Abstract:
A watering insert [ 18]  for chick transport trays [ 1 A,  1 B] utilizes a plurality of watering nipples [ 17]  connected to, and communicating with, a central water tank [ 27] . The insert utilizes a support surface [ 44]  along the periphery [ 50]  of the insert for supporting the insert in the open top of the tray at a height sufficient to allow chicks to activate the watering nipples. The water tank comprises an upper removable portion [ 28]  and a lower portion [ 30]  containing the nipples. A vented fill cap [ 21]  allows convenient filling of the insert tank and provides a vacuum break when the nipples are activated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/324,429 filed Sep. 24, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to transport trays for small animals and, more particularly, to chick transport trays with integral watering capability. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Chicks are usually transported from the hatchery to the farm or poultry house in large numbers. These very young birds are prone to dehydration, which can reduce the survival rate and slow the growth rate of the surviving birds. The transport device is usually a rectangular tray, which gives the chicks enough headroom while being as space efficient as possible. 
     Typical chick transport trays contain air vent holes, which allow air to circulate freely. Various configurations add rigidity to the chick transport trays, making them able to withstand the load of chick transport trays stacked on top. In addition, various watering devices have been disclosed in the past. In general, the previously disclosed watering devices fail to give each chick in the tray easy access to water. 
     A watering attachment for fowl cages disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,388 is labor-intensive to fill and clean; it can obstruct easy stacking of the transport trays. In addition, it is not easily accessible by all birds in the transport tray. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,395 discloses a floor-mounted watering tray; these watering trays minimize available floor space in the transport trays and can create a safety hazard for the chicks. In addition, chicks along the sides of the tray do not have easy access to water. 
     Various types of watering valves have also been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,952,703 and 5,857,429. These watering valves are fed from a piping system along the sides of the transport tray or a piping system that runs just above the chick&#39;s heads. Due to the complexity of the piping system, this watering system does not provide the plurality of watering valves necessary for easy access by all chicks in the transport tray. 
     An improved chick transport tray is needed, which is safe for the chicks and provides easy water access for all chicks in the transport tray. In addition, the needed watering device should be easy to clean, store, fill and use. The transport tray should stack easily, stabilizing the column of transport trays. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a watering device for a chick transport tray with an integrated watering tank. 
     A further object of the present invention is to supply a number of watering nipples, which provide easy, safe access to clean water for all the chicks in the transport tray, regardless of their location in the transport tray. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a watering device that is easy to remove, clean, store and fill. 
     A further object of the present invention is to integrate the watering device into the tray in such a way that the trays will stack easily. 
     Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1A is a top view of a prior art chick transport tray; 
     FIG. 1B is a side view of a prior art chick transport tray; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the chick transport tray insert of the present invention, which includes an integral water tank, nipples and fill and vent connection; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of the chick transport tray insert taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the chick transport tray insert installed in a chick tray, showing the guides, which simplify assembling the upper and lower portions of the water tank; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of the chick transport tray, showing the trays with inserts nested together; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing of the water nipple; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional drawing of the fill cap; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of the chick transport tray inserts of the preferred embodiment stacked for space-efficient storage; and 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention integrating the watering device and tank in a chick tray, the bottom of one chick transport tray forms the lid of the chick transport tray below it. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG.  1 A and FIG. 1B show top and side elevation views of a prior art chick tray  1 . In FIG. 1A, vent holes  5  allow air to circulate easily. Upper ledge  7  and stacking supports  9  provide support surfaces for trays stacked on each other for space efficient transport. In FIG. 1B, walls  11  form a substantially vertical side enclosure for the chicks. Vent holes  13  allow air to circulate to the young birds and stiffeners  15  increase the rigidity of walls  11 . Tray  1  comprises an interior portion  2  and an open top  16 . 
     The following is a description of the preferred embodiments of the chick transport tray with watering device. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show a top view and cross-sectional elevation, respectively, of tray insert  18 . Tray  18  comprises an upper portion  28  and a lower portion  30  defining an integral water tank  27 . In this preferred embodiment, nipples  17  for providing water to the birds attach to nipple bosses  19  on the tank bottom  31  of insert  18 . Water flows from the tank  27  on demand as a chick activates nipple  17 . Fill cap  21  permits easy filling and venting of water tank  27 . Upper guides  39  align and secure upper lid  29  onto tank bottom  31 . 
     Nipples  17  define a geometrical array (or plurality) of water outlets, which cover a substantial portion of tank bottom  31 , providing easy water access for the chicks, regardless of the chick&#39;s location in the tray. In the preferred embodiments, one nipple is provided for every 2-10 birds. In one preferred embodiment, the geometric array of nipples comprises at least 6 nipples. In the more preferred embodiments, the geometric array comprises at least 12 nipples. In the most preferred embodiments, the geometric array comprises at least 24 nipples. 
     In one preferred embodiment, nipples are arrayed in rows and columns containing 2-10 nipples in each row and column. In a more preferred embodiment, 3-7 nipples are provided in each row and column. In the embodiment shown, each row and column contains 7 nipples. The nipples  17  control flow of water from water tank  27  so the water flows on demand as a chick activates nipple  17 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, fill cap  21  permits filling of water tank  27 . Fill cap  21  also allows water tank  27  to vent. In the preferred embodiment, water tank  27  forms a shallow cavity, which covers most of the horizontal area of the insert  18  because this large, shallow tank distributes the water over the entire area above where the chicks reside, thus providing easy gravity feed for a plurality of nipples  17 . The large, shallow tank also creates a space efficient configuration. In the preferred embodiments, tank  27  is a generally rectangular prism. In the preferred embodiments, the width  52  and length  54  of tank  27  are greater than the height or thickness  56 . In the preferred embodiments, width  52  and length  54  are at least 4 times thickness  56 . In the more preferred embodiments, width  52  and length  54  are greater than 8 times thickness  56 . Other embodiments could offer a variety of different tank shapes such as right circular cylinders, hexagonal prisms or other polyhedra. 
     Corner slots  38  and side slots  42  of lid  29  slide over and engage upper corner guides  39  and side guides  40 , respectively of tank bottom  31  to align and secure lid  29  to tank bottom  31 . Upper lid  29  of insert  18  seals against tank bottom  31  to form water tank  27 . This two-part tank design facilitates tank cleaning because upper lid  29  can be removed easily. Lid seal  33  is an elastomeric seal, gasket or O-ring, which prevents water leakage. Upper lid  29  comprises stiffeners  35  and fill cap  21 . Stiffeners  35  in upper lid  29  and tank bottom  31  reduce deflection. Tank bottom  31  comprises nipple boss  19 , stiffeners  35 , tray support ledge  37 , upper guide  39  and lower extension  41 . Nipple boss  19  comprises a threaded bottom, which is designed to accept a standard water nipple  17 . 
     Tray support ledge  37  on peripheral portion  50  provides a means of supporting insert  18  in the open top portion  16  of a standard chick tray (see FIG.  5 ). Upper corner guides  39  and side guides  40  also facilitate stacking of multiple inserts  18  by providing a lip to guide lower extension  41  into the proper position (see FIG.  8 ); when insert  18  is not in use. Lower extension  41  fits inside upper corner guide  39  to simplify storage. Lower extension  41  also provides a support surface for stacking inserts  18  (see FIG.  8 ). When chick transport tray is in use, insert  18  fits on top of tray  1 A and  1 B, housing the chicks with easy access to water. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show top and side elevation views respectively of inserts  18 A and  18 B installed in the chick trays ( 1 A and  1 B). Support means such as support ledge  37  of inserts  18 A and  18 B provides a means to support the chick transport tray from trays  1 A and  1 B. The horizontal support surface  44  of insert support ledges  37  of the inserts bear on the horizontal surface of tray upper ledge  7  of wall  11  of the trays to support the inserts within the open top  16  and interior portion  2  of trays  1 A and  1 B. 
     In the preferred embodiments, inserts  18  are supported in interior portion  2  of the multi-wall chick transport tray from at least two walls  11  of the multi-wall tray  1 . In the more preferred embodiments, support ledge  37  supports inert  18  from at least 3 walls of tray  1 . In the most preferred embodiments, support ledge  37  supports inserts  18  from four walls of tray  1 . Support from less than the 4 walls may be used when inert  18  is less than the full length or width of tray  1 . Other support means may be used to support inserts  18 A and  18 B such as various mechanical joints including butt joints, mortise and tendon joints, friction fits, or mechanical fasteners such as screws, dowels, or hook and loop fasteners. 
