Patent ID: 9567169
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: A01K,B65G

Claim:
1. A hay feeder for livestock, said hay feeder having an elongated chute extending along and about a first axis, said first axis being substantially vertical and said elongated chute having a plurality of side members with respective interior surfaces extending along and facing inwardly toward said first, vertical axis, said interior surfaces together forming the interior of the elongated chute capable of receiving an elongated bale of hay therein having a substantially square cross section and extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one of the side members of said elongated chute being mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis from a first, closed position with at least a portion of the interior surface thereof extending substantially vertically and at least a second, open position with at least a portion of the interior surface thereof facing upwardly and capable of receiving an elongated hay bale on at least said portion of the surface of said one side member in said second, open position with a longitudinal axis of an elongated hay bale extending substantially horizontally, and a lifting arrangement capable of raising said one side member with an elongated hay bale positionable thereon from said second, open position to said first, closed position to raise an elongated hay bale positionable thereon to a substantially vertical position within said elongated chute with a longitudinal axis of an elongated hay bale positionable therein extending substantially vertically to be substantially aligned with the first, vertical axis of said elongated chute, said elongated chute with the one side member of said elongated chute in said first, closed position with an elongated hay bale positionable within the elongated chute having upper and lower end sections vertically spaced from each other, the lower end section of said elongated chute having at least one opening to provide access therethrough to the lower end section of the elongated chute with an elongated hay bale positionable therein and wherein the one opening in the lower end section of the elongated chute provides access therethrough to a first portion of the lower end section of the elongated chute with an elongated hay bale positionable therein and wherein the lower end section of the elongated chute has at least a second opening spaced from the first opening about said first, vertical axis to provide access therethrough to a second portion of the lower end section of the elongated chute with an elongated hay bale positionable therein, said second portion being spaced from the first portion of the lower end section of the elongated chute about the first axis of the elongated chute.