Abstract:
A game feeder has a collapsible feed storage container supported by a detachable support structure to facilitate transportation in the field. A feed dispenser can be attached to the outlet of the feed storage container to dispense feed at selected times.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention. The present invention relates generally to the field of game feeders. More specifically, the present invention discloses a game feeder that can be readily assembled and disassembled for transportation in the field.  
         [0002]     2. Statement of the Problem. Game feeders have been used for many years to dispense feed to game and livestock in the field. Many game feeders simply store and dispense feed at ground level. However, these types of feeders are subject to invasion by vermin and other pests. Other types of feeders can be suspended from trees to make the feed less accessible to unwanted animals. However, this requires a suitably sturdy tree at the desired location, and also typically requires that someone either climb the tree or use a ladder to suspend the feeder. Still other types of feeders are supported above the ground by a supported structure. However, these support structures tend to be rather large, bulky, and difficult to transport in the field, particularly if the desired location for the feeder is not readily accessible by motorized vehicle. Similarly, the feeder itself can also be large, bulky, and difficult to transport. Therefore, a need exists for a game feeder that is supported well above the ground, and that can be readily assembled and disassembled for transportation in the field.  
         [0003]     3. Prior Art. The prior art in the field of feeders includes the following:  
                                                       Inventor   Pat. No.   Issue Date                           Berghofer   1,120,178   Dec. 8, 1914           Markey   1,505,157   Aug. 19, 1924           Stonestreet et al.   4,324,202   Apr. 13, 1982           King   5,036,798   Aug. 6, 1991           Rasmussen   5,259,337   Nov. 9, 1993           Vigesaa et al.   5,275,129   Jan. 4, 1994           Rasmussen   5,463,980   Nov. 7, 1995           Schulz   5,794,561   Aug. 18, 1998           Kleinsasser   5,850,805   Dec. 22, 1998           Sweeney   5,862,777   Jan. 26, 1999           Kolbe   6,053,124   Apr. 25, 2000                      
 
         [0004]     Berghofer shows an example of a feeder having a “knock-down” construction that can be easily disassembled and reassembled. Stonestreet et al. and Rasmussen show other examples of the general concept of a knock-down feeder. The remaining patents disclose a wide variety of other types of feeders, but are only of general interest.  
         [0005]     4. Solution to the Problem. None of the prior art references listed above have a collapsible feed storage box supported by a collapsible support frame. This enables feed to be stored at a considerable height above the ground. The feeder can also be readily disassembled into components that can be easily transported in the field and quickly assembled with only basic tools.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     This invention provides a game feeder having a collapsible feed storage container supported by a detachable support structure to facilitate transportation in the field. A feed dispenser can be attached to the outlet of the feed storage container to dispense feed at selected times.  
         [0007]     These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the game feeder  10 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the feed storage container  20 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the feed storage container  20 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the support structure  30 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view is provided showing the assembled game feeder  10 . The major components of the feeder  10  are a feed storage container  20  and a support structure  30  that supports the feed storage container  20  above the ground. The support structure can be easily detached from the feed storage container  20 , and both components are collapsible so that the feeder  10  can be readily transported in the field and assembled with basic tools and minimal effort.  
         [0014]     In particular, the feed storage container  20  is generally box-shaped in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It has a series of side panels  22  that can fastened together with corner supports  27  to form an enclosure, as illustrated in the exploded view depicted in  FIG. 2 . The side panels  22  are fastened atop a bottom panel  25  to create a container capable of holding a quantity of animal feed. Optionally, the feed storage container can be equipped with a lid  21  to cover the upper opening of the container and protect the feed from weather and pests. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid  21  is mounted by hinges  28  to one of the side panels  22 , so that the lid  21  can be lifted from the opposing edge to gain access to the interior of the feed storage container  20 .  
         [0015]     An outlet  26  in the bottom panel  25  allows feed to be withdrawn from the feed storage container  20 . Optionally, a number of trough sides  23  can be placed inside the bottom portion of the feed storage container  20  to form a chute that funnels feed toward the outlet  26 , as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the feed storage container  20  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . One or more internal dividers  24  can also be inserted into the feed storage container  20  to subdivide its storage space. This can be used to enable several different feeds to be stored simultaneously and mixed as they are dispensed by the feed dispenser  40 .  
         [0016]     A battery-powered spreader box or a similar feed dispensing mechanism  40  can be attached to the bottom  25  of the feed storage container  20  below the outlet  26  by means of a series of brackets  41 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . For example, the feed dispenser  40  can be set to automatically dispense a quantity of feed onto the ground surrounding the feeder on a periodic basis.  
         [0017]     It should be understood that the details of construction of the feed storage container  20  are largely a matter of design choice. The shape, size, number, and proportions of the panels and the types of fasteners used can be selected to meet the needs of the specific user. In the preferred embodiment of the feeder  10 , all of the panels can be disassembled and stacked together in a compact group that can be easily transported in the field, and easily reassembled using only a screw driver.  
         [0018]     The support structure  30  is shown in greater detail in the exploded view shown in  FIG. 4 . The support structure includes a pair of feeder brackets  31  that removable attach to the feed storage container  20 . A ladder extension  32  has a pair of vertical members that can be removably attached to the front of the feeder brackets  31  to form the front legs of the support structure  30 . A foot platform  33  can be removably attached across the ladder extension  32  to serve as an elevated platform for the user to stand on while loading feed into the feed storage container  20 . The ladder extension  32  can also be equipped with series of additional steps forming a ladder. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the ladder portion of the assembly is further subdivided into a ladder base  34  that is removably attachable to the bottom of the ladder extension  32  to reduce the size of the components when disassembled.  
         [0019]     The rear legs of the support structure  30  are formed by a set of leg extensions  35  that removably attach to the back of the feeder brackets  31 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Here again, the size of the disassembled components can be reduced by subdividing each rear leg into a leg base  37  that removably attaches to a leg extension  35 .  
         [0020]     Braces can be added to increase the stability and strength of the support structure  30 . For example, a rear leg brace  36  can be removably secured between the rear leg extensions  35 . Angle braces  38  can also be fastened between the rear legs and the ladder extension to support the rear edge of the foot platform  33 .  
         [0021]     To assemble the feeder support structure  30 , the foot platform  33  is first fastened between the legs of the ladder extension  32  using bolts, screws, or the like. The upper ends of the legs of the ladder extension  32  are the inserted into the forward ends of the feeder brackets  31 . Similarly, the rear leg extensions  35  are inserted into the rear ends of the feeder brackets  31 . The rear leg brace  36  is then attached across the rear leg extensions  35 . Angle braces  38  are fastened on each side of the support structure  30  between the rear leg extensions  35  and the ladder extensions  32  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . These angle braces are also attached to the rear portion of the foot platform  33  for additional support and rigidity. Finally, leg bases  37  are connected to the bottoms of the leg extensions  35 , and the ladder base  34  is attached to the bottom of the ladder extension  32  to complete the support structure  30 , which is now ready to accept the feed storage container  20 .  
         [0022]     The feed storage container  20  is assembled by fitting the side panels  22  together and securing them with the corner supports  27  and screws. The bottom panel  25  slides down through interior of the assembled side panels  22  to form the bottom of the feed storage container  20 . The trough sides  23  are then inserted into the feed storage container and held in place by a tongue-and-groove attachment and screws. The internal divider  24  and lid hinge  28  can also be secured to the feed storage container  20  by screws, bolts, or the like. The lid  21  is then attached to the hinge  28 . Optionally, a support arm can be secured to the lid  21  to support the lid  21  in an open position while loading feed into the feed storage container  20 . Spreader brackets  41  are attached to the bottom  25  of the feed storage container  20  on either side of the outlet  26 . The feed dispenser  40  is then inserted into the spreader brackets  41 . Finally, the assembled feed storage container  20  is attached to the feeder brackets  31  of the support structure  30  by bolts, screws, or the like.  
         [0023]     The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention. Other arrangements or embodiments, not precisely set forth, could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention and as set forth in the following claims.