Abstract:
A pet feeding apparatus comprising of removable pet feeding containers placed on a holding device. Removal of the feeding containers allows them to be easily cleaned and disinfected in either convenient means such as a dishwasher or such other means available for the same purpose. The feeding containers and the holding device are coated elastomerically to avoid movement or displacement of the feeding containers or the apparatus itself thereby preventing spillage of food, water or such other liquids thereof. Due to resistance to movement, unwanted noise otherwise generated between the feeding containers and the holding device is prevented.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims foreign priority based on Indian Application Serial No. 2130/DEL/2010, filed on Sep. 7, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to apparatus for feeding of pets. In particular, the invention provides for an apparatus comprising removable feeding containers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Animal feeding apparatus are well known in the art. Particularly, feeding apparatus having separate compartments are widely used. Compartmentalized feeding dishes provide for a single unit for holding food and water independently, so as to conveniently provide complete nourishment for the pet. Several innovations in this particular field have helped overcome a number of shortcomings in this field. One such innovation documented in 1591/DEL/2006, which is a co-pending application by the same inventor, a thermal and dent resistant bowl is disclosed. The invention aims to solve the problems of scratches and douches caused on the pet food container by the animals during feeding where such scratched and dented surface is susceptible to microbial growth. Stainless steel is the material of choice for making such apparatus for storing and serving pet food. Not only is it resistant to scratches and gouges caused by the pets is themselves but it also resistant to the harmful fungi and bacteria which breed in the dents caused by these scratches and gouges. The invention claims an improved two layered thermal and dent resistant bowl comprising inner metallic layer and outer thermal resistant layer made from plastic or other similar materials which are compressed and fixed together by interlocking top edges of inner metallic layer and outer thermal resistant layer. 
         [0006]    The bowls containing the food are pushed or moved around by the pet during the act of feeding. This causes spillage of food or liquid contained in the bowls. Such movement of the container on the floor also leads to generation of unwanted noise. Another co-pending application by the same inventor, 1869/DEL/2008, attempts to solve this problem by providing for an anti-slip provision at the bottom of the container as an interference fit attachment to the container. In this manner, the movement of the container is prevented when the pet is drinking or eating from the container bowl. These containers typically contain at least one inner metallic shell which acts as a receptacle for storing food and an outer plastic shell which provides ease of handling and acts as a stand for inner metallic shell. Plastic has been chosen over other materials for outer shell because of its number of desirable properties such as good manufacturability, low cost, ease of post manufacturing printing, embossing, etc. 
         [0007]    As is already known, it is advisable to clean pet feeding containers before next use. Such a practice prevents formation of undesirable microbial growth on the remnants of leftover food or food spilled around the bowls for example on the stand holding such bowls. However, plastic stands or stands made of such other non-metallic materials degrade when subjected to repeated wash cycles in a dishwasher or any other means that uses hot water or detergent. Thus the user cannot effectively clean or disinfect the feeding apparatus before next use. 
         [0008]    Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,089 addresses this problem of cleaning and spillage of food by providing a storage container, a feeding table over the storage container, a splash board surrounding the storage container and feeding table on 3 sides. The feeding table consists of removable dishes. For cleaning, the feeding table is removed by lifting vertically upwards and the splash boards prevent spillage. However, the device cannot be used for all the pets. It is found that pets which are of very large size can still move the device managing to spill food if not on the floor but on the wooden feeding table soiling the area around the feeding bowls. Furthermore, it is seen that such movement of the device also leads to displacement of the bowls. This displacement causes the food to spill outside the feeding bowls and at times, the feeding bowls are even knocked over. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention endures to solve all these problems by underlining the pet feeding containers using an elastomeric material. This elastomeric material helps the feeding containers to stay in place even if the entire feeding apparatus is displaced by the pet. Such underlined feeding containers further prevent generation of unwanted noise such as rattling, clanging, etc. which may be caused due to movement of feeding containers against the stand holding such containers. 
         [0010]    Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide for a pet feeding apparatus which comprises of removable feeding containers thereby permitting complete cleaning of these containers. 
         [0011]    A second object of the present invention is to provide for pet feeding containers where the containers can be easily cleaned and disinfected after every use. 
         [0012]    A third object of the present invention is to provide for a pet feeding apparatus which cannot be moved by the pet by pushing, nudging or knocking over during the act of feeding. 
         [0013]    It is the fourth object of the present invention to provide for feeding containers which do not get displaced even if the pet manages to move the feeding apparatus. 
         [0014]    It is the fifth object of the present invention to prevent spillage of food, water or such other liquids on and around the feeding apparatus thereby maintaining clean an hygienic surroundings. 
         [0015]    It is the sixth object of the present invention to provide for a pet feeding apparatus which prevents movement of the feeding containers thereby preventing generation of unwanted noise and banter. 
         [0016]    It is the seventh object of the present invention to provide for a pet feeding apparatus which is easy to clean thereby providing the pet owner a hassle free experience for rearing the pet. 
         [0017]    An eight object of the present invention is provide for a method of feeding the pets in clean feeding containers. 
         [0018]    The present invention provides for a pet feeding apparatus comprising of removable pet feeding containers placed on a holding device. Removal of the feeding containers allows them to be easily cleaned and disinfected in either convenience means such as a dishwasher or such other means available for the same purpose. The feeding containers and the holding device are coated electrometrically to avoid movement or displacement of the feeding containers or the apparatus itself thereby preventing spillage of food, water or such other liquids thereof. Due to resistance to movement, unwanted noise generated between the feeding containers and the holding device is prevented. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is to be understood that the drawings are presented for illustrative purpose only and the scope of the appended claims is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0020]    FIG. I: Side view of the feeding apparatus. 
           [0021]    FIG. II: Exploded view of a bowl with liner of the feeding apparatus. 
           [0022]    FIG. III: Magnified view of the area designated as “X” in FIG. I. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Top view of the feeding apparatus as shown in FIG. I with the bowls depicted in phantom. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention relates to a pet feeding apparatus  1  for receiving, holding and making food, water and such other liquids available for feeding for pet animals. Referring to drawings a preferred embodiment of the pet feeding apparatus  1  according to the present invention is disclosed.  FIGS. 1-IV  illustrate a feeding apparatus  1  for a pet and its various components thereof. The apparatus essentially consists of two feeding containers  11  supported on a holding device  21  that receives and holds the containers  11 . Both the feeding containers are soft circular and substantially similar in shape. In the present embodiment, both the feeding containers  11  as well as the holding device  21  are made of metallic material. The metal for construction should preferably have desirable properties such as anti-rust, anti-corrosive, non-toxic surface which is smooth, polished and does not get dented or scratched easily. The feeding containers  11  and/or the holding device  21  may optionally be coated with suitable known materials to achieve such desirable properties. In another embodiment, the feeding apparatus  1  may contain either one or more than one containers placed on the same stand wherein the containers may or may not be substantially of the same shape or size. In case of multiple feeding containers, the shape and size may be altered according to aesthetic designs and utility of such feeding containers. 
         [0025]    As seen in FIG. I, each feeding container  11  comprises a bottom wall  13  adjoining a side wall  14  extending upwards and away from the bottom wall  13  and meeting the top end  44  of the container  11 . The bottom wall  13  and the side wall  14  and the top end  44  of the container  11  together define the volume  12  of the container  11  which translates to the amount of food, water or such other liquid that the container  11  can hold. The feeding containers  11  of the present example are substantially circular such that the bottom wall is round and the sidewalls are substantially curvilinear in shape. 
         [0026]    The sidewall  14  of the container  11  has two lateral edges—the first lateral edge  42  and the second lateral edge  43 . The first lateral edge  42  connects the sidewall  14  with the bottom wall  13  of the container  11  and the second lateral edge  43  joins the side wall  14  with the top  44  of the container  11 . The sidewall  14  moves upwards and away from the bottom wall  13  of the container  11 . The upper portion  16  of the sidewall  14  is angled outward as compared to the lower portion  50  of the sidewall  14  when measured with the bottom wall. In an alternate embodiment, both the upper portion  16  and the lower portion  50  of the side wall  14  can be at a same angle. 
         [0027]    The top end  44  of the container  11  ends in an abutment  24  which extends circumferentially along the feeding container  11 . In the present embodiment, the abutment  24  forms a lip  17  extending horizontally and laterally to the top  44  of the sidewall  14 . In the present embodiment, the circumference of the lip  17  is equal to the circumference of the top  44  of the sidewall  14 . The shape of the abutment  24  is dependent on the shape of the feeding container  11 . In an alternate embodiment, abutment may or may not extend throughout the entire length of the top of the sidewall. 
         [0028]    The upper portion  16  of the sidewall  14  is coated or lined with a liner  54  of an elastomeric material or such other materials having resilient properties. Each feeding container  11  has at least one such layer or liner  54  of such resilient material. The resilient materials may be selected from elastomeric materials such as rubber and plastic. The liner  54  is configured such that it fits over exterior of the upper portion  16  of the feeding container  11 . The shape and size of the liner  54  corresponds to the shape and size of the upper portion  16  of the feeding container  11  such that it fits snugly over the exterior portion. The liner  54  has two lateral ends—the upper lateral end  25   a  and the lower lateral end  25   b.  As seen in FIGS. II &amp; III, the upper lateral end  25   a  coats laterally and horizontally the underside of the lip  24  whereas the lower lateral end  25   b  adjoins the projection  23  which runs circumferentially over the sidewall  14  of the container  11 . Therefore, the liner is supported between the abutted lip portion at one end and the projection at the other end. Therefore the projection retains the liner on the upper portion  16  of the side wall  14  and prevents the liner  54  from down to the lower portion  50  of the side wall  14 . The said projection  23  is present on the exterior surface of the feeding container  11 . The projection can be obtained by various processes such as by stamping, molding or such other suitable techniques. It is to be noted that the liner  54  isolates the feeding containers  11  from the holding device  21  and prevents direct contact between the containers  11  and the holding device  21  thereof. Thus the liner prevents a direct metal-metal contact and muffles any generation of sounds such as rattling, clanking, banging, etc. as the pet feeds on food, water or such other liquid provided thereof 
         [0029]    Another advantage achieved by using a liner  54  is prevention of movement or displacement of the feeding containers  11  as the pet feeds in them. During the process of feeding, the pet may push or nudge the containers thereby moving or displacing the container with its mouth. Such movement is prevented with the presence of liner  54  and spillage and splattering of food, water or such other liquids is avoided. Furthermore, the liners  54  of the present invention being resilient in nature are pliable enough to be removed before the washing of the container  11  and can be put back into place before the next use of the feeding containers  11 . 
         [0030]    The feeding containers  11  are placed in a holding device  21  as seen in FIGS. I, III &amp; IV. In the present embodiment, the holding device  21  is wired stainless steel frame of 0.125-inch diameter in thickness. However, in an alternate embodiment, the frame  24  may be made of any other suitable metallic material and may be further coated to achieve desirable properties such as anti-rust, anti-corrosive, non-toxic surface which is smooth, polished and cannot be dented or scratched easily. Evidently seen in FIGS. I &amp; III, the frame of the holding device  21  comprises of a frame  24  surrounding the feeding containers  11  exteriorly and in a substantially elliptical shape. The position “exteriorly” means the exterior portion of the containers  11  which is facing away from each other when the feeding containers are placed into the grooves M and N as seen in FIG. IV as formed by the holding device  21 .  24  is in turn supported by two substantially parallel stainless steel wires  15  which run like cross bars across the central portion of  24 . The cross-bars are further divided into the middle portion  15   a  and the end portions  15   b.  The cross bars  15  run between the two feeding containers  11  such that the middle portion  15   a  supports the feeding containers  11  interiorly thereby ensuring that the feeding containers  11  are now completely supported. The position “interiorly” means that portion of the feeding containers  11  which is facing each other. The cross bars  15  are slightly bent at the end portions  15   b  and connect the cross bars  15  to  24 . Therefore the frame  24  and the cross bars together form the grooves M and N which receive and hold the feeding containers  11 . The frame  24  of the holding device  21  is further supported on a pair of legs  20  on the front as well as the rear side of the feeding apparatus. The pair of legs  20  on each side of the feeding apparatus  1  is joined together by a central portion  18 . This central portion  18  also functions as a handle to hold the feeding apparatus  1  thus making it easy and convenient to carry around wherever desired. The end portion  56  (not seen) of the legs  20  are coated or lined by plugs  22  made of an elastomeric material such as plastics or rubber or such other material having resilient and resistance-to-move characteristics. That is to say that this elastomeric or such other material should generate enough frictional force against the floor on which the feeding apparatus  1  is placed such that the apparatus cannot be moved or displaced when pushed or nudged by the pet animal during the process of feeding. 
         [0031]    In an alternate embodiment, the feeding container of the present invention may be provided with an additional lower lip adjoining the second lateral edge of the side wall and horizontally extending from the bottom wall. The lower lip contains a groove at the underside of the lower lip wherein a ring of a suitable elastomeric material or such other resilient material which generate enough frictional force against the floor or the ground on which such containers may be placed. The ring suitably described as an anti-slip ring can be retained by the groove by an interference fit or such suitable means. 
         [0032]    In yet another alternate embodiment, the feeding apparatus may be a block of steel instead of a wired frame. As afore-mentioned, the design and the shape may depend on the aesthetic designing and utility of the feeding apparatus and the components of the present invention. The solid block may be provided with short legs to which the plugs may be attached for resistance-to-move characteristics. 
         [0033]    Any other aesthetic or otherwise minor variations such as additional handles, embossing, printing, and painting of the feeding apparatus or its components may be done depending for customizing the device according to the requirements and desires of the pet or its owner. 
         [0034]    The present invention also provides for a method for cleaning the pet feeding apparatus  1 , feeding containers  11  and holding device  21  thereof The method includes lifting and removing the used/soiled feeding containers  11  from the grooves M and N. The liner  54  present on the upper portion  16  of the side wall  14  has to be removed. The used/soiled feeding containers  11  which are now without the liner  54  can be cleaned in a dishwasher or such other conventional means for cleaning and can be disinfected thereafter if required. The holding device  21  and the liner  54  can be cleaned separately but not in a dishwasher due to the nature of the liner and plugs  22 . After the feeding containers  11  have been cleaned, disinfected and dried, the liner can be placed back on the upper portion  16 . Because of its resilient and pliant nature, the liner  54  can be removed and placed back without any trouble. The lined containers are then placed back into the grooves M and N for next use. 
         [0035]    The feeding apparatus  1  of the present invention also provides for a trouble-free and a comfortable experience for feeding pets. 
         [0036]    It is to be noted that the invention is explained above with the help of an exemplary embodiment which is presented for the purpose of illustration and description in order to explain the various principles of the invention and their practical application. This is not intended to exhaust or limit the invention to a precise form that is disclosed and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings.