Abstract:
A pet drinking fountain includes a base having a well housing a water filter and pump. A water tank is mounted on the base, and a drinking dish is disposed beside the tank. The dish communicates with the well in the base allowing water to flow from the it to the well. A duct extends from the pump upward through the tank and discharges water onto the outer surface of the tank from which the water flows into the bowl. The pet can drink from the dish or lap water flowing down the tank surface. When the level of water in the well falls below a prescribed level, water from the tank is discharged into the well. A food dish may also be added to the structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention relates to drinking and feeding apparatus for pets and more particularly to a drinking fountain that provides continuously running water and that offers a large descending surface and a bowl as alternate drinking sites for the pet. 
   It has long been recognized that pets, and particularly cats, prefer to drink running water as opposed to still or stagnant water and examples of devices that provides running drinking water for pets is well represented in the patent literature including the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,609; 5,842,437; 6,055,934; 5,501,178; and 4,976,220. Many of the prior art devices have limited capacity, are inconvenient to fill and afford limited drinking space for the pets. The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the many limitations of the prior art by providing apparatus that is easy to maintain and operate, is easy to clean, and provides the most appealing drinking facilities for a pet. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a large reservoir is provided having an extensive surface over which water circulates to a drinking bowl, affording the pet the ability to drink either from the running water on the surface of the tank or from the bowl to which the water flows from the surface, the water in the bowl itself being continuously in motion as well. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the water reservoir or tank is dome shaped and the large surface serves not only as a large drinking surface for the pet, but also provides a large surface for oxygenation of the water circulating between the bowl and the surface. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the water in the tank automatically enters the water circulation system when the flowing water falls below a prescribed level. The capacity of the tank may be as much as three liters or more so as to eliminate the need for frequent refilling and the possibility that the system will run dry. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the tank is disposed on a base having a well below the tank. Water in the well passes through a filter and thereafter is pumped up a duct that extends through the tank, and the water spills out of the top of the duct onto its surface. The water then flows down the surface of the tank and a portion of the water flows directly into the bowl which is beside the tank. The rest of the water flowing down the surface of the tank is collected in a gutter that directs it into the bowl. In the preferred embodiment the gutter is inclined to cause the water to flow in one direction and thereafter circulation in the bowl so as to avoid stagnation. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the surface of the bowl has a number of dome-like areas that cause water entering the bowl to circulate in it before flowing into the well beneath the tank. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the tank has a convenient handle attached to the duct so that the tank may be lifted from the base and carried to a source of water where it may easily be refilled. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a dish is removably attached to the drinking bowl. The dish is designed to hold any food (or drink) suitable for the pet. When connected to the assembly, the bowls, dish, and base and tank assembly provide a unified structure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pet drinking fountain embodying the invention; 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are side and top views of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  with  FIG. 3  suggesting the flow of water in the system; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the fountain taken along the section line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of the base of the drinking fountain with the food dish removed; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stem valve, dome, bottom cover of the dome and the base, showing the valve in the open position and taken along section line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are views similar to  FIG. 5  and with the valve shown in the closed and open locked positions, respectively; 
       FIG. 7A  is a fragmentary perspective view of the valve disposed in the open position; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the drinking fountain; and 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the dome and bottom cover. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing”, “involving”, and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
   The pet drinking fountain of the present invention includes in its general organization, a base  20 , a tank assembly  22 , a food dish  24 , a filter  26 , and a pump  28 . The base  20  includes a tank receptacle  30  and a drinking bowl  32 . 
   The pet drinking fountain shown in detail in  FIG. 4  preferably provides continuously flowing water and the circulating water in the system may be replenished from a reservoir in the tank  22  that furnishes the additional water on demand. In use, water is ordinarily consumed by the pet from the bowl  32  where the water is continuously moving, and the water is drawn into the base  20  from the bowl where it is filtered and then pumped through a duct or standpipe  86  to the top of the dome  80  of the tank assembly  22  and spills out over the surface thereof and flows either directly from the dome surface  84  into the bowl  32  or indirectly to the bowl after being collected in the gutter  64  of the base  20  that surrounds the dome of the tank and empties into the bowl. When the water in the base falls below a certain level, an opening in the bottom of the tank assembly will automatically enable water to flow from the interior of the tank into the circulating water system to return the water in the bowl to a prescribed level. Separately, food may be fed to the pet by placing it in the food dish  24  which preferably is detachable from the base  20  so that it may conveniently be washed or filled with food. The various aspects of this invention will be more fully appreciated from a reading of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   The base  20  shown in detail in  FIGS. 4 and 4A  includes a peripheral wall  40  that encircles both the tank receptacle  30  and the drinking bowl  32 . The two sections of the base, namely the portion that supports the tank assembly  22  and the bowl  32  are preferably formed as a unitized structure. While the receptacle  30  and bowl  32  are shown integrally formed, it should be appreciated that they may be separately formed and linked together by a bracket, fastener or some other device. The receptacle  30 , as shown  FIGS. 4 and 8 , has a central well  44  and an elevated peripheral portion  46 . The peripheral portion  46  is bowed to provide a seat for the tank assembly  22 , and the deeper well portion  44  defined by the irregular side wall  48  houses the water filter  26  and pump  28 . In  FIG. 4A  three projections or posts  50 ,  52 , and  54  are shown formed in the lower surface  56  of the well  44 , which respectively serve, as follows: post  50  opens a valve that controls the flow of water from the tank when the tank is removed from the base; the post  52  serves to orient the tank assembly on the base  20 ; and the post  54  positions the pump  28  in the well  44 . These features are described in greater detail below. On the elevated portion  46  of the tank receptacle, a sleeve  58  which passes through the lower surface of the base, receives a power cord (not shown) for energizing the pump  28 . A channel  60  extends from the sleeve  58  to the wall  48  to permit the power cord to enter the well  44  of the tank receptacle and connect to the pump  28 . The channel  60  preferably includes a cover (not shown) to enclose the power cord and prevent any water in the well  44  from dripping through the sleeve  58  to the surface on which the water fountain rests. A gutter  64  provided about the periphery of the tank receptacle  30  just inside the peripheral wall  40  is designed to carry water that flows down the surface of the tank assembly into the drinking bowl  32 . The elevation of the gutter channel decreases in a clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 4A  causing water in the gutter to flow to the gutter lower end  65  and into the drinking bowl  32  to avoid stagnation. 
   The upper edge of the sleeve  58  preferably is slightly higher (for example 2 mm) than the edge  21  of the base to prevent water in the base from flowing unnoticed, from the base through the power end sleeve to the surface on which the drinking fountain rests. If the base is filled to overflowing, the water will run over the edge  21  which would be clearly visible to anyone in attendance. Moreover, the fountain is designed so that the full capacity of the tank  22  does not exceed that of the base. Accordingly, if the tank develops a leak, the water will drain completely into the base but will not spill down through the sleeve to the surface supporting the fountain and go undetected. 
   The bowl  32  preferably has a number of bumps  72 ,  73  and  74  in its lower surface. The bumps serve several functions. One desirable function is that they avoid water stagnation in the bowl  32  by causing water that flows into it from the gutter  64  to flows over and around the bumps. Also, the bumps create different water levels in the bowl enabling the animal to choose a preferred drinking condition, that is, water that flows from the gutter  64  onto the larger bump  72  forms a thin film of water and the other bumps  73  and  74  have greater depths of water on their curved surfaces so as to provide a choice for the animal. The irregular surface created by the bumps also simulates a natural water source that provides different water depths. It should also be noted that a portion of the water flowing down the surface of the tank assembly adjacent the bowl flows directly into the bowl  32  onto the largest bump  72  by virtue of the interruption of the gutter  64  shown at  65  on the sides of the tank assembly  22  immediately adjacent the bowl. 
   The tank assembly  22  includes the dome  80  and a bottom cover  82  that together define a closed tank for holding water. The water within the tank, as explained more fully below, is drawn into the continuous flow of water that circulates over the surface  84  of the dome, into the bowl  32  and well  44 , through the filter  26  and pump  28 , and upwardly through the duct  86  that extends through the tank. 
   The dome  80  in the embodiment illustrated is generally hemispherically shaped and the duct  86  formed as an integral part thereof extends downwardly from the upper surface  85  to a point slightly below the bottom peripheral edge  88 . The bottom cover  82  has a peripheral trough  90  and a central hump  92 , and the hump  92  has an opening  93  at its center through which the duct  86  extends when the dome and bottom cover are assembled together. Gaskets  96  and  98  form seals at the mating portions of the dome and bottom cover, both at the edge  88  of the dome  80  where it engages the periphery  100  of the bottom cover  82  and at the central opening  94  where it engages the duct  86 . A retainer  102  is threaded onto the lower threaded end  104  of the duct  86  so as to hold the dome and bottom cover in assembled relationship. It will be noted in  FIG. 4  that the trough-shaped portion  90  of the bottom cover mates with the curved portion  46  of the tank receptacle so as to form a firm seat for the tank assembly  22 . The retainer  102  also conforms to the shape of the hump  92  in the bottom cover. 
   In accordance with another aspect of this invention shown in  FIG. 9 , means may be provided to assist in separating the dome  80   a  from the bottom cover  82   a , which in some instances may be impeded by the seal formed by the gaskets  96  an  98 . In accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the means comprises a device for preventing separation of the retainer  102   a  from the bottom cover  82   a  so that when the retainer is rotated, the mating threaded parts of the retainer and duct  104   a  will force relative axial movement of the dome and bottom cover. In the specific arrangement shown, a pair of extractors  170  are secured to the bottom side of the bottom cover  82   a  approximately diametrically opposite one another, by screws  172 . Preferably the extractors are permanently secured to the bottom cover  82   a , and other types of fasteners may be employed for that purpose as well. The extractors  170  have flanges  174  that overlap the bottom edge  176  of the retainer so that the retainer is afforded limited axial movement on the bottom cover. This enables the retainer to turn freely on the cover so that it can draw the duct  104   a  of dome  80   a  tightly against the cover to form seals at the gaskets. When the retainer is turned in the opposite direction, the duct  104   a  will be forced axially away from the bottom cover and break the seals formed by the gaskets  96  and  98 . 
   It will be appreciated that other arrangements may be used to accomplish the same purpose within the scope of this invention. 
   The tank assembly  22  formed by the dome  80  and bottom cover  82  has a handle  110  that threads into the top portion  111  of the duct  86  to facilitate carrying the tank. The handle includes a gripping portion  112  and a number of passages  114 , the passages allowing water pumped up the duct  86  to pass through the handle and spill onto the surface  84  of the dome. In a preferred form of the invention, the top of the handle may have a flower configuration to enhance the design of the device, and a stopper  113  is threaded into the handle to close its central cavity  115 . The handle may, of course, take other forms. The handle also serves as a stand for the dome  80  when the dome is removed from the base, inverted and detached from the bottom cover for filing, cleaning or other purpose. 
   The bottom cover  82  in the lower surface of the trough  90  includes a passage  120  (see  FIGS. 5–7 ) surrounded by a collar  122  that includes a frame  124  for supporting the stem  126  of valve  128  that controls the flow of water from the tank through the opening  120 . The valve  128  is biased to the closed position shown in  FIG. 6  by a coil spring  130  carried on the valve stem  126  and bearing against the stem head  132  and the frame  124 . The spring biases the valve  128  to the closed position but is automatically moved to the open position shown in  FIG. 5  when the tank assembly  22  is placed on the base. The valve is opened by virtue of the stem head  132  engaging the post  50  in the well  44  of the base when the tank assembly is placed on the tank receptacle  30 . When the tank assembly for any reason is removed from the base  20 , the valve automatically closes so as to prevent water in the tank from flowing out opening  120 . In  FIG. 7  the valve  128  is shown in the locked open position, that is, the valve is raised off the valve seat defined at the opening  120  without support from an external force. This is achieved by manually moving the valve to the open position and thereafter rotating the stem  126  90° as suggested in  FIG. 7A  so that the ribs  127  on opposite sides of the stem are misaligned with the slots  129  in the frame  124  and the lower ends  131  of the ribs engage the top of the frame. To release the valve  128  to the bias imposed by the spring  130 , the valve is rotated 90° back to the position of  FIG. 6  to align the ribs  127  with the slots  129 , and the valve will close unless movement of the stem is impeded as shown in  FIG. 5 . Other expedients as well may be used to hold the valve open, such as detents, clamps, spring loaded pins, etc. 
