U.S. patent application number 11/489690 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for animal feeder.
Invention is credited to Sean T. Bodenstab, Ronald W. Friesen.
Application Number | 20070028844 11/489690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716486 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070028844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bodenstab; Sean T. ; et
al. |
February 8, 2007 |
Animal feeder
Abstract
An animal feeder for supplying a feed to an animal of choice for
feeding the animal of choice in an unprotected environment such as
the outdoors. The feeder comprising a base for support the feeder
on a ground surface, a support frame extending upwardly from the
base and a hopper supported by the frame. The hopper having a
storage reservoir for storing a supply of feed with a feed entry
opening that is closeable to prevent exposure to the outdoors. The
hopper further including a feed chute below the reservoir having an
upper region sealingly joined to the reservoir and a lower region
below the upper region that is sealingly joined to a feeding
chamber. The feeding chamber having a bottom surface wherein the
feed supply can move from the reservoir into the feeding chamber
and rest on the bottom surface based on gravity alone. The hopper
further including a horizontally extending elongated channel
extending from the feeding chamber with an outer end having a
feeding opening open to the outdoors wherein the feeding chamber is
spaced from the opening and the feed substantially remains within
the hopper and spaced from the outdoors until it is consumed by the
animal of choice.
Inventors: |
Bodenstab; Sean T.;
(Gronlid, CA) ; Friesen; Ronald W.; (Coldstream,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY, SHARPE, FAGAN, MINNICH & MCKEE, LLP
1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE, SEVENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
37716486 |
Appl. No.: |
11/489690 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60700818 |
Jul 20, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/52.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 5/0225
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/052.1 |
International
Class: |
A01K 5/00 20070101
A01K005/00 |
Claims
1. An animal feeder for supplying a feed to an animal of choice for
feeding the animal of choice in an unprotected environment such as
the outdoors, said feeder comprising a base for supporting said
feeder on a ground surface; a support frame extending upwardly from
said base; and a hopper supported by said frame, said hopper having
a storage reservoir for storing a supply of feed with a feed entry
opening that is closeable to prevent exposure to the outdoors, said
hopper further including a feed chute below said reservoir having
an upper region sealingly joined to said reservoir and a lower
region below said upper region that is sealingly joined to a
feeding chamber, said feeding chamber having a feed supporting
surface wherein said feed supply can move from said reservoir into
said feeding chamber and rest on said surface based on gravity
alone, said hopper further including a horizontally extending
elongated channel extending from said feeding chamber, said channel
having an outer end and being enclosed except for a feeding opening
that is open to the outdoors wherein said feeding chamber is spaced
from said opening and the feed substantially remains within said
hopper and spaced from the outdoors until it is consumed by the
animal of choice.
2. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said
feeding chamber is in said horizontally extending elongated
channel.
3. The animal feeder of claim 2, wherein said feeding chamber is in
said horizontally extending elongated channel.
4. The animal feeder of claim 2, wherein said horizontally
extending elongated channel is cylindrical.
5. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein said horizontally
extending elongated channel has a cross-sectional configuration
shaped to receive a substantial portion of the snout of the animal
of choice and has a length such that said opening is spaced from
said feeding chamber a distance slightly less that the length of
the snout of the animal of choice.
6. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein said feeding chamber is
tubular and said horizontally extending elongated channel forms a
portion of said chamber.
7. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein said hopper includes a
plurality of said feed chutes below said reservoir sealingly joined
to a respective plurality of said feeding chambers and said
horizontally extending elongated channels such that more than one
of the animal of choice can feed simultaneously.
8. The animal feeder of claim 7, wherein said feeder has a front
side and a back side and said plurality of feed chutes, feeding
chambers and channels includes four on said front side and four on
said back side.
9. The animal feeder of claim 8, wherein said plurality of feed
chutes, feeding chambers and channels includes at least one channel
that has a different configuration.
10. The animal feeder of claim 9, wherein said different
configuration is a smaller configuration for younger animals.
11. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein said upper region has a
cross-sectional area and said lower region has a cross-sectional
and said cross-sectional area of said lower region is less than
said upper cross-section area.
12. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein said hopper is a unified
molded component.
13. The animal feeder of claim 1, further including a trough
pivotably connected to said frame, said trough pivoting between an
opened position wherein said trough is spaced from said feeding
opening and a closed position wherein said trough covers said
feeding opening sufficiently to prevent the animal of choice from
feeding.
14. The animal feeder of claim 13, wherein said trough seals said
feeding opening when in said closed position.
15. The animal feeder of claim 13, wherein said trough is pivotable
about a horizontal axis wherein said trough is positioned below
said feeding opening when in said opened position such that said
trough is positioned to catch feed falling from the opening as the
animal of choice is feeding.
16. The animal feeder of claim 15, wherein said trough includes a
base sheets having at least one peripheral edge and upwardly
extending side walls extending upwardly from said at least one
edge.
17. The animal feeder of claim 16, wherein said trough further
include a drainage hole.
18. The animal feeder of claim 13, wherein said feeder has a front
side and a back side and said hopper includes a plurality of said
feed chutes below said reservoir sealingly joined to a respective
plurality of said feeding chambers and said horizontally extending
elongated channels such that more than one of the animal of choice
can feed simultaneously, said plurality of feed chutes, feeding
chambers and channels including a first plurality on said front
side and a second plurality on said back side, said trough being a
first and a second trough wherein said first trough is aligned with
said first plurality and said second trough is aligned with said
second plurality, both said first and second troughs pivoting about
a respective horizontal axis.
19. The animal feeder of claim 1, wherein said hopper includes a
plurality of said feed chutes below said reservoir sealingly joined
to a respective plurality of said feeding chambers and said
horizontally extending elongated channels such that more than one
of the animal of choice can feed simultaneously, said plurality of
feed chutes each having a respective said upper and lower regions,
each said respective upper region having a cross-sectional area and
each said respective lower region having a cross-sectional area,
said cross-sectional area of said lower region being less than said
upper cross-section area.
20. The animal feeder of claim 19, wherein said each feed chute is
formed by four walls, at least three of said four walls extending
downwardly and inwardly.
21. An animal feeder for supplying a feed to an animal of choice
for feeding the animal of choice in an unprotected environment such
as the outdoors, said feeder comprising a hopper having a storage
reservoir for storing a supply of feed and protecting the feed from
the outdoors, said feeder further including a plurality of feeding
chambers in fluid communication with said storage reservoir, said
plurality of feeding chambers each having an inner opening for
receiving the feed from the reservoir based on a gravity flow alone
and at least one feeding supporting surface positioned near said
inner opening for receiving and stopping said gravity flow thereby
maintaining the feed within said feeder on said at least one
surface, said each chamber further including an enclosed elongated
feeding channel extending outwardly away from said inner opening,
said channel forming a portion of said at least one supporting
surface and having an outer opening spaced from said at least one
supporting surface such that said gravity flow stops before said
opening, said channel having a length and a cross-sectional
configuration configured to allow the snout of the animal of choice
to enter said channel and reach the feed on said at least one
supporting surface.
22. The animal feeder of claim 21, wherein said hopper is a
longitudinally extending hopper extending between a first end and a
second end, said plurality of feeding chambers being positioned
between said first and second ends and said each channel being
transverse to said longitudinal direction.
23. The animal feeder of claim 21, wherein said hopper is a
longitudinally extending hopper extending between a first end and a
second end and having a front and back side between said ends, said
plurality of feeding chambers being a first and a second plurality
of feeding chambers, said first and second plurality of feeding
chambers being positioned between said first and second ends and
said each channel being transverse to said longitudinal direction,
said first plurality of feeding chambers extending outwardly from
said front side and said second plurality of feeding chambers
extending from said back side.
24. The animal feeder of claim 21, wherein said channel forms a
substantial portion of said at least one supporting surface.
25. The animal feeder of claim 21, wherein said at least one
surface is one surface and said enclosed elongated feeding channel
is cylindrical.
26. The animal feeder of claim 21, wherein said outer opening is
formed by at least on edge in said enclosed elongated feeding
channel, said at least one edge being substantially vertical such
that said opening faces horizontally.
