Abstract:
The present invention discloses an apparatus and system that applies powder-based food additives for feeder insects that are used to feed reptiles. The apparatus takes the form of a cube-shaped box with a side dimension of approximately six (6) inches. A screen-shaped barrier is provided about two-thirds (⅔) from the top which has a hinged opening side. Directly below the screen is a sliding barrier that is removed and replaced from the side of the box. Insects, such as crickets, are coated and released into the container holding the reptile for feeding purposes. The use of this system allows one (1) to easily ensure that their pet reptile is provided with adequate levels of proteins, vitamins and minerals without the necessity of handling or touching feeder insects in an efficient manner.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Jan. 29, 2007, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a device and system for applying a supplement on reptile feed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to ensure a balanced diet for their reptile pets, many people “dust” feeder insects with powdered vitamins, nutrients and/or proteins. In this process, a group of feeder insects is placed in a plastic bag with the powder and then fed to the reptile. However, there are several disadvantages presented by this method. First, the user is required to touch the insects which many find distasteful. Second, in the process of touching, the powder can be wiped off, and/or germs/bacteria can be transferred from the human user to the insect which subsequently may negatively affect the health of the reptile. Finally, there is no easy and secure way to hold the semi-used powder or return it to the powder container. If the user tries to shake the insects out of the bag, there is a strong possibility that the excess powder will fall into the reptile enclosure thus fouling it. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which feeder insects can coated with food supplements in an easy manner without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the device and method of use thereof described herein fulfills this need. 
     There have been attempts on the past to invent feeding devices for pets. U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,162 issued to Van Heygen discloses a reptile feeder that comprises a structure having a chamber in which the insects can move about, a cover that provides access to the chamber for introducing insects and powder supplements to the chamber, and a small port with a manually removable port plug for enabling the insects to exit the chamber to the terrarium when the plug is removed. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose a square-shaped container with removable shelves that permits the application of powder or liquids to a reptile&#39;s feed prior to feeding. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,315 issued to Stillman discloses a live feeder which is made of a transparent material, and has mounting elements for mounting the feeder container on an enclosure for a pet and a self-closing opening for capturing insects from the feeder container. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose a device that permits the application of powder or liquid to a reptile&#39;s food. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,374 issued to Cunningham discloses a cricket dispenser for storing and dispensing crickets comprising a hollow tube, with a top for the container that has an interior aperture for accommodating the tube in a substantially-vertical attitude when inserted. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to describe a coating device for reptile food. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,621 issued to Haurilesko discloses a live insect feeder for use with a tank comprising a container having an opening through which an adult flightless insect can pass, and a tacky substance encircling the opening on the outside of the container. Unfortunately, this patent also does not appear to disclose a coating device for reptile food. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the disadvantages as previously discussed in the prior art, it is apparent that there is a need for a device and method for coating reptile feed with a supplement within a container comprising a hinged lid, a reptile feed shelf and a solid insert. 
     An object of the reptile feed coating device is to aid in the application of nutritional or medicinal powders to reptile feed in preparation for administration to insectivorous reptiles normally kept in captivity. 
     Another object of the reptile feed coating device is to eliminate the need for the caregiver to manipulate the reptile feed manually in order to coat reptile feed with powder prior to feeding to a reptile. 
     A further object of the reptile feed coating device is to permit the application of any supplement to any form of reptile feed including, but not limited to: crickets, flies, insects or other solid reptile feed. 
     An aspect of the reptile feed coating device comprises a container with a square-shaped cross-section which further comprises a front panel, two (2) side panels, a rear panel and a base panel. The front panel, two (2) side panels, rear panel and base panel are bonded together to form a box-shaped device with a top opening. 
     Another aspect of the retile feed coating device comprises a container that further comprises, at its top surface, a lid. The lid is pivotally connected to the container by a pair of hinges. The lid comprises a latching mechanism to secure the lid to the top of the container. 
     A further aspect of the reptile feed coating device comprises a base panel that extends along the bottom of the container and acts to capture unused powder during application to the reptile feed that does not adhere to the reptile feed. The base panel further comprises a set of four (4) feet that are attached to the bottom corners of the base panel. 
     Still another aspect of the reptile feed coating device comprises two (2) side panels that further comprise a set of reptile feed shelf supports which are integrally formed into the two (2) side panels. The reptile feed shelf supports comprise multiple protrusions integrally formed or adhesively attached and positioned to the inside surface of the two (2) side panels above and below the reptile feed shelf in such a manner as to secure the reptile feed shelf within said container. 
     Still a further aspect of the reptile feed coating device comprises a reptile feed shelf comprising a plurality of apertures contained thereupon to form a grate-like structure or may be a support frame surrounding a screen. The reptile feed shelf supports the reptile feed when powder is being applied to the reptile feed. 
     Yet another aspect of the reptile feed coating device comprises a solid insert that acts as a barrier to the unused powder resting on the base panel. The solid insert, when placed in position within the container is located between the reptile feed shelf and the base panel. 
     Yet a further aspect of the reptile feed coating device further comprises a solid insert shield that is attached to the inside of the rear panel that permits the movement of the solid insert into the container and seals the opening when the solid insert is not in place within the container. 
     A method of utilizing the device may be achieved by performing the following steps: insuring that the reptile feed shelf is in place; lifting the lid of the container; placing the reptile feed onto the reptile feed shelf; dispersing the desired powder through the opening at the top of the container; closing the lid of container and securely latching the lid utilizing the latching mechanism; inverting or shaking the container in such a manner as to cover the reptile feed; placing the container in an upright position and inserting the solid insert through the opening in the rear panel of the container; opening the lid of the container and inverting the container over the reptile&#39;s feeding area; observing that only the coated reptile feed leaves the container and not any unused supplement; returning the container to an upright position; closing the container utilizing the lid and latching mechanism; removing the solid insert from the container; discarding the unused powder into an appropriate receptacle; cleaning the device as desired and storing the device for subsequent use; and, enjoying the convenience and benefits of the device for coating reptile feed with powder. 
    
    
     
       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 a side perspective view of the device for coating reptile feed with powder  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the device for coating reptile feed with powder  10 , with the solid insert  70  partially withdrawn according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the device for coating reptile feed with powder  10 , with the lid  28  of the device  10  in a closed position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the device for coating reptile feed with powder  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the reptile feed shelf  50  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  device for coating reptile feed with powder 
               20  container 
               22  front panel 
               24  side panel 
               25  rear panel 
               28  lid 
               29  hinge 
               30  latching mechanism 
               40  latch catch 
               50  reptile feed shelf 
               52  reptile feed shelf frame 
               54  reptile feed shelf screen 
               56  reptile feed shelf support 
               70  solid insert 
               72  solid insert support rail 
               74  opening 
               76  solid insert shield 
               80  base panel 
               90  foot 
               100  reptile feed 
               110  powder 
               120  direction of withdrawal 
           
         
       
    
     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 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment 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 describes a device and method for coating reptile feed with powder (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a container  20  comprising a hinged lid  28 , a reptile feed shelf  50  and a solid insert  70 . The device is designed to aid in the application of nutritional or medicinal powders  110  to reptile feed  100  in preparation for administration to insectivorous reptiles normally kept in captivity. This device obviates the need for the caregiver to manipulate the reptile feed  100  manually in order to coat the reptile feed  100  with powder  110  prior to feeding to a reptile. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side perspective view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a container  20  with a square shaped cross-section which further comprises a front panel  22 , two (2) side panels  24 , a rear panel  25  and a base panel  80 . It is envisioned that said panels  23 ,  24 ,  25  &amp;  80  would be manufactured of a transparent plastic such as, but not limited to: polyvinyl chloride or other plastics, however, said panels  23 ,  24 ,  25  &amp;  80  could be formed of metal or wood and as such should not be construed as a limiting feature of the invention. The front panel  22 , two (2) side panels  24 , rear panel  25  and base panel  80  are bonded together to form a box-shaped device such that the top of the container  20  remains uncovered. The container  20  further comprises, at its top surface, a lid  28  which fits to cover the top opening of the container  20  being fabricated using similar materials as the aforementioned panels  23 ,  24 ,  25 . The lid  28  is pivotally connected to the container  20  by a pair of hinges  29  located at the top portion of the rear panel  80 . The lid  28  possesses a latching mechanism  30  to secure the lid  28  to the top of the container  20  through a latch catch  40  positioned on upper surface of the front panel  22 . The latching mechanism  30  is envisioned to be a “C”-type catch mechanism which engages the latch catch  40 ; however, it is envisioned that other types of latches may be used to secure the lid  28  of the device  10  and as such, this should not be construed as a limiting factor of the device. A base panel  80  comprises a solid piece of material envisioned to be plastic, as used in the other panels, but capable of being any material that is capable of supporting the weight of the device  10 . The base panel  80  extends along the bottom of the container  20  and acts to capture unused powder  110  during application to the reptile feed  100  that does not adhere to the reptile feed  100 . The base panel  80  further comprises a set of four (4) feet  90  that are attached to the bottom corners of the base panel  80 . The feet  90  may be (as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ) molded into the base panel  80  or may be separately attached to the base panel  80  and as such should not be considered a limiting feature of the invention. 
     The two (2) side panels  24  further comprise a set of reptile feed shelf supports  56  which are integrally formed into the two (2) side panels  24  at opposing vertical locations on the inside surface of the container  20 . Said set of reptile feed shelf supports  56  comprise multiple protrusions integrally formed or adhesively attached and positioned to the inside surface of the two (2) side panels  24  above and below the reptile feed shelf  50  in such a manner as to secure the reptile feed shelf  50  within said container  20 . The reptile feed shelf  50  may also be permanently affixed and bonded to the inside of the side panels  24  in such a manner that it is incapable of being displaced when the container  20  is manipulated as described below. Either configuration should be considered acceptable and as such should not be considered a limiting feature of the preferred embodiment. It is envisioned, in the preferred embodiment, that said reptile feed shelf supports  56  are posts or rails that extend the entire width of the inside surface of the two side panels  24  but a person with skill in the art and may recognize other means of support that would act in a similar manner and as such should not be construed as a limiting feature of the device. The set of reptile feed shelf supports  56  serve to support and secure the reptile feed shelf  50  in place. The reptile feed shelf  50  is envisioned to be made with a plurality of apertures contained thereupon to form a grate-like structure or may be a support frame  52  surrounding a screen  54  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 ), either configuration being acceptable in the preferred embodiment, and as such should not be considered a limiting feature of the device  10 . In operation, the reptile feed shelf  50  supports the reptile feed  100  when powder  110  is being applied to the reptile feed  100  through the top opening of the container  20 . The reptile feed shelf  50  supports the powder-coated reptile feed  100  and permits the passage of unused powder  110  through apertures contained thereon the reptile feed shelf  50  to rest upon the bottom of the container  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side perspective view of the device  10  with the solid insert  70  partially withdrawn from the container  20 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is further disclosed. In this figure, the solid insert  70  is shown partially withdrawn  120  from the container  20  and further illustrates the use of the set of solid insert support rails  72 . The solid insert  70 , in operation, acts a barrier to the unused powder  110  resting on the base panel  80 . The solid insert  70 , when placed in position within the container  20 , is located between the reptile feed shelf  50  and the base panel  80  and acts as a barrier to prevent extraneous powder  110  resting on the bottom of the container  20  from escaping through the top of the container  20  when the container  20  is inverted. The solid insert  70  comprises a solid piece of material which is slidingly inserted into the container  20  therethrough an opening  74  in the rear panel  25 , so that the solid insert  70  rests upon the set of solid insert support rails  72 . The set of solid insert support rails  72  are located at opposing vertical locations thereon the side panels  24  and are envisioned to be manufactured of the same material as the container  20 . Although in the preferred embodiment, the solid insert supports  72  are envisioned to be a set of rails, a person of skill in the art would recognize that other means of support the solid insert  70  are capable of being utilized such as, but not limited to clips; support pegs and the like and as such should not be considered a limiting feature of the preferred embodiment. The device further comprises a solid insert shield  76  that is attached to an outer surface of the rear panel  25  in a manner more fully disclosed herein below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  a rear view of the device  10 , with the lid  28  of the device  10  in a closed position according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is further disclosed. In this figure, the position of the hinges  29  for the lid  28  are illustrated as is the position of the opening  74  to allow the solid insert  70  to enter the container  20  through the rear panel  25 . The hinges  29  are envisioned to be standard pin-type hinges  29  but any type of hinge  29  that permits the lid  28  to be removed from the device  10  and replaced may be used and as such should not be considered a limiting feature of the invention. The opening  74  in the rear panel  25  is positioned in a desired location below the reptile feed shelf  50  and above the bottom panel  80  such that the solid insert  70  may slide through the opening  74  and the solid insert shield  76  thereonto and upon the solid insert support rails  72 . Although the preferred embodiment contemplates the use of a pivotally connected hinged type lid  28  covering for the container, one could also envision a lid  28  constructed in such a manner so that the lid  28  forms a friction fit with the top of the container  20  eliminating the need for hinges  29 . Accordingly, the necessity for hinges  29  located upon the lid  28  should not be construed as a limiting feature of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a partial side view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment is further disclosed. In this figure, the position of the solid insert shield  76  is disclosed in relation to the opening  74  in the rear panel  25 . The solid insert shield  76  is positioned on the outside portion of the rear panel  25 , above and around the opening  74  in the rear panel  25  in such a manner to prevent the escape of powder  110  from the container  20  at times when the solid insert  70  is not in place within said container  20 . In the preferred embodiment the solid insert shield  76  is attached thereto the rear panel  25  and being affixed above the opening  74  using adhesives or common fasteners in such a manner as to hang dependent over the opening  74 . Said solid insert shield  76  is envisioned to be constructed of plastic, cloth or another flexible material that permits the movement of the solid insert  70  into the container  20  and acts to seal the opening  74  when the solid insert  70  is not in place within the container  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a top view of the reptile feed shelf  50  of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment is further disclosed. This figure illustrates the reptile feed shelf  50  with a reptile feed shelf screen  54  surrounded on all four sides by a reptile feed shelf frame  52 . The reptile feed screen  54  may be molded directly into the reptile feed shelf frame  52  or adhesively attached thereto on top of or below the reptile feed shelf frame  52  and as such should not be considered a limiting feature of the device  10 . The reptile feed shelf  50  may also be constructed of one piece of material with a plurality of apertures created thereupon so as to have the same effect as a screen  54  in permitting the passage of reptile feed powder  110  through the reptile feed shelf  54 . Consequently, the use of solely a screen  54  and a frame  52  should not be considered a limiting feature of the disclosed invention. 
     The device for coating reptile feed  10  permits the application of any powder  110  or liquid to any form of reptile feed  100 , including, but not limited to: crickets, flies, insects or other solid reptile feed  100 . Powders  110  that may be applied utilizing this device include commonly available nutritional diet supplements for reptiles or medicinal powders; however, the device  10  may be utilized for any form of powder  110  or liquid material that one may wish to place on a reptile&#39;s food  100  and as such should not be viewed as a limiting restraint upon the possible uses of the device  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present device  10  can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present device  10 , 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 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 device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: insuring that the reptile feed shelf  50  is in place; lifting the lid  28  of the container  20 ; placing the reptile feed  100  onto the reptile feed shelf  50 ; dispersing the desired powder  110  through the opening at the top of the container  20 ; closing the lid  28  of container  10  and securely latching the lid  28  utilizing the latching mechanism  30 ; inverting or shaking the container  20  in such a manner as to cover the reptile feed  100 ; placing the container  20  in an upright position and inserting the solid insert  70  through the opening  74  in the rear panel  25  of the container  20 ; opening the lid  28  of the container  20  and inverting the container  20  over the reptile&#39;s feeding area; observing that only the coated reptile feed  100  leaves the container  20  and not any extraneous powder  110 ; returning the container  20  to an upright position; closing the container  20  utilizing the lid  28  and latching mechanism  30 ; removing the solid insert  70  from the container  20 ; discarding the remaining powder  110  into an appropriate receptacle; cleaning the device  10  as desired and storing the device  10  until needed again; and, enjoying the convenience and benefits of the device for coating reptile feed with powder  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.