Abstract:
A wall-mounted, recessed pet feeding system includes a base that can be installed in a wall stud cavity at a predetermined height above a floor. The pet feeding system further includes a pair of pet bowls which interlock into the base to prevent spilling while also enabling easy removal for cleaning and filling.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter relates to feeding pets. More particularly, it relates to a system in which pet feeding bowls are recessed into walls. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Millions of Americans keep pets. But caring for a pet is a time-consuming, demanding task that requires a pet owner to continually feed, groom, and clean up after their animal friends. Common pets such as cats and dogs usually receive their food and water from bowls that are resting on the floor. While this works well in many situations, bowls are prone to being tripped over and their contents spilled by adults or children walking by. In addition, such pet bowls must be frequently moved when vacuuming or sweeping and they can take up a relatively large amount of floor space, which may be in short supply in smaller homes. Finally, placing pet bowls on the floor forces pets to bend their head all the way down to eat or drink, which may be uncomfortable or even unhealthy, especially for large pets. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for better pet feeding system that eliminates tripping and spilling of pet bowls while also saving floor space. Beneficially such as system would enable a pet to eat and drink from an elevated position that suits the pet&#39;s size and shape. Even more beneficially such a system would be easily installed using a minimum of common hand tools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a pet feeding system that is inserted and installed in a wall stud cavity at a predetermined height above the floor. The height is determined by the size and shape of the pet it will be used to feed and water. A small version can easily fit between two (2) studs in a single stud cavity while a larger version might span over two (2) stud cavities. The pet feeding system includes removable pet bowls which snap in and out of a base. Removable bowls enable easy cleaning and filling while the snap feature provides positive retention of the bowls. These pet feeding system provides the benefit of keeping the feed bowls off of floors, thus avoiding tripping and spilling and saving floor space, while also elevating the pet bowls for easier eating and drinking by the pet. 
     A pet feeding system that is in accord with the principles of the present invention includes a base that is configured to mount between the studs of a wall. The base has an opened-front body comprised of a rear body panel, a pair of opposing “L”-shaped side body panels that extend from the rear body panel, a pair of “L”-shaped flanges attached to the “L”-shaped side body panels, and a bottom panel and a top panel that are connected to the rear body panel, to “L”-shaped side body panels, and to the “L”-shaped flanges. The pet feeding system further includes at least one (1) removable pet bowl lockable into position on the bottom panel. Beneficially the “L”-shaped flanges include apertures that enable fasteners to attach the pet feeding system to wall studs. A “T”-shaped divider separates the bottom panel into two (2) sections, each for retaining a pet bowl. Each pet bowl is also “T”-shaped, has an open top, and is dimensioned to fit between the “T”-shaped divider, an “L”-shaped flange, and an “L”-shaped side body panel. Each pet bowl should fit rather snuggly into the base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a wall-mounted recessed pet feeding system  10  that is in accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the pet feeding system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a bowl  30  used in the pet feeding system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  pet feeding system 
               11  pet 
               12  wall 
               13  fluid 
               14  foodstuff 
               20  base 
               21  side panel 
               22  bottom panel 
               23  rear panel 
               24  top panel 
               25  flange 
               26  aperture 
               27  fastener 
               28  divider 
               30  bowl 
               31  bowl front panel 
               32  bowl rear panel 
               33  bowl side panel 
               34  bowl corner panel 
               35  bowl bottom panel 
               36  interior portion 
               40  gap 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     
         
         
           
             The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 , and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
           
         
       
    
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention provides for a recessed pet feeding system  10  which mounts in a wall  12  and which elevates pet bowls  30  containing fluid (usually water)  13  and foodstuffs  14  for pets  11  off of the floor while saving floor space and avoiding tripping. 
     Refer now to  FIG. 1  where an environmental view of the pet feeding system  10  is disclosed. The pet feeding system  10  comprises a base  20  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a pair of pet bowls  30 . The base  20  is mounted into the wall  12  at a height which is suitable for the pet  11 . The bowls  30  are removably inserted into the base  20  and are used to retain fluid  13  such as water and foodstuffs  14  such as pet food. The pet feeding system  10  reduces or eliminates spilling of the fluids  13  and foodstuffs  14 . 
       FIG. 2  presents a perspective view of the pet feeding system  10 . The base  20  is comprised of a generally rectangular open-front body which is preferably fabricated from a durable plastic. The base  20  includes a rear panel  23 , a pair of opposing “L”-shaped side panels  21  that extend inward from the rear panel  23 , a pair of “L”-shaped flanges  25  that extend from the “L”-shaped side panels  21 , and a bottom panel  22  and a top panel  24  that connect to the rear panel  23 , the side panels  21 , and the flanges  25 . When the pet feeding system  10  is installed the side panels  21 , flanges  25 , rear panel  23 , and top panel  24  hide the interior of the wall  12  while also creating an overall aesthetically pleasing design. The bottom panel  22  retains each bowl  30 . 
     To install the pet feeding system  10 , a section of wall  12  that corresponds with the dimensions of the pet feeding system  10  is removed from the desired location. Preferably, the removed wall section is between existing studs. The base panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 , and part of the flanges  25  are then inserted into the wall  12  such that the remainders of the flanges  25  mount flush against the wall  12 . The flanges  25  enable the base  20  to be mounted to the wall  12  via fasteners  27  which pass through apertures  26  in the opposing side panels  21 . 
     Referring now to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , extending upward from an intermediate portion of the bottom panel  22  and inward from the rear panel  23  is a “T”-shaped divider  28 . The “T”-shaped divider  28  separates the bowls  30  when they are in the base  20  while also acting to retain the bowls  30  as described in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the bowls  30  are each somewhat “T”-shaped and open top container which retain fluid  13  or foodstuffs  14  within an interior  36 . Each bowl  30  includes a bowl front panel  31 , a bowl rear panel  32 , a pair of opposing bowl side panels  33 , a pair of opposing “L”-shaped bowl corner panels  34 , and a bowl bottom panel  35 . The bowls  30  are preferably fabricated from materials similar to the base  20 . The bowl front panels  31  are slightly smaller than the distance between the inner edge of the divider  28  and an inner edge of a flange  25 . The bowl side panels  33  have a width similar to the width of the base side panels  21  and extends forward of the divider  28  to allow the pet  11  to insert their head or mouth into the bowls  30 . One (1) bowl corner panel  34  “L”-shape mates against the angle formed between a flange  25  and the side panel  21  while the other “L”-shape mates against an angle formed by the divider  28  “T”. This mating of surfaces creates interlocks that prevent the bowls  30  from unintentionally being removed from the base  20 . However, the divider  28  has a limited height which enables the bowls  30  to be raised above the divider  28  and removed. The height of the bowls  30  is preferably the same as the height of the divider  28  to create sufficient clearance for a pet  11  to insert their head or mouth for retrieval of fluid  13  or foodstuffs  14  from the bowls  30 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and while only one particular configuration is shown and described, that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not for limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the pet feeding system  10  it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and using the pet feeding system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the pet feeding system  10 ; removing a part of the wall  12  which corresponds to the dimensions of the base  20 ; fastening the base  20  to the wall  12  by inserting fasteners  27  into the apertures  26  in the side panels  21 ; filling each bowl  30  with fluid  13  or foodstuffs  14 ; inserting each bowl  30  into the base  20 ; and enabling the pet  11  to utilize the per feeding system  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.