Patent Publication Number: US-2003221629-A1

Title: Interactive artificial aquatic animal feeding device and method

Description:
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/366,990, filed Mar. 25, 2002. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates generally to feeding captive aquatic animals. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interactive, non-living, aquatic animal feeding device and method.  
       [0004] 2. Related Art  
       [0005] Hobbyists, researchers, zookeepers, and other aquarists require some means of effectively and safely feeding aquatic animals they keep in captivity. Such animals are often kept in aquariums of various sizes and shapes that allow the animals to be viewed and displayed. A vast array of these aquatic animals exists, each having diverse