US3672333A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of feeding and watering animals
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-05
•
Granted: 1972-06-27
•
Expires: 1991-03-05
Abstract
Abstract Method of automatically feeding and watering animals by the provision of apparatus having a main housing within which there is disposed a plurality of pivotally mounted upwardly opening spaced apart enclosures, with each enclosure including a food containing chamber and a water containing chamber therein. Overlying the chambers there is disposed a water conveying means comprised of individual sloped troughs, each arranged in series relationship with respect to one another, so as to intercept and convey water from a first enclosure to a last enclosure, whereupon the water fills the water chamber thereof causing the center of gravity to change. This action-forces the last enclosure to rotatably invert, thereby depositing the water and food contained therein into a food receptacle or feeding trough. Each of the enclosure means is sequentially inverted in a similar manner, thereby making food and water available to animals at predetermined intervals of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcus L Bates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:39
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K7/00; A01K7/02; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Method of feeding animals at predetermined intervals of time according to the following steps: 1. forming a liquid containing chamber and a food containing chamber within an enclosure member; 2. pivotally supporting at least one said enclosure member, wherein the member can be pivotally rotated from an upright to an inverted position; 3. locating the pivot point and the liquid containing chamber and the food containing chamber relative to one another whereby the enclosure member remains in the upright position when the food container is partially filled with food and the liquid chamber is essentially empty; 4. forming a metered liquid flow path extending from a source and to the liquid containing chamber; whereby, the accumulation of liquid in the liquid containing chamber causes the center of gravity of the enclosure member to change sufficiently to cause rotation of the enclosure member into an inverted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Method of feeding animals at predetermined intervals of time according to the following steps: 1. forming a liquid containing chamber and a food containing chamber within an enclosure member; 2. pivotally supporting at least one said enclosure member, wherein the member can be pivotally rotated from an upright to an inverted position; 3. locating the pivot point and the liquid containing chamber and the food containing chamber relative to one another whereby the enclosure member remains in the upright position when the food container is partially filled with food and the liquid chamber is essentially empty; 4. forming a metered liquid flow path extending from a source and to the liquid containing chamber; whereby, the accumulation of liquid in the liquid containing chamber causes the center of gravity of the enclosure member to change sufficiently to cause rotation of the enclosure member into an inverted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
pivotally supporting at least one said enclosure member, wherein the member can be pivotally rotated from an upright to an inverted position;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
pivotally supporting at least one said enclosure member, wherein the member can be pivotally rotated from an upright to an inverted position;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, and further including the steps of:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, and further including the steps of:
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
locating the pivot point and the liquid containing chamber and the food containing chamber relative to one another whereby the enclosure member remains in the upright position when the food container is partially filled with food and the liquid chamber is essentially empty;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
locating the pivot point and the liquid containing chamber and the food containing chamber relative to one another whereby the enclosure member remains in the upright position when the food container is partially filled with food and the liquid chamber is essentially empty;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
forming a metered liquid flow path extending from a source and to the liquid containing chamber; whereby, the accumulation of liquid in the liquid containing chamber causes the center of gravity of the enclosure member to change sufficiently to cause rotation of the enclosure member into an inverted position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
forming a metered liquid flow path extending from a source and to the liquid containing chamber; whereby, the accumulation of liquid in the liquid containing chamber causes the center of gravity of the enclosure member to change sufficiently to cause rotation of the enclosure member into an inverted position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, and further including the steps of:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
arranging a plurality of enclosure members in side by side relationship;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
arranging a plurality of enclosure members in side by side relationship;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
pivotally mounting another enclosure member as set forth in step (1) and (3) adjacent to the first recited enclosure member;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
pivotally mounting another enclosure member as set forth in step (1) and (3) adjacent to the first recited enclosure member;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
carrying out step (2) by pivotally supporting a plurality of enclosure members in side by side relationship so that one member is adjacent to another member;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
carrying out step (2) by pivotally supporting a plurality of enclosure members in side by side relationship so that one member is adjacent to another member;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
carrying out step (4) by forming a flow conduit which is placed in overlying relationship with respect to the liquid containing chamber and attached to rotate with the enclosure member;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
carrying out step (4) by forming a flow conduit which is placed in overlying relationship with respect to the liquid containing chamber and attached to rotate with the enclosure member;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
intercepting the metered liquid flow path of step (4) and conveying the liquid into the liquid chamber of the enclosure member of step (5).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
intercepting the metered liquid flow path of step (4) and conveying the liquid into the liquid chamber of the enclosure member of step (5).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
extending a portion of each of the enclosure members into overlying relationship with respect to a next adjacent flow path so as to intercept the liquid flow and transport the liquid to the last upright enclosure member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
extending a portion of each of the enclosure members into overlying relationship with respect to a next adjacent flow path so as to intercept the liquid flow and transport the liquid to the last upright enclosure member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
spacing each member apart and arranging the flow conduit of the last member together with a flow conduit of the remaining upright members whereby they are series connected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
spacing each member apart and arranging the flow conduit of the last member together with a flow conduit of the remaining upright members whereby they are series connected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |