Hydroponic pet feeding device

A device for watering and feeding pets such as birds includes a water filled container upon which a hydroponic device is allowed to float. The container is removably connected to a mesh like structure which allows the animals to feed upon the plants without being able to reach the seeds. The device may include a portion wherein the water is readily accessible for drinking by the animals, if desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a device for feeding and watering pets 
such as birds and small domestic animals, and particularly to a device in 
which fresh greens may be hydroponically grown as a food supply for such 
small animals. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of 
supplying fresh greens to birds and the like, and in some cases acting as 
a water supply as well. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device in 
which birds or other small animals are prevented from eating the plant 
seeds, but are allowed to eat the sprouts after the seeds have germinated. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a 
device in which the supply of plant seeds and/or water may be easily 
replenished.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, a water basin generally indicated at 1 is composed of, 
for example, a shallow circular container having a lip 2 at one end 
thereof. The container 1 is provided with a rim 7 about the top edge 
thereof to which a covering 6 made of a coarse grid of plastic metal wires 
is removably connected and supported thereby. 
A hydroponic device 3 of a size fitting easily within the basin 1 is formed 
of a circular float ring 4 fitted with a fine mesh structure 5. When the 
basin is filled with water, the device 3 will float on the surface 
thereof, with sufficient water reaching the mesh area so as to allow 
germination of seeds placed thereon. As illustrated, the hydroponic device 
is of circular form, but it is obvious that other shapes may be used as 
desired. Also, although the covering has been described as being of 
plastic suitable metallic wires, etc., may be used as well. If a circular 
hydroponic device 3 is used as is illustrated in FIG. 1, a space remains 
at the lip 2 of the device from which the animal may freely drink. The 
covering 6 is designed such that the openings therein will permit an 
animal to feed upon the small plants growing within the device, but will 
not allow the animal to reach the seeds, so that the seeds may properly 
germinate and grow. 
The lip 2 also permits easy refilling of the water supply, and easy removal 
of the floating device 3, as necessary. 
Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the device, wherein the 
basin 1 is connected to the covering 6 by means of a hinge 8. This 
embodiment facilitates removal and replacement of the hydroponic device as 
compared to the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein it is necessary to 
completely disconnect the cover from the rim 7 by applying force thereto. 
While the cover in the FIG. 1 device must be somewhat resilient for this 
purpose, the cover member 6 in FIG. 3 need not be. 
In using the device of FIG. 1 or 3, the basin 1 is filled with water and 
hydroponic device 3 is allowed to float thereon after seeds of a plant 
variety suitable for the animal are placed on the mesh 5. These seeds will 
be in contact with the water, and thus will germinate. The roots, seeking 
the water, will travel through the mesh 5 to the other side, while the 
seed pod remains on the mesh surface and the plant of course extends 
outwardly therefrom. The growing plants will then extend through the wires 
of the grid of the cover 6 so that the animal can suitably reach the 
plants. As mentioned previously, the space between the wires is not large 
enough for the animal to reach the seeds, so there is no possibility that 
the seeds may be eaten before the plant grows. The level of the water in 
the basin 1 will be gradually decreased due to evaporation and consumption 
by the animals, but at the same time, the hydroponic device will be 
lowered to permit continued growth of the plants. When necessary, the 
water may be replenished and the hydroponic device 3 removed or replaced, 
as desired, as described above. 
A futher embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this 
embodiment, the container 1 is of oval shape, and the cover member 6 is of 
a like shape so as to be seated thereon. The cover is generally arranged 
in the form of a plurality of parallel strips running longitudinally 
across the width of the container, and raised thereabove to a certain 
extent to form a vaulted shape. The spacing between the strips is 
designed, as previously, so as not to allow the bird or other pet to reach 
the seeds before they are allowed to grow. Beneath the cover 6 is arranged 
the hydroponic device 3, which is also of oval shape and may have a float 
ring around the perimeter. Also, within the container there may be 
provided vertical ribs running along the wall which will support the 
hydroponic device as a certain height. The manner of the use of this 
device is similar to that of the foregoing embodiments. 
In practice, however, it has been found that a difficulty remains in the 
embodiment of FIG. 4, due to the fact that it is difficult to supply 
additional water. This is due to the fact that, as the plants grow, they 
become intertwined with the cover 6 and thus it becomes difficult to 
remove the same without damaging the plants and lifting the entire 
hydroponic device by the stems. Accordingly, there has been developed an 
improved device as illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. 
In this embodiment, the cover is made quite similarly as previously, and is 
provided with a peripheral rim 10 which seats upon a ledge 12 of the 
container 1 when placed thereover. The hydroponic device 3 is provided 
with a float ring 4 about its periphery and a central net like grid 5 as 
before. Additionally, the hydroponic member is provided with a central 
vertical standard 15 which extends upwardly from the net 5 through the 
cover 6. 
In use, the device is filled with water, and the hydroponic device is 
allowed to float on the surface thereof. After the water is consumed to a 
certain degree, the float ring 4 will abut against vertically extending 
net support ribs 16, such that the hydroponic member 3 will be supported 
thereon. Several of the ribs 16 are provided in the interior of the 
container 1 for this purpose. The length of the standard 15 is designed so 
that it may be easily grasped even after the device 3 has reached its 
lowest position. 
When the water level becomes still lower and it becomes necessary to refill 
the container, the member 3 is lifted via the standard, and the device 3, 
the cover 6 and the plants are unitarily removed, as seen in FIG. 5a. 
After the member 3 is lifted to a certain extent, the peripheral edges of 
the float ring 4 will engage abutments 18 provided about the inner 
periphery of the cover member. In this manner, the cover will be suitably 
supported by the hydroponic device when the latter is lifted by means of 
the standard 15. After the water is replenished, the members are replaced 
merely by lowering them into the correct position. In doing so, the rim 10 
of the cover 6 will first abut the ledge 12, whereupon the hydroponic 
member 3 will continue to be lowered until it floats upon the surface of 
the water or is supported by the ribs 16. Thus, it is quite easy to 
service the device as needed, and it is unnecessary to damage the plants 
in doing so. 
As described above, the device of the present invention is capable of 
growing and maintaining a supply of fresh plants available for the feeding 
of small animals, particularly birds. Since the plants continually grow 
and the animals are prevented from eating the seeds, a substantially 
continuous supply of food is assured over an extended period of time. 
Therefore, the pet owner need not be concerned when travelling away from 
home for several days, as the animal's food supply will not be diminished 
during this amount of time in normal use.