Abstract:
A feeder includes a feed container and an underlying integral shroud depending from the container, with a socket for receiving a supporting post. An upwardly open funnel is optionally disposed centrally in the feed container for receiving and presenting a variety of feed supplements apart from feed in the feed container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 62/311,630 filed Mar. 22, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to feeders for livestock or wild life including both domesticated and non-domesticated animals. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Feeders for livestock and wildlife are known, however, problems persist with known devices. Automated devices require moving parts and provision of a power source. Non-automated, or non-moving passive devices exhibit problems or usage issues of their own. Mounting or positioning pose difficulties when considering feeder access by non-desirable animals such as mice, opossum, raccoons, squirrels, etc. Also, the disposition of a feeder on uneven or slanted ground typically found in feeder environments causes tilting or uneven feeder orientation. Feed degradation by moisture retained in the feeder can be problematic. Delivery of two or more varied types of feed or supplements is not typically accommodated. Durability, resistance to extreme temperature swings, UV resistance and other functional attributes in a passive feeder are desired. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it is one objective of the invention to provide a passive feeder for livestock, wild animals and both domesticated and non-domesticated animals with limited access by non-desired animals and rodents. 
         [0005]    Another objective of the invention has been to provide a feeder with unique mounting structure for easily disposing the feeder in desired positions for the targeted animals to be fed. 
         [0006]    Another objective of the invention has been to provide a feeder for presenting multiple types of feed and feed supplements. 
         [0007]    A further objective of the invention has been to provide an outdoor animal feeder with provision for reducing feed spoilage by eliminating moisture retention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    To these ends a preferred embodiment of the invention includes an elevated animal feeder mounted on the top of a heavy duty steel post, preferably a “T-post” having a t-shaped cross-section. Alternatively, the feeder can be situated directly on the ground. When mounted to a T-post, a clamping adapter plate clamps about the T-post and is held by the threaded fasteners extending into the feeder. The feeder is preferably but not necessarily, in an annular configuration, open upwardly for animal access. An upwardly opening funnel shaped container is situated centrally within the feeder for holding a second feed material such as minerals, or wet feeds such as molasses. Drain holes in the feeder floor permit moisture drainage. 
         [0009]    An integral base shroud having a depending annular skirt depends downwardly from the annular periphery of the upper feed container portion of the feeder, serving to prevent access by undesirable animals such as those noted above. 
         [0010]    The feeder and shroud preferably form an integral structure made of a UV-resistant, durable synthetic materials such as linear, low density polyethylene, and can be formed by any suitable process such as rotational molding. 
         [0011]    The feeder is mountable on any traditional steel T-post driven into the ground or otherwise mounted. Such T-posts have general T-shaped cross-section, acceptable by a cooperating recess in a socket boss of the base shroud. This shroud is perforated allowing passage of moisture from the holes in the feeder floor holes, and has four radial stiffening wings supporting the feeder. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the integral feeder and base shroud are formed integrally in one process, and the integral feeders, including shrouds, are thus stackable for storage or shipment with the shroud portion of an upper feeder fitting within the feed container portion of a lower feeder. 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the invention are described below in a written detailed description of the invention and from the drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the integral feeder invention in place on a post; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the integral feeder of  FIG. 1  in an enlarged scale omitting the post; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the bottom of the integral feeder of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is also an isometric view of the bottom of the integral feeder as in  FIG. 3  but from a different angle; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the bottom of the integral feeder of  FIG. 4  showing also a mounting post and post clamping plate; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the post-mounted integral feeder of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top isometric view of the integral feeder of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the central funnel of the feeder as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the feeders of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in stacked orientation. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a typical T-post of  FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a one-half feeder alternative embodiment; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 11A  is a top plan view lined drawing of the one-half feeder of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11B  is a bottom line-view of the feeder of  FIGS. 11 and 11A . 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a one-quarter feeder alternative embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12A  is a top plan view line drawing of the feeder of  FIG. 12 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 12B  is a bottom line drawing view of the feeder of  FIGS. 12 and 12A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Turning now to the drawings, a feeder  10 , according to the invention is shown mounted on a post  12  in  FIG. 1 . Feeder  10  is preferably integrally formed of a suitable synthetic material by a suitable rotational molding process, and including component portions of a feed container  14  with an integrally formed downwardly depending shroud portion  16 . 
         [0031]    Feed container  14  is preferably in the form of a concave bowl with an upstanding annular wall  15 , while shroud portion  16  includes an annular, downwardly depending wall or skirt  17  slightly radially inset from wall  15 . 
         [0032]    Shroud portion  16  further includes four integral ribs  18 a- 18   d  and a socket  20  for receiving post  12 . 
         [0033]    When post  12  is inserted into socket  20 , a clamping adapter plate  22  is disposed about post  20  with threaded fasteners extending from plate edges therethrough to clamp post  12  to socket  20  and hold feeder  10  in place all as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this regard, socket  20  is preferably smaller than the post, which is then pressed into the socket by the application of the adapter plate  22 . 
         [0034]    Post  12  is preferably a heavy duty steel, T-shaped post, typically used and available as a heavy duty T-post or fence post and preferably stout enough to withstand moments of inertia expected from the supported feeder in use. Post  12  is illustrated in typical cross-section as in  FIG. 10 . Socket  20  comprises a complimentary recess for receiving the T-post. 
         [0035]    Otherwise, a socket is formed for accepting other posts or other support configurations. Such other support configurations may include a bracket or other structure not requiring mounting the feeder  10  in the ground. 
         [0036]    As perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 , feed container portion  14  includes a feed supporting floor  25  with a plurality of holes  26 . Hollow, integral support columns  28  are indexed with holes  26  and extend upwardly from shroud panel  30  to floor panel  25  in support thereof. The lower portion of columns  28  are open and through holes  32  in panel  30  to permit drainage of moisture in feed container  14  out of feeder  10 . 
         [0037]    Ribs  18   a - 18   d  add strength to shroud portion ( 16 ,  17 ) and feeder  10  and may integrally extend from socket  20  for rigidity. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , one or more feeders (without the optional cone) are stackable with shroud portions  16  of an upper feeder nestable in the feed containers portion  14  of a lower feeder. 
         [0039]    As noted earlier, feeder  10  is preferably an integral structure formed by the suitable process such as rotational molding. Feeder  10  is preferably formed from a synthetic material such as linear, low density polyethylene of FDA approved material and having a resistance to UV degradation. The feeder material withstands temperature variances in normal use. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 8  the invention contemplates a separate, funnel-shaped or cone-shaped feed container  40  with a narrow lower end removeably fitting in a recess  42  of floor panel  25  of feed container  14 . The lower end  41  of funnel or cone  40  is preferably closed, while the larger end  43  is open. Funnel  40  can be filled with dry or wet feed supplements such as minerals or molasses, etc. where desired, and is made similarly to and with materials like that of feeder  10 . Lower end  41  is secured with a fastener into feeder  10 , as illustrated, through the cone bottom into the integral feeder for securing the cone. Preferably, the cone base does not cover any of the drain holes  26 . 
       Alternative Embodiments 
       [0041]    One alternative embodiment includes a feeder  50  as in  FIG. 11 , particularly suitable for mounting on a flat surface such as a flat fence member or on the flat side of a structure (not shown). In this embodiment a T-post is not used. 
         [0042]    The feeder  50  includes a feed container  51  defined by a semi-circular feeder wall  52 , a semi-annular floor and a depending semi-circular shroud  53  depending under container  51 . 
         [0043]    An integral flat wall  54  extends across container  51  forming a back wall with end flanges  55 ,  56 , preferably drilled for fasteners therethrough into any suitable flat fence or structural surface for mounting feeder  50  thereon. A one-half funnel-shaped cone  57  can be integrally formed or is provided as a separate part for installation as in  FIG. 11  for holding a feed of another property than feed placed in container  51 . 
         [0044]    Drain holes are provided in a floor of container  51  for draining out moisture in container  51 . Otherwise the walls, skirt and floor of feeder  50  are similar to those of the embodiment described above. 
         [0045]    Thus this embodiment embodies slightly different structure to accommodate a different mounting of the feeder on a flat surface, as opposed to mounting on a T-post. 
         [0046]    A second alternative embodiment feeder  60  is shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0047]    This embodiment is particularly useful for mounting a feeder in a corner of a fence or as defined by intersecting walls of a structure. 
         [0048]    Feeder  60  includes a feed container  61  with a curved wall  62  extending 90° in curvature and a depending curved shroud  63  of similar curvilinear extension. An angled integral back wall  64  has two wall components  65 ,  66  intersecting at an angle and each provided with an extending end flange  67 ,  68 , drilled for the extension of fasteners therethrough into respective intersecting fence slats or corner walls of a structure. A corner funnel of 90° extension (not shown) may be included on back wall  64  within container  60  to hold a feed material as well similarly to the other shaped funnels of feeders  10  and  50 . Drain holes may be provided in a container floor for draining moisture from container  61 . 
         [0049]    This embodiment enables feeder  60  to be mounted in a corner defined by corner structure of a fence or building, for example and without use of a T-post. 
         [0050]    Advantages of the feeders described herein include:
       durability   odor neutral   UV resistance   structural rigidity in use   FDA material with no BPA   moisture drains   easily mounted on a typical steel fence post (alternately on flat or corner surfaces)   optional accessory cone for multiple feed materials or supplements, dry or wet   raccoon or opossum protection   temperature durability in expected temperature ranges of use   stackable for shipping or storage.
 
Uses of the invention are numerous, including but not limited to:
   cattle feeding   alpaca and llama feeding   equine feeding   goat feeding   sheep feeding   deer hunters   wildlife observers and wildlife enthusiasts   other domestic or non-domestic animals   FFA, 4H and other student livestock enthusiasts.