Animal food dispenser and water dispenser

An animal food dispenser is disclosed. The animal food dispenser includes a base having a base interior and a dispensing slot communicating with the base interior. A food hopper having a hopper interior is provided on the base. A food opening is provided between the hopper interior and the base interior. A food tray pivotally mounted in the hopper adjacent to the food opening is pivotal between closed and opened positions. A water dispenser is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to animal feeders. More particularly, the present invention relates to an animal food dispenser and a water dispenser which dispense selected quantities of food and water, respectively, to animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Animal food dispensers and water dispensers are known in the art for dispensing animal food to pets or other animals. Such animal food dispensers and water dispensers are useful for rationing or conserving food and water, respectively, to prevent wasting of food and water when fed to animals over a prolonged time period. An animal food dispenser and water dispenser are needed which are simple in construction and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an animal food dispenser. The animal food dispenser includes a base having a base interior and a dispensing slot communicating with the base interior. A food hopper having a hopper interior is provided on the base. A food opening is provided between the hopper interior and the base interior. A food adjustor pivotally mounted in the hopper adjacent to the food opening is pivotal between closed and opened positions. A food gap of variable width is defined between the food adjustor and the food opening when the food adjustor is in the opened position.

The present invention is further directed to a water dispenser. The water dispenser includes a base having a base interior. A water valve cover is provided in the base interior. An inlet nipple is provided on the base, and a fill valve is provided in the water valve cover and communicates with the inlet nipple. A dispensing spout is provided in fluid communication with the fill valve. A drain pipe is provided in fluid communication with the base interior.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-6, an illustrative embodiment of the animal food dispenser according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral1. The animal food dispenser1typically includes a base2. As shown inFIG. 1, the base2may include a base bottom3and base side walls4and a base front wall5which extend upwardly from the base bottom3. The base bottom3, base side walls4and base front wall5together define a base interior8. Spaced-apart base flanges6may extend from the respective base side walls4, opposite the base front wall5.

A food hopper10is mounted between the base flanges6of the base2. The food hopper10includes a lower hopper portion11which is provided on the base2and an upper hopper portion12which is provided on the lower hopper portion11. The lower hopper portion11and the upper hopper portion12together define a hopper interior13, as shown inFIG. 4. The lower hopper portion11includes an hopper opening20which communicates with the base2.

As shown inFIG. 2, a hopper bottom14is provided in the lower hopper portion11of the food hopper10. A food adjustor32is provided in the food hopper10. The food adjustor32may include the hopper bottom14, the hopper opening20and the adjustment knob19. A knob rod18engages and extends through openings (not labeled) in the wall of the lower hopper portion11and the base flanges6, respectively, of the base2. A knob19is provided on at least one, and typically both, ends of the knob rod18. Accordingly, responsive to manipulation of the knob19on the knob rod18, the food tray4can be pivoted to open or close the opening20as shown inFIG. 6, in which the food tray4is shown in three positions. As shown inFIG. 1, a removable lid26, typically fitted with a handle27, may be fitted on the upper hopper portion12to selectively close the hopper interior13. At least one mount bracket30may be provided on the food hopper10to facilitate attachment of the food hopper10to a wall (not shown), for example.

In typical use of the animal food dispenser1, the food tray4is adjusted to the closed position shown inFIG. 6to block the hopper opening20, typically by manipulation of the knob19attached to the knob rod18. The lid26is removed from the food hopper10, and a selected quantity of a particulate pet food (not shown) is placed in the hopper interior13. The lid26is typically replaced on the food hopper10. The pivot angle of the food tray4is adjusted from the closed position shown (FIG. 6) to the open position (also shown inFIG. 6) by manipulation of the knob19, to establish communication between the hopper interior13and the hopper opening20. Accordingly, the particulate pet food falls from the hopper interior13through the hopper opening20and into the base2, respectively. The food tray4is returned to the closed position when the desired quantity of pet food has fallen into the base2, thereby preventing further flow of pet food from the hopper interior13and into the base2.

Referring next toFIGS. 7 and 8, an illustrative embodiment of a water dispenser according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral50. The water dispenser50typically includes a base51having a base bottom52and upward-standing base walls53which define a base interior55. Multiple base stabilizers54, each typically provided with a fastener opening54a, may be provided on the base bottom52to support the base51on a supporting surface (not shown). A base cover (not shown) may be removably fitted on the base51to selectively close the base interior55.

A water valve cover60is provided in the base interior55. The water valve cover60includes a cover top61which extends from the base wall53, into the base interior55, and a cover wall62which extends downwardly from the cover top61. A bottom gap63is provided between the bottom edge of the cover wall62and the base bottom52to establish fluid communication between the interior of the water valve cover60and the base interior55.

A fill valve66is provided in the water valve cover60. The fill valve66includes a water conduit67which extends through the base wall53and is connected to a threaded inlet nipple68which is adapted to receive a threaded fitting85on a garden hose84, for example, as shown inFIG. 7. A shank washer69and a lock nut70may be used to secure the water conduit67in the base wall53, as shown inFIG. 8. A float72is slidably mounted for vertical displacement on the water conduit67. A valve74is provided on the upper end of the water conduit67, above the float72. A dispensing spout75extends from the valve74. A float rod77is attached to the float72through a water level adjustment clip78, which adjustably engages the float rod77. The upper end of the float rod77is further connected to the valve head74through a connecting arm76. Therefore, water can normally be introduced into the base interior55by attaching a garden hose (not shown) to the inlet nipple68to facilitate the flow of water through the water conduit67, valve74and dispensing spout75, respectively, and into the base interior55. Upon upward displacement of the float72on the water conduit67, responsive to a rising water level79in the water valve cover50, the float72pushes the float rod77and connecting arm76upwardly. The connecting arm76, in turn, closes the valve74to prevent the further flow of water from the water conduit67, through the dispensing spout75and into the base interior55. The position of the float rod77with respect to the water level adjustment clip78can be selected to maintain a selected depth of the water level79in the base interior55. A drain pipe80extends from the base interior55, through the base wall53, typically beneath the inlet nipple68, for the discharge of water from the base interior55. A valve (not shown) may be provided on the drain pipe80to facilitate the selective discharge of water from the base interior55.

In typical use of the water dispenser50, a water dish (not shown) is initially placed in front of the drain pipe80. The base interior55is filled with water by connecting a hose (not shown) to the inlet nipple68. The water is distributed from the hose, through the water conduit67and normally open valve74, and is dispensed into the base interior55through the dispensing spout75. As the water level79inside the water valve cover60gradually rises, the float72also rises on the water conduit67. Eventually, the float rod77, which rises with the float72, causes the connecting arm76to close the valve74. Consequently, water is incapable of continuing to flow from the water conduit67, through the valve74and into the base interior55.

Water is discharged from the base interior55and into the water dish (not shown) through the drain pipe80. As the water level79in the water valve cover60gradually declines, the float72descends on the water conduit72and pulls the float rod77downwardly. Consequently, the connecting arm76again opens the valve74, again allowing the flow of water from the water conduit67, through the valve74and dispensing spout75, and into the base interior55, respectively. In the foregoing manner, the fill valve66maintains the desired water level79in the water valve cover60and base interior55, which water level79is selected by the vertical position of the water level adjustment clip78on the float rod77.