U.S. patent application number 15/467160 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-05 for pet feeding system.
This patent application is currently assigned to MacNeil IP LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is MacNeil IP LLC. Invention is credited to David F. MACNEIL, Frederick W. MASANEK, JR..
Application Number | 20170280675 15/467160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59958982 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170280675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MACNEIL; David F. ; et
al. |
October 5, 2017 |
PET FEEDING SYSTEM
Abstract
A top surface of an elevating stand of a pet feeding system
defines bowl receptacles into which respective food and water bowls
may be removably installed. A first zone of the top surface of the
stand includes an upwardly convex ring that laterally surrounds a
respective bowl receptacle. A second zone of the top surface of the
stand laterally surrounds the first zone, except as interrupted by
a finger notch. Each bowl has a peripheral lip with a lower surface
formed as a downwardly concave ring that fits over the upwardly
convex ring of the stand. An edge of the bowl rests on the second
zone at a location below the upper limit of the convex ring. A base
of the stand cooperates with upstanding ribs in an elastomeric mat
to prevent lateral movement of the stand and to prevent rotation of
the stand around the stand center.
Inventors: |
MACNEIL; David F.;
(Hinsdale, IL) ; MASANEK, JR.; Frederick W.;
(Barrington, IL) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MacNeil IP LLC |
Bolingbrook |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MacNeil IP LLC
Bolingbrook
IL
|
Family ID: |
59958982 |
Appl. No.: |
15/467160 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15089863 |
Apr 4, 2016 |
|
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|
15467160 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 7/005 20130101;
A01K 5/0142 20130101; A01K 5/0135 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 5/01 20060101
A01K005/01; A01K 7/00 20060101 A01K007/00 |
Claims
1. A pet feeding system comprising: a stand having a front, a back
opposed to the front, first and second sides joining the front to
the back, and a top connecting the front, back and first and second
sides, the top defining at least one bowl opening, at least one
wall of the stand extending downwardly from the top and terminating
in at least one stand base; at least one bowl removably received in
said at least one bowl opening; and a mat, the stand removably
positioned on the mat on a stand vertical center, structure in the
mat cooperating with structure of said at least one stand base to
prevent lateral displacement in any lateral direction of the stand
relative to the mat and preventing rotation of the stand around the
vertical stand center relative to the mat, all of said structure in
the mat being disposed laterally interiorly of said at least one
stand base.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mat has a general upper
surface for receiving the stand base, said structure of the mat
including at least one raised feature extending upwardly from the
general upper surface of the mat, the at least one raised feature
mating with a nonhorizontal surface of the stand base.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one wall of the
stand has an interior surface facing the stand vertical center, the
at least one raised feature disposed laterally interiorly of the
interior surface of the at least one wall.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one wall of the
stand is a first side wall forming the first side of the stand and
terminating in a first stand foot, a second side wall of the stand
forming the second side of the stand and terminating in a second
stand foot, each of the first and second side walls having a
respective interior surface, said at least one raised feature of
the mat being one of first and second raised features formed on the
mat, a laterally exterior surface of the first raised feature
fitting to the interior surface of the first side wall, a laterally
exterior surface of the second raised feature fitting to the
interior surface of the second side wall.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the lateral exterior surfaces of
the first and second raised features of the mat are upwardly and
inwardly sloped relative to the vertical stand center.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the interior surface of the first
side wall and the interior surface of the second side wall are
concavely arcuate relative to the vertical stand center, the
lateral exterior surfaces of the first and second raised features
of the mat being convexly arcuate relative to the stand vertical
center.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein a radius of arc of the lateral
exterior surfaces of the first and second raised features of the
mat is smaller than a lateral distance from the lateral exterior
surfaces to the stand vertical center.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second raised
features of the mat are hollow ribs.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the stand base includes a foot
flange that extends laterally outwardly relative to the stand
vertical center from the at least one wall of the stand.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mat has a top surface with
an area, said at least one stand base defining a lateral area that
is less than the area of the top surface of the mat, the mat having
a front area disposed to the front of said at least one stand base
and a rear area disposed to the rear of said at least one stand
base, the front area of the mat being greater than the rear area of
the mat.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein a front margin of the mat is
convexly curved, a rear margin of the mat being straight.
12. The system of claim 4, wherein the first raised feature is a
first rib and the second raised feature is a second rib, the first
and second ribs being spaced apart from each other in a transverse
direction and being concavely arcuate relative to a center of a
mat; and a top surface of the mat extending between the first and
second ribs being convexly vaulted in a front-to-rear
direction.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the top of the stand defines
first and second spaced-apart bowl openings, for each bowl opening,
a bowl removably received therein, an upper edge of all of the
bowls substantially residing in a horizontal top plane; and each
bowl disposed on a vertical bowl axis orthogonal to the top plane
and spaced from the center of the stand, a first radius of the bowl
drawn in the top plane from the bowl axis to the upper edge of the
bowl proximate the front of the stand being greater than a second
radius of the bowl drawn in the top plane from the bowl axis to a
the upper edge of the bowl proximate a side of the stand.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the upper edge of each bowl has
a front portion disposed proximate the front of the stand and a
side portion disposed proximate to a side of the stand, for each
bowl, a draft from the front portion of the upper edge of the bowl
to the bowl axis being more gradual than a draft from the side
portion of the upper edge of the bowl to the bowl axis.
15. A pet feeding system comprising: a stand having a front, a back
opposed to the front, first and second sides joining the front to
the back, and a top connecting the front, back and first and second
sides, at least one sidewall of the stand extending downwardly from
the top and terminating in at least one stand base; at least one
bowl receptacle formed in the top, formed around a vertical axis
and having a periphery; a top surface of the top having first and
second zones, the first zone disposed to be adjacent to the
periphery of said at least one bowl receptacle, the first zone
having an upwardly convex ring that laterally surrounds the
periphery of the at least one bowl receptacle, the upwardly convex
ring having an upper limit, the second zone disposed to adjoin and
extend radially outwardly from the first zone, the second zone
being disposed below the upper limit of the convex ring; and at
least one bowl adapted to be installed into and removed from the at
least one bowl receptacle by a user of the system and having a
peripheral lip, a lower surface of the peripheral lip formed as a
concave ring that fits over the convex ring of the at least one
bowl receptacle.
16. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein the peripheral lip
of the at least one bowl terminates in an edge, the edge of the at
least one bowl contacting the second zone of the top surface of the
stand when the at least one bowl is installed in the at least one
bowl receptacle, the upper limit of the convex ring of the first
zone being above the edge of the at least one bowl when the at
least one bowl is installed in the at least one bowl
receptacle.
17. The pet feeding system of claim 16, wherein the second zone of
the top surface of the stand is flat and perpendicular to the
vertical axis.
18. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein the top surface of
the top of the stand further includes a third zone extending
laterally outwardly from the second zone, all of the third zone
being downwardly sloped, all of the top surface of the top of the
stand that is laterally outward from the first zone being
horizontal or downwardly and outwardly sloped relative to the
axis.
19. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein said at least one
bowl receptacle has a receptacle sidewall that downwardly and
radially inwardly extends from the first zone of the top surface of
the stand, a slope of the receptacle sidewall at a point, taken in
a given horizontal plane, varying as a function of a horizontal
angular position of the point relative to the vertical axis; and a
center of the at least one bowl being disposed on the vertical axis
when the at least one bowl is installed in the at least one bowl
receptacle, a bowl sidewall of the at least one bowl downwardly and
radially inwardly extending from the peripheral lip of the at least
one bowl toward the center, a slope of the bowl sidewall taken at a
point on the bowl sidewall, in the given horizontal plane, varying
as a function of the horizontal angular position of the point on
the bowl sidewall relative to the axis, the last said slope of the
bowl sidewall being substantially similar to the last said slope of
the receptacle sidewall at the same horizontal angular
position.