     In the preferred embodiments, the support means of inserts  18 A and  18 B supports the watering nipples at a height sufficient to prevent inadvertent contact of the birds with the nipples, but not so high that the birds cannot activate the nipples for watering. For chicks, the support means supports the watering nipples 3½″ to 4½ inches from the floor of the chick tray. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a watering nipple such as nipple  17 . Water enters nipple  17  from water tank  27  of FIG.  3  through upper supply tube  47 . When a chick pushes up on drinking tube  53  disposed at the bottom of the nipple, helical spring  55  compresses, allowing ball  49  to rise off seat  51 . When ball  49  rises off seat  51 , water flows through hole  57  into drinking tube  53  and into chick&#39;s mouth. 
     A seal, such as lip seal  59  seals moveable drinking tube  53  to body  58  of nipple  17  and prevents water from leaking around the outside of drinking tube  53 . Threads  52  of nipple  17  engage complementary threads  54  of boss  19  to secure nipple  17  to tank bottom  31 . A seal, such as O-ring seal  56  seals body  58  of nipple  17  to boss  19 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, nipple  17  is a standard bird watering nipple such as Impex model no. BNP-10026. 
     FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of fill cap  21 , which provides a convenient means for water to be added to the water tank  27  in addition to venting the water tank. Ball  65 , biased against seat  64  by helical spring  63  prevents backflow (leakage) of water from tank  27 . Bushing  61  retains helical spring  63  and ball  65  in their normal operating position. Differential pressure caused by atmospheric pressure outside of tank  27  and reduced pressure in tank  27  as tank  27  is emptied, provides an opening force to ball  65  against spring pressure, allowing air  70  to enter tank  27 . Threads  67  of fill cap  21  engage complementary threads in upper lid  29  of water tank  27 . A seal, such as O-ring seal  69  seals body  66  of cap  21  to upper lid  29 . In other embodiments, a separate fill cap and vent valve may be disposed on insert  18 . In still other embodiments, no fill cap is provided, and upper lid  29  is removed to fill tank  27 . 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation drawing of two inserts,  18 A and  18 B stacked and nested for storage, convenience and space reduction. Upper corner guides  39  align and secure lower extensions  41  of the upper insert  18 A onto support surface  20  of a lower insert  18 B. 
     FIG. 9 shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The alternate embodiment integrates the components of insert  18  of the previous embodiment in the bottom portion of a tray, such as tray  1  of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In this alternate embodiment, the water tank  70 , nipples  72  and fill cap  74  comprise the bottom portion  78  of water trays  76 A and  76 B. The bottom portion  78  of the upper tray  76 A forms a watering lid for the tray  76 B below it. Support ledge  80  on bottom portion  78  provides a support means for supporting the upper tray  76 A from the upper portion of the lower tray such as upper ledge  82  of the lower tray  76 B. Alternatively, stacking supports such as stacking supports  9  of FIG. 1A can be used to support the upper watering tray. 
     In this alternate embodiment, the top most chick transport tray in a stack can use insert  18  as shown in FIG.  3  and the bottom most chick transport tray in a stack can use a standard chick tray  1  of FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     In the preferred embodiments, lid  29  and tank bottom  31  of insert  18  are made of a polymeric material such as polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamides (PA), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyimides (PI), polystyrenes (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other polymers and copolymers known in the art. In one preferred embodiments, the insert is made of polyethylene. Lid  29  and tank bottom  31  may be molded, cast or fabricated. In other embodiments, lid  29  and tank bottom  31  may be made of metal. In still other embodiments, lid  29  and tank bottom  31  may be integrated into a one-piece unit, for example by blow molding or rotational molding techniques. 
     Alternate embodiments may use this technology for feeding and/or watering small animals such as other birds and small mammals and reptiles. 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the chick transport tray with watering device provides an improved apparatus to keep baby chicks hydrated in route from the hatchery to the poultry farm. The device provides the following additional advantages: 
     It contains a watering device, which is safe for the chicks. 
     It provides easy water access for all chicks in the transport tray. 
     It is easy to clean, store, fill and use. 
     The transport tray stacks easily, stabilizing the column of transport trays. 
     Watering inserts are stackable and nestable. 
     Watering inserts employ standard chick trays. 
     Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.