Abstract:
An automated filling apparatus which propels various deer feed into an elevated deer feeder comprises a cart having a mounted container which is towed by a vehicle to a feeder location. A base of the cart receives an air duct connected to an air blower which supplies an air flow. The apparatus introduces a flow of deer feed into the air flow which is in turn conveyed upwardly into the elevated deer feeder via a second opposing air duct being connected to an elongated flexible hose having an elbow portion at its upper end and retained upon an upper lip of the deer feeder. After activating the blower, a quantity of deer feed is poured into the container and is propelled upward through the tubing and dispensed into the container portion of the deer feeder.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/309,075 filed Mar. 1, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to deer feeders, and in particular, to an apparatus including an air pump for filling a deer feeder with feed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people enjoy the presence of deer and other wild game in their yards and on their property. In order to attract such animals, many place elevated feeding stations filled with corn, grains or other feed which entice the animals to stay, feed and hopefully return on a daily basis. 
     While most of these feeders work, a primary inconvenience of all such apparatuses is that they need to be refilled on a regular basis. This refilling operation is most often done by climbing a ladder and pouring feed into a top portion of the feeder. However, this is not both time consuming and somewhat dangerous due to the elevated nature of the feeder. 
     Another method available for refilling most deer feeders is to take the feeder down, refill it and then place it back. This is method is even more time consuming and requires significant physical exertion. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide wildlife feeder systems. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,777; U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,598; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,746. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these apparatuses fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such apparatuses require significant time and physical exertion to refill. Also, many such apparatuses require additional complex portions to install and maintain. Furthermore, many such apparatuses are aesthetically unpleasing. In addition, many such apparatuses may inhibit the efficacy of an associated feeder. Accordingly, there exists a need for a filling device for deer feeders without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a device to assist in regular refilling of a deer feeder which reduces the time and effort associated with that task. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to assist in filling an elevated deer feeder while the operator remains at a ground level, eliminating the need to utilize a ladder or other method for reaching the feeder. The apparatus includes a mobile cart, a blower, and a container for retaining an amount of deer feed. 
     Another object of the present invention is to enable portable use of the apparatus by comprising the mobile cart of a wheelbarrow-style structure including a pair of wheels. The mobile cart supports the container and further provides space to contain and transport additional portions of the apparatus including a volume of feed, the blower, and a plurality of flexible hoses. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a hitch receiver to facilitate attachment to a hitch portion of a vehicle, allowing the apparatus to be towed to a desired location. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to utilize a first flexible hose to connect the container to the elevated deer feeder. An end of the first flexible hose includes a rigid goose-neck fitting which helps the user to reach the top of the deer feeder and hang the hose over the edge of the feeder. The opposing end includes a quick-connect coupling which attaches to a lower portion of the container. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide automated delivery of feed from the container through the first hose and into the deer feeder. A second flexible hose is used to attach the blower. The user can then place a volume of feed in the container and actuate the blower. The blower delivers a flow of air which then passes through the container, receives the feed via gravity, and carries feed up the first hose and into the deer feeder. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a lid for the container to prevent unwanted discharge of feed through the top of the container while the blower is active. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of procuring the apparatus, storing the blower, the first flexible hose, and the second flexible hose in the container or cart, loading a quantity of deer feed into the cart, transporting the apparatus to an existing deer feeder structure, unloading and positioning the blower on a ground surface adjacent to the cart, connecting the first flexible hose to container and the blower, connecting the second flexible hose to the container, positioning the goose-neck fitting over a top edge of the deer feeder structure, starting the blower, pouring the deer feed into the container, allowing a period of time for the load of deer feed to be conveyed into the deer feeder structure, and benefiting from reduced effort and improved safety while filling deer feeding structures. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a deer feeder filling apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the deer feeder filling apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away side view of the deer feeder filling apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  feeder filling apparatus 
               20  container 
               22  lid/ring assembly 
