Patent ID: 6928955
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. An animal feeder including a base for a container for food, a cover for the container, the cover having an outer surface, a pedal arranged for operation in response to a force exerted against the pedal by a body part of an animal, a first cam having a first operating cam surface which is an extension of an outer surface of the cover and a second cam having second operating cam surface which is coupled with the pedal and movable in response to the body part of the animal depressing the pedal, the first and second cam surfaces being in engagement, whereby movement of the second cam surface in a first direction in response to the body part of the animal depressing the pedal causes the cover to open the container and movement of the second cam surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction in response to the body part of the animal no longer depressing the pedal causes the cover to close the container, and the first cam operating surface comprising a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the first curved portion and the second curved portion having opposite curvatures, the first curved portion adapted to contact the second cam surface during movement in the first and second directions, and the second curved portion defining a brake to resist movement of the second cam in the first direction.