27. The animal feeder of claim 21, further including a pivotal
trough that is pivotal relative to said outer opening, said trough
pivoting between an opened position wherein said trough is spaced
from said outer opening and a closed position wherein said trough
covers said outer opening sufficiently to prevent the animal of
choice from feeding.
28. The animal feeder of claim 27, wherein a portion of said trough
is below said outer opening when in said opened position.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority on U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 60/700,818, filed Jul. 20, 2005, entitled
"ANIMAL FEEDER".
[0002] This invention relates to the art of feeding animals and,
more particularly, to an animal feeder that can feed multiple
animals simultaneously and can maintain a large supply of feed
without the feed being adversely exposed to the environment and
other animals.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0003] The present invention relates to animal feeders and, more
particularly, to an animal feeder that is adaptable to feed more
than one animal and maintain a large supply of feed. United States
published application No. US 2003/0005887 discloses an animal
feeder having a container for maintaining the feed and multiple
outlets for feeding the animals and is incorporated by reference
herein as background information illustrating the same. Schultz
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,561 discloses an animal feeder including a
large feed storage bin and a feed trough, and is also incorporated
by reference herein as background information illustrating the
same. Aldridge, III U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,753 discloses an animal
feeder including a large feed storage bin and a feed trough, and is
also incorporated by reference herein as background information
illustrating the same. Mostun et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,509
discloses a gravity deer feeder with baffles, and is incorporated
by reference herein as background information illustrating the
same. Scheidler U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,483 discloses an animal feeder
including a large feed storage bin and a feed dispenser, and is
also incorporated by reference herein as background information
illustrating the same. Becker Des. 245,714 discloses an animal
feeder design, and is also incorporated by reference herein as
background information illustrating the same. All of these patents
are attached to this application and form a part of the
specification of this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is particularly applicable for use in
connection with feeding deer and, therefore, will be describe with
reference to deer. However, the invention of this application has
broader application and can be used to feed a wide variety of
animals both wild and domestic.
[0005] Owners of animals, and those who raise animals, keep these
animals in pens, corrals or cages and the like to contain the
animals for extended periods of time. These animals need to be
routinely fed to maintain the animals and promote the growth of the
animals. These animals can be domestic animals or even wild animals
and these animals can be used for a wide range of purposes. As can
be appreciated, periodically feeding the animals can be time
consuming and expensive if human intervention is needed each time
the animals need to be fed. In this respect, animals are
conventionally fed at selected intervals, such as morning and
evening. As a result, the owners often employ someone to feed their
animals and the expense of employing someone to feed the animals
twice daily can be substantial.
[0006] In addition, it is also desirous to leave the animals
unattended in the fenced area for extended periods. As a result,
the feeding of the animals is sometimes attempted by merely
depositing, in an open container, a supply of feed which should
adequately feed the animal during the period of absence. Such
practice invites other animals to enter the fenced area and consume
the feed. Further, the unattended feed is exposed to the elements
and can become contaminated.
[0007] It is of course well known that a feeding station can be
used to feed multiple animals to allow the animals to be unattended
for longer periods of time. The feeding station can have a feed bin
or hopper to support a supply of animal feed and can also include
multiple outlets or troughs so that more than one animal can feed
at one time. Further, it is also known that gravity can be used in
connection with a feed flow arrangement to move the feed from the
feed hopper to the feed trough.
[0008] However, prior art animal feeding devices have been found to
be inefficient in controlling the flow of feed and inefficient in
feeding many types of animals such as deer. The prior art devices
also expose at least some of the feed to the environment. This
exposed feed is typically the same feed that the animals are
directly feeding from. Further, the prior devices do not employ
efficient mechanisms to easily control when the animals can feed
and mechanisms to allow the feeder to be easily moved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the present invention, provided is an
animal feeder that efficiently feeds animals and that can store
quantities of feed over a long period of time and which can control
the eating intervals of the animals. More particularly, provided is
an animal feeder that includes a supply hopper for the animal feed
and at least one feeding outlet that is shaped to receive the snout
of the desire animal or animals to be fed.
[0010] In this respect, an animal feeder according to the present
invention includes a base for supporting the feeder on a ground
surface and a support frame extending upwardly from the base. The
feeder further includes a hopper supported by the frame wherein the
hopper has a storage reservoir for storing a supply of feed with a
feed entry opening. In addition, the hopper includes a feed chute
below the reservoir having an upper region sealingly joined to the
reservoir and a lower region below the upper region that is
sealingly joined to a feeding chamber. The feeding chamber has a
feed supporting surface wherein the feed supply can move from the
reservoir into the feeding chamber and rest on the surface based on
gravity alone. The hopper further including a horizontally
extending elongated channel extending from the feeding chamber and
the channel having an outer end and being enclosed except for a
feeding opening at the outer end. In addition, the channel has a
length such that the feeding chamber is spaced from the opening and
the feed substantially remains within the hopper.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
provided is an animal feeder having a hopper with a storage
reservoir for storing a supply of feed and protecting the feed from
the outdoors. The feeder further includes a plurality of feeding
chambers in fluid communication with the storage reservoir each
having an inner opening for receiving the feed from the reservoir
based on a gravity flow alone and at least one feeding supporting
surface positioned near the inner opening for receiving and
stopping the gravity flow. Each chamber further including a support
surface for supporting the feed within the feeding chamber and an
enclosed elongated feeding channel extending outwardly away from
the inner opening. This channel forms a portion of the supporting
surface and has an outer opening spaced from the at least one
supporting surface such that the gravity flow stops before the
opening. Further, the channel has a length and a cross-sectional
configuration configured to allow the snout of the animal of choice
to enter the channel and reach the feed on the supporting
surface.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
provided is an animal feeder that further includes a trough that
can be used as a spill tray to catch feed that inadvertently falls
from the feeding outlet(s).
[0013] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, provided is an animal feeder that further includes a
trough or spill tray that can be used to catch feed that
inadvertently falls from the feeding outlet and which is
selectively positionable relative to the outlet(s) to prevent an
animal from feeding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The foregoing and more, will, in part, be obvious and, in
part, be pointed out more fully hereinafter, in connection with a
written description of preferred embodiments of the present
invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front side perspective view of an animal feeder
in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of the animal feeder shown in FIG. 1
which is in the feeding position;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a back view of the animal feeder shown in FIG. 1
which is in the closed position;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an end view of the animal feeder shown in FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top view, partially in section, of the animal
feeder shown in FIG. 1 wherein one side is in the feeding position
and one side is in the closed position; and,
[0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 6-6
in FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, wherein the
showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments
of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the
invention, the figures show many aspects of an animal feeder
according to the present invention.
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1-6, shown is a deer feeder 10
having a hopper 12, a support frame 14 and spill or overflow
troughs 16a and 16b. The feeder is utilized to feed any one of a
wide range of animals including, but not limited to, domestic
animals and wildlife. As is discussed above, keepers of animals
must feed these animals, and it is advantageous that they have an
efficient and cost effective way of feeding the animals. The
invention of this application can be many different sizes without
detracting from the invention of this application. This includes
increasing and/or reducing the dimensions of any one component of
the feeder or all components of the feeder.
[0023] Hopper 12 is designed and configured to retain and support a
desired quantity of animal feed F, that can be a wide range of
animal feed known in the art, and can be made according to any
manufacturing techniques known in the art. It has been found that
plastics can be used to create a durable hopper that protects the
animal feed from the elements and which is lightweight and durable.
In particular, it has been found that a rotating mold can be used
effectively to mold the plastic hopper as a unified one-piece
hopper. The hopper is supported and maintained in a desired
position by support frame 14.
[0024] Hopper 12 is constructed to include a top opening 20 having
a protective lid 22 for sealing the opening is configured to
protect the feed after it has been loaded into the hopper. As can
be appreciated, feeder 10 can be utilized outdoors such that the
feed must be protected by the feeder in that it must remain dry and
free of contaminations. Hopper 12 further includes a storage
reservoir 24 sized based on the amount of feed that is desired to
be maintained at one time in the animal feeder.
[0025] Hopper 12 can further include a feed directing chute 26 to
direct the gravitational flow of the feed downwardly in the feeder
as will be discussed in greater detail below. In one embodiment,
feeder 10 include chutes 26a-26h to allow the feed in the hopper to
be directed from reservoir 24 to a respective one of feeding
chambers 28a-28h. While eight feeding arrangements are shown, the
invention of this application can include more or less than eight
feeding arrangements without detracting from the invention of this
application. Chutes 26a-26h can be used to "funnel" the feed into
the respective feeding chambers. Chutes 26a-26h can respectively be
formed by walls 33, 34, 35 and 36, as is shown on chute 26a, to
direct the flow to the feeding chambers that are configured to be
accessed by the desired animal. Some or all of these walls can be
tapered inwardly such that the feeding chamber is a desired size.
As is shown, walls 33, 34 and 35 are tapered inwardly while wall 36
is basically vertical.
[0026] Feeding chambers 28a-28h have feed supporting surface
29a-29h, respectively to support the feed in the feeding chamber
and to maintain the feed within the animal feeder while allowing
the animal to access the feed in the feeding chamber through
openings 30a-30h. Elongated channels 32a-32h can be anyone of a
number of configurations including the cylindrical configuration
shown. The channels are configured to allow snout S of animal A to
enter the feeder and access the feed. Further, in this embodiment,
the feeding chamber is partially formed by the channel and,
therefore, the supporting surface for the feed is a single surface
for each station. However, if other configurations, such as an
octagonal cross-sectionally configured channel would result in
multiple surfaces being utilized for the supporting surfaces
29a-29h.
[0027] By spacing the feeding chamber from opening 30, the feed
remains spaced from the outside and is, therefore, at least
partially protected form the environment such as from rain and
snow. However, since channel 32 is configured to the size and the
shape of the snout of the desired animal, the snout of the animal
can enter the animal feeder and feed on the feed within the feed
chamber at any time. Further, it has been found that other animals,
such as raccoons and birds, do not and/or cannot enter the channels
to steel food. In this respect, the channels are too small for
raccoons to enter and too long to allow them to pull the food out.
With respect to birds, they could move into the channel, but the
bird would be required to back out of the channel which is a motion
that they are not willing to make.
[0028] As can be appreciated, feed chambers 28a-28h can be a
portion of channels 32a-32h, respectively, can be completely formed
by the channel and/or can be separate components with out
detracting from the invention of this application. Further, each of
the feed chambers and/or channels can be configured differently.
For example, it has been found that it can be advantageous to
configure one or more of the feeding channels and chambers for
younger animals. This allows free access to younger animals even
when larger dominant adults are around. Since the channel and
chamber are too small for the larger animals, the larger animals
will loose interest in that particular station a find a larger
channel for feeding.
[0029] As is discussed above, channels 32a-32h are designed to
prevent food from falling from the hopper and to protect the food
from the elements. In this respect, elongated channels 32a-32h can
have a length 38 that is long enough to prevent the feed from
falling from outlet 30 while being short enough to allow snout S of
animal A to enter and reach the respective feeding chamber. Again,
length 38 can be adjusted or changed based on the snout size of the
animal to be fed. Further, the cross-sectional opening
configuration of opening 30 and elongated channel 32 can be
configured based on the animal to be fed and, further, to prevent
unwanted animal feeding of other species and/or ages. Again, while
elongated channel 32 is shown to be a cylindrical channel, other
configurations could be utilized without detracting from the
invention of this application. In addition, while the elongated
channel is shown to have a uniform cross-sectional configuration, a
tapered channel could be used, or other configurations could be
used without detracting from the invention of this application.
[0030] As animal A feeds from feeding chamber 28, feed F
continually replenishes the feeding chamber based on a
gravitational flow from reservoir 24. This feeding chamber
configuration allows the animal to feed upon demand while
continuously preventing the feed from being exposed to the
elements. As can be appreciated, feed which is deposited in an open
tray can be damaged by rain, snow or other environmental factors.
By maintaining the feed in a protective position in the feeder,
these factors are minimized. Further, the feed is also shielded
from sunlight in addition to the other environmental factors
discussed above.
[0031] In one embodiment, feeder 10 can include trough or spill
trays 16a and 16b. These trays are not designed to be used
primarily as a feeding tray. Conversely, troughs 16 are configured
primarily to catch the overflow and spillage from the animal when
it feeds from the feed chamber. In this respect, the feeding action
of animals can cause some of the feed to exit opening 30.
Accordingly, trough 16 can be used to catch the falling feed and
prevent it from accumulating on the ground. This configuration
prevents the animals from feeding on the ground wherein the feed
has been exposed to the environment. Further, it allows for the
easy clean-up of spilled feed to reduce the attraction of unwanted
animals such as raccoons. As can be appreciated, the animals may
eat the spilled food, however, this spilled food is not on the
ground. Spill troughs 16a and 16b can include an opening 40a and
40b, respectively, which can be used to clear the overflow feed
periodically. As can be appreciated, the overflow feed is exposed
to the elements; and this opening can be used to easily remove the
feed from the tray into a container to safely carry the discarded
feed away from animal feeder 10. In addition, opening 40 can also
be used as a drain point for moisture in the tray such as from rain
or snow. Opening 40 can be positioned anywhere in tray 16. Tray 16
can be made from any material known in the art and is preferably
made from a weather resistant material. As is shown, trays 16a and
16b are made from a plastic material to minimize the effect of the
environment on this component. As can be appreciated, rust and
other environmental damages to this component part could have an
adverse effect especially since it is positioned near the feeding
point(s) of the animal feeder. As is stated above, the animals may
feed from the feed which has fallen from the outlets.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in yet another embodiment,
trough 16a and/or 16b can be pivotally connected to frame 14 to
allow the trays to pivot from an opened or feeding position 42 to
allow the animal to feed from the animal feeder to a closed
position 44 which prevents animal feeding. As is shown, trough 16b
is in closed position 44 and trough 16a is in opened position 42.
As is stated above, it is desirous to have control over the time
and frequency that a particular animal feeds. By including a
pivotal tray configuration, the feeding of the animals can be
easily controlled. Further, this tray configuration prevents the
feed from being exposed to the elements by at least partially
closing opening 30. While, as shown, the animal feed is not sealed,
moisture is prevented from entering opening 30 when tray 16 is in
closed position 44. This configuration can also allow moisture in
the feeding chamber to evaporate, which would not be possible if
openings 30 were completely sealed. The pivotal action of each tray
16 is achieved by hinges 50 each having several hinge plates 52
connected to hinge rods 54. Hinge rod 54 is allowed to pivot
relative to the frame about an axis 56, such that tray 16 pivots
about axis 56 between the feeding position and the closed position.
While one particular hinge assembly is shown, other assemblies
known in the art could be used for either tray without detracting
from the invention of this application. Hinge plate 52 is secured
the trays by fasteners 60, which can be any known fasteners in the
art.
[0033] Tray 16 and hinge 50 can further include a lock assembly,
not shown, which can be any known lock assembly and can be
fashioned to prevent the animal from overriding the lock assembly
and moving the tray from the closed position to the open position.
Further, tray 16 does not need to cover all outlets on one side,
wherein multiple trays could be used on either side to selectively
close one or more of the feeding openings without closing all
openings. Further, the trough on the back side can be the same or
different than the trough on the front side of feeder 10. As will
be discussed in greater detail below, the openings and feeding
chambers can also be configured differently from one station to the
next to allow the animal feeder to be used with multiple species of
animals and also animals of different sizes or ages. Further,
reservoir can also be sectioned to allow different feed to exit out
of different feeding stations.
[0034] As is stated above, feeder 10 is supported by a frame 14.
This frame can be designed from any known framing techniques in the
art. As is shown, frame 14 includes base members 70 and 72 to
support the animal feeder on a desired ground surface. These base
members can be skid-like members to allow the animal feeder to be
pushed or pulled over a wide variety of terrain. As is shown, frame
14 is a steel frame, wherein the steel is coated with a
weather-resistant coating, such as a paint. The components of the
frame are welded and/or bolted together based on the desired
characteristics of the particular joint. As will be discussed
below, some components of the frame are designed to be removable
such that components, such as the hopper, can be removed without
damaging the frame. Frame 14 further includes inverted U-shaped end
assemblies 74 and 76 that are secured to base members 70 and 72.
