US4051812A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic animal feeding apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-08-23
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Granted: 1977-10-04
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Expires: 1996-08-23
Abstract
Abstract An automatic animal feeding apparatus including a sensory mechanism comprising two sensors in the bottom of a feeding trough which sense the absence of food in the trough and activate a means for dispensing additional food into the trough.
Inventors
- 👤 Guessman L. DeLoach
- 👤 Phillip H. Foster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:43
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0216; A01K5/0218; A01K5/0225; A01K5/0258
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An animal feeding apparatus including a receptacle having a bottom, means for dispensing conductive animal food into the receptacle, a pair of conductive sensors mounted upon the bottom of the receptacle, means for controlling the dispensing means according to information received from the sensors, means for establishing a flow of electric current between the sensors when conductive food is positioned between the sensors, and means for operating the controlling means to cause the dispensing means to dispense additional food into the receptacle in response to the electric current flowing between the sensors falling below a predetermined level when the level of food within the receptacle is reduced, said predetermined current level being selected to require substantially all of the food within the receptacle to be removed before said predetermined current level is reached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An animal feeding apparatus including a receptacle having a bottom, means for dispensing conductive animal food into the receptacle, a pair of conductive sensors mounted upon the bottom of the receptacle, means for controlling the dispensing means according to information received from the sensors, means for establishing a flow of electric current between the sensors when conductive food is positioned between the sensors, and means for operating the controlling means to cause the dispensing means to dispense additional food into the receptacle in response to the electric current flowing between the sensors falling below a predetermined level when the level of food within the receptacle is reduced, said predetermined current level being selected to require substantially all of the food within the receptacle to be removed before said predetermined current level is reached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises non-conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises conductive material and the sensors are mounted on insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise conductive members mounted a distance apart sufficient to allow food to be removed from between the two sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for dispensing conductive animal food includes means for dispensing food into the receptacle from above the receptacle, approximately uniformly over the surface area of the receptacle, sequentially upon call.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for dispensing conductive animal food comprises a means for dispensing dry food into the receptacle from above the receptacle, approximately uniformly over the surface area of the receptacle sequentially upon call, and a means for dispensing water into the receptacle, whereby dry food may be added subsequent to the addition of water to form an approximately uniform mixture in the receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for dispensing dry food comprises a hopper having a plurality of holes in the bottom thereof, a rotatable auger within the hopper directly above the holes in the hopper connected to an electric motor, whereby the dry food may be agitated to fall through the holes into the receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for dispensing water into the receptacle comprises a water pipe extending through a side of the receptacle, a solenoid valve connected to said pipe, and a water supply connected to said solenoid valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the dispensing means according to information received from the sensors comprises means for driving electric current between the sensors, means for measuring said current, and means for activating the dispensing means for a predetermined period when said current falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the controlling means includes means for adjusting the duration of operation of the dispensing means and means for adjusting the level of current at which the controlling means activates the dispensing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
An animal feeding apparatus including a receptacle, means for dispensing conductive animal food into the receptacle from above the receptacle and approximately uniformly over the surface of the receptacle, a pair of conductive sensors mounted upon insulators connected to the bottom of the receptacle separated by a distance sufficient to allow food to be removed from between the sensors, means for driving electric current between the sensors, means for measuring said current, controlling means for activating the dispensing means for a predetermined period when said current falls below a predetermined value, means for adjusting the duration of operation of the dispensing means and means for adjusting the level of current at which the controlling means activates the dispensing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
An animal feeding apparatus including a receptacle, means for dispensing conductive animal food into the receptacle from above the receptacle and approximately uniformly over the surface of the receptacle, a pair of conductive sensors mounted upon insulators connected to the bottom of the receptacle separated by a distance sufficient to allow food to be removed from between the sensors, means for driving electric current between the sensors, means for measuring said current, controlling means for activating the dispensing means for a predetermined period when said current falls below a predetermined value, means for adjusting the duration of operation of the dispensing means and means for adjusting the level of current at which the controlling means activates the dispensing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |