bar extending across the open mouth, a retaining means extending across each receiver for retaining the at least one restricting bar in the selected pair of receivers, a restricting bar accommodating opening being provided to each receiver for accommodating longitudinal movement of the at least one restricting bar within the selected pair of receivers for facilitating insertion and removal of the at least one restricting bar, and a securing means for restricting longitudinal movement of the at least one restricting bar through the restricting bar accommodating openings for securing the at least one restricting bar retained in the selected pair of receivers by the corresponding retaining means.

2. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 1 in which the securing means comprises an elongated securing bar located in the animal feed trough for abutting 20 an adjacent end of each restricting bar adjacent the restricting bar accommodating opening of one of the receivers of the selected pair of receivers.

3. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the respective pairs of receivers are independently selectable.

4. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least two restricting bars are provided, each restricting bar being selectively locatable in one of the pairs of receivers.

5. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiver comprises a receiving recess formed in the trough.

6. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which each retaining means is formed by a bridge piece extending across the corresponding receiver.

7. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which the feeding trough comprises a base, front wall and a spaced apart rear wall extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the base and joining the front and rear walls, the front, rear and side walls defining the hollow interior region, and the front, rear and side walls and the base defining an upper rim which in turn defines the upwardly facing open mouth. 20

8. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 7 in which the respective receivers of each pair of receivers are formed in the front and rear walls.

9. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 in which the restricting bar accommodating opening of each receiver is provided in the corresponding one of the front and rear walls.

10. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which the animal feed trough is sized to accommodate animal feed for one or more foals.

11. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 10 in which at least one pair of receivers and the at least one restricting bar are provided for restricting access through the open mouth to animal feed in the hollow interior region so that access to the animal feed is permitted to a foal only, and not to a larger animal.

‘I2. An animal feed trough substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

13. A method for restricting access to animal feed in a hollow interior region of an animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim, through which access to the hollow interior region is provided through an open mouth thereof, the method comprising the step of locating at least one restricting bar in a selected pair of receivers of the animal feed trough for restricting access to the hollow interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age 10 gaining access to the hollow interior region, and securing the at least one restricting bar in the selected pair of receivers by the securing means.

14. A method for restricting access to animal feed in a hollow interior region of an animal feed trough for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the animal feed, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. F.F. GORMAN & CO.