Poultry watering device

Claim 2

A poultry drinking cup comprising: a cup body having an input opening means; valve means to control the flow of water through said input opening means into the cup body; a snap-fitting member formed integrally with said cup; said snap-fitting member including resilient engaging means which define an expandable cavity; said cavity being shaped and positioned to clamp said water feed line or said support member through resilient expansion of said cavity to at least partially enclose said feed line or said support member with said cavity then undergoing resilient contraction to clamp said water feed line or said support member, whereby the poultry drinking cup may be readily connected to a water feed line by connecting the input opening means with the water feed line and engaging the snap-fitting member with the water feed line or the support member to resiliently enlarge the cavity in the snap-fitting member with the cavity then undergoing resilient contraction to clamp said water feed line or said support member.

Claim 3

A poultry drinking cup comprising: a cup body having an input opening means; valve means to control the flow of water through said input opening means into the cup body; a snap-fitting member formed integrally with said cup; said snap-fitting member including resilient engaging means which define an expandable cavity; said cavity being shaped and positioned to clamp said water feed line or said support member through resilient expansion of said cavity to at least partially enclose said feed line or said support member with said cavity then undergoing resilient contraction to clamp said water feed line or said support member, whereby the poultry drinking cup may be readily connected to a water feed line by connecting the input opening means with the water feed line and engaging the snap-fitting member with the water feed line or the support member to resiliently enlarge the cavity in the snap-fitting member with the cavity then undergoing resilient contraction to clamp said water feed line or said support member.

Claim 4

A poultry drinking cup comprising: a cup body having an input opening means; valve means to control the flow of water through said input opening means into the cup body; a snap-fitting member formed integrally with said cup; said snap-fitting member including resilient engaging means which define an expandable cavity; said cavity being shaped and positioned to clamp said water feed line or said support member through resilient expansion of said cavity to at least partially enclose said feed line or said support member with said cavity then undergoing resilient contraction to clamp said water feed line or said support member, whereby the poultry drinking cup may be readily connected to a water feed line by connecting the input opening means with the water feed line and engaging the snap-fitting member with the water feed line or the support member to resiliently enlarge the cavity in the snap-fitting member with the cavity then undergoing resilient contraction to clamp said water feed line or said support member.

Claim 5

The poultry drinking cup of claim 1 including a seal member positioned adjacent said input opening means to provide fluid tight engagement between said input opening means and a water feed line.

Claim 6

The poultry drinking cup of claim 2 including a stub input line connected to said cup body, and said seal member positioned to provide fluid-tight engagement of the stub input line and the water feeder line when the poultry drinking cup is mounted on the feeder line.

Claim 7

The poultry drinking cup of claim 3 wherein said stub input line is positioned axially with respect to the axis of said cup body.

Claim 8

The poultry drinking cup of claim 3 wherein said stub input line is positioned transversely with respect to the axis of said cup body.

Claim 9

The poultry drinking cup of claim 1 including a trigger mounted within said cup body, and said trigger connected to said valve means, whereby the striking of said trigger by poultry using the cup actuates the valve means to intermittently admit water into the cup.

Claim 10

The poultry drinking cup of claim 6 including a low point within said cup body, and said low point being positioned in close proximity to said trigger, whereby water which collects at said low point serves as a lure to poultry to strike the trigger in drinking from said low point.

Claim 11

The poultry drinking cup of claim 1 including a fount connected to said valve means, and said fount projecting into said cup body, whereby the striking of the fount by poultry using the cup actuates said valve means to intermittently admit water into the cup.

Claim 12

The poultry drinking cup of claim 8 including a low point within said cup body, and said low point being positioned in close proximity to said fount, whereby water which collects at said low point serves as a lure to poultry to strike the fount in drinking from said low point.

Claim 13

The poultry drinking cup of claim 1 including an outwardly flared, upwardly projecting skirt on the cup body to reduce the incidence of water spillage from the cup body during usage.

Claim 14

The poultry drinking cup of claim 10 wherein the cup body is formed of plastic reinforced with fiberglass.

Claim 15

The poultry drinking cup of claim 10 wherein said skirt includes water diverting means with water which overflows from said cup being directed through said diverting means.

Claim 16

The poultry drinking cup of claim 12 wherein said diverting means is a spout positioned axially to the axis of the cup body.

Claim 17

The poultry drinking cup of claim 12 wherein said diverting means is a side spout positioned transversely to the axis of the cup body.

Claim 18

A poultry drinking cup comprising: a cup body having an input opening means; valve means to control the flow of water through said input opening means into the cup body; a snap-fitting member connected to said cup; said snap-fitting member including engaging means which is engageable with a water feed line or a support member and retaining means to maintain said engaging means in engagement with a water feed line or a support member; said retaining means including a latch member rotatably mounted for movement between an open and a closed position, with the latch member in its closed position cooperating with the engaging means for retention of the drinking cup with respect to a water feed line or a support member, and the latch member in its open position causing opening of said engaging means for insertion or removal of the water feed line or support member with respect to said engaging means, whereby the poultry cup may be readily connected to a water feed line by connecting the input opening means with the water feed line and engaging the snap-fitting member with the water feed line or the support member.

Claim 19

A poultry drinking cup comprising: a cup body having an input opening means; valve means to control the flow of water through said input opening means into the cup body; a snap-fitting member connected to said cup; said snap-fitting member including engaging means which is engageable with a water feed line or a support member and retaining means to maintain said engaging means in engagement with a water feed line or a support member; said retaining means including a latch member rotatably mounted for movement between an open and a closed position, with the latch member in its closed position cooperating with the engaging means for retention of the drinking cup with respect to a water feed line or a support member, and the latch member in its open position causing opening of said engaging means for insertion or removal of the water feed line or support member with respect to said engaging means, whereby the poultry cup may be readily connected to a water feed line by connecting the input opening means with the water feed line and engaging the snap-fitting member with the water feed line or the support member.

Claim 20

The poultry drinking cup of claim 15 wherein said engagement means includes a cavity which is engagable with the water feed line or support member.

Claim 21

The poultry drinking cup of claim 16 wherein said retaining means includes a protuberance extending into said cavity from the cavity wall with the size and location of the protuberance providing contact between the cavity wall and the water feed line or support member to resiliently enlarge the cavity opening as the protuberance slides over the water feed line or support member. whereby the cavity opening enlarges as the protuberance slides over the water feed line or support member and then contracts when the protuberance has slid past the water feed line or support member.