Abstract:
A game feeder utilizes an improved feed dispensing mechanism that allows feed to enter the feed dispensing mechanism from the side. A game feeder utilizing the improved feed dispensing mechanism prevents access to the feed through the feed dispensing mechanism thereby eliminating the need to keep the game feeder out of the reach of wild animals.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/282,875, filed Apr. 11, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to game feeders, and in particular, to game feeders having an improved feed dispensing mechanism. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Game feeders are used primarily to attract wild animals into certain areas and to supplement wild animals&#39; diets. Game feeders are used to feed a variety of species ranging from large animals, such as deer, to fur bearing animals and even fish. During times when natural food sources are scarce, such as during a severe winter or a population boom, it is difficult for a herd of deer, or other animals, to find adequate food, and game feeders are used to supplement their natural diet. Game feeders are also used for recreational purposes to increase the likelihood of spotting a certain species in a certain area. 
     Major disadvantages of current game feeders are their high visibility, difficulty to set up, difficulty to fill, and uncontrolled feed dispersion pattern. These problems result from the feed dispersion mechanism, which must be kept out of wild animals&#39; reach in order to prevent the animals from having unfettered access to the feed stored in the game feeder. 
     Wild animals are very sensitive to new and strange items appearing in their habitat, and, although a game feeder contains and disperses feed for the wild animals, its presence can disturb animals&#39; natural habits and even frighten them away. Current game feeders are difficult to camouflage because their design requires a large structure that does not fit in well with animals&#39; natural habitat. Available game feeders have a feed storage area that narrows at the bottom, usually into an inverted cone shape. The bottom portion of the feed storage area is positioned a slight distance away from the feed dispensing mechanism. Feed dispensing mechanisms typically have a motor and power source connected to a paddle, which is usually a flat disc that is roughly parallel to the ground and has raised paddles thereon, and a control element such as a timer or simple computer. Such feed mechanisms are well known in the art, and disperse small amounts of feed intermittently. Feed in the feed storage area is prevented from draining out by the close proximity of the feed dispensing mechanism to the opening at the bottom of the feed storage area 
     When the feed dispensing mechanism is operated, the motor spins a disc with fins thereon to disperse feed randomly in a circular area. While the feed dispensing mechanism is operating, feed flows from the feed storage area to replace the feed that was resting on the disc, thus providing a constant supply of feed to be dispersed. When the feed dispensing mechanism stops, the feed resting on the disc prevents further feed from flowing out of the feed storage area. Such feed dispensing mechanisms need to be kept out of wild animals&#39; reach because an animal could eat all of the feed in the feed storage area simply by eating the feed from the disc. One solution to prevent wild animals from having access to the feed on the disc was to place a wire cage around the feed dispensing mechanism, however some animals such raccoons and squirrels can reach through the cage to the feed, thus depriving other animals such as deer of the feed. 
     Another solution to prevent access to the feed on the disc is to keep the entire game feeder out of reach of wild animals. This requires either hanging the feeder in a tree, or supporting the game feeder on long poles above the ground. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,777. Hanging feeders in trees typically results in poor feed dispersion because of the proximity to the tree and the uncontrollable, circular feed dispersion that results in feed becoming caught in the tree or piled at the base of the tree. The major disadvantage of supporting the game feeder on poles is that the game feeder must be kept seven to twelve feet above the ground, resulting in a large structure that is difficult to camouflage. Additionally, game feeders on long poles are difficult to set up, especially in remote areas and/or on uneven terrain, and are difficult to fill with feed because of their height above the ground. 
     There is a need for reducing the visibility of a game feeder. There is also a need to provide a game feeder that delivers feed in a controlled direction. There is an additional need to provide a game feeder that is easy to set up and easy to refill. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above needs, and others, are addressed by the present invention, which provides a game feeder with an improved feed dispersion mechanism. A paddle, for example a disc with raised fins thereon, is aligned to be substantially perpendicular to the ground when the game feeder is set up. The improved feed dispersion mechanism is also configured to prevent access to the feed without requiring the use of a cage and without requiring suspension of the game feeder at a great height above the ground. 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the invention relates to an improved feed dispensing mechanism. The improved feed dispensing mechanism comprises a housing and a paddle contained within the housing. A feed connector connected to the housing is configured to deliver feed to the paddle, and an agitator connected to the paddle is configured to prevent feed from flowing through the feed connector when the paddle is not moving and to enable feed to flow through the feed connector to the paddle when the paddle is moving. 
