Patent US3745977A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3745977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cattle and hog watering apparatus
Assignee: MIRACLE REACREATION EQUIPMENT Co
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Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A water-receiving vessel particularly adapted for the watering of livestock in subfreezing weather has an upwardly facing drinking opening which is normally closed and sealed against heat loss from within by a buoyant, disc shaped valve within the vessel. The valve is composed of an insulating material and floats on the water in the vessel, and means is provided to maintain the water at a level below the opening but sufficiently high to hold the valve against an overlying seat therefor. The animal drinks by pushing the valve down into the water with its head, which causes the valve to tip and become partially submerged so that water then covers the submerged part and may be drunk. When the valve is released and rises to reclose, the water drains back into the vessel to thereby prevent the valve from freezing in the closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 M Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:10
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K7/00; A01K7/02; A01K7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
Animal watering apparatus comprising: structure for receiving a quantity of water and having an upwardly facing drinking opening disposed for access by the head of an animal; a buoyant valve of insulating material in said structure underlying said opening, said structure being provided with means therewithin adjacent said opening presenting a seat for said valve; and means for maintaining the water in the structure at a level below said opening but sufficiently high to hold said valve against said seat in a normal position closing said opening to provide a thermal seal between the water in the structure and ambient air, said valve being movable downwardly away from said seat against the buoyant force of the water to a position in which at least a part of the valve is submerged in response to downward force applied to the valve by the head of an animal seeking a drink, thereby permitting the animal to drink the water covering the submerged part of the valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
Animal watering apparatus comprising: structure for receiving a quantity of water and having an upwardly facing drinking opening disposed for access by the head of an animal; a buoyant valve of insulating material in said structure underlying said opening, said structure being provided with means therewithin adjacent said opening presenting a seat for said valve; and means for maintaining the water in the structure at a level below said opening but sufficiently high to hold said valve against said seat in a normal position closing said opening to provide a thermal seal between the water in the structure and ambient air, said valve being movable downwardly away from said seat against the buoyant force of the water to a position in which at least a part of the valve is submerged in response to downward force applied to the valve by the head of an animal seeking a drink, thereby permitting the animal to drink the water covering the submerged part of the valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure includes an upright vessel provided with an insulaTed top having said opening therein, and an open bottom through which said quantity of water is received, said vessel being adapted for disposition in a supply of water with said bottom submerged, and said vessel being further provided with a sidewall between said top and bottom insulated from said top down toward said bottom a distance sufficient to prevent the water in the vessel from freezing during use of the apparatus under conditions subjecting said supply of water to subfreezing ambient temperatures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure includes an upright, buoyant vessel adapted to float freely in a supply of water and being provided with a top having said opening therein, said vessel being further provided with an open bottom through which said quantity of water is received, said level maintaining means comprising a ballast on said vessel for holding the latter partially submerged in said supply of water to a depth at which the water in the vessel rises to said level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said top is insulated, and wherein said vessel has a sidewall between said top and said bottom insulated from said top down toward said bottom a distance sufficient to prevent the water in the vessel from freezing during use of the apparatus under conditions subjecting said supply of water to subfreezing ambient temperatures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure includes a water-receiving tank provided with means presenting said drinking opening, and wherein a waterline is provided communicating with said tank, said level maintaining means comprising a flow control valve in said waterline and operating means coupled with said control valve and responsive to depletion of said quantity of water for opening and closing the control valve to maintain the water at said level as water is drunk from the tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure includes a tank adapted to contain a supply of water and having a top member, and an upright vessel in said tank provided with an insulated top having said opening therein and an open bottom through which said quantity of water is received by the vessel, said member being apertured to receive said top of the vessel with said open bottom thereof adapted to be submerged in said supply of water, and wherein a waterline is provided communicating with said tank, said level maintaining means comprising a flow control valve in said waterline and operating means coupled with said control valve and responsive to depletion of said quantity of water for opening and closing the control valve to maintain the water at said level as water is drunk from the tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said vessel is further provided with an insulated sidewall extending downwardly from said insulated top thereof to present a chamber beneath said drinking opening, and wherein said waterline downstream from said control valve extends upwardly through said open bottom and presents an outlet in said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat is of annular configuration, circumscribes said opening, and is inclined downwardly away from said opening, said valve comprising a disc having an upper surface configured adjacent the periphery of the disc to mate with said seat, whereby to facilitate water flow from said surface into said vessel as the valve returns to its normal position after the animal drinks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1560088A
Cited
US1912530A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |