Patent ID: 9374980
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: A01K

Claim Text:
1. A cattle feeder comprising: (a) two end walls, each of the two end walls comprising first and second laterally oriented flat panels, a first slot between the first and second laterally oriented flat panels, and a top rail that is situated above a top edge of the second laterally oriented flat panel and defines a second lateral slot between the top rail and the top edge of the second laterally oriented flat panel; (b) two side walls, each of the two side walls comprising a longitudinally oriented flat panel with a top edge that is attached to a first longitudinal bar, the first longitudinal bar having a first end and a second end and terminating in a first receiver on the first and second ends of the first longitudinal bar, each of the two side walls further comprising a second longitudinal bar having a first end and a second end and terminating in a second receiver on the first and second ends of the second longitudinal bar, the second longitudinal bar being parallel to and spaced vertically from the first longitudinal bar; wherein the first and second ends of the first longitudinal bar of each side wall extend through the first lateral slot of each end wall, and the first and second ends of the second longitudinal bar of each side wall extend through the second lateral slot of each end wall; wherein a connection member is inserted vertically into each of the first and second receivers and is situated outside of the second laterally oriented flat panel of each end wall; and wherein the side walls slide laterally and inwardly as pressure is placed against them by cattle eating at the feeder, and as the side walls slide inward, the first longitudinal bar of each side wall slides within the first lateral slot of each end wall, and the second longitudinal bar of each side wall slides within the second lateral slot of each end wall; (c) a plurality of support members situated on each side wall between the first and second longitudinal bars and extending inward toward a center of the feeder, a first end of each support member being affixed to the first longitudinal bar of the respective side wall and a second end of each support member being affixed to the second longitudinal bar of the respective side wall; and (d) first and second horizontal push bars, each of the first and second horizontal push bars being connected to the plurality of support members on a respective side wall such that the horizontal push bars compact feed placed within the confines of the feeder as the side walls slide inward.