   When the tank assembly  22  is positioned on the base, the valve  128  opens automatically so as to allow water in the tank to flow into the well  44  in the base  20 , should the level of the water in the well fall below a predetermined level as described more fully below. The water chamber in the tank assembly is sealed as there are no openings in the dome surface to permit air to enter that space. However, when the level of water in the well drops below the height of the highest point of the lower edge  140  of the collar  122  (at point  141  as indicated in  FIGS. 5–7 ), water in the tank will flow through the opening  120  and cause the well  44  to fill to a height above the edge  140 . It will be appreciated that the surface of the water in the well  44  is exposed to ambient pressure, and when the water rises above point  141  to seal the opening  120 , flow of water from the tank to the well will cease as the pressure above the water in the tank equalizes with ambient pressure. 
   The tank may be periodically filled simply by removing it from the base with the aid of the handle  110  and removing the retainer  102  from the end  104  of the duct  86  so that the bottom cover  82  may be separated from the dome  80 . After the dome is filled with water, the bottom cover  82  is replaced, the retainer  102  attached, and the inverted tank may be inverted (without fear of leakage because the valve assembly  128  is closed) and placed on the base  20 . The break in the gutter allows water in the bowl  32  to flow into the well  44  in the tank receptacle portion of the base. The passage is shown at  150  in  FIG. 4 . Water entering the well flows through the filter  26  before reaching the pump  28 . The water is continuously circulated by the pump  28  up the duct  86  and down the surface  84  of the dome  80  with a portion of that water flowing directly into the bowl and the rest of the water being directed to the bowl via the gutter  64 . That circulation is continuous and when enough water is consumed (or evaporates) to reduce the level of water in the well so as to expose the top most portion  141  of the bottom  140  of collar  122 , air will bubble upwardly in the tank and water inside the tank will flow out the opening  120  and replace the water either consumed, evaporated or otherwise removed from the system until the bottom of the collar is fully submerged in the well. 
   It should also be noted in  FIG. 4  that the portion of the lower edge of the dome  80  and the periphery of the bottom cover  82  that are aligned with the gap  150  are spaced from a bottom surface of the bowl  32  and more particularly the bump  72 , and therefore, no seal is formed that precludes the free flow of water from the bowl to the well. 
   As another aspect of the present invention, a separate food dish  24  is provided, preferably removably attached to the base  20 . The dish  24  is principally provided as a feeding dish for solids, although it may be used for other purposes. In the embodiment shown, the dish  24  has a peripheral wall  160  of essentially the same height as the side wall  40  of the base  20  and has a hook like segment  162  on one side that hooks over the top edge of the bowl  32 . That segment  162  of the dish wall  160  that hooks over the edge of the side wall  40  of the base may also serve as a baffle to prevent solids in the dish  24  from falling into the bowl  32 . It also serves as a handle for carrying the dish. The drinking fountain may, of course, be used with or without the food dish  24 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated, the surface  84  of the dome  80  is smooth and causes water to flow smoothly down its surface. The surface, however, may be textured or be provided with a special shape to simulate a rock or other mass commonly found in streams of flowing water. 
   In the preferred embodiment the base  20  may be molded of a plastic material such as polystyrene, but it may be made of other materials such as ABS, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, etc. Similarly, the dome  80  and dish  24  may be molded of polystyrene or other plastic material. The bottom cover  82 , valve  128  and retainer preferably are made of ABS or similar material that possesses some flexibility as these parts are subject to some impact. While these materials are preferred, it should be appreciated that they do not limit the scope of the invention. 
   Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.