     Accordingly, another aspect of the invention relates to a game feeder. The game feeder comprises a feed source with a feed conduit connected to the feed source. A feed dispensing mechanism is connected to the feed conduit and comprises a housing and a paddle contained within the housing. The housing also comprises a feed connector that connects to the feed conduit. The feed conduit is configured to deliver feed to the paddle through the feed connector, and an agitator connected to the paddle is configured to prevent feed from flowing through the feed conduit when the paddle is not moving and to enable feed to flow through the feed conduit to the paddle when the paddle is moving. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a housing of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the housing depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts the housing depicted in FIG. 1 pivoted about a hinge to display the left and right sides of the housing. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a left side of the housing depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts a front and side view of a bracket used with the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts a front and side view of a motor-mount used with the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 depicts an assembly view of an agitator and paddle used with the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 depicts a top and front view of a paddle used with the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 depicts an electric motor used with the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 10 depicts a feed dispensing mechanism in accordance with the embodiment depicted in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An improved game feeder and feed dispensing mechanism are described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-know structures and devices are shown in blocked-diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. 
     Current feed dispensing mechanisms allow direct access to the feed source and must be kept away from wild animals. The present invention prevents wild animals from accessing feed through the feed dispensing mechanism without requiring that the feed dispensing mechanism be kept out of wild animals&#39; reach. 
     FIG. 1 depicts a housing  100  utilized with an embodiment of the present invention. The housing  100  comprises two halves,  306  and  308  (see FIG.  3 ), attached by a hinge  202  (see FIG. 2) and are held together in the closed position through internal resistance of the hinge  202 . Housing  100  is made using a rigid material, for example, metal, plastic, wood, lucite, fiberglass, etc. Housing  100  also comprises a feed connector  102 . The feed connector  102  is a structure that is configured to attach a feed conduit  1004 / 1002  (see FIG. 10) to the housing  100 . 
     Housing halves  306  and  308  are separable, or movably connected to one another, in order to permit a paddle  800  to be placed in the interior of housing  100 . The paddle depicted in FIG. 8 comprises a disc  802  with fins  804  attached to one face of the disc  802 . The fins  804  are attached to the disc  802  by rivets  806 . Fins  804  can also be attached in any other manner, for example, by welding, screws, gluing, or can be formed integrally as part of disc  802 . An aperture  808  in the center of disc  802  allows the paddle  800  to be attached to driveshaft extension  702  (see FIG. 7) as described in detail below. Paddle  800  is placed between housing halves  306  and  308  so that the fins  804  project towards housing half  308 . Paddle  800  is made using a rigid material, for example, metal, plastic, wood, lucite, fiberglass, etc. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, attachment of the paddle  800  to the driveshaft extension  702  is described. For clarity, the housing  100  is not shown, however paddle  800  is placed proximate to housing half  306  so that the face of disc  802  without fins  804  thereon is adjacent the interior portion of housing half  306 . Nut  710  is spun onto the threaded portion  708  of driveshaft extension  702 . Driveshaft extension  702  is then inserted, threaded portion  708  first, through aperture  302  (see FIG. 3) in housing half  306 , then through aperture  808  (see FIG. 8) in paddle  800 . The nut  710  can be spun along the threaded portion  708  of driveshaft extension  702  to adjust the projection of driveshaft extension  702  through housing half  308  and paddle  800 . Nut  710  directly contacts paddle  800 . Once the driveshaft extension  702  has been properly adjusted using nut  710 , nut  712  is spun onto the threaded portion  708  of driveshaft extension  702  and tightened against paddle  800  in order to lock paddle  800  into place. Driveshaft extension  702  is made using a rigid material, for example, metal, plastic, wood, lucite, fiberglass, etc., as are the nuts  710  and  712 . 
     Still referring to FIG. 7, an agitator  700  is attached to driveshaft extension  702 . The agitator  700  comprises an elongate, flexible portion  706  and an attachment portion  704 . In the depicted embodiment, attachment portion  704  is a nut that is spun onto threaded portion  708  of driveshaft extension  702 . Agitator  700  is made using a material that undergoes plastic deformation, i.e., will bend and return to its original position and shape once the bending force has been removed, for example, spring steel, plastics, rubber, etc. 
     Once paddle  800 , agitator  700  and driveshaft extension  702  have been assembled, or otherwise placed together, housing halves  306  and  308  are brought together. Housing halves  306  and  308  may be fastened to one another, but such fastening is not required. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10, motor-mount  600  is attached to housing half  306 . Apertures  604  in flange  602  are aligned with apertures  304  (see FIG. 3) on housing half  306 . Screws, rivets or other fasteners are passed through apertures  304 / 604  to secure motor-mount  600  to housing half  306 . The inner portion  610  of motor-mount  600  is dimensioned to allow driveshaft extension  702  to pass therethrough. Driveshaft extension  702  rotates within portion  610 . Grease can be used to reduce friction between portion  610  and driveshaft extension  702 . Motor-mount  600  is made using a rigid material, for example, metal, plastic, wood, lucite, fiberglass, etc. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, driveshaft extension  702  is attached to an electric motor  900 . The non-threaded end of driveshaft extension  702  is affixed to the driveshaft  904  of electric motor  900 , for example, using a press fit or internal threads in a bore in the non-threaded end of driveshaft extension  702  and a threaded driveshaft  904  (preferably the threaded connection is such that when electric motor  900  turns driveshaft  904  the load on driveshaft extension  702  tightens the connection). When driveshaft extension  702  is connected to driveshaft  904 , flange  608  (see FIG. 6) is placed against electric motor  900 . Motor-mount  600  is attached to electric motor  900  by flange  608  just as flange  602  is attached to housing half  306 , or in any well-known manner. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 10, the housing/motor assembly described above is attached to a feed source  1006 . Bracket portion  502 , which is T-shaped, is attached to the bottom of feed source  1006  in any well-known manner, for example, using screws  508 , or bolts, rivets, welds, glue, etc. Bracket portion  506  is placed over motor-mount  600  and then fastened to bracket portion  502  in any well-known manner, for example, using bolts  510 , or screws, rivets, welds, glue, etc. Bracket  1010  is attached to bracket  500  in any well-known manner, for example, welds, rivets, screws, bolts, glue, etc. Bracket  1010  contains a power source and controller  1000  such as a battery and timer, or other power source for electric motor  900  and controller, such as a simple computer. Power source and controller  1000  is connected to electric motor  900  in any well-known manner. Brackets  500  and  1010  are made using a rigid material, for example, metal, plastic, wood, lucite, fiberglass, etc. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, feed from feed source  1006  is connected to the housing/motor assembly through a feed conduit comprising fitting  1004  and elbow  1002 . Fitting  1004  is attached to the bottom of feed source  1006 , for example, using threads, welds, glue, a flange and rivets/screws, etc. An aperture in the bottom of feed source  1006  opens the interior of feed source  1006  to the interior of fitting  1004 . Elbow  1002  is attached to fitting  1004  in any well-known manner, for example, using threads, welds, glue, a flange and rivets/screws, etc. Elbow  1002  is then attached to feed connector  102  in any well known manner, for example, using threads, welds, glue, a flange and rivets/screws, etc. allowing feed to flow from the interior of feed source  1006  into housing  100 . 
     Agitator  706  extends through housing  100  and feed connector  102  into elbow  1002 . When electric motor  900  is off, agitator  706  prevents feed from flowing out of feed source  1002 , through fitting  1004 , elbow  1002 , feed connector  102  and housing  102 . Agitator  706  does not need to project all the way through feed connector  102  as long as it prevents feed from flowing. Because the feed is held in place by the agitator  706  in elbow  1002 , it is safely out of reach of wild animals who would have to reach through housing  100 , feed connector  102  and into elbow  1002  in order to reach the feed. A lid (not shown) on top of feed source  1006  prevents access by wild animals through the top of the game feeder. 
     When the controller in  1000  activates the power source in  1000  and causes electric motor  900  to start, agitator  706  turns, vibrates and loosens the feed within elbow  1002 /feed connector  102 . The turning and vibrating of agitator  706  causes feed to flow into housing  100 . Because electric motor  900  is on, paddle  800  is also turning and disperses the feed out of housing  100  in a substantially linear pattern. 
     The feed dispensing mechanism depicted in FIG. 10 is easily attached to the bottom of a feed source  1006  (for example a 50 gallon drum, a 5 gallon bucket or other container for holding feed) and does not project far below the bottom of the feed source  1006  (less than 6 inches). Because wild animals cannot reach the feed through the feed dispensing mechanism, there is no need to support feed source  1006  high above the ground. All that is needed is enough clearance for the feed dispensing mechanism, ideally ½ a foot to 2 feet. Feed source  1006  is supported using any well-known structure (not shown) such as legs, a cylindrical structure with a cut out to allow feed dispensing, etc. 
     In alternate embodiments, the housing halves  306  and  308  are held together using any mechanism that does not interfere with the paddle  800  (see FIG. 8) that is surrounded by the housing  100 . For example, clasps, buckles, VELCRO, posts on one half that mate with holes in the other half, etc. are used to secure housing halves  306  and  308  together. Additionally, the housing halves  306  and  308  do not need to be held together as the assembled feed dispensing mechanism will hold the housing halves  306  and  308  together. 
     In another embodiment, the housing halves  306  and  308  are not hinged together, but are releasable with respect to one another in order to permit access to the interior of housing  100 . 
     In other embodiments the paddle comprises a series of flattened spokes attached about a hub. 
     In yet other embodiments, the feed connector  102  ranges from a fitting as depicted in FIG. 1 to a series of apertures that permit a feed conduit  1004 / 1002  to be attached to the housing  100 . 
     Further embodiments comprise a driveshaft extension  702  attached to paddle  800  in other manners from that described above. For example, a small flange welded onto driveshaft extension  702 , or formed as part of driveshaft  702 , that fits through aperture  302  is used to either weld paddle  800  to the flange, or attach paddle  800  with fasteners such as rivets or screws. Paddle  800  is welded directly to driveshaft extension  702  or formed integrally with driveshaft extension  702  in other embodiments, which then requires insertion of driveshaft  702  through housing half  308  in a manner reverse to that described above. 
     In other alternate embodiments, attachment portion  704  is welded or otherwise attached to driveshaft extension  702 . Alternatively, agitator  700  is formed integrally with driveshaft extension  702 . 
     In further embodiments, motor-mount  600  is attached to housing half  306  in any well-known manner, for example studs on the housing half  306  are passed through apertures  604  and used to secure flange  602 , or flange  602  is welded or glued to housing half  306 . In additional embodiments, ball bearings are inserted within portion  610  to reduce friction between portion  610  and driveshaft extension  702 . 
     In yet other embodiments, power sources and motors other than a battery and an electric motor are used. For example, a fuel-cell, solar cells and electric motor, etc. 
     Other, alternate embodiments utilize any conduit structure that conveys feed from the feed source  1006  to the feed dispensing mechanism. For example, flexible hosing, piping, etc. Conduit materials include rigid materials such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), metal, plastics, wood, etc., and flexible materials such as rubber, polyethelyne, etc. 
     A game feeder according to the present invention can be placed close to the ground and have the feed dispersed in a predictable manner. This allows a game feeder according to the present invention to be easily concealed, to be easily filled, and easily set up. Because the direction of the feed dispersion is known, a game feeder according to the present invention can be placed close to, or suspended from, flora without having the feed becoming accumulated in the flora. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to the most practical and preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.