20. The pet feeding system of claim 19, wherein the slope of the
receptacle sidewall at the given angular position is in the range
of about 1/2 to about 2 degrees steeper than the slope of the bowl
sidewall at the given angular position.
21. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein the at least one
bowl receptacle includes an opening through the top of the
stand.
22. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein the second zone of
the top surface of the top of the stand laterally surrounds the
first zone except at a finger notch, the second zone being
horizontal or radially sloping outward and downward relative to the
vertical axis, a floor of the finger notch being axially lower than
the second zone and being joined thereto by spaced-apart left and
right sidewalls of the finger notch, a radially inward wall of the
finger notch joined to an outer wall of the convex ring such that
the finger notch does not inwardly radially extend through to the
at least one bowl receptacle, the floor of the finger notch
extending inwardly underneath the edge of the peripheral lip of the
at least one bowl when the at least one bowl is installed in the at
least one bowl receptacle.
23. The pet feeding system of claim 22, wherein a top end of the
left wall of the finger notch is spaced from a top end of the right
wall of the finger notch by a width of about one inch.
24. The pet feeding system of claim 22, wherein the at least one
bowl receptacle has a front to be disposed to be proximate to a pet
and a rear to be disposed to be remote from the pet, the finger
notch being positioned at the rear of the at least one bowl
receptacle.
25. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein the at least one
bowl receptacle is one of first and second bowl receptacles formed
in the top of the stand, the at least one bowl being one of first
and second bowls adapted to be respectively received in the first
and second bowl receptacles.
26. The pet feeding system of claim 15, wherein the at least one
bowl has an upper periphery residing in a horizontal plane, a major
axis of the bowl disposed in the horizontal plane and perpendicular
to the vertical axis and a minor axis disposed in the horizontal
plane and perpendicular to the major axis and vertical axis, a
diameter of the at least one bowl taken at the major axis being
greater than a diameter of the at least one bowl taken at the minor
axis.
27. A pet feeding system comprising: a mat having an upper surface;
a central pier integrally molded with the mat, a sidewall of the
pier upwardly extending from the upper surface of the mat to a top
surface of the pier; at least one bowl receptacle formed in the top
surface of the pier and on a vertical axis, a first zone of the top
surface of the pier disposed adjacent to the at least one bowl
receptacle, the first zone including an upwardly convex ring
laterally surrounding the at least one bowl receptacle, a second
zone of the top surface of the pier formed to adjoin the first zone
and to radially outwardly extend from the first zone, the second
zone of the top surface of the pier being either flat or radially
outwardly and downwardly sloped, a third zone of the top surface of
the pier laterally surrounding the second zone, all points on the
third zone of the top surface of the pier being radially outwardly
and downwardly sloped; and at least one bowl adapted to be received
in the at least one bowl receptacle, a lower surface of a
peripheral lip of the bowl forming a downwardly concave ring
fitting over the upwardly convex ring of the at least one bowl
receptacle.
28. The pet feeding system of claim 27, wherein the peripheral lip
of the at least one bowl has an outer edge, the outer edge resting
on the second zone of the top surface of the pier when the bowl is
installed in the at least one bowl receptacle.
29. The pet feeding system of claim 27, wherein the second zone of
the top surface of the pier laterally surrounds the first zone of
the top surface of the pier except where the second zone is
interrupted by a finger notch, the finger notch inwardly extending
from the sidewall of the pier to the first zone, a floor of the
finger notch being disposed to be lower than the second zone.
30. The pet feeding system of claim 27, wherein the mat has a lower
surface, the at least one bowl receptacle being closed and forming
no opening through the top of the pier to the lower surface of the
mat.
31. The pet feeding system of claim 27, wherein the pier has a
front, a rear opposed to the front, and sides joining the front to
the rear, the at least one bowl being oblong and having an upper
periphery, a major axis of the bowl taken at the upper periphery in
a front-to-rear direction being greater than a minor axis of the
bowl taken at the upper periphery in a side-to-side direction.
32. The pet feeding system of claim 27, wherein the at least one
bowl receptacle is one of first and second laterally spaced apart
bowl receptacles, second zones respectively surrounding the first
and second bowl receptacles and being spaced apart by a third zone
of the pier top surface, the at least one bowl being one of first
and second bowls adaptable to be respectively installed into and
removed from the first and second bowl receptacles.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of copending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/089,863, filed Apr. 4, 2016, and
owned by the Applicant hereof. The entire disclosure and drawings
of the last said Application are incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A traditional way to feed a dog or a cat is to place a bowl
of food and a bowl of water on the floor. More recently, pet
feeding stations have been developed which elevate the food and
water bowls off of the floor. This puts the food and water at a
convenient height for the pet.
[0003] Dogs in particular can be messy eaters. The optimum pet
feeding station or system is one that is easily accessible by the
pet, is easy to clean and that generates a minimum of stray food
and water. As a cat, or more particularly, a dog, eats, there may
be a tendency for the food and water bowl to slide around; these
quadrupeds usually do not hold their food or water bowls in place
with their paws. A larger dog may be big enough to easily displace
its food or water bowl with motions of its head alone. Because they
are thus apt to be sources of stray food particles, pet feeding
sites equipped with conventional containers sometimes attract
unwanted pests.
[0004] Dogs in particular have elongated noses and mandibles. A
traditional pet bowl has an interior surface that is shaped like a
flattened hemisphere, providing a poor match to the shape of a
typical dog's head. This makes eating incrementally more difficult
for the dog and the mismatch in shape is apt to generate more stray
food particles and water splashes. A need therefore exists for a
pet feeding system that minimizes awkwardness or discomfort for the
pet while at the same time contains and manages the detritus
generated by a pet eating its dinner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A pet feeding system according to one aspect of the
invention has a stand and at least one bowl removably received in a
respective bowl opening formed in the top surface of the stand. As
so installed, an upper edge of the bowl resides substantially in a
horizontal top plane. The bowl is elongated such that a first
radius from a vertical bowl axis to the bowl upper edge, drawn in
the top plane and toward the front of the stand, is greater than a
second radius from that axis to the bowl upper edge, drawn in the
top plane and toward the side of the stand.
[0006] Preferably, an angle of the bowl interior surface at a front
portion thereof, and taken with respect to a vertical reference, is
greater than a corresponding angle of the bowl interior surface at
a side and/or rear portion thereof. The front elongation of the
bowl and the gradualness of the draft of the bowl front section
make access to the bowl more comfortable to a feeding pet,
particularly a pet with a pronounced nose and mandible such as a
dog.
[0007] In another aspect of the invention, a pet feeding system has
a stand with a top surface that defines at least one bowl opening
formed around a vertical axis. A bowl is removably received in the
bowl opening. An upper edge of the bowl substantially resides in a
top plane orthogonal to the axis. The bowl has a peripheral lip
that extends radially outwardly in the top plane from the bowl's
upper edge. This lip has a predetermined width. The top surface of
the stand consists of two zones: a first zone, immediately
surrounding the bowl opening, which has a width that is
substantially no more than the bowl lip width, and a second zone,
laterally spaced from the bowl opening by the first zone. All of
the surface of the second zone is downwardly sloped, so as to
better shed stray food and water particles. In embodiments
providing first and second bowls, the first zone has a first
portion immediately surrounding a first bowl opening and a second
portion immediately surrounding a second bowl opening. A width of
the second portion is substantially no more than the predetermined
bowl lip width. The second, downwardly sloped zone of the top
surface separates the first portion of the first zone from the
second portion of the first zone.
[0008] In a further aspect of the invention, a pet feeding system
has a stand with a top surface. First and second spaced-apart bowl
openings are formed in the top surface of the stand. Each bowl
opening has a curved perimeter. A front-to-back diameter of the
opening, drawn at a right angle to an axis of the opening, is
greater than a side-to-side diameter of the opening. A bowl is
furnished for each bowl opening. Each bowl is adapted to be
manually placed in the opening and removed from the opening and has
an oblong shape that mates to the curved perimeter of its
respective bowl opening.
[0009] In another aspect of the invention, a pet feeding system has
a stand. A top surface of the stand defines at least first and
second spaced-apart bowl openings. A bowl is removably received
into each bowl opening. As so received, an upper edge of each of
the bowls substantially resides in a horizontal top plane. For each
bowl, a first radius, drawn from a vertical bowl axis to the upper
edge of the bowl and toward the front of the stand, is greater than
a second radius, drawn from the vertical bowl axis to the upper
edge of the bowl and toward the side of the stand. In one
embodiment, the longest radii of the bowls are parallel to each
other. In one embodiment, a draft of a front portion of each bowl
is more gradual than a draft of a side portion of each bowl, making
pet access to the bowl easier.
[0010] In a further aspect of the invention, a pet feeding system
includes a stand, at least one bowl, and a mat. A top surface of
the stand defines an opening into which the bowl is removably
received. Structure in the mat cooperates with structure in the
base of the stand to prevent displacement of the stand in any
lateral direction, and to prevent rotation around a stand center
relative to the mat. In one embodiment, this mat structure is
laterally interior to the stand base and includes at least one
raised feature, relative to a general upper surface of the mat. The
raised feature cooperates with a nonhorizontal surface of the base.
In an embodiment, the stand has first and second side walls that
extend downwardly from the stand top surface and that each
terminate in a foot. The mat has first and second raised features,
laterally exterior surfaces of which cooperate with respective
interior surfaces of the first and second walls. As assembled, the
mat raised features are interior to the stand walls, preferably out
of sight and sheltered from food particles and water. In one
embodiment, an area of the mat that is forward of the stand is more
extensive than is an area of the mat to the rear of the stand,
accommodating the front paws of the pet.
[0011] In one aspect of the invention, the pet feeding system has
enhanced resistance to shear forces that may be exerted (by the pet
or otherwise) from the front, rear or sides. The bowl upper edges
are inwardly displaced from a shoulder of the stand top surface,
and this shoulder is in turn inwardly displaced from the stand
base. The inclined front, back and side walls of the stand are
braced against front, rear or side impacts.
[0012] In yet another aspect of the invention, a pet feeding system
has a stand, at least one bowl receptacle formed in the top of the
stand, and at least one bowl for removable installation in the
bowl. A top surface of the top of the stand has first and second
zones. The first zone is disposed to be adjacent the periphery of
the bowl receptacle and has an upwardly convex ring that completely
laterally surrounds the bowl receptacle. A second zone extends
radially outwardly from the first zone and is disposed below an
upper limit of the convex ring. A lower surface of a peripheral lip
of the bowl is formed as a concave ring that fits over the convex
ring of the stand top surface. In an embodiment, an edge of the
peripheral lip of the bowl rests on the second zone of the top
surface, such that it will be lower than the upper limit of the
convex ring.
[0013] In one embodiment, a sidewall of the bowl receptacle slopes
downwardly and inwardly from the convex ring. The slope of the
sidewall varies as a function of the lateral angle around the bowl
axis, and can be much more gentle to the front of the bowl
receptacle than it is to the rear. A slope of the bowl sidewall
varies in the same way, with the slope of the bowl being
substantially similar to, but a little steeper than, the slope of
the bowl receptacle at any particular horizontal angle around the
bowl axis and in any particular horizontal plane.
[0014] In an embodiment, a finger notch interrupts the second zone
of the stand top surface, but not the upwardly convex ring. A floor
of the finger notch is located below the elevation of the second
zone of the stand top surface and proceeds inwardly until an inner
wall, which is radially inward of a bowl edge when the bowl is
installed in the bowl receptacle. The permits the easy removal of
the bowl from the bowl receptacle for cleaning and filling.
[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a pet feeding system
includes a mat and at least one bowl, but doesn't include a stand.
Instead, a central pier or mesa is integrally molded with the mat
to extend upward from a general and peripheral top surface of the
mat. At least one bowl receptacle is formed in the pier top
surface. The pier top surface has a first zone with an upwardly
convex ring that laterally surrounds the bowl receptacle. A second
zone of the pier top surface adjoins the first zone and extends
radially outwardly therefrom. The second zone either may be flat or
radially outwardly and downwardly sloped. A lower surface of a
peripheral lip of the bowl is formed as a downwardly concave ring,
so as to fit over the upwardly convex ring on the pier top surface.
In one embodiment, a finger notch interrupts the second zone
surrounding the bowl receptacle but not the convex ring, and has a
floor that is disposed lower than the second zone. This permits the
insertion of a finger so as to easily remove the bowl from the
pier, as for cleaning and filling. In one embodiment the bowl
receptacle is closed so that there is no opening to the bottom
surface of the mat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Further aspects of the invention and their advantages can be
discerned in the following detailed description, in which like
characters denote like parts and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a pet feeding system
according to the invention, shown in assembled condition;
[0018] FIG. 1A is a drawing of a three-dimensional frame of
reference used in describing the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the pet feeding
system introduced in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of a bowl for use with the
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side view of the bowl shown in FIG. 3;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the bowl shown in FIGS. 3
and 4, showing the relationship of the bowl interior surface to the
nose and jaw of a feeding dog;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a side elevational detail of a bowl as installed
in a bowl opening of a stand;
[0024] FIG. 6A is a side elevational detail of an alternative bowl
according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 6B is a schematic view of a bowl periphery taken in a
top plane thereof, to show a possible bowl geometry;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a bottom isometric view of a stand for use with
the invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a mat for use with the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of an alternative mat for
use with the invention;
[0029] FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken substantially along line
8B-8B of FIG. 8A;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of an assembled pet feeding
system;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of an assembled pet feeding
system;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a pet feeding system
according to the invention, showing its spatial relationship to a
feeding pet;
[0033] FIG. 12A is a top rear perspective view of a further
embodiment of a stand for use in the pet feeding system of the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 12B is a fragmentary top rear perspective view of the
stand shown in FIG. 12A, a further embodiment of a bowl being shown
installed into a left bowl receptacle of the stand;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional detail taken
substantially along line 13-13 of FIG. 12B;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional detail taken
substantially along line 14-14 of FIG. 12B;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of
a mat for use with the invention;
[0038] FIG. 15A is a longitudinal sectional view taken
substantially along line 15A-15A of FIG. 15;
[0039] FIG. 15B is a transverse sectional view taken substantially
along line 15B-15B of FIG. 15;
[0040] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a further pet feeding
system according to the invention, showing two bowls installed in
receptacles integrally formed in a mat;
[0041] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the pet feeding system shown
in FIG. 16;
[0042] FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of a mat used in the
pet feeding system shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;
[0043] FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional detail taken
substantially along line 19-19 of FIG. 16; and
[0044] FIG. 20 is a transverse sectional detail taken substantially
along line 20-20 of FIG. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] A pet feeding system is generally indicated by 100 in FIG.
1. In this illustrated embodiment, the feeding system 100 has four
components: first and second bowls 102 and 104, a stand 106, and a
mat 108. In other embodiments, there may be only one such bowl or
there could be more than two bowls.
[0046] The stand 106 has a front 110 that is joined by a continuous
curved wall to a left side 112 and by a continuous curved wall to a
right side 114. Front 110 is concavely curved at its center. A top
115 is integrally molded with, and spans across, the front 110,
left side 112 and right side 114. The stand top 115 has a stand top
surface 116. The stand 106 further has a back or a rear side 118,
shown for example in FIG. 7, to which the left and right sides 112,
114 are joined by respective continuous curved walls. The left side
112 and the right side 114 downwardly extend from the top 115
respectively to a left base 120 and a right base 122. In the
illustrated embodiment, bases 120 and 122 are distinct and are
spaced from each other in a "y", transverse or width direction (see
FIG. 1A). In other embodiments, the bases 120, 122 may be
continuous with each other and form a single base with an unbroken
circumference, or may divided further, for example to create two
distinct left legs and two distinct right legs (not shown).
[0047] Bowls 102, 104 may be stamped from stainless steel and in
one embodiment may be polished. More particularly, bowls 102, 104
may be stamped from 300-series stainless steel, such as Type 301 or
Type 304, and even more particularly may be stamped from Type 304
stainless steel, used for containers and implements for food for
human consumption. Bowls 102, 104 are thus easy to keep clean and
won't harbor microbial contamination. Each bowl 102, 104 has an
upper edge 124 and, downwardly and inwardly extending therefrom, an
interior surface 126. Each bowl 102, 104 further has a laterally
extending lip 128 that, as received in the stand 106, will
substantially reside in a horizontal or xy plane.
[0048] FIG. 1A depicts a frame of reference used in this
specification. Direction x is toward the front of the stand 106,
while -x is toward the rear of the stand. Direction y is at 90
degrees to direction x and is toward the right side of the stand
106, while direction -y is toward the left side. Direction z, at
ninety degrees to both directions x and y, is an upward vertical
direction, while direction -z is vertically downward. An xy plane
is horizontal, while xz and yz planes are vertical. The (x, -x)
axis is longitudinal or front-to-rear, the (y, -y) axis is
transverse or side-to-side, and the (z, -z) axis is vertical.
[0049] The stand 106 is preferably integrally injection molded of a
tough thermoplastic polymer compound such as polypropylene or ABS
and may have a textured exterior surface. The compound used to
injection-mold stand 106 may include silver-based antimicrobial
particles. Stand 106 may be molded in any of a range of colors. A
zone 130 of the top surface 116 extends from the perimeter of the
bowl lips 128 to a shoulder 132, at which point the top surface has
curved transitions to exterior surfaces of the front 110, left side
112, right side 114 and back 118 of the stand 106. The zone 130 is
downwardly sloped relative to the horizontal or xy plane, so that
zone 130 will readily shed food particles and fluids onto a general
top surface 134 of the mat 108. Peripheral zone 130 occupies all of
the top surface 116 that is laterally exterior to the bowl lips
128, so that all of the open area of the top surface 116 will be
sloped and will cascade food and water to the mat.
[0050] The left base 120 and right base 122 define an area between
them that is considerably smaller than the area of the general top
surface 134 of the mat 108. The shoulder 132 of the stand top
surface 116 is laterally interiorly spaced from the positions of
the left and right bases 120, 122. A wall 136 forming the left side
112 slopes downwardly and outwardly until it terminates in base
120, and a wall 138 forming the right side 114 slopes downwardly
and outwardly until it terminates in base 122. Walls making up
front 110 and rear 118 are likewise sloped downwardly and outwardly
from top surface shoulder 132. This provides greater lateral
stability and better resistance against lateral forces placed on
stand 106 by the pet, as will be further described in conjunction
with FIGS. 9 and 10 below.
[0051] The mat 108 may be injection-molded, preferably from a
thermoplastic elastomer compound. As molded, the mat 108 may have a
Shore A hardness in the range of 60 to 85. The mat 108 may be
manufactured with an antimicrobial additive (such as ionic or
particulate silver that is nontoxic to mammals) that will inhibit
the growth of mold, fungus, algae or bacteria that otherwise could
stain or cause odors. As an alternative to injection molding and in
one embodiment, mat 108 could be thermoformed from a sheet of
material having a substantially uniform thickness. Mat 108 may be
molded in any of a range of colors. The mat 108 has a raised
peripheral margin 140 that works to retain food particles and
fluids.
[0052] The exploded view of FIG. 2 reveals structure on mat 108
that cooperates with the left and right bases 120, 122 to resist
movement of the stand 106 on the mat 108 in any lateral direction.
In the illustrated embodiment, this structure consists of a pair of
raised features 200 and 202, which more specifically are ribs that
are formed as a pair of arcs that are concave relative to a center
204 of the mat 108. Each bowl 102, 104 is received in a respective
bowl opening 206, 208 defined in the stand top surface 116. Each
bowl opening 206, 208 has a curved perimeter and a front-to-back
diameter, as drawn at a right angle to the bowl opening axis, that
is greater than a side-to-side diameter drawn at a right angle to
that axis. The bowl openings 206, 208 may each be defined by a wall
210 that downwardly depends from the stand top surface 116. The
bowls 102, 104 have shapes that mate with bowl openings 206, 208
and may be easily removed by hand for cleaning or filling and
manually reinstalled in openings 206, 208. Likewise, the stand 106
may be easily lifted off of mat 108 for cleaning and then located
back onto mat 108 with the aid of arcuate locating ribs 200,
202.
[0053] Details of a representative bowl 102 are shown in FIGS. 3
and 4. The bowl 102 is disposed around a bowl axis 400 that is
aligned in the vertical or z direction. The bowl 102, as installed
in the stand 106, will extend between a horizontal or top plane 402
and a bowl bottom plane 404. A radius r.sub.1 from bowl axis 400 to
upper edge 124, in an x direction, will be considerably greater
than a radius r.sub.2 from bowl axis 400 to upper edge 124 in a y
direction. Radius r.sub.1 will also be significantly greater than a
radius r.sub.3 drawn from bowl axis 400 in a (-x) direction to the
rear of the stand, as shown. Radii r.sub.1, r.sub.2 and r.sub.3 are
all drawn in xy plane 402. The bowl 102 basically is lobed toward
its front. Radius r.sub.1 gradually decreases to radius r.sub.2 as
a function of angular displacement away from the x direction. Radii
r.sub.2 and r.sub.3 may be substantially similar.
[0054] One shape of each of bowls 102, 104 may be arrived at as
follows. FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view of a periphery 606 of a
bowl 102, as it appears at top plane 402. At top plane 402, the
bowl periphery 606 may be a composite of three sets of curves: a
circular segment 608 that is disposed at a radius S.sub.1 from the
bowl axis 400; a circular segment 610 that is drawn around a second
center 612, and at a radius S.sub.2 therefrom; and two circular
segments 614, 616 that each connect an end of circular segment 608
to a respective end of circular segment 610. Segments 614 and 616
each have a radius S.sub.3 around respective third centers that do
not appear in FIG. 6B. Radius S.sub.1 may be chosen to be twice
radius S.sub.2. Radius S.sub.3 may be chosen to be twice radius
S.sub.1. Bulge B, being the displacement of a frontmost point 618
of periphery 606 from the end of radius S.sub.1 along the X axis,
may be chosen as 0.4S.sub.1.
[0055] The bottom 406 of the bowl is initially drawn as a circle
(not shown) around bowl axis 400, at a radius that is smaller than
S.sub.1. The sides of the bowl are then lofted from periphery 606
to the bottom bowl circle. The bowl shaped is then radiused at a
constant radius at its bottom to produce the curved transitions 426
and the shape that is seen in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0056] As installed in the bowl openings 206, 208, in the
illustrated embodiment the longest radii (r.sub.1) of bowls 102,
104 will be parallel to each other and to the x direction.
[0057] A bottom 406 of the bowl 102 may be flat, as shown, to aid
in stability while filling. A front portion 408 of the curved
interior surface 126 has a more gradual draft than does a side
portion 410 or a rear portion 412. In the illustrated embodiment,
an xz section of the front portion 408, as including the bowl axis
400, includes a straight segment 414. This straight segment 414
makes an angle .alpha. with respect to a vertical reference 416. An
xz section of the rear portion 412, as including the bowl axis 408,
includes a straight segment 418. Straight segment 418 makes an
angle .beta. with a vertical reference 420, with .alpha.>.beta..
Turning momentarily to FIG. 6, a yz section of the side portion
410, as including the bowl axis 408, includes a straight segment
422. Straight segment 422 may make an angle .gamma. with a vertical
reference 424, with .alpha.>.gamma.. Angles .beta. and .gamma.
may be similar to each other. Straight segments 416, 418, 422, and
the curved surfaces of which they are a part, may be joined to the
bottom 406 by curved transitions 426. In alternative embodiments,
one or more of the straight segments 416, 418 or 422 may be
replaced by curves. Nonetheless, as taken in any particular
horizontal plane, the slope of the front portion 408 will remain
gentler than will the slopes of the side portions 410 or rear
portion 412.
[0058] FIG. 5 depicts the relationship of a representative bowl
102, here shown in an xz sectional view, and the head 500 of a dog
502. Dog 502, as is typical of most breeds, has a pronounced nose
504 and jaw 506. When dog 502 wants to eat or drink from bowl 102,
it will insert its jaw 506 and nose 504 into the bowl 102. The
gradual draft of the front portion 408 of the bowl interior surface
126 makes this easy for the dog to do. And because a good portion
of the dog's nose 504 and jaw 506 are below bowl top plane 402, the
escape of food particles and water out of bowl 102 is reduced.
[0059] Another technical advantage of the invention derives from
the provision of noncircular bowls 102, 104 for removable
installation into respective noncircular openings or receptacles
206, 208 in stand 106. Dogs in particular make extensive use of
their tongues while feeding and little or no use of their paws. A
dog often will lick the internal surface of the bowl 102, 104,
often imparting a considerable amount of force to the bowl. If
bowls 102, 104 and openings 206, 208 were circular, the licking
action of the dog would cause the bowl to spin within the bowl
receptacle, having a tendency to eject food and water particles and
also tending to encourage the inadvertent separation of the bowl
from the stand 106. The noncircularity of the bowls 102, 104 and
their bowl receptacles 206, 208 prevents this, and keeps the
extended front lobe of each bowl 102, 104 oriented toward the front
of the stand 106 and toward the pet.
[0060] FIG. 6 is a yz sectional detail of right bowl 104 as it is
received into right bowl opening 208 of stand 106. As mentioned
before, the top surface 116 of the stand 106 has two zones: a
peripheral zone 130, and an annular zone 600 that immediately
surrounds each bowl opening 206, 208. The annular zone 600 can be
flat and has a width w.sub.2. The bowl lip 128 has a width w.sub.1.
The bowl lip 128 extends laterally from the bowl upper edge 124.
The exterior surface of bowl upper edge 124 is (in this view) to
the left or laterally interior of the inner surface of bowl opening
wall 210, by an intentional gap that will ensure that the bowl can
be easily inserted into and taken out of the bowl opening 208. The
inner end of lip 128 is therefore slightly laterally interior of an
inner end of the zone 600. On the other hand, it is important that
a turned-down finishing lip 602 of the preferably metal bowl 104
land on zone 600 rather than on sloped zone 130. Therefore, the
difference between zone width w.sub.2 and lip width w.sub.1 should
be a manufacturing tolerance minus a bowl/opening fitting gap. The
widths w.sub.2 and w.sub.1 will be substantially similar to each
other, and in one embodiment could be identical. This will minimize
the exposure of annular zone 600 to stray food particles or fluids,
most or all of which will then be received by sloped zone 130 of
the top surface 116, and from there cascade to mat 108.
[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral zone 130 is
shown to be flat until it transitions, at shoulder 132, to a right
sidewall 138 of the side 114. The peripheral zone 130 could take on
a more convex shape, so long as every point on it is downwardly and
outwardly sloped to optimally shed stray food and water.
[0062] FIG. 6A is a yz sectional detail of an alternative bowl 620.
Bowl 620 is manufactured from the same materials as those described
for bowl 102. Bowl 620 has a curved sidewall 622 that is straight
in this section. Sidewall 622 is joined at its upper end to a
horizontally outwardly extending annular portion 624, by means of a
curved transition 626. At its horizontally outer end 628, annular
portion is joined to a downwardly sloped portion 630 that in turn
is joined to an outer, horizontally disposed annular lip 632. Lip
632 will land on zone 600 of the stand 106. Finishing the edge of
bowl 620 in this fashion makes for a bowl that is easier to clean
and is less likely to harbor bacteria-bearing food particles or
fluids.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows the underside of stand 106. In the illustrated
embodiment, right wall 138 downwardly and outwardly extends from
top shoulder 132 and can be a curved sheet. At least the bottom
portion of the interior of right wall 138 is formed as a concavely
arcuate surface 700 that faces a center 702 of the stand 106.
However, the radius of arc of the surface 700 is substantially less
than its distance to center 702. Similarly, the left side wall 136
includes, at least at its lower end, a concavely arcuate surface
704. The radius of arc of the surface 704 is substantially less
than its distance to center 702. In the illustrated embodiment,
surfaces 700, 704 are conical rather than cylindrical sections and
widen as they extend downwardly from top surface shoulder 132.
Curved walls 136, 138 will exhibit greater rigidity than planar
walls (not shown) at the same locations.
[0064] Right wall 138 terminates in a right base or foot 122 that
may be formed as a horizontally outwardly extending flange 706.
Left wall 136 terminates in a left base or foot 120 that may be
formed as a horizontally and outwardly extending flange 708.
[0065] The underside of stand 106 is not seen in normal use and is
less likely to acquire food or water particles. It is therefore a
good site for reinforcing ribs to stiffen the structure. In the
illustrated embodiment, these include a center rib 710, disposed in
an xz plane and on center 702 that extends from a front wall 712 to
a rear wall 714. Three spaced-apart transverse ribs 716, 718 and
720, in yz planes, intersect rib 710 and connect to bowl opening
walls 210 on both of their ends. A set of three yz stiffening
gussets 722, 724 and 726 connect bowl opening wall 210 of opening
208 to right wall 138; a similar set of stiffening gussets (not all
shown) are disposed between the bowl opening wall 210 of opening
206 and left wall 136. A triangular xz gusset 728 may connect wall
210 of opening 208 to back wall 714, and a similar gusset 730 may
connect wall 210 of opening 206 to back wall 714. Similar gussets
may connect the wall 210 of openings 208, 206 to front wall
712.
[0066] An area mat 108 for use with the invention is shown in FIG.
8. In the illustrated embodiment, each locating feature or rib 200,
202 is upstanding from general upper mat surface 134 and is formed
as an arc. Each rib 200, 202 has an exterior frustoconical surface
800, 802 that is meant to mate with a respective one of internal
surfaces 704, 700 of left and right stand walls 136, 138. Surface
800 is at least roughly a surface of rotation around a vertical
axis going through point 804. Surface 802 is at least roughly a
surface of rotation around a vertical axis going through point 806.
Points 804 and 806 are considerably displaced, in a y or -y
direction, from mat center 204. This insures that the ribs 200, 202
will prevent the rotation of stand 106 around its vertical center
702 relative to mat 108.
[0067] Ribs 200, 202 thus are raised features that cooperate with
nonhorizontal surfaces of stand bases 120, 122 to prevent movement
of the stand 106 in any lateral direction; a vector component of at
least one of arcuate surfaces 800, 802 will resist movement in x,
-x, y or -y directions or a direction which is any combination
thereof. Structure alternative to that shown could do the same job.
For example, instead of independent ribs 200, 202, mat 108 could
have a mesa that stretches between them but that still has lateral
exterior arcuate surfaces 800, 802. The ribs 200, 202 could be of
shapes other than arcs, which then would cooperate with internal
wall surfaces 700, 704 that would have complementary shapes. It is
also possible to break up each rib 200, 202 into spaced-apart
segments or individual columns.
[0068] One advantage of ribs 200, 202 as they appear in the
illustrated embodiment is that it is easy to clean them and the
area in between them. Another advantage is that, once the stand
walls 136, 138 have been lowered in place on top of them, they will
not be easily visible (they are short enough, as seen in FIGS. 1
and 8, to be screened from view by walls 136, 138 from the front or
back, or even at a considerable angle from the front or back), and
will be sheltered from falling food particles and fluid. For
similar reasons, it is preferred to have the mat cooperating
structure 200, 202 laterally interior to the stand walls 136, 138
instead of laterally exterior to them. In the illustrated
embodiment, side walls 136 and 138, and their curved transitions to
front and back walls 712 and 714, subtend arcs that are enough
larger than the arcs of ribs 200, 202 that the latter can be seen
only with difficulty once system 100 is assembled.
[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the arc subtended by rib exterior
surface 800 should be only slightly less than the arc subtended by
inner wall surface 700. This insures maximum contact for support,
but also minimizes gaps that could cause food particle trapping. A
smaller arc for rib 800 would create more of a gap between wall
inner surface 700 and the general top surface of mat 108, where
food may trap. The arc of rib exterior surface 802 likewise should
be only slightly shorter than the arc of inner wall surface
704.
[0070] An alternative embodiment of a mat 820 for use with the
invention is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Mat 820 in general is
similar to mat 108, and is made from materials similar to those
described for mat 108, but instead of the area between ribs 200,
202 being flat, an area 822 is vaulted or barrel-shaped, with an
axis of the "barrel" being in a y direction. A top 824 of the vault
822 can be at the same height as the top 826 of ribs 200, 202. In
operation, when fluid or particulate matter drops on vaulted
surface 822, it will tend to flow or roll downhill and out onto
peripheral areas 828, 830. Providing the vaulted surface 822 also
decreases the surface area of internal facing surfaces 832, 834 of
ribs 200, 202. That decreases the amount of surface that can
accumulate bacteria and the like and decreases the amount of
surface that needs to be cleaned. As shown in FIG. 8B, vaulted
surface 822 may be supported with a plurality of ribs 836 that
downwardly extend from surface or panel 822 and are supported by
the floor.
[0071] The assembled pet feeding system in a yz elevational section
is seen in FIG. 9. The interior surface 704 of left leg 136 fits to
external surface 800 of rib 200. The interior surface 700 of right
leg 138 fits to external surface 802 of rib 202. Foot flanges 706,
708 provide more lateral support and sectional rigidity. As
thermoformed from a sheet of uniform thickness, or as injection
molded so that all walls are close to a nominal design thickness,
the ribs 200, 202 can be hollow.
[0072] The bottoms of bowls 102, 104 reside in a bottom plane 404
that, in this embodiment, is elevated by a considerable distance
above the mat 108. Pet feeding systems 100 can be made in various
sizes, in which the size of the food and water bowls 102, 104, and
their height from the mat 108, can be individually altered.
[0073] The illustrated embodiment includes two spaced-apart bowls
102, 104. The peripheral zone 130 of the top surface 116 includes a
concave valley 900 in between the lips 128 of the bowls 102, 104.
The bottom of this valley 900 is itself sloped in an x and in a -x
direction from a central point, providing sloped paths for stray
food particles and water to cascade downward and off of stand 106.
In multiple-bowl embodiments, all portions of the third zone of the
stand surface are downwardly and outwardly sloped relative to the
nearest bowl axis 400.
[0074] The stand 106 is outwardly splayed in x, -x and y, -y
directions to give it greater stability and resistance against
lateral forces. A radius r.sub.4 from axis 400 of bowl 102 to the
top surface shoulder 132 is greater than bowl radius r.sub.2. A
radius r.sub.5 from axis 400 to base 120, and in the -y direction,
is greater than radius r.sub.4. The mass of the preferably
stainless steel bowl 102 and its contents will be well inward from
left wall 136. Similar relationships obtain for bowl 104. Inclined
walls 136, 138 are braced to withstand shear forces in the yz
plane. In the xz plane shown in FIG. 10, a radius r.sub.6 from axis
400 to the top surface shoulder 132 is greater than either bowl
radii r.sub.1 or r.sub.3. A radius r.sub.7 from axis 400 to base
120 is greater than radius r.sub.6. The mass of bowl 102 is well
inward from either the back 118 or the front 110 of the stand 106.
Similar relationships exist for bowl 104. The inclined back and
front 118, 110 of the stand 106 are braced to withstand shear
forces in the xz plane.
[0075] As best seen in FIG. 11, a total area of the mat 108 is much
larger than an area taken up by or located between the stand bases
120 and 122. The stand 106 is sited well to the back of the center
of mat 108. A rear region or area 1000 of mat 108 extends
rearwardly from the back 118 of the stand 106 to a rear margin 1002
of mat 106. Margin 1002 can be straight for placement against a
wall. A front region or area 1004 of mat 108 extends forwardly from
the front 110 of the stand 106 to a front margin 1006 of the mat
108. Front margin 1006 can be convexly curved. Regions 1000, 1004
are extensive enough to catch most stray food and water. But front
region 1004 is considerably larger than region 1000, so that it can
accommodate the front paws 1008 of a feeding pet 502. The convexly
curved shape of margin 1006 also helps in this regard.
[0076] FIGS. 12-14 depict a further embodiment of the invention
incorporating certain improvements over the embodiments disclosed
in FIGS. 1-11. A pet stand indicated generally at 1200 has a base
1202 that can be removably placed on a mat (not shown in FIGS.
12-14; any of the mats 108, 820, 1500 described herein will work
with stand 1200). The stand 1200 may be made from the same
materials as those recited for stand 106. Left and right sides 1204
and 1206 extend upwardly from the base 1202 to a stand top 1208. As
in the last embodiment, the left and right stand sides 1204, 1206
each form convex surfaces and are joined together by a back 1210
and a similar front (not shown); in the illustrated embodiment, the
sides, front and back are formed by a continuous sidewall. The back
1210 is meant to be positioned remotely or away from the pet 502,
while the front is meant to be positioned to be proximate to the
pet 502.
[0077] The stand top 1208 spans from the back 1210 to the front and
from side 1204 to side 1206. Top 1208 has formed therein at least
one, and in the illustrated embodiment two, bowl receptacles 1212
and 1214. As in the previously described embodiment the bowl
receptacles preferably are oblong. Each bowl receptacle 1212, 1214
is adapted to receive a similarly oblong-shaped bowl 1216 (one
shown). As measured in a horizontal plane at its upper periphery, a
major axis of bowl 1216, in a front-to-back direction, is longer
than a minor axis disposed in a side-to-side or transverse
direction.
[0078] The stand top 1208 has a top surface 1218 that, in the
illustrated embodiment, has first, second and third zones 1220,
1222 and 1224. A respective first zone 1220 and a respective second
zone 1222 are provided for each bowl receptacle 1212, 1214. The
first zone 1220 is disposed to be adjacent an upper periphery 1228
of bowl receptacle 1212 or 1214 and includes an upwardly convex
ring 1226 that completely laterally surrounds bowl receptacle 1212
or 1214. Extending laterally outwardly (relative to vertical axis Z
of the receptacle and bowl) from the first zone 1220 is the second
zone 1222. The second zone 1222 of the top surface is either
horizontal (perpendicular to axis Z) or is radially outwardly and
downwardly sloped. In the illustrated embodiment, second zone 1222
is flat and horizontal.
[0079] The second zone 1222 completely laterally surrounds the
first zone 1220 for any particular bowl receptacle 1212 or 1214,
except where zone 1222 is interrupted by a finger notch 1230. The
elevation of the top surface 1218 of stand top 1208 within second
zone 1222 is less than an upper limit 1232 of the upwardly convex
ring 1226.
[0080] Disposed radially outwardly from the second zones 1222
(there is one per bowl receptacle) is a single third zone 1224. The
slope of third zone 1224 varies from point to point, but any point
on it slopes radially outwardly and downwardly relative to the
closest bowl/receptacle axis Z, so that food and water particles
are easily shed off of zone 1224 and not retained. The third zone
1224 separates the second zones 1222 and completes the top surface
1218 of the stand top 1208. Stand sides 1206, 1208 and connecting
back 1210 (and the opposed front) each make a preferably curved
shoulder with a lower end of third zone 1224.
[0081] FIGS. 12B, 13 and 14 all show a bowl 1216 removably
installed in the left bowl receptacle 1214 (the view of FIGS. 12A
and 12B being from the rear). The right and left bowl receptacles
1212, 1214, and the bowls 1216 meant to be received into them, may
be different from each other in size or detail but in the
illustrated embodiment they are the same. Bowls 1216 may be
manufactured from the same materials and in the way described for
bowl 102. From the upper periphery 1228 of the bowl receptacle, and
as extended from an inner wall of the convex ring 1226, a sloped
bowl receptacle sidewall 1234 extends downwardly and radially
inwardly to its lower and inner end 1236. In this embodiment, inner
end 1236 is free, leaving an opening in the receptacle from the
stand top 1208 to the mat. In other embodiments, receptacles 1212,
1214 may be closed concave shapes.
[0082] Relative to a vertical reference, and at any particular
point P at a horizontal angular location .theta. as measured around
receptacle and bowl axis Z, and in a given horizontal plane, the
slope of sidewall 1234 will subtend an angle .phi..sub.R. At this
horizontal angular location and in the same horizontal plane, a
sidewall 1238 of the bowl 1216 will subtend an angle .phi..sub.B
relative to a vertical reference that is substantially similar to,
but slightly gentler than, angle .phi..sub.R at that location. Said
another way, the draft of the bowl sidewall 1238 is slightly more
pronounced than a corresponding draft of the bowl receptacle
sidewall 1234. The difference between .phi..sub.B and .phi..sub.R
may be chosen to be in the range of 1/2 to 2 degrees and in one
embodiment is about 1 degree.
[0083] As taken in any given horizontal plane, the slopes of bowl
sidewall 1238 and bowl receptacle sidewall 1234 vary as a function
of horizontal angle .theta. from the axis. FIG. 13 is a section
taken where .theta.=0.degree., or at the front of the stand 1200,
while FIG. 14 is a section taken where .theta.=180.degree., at the
rear of the stand. As can be seen, .phi..sub.B1, taken at the front
of the bowl 1216, is much larger/more gentle than .phi..sub.B2,
taken at the rear of the bowl 1216; the bowl 1216 has a much
shallower draft toward its front than its rear. The receptacle
sidewall angles .phi..sub.R1 and .phi..sub.R2 vary in a conforming
way so that they are substantially similar to, but slightly steeper
than, the bowl angles taken at the same points. The gap between the
bowl sidewall 1238 and the bowl receptacle sidewall 1234 increases
with depth. In one embodiment, the gap is about 0.025 in. at the
top of walls 1238, 1234, and is about 0.045 in. near wall end
1236.
[0084] A peripheral lip 1240 of the bowl 1216 has a lower surface
1242 that is finished in a downwardly concave ring 1244. A radius
of the concave ring 1244 is chosen to be slightly larger than a
radius of the upwardly convex ring 1226 of the stand top surface
first zone 1220. In this way, the concave ring 1244 fits over and
is slightly spaced from the convex ring 1226. An outer edge 1246 of
peripheral lip 1240 preferably contacts or rests on a second zone
1222 throughout the entire circumferential length of second zone
1222, that is, throughout most of the circumference of the lip
1240. This supports the entire weight of bowl 1216. The nominal
spacing (e.g., 0.020'') of the concave ring 1244 from the convex
ring 1226 ensures that lip edge 1246 will contact second zone 1222,
minimizing any gaps between them. As installed, the outer edge 1246
is lower than an upper limit 1232 of the convex ring 1226. The
interaction of the lower surface of the downwardly concave ring
1244 with the upwardly convex ring 1226 aids in centering and
seating the bowl, and makes harder the possible dislodgment of the
bowl 1216 from the bowl receptacle 1212 or 1214 by the pet.
[0085] As best seen in FIG. 14, the finger notch 1230 interrupts
and cuts through the second zone 1222 of top surface 1218 but not
through the convex ring 1226. The finger notch 1230 has a slightly
inwardly and upwardly sloped floor 1248 that inwardly extends from
a point on the third zone 1224 to an inner notch wall 1250. Notch
floor 1248 is lower in elevation than second zone 1222 of the top
surface 1218; in one embodiment, it can be 0.32 inches deeper than
second zone 1222 as measured at the inner wall 1250. The inner
notch wall 1250 is angled steeply upward and joins the notch floor
1248 to the convex ring 1226, via appropriate curved transitions.
Inner notch wall 1250 may be continuous with an outer wall of the
convex ring 1226, as shown. The notch 1230 has a sharply upwardly
sloped right side wall 1252 that joins a right end of the notch
floor 1248 to the top surface 1218 of the stand top 1208. Notch
1230 is completed by a sharply upwardly sloped left side wall 1254
that joins a left end of the notch floor 1248 to the top surface
1218 of the stand top 1208.
[0086] The finger notch 1230 permits a pet owner to insert a
second, third or fourth finger of the hand underneath edge 1246 of
the bowl 1216, such that bowl lip 1244 may be grasped between the
inserted finger and the thumb of the owner and the bowl 1216 lifted
from the bowl receptacle 1212 or 1214. Finger notch 1230 is
dimensioned so as to accomplish this purpose; the spacing between a
top end of right sidewall 1252 from a top end of left sidewall 1254
may be about one inch. The floor and all walls of the finger notch
1230 are radially outwardly and downwardly sloped for drainage.
Importantly, the notch 1230 does not open onto or continue into the
interior of the bowl receptacle 1212 or 1214; the notch inner wall
1250 joins to the convex ring 1226 to provide a fluid-obstructing
barrier all of the way around the periphery of the bowl receptacle
1212, 1214.
[0087] Referring now to FIGS. 15, 15A and 15B, a further embodiment
of a mat 1500 for use with the invention is shown. The mat 1500 is
similar to the mat 820 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the legs
or sidewalls of the stand 106, 1200 fit to it in much the same way.
