Patent US3850145A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3850145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supplemental feeder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-05
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A selective supplemental feeding apparatus is provided for feeding animals wherein the animal has a passive device hung from its neck which selectively causes movement of one of two magnets in the feed box from an off position to an on position which thereby causes delivery of feed, the magnets being biased by gravity to the off position and creating a magnetically influenced portion at two horizontally aligned locations at the front member of the feed box to facilitate feed delivery when the animal moves its neck and head.
Inventors
- 👤 D Yoder
- 👤 D Lapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:44
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K11/00; A01K11/006; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0225; A01K5/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
In an apparatus for the supplemental feeding of selEcted animals of a group from a feed delivery system, and wherein each selected animal has a magnetically attractable passive device hanging from its neck; a trough for receiving feed from the feed delivery system having a front member with a top edge over which the animal places its neck when feeding from said trough, said top edge being of predetermined height to prevent entry into said trough of said passive device, control means operatively connected to the feed delivery system including a pair of horizontally spaced electric switches, each having an actuating lever including a magnet which through gravity assumes an off position near the inside face of said front member and below the top edge thereof a distance operatively coordinated with said passive device, said front member being provided with a magnetically influenced portion to separate the magnet from the passive device, said magnetically influenced portion being of a material which does not attract said magnet, each switch being in on position when its magnet moves forward to a position closer to or at the inside face of said front member in response to the presence of said passive device at the outside face of said front member at its respective magnetically influenced portion thereby activating the feed delivery system to deliver feed to said trough; the two magnetically influenced portions being predeterminedly spaced horizontally to enable magnet movement in response to the swinging and horizontal movement of the passive device as the animal''s head and neck are moved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
In an apparatus for the supplemental feeding of selEcted animals of a group from a feed delivery system, and wherein each selected animal has a magnetically attractable passive device hanging from its neck; a trough for receiving feed from the feed delivery system having a front member with a top edge over which the animal places its neck when feeding from said trough, said top edge being of predetermined height to prevent entry into said trough of said passive device, control means operatively connected to the feed delivery system including a pair of horizontally spaced electric switches, each having an actuating lever including a magnet which through gravity assumes an off position near the inside face of said front member and below the top edge thereof a distance operatively coordinated with said passive device, said front member being provided with a magnetically influenced portion to separate the magnet from the passive device, said magnetically influenced portion being of a material which does not attract said magnet, each switch being in on position when its magnet moves forward to a position closer to or at the inside face of said front member in response to the presence of said passive device at the outside face of said front member at its respective magnetically influenced portion thereby activating the feed delivery system to deliver feed to said trough; the two magnetically influenced portions being predeterminedly spaced horizontally to enable magnet movement in response to the swinging and horizontal movement of the passive device as the animal''s head and neck are moved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said feed delivery system feeds in at a side of the trough a distance from said two magnetically influenced portions of said front member such that on movement of said passive device toward said side and away from said magnetically influenced portions, said magnet returns to off position and feeding of the auger stops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, and including a series of ferrous chain links hanging from the collar on the animal which serves as the passive device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said feed delivery system is a system for delivering liquids, said control means operatively regulating a solenoid operated valve which allows liquid flow when open.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 4, and wherein a second solenoid operated valve with thermostatic means is included for selective use for cold weather feed delivery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein the feed delivery system is a lick wheel moved by the animal and including an electrically controlled brake for said wheel operatively connected to said control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein the feed delivery system includes an auger driven by an electric motor operatively connected to said control means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for delivering feed from a bin for the supplemental feeding of selected animals, comprising: a magnetically attractable passive device adapted to hang from a selected animal''s neck; a feed box having a trough and a front member having a top edge over which the animal places its neck, said top edge being of a predetermined height to prevent entry into said trough of the passive device hung from the animal''s neck; said feed box including side walls and a back wall, an electric gear motor mounted on said back wall, an auger connected to said motor and extending through a side wall and extending into the feed box; control means operatively connected to said motor including a pair of horizontally spaced electric micro-switches mounted adjacent the insideface of said front member, a lever pivotally mounted on each of said switches and extending downwardly and having attached to its lower end a horizontally disposed magnet adjacent the front member, said front member being provided with a magnetically influenced portion thereof operatively coordinated with the hanging passive device, said magNetically influenced portion of said front member being of a material not attractive to said magnet, each microswitch being in off position when its lever and magnet are affected solely by gravity thereby not activating the motor, each micro-switch being in on position when its magnet moves toward the front member in response to the presence of said passive device at the outside face of said front member at its magnetically influenced portion thereby activating said motor to deliver feed to said trough.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for delivering feed from a bin for the supplemental feeding of selected animals, comprising: a magnetically attractable passive device adapted to hang from a selected animal''s neck; a feed box having a trough and a front member having a top edge over which the animal places its neck, said top edge being of a predetermined height to prevent entry into said trough of the passive device hung from the animal''s neck; said feed box including side walls and a back wall, an electric gear motor mounted on said back wall, an auger connected to said motor and extending through a side wall and extending into the feed box; control means operatively connected to said motor including a pair of horizontally spaced electric micro-switches mounted adjacent the insideface of said front member, a lever pivotally mounted on each of said switches and extending downwardly and having attached to its lower end a horizontally disposed magnet adjacent the front member, said front member being provided with a magnetically influenced portion thereof operatively coordinated with the hanging passive device, said magNetically influenced portion of said front member being of a material not attractive to said magnet, each microswitch being in off position when its lever and magnet are affected solely by gravity thereby not activating the motor, each micro-switch being in on position when its magnet moves toward the front member in response to the presence of said passive device at the outside face of said front member at its magnetically influenced portion thereby activating said motor to deliver feed to said trough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3557757A
Cited
US3541995A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |