Portable electrically heated animal drinking water container

A heated water vessel for providing drinking water for animals is provided which has a first exterior rubber container and a second rubber interior container wherein the second container is nested within the first, forming an enclosed air pocket between the first and second container. The two containers are sealed together with a breakable adhesive in order to allow the separation of the containers if necessary. An electric self-regulating heating cable is wrapped around the outer surface of the second container and in contact therewith in order to prevent the water within the inner container from freezing over during subfreezing temperatures. The enclosed air pocket does not contain any foamed or other type of insulation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a container, and particularly a water 
container. The present invention is specifically directed to a portable 
heated water container, which purpose is to keep drinking water from 
turning to ice when the ambient temperature is below freezing. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The necessity for providing drinking water to animals cannot be 
understated. Animals must have water in order to survive and to assist in 
converting solid feed into usable products for providing metabolizable 
energy to the animal. 
In farming situations, water is generally fed to animals in the 
out-of-doors or in an open-air building, such as a livestock pavillion or 
a barn. When the air temperature is below freezing, the water in this 
environment will eventually freeze, preventing access to the water. To 
enable an animal in this situation to have water, the prior practice has 
been to break the ice cap on the surface of the water in order to gain 
access. Generally, the animal will nudge its nose against the ice to break 
it. Unfortunately, this practice must be maintained at a regular interval 
in order to prevent the ice cap from becoming too thick. In such 
situations, the animal will not be able to break the ice without, 
assistance. This requires the time of a person to constantly monitor 
drinking vessels during subfreezing temperatures. 
In order to solve this dilemma, it has been the practice to provide an 
electrically heated container, which will maintain the water at 
above-freezing temperatures. Examples of such drinking vessels are as 
follows: 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,033,799 to Harvey is directed to an electric water heater, 
which comprises an outside base member and an inside vessel. Situated 
within the vessel is a high-resistance heating coil enclosed in 
insulation. Additionally, there is a circuit breaker to maintain the 
temperature of the water. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,366 to Cleveland is directed to an open vat, which is 
electrically heated to provide water for animals. A continuous length of 
heating wire is passed around the bottom of the vat over positioned rods 
in order to form a series of closely arranged loops. The heating wires 
keep the contents of the vat thawed. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,659 to Jones is directed to an electrically heated bird 
bath, in which a heating unit is mounted in a recess next to bowl of the 
bird bath. 
U.S Pat. No. 3,820,508 to Robinson is directed to a portable drinking 
bucket, specifically intended for a horse. The bucket contains an inner 
container and an outer container. An electric heating means is disposed 
between the inner and outer container. Insulation is provided around the 
heating means. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,226 to Liff is directed to a water apparatus containing 
spaced inner and outer walls. Situated between the walls is an electric 
heating means to keep the water device from thawing. The electric heating 
wires are coated with an insulation material. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,721 to Silcox is directed to an animal watering 
apparatus which includes an inner and outer wall, between which is placed 
an electric heating element. The electric heating element is disposed 
between insulation. 
The Dunn's 1988 Catalog, page 79, is directed to a heated water bucket, 
which is disclosed as maintaining automatic temperature control. The inner 
bucket is stainless steel. 
It has been found that many of these containers suffer from a variety of 
disadvantages. For example, the containers may be too large to allow easy 
portability. Therefore, the drinking vessel must be "permanently" placed 
at one location. This has the disadvantage of not allowing easy 
portability of drinking water to animals which may remain in sub-freezing 
temperatures, but out of the range of a drinking vessel. In order to 
compensate for this, a person must then bring the animal to the drinking 
water. 
An additional deficiency is that many of the drinking containers of the 
prior art have exposed heating elements, which may either cause burns or 
electrical shock to the animal. Should this occur, the animal may become 
frightened of the vessel and refuse to go near it thus defeating the 
entire purpose of the apparatus. 
In addition, many of the prior art heating vessels are equipped with 
insulation, generally in the form of fiberglass insulation, which is 
packed around the heating elements. Examples of such prior art heating 
vessels are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,033,799 to Harvey; 3,820,508 to 
Robinson; 4,640,226 to Liff; and 4,320,721 to Silcox, all of which have 
been previously described. Although insulation may have been described as 
having heat beneficial qualities, the inventor has discovered that packed 
insulation can be detrimental to a heated water container. The heating of 
the elements causes water in the air to condense on the insulation. In 
subfreezing weather, the condensed water on the regions of the fiberglass 
farthest from the heating elements will freeze. The freezing effect will 
cool the water container thus requiring more heat energy output from the 
heating elements. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a heated 
water container which obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages. 
It is also an advantage of the present invention to provide a heated water 
container, which is self-contained, easily portable, and prevents water 
from freezing at temperatures down to -20.degree. F. 
These and other objects of the present invention are defined by a portable 
drinking apparatus comprising a first or exterior container having a first 
upper edge, a first side wall and a first bottom wall, and a second or 
interior container having a second upper edge, a second side wall and a 
second bottom wall, wherein the second side wall has an exterior surface 
and an interior surface. The second or inner container is made of rubber, 
which is safe and nonconductive. The inner container preferably has 
smooth, roll-over edge. The second container is nested in spaced 
relationship within the first container. The spaced relationship creates 
an enclosed uninterrupted air pocket between the side walls and the bottom 
walls of the first and second container. 
The drinking container also includes an electric heating means extending 
along the outer surface of the second side wall. The heating means is 
preferably a heating cable attached to the inner rubber pail, which 
provides a necessary "safety" element because the cable cannot conduct 
electricity through the rubber pail. 
Advantageously, the portable drinking apparatus of the present invention 
avoids the use of any insulation in the air pocket. No insulation, either 
foamed or otherwise, is needed because insulation interferes with the 
heating process by creating condensation and ice in the air pocket area 
and therefore frost on the exposed part of the rubber pail where there is 
no water. By avoiding insulation, the manufacturing process is simplified 
and the expense of creating the container of the present invention is 
reduced. 
The portable drinking container is preferably provided with a heavy-duty 
bail or handle, thus making it easily portable. 
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent 
from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein the same numbers will be 
given to similar features throughout. Referring now to the figures, there 
is disclosed the drinking container 10 of the present invention. The 
drinking container 10 is a bucket or pail-shaped container suitable for 
holding a liquid, preferably water. The drinking container 10 includes an 
exterior or first container 12 and an interior or second container 14. A 
bail or handle 16 is rotatably connected to upwardly projecting loops or 
ears 18, which extend from the second container 14. 
The first container 12 includes a downwardly depending side wall 20, a 
bottom wall 22 and an upper edge or lip 24. It is preferred to mold the 
first container 12 in a single piece. The first container 12 is preferably 
made of a high impact material to protect the drinking container 10 during 
normal use. It is expected that the drinking container 10 will receive 
harsh treatment in farm-type settings. For example, it is foreseeable that 
the drinking container 10 will be banged around during the filling process 
and kicked by animals when it is placed in a livestock pen. Therefore, the 
first container should be made of a material sufficient to withstand such 
abuse. One such material is galvanized steel, preferably 26-31 gauge hot 
dipped galvanized steel. This material is known in the bucket industry to 
withstand certain amounts of abuse. A preferred outer material is high 
impact rubber, which will not only withstand abuse, but will be less 
inclined to deform or dent. Additionally, by utilizing rubber as an outer 
material, the bucket will be less conductive to electrical charges -- and 
safer for animals. 
The second container 14 is preferably a single piece of natural or 
synthetic vulcanized rubber. It may or may not be reinforced by natural or 
synthetic textile fibers incorporated and evenly distributed in the rubber 
mass. An example of a preferred second container 14 is described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,620,006 to Sorron-Zabala, which is incorporated herein by 
reference for a description of the second container. The second container 
construction is preferably of a non-porous rubber, which resists the 
effect of heat and cold and is easy to clean. It is preferred that the 
second container 14 be made of a one-piece molding and have no corners to 
trap dirt, no seams to split and edges rounded for safety. The second 
container 14 includes a side wall 26, a bottom wall 28 and a "roll-over" 
rim 30. 
The roll-over rim 30 comprises an outwardly extending surface 32 and a 
downwardly extending surface 34. In the annular space 36 defined by the 
outwardly extending surface 32 and the downwardly extending surface 34, a 
metal ring 38 may be placed which extends along the circumference of the 
upper edge of the second container below the outwardly extending surface 
32. The metal ring 38 forms the two upwardly extending loops 18, which 
pass through slits provided in the outwardly extending surface 32 to allow 
for the attachment of the handle 16. The handle 16 is a heavy-duty handle, 
preferably made of steel, for carrying or attaching the drinking vessel 10 
to a support on a wall, fence or the like. 
The preferred construction of the second container 14 is that of reinforced 
seamless "molded rubber" or rubber-polyethylene. Rubber has been found to 
be safer to use in a drinking vessel due to its inability to conduct 
electricity. Additionally, it is preferred that the color of the rubber be 
black in order to absorb solar heat to more efficiently and effectively 
warm the contained liquid. 
The term "portable" is intended to define a drinking container, which can 
be carried from one location to another with some ease. Preferably, the 
drinking container 10 of the present invention 10 will be easily portable 
by one person. In this manner, it is within the scope of the present 
invention to define the drinking container 10 to be a vessel having a 
capacity of 12 to 14 quarts, although the vessel may be larger or smaller 
as needed. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is provided an electric heating means 
in the form of a heating cable 40 which is helically wound around the 
outer surface 27 of the side wall 26 of the second container 14. Such 
heating cables are known to the art for providing heat to pipes to prevent 
pipeline freezing. An example of a heating cable which may be used in the 
present invention is a Frostex.RTM. pipe heating cable by Raychem 
Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif. The heating element 40 automatically 
self-regulates its heat output and therefore needs no thermostat. A 
preferred heating cable for the present invention will operate on an 
electric current of 120 volts AC and provide 3 watts heat output per foot 
of cable. The heating cable 40 includes a distal end and a proximal end. 
The proximal end of the heating cable 40 is located adjacent an attached 
electric cord 41, which purpose is to conduct electricity from an electric 
outlet through a plug 43 to the heating cable 40. 
The heating cable is preferably wound around the outer surface 27 of the 
second container 14 approximately six revolutions, exiting at the top of 
the outer pail through a side seam 42. For a 12 quart second container 14, 
approximately 15 feet of heating cable will suffice. Of course, it is 
within the scope of the present invention to provide more or fewer 
revolutions of the heating cable around the container 14 as needed, 
depending upon the climate conditions. At 3 watts per foot of heat output, 
a 15 foot cable will generate 45 watts of heat output. The heating cable 
40 is provided with a housing 40a, preferably made of rubber or a 
non-conductive material. The housing 40a increases the safety of the 
drinking container 10 because the electrically insulated heating cable 40 
surrounds and is adjacent the outer surface 27 of a non-conductive rubber 
container 14, which also cannot conduct electricity. 
The heating cable 40 is preferably attached to the second container 14 by 
clips 44, which are evenly spaced around the outer surface 27 of the inner 
pail 14. The clips are preferably plastic adhesive cord clips, in which 
the backing is an adhesive foam which adheres to the outer surface 27 of 
the second container 14. An example of such a metal adhesive cord clip is 
produced by the Panduit Corporation, Tinley Park, Ill. Alternatively, the 
heating cable 40 may be adhesively adhered directly to the outer surface 
27 of the container 14. 
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the construction of the vessel 
10 of the present invention will be described. Prior to nesting the second 
container 14 within the first container 12, the electric heating cable 40 
must be attached to the outer surface 27 of the second container 14. This 
is accomplished by first adhesively mounting the clips 44 in a defined, 
spaced relationship to the outer surface 27 of the second container 14. 
The electric heating cable 40 is then mounted on the outer surface 27 of 
the second container 14 via the clips 44. The distal end of the heating 
cable is mounted onto the second container 14 at a location near to or 
adjacent the bottom wall 28 of the second container 14. The heating cable 
is then wound around the second container 14 in an upward direction in a 
fashion as illustrated in FIG. 2. The end of the heating cable, which is 
connected to the electric cord 41 is positioned near or adjacent the upper 
rim 30 of the second container 14. In this manner, the second container 14 
is provided with an electrically heated system which will prevent the 
contained liquid from freezing in subfreezing temperatures. 
The second container 14 and the first container 12 are then nested together 
with the roll-over rim 30 of the second container 14 enclosing the upper, 
lip 24 of the first container 12. An aperture 42 is preferably provided in 
the side wall 26 near the upper lip 24 to allow passage of the electric 
cord 41 to the exterior of the vessel 10. Alternatively, the cord 41 can 
pass between the upper lip 24 of the first container 12 and the roll-over 
rim 30 of the second container 14. The second container 14 and the first 
container 12 are then sealed at the location 46, where the upper lip 24 
meets the inner surface 35 of the downwardly extending portion 34 of the 
rim 30. Although there are a variety of methods to seal the pails 
together, a preferred sealant is silicone sealant, which is a nonporous 
sealant, thus preventing air or liquid from traversing the sealed location 
46. Should the heating cable 40 malfunction, it can be relatively easily 
replaced by breaking the silicone seal, separating the containers 12, 14, 
and replacing the old heating cable with a new one. 
The union of the two containers 12, 14 makes the drinking container 10 a 
singular unit and defines an air pocket 50 between the first container 12 
and the second container 14. The air pocket 50 preferably extends along 
the sides and bottom of the drinking container 10. 
The electric cord 41 preferably terminates at a standard electric plug 43, 
which may be conveniently plugged into any electrical outlet, preferably a 
ground-fault outlet, or, if the location of the pen is a sufficient 
distance from the electrical outlet, an extension cord. The electric cord 
41 is preferably covered with a tough "chew-resistant" rubber or flexible 
conduit to discourage animal chewing and to protect the animal from 
electric shock. It is additionally within the scope of the present 
invention to provide an electric cord 41 of any convenient length. 
In this manner, water may be conveniently disposed within the inner surface 
29 of the second container 14. The drinking container 10 may then be 
transported via the handle 16 to the desired location. In subfreezing 
temperatures, the plug 43 is then plugged into an electric outlet, which 
activates the electric heating cable 14 to heat the inner surface 29 of 
the second container 14. In this manner, the water will remain free from 
icing over while it is in the vessel 10. Further, due to the composition 
of the second container 14 and the heating cable 40, there is 
substantially no chance of creating an electric shock to the user animal. 
Further still, the automatic thermostat control of the heating cable 40 
may be conveniently adapted to prevent the vessel 10 from overheating. 
It is an added and unexpected advantage of the present invention that the 
air pocket 50 is not provided with any foamed insulation. It has been 
found that the presence of insulation reduces the efficiency of the 
drinking container 10 by creating condensation and ice in the "air pocket" 
area 50. Frost may then appear on the exposed inner surface 29 of the 
second container 14 where there is no water. 
It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular 
construction and arrangement herein illustrated and described, but 
embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the 
following claims.