Mat 1500 may be molded of the same materials as have been described
for mat 108. As in mat 820, a pair of upstanding arcuate ribs 1502,
1504 have radii of arc that are significantly less than the
distance of the inner wall 1506 of each rib 1502 to a center C of
mat 1500. This intentional mismatch prevents the stand 106, 1200
from rotating relative to the mat 1500.
[0088] Each rib 1502, 1504 has a top surface 1508 and an outer wall
1510. Relative to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the
outer wall 1510 of each rib 1502, 1504 has been upwardly extended
to better engage an inner wall of a stand base or leg (not shown).
As before, all of the area 1512 in between the ribs 1502, 1504 is
vaulted in a front-to-back direction so that particles of food and
water are shed to a peripheral area 1514 of the mat 1500. A highest
point 1516 of the central area 1512 is now below the top surfaces
1508 of the ribs 1502, 1504.
[0089] The mat 1500 preferably is injection-molded and its various
parts are formed by walls that at least roughly conform to a
nominal thickness for ease in molding. In such an embodiment, ribs
1502, 1504 are hollow and a web 1518 of the central area 1512 is
propped up into a vaulted condition by spaced-apart, downwardly
extending ribs 1520. In the illustrated embodiment, the ribs 1520
are parallel to each other and run in a longitudinal or
front-to-back direction.
[0090] A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 16-20. In this embodiment, the stand is omitted and one or
more bowls 1600 are received into respective bowl receptacles 1602,
1604 formed in a top surface of a central pier, mesa or eminence
1606 of a mat 1608. Preferably the bowls 1600 are generally similar
to bowl 1216, and are made by of the same materials and in the same
way as described for bowl 102. Each bowl 1600 is oblong: bowl 1600
has, as taken in a horizontal plane at its upper periphery, a major
axis in a front-to-back direction that is longer than a minor axis
thereof in a side-to-side direction. Bowls 1600 have a front wall
draft that is gentler than the draft of the rear bowl wall, and are
finished with a peripheral lip that has a lower surface that is a
downwardly concave ring 1610 with an edge 1612. Mat 1608 may be
injection-molded using a polymer compound described in conjunction
with mat 108.
[0091] This embodiment is particularly suited to dogs with short
legs, very small dogs and cats. For these pets, the bowls 1600 do
not need to be elevated off of the peripheral top mat surface 1614
by more than the depth of the bowl receptacles 1602, 1604, and
little more than the depth of the bowls 1600 themselves.
[0092] The central pier or mesa 1606 is integrally molded with the
rest of the mat 1608. Pier 1606 is located so as to be spaced from
any lateral edge 1618 of the mat 1608. Preferably, more of the
peripheral top mat surface 1614 is disposed toward the front of the
pier 1606 than is disposed to the rear of it. An upstanding wall
1616 of the pier 1606 upwardly extends from the general, peripheral
mat surface 1614 and preferably is rounded or convexly curved as it
transitions to a top surface 1620 of the pier 1606.
[0093] The top surface 1620 of the pier 1606 has a first zone 1622
that is immediately adjacent each bowl receptacle 1602, 1604, a
respective second zone 1624 for each bowl receptacle that extends
radially outwardly from the first zone 1622, and a third zone 1626
that laterally surrounds and spaces apart the second zones 1624.
Each first zone includes an upwardly convex ring 1628 that
completely surrounds a respective one of the bowl receptacles 1602,
1604. The second zone 1624 (one is accorded for each receptacle
1602, 1604) is either flat (as shown) or is downwardly and radially
outwardly sloped relative to central vertical axis Z, and its
elevation is less than an upper limit 1630 of the convex ring 1628.
All points on the third zone 1626 are downwardly and outwardly
sloped relative to the nearest bowl/receptacle axis Z, so that food
and water particles will not accumulate on any part of third zone
1626 of the pier top surface 1618.
[0094] Each receptacle 1602, 1604 is provided with a finger notch
1632 that is similar in shape, position, dimensions and function to
finger notches 1230 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A-14. For
each bowl receptacle 1602, 1604, a second zone 1624 completely
laterally surrounds the receptacle 1602 or 1604, except where
second zone 1624 is interrupted by a finger notch 1632. Notches
1632 preferably are located to the rear of respective bowl
receptacles 1602, 1604. Each finger notch 1632 has a floor 1634
that slopes radially outwardly and downwardly until it transitions
to third zone 1626 or, as shown, pier wall 1616. The floor 1634 is
at an elevation that is lower than second zone 1624. Notch 1632
extends inwardly until it joins with a notch inner wall 1635. Notch
inner wall 1635 extends upwardly and somewhat inwardly until it
seamlessly meets an outer wall of convex ring 1628. In this way,
the finger notch 1632 interrupts second zone 1624, but does not
interrupt convex ring 1628, which therefore acts as a barrier to
food and water particles. The notch 1632 is laterally bounded by a
left wall 1638 that joins floor 1634 to the general top surface
1618 of the pier 1620, and a similar right wall (not shown in FIG.
19).
[0095] Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 20, each bowl 1600 is
entirely supported by its edge 1612 resting on the second zone 1624
of the top surface 1618 of the pier 1606. The lower surface of
downwardly concave ring 1610 fits over and is slightly spaced from
the upwardly convex ring 1628, aiding in centering and seating bowl
1600 within receptacle 1602 or 1604 and also providing resistance
to the bowl being dislodged out of the bowl receptacle 1602 or 1604
by the pet. The slight spacing ensures that edge 1612 will contact
second zone 1624, minimizing gaps.
[0096] Unlike the embodiments including a mat, stand and bowls,
each bowl receptacle 1602, 1604 is closed to prevent the spillage
of food or water on the floor. Each receptacle 1602, 1604 has a
lower surface 1640 that rests directly on the floor or other
supporting surface, and is in the same plane as the lowest plane of
the rest of the mat 1608. This provides support and structural
stiffness. A draft of a bowl receptacle sidewall 1642 substantially
matches the draft of a bowl sidewall 1644, and both of these drafts
change in a uniform fashion, within a given horizontal plane, as a
function of the lateral angle of the point being considered. As
shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a draft of the bowl receptacle wall 1642
and a draft of the bowl sidewall 1644, taken at its rear end as
shown in FIG. 19, may be similar to a draft of the bowl receptacle
sidewall 1642 and the bowl sidewall 1644 taken at a side of the
bowl. But a draft of both the bowl receptacle sidewall 1642 and the
bowl sidewall 1644 will be considerably gentler at the front of the
bowl, similar to what is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. A gap or
clearance, which may be on the order of 0.020 in., is maintained
between the outer surface of bowl 1600 and the upper surface of
receptacle sidewall 1642 at all points, so that bowl edge 1612 will
contact second zone 1624 and support the entire weight of the bowl
and its contents.
[0097] In summary, an improved pet feeding station incorporates
bowls with forwardly extending portions and gradual drafts to
easily accommodate the heads of feeding pets. A top surface of the
stand is crowned to shed stray food particles and water. A mat of
the system has structure that locates the stand and holds it in
place against lateral shear and torsional forces. Convex rings
surrounding bowl receptacles of the stand allow for easier indexing
and location of the bowls to the stand and make harder the
dislodgement of the bowls from the stand by the pet. A finger notch
is provided adjacent each bowl receptacle so that a user may more
easily remove the bowl from the stand for filling or cleaning.
[0098] While illustrated embodiments of the present invention have
been described and illustrated in the appended drawings, the
present invention is not limited thereto but only by the scope and
spirit of the appended claims.
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