Timer controlled pet feeder

A timer controlled pet feeder for automatically dispensing a predetermined amount of pet food at a given time comprising a container having an openable main reservoir formed therein and adapted for holding several meals of pet food connected to a feeding reservoir formed therebelow and adapted for holding a meal of food with the feeding reservoir having an upwardly extended entrance for communicating with the main reservoir and a downwardly extended exit for providing communication therefrom; a dispensing mechanism having a retracted orientation for simultaneously closing the exit of the feeding reservoir and opening the entrance of the feeding reservoir and an extended orientation for simultaneously opening the exit of the feeding reservoir and closing the entrance of the feeding reservoir; an actuator mechanism for placing the dispensing mechanism in the extended orientation when activated and the retracted orientation when de-activated; and a timer mechanism for maintaining a current time and a plurality of triggerable time settings keyed to the current time and having one orientation for activating the actuator mechanism when a time setting is triggered and another orientation for de-activating the actuator mechanism when a time setting is not triggered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a timer controlled pet feeder and more 
particularly pertains to automatically dispensing a predetermined amount 
of pet food at a given time with a timer controlled pet feeder. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of pet food dispensers is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, pet food dispensers heretofore devised and utilized for the 
purpose of feeding pets are known to consist basically of familiar, 
expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad 
of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed 
for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,018 to Matsuda et al. discloses a 
automatic feeder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,695 to Newton et al. discloses an 
automatic fish feeder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,979 to Baird et al. discloses a 
wide range fish feeder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,864 to Lindauer discloses a 
multi-layer, multi-functional volatilizable substance delivery articles. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,381 to Masopust discloses an automatic fish feeder. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a timer 
controlled pet feeder that automatically dispenses a meal of pet food at a 
given time. 
In this respect, the timer controlled pet feeder according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of automatically dispensing a predetermined 
amount of pet food at a given time. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved timer controlled pet feeder which can be used for 
automatically dispensing a predetermined amount of pet food at a given 
time. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this 
need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
pet food dispensers now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved timer controlled pet feeder. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved timer controlled pet 
feeder and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none 
of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises, in 
combination, a rigid and generally L-shaped container having a hollow 
interior, an upwardly extended opening for allowing access to the 
interior, a pivotal lid securable over the opening, an inner wall 
horizontally extended across the interior and thereby defining a main 
reservoir positioned adjacent to the opening adapted for holding several 
meals of pet food therein and a base compartment positioned therebelow, 
and a feeding channel for communicating with the main reservoir formed of 
upper, intermediate, and lower spaced and aligned tubular sections 
extended downwards through the base compartment from the inner wall and 
terminated at a projected dispensing outlet. The feeding channel further 
includes a portion thereof defining a feeding reservoir adapted for 
holding a meal of pet food therein with the feeding reservoir having an 
entrance defined between the first and second sections and an exit defined 
between the second and third sections. A rigid and planar top platform is 
slidably disposed between the first and second sections of the feeding 
channel and has an upper aperture disposed thereon positionable over the 
entrance of the feeding reservoir. A rigid and planar bottom platform is 
included and slidably disposed between the second and third sections of 
the feeding channel at a location directly below the top platform and has 
a lower aperture disposed thereon positionable under the exit of the 
feeding reservoir and axially offset from upper aperture of the top 
platform. A rigid rail is coupled between the top platform and bottom 
platform for enabling simultaneous and congruent sliding of the platforms. 
A spring is included and has one end coupled to the bottom platform at a 
location remote from the rail and another end coupled to the container. 
The spring has a retracted orientation such that the lower aperture of the 
bottom platform is offset from the feeding channel and the upper aperture 
of the top platform is aligned with the feeding channel, thereby closing 
the exit of the feeding reservoir and opening the entrance of the feeding 
reservoir. The spring has an extended orientation such that the lower 
aperture of the bottom platform is aligned with the feeding channel and 
the upper aperture of the top platform is offset from the feeding channel, 
thereby opening the exit of the feeding reservoir and closing the entrance 
of the feeding reservoir. An articulated arm is disposed within the base 
compartment and has a base end and a tip end with the base end coupled to 
the rail. A power transmission cable is extended from the base compartment 
of the container and adapted for providing energy from an external 
electrical power source. An actuator is disposed within the base 
compartment and coupled to the tip end of the arm with the actuator 
adapted for pulling the rail thereto and thereby placing the spring in the 
extended orientation when energized and allowing the spring to return to 
the retracted orientation when de-energized. 
