Abstract:
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.

Description:
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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of an animal food dispenser according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a food dispenser according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the food dispenser of  FIG. 2 , mounted on a tree; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 , of the animal food dispenser; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 , illustrating multiple louvers between a food hopper and a base of the animal food dispenser in a closed configuration; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the food dispenser illustrating multiple food tray positions. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the present invention water dispenser. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the water dispenser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , an illustrative embodiment of the animal food dispenser according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The animal food dispenser  1  typically includes a base  2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the base  2  may include a base bottom  3  and base side walls  4  and a base front wall  5  which extend upwardly from the base bottom  3 . The base bottom  3 , base side walls  4  and base front wall  5  together define a base interior  8 . Spaced-apart base flanges  6  may extend from the respective base side walls  4 , opposite the base front wall  5 . 
     A food hopper  10  is mounted between the base flanges  6  of the base  2 . The food hopper  10  includes a lower hopper portion  11  which is provided on the base  2  and an upper hopper portion  12  which is provided on the lower hopper portion  11 . The lower hopper portion  11  and the upper hopper portion  12  together define a hopper interior  13 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The lower hopper portion  11  includes an hopper opening  20  which communicates with the base  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a hopper bottom  14  is provided in the lower hopper portion  11  of the food hopper  10 . A food adjustor  32  is provided in the food hopper  10 . The food adjustor  32  may include the hopper bottom  14 , the hopper opening  20  and the adjustment knob  19 . A knob rod  18  engages and extends through openings (not labeled) in the wall of the lower hopper portion  11  and the base flanges  6 , respectively, of the base  2 . A knob  19  is provided on at least one, and typically both, ends of the knob rod  18 . Accordingly, responsive to manipulation of the knob  19  on the knob rod  18 , the food tray  4  can be pivoted to open or close the opening  20  as shown in  FIG. 6 , in which the food tray  4  is shown in three positions. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a removable lid  26 , typically fitted with a handle  27 , may be fitted on the upper hopper portion  12  to selectively close the hopper interior  13 . At least one mount bracket  30  may be provided on the food hopper  10  to facilitate attachment of the food hopper  10  to a wall (not shown), for example. 
     In typical use of the animal food dispenser  1 , the food tray  4  is adjusted to the closed position shown in  FIG. 6  to block the hopper opening  20 , typically by manipulation of the knob  19  attached to the knob rod  18 . The lid  26  is removed from the food hopper  10 , and a selected quantity of a particulate pet food (not shown) is placed in the hopper interior  13 . The lid  26  is typically replaced on the food hopper  10 . The pivot angle of the food tray  4  is adjusted from the closed position shown ( FIG. 6 ) to the open position (also shown in  FIG. 6 ) by manipulation of the knob  19 , to establish communication between the hopper interior  13  and the hopper opening  20 . Accordingly, the particulate pet food falls from the hopper interior  13  through the hopper opening  20  and into the base  2 , respectively. The food tray  4  is returned to the closed position when the desired quantity of pet food has fallen into the base  2 , thereby preventing further flow of pet food from the hopper interior  13  and into the base  2 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an illustrative embodiment of a water dispenser according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  50 . The water dispenser  50  typically includes a base  51  having a base bottom  52  and upward-standing base walls  53  which define a base interior  55 . Multiple base stabilizers  54 , each typically provided with a fastener opening  54   a , may be provided on the base bottom  52  to support the base  51  on a supporting surface (not shown). A base cover (not shown) may be removably fitted on the base  51  to selectively close the base interior  55 . 
     A water valve cover  60  is provided in the base interior  55 . The water valve cover  60  includes a cover top  61  which extends from the base wall  53 , into the base interior  55 , and a cover wall  62  which extends downwardly from the cover top  61 . A bottom gap  63  is provided between the bottom edge of the cover wall  62  and the base bottom  52  to establish fluid communication between the interior of the water valve cover  60  and the base interior  55 . 
     A fill valve  66  is provided in the water valve cover  60 . The fill valve  66  includes a water conduit  67  which extends through the base wall  53  and is connected to a threaded inlet nipple  68  which is adapted to receive a threaded fitting  85  on a garden hose  84 , for example, as shown in  FIG. 7 . A shank washer  69  and a lock nut  70  may be used to secure the water conduit  67  in the base wall  53 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . A float  72  is slidably mounted for vertical displacement on the water conduit  67 . A valve  74  is provided on the upper end of the water conduit  67 , above the float  72 . A dispensing spout  75  extends from the valve  74 . A float rod  77  is attached to the float  72  through a water level adjustment clip  78 , which adjustably engages the float rod  77 . The upper end of the float rod  77  is further connected to the valve head  74  through a connecting arm  76 . Therefore, water can normally be introduced into the base interior  55  by attaching a garden hose (not shown) to the inlet nipple  68  to facilitate the flow of water through the water conduit  67 , valve  74  and dispensing spout  75 , respectively, and into the base interior  55 . Upon upward displacement of the float  72  on the water conduit  67 , responsive to a rising water level  79  in the water valve cover  50 , the float  72  pushes the float rod  77  and connecting arm  76  upwardly. The connecting arm  76 , in turn, closes the valve  74  to prevent the further flow of water from the water conduit  67 , through the dispensing spout  75  and into the base interior  55 . The position of the float rod  77  with respect to the water level adjustment clip  78  can be selected to maintain a selected depth of the water level  79  in the base interior  55 . A drain pipe  80  extends from the base interior  55 , through the base wall  53 , typically beneath the inlet nipple  68 , for the discharge of water from the base interior  55 . A valve (not shown) may be provided on the drain pipe  80  to facilitate the selective discharge of water from the base interior  55 . 
     In typical use of the water dispenser  50 , a water dish (not shown) is initially placed in front of the drain pipe  80 . The base interior  55  is filled with water by connecting a hose (not shown) to the inlet nipple  68 . The water is distributed from the hose, through the water conduit  67  and normally open valve  74 , and is dispensed into the base interior  55  through the dispensing spout  75 . As the water level  79  inside the water valve cover  60  gradually rises, the float  72  also rises on the water conduit  67 . Eventually, the float rod  77 , which rises with the float  72 , causes the connecting arm  76  to close the valve  74 . Consequently, water is incapable of continuing to flow from the water conduit  67 , through the valve  74  and into the base interior  55 . 
     Water is discharged from the base interior  55  and into the water dish (not shown) through the drain pipe  80 . As the water level  79  in the water valve cover  60  gradually declines, the float  72  descends on the water conduit  72  and pulls the float rod  77  downwardly. Consequently, the connecting arm  76  again opens the valve  74 , again allowing the flow of water from the water conduit  67 , through the valve  74  and dispensing spout  75 , and into the base interior  55 , respectively. In the foregoing manner, the fill valve  66  maintains the desired water level  79  in the water valve cover  60  and base interior  55 , which water level  79  is selected by the vertical position of the water level adjustment clip  78  on the float rod  77 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.