               24  latch 
               30  blower 
               32  recoil 
               34  blower outlet 
               40  cart 
               41  cart body 
               42  wheel 
               44  tongue 
               46  hitch receiver 
               47  cart floor 
               48  axle 
               49  spacer 
               50  first aperture 
               52  second aperture 
               54  third aperture 
               56  fourth aperture 
               60  first flexible hose 
               62  first pipe 
               64  sanitary tee fitting 
               66  second pipe 
               67  elbow 
               68  second flexible hose 
               70  quick-disconnect coupling 
               72  goose-neck fitting 
               74  exit funnel 
               75  air flow 
               79  air-and-feed flow 
               80  container funnel 
               100  deer feed 
               150  deer feeder 
               155  deer feed container 
               200  fastener 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a deer feeder filling apparatus (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means for filling an elevated deer feeder  150  while an operator remains at a ground level, thereby eliminating climbing a ladder with heavy deer feed containers  155  in order to manually fill said deer feeder  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a cylindrical container  20  designed to retain an amount of deer feed  100  to be conveyed into a deer feed container portion  155  of an exiting deer feeder structure  150 . The apparatus  10  further comprises a blower  30  and a mobile cart  40 . The container  20  occupies the cart  40  and is affixed to the blower  30  via an assembly of PVC piping and a first flexible hose  60 . Once loaded into the container  20 , the deer feed  100  enters the PVC piping and is propelled by an air flow  75  from the blower  30 , thereby establishing an air-and-feed flow  79  which subsequently passes through a second flexible hose  68  being approximately ten (10) feet in length enabling conveyance of said air-and-feed flow  79  into the elevated deer feeder container  155 . The flexible hoses  60 ,  68  are approximately three (3) inches in diameter and are connected using a plurality of quick-disconnect couplings  70  for easy assembly and disassembly of the apparatus  10 . 
     The cart  40  preferably comprises a conventional polymer ATV garden trailer unit similar to those sold by SEARS® and other retailers, further comprising standard features such as, but not limited to a rugged open-top tapered plastic cart body  41 , a pair of pneumatic or solid rubber wheels  42 , a metal channel-shaped tongue  44  having an integral ball-hitch receiver  46 , a load-bearing transverse axle  48 , and a spacer  49 . The wheels  42  provide the apparatus  10  with the ability to be moved easily and effectively to a site of a deer feeder structure  150 . The hitch receiver  46  is envisioned to facilitate a one-and-seven-eighths (1⅞) inch ball or equivalent hitching device enabling the apparatus  10  to be towed by an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a pickup truck, or other vehicle. 
     The proximal end portion of the second flexible hose  68  is connected to the aforementioned PVC piping within the cart  40  by a quick-disconnect coupling  70 . The distal end portion of said first flexible hose  60  also comprises a quick-disconnect coupling  70  which provides an attachment means to a plastic-molded goose-neck fitting  72  having an integral exit funnel  74 . Said goose-neck fitting  72  is designed to wrap around an upper edge of the deer feed container  155  in a stable manner, thereby providing a “hands-free” method to direct the deer feed  100  into said container  155  during use. The goose-neck fitting  72  is envisioned to comprise a commercially-available component designed to blow leaves out of gutters and sold by companies such as SEARS®, WEED EATER®, and others. The PVC piping components, the flexible hoses  60 ,  68 , and the goose-neck fitting  72  are mechanically connected to each other using quick-connect couplings  70 , thereby providing easy disassembly of the apparatus  10 . Said quick-disconnect couplings  70  are envisioned to comprise quarter-turn bayonet-type devices providing an insert-and-twist joining method. The flexible hoses  60 ,  68  and the quick-disconnect couplings  70  are envisioned to be similar to commercially-available components used for conveyance and disposal of sewage materials from recreational vehicles, being made of durable plastic materials and manufactured by companies such as VALTERRA®. The blower  12  comprises a conventional four-cycle gasoline-powered backpack-type leaf blower capable of enough thrust to propel the deer feed  100  and is similar to units made by companies such as TROYBUILT® and others. The blower  30  delivers an air flow  75  through a blower outlet  34 , connected to the first flexible hose  60  via a quick-disconnect coupling  70 . Furthermore, said blower  30  is envisioned to comprise a pull-start recoil device  32  for easy starting. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , side and cut-away views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The container  20  comprises a standard metal or plastic drum envisioned to have a standard volume such as, but not limited to: thirty (30), thirty-two (32), forty (40), or fifty-five (55) gallons. Said container  20  is affixed to a floor portion  47  of the cart  40  via a plurality of common fasteners  200  such as rivets, bolts, screws, or the like, thereby stabilizing said container during transport and use of the apparatus  10 . The upper portion of the container  20  is closed by means of a standard drum lid/ring assembly  22  being secured to the container  20  in a conventional manner via an integral pivoting latch of bolt-type latch mechanism  24 . 
     The previously described first flexible hose  60  conveys an air flow  75  produced by the blower  30  through an assembly of rigid PVC piping which passes through a first aperture portion  50  cut through a rear surface of the cart  40 , subsequently through the container  20  via second  52  and third  54  apertures, and finally exits the cart  40  via a fourth aperture  56  being located along a front surface of said cart  40 . A gravity fed flow of deer feed  100  from within the container  20  is introduced into the air flow  75 , thereby producing an air-and-feed flow  79  which then passes through the aforementioned second flexible hose  68  and into the deer feed container  155  (see  FIG. 1 ). Said rigid PVC piping assembly comprises a series of plumbing components being cemented together to form a unitary linear assembly comprising a first pipe  62  routed through the first  52  and second  54  apertures, a sanitary tee fitting  64  residing within said container  20 , a second pipe  66  routed through the third  54  and fourth  56  apertures, and an upwardly turned forty-five degree (45°) elbow fitting  67 . Said PVC assembly further comprises a quick-disconnect coupling  70  at either end portion for quick connection to the flexible hoses  60 ,  68 . Although the PVC assembly is depicted here being made up of individual standard fittings, it is understood that said PVC assembly may be mass-produced as a single molded part without deviating from the concept, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . 
     The sanitary tee fitting  64  acts as an air-and-feed mixing chamber being positioned at an intermediate location within the container  20  and having an upwardly directed arcuate port which provides a standard plumbing attachment means to a superjacent container funnel  80 . Said container funnel  80  is mounted horizontally at an intermediate height within the container  20 , thereby providing a means to contain and direct said deer feed  100  into the sanitary tee fitting  64 . The container funnel  80  comprises a shallow round plastic unit having an outside diameter which fits snuggly within the container  20 . Said container funnel  80  further comprises a central tapering bottom surface, and a center orifice which is inserted into and cemented to the sanitary tee fitting  64 . The container funnel  80  is envisioned to be a commercially-available unit similar to those made by ON TIME FEEDERS, INC. and the ACADEMY CO. An upper perimeter edge of the container funnel  80  is securely affixed to wall portions of the container  20  via a plurality of equally-spaced fasteners  200  such as rivets, screws, or the like. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be assembled and utilized as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of assembling the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the apparatus  10 ; attaching the hitch receiver portion  46  of the cart  40  to an appropriately equipped towing vehicle such as an ATV, pick-up truck, or the like in a conventional manner; storing the blower  30 , the first flexible hose  60 , the second flexible hose  68 , and the goose-neck fitting  72  into the container  20  during transportation; placing and securing the lid/ring assembly  22  onto the container  20 ; loading a quantity of deer feed  100  into the cart  40  and/or other transporting means; transporting the apparatus  10  to a desired location of an existing deer feeder structure  150 ; removing the lid/ring assembly  22  from the container  20  to reveal the contained portions of the apparatus  10 ; unloading and positioning the blower  30  upon a ground surface being adjacent to the cart  40 ; connecting the first flexible hose  60  to the first pipe  62  and the blower outlet  34  using the quick-disconnect couplings  70 ; connecting the second flexible hose  68  to the elbow fitting  67  and the goose-neck fitting  72  using the quick-disconnect couplings  70 ; and, positioning the exit funnel portion  74  of the goose-neck fitting  72  over a top edge of said deer feeder structure  150 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: starting the blower  30  using the recoil  32  in a normal manner; pouring the deer feed  100  into the container  20 ; replacing and securing the lid/ring assembly  22  onto the container  20  to avoid deer feed  100  being discharged out of a top opening of said container  20 ; allowing a period of time for the load of deer feed  100  to be conveyed into the deer feed container portion  155  of the deer feeder structure  150 ; loading additional deer feed  100  into said container  20  as previously described, until obtaining a desired volume of deer feed  100  within the deer feeder structure  150 ; turning off the blower  30 ; disassembling the goose-neck fitting  72 , the first flexible hose  60 , and the second flexible hose  68 ; loading said goose-neck fitting  72 , first flexible hose  60 , and second flexible hose  68  along with the blower  30 , into the container  20 ; replacing and securing the lid/ring assembly  22  onto the container  20 ; proceeding to and filling additional deer feeder structures  150  as previously described; and, benefiting from reduced effort and improved safety while filling deer feeding structures  150  using the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.