Timer circuitry is disposed within the base compartment of the container 
and coupled to the power transmission cable and actuator. The timer 
circuity includes a timer for maintaining a current time and a plurality 
of triggerable time settings keyed to the current time. The timer circuity 
includes a timer switch having one orientation for energizing the actuator 
when a time setting is triggered and another orientation for de-energizing 
the actuator when a time setting is not triggered. The timer circuity 
includes timer adjustment means coupled to the timer and extended through 
the container for allowing a user to adjust the time and time settings. 
Lastly, the timer circuity includes a display extended through the 
container for displaying the current time and time settings. 
A power switch is coupled to the power transmission cable and the timer 
circuitry with the power switch having one orientation for energizing the 
timer circuitry and another orientation for de-energizing the timer 
circuitry. When the timer circuitry is energized and a time setting is 
triggered, the actuator is energized such that the arm pulls on the rail 
and accompanying platforms to place the spring in the extended 
orientation, thus opening the exit of the feeding reservoir for allowing 
food to be dispensed through the dispensing outlet and simultaneously 
closing the entrance thereof. When a time setting is not triggered, the 
actuator is de-energized such that the spring returns to the retracted 
orientation, thus closing the exit of the feeding reservoir and 
simultaneously opening the entrance thereof for allowing it to be filled 
with another meal of pet food from the main reservoir for dispensing at a 
later time. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved timer controlled pet feeder which has all the advantages of the 
prior art pet food dispensers and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
timer controlled pet feeder which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved timer controlled pet feeder which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved timer controlled pet feeder which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such a timer controlled pet feeder economically available to the 
buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved timer controlled pet feeder which provides in the apparatuses and 
methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved timer controlled pet feeder for automatically dispensing a 
predetermined amount of pet food at a given time. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved timer controlled pet feeder comprising a container having an 
openable main reservoir formed therein and adapted for holding several 
meals of pet food connected to a feeding reservoir formed therebelow and 
adapted for holding a meal of food with the feeding reservoir having an 
upwardly extended entrance for communicating with the main reservoir and a 
downwardly extended exit for providing communication therefrom; dispensing 
means having a retracted orientation for simultaneously closing the exit 
of the feeding reservoir and opening the entrance of the feeding reservoir 
and an extended orientation for simultaneously opening the exit of the 
feeding reservoir and closing the entrance of the feeding reservoir; 
actuator means for placing the dispensing means in the extended 
orientation when activated and the retracted orientation when 
de-activated; and timer means for maintaining a current time and a 
plurality of triggerable time settings keyed to the current time and 
having one orientation for activating the actuator means when a time 
setting is triggered and another orientation for de-activating the 
actuator means when a time setting is not triggered; whereby when a time 
setting is triggered, the actuator means is activated, thus closing the 
entrance of the feeding reservoir and opening the exit thereof for 
allowing food to be dispensed therethrough, and when a time setting is not 
triggered, the actuator means is de-activated, thus closing the exit of 
the feeding reservoir and opening the entrance thereof for allowing it to 
be filled with another meal of pet food from the main reservoir for 
dispensing at a later time. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various 
Figures. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved timer controlled pet 
feeder embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described. 
Specifically, the present invention includes ten major components. The 
major components are the container, top platform, bottom platform, rail, 
spring, arm, power transmission cable, actuator, timer circuitry, and 
power switch. These components are interrelated to provide the intended 
function. 
More specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the first 
major component is the container 12. The container is rigid and generally 
L-shaped in structure. It has a hollow interior 14 and an upwardly 
extended opening 16 for allowing access to the interior. The container 
also includes a pivotal lid 18 securable over the opening. An inner wall 
20 is disposed within the interior and horizontally extended across the 
interior to define a main reservoir 22. The main reservoir is positioned 
adjacent to the opening. It is adapted for holding several meals of pet 
food 23 therein. A base compartment 24 is positioned below the main 
reservoir, The base compartment is used for holding major actuation 
components of the present invention therein. The container also includes a 
feeding channel 26 for communicating with the main reservoir. The feeding 
channel is formed of an upper tubular section 28, and intermediate tubular 
section 30, and a lower tubular section. These sections are spaced and 
aligned about a central axis. They are extended downwards through the base 
compartment from the inner wall. They are then terminated at a dispensing 
outlet 34. This dispensing outlet is projected from the bottom of the 
container. The feeding channel further has a portion thereof defining a 
feeding reservoir 36. The feeding reservoir is adapted for holding a meal 
of pet food 37 therein. This meal is first dispensed to the feeding 
reservoir from the main reservoir. The feeding reservoir has an entrance 
38 defined between the first section and the second section. The feeding 
reservoir also has an exit 40 defined between the second section and the 
third section. The space between the first section and second section 
defines an upper slot. The space between the second section and third 
section defines a lower slot. 
The second major component is the top platform 42. The top platform is 
rigid and planar in structure. It slidably disposed in the upper slot 
between the first section 28 and the second section 30 of the feeding 
channel. The platform has an upper aperture 44 disposed thereon. It is 
positionable over the entrance 38 of the feeding reservoir. Essentially, 
the upper aperture is approximately the same size as the cross-section of 
the feeding channel. 
The third major component is the bottom platform 46. The bottom platform is 
rigid and planer in structure. It is slidably disposed in the lower slot 
between the second section 30 and the third section 32 of the feeding 
channel. It is positioned at a location directly below the top platform 
42. The bottom platform has a lower aperture 48 disposed thereon. It is 
positionable under the exit 40 of the feeding reservoir. The size of the 
lower aperture is approximately equal to the size of the cross-section of 
the feeding channel. Additionally, the lower aperture is axially offset 
from the upper aperture 44 of the top platform. However, the apertures 
remain symmetrically aligned about a defined imaginary plane 
perpendicularly extended downwards through the platforms. 
The fourth major component is the rail 50. The rail is rigid in structure. 
It is coupled between the top platform 42 and the bottom platform 46. The 
rail enables simultaneous and congruent sliding of the platforms within 
the slots when the rail is moved in a horizontal direction either in one 
given direction or the opposite direction. The rail also ensures that the 
spatial relationship of the lower aperture with respect to the upper 
aperture is maintained. 
The fifth major component is the spring 52. The spring has one end coupled 
to the bottom platform 46 at a location remote from the rail. The other 
end of the spring is coupled to the container 12. The spring has a 
retracted orientation such that the lower aperture of the bottom platform 
is offset from the feeding channel and the upper aperture of the top 
platform is aligned with the feeding channel. This retracted orientation 
is shown in FIG. 7. In this position, the exit of the feeding reservoir is 
closed and the entrance to the feeding reservoir is opened. This position 
allows a meal of pet food to be disposed within the feeding reservoir. The 
spring further has an extended orientation such that the lower aperture of 
the bottom platform is aligned with the feeding channel and the upper 
aperture of the top platform is offset from the feeding channel. This 
position is depicted in FIG. 8. In this position, the exit of the feeding 
reservoir is opened and the entrance of the feeding reservoir is closed. 
This position allows the meal of pet food to be dispensed from the feeding 
reservoir while simultaneously preventing pet food from exiting the main 
reservoir. 
The sixth major component is the arm 54. The arm is articulated in 
structure. It is disposed within the base compartment 24. The arm has a 
base end and a tip end. The base end is coupled to the rail 50. The arm 
essentially serves as a way of transferring force to the rail for sliding 
the platforms back and forth. 
The seventh major component is the power transmission cable 56. The power 
transmission cable is extended from the base compartment 24 of the 
container. It is adapted for providing energy from an external electrical 
power source such as an conventional electrical wall socket. 
The eighth major component is the actuator 58. The actuator is disposed 
within the base compartment 24 and coupled to the tip end of the arm 54. 
The actuator operates when electrically energized. When energized, the 
actuator is used for pulling the rail 50 thereto and thereby placing the 
spring 52 in the extended orientation. Thus, through the actuator, the 
platforms may be pulled forward. When de-energized, the actuator allows 
the spring to return to the retracted orientation without undo 
restriction. 
The ninth major component is the timer circuitry 60. The timer circuitry is 
disposed within the base compartment 24 of the container. It is coupled to 
the power transmission cable 56 for receiving power therefrom for 
activation. It is also coupled to the actuator for allowing the actuator 
to be energized. The timer circuitry contains four subcomponents. The 
subcomponents are the timer, timer switch, timer adjustment beams, and 
display. These components are interrelated to allow the timer circuitry as 
a whole to perform its intended function. 
The first subcomponent of the timer circuitry is the timer. The timer is 
adapted for maintaining a current time. It is also adapted for maintaining 
a plurality of triggerable time settings. These time settings are keyed to 
the current time. An indication is provided from the timer when a time 
setting corresponds to the current time. 
The second subcomponent of the timer circuitry is the timer switch. The 
timer switch has one orientation for energizing the actuator when an 
indication is received that the time setting has been triggered. The timer 
switch also has another orientation for de-energizing the actuator when an 
indication is not received (that is, the time setting has not been 
triggered). The timer switch therefore controls the operation of the 
actuator based on an indication when a time setting is or is not in 
agreement with the current time. 
The third subcomponent of the timer circuitry is the timer adjustment means 
70. The timer adjustment means is coupled to the timer. The timer 
adjustment means essentially comprises circuitry adapted for adjusting the 
triggerable time settings as well as the current time. The timer 
adjustment means is also extended through the container 12. A portion of 
the timer adjustment means is extended though the container and 
essentially consists of switches for allowing the user to adjust the time 
and time settings as desired. 
A fourth subcomponent of the timer circuitry is the display 72. The display 
is coupled to the timer and extended through the container. It is adapted 
for displaying the current time and time settings. 
The tenth major component is the power switch 74. The power switch is 
coupled to the power transmission cable and the timer circuitry. The power 
switch has one orientation for energizing the timer circuitry, thereby 
indirectly allowing the actuator to be energized as directed therewith. 
The power switch has another orientation for de-energizing the timer 
circuitry. The power switch is extended through the container and adapted 
to be toggled by a user. 
When the timer circuitry is energized and a time setting is triggered, the 
actuator is temporarily energized. The actuator provides a force to the 
arm which pulls the rail and accompanying platforms thereto. This force 
places the spring in the extended orientation, thus opening the exit of 
the feeding reservoir and allowing a meal of food to dispensed through the 
dispensing outlet. Furthermore, this force simultaneously closes the 
entrance of the feeding reservoir. Thus at a given time as set by the 
timer circuitry, a meal of food for a pet is dispensed. Upon completion of 
the triggering process after a set period of time, the actuator is 
de-energized. The spring then returns to its retracted orientation, 
thereby pulling the platforms and accompany rail thereto. This retraction 
process closes the exit of the feeding reservoir and simultaneously opens 
the entrance thereof. This allows the feeding reservoir to be filled with 
another meal of pet food from the main reservoir. In this fashion, a meal 
is ready to be dispensed at a later time as set in the timer circuitry. 
The present invention allows pet food to be dispensed automatically 
according to the built-in-timer. The user can carry on with his/her normal 
activities, secure in the knowledge that the proper amount of food will be 
dispensed at the correct time. This is a great time-saver and also very 
handy for times when the pet's owner cannot be there in person to do the 
feeding. 
The present invention has a plastic housing that has the general shape of 
an upper case "L". A timer and actuator are located in the horizontal 
section of the housing. The main food reservoir is in the top half of the 
vertical section. A feeding channel is located just below the main 
reservoir. 
The key to the operation of the feeder is the sliding platform. This 
platform actually consists of two horizontal platforms at different 
heights. The actuator causes both platforms to move backward or forward 
simultaneously because they are part of the same molded piece of plastic. 
The two platforms are joined by a vertical plastic rail. Extending 
horizontally out from the opposite side of this vertical piece is a 
horizontal arm that is extended to the actuator. Thus, when the arm moves, 
both platforms move with it. 
Each platform has an opening in it, but the openings are staggered so as 
not to line up with each other. In primary position, the aperture of the 
top platform allows food to fall from the main reservoir down into the 
feeding reservoir. However, the path from the feeding reservoir to the 
pet's dish or tank below is blocked by the bottom platform. 
When the timer starts the actuator, the platforms pull back into secondary 
position. In this position, the hole on the lower platform lines up so 
that the path from the feeding reservoir to the dish or tank is open, and 
the food in that reservoir is thereby dispensed. However, the upper 
platform simultaneously blocks the path from the main food reservoir to 
the feeding reservoir at this time because the hole on the upper platform 
no longer lines up properly. 
The main reservoir contains a large quantity of food-much larger than it 
would be healthy for a pet to eat at one sitting. The feeding reservoir is 
much smaller, designed to hold one meal's worth of food. A pullback spring 
pulls the two platforms back into their original position when the timer 
resets, which releases the actuator. This allows more food to fill the 
feeding reservoir from the main reservoir in preparation for the next 
feeding session. The present invention runs on 110-volt AC power. The 
amount of food dispensed by the feeding reservoir can be easily adjusted 
by changing its volume. This allows the user to customize the amount for 
different situations. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 
manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and 
obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to 
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.