End assembly 74 includes cross members 80 and 82, and end assembly
76 includes cross members 84 and 86. End assemblies 74 and 76 are
joined by base members 70 and 72 and also by intermediate members
90 and 92. Again, as is stated above, the joints between these
members can be joined by any known means in the art; and as is
shown, these components are welded together to create a secure and
rigid base for the frame of the animal feeder. Tray 16 can be
pivotally joined to one or more of these frame components to allow
the pivotal rotation about axis 56. Further, these joints can
include joint-reinforcing cross member 94, which can be sized and
configured based on the desired strength characteristic of the
particular joint.
[0035] Frame 14 can further include removable frame sections 100
and 102 that, in part, support the weight of hopper 12 and position
the hopper over the trays. Frame sections 100 and 102 can be
removable to allow hopper 12 to be removed from frame 14 without
damaging the hopper or the frame. Frame sections are positionable
in recesses 101 and 103, respectively which in part support the
hopper. As is shown, frame section 100 includes end plates 104 and
106; and frame section 102 includes end plates 108 and 110. End
plates can be selectively joined to inverted U-shaped end
assemblies 74 and 76 by fasteners 112. While fasteners 112 are
shown to be threaded fasteners, they can be any fasteners known in
the art without detracting from the invention of this application.
By utilizing threaded fasteners, or other quick-release fasteners,
hopper 12 can be easily removed from the frame assembly.
[0036] While base members 70 and 72 are shown to include skid
configurations to move the animal feeder across a ground surface,
other types of movement configurations could be used with the
invention of this application. This can include, but is not limited
to, wheels utilized on one or more ends of the frame assembly and
even a solid base assembly, such as a sled-like configuration. With
respect to a base which includes wheels, the axles of the wheels
could be movable relative to the bottom of the frame, such that the
surface of the wheels is spaced from the ground surface when in a
stationary position, and the wheels could be moved downwardly to
engage the ground surface when the animal feeder is to be
moved.
[0037] Frame 14 can further include a central support member 120 to
further support the hopper 12. As is shown, hopper 12 includes
directing chutes 26a-26h which direct the feed outwardly toward the
feeding stations. This creates a central V-shaped area 122 in the
hopper portion of the animal feeder. This central support member
can be used to further support the hopper by supporting the
underside of this V-shaped arrangement. This assembly can also be
selectively detachable to help remove the hopper from the
frame.
[0038] As can be appreciated, the animal feeder of the invention of
this application can have many configurations. This includes
changes to the number of outlets or feeding stations, including but
not limited to, one station, or more than eight feeding station.
This further includes a feeding stations on only one side or
outlets on more than two sides. Further, the feeder could include
multiple outlets 30 and feeding chamber 28 wherein some or all
feeding stations are configured differently. For example, as
discussed above, one or more the stations could be configured for a
younger animal which includes lowering the particular feeding
station. This can further include, an animal feeder that includes
one or more smaller outlets which are lower to the ground while
having other, larger outlets higher from the ground. Again, this
particular arrangement allows certain outlets to be used by smaller
or younger animals, while the larger outlets can be used by the
adult animals. By having this multiple outlet size arrangement,
adult animals cannot feed from the smaller outlets and will not
feed from these outlets, thereby allowing the smaller, less
dominant animals to feed. Multiple outlet configurations could also
be used for the use of the animal feeder with more than one
species. For example, one side of the animal feeder could be used
for one species, while the other side of the animal feeder could be
used for another species. The animal feeder could then be
positioned such that it is between two different animal pens, such
that the outlets from one side extend into one pen, while the
outlets from the other side extend into another pen. Furthermore,
hopper 12 could be a single-chamber hopper, or it could be a
multiple-chamber hopper, wherein different types of feed could be
simultaneously contained within one animal feeder.
[0039] While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred
embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it
will be appreciated that other embodiments can be made and that
many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without
departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, it is
to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter
is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and
not as a limitation.
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