Abstract:
An improved pet feeding device comprising a substantially box-like structure with restricted access to food and/or water placed therein, access being controlled by one or more apertures in the deice suitable for allowing smaller sized pets to pass through while denying larger sized pets access, thereby improving control over the feeding of individual pets in a multi-pet household.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to a provisional application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/687,702, filed Jun. 7, 2005, entitled Restricted Access Pet Feeding Device, by Sprague, Frederick, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates generally to the field of pet feeding stations. More specifically, the invention is directed to an improved pet feeding device suitable for allowing smaller sized pets access to food while denying larger sized pets access, thereby improving control over the feeding of individual pets in a multi-pet household.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0005]     Pet feeding stations with restricted access are known in the art. They generally involve a type of superstructure to hold or enclose a pet food container and have a means of controlling access, usually through one or more apertures in the superstructure. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,051, “Animal Feeding And Protective Device” (McKinney); U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,291, “Pet Feeding Station” (Justice); U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,689, “Cat Feeder” (Weinert); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,367, “No Dog Cat Feeder” (MacManus). However, known designs are all inferior to some extent. Some devices (e.g., McKinney, MacManus) allow only a portion of the pet to enter the superstructure, thereby causing some pets, such as cats, to avoid using the device because it leaves their bodies exposed while obscuring their vision while feeding. Other devices are not practical from the pet owners perspective (e.g., Justice), being either difficult to clean or unable to contain messes such as spilled food or water created by the feeding pet. Still others require complicated installation or inconvenient siting (e.g., Weinert). None of the prior art devices provides the pet with a secure yet inviting feeding station while minimizing mess to allow for placement anywhere within the home.  
         [0006]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a useful, aesthetically pleasing pet feeding device which permits access to smaller pets while restricting access to larger pets.  
         [0007]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pet feeding device that effectively contains both the pet&#39;s food, water, and food containers and the mess created by the pet while feeding, such that a minimal amount of food and/or water is permitted to spill from the interior of the pet feeding device.  
         [0008]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pet feeding device that is attractive to pets to encourage the pet to use the device.  
         [0009]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pet feeding device which is easy for the pet owner to use and clean.  
         [0010]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pet feeding device which may be placed anywhere in the pet owner&#39;s home.  
         [0011]     Other objectives of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description that follows.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Households with multiple pets often wish to control the feeding behavior of the individual pets. This is especially true with regard to households having both cats and dogs. These animals typically have different dietary needs as well as different feeding habits. Cats typically feed by consuming food in small amounts over the course of an entire day, while dogs typically consume as much food as possible at one time. Thus, households having both cats and dogs often experience the situation where the dogs consume the cats&#39; food as well as their own food, leading to overfeeding of the dogs and underfeeding of the cats. This may also occur where the household has only dogs, but some of the dogs are large and some are small. A typical solution is to segregate the individual pets&#39; food, but that is not often practical. When cats and dogs are involved, segregation may involve taking advantage of a cat&#39;s ability to climb or jump onto elevated surface, where a dog may not have access. Such surfaces may not be available, however, or undesirable for a pet to access (such as a table top), or the smaller pet may be unable to access the surface (do to age or other impairment). Also, messes created by the feeding pet are more visible when elevated. Another solution is to physically separate the pets for feeding. However, this becomes inconvenient for the user, especially with pets which feed over the course of an entire day. A device which restricts access to certain food is therefore desirable to prevent overeating by certain pets while allowing other pets access to that food consistent with their own feeding habits.  
         [0013]     The present invention solves the problem of uncontrolled access to pet food by providing an aesthetically pleasing and functional device to contain the pet food and restrict access thereto. The present invention in its preferred embodiment is substantially a decorative box with a hinged top and a floor, with at least one screened side and one solid side, with at least one aperature in one said solid side, not including the floor. The aperture may be adjusted to control for different sized animals, or to take into account growth in a pet. The aperture is sized to allow access to the interior by a smaller pet but to prevent access by a larger pet. Food and/or water is placed into the present invention through the top, and then the top is closed. The screened side(s) allow the pet to perceive the food, either visually or by smell, thereby encouraging use of the device. They also permit the pet to observe its surroundings while feeding, adding a sense of security for wary pets. Cleaning of the device is facilitated by the hinged top and the screened side(s), and the portability of the device (which may be moved to a location for cleaning different from the location normally used for feeding).  
         [0014]     Other features and advantages of the invention are described below  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pet feeding device depicting the basic components of same, with the top panel in a partially opened position. The access control device is depicted in ghost lines as it is positioned behind the first lateral panel.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a partial plan view of one embodiment of the top panel having a circumferential rim.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a partial plan view of another embodiment of the top panel having a recessed rim.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial plan view of an embodiment of the bottom panel attached to the lateral panels at a point above their respective lower edges. The third lateral panel is not shown.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The restricted access pet feeding device  1  of the present invention comprises six sides defining a substantially enclosed space, said sides interacting with each other to form a substantially rectangular box. The space enclosed by the sides is defined as the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1 .  
         [0020]     Four of the six sides are lateral, each having a substantially vertical orientation. The lateral sides are designated first lateral panel  10 , second lateral panel  20 , third lateral panel  30 , and fourth lateral panel  40 . The first lateral panel  10  and the third lateral panel  30  are oriented substantially parallel to and opposite each other, and the second lateral panel  20  and the fourth lateral panel  40  are oriented substantially parallel to and opposite each other. The first lateral panel  10  is adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to the second lateral panel  20  and the fourth lateral panel  40 . The third lateral panel  30  is adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to the second lateral panel  20  and the fourth lateral panel  40 . Each lateral panel  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  has an upper edge  12 , 22 , 32 , 42  and a lower edge  14 , 24 , 34 , 44 .  
         [0021]     The two sides of the pet feeding device  1  which are not lateral panels form a top to the pet feeding device  1 , designated the top panel  50 , and a bottom to the pet feeding device  1 , designated the bottom panel  60 . The top panel  50  is placed onto the upper edges  12 , 22 , 32 , 42  of the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 . Preferably, the top panel  50  is hingedly attached to the upper edge of one of the lateral panels. In the preferred embodiment the top panel  50  is attached to the upper edge of one of the lateral panels by a full length piano hinge. Said piano hinge may be made of brass or another decorative metal. A spring lid support, attached to the top panel  50  and a lateral panel, may also be used to facilitate positioning the top panel  50 . In an alternate embodiment, the top panel  50  may comprise a circumferential lip  55  which fits over the upper edges  12 , 22 , 32 , 42  of the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  to secure the top panel  50  to the pet feeding device  1 . In yet another alternate embodiment the top panel  50  may comprise a recessed rim  57  which fits against and interior to the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  to secure the top panel  50  to the pet feeding device  1 . A handle  59  may be affixed to the top panel  50  to facilitate its positioning. Padding  92  may be attached to the top panel  50  and/or one or more of the upper edges of the lateral panels to provide a noise dampener at points of contact between the top panel  50  and the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 .  
         [0022]     The top panel  50  is deemed to be in a closed position when it substantially covers an upper portion of the pet feeding device  1 , thereby preventing access to the interior  80  therefrom. The top panel  50  is deemed to be in an opened position when it is positioned to uncover at least a portion of the upper portion of the pet feeding device  1 . When in the closed position the top panel  50  is oriented substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicular to the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 . When in the opened position the top panel  50  permits access into the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1 .  
         [0023]     The bottom panel  60  is non-porous and oriented substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicular to each of the four lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , being joined with the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  in a manner well-known in the art such that seams  62  between each lateral panel  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  and the bottom panel  60  are substantially sealed. The bottom panel  60  may be joined with the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  flush with the lower edges  14 , 24 , 34 , 44  of the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , such that the bottom panel  60  is placed against a surface, such as the floor of a room. Alternately, the bottom panel  60  may be joined with the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 ,  40  at locations above the lower edges  14 , 24 , 34 , 44  of the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , thereby forming a space under the bottom panel  60 . Padding  94  may be attached to the bottom panel  60  and/or one or more of the lower edges of the lateral panels to provide protection at points of contact between the device  1  and a surface on which the device  1  is placed, such as a floor.  
         [0024]     At least one of the five non-bottom panels (e.g., the first, second, third, and fourth lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  and the top panel  50 ) contains a first aperture  70 , said first aperture  70  suitably configured to allow a small animal to enter into the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1 , while preventing a larger animal from entering. Alternately a second aperture, similarly configured, may be located on another of the five non-bottom lateral panels. For example, the device  1  may comprise the first aperture  70  on the first lateral panel  10 ; the device  1  may comprise the first aperture  70  on the first lateral panel  10  and the second aperture on the third lateral panel  30 ; the device  1  may comprise the first aperture  70  on the second lateral panel  20  and the second aperture on the top panel  50 ; or the device  1  may comprise the first aperture  70  on the top panel  50  only. Other combinations and configurations are also contemplated.  
         [0025]     In the preferred embodiment the first aperture  70  has associated with it an aperture control component, suitably adapted to alter the size of the first aperture  70  through which a pet may pass. The aperture control component may be a flat panel  72  which is affixed to a lateral side in a manner suitable to partially or completely cover the first aperture  70 . It may also be a bar which restricts the opening, or an adjustable diaphragm, or any other suitable device. As more of the first aperture  70  is covered by the aperture control component, access there through to the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1  is restricted to ever smaller pets. When the first aperture  70  is fully covered by the aperture control component no access into the interior  80  of the device  1  may occur through the first aperture  70 . If the device  1  comprises a second aperture, there may be associated with the second aperture an aperture control component configured similarly to the aperture control component of the first aperture  70 .  
         [0026]     In the most preferred embodiment the aperture control component is a flat panel  72  dimensioned larger than the first aperture  70  with which it is associated, said flat panel  72  having multiple orifices, each orifice suitable to receive a fastener. The panel containing the first aperture  70  also has multiple orifices which may be aligned with the orifices of the flat panel  72 , with the flat panel  72  affixed to said panel by passing fasteners though the aligned orifices of the flat panel  72  and said panel. The locations of the orifices of said panel determine the placement of the flat panel  72  over the first aperture  70 . If the device  1  comprises a second aperture, there may be associated with the second aperture a flat panel configured similarly to the flat panel  72  of the first aperture  70 , with the panel containing the second aperture configured similarly to the panel containing the first aperture  70 .  
         [0027]     At least one of the lateral panels is comprised at least in part of a screen  96 , permitting visibility into the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1  and allowing natural light to enter and odors to exit the pet feeding device  1 . In the preferred embodiment the screen  96  is constructed of small mesh metal. Said screen  96  may be framed within the remaining portion of the lateral panel or may alternately comprise the entire lateral panel. Preferably two opposite lateral panels comprise screens  96 . A lateral panel containing the first aperture  70  should not comprise a screen  96 .  
         [0028]     The top panel  50 , the bottom panel  60 , and the portions of the lateral panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40  not constructed of screening material  96  should be constructed of a rigid, durable material. In the preferred embodiment this material is wood, preferably pine. It may also be plastic, metal, a composite material, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. The panels  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , 50 , 60  of the pet feeding device  1  may be painted, stained, sculpted, or otherwise made decorative.  
         [0029]     The pet feeding device  1  functions by a user opening the top panel  50  and placing food and/or water, preferably contained in feeding devices such as bowls, within the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1 , then closing the top panel  50 . The pet may see and smell the food and/or water from the exterior of the pet feeding device  1 , thereby enticing the pet to enter the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1  through one of the apertures. Upon entering the pet feeding device  1 , the pet has access to the food and/or water. The pet may place itself entirely within the interior  80  of the pet feeding device  1 , thereby avoiding leaving any portion of its body exposed while feeding. Larger pets cannot enter through the aperture(s), thereby preventing them from disturbing the feeding pet and preventing them from accessing the food and/or water placed within the pet feeding device  1 . Any messes created by the feeding pet will be substantially contained within the pet feeding device  1 . Messes may be easily cleaned by the user opening the top panel  50 . The pet feeding device  1  may also be easily removed from its normal location to a cleaning location, and cleaning may be accomplished remotely, for example with a hose. By containing the messes created by the feeding pet, the pet feeding device  1  is suitable for placement anywhere within the home, and may be easily relocated even when containing food and/or water.  
         [0030]     Modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments of the invention without departing from the subject or spirit of the invention.