Abstract:
An apparatus for restraining, feeding, and watering an animal is provided. The apparatus comprises a bowl assembly, a rod, a ring element, and a ground securing element. The bowl assembly comprises a base component connected to a feeder component comprising a bowl for containing food and water. The animal may be chained or leashed to the ring element which freely pivots around the rod between the bowl assembly and the ground stabilizing element when the rod is secured within the ground. The ground stabilizing element help the apparatus resist lateral forces that occur when the animal pulls on the leash, thereby keeping the rod upright.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/750,100 filed Jan. 8, 2013. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains generally to an apparatus for simultaneously restraining and providing food and/or water for an animal, and more particularly to a spill-resistant elevated animal food and water bowl with a tangle-free attachment point for engaging a pet leash or chain. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pet owners often keep domesticated animals, such as dogs, outdoors with food and water bowls for extended periods of time. Frequently pets that must be tied up or restrained can easily wrap their leash or restraint around themselves and/or a tether point restricting their movement and creating an uncomfortable or dangerous situation for the pet. A restrained pet can become overexcited and knock over the food and water bowls spilling the contents. Not only does this create a mess and waste resources, but it leaves the animal hungry and without water creating a danger of dehydration. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for a device designed to provide a safe alternative for pet owners that keep their pets outside on a leash or chain that prevents accidental spillage of food and water while preventing accidental entanglement of the leash or chain while still restraining the animal. The proposed invention allows a pet owner to safely restrain their pet without the danger of the pet wrapping its leash around an anchor point. An elevated platform allows the animal to easily access food and water without the need to bend over and eat and drink directly at ground level. Additionally, the food and water containers are secured to the tether point and to the ground so that neither the leash nor the animal will be able to knock them over and spill the contents. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises an apparatus for feeding and restraining an animal while outdoors. The apparatus comprises a bowl assembly for containing food and water for the pet. The apparatus further comprises a rod for securing the bowl assembly to the ground and a ring element surrounding the rod for attaching to a leash or a chain for restraining an animal. The ring is freely pivotable around the rod preventing the leash or chain from becoming wrapped or tangled around the rod. 
     Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the bowl assembly comprises a base component resembling a bowl with a center shaft extending upward out of the bowl. The bowl assembly further comprises a feeder component attachable to the base component. The feeder component comprises a bowl bisected with a divider, essentially creating two separate bowls. Water is typically placed in one side and food in the other side. The center shaft of the base component extends into the divider of the feeder component from underneath. A first end of the rod extends through the center shaft and into the divider to mechanically connect the base component to the feeder component. The apparatus further comprises a ground stabilizing element. The ground stabilizing element is generally conical in shape with a plurality of fins for driving into the ground. A second end of the rod penetrates a through hole in the ground stabilizing element and terminates deeper in the ground. The shape of the ground stabilizing element stabilizes the rod by resisting lateral movement when an animal pulls on the leash attached to the ring element to help keep the apparatus firmly anchored in the ground. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus for feeding and restraining an animal in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the apparatus for feeding and restraining an animal in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cut away view of the apparatus for feeding and restraining an animal in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a ground stabilizing element for the apparatus for feeding and restraining an animal in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. The invention relates generally to an apparatus for feeding and watering a pet kept outdoors while restraining the pet in a tangle-free manner. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an apparatus  100  for feeding, watering, and restraining an animal. The apparatus  100  is for use with any domesticated pet, such as a dog, that would be at least occasionally restrained outdoors. Typically, the dog would be on a leash or similar restraint that is attachable to the apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  is designed to prevent the leash, chain, or other restraint from becoming wrapped or tangled around a fixed point thereby limiting the pet&#39;s movement. The apparatus  100  comprises a bowl assemble  102  capable of holding food and water simultaneously, and a rod  142  capable of securing the apparatus  100  to the ground. Additionally, the apparatus  100  is configured so that the bowl assembly  102  is elevated allowing the pet to access food and water without having to bend over and eat and drink off of the ground. The apparatus  100  is tip-resistant preventing accidental spillage and waste of the food and water. 
     The bowl assembly  102  comprises a base component  104  and a feeder component  118 . The bowl assembly  102  is typically manufactured from a molded plastic, however this is not meant as a limitation as any other suitable material known to one skilled in the art may be used without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The base component  104  comprises a closed bottom  106  extending upward into a perimeter sidewall  108  terminating in a top rim  110 . The top rim  110  is typically between approximately eight and twenty inches in diameter, but may be larger or smaller as desired. The closed bottom  106  is essentially planar with a slight curvature similar to a bottom of a bowl. The sidewall  108  extends out of the closed bottom  106  to form the sides of the bowl and terminates in the top rim  110 . The closed bottom  106  comprises a center shaft  112  that extends upward out of the closed bottom  106 . 
     The center shaft  112  generally resembles a finger-like or tubular projection that rises upward out of a center of the closed bottom  106 . The center shaft  112  comprises an apex  114  and preferably a through-hole  116 . The center shaft  112  is sized to have a diameter large enough to receive the rod  142 . In an embodiment contemplated without the through-hole  116 , the rod would terminate and rest within the center shaft  112 . In this embodiment, the rod  142  could have a tapered rectangular shape (not shown), and the center shaft  112  could have a corresponding tapered rectangular shape configured to fit the rod  142 . This shape would be desirable as it would resist any spinning of the bowl assembly  102  around the rod  142 . 
     In the embodiment with the through-hole  116 , the through-hole  116  penetrates the apex  114  of the center shaft  112  allowing the rod  142  to penetrate and extend upward into the feeder component  118  as described infra. The center shaft  112  extends past the top rim  110  so that it can engage the feeder component  118 . The base component  104  is otherwise hollow and may be used for storage when not in use. 
     The feeder component  118  comprises a bottom rim  120  that extends upward into an annular sidewall  122  so that it generally resembles an upside down bowl. The annular sidewall  122  encompasses a two-well bowl  124  bisected with a divider  126  integrated with the annular sidewall  122 . The two-well bowl  124  extends down into the feeder component  118  with a bottom of the two-well bowl  124  extending below the bottom rim  120 . The two-well bowl  124  is approximately between four and ten inches deep, but may be deeper or shallower as desired. The divider  126  is essentially hollow and configured to receive the center shaft  112  of the base component  104  and/or a portion of the rod  142  that extends through the through-hole  116  of the center shaft  112  when the bottom rim  120  of the feeder component  118  is placed atop and abuts the top rim  110  of the base component  104 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the rod  142  comprises a first end  144  and a second end  148 . The first end  144  is for engaging the ground. The first end  144  may comprise a point, a beveled tip, a spike, a threaded bit, and auger, and the like, or any other shape that facilitates penetration into the ground. The second end  148  engages the center shaft  112  of the base component  102 . 
     The second end  148  of the rod  142  typically penetrates the center shaft  112  of the base component  104  extending past the through hole  116  and into an underside of the divider  126  of the feeder component  118 . The second end  148  may be threaded, notched, or a smooth bore. While the divider  126  is essentially hollow, it may comprise an attachment point  128  for receiving the second end  148  of the rod  142 . The attachment point  128  may comprise a screw bore, a nut, a bolt nut, or any other mechanical fastener known to one of skill in the art for engaging the second end  148  of the rod  142 . The attachment point  128  may be molded into, adhered, or mechanically attached to a hollow inside of the divider  126  so that the attachment point  128  essentially becomes integrated into the divider  126 . Alternatively, the second end  148  may be non-circular in configuration, such as a beveled rectangular shape as discussed supra, to wedge into the center shaft  112 , thereby resisting rotation or spinning of the bowl assembly  102  around the rod  142 . 
     The bowl assembly  102  further comprises a plurality of securing elements  134 . The plurality of securing elements  134  are typically clips  134  and clip holders  138  that attach to the perimeter sidewall  108  of the base component  104  and the annular sidewall  122  of the feeder component  118 . The clips  134  and the clip holders  138  are typically plastic or metal and are integrated into or mechanically fastened to the perimeter sidewall  108  and the annular sidewall  122 . The bowl assembly  102  may further comprise a top plate  140  for covering the two-well bowl  124  when the apparatus is not in use. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the apparatus  100  further comprises a ring element  154  and a ground stabilizing element  156 . The ring element  154  is typically a metal ring larger in diameter than the rod  142  that freely pivots around the rod  142  between the bowl assembly  102  and the ground stabilizing element  156 . A leash, chain, rope, or other tether will have a free end that may be attached to the ring element  154 . Typically, the leash will simply be clipped into the ring element  154  thereby securing the pet to the apparatus  100 . 
     The ground stabilizing element  156  comprises a planar disc  158 , a plurality of fins  160 , a vertex  162 , and a center bore  164 . The ground stabilizing element  156  generally resembles an upside down cone that can penetrate into the ground. The planar disc  158  is the top of the cone and is generally in line with or essentially flat on the ground when in place. The planar disc  158  may comprise a slightly convex shape as well. The plurality of fins  160  are generally conical or triangular in shape extending downward out of the planar disc  158  terminating in the vertex  162 . The center bore  164  runs through the ground stabilizing element  156  from the vertex  162  through a center of the planar disc  158  and is of a diameter large enough so that the rod  142  may penetrate the center bore  164 . The shape of the ground stabilizing element  156  is desirable as it provides lateral stability to the rod  142  when in the ground. As a lateral force is applied to the rod  142  from the animal pulling on the ring element  154 , the ground stabilizing element  156  resists the lateral force preventing the rod  142  from bending over. 
     To assemble the apparatus  100 , a user drives the rod  142  through the ground stabilizing element  156  into the ground. Although not shown, the apparatus  100  may further comprise a removable T-handle configured to engage the second end  148  of the rod  142  so that the first end  144  may be screwed or bored into the ground. Once the rod  142  and the ground stabilizing element  156  are anchored in the ground, the ring element  154  slides onto the rod  142  so that it is freely pivotable around the rod  142 . Once the base component  104  is place on the rod  142 , the feeder component  118  is removably attached to the base component  104  with the plurality of securing elements  134 , and the bowl assembly  102  is secured to the second end  148  of the rod  142 . 
     Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.