US3578209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Timed feeding mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-12-10
•
Granted: 1971-05-11
•
Expires: 1988-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A timed feeding mechanism suitable for dispensing food or other granular material to fish or other pets or larger animals at predetermined time intervals and in prescribed quantities, comprising a housing defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a receptacle movable between the inlet and outlet openings, a hopper communicating with the inlet opening of the housing for supplying the granular material to the housing, and a timing mechanism for moving the receptacle back and forth between the inlet and outlet openings of the housing to dispense the granular material from the hopper through the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 James K Fraser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:19
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0291; A01K61/00; A01K61/80; A01K61/85; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
343 words
Apparatus for intermittently dispensing granular material in measured quantities to feed fish or the like comprising a hopper, a housing having an open end, a material inlet opening defined in the upper portion of said housing and communicating with said hopper and a material outlet opening defined in the lower portion of said housing and laterally spaced away from the open end of said housing from below said inlet opening, a dispensing receptacle slidably received in said housing through the open end of said housing, said dispensing receptacle comprising an open end positioned adjacent the open end of said housing, a material inlet opening in the upper portion of said dispensing receptacle and movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle toward tHe open end of said housing into registration with the material inlet opening of said housing and movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle away from the open end of said housing out of registration with the material inlet opening of said housing, and a material outlet opening in the lower portion of said dispensing receptacle movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle into registration with the material outlet opening of said housing when the material inlet opening of said dispensing receptacle is out of registration with the material inlet opening of said housing and movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle out of registration with the material outlet opening of said housing when the material inlet opening of said dispensing receptacle is in registration with the material inlet opening of said housing, a plug member having a shank insertable into the open end of said dispensing receptacle, a series of spaced indicia imposed on said shank for indicating the depth of insertion of said plug into said dispensing receptacle, spring means connected to the end of said dispensing receptacle remote from its open end and arranged to urge said dispensing receptacle into said housing, power means for urging said dispensing receptacle against the bias of said spring means, and timing apparatus for intermittently energizing said power means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
343 words
Apparatus for intermittently dispensing granular material in measured quantities to feed fish or the like comprising a hopper, a housing having an open end, a material inlet opening defined in the upper portion of said housing and communicating with said hopper and a material outlet opening defined in the lower portion of said housing and laterally spaced away from the open end of said housing from below said inlet opening, a dispensing receptacle slidably received in said housing through the open end of said housing, said dispensing receptacle comprising an open end positioned adjacent the open end of said housing, a material inlet opening in the upper portion of said dispensing receptacle and movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle toward tHe open end of said housing into registration with the material inlet opening of said housing and movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle away from the open end of said housing out of registration with the material inlet opening of said housing, and a material outlet opening in the lower portion of said dispensing receptacle movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle into registration with the material outlet opening of said housing when the material inlet opening of said dispensing receptacle is out of registration with the material inlet opening of said housing and movable with the movement of said dispensing receptacle out of registration with the material outlet opening of said housing when the material inlet opening of said dispensing receptacle is in registration with the material inlet opening of said housing, a plug member having a shank insertable into the open end of said dispensing receptacle, a series of spaced indicia imposed on said shank for indicating the depth of insertion of said plug into said dispensing receptacle, spring means connected to the end of said dispensing receptacle remote from its open end and arranged to urge said dispensing receptacle into said housing, power means for urging said dispensing receptacle against the bias of said spring means, and timing apparatus for intermittently energizing said power means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said power means comprises a solenoid, and said spring means comprises a compression spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |