Abstract:
A portable, pet-actuated drinking fountain includes a reservoir container received in a housing and a movable platform which is depressed against a spring when a pet steps on it. Downward movement of the platform by the pet closes a switch that connects battery power to a pump that provides a gentle bubbling of water from the container via a vertical spigot reachable by the pet. Excess water drains back into the reservoir container through a filter screen. When the pet steps back off the movable platform, the pump is deactivated. One or more movable platforms may be associated with a single reservoir container and arrange to actuate the pump.

Description:
This application relates to drinking fountains for pets, and more particularly, to self-contained drinking fountains activated by pets on demand, which do not require external plumbing for water supply or drainage nor external power supplies. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Proper care of household pets requires that a supply of potable drinking water be available. Typically, a dish or bowl, filled by the pet owner, is placed on the floor of the home in a place accessible to the pet and the animal drinks from it when thirsty, often splashing water on the adjacent floor, and requiring frequent refilling. 
     It has been found that pets often prefer to drink from a flowing fountain and various attempts have been made in the past to provide arrangements for providing flowing water to the pet. The simplest forms consist merely of pipes or spigots connected to the household water supply which provide continuous flow. These expedients, however, are extremely wasteful of water and improvements have been made to have the flow controlled by the pet as needed. Generally, these improvements comprise flow valves activated by pets depressing a platform or lever to open the valve and allow the flow of water. Because of the pressure of conventional water supplies, these valves and their activating means have to be relatively robust and carefully made to protect against potentially damaging leaks. Moreover, suitable drainage must be provided for excess water. 
     Because these forms of pet drinking devices must be connected to a central water supply, they are not conveniently portable, and to the extent to which they may be moved, they must be reattached to a water supply and drain at the new location. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a self-contained, pet-actuated drinking fountain is provided which does not require attachment to a water supply for its operation. A battery-operated pump is supported in a container or bowl for holding a supply of water, with the container being accommodated by a housing. When activated, the pump feeds water from the pre-filled container to a pipe extending vertically from the container, providing a spout of water at a sufficient height to allow the animal to drink comfortably. 
     To actuate the pump, an elevated platform is supported from the base of the housing in which the container is received by a plurality of springs mounted between the underside of the platform and the base of the housing. When a pet steps on the platform, its weight depresses the platform against the springs. Within the housing, a battery and a pressure-operated switch are connected to supply power to the pump when the switch is closed. The switch is mounted in the housing in a position to be closed when a pet steps on and depresses the platform. 
     The container, which may vary in volume to suite the needs of the pet or pets, is removable from the housing for cleaning and is fitted with a screen filter across the top of its opening for keeping solid debris out of the water supply. 
     Preferably, the capacity of the container or bowl is sufficiently large to retain a day&#39;s supply of water for the pet. Since the water from the spigot that is not actually ingested by the animal returns to the container, there is little or no waste. 
     The pet fountain may be provided with one or more spring supported platforms surrounding the container to enable more than one pet to drink simultaneously. In one embodiment, a plurality of separate platforms are provided. In another embodiment, a single platform, in the form of an annulus, is supported on springs around the container. Switches are mounted on the housing such that the weight of a pet anywhere on the annular platform will close a switch to activate the pump. In either of these embodiments, a spigot, divided into separate branches, may be provided to facilitate drinking by several pets at one time. 
     As will be seen, the pet fountain of the invention is completely self-contained and portable, permitting it to be used by pet owners when traveling with their pets, as well as at home. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention and its features and advantages will be more completely understood from the following Detailed Description thereof, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention having a single spring supported platform adjacent the container; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along the lines  2 — 2 ; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention in which four separate spring supported platforms surround the container; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3, taken along the lines  4 — 4 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical connections between the battery, pump and switches of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternate construction of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 employing a single annular platform; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 taken along the lines  7 — 7 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial view of a branched spigot that may be used with the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 6 and 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a detail view illustrating the coupling of the supporting springs between the platforms and bases of the various embodiments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pet fountain of the invention comprises a housing  10 , which in the embodiment illustrated may be in generally rectangular, box-like form, with a base  12 , sidewalls  14 , end wall  16  and a top  18 . A depressable platform  20  is supported on a plurality of compression springs  24  so as to be movable downward from the plane of top  18 . If desired, platform  20  may be hinged to the edge of top  18  by a continuous plano hinge or one or more smaller hinges. 
     The movable platform  20  is normally urged by compression springs  24  into an upward position, as shown in dashed line, in substantially the same plane as top  18 . When downward pressure is applied to the upper surface of movable portion  20 , such as by a pet stepping on it, it moves downwardly into the position shown in solid line in the drawing, between side walls  14 , compressing springs  24 . 
     A downwardly depending flange  20   a  extending along the free edge of movable platform  20  will serve to close off the housing against debris, both when the portion  20  in its upward position as shown in dashed line in the drawing and when depressed over upwardly extending flange  12   a , as shown in solid line in the drawing. 
     An opening  30  is provided in the housing top  18  to receive a container  32  which provides a reservoir for water  34 . Conveniently, the container is circular in shape, as seen best in FIG. 1, but any shape may be employed. A correspondingly shaped opening  33  may be provided in the base  12  of the housing, allowing the container to rest on a floor or other supporting surface. Alternatively, the container may simply rest on the base of the housing. The container  32  is provided with a pair of opposed extensions or handles  36  along its upper edge which facilitates removing and replacing it in the housing. 
     A pump  50  of the floating type is disposed within the container  32 . The pump, which may, for example, be of the type known as the “Solar Island”, manufactured by POWAMATE, LTD. (modified for battery power), has an intake  52  at its lower end and an upwardly extending pipe or spigot  54  at its upper, output end. Although illustrated as floating, the pump  50  may be fixed, such as supported from the bottom of container  32  by a suitable spacer (not shown) which does not restrict access to the pump intake  52 . 
     Electrical power for the pump  50  is provided by battery pack  60  mounted within housing  10 , connected as shown in FIG. 2, by electrical cord  70  to pump  50  and to a pressure operated switch  62  mounted on the base  12  of the housing. When platform  20  is depressed, it closes switch  62  to connect power from the battery pack to the pump. To facilitate removal of the pump  50  and the container  32  from the housing, circuit connections between the switch and battery in the pack  60  are provided in the battery pack so that the electrical cord  70  may be simply plugged in to a suitable socket in the battery pack. As shown in FIG. 2, the cord  70  extends through a watertight grommet  72  in the wall of the container and may include a coiled portion to allow for extension when the container is lifted from the housing. 
     Alternatively, the cord  70  may be connected to a watertight socket (not shown) molded in or cemented on the wall of the container. The external side of the socket receives a conventional plug which is wired in the battery-switch circuit. In either embodiment, the pump and container assembly may be readily disconnected from the rest of the construction so that they may be easily removed for cleaning, refilling and service. 
     A removable filter screen  46  rests on the upper edge of the container and closely surrounds spigot  54  to keep solid particles from entering the water. 
     Access doors in the walls or floor of the housing may be provided as needed to enable battery pack and switch connection and replacement. 
     Upon actuation of the pump, water is pumped upwardly through pipe  54  to provide a gently bubbling output at its upper end, appropriate for a household pet to drink comfortably. Excess water falls back to the container  32 , through filter screen  46 , to be recirculated. It will be seen then, that there is virtually no water waste and the container is kept free of debris. 
     The container  32  is made large enough to hold a daily supply of water for an average household pet and therefore the pet may be left unattended for a relatively long period. The simple mechanics of the construction enable a typical dog or cat to readily master the concept of stepping on the movable platform  20  to turn on the flow of water whenever it is thirsty. Moreover, the device is readily portable and may be taken when traveling without concern for plumbing or electrical hookups. 
     A variation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, tube or spigot  154  may be approached from any direction and the arrangement also allows more than one animal to drink at the same time. The housing  110  is circular in shape and comprises a circular base  112  in which an opening  114  is provided to receive container  132 . A plurality, four as shown, of movable platforms  120 , each supported from the base  112  by a plurality of compression springs  124  which may be releasably connected to the base and platforms. A downwardly extending flange  120   a  along the outer edge of each of the platforms  120  cooperates with upwardly extending flange  112   a  around the periphery of the base  112  serves to minimize entry of dirt and debris into the interior of the structure. 
     As will be appreciated, the water container  132  and pump construction  150 ,  152 ,  154  are similar to elements  32 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly, filter screen  146  blocks solid particles from falling into the container  132 . 
     A battery  160  mounted within the housing supplies electrical power to the pump  150  via pressure operated switches  162  mounted on the upper surface of base  112  so as to be closed when a respective platform  120  is depressed. As shown in the schematic circuit diagram of FIG. 5, the switches  162  are connected in parallel between battery  160  and pump  150  so that closure of any switch by depression of the associated platform portion will activate the pump. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, the platform  120  at the left of the figure is shown in solid line in its depressed position, such as when stepped on by a pet and in its normal, raised position, in dashed line. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a modification of a pipe or spigot such as  154  of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 to provide separate outputs for each of the platforms  120 . The spigot  140  is divided into four separate output ends  140   a-d  and, one for each of the platforms  120 , allowing multiple pets to drink at the same time. Preferably, the upper end of the pipe having the multiple spigot is removable, such as by a threaded connection as shown, to facilitate disasssembly and reassembly of the apparatus for cleaning. 
     A modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The housing  210  is circular in shape and includes a base  212  having an opening  214  to accommodate a container  232  for water. Pump  250  is connected by an electrical cord  270  passing in the earlier described embodiments, through the container, to the battery pack  260  via switches  262 . Conveniently, four pressure switches  262  are provided equiangularly spaced around the inside of the rim of the housing base  212  and are connected to the pump and battery pack in accordance with the circuit of FIG.  5 . Similarly, a filter screen  264  is fitted on the container  232 . 
     The single platform  220  is in the form of an annular ring and is supported from the base  212  by a plurality of compression springs  224  equiangularly spaced around the housing  210 . Conveniently, twelve such springs are used, although more or fewer may be employed, which are connected between the platform and base of the housing. The outer edge of the platform  220  is provided with a downwardly depending flange  220   a  and the base  212  has an upwardly extending flange  212   a , similar to the construction of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. When a pet steps on the platform to get a drink, the side of the platform on which the pet steps, is depressed, as shown in solid line at left in FIG. 7, closing the nearest switch  262 , thereby initiating the flow of water out of the spigot  254 . The undepressed position of the platform is shown in dashed line in FIG.  7 . 
     In all of the illustrated embodiments, the depressable platforms are supported on compression springs secured between the undersides of the respective platform or platforms and the upper surface of the respective base. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the springs may be in the form of a compressible coil, each end of which is attached to a flat rigid sheet of metal or plastic  130 , such as by a loop attached to or formed in the sheet, which in turn is cemented or otherwise fastened to the respective platform or base surface. 
     In the various embodiments, the housings, including the movable platform portions may be made of plastic, metal or wood. Although coil springs are shown as supporting the movable platforms, other types of springs or hydraulic or pneumatic devices may be employed, as desired. Other variations and modifications of the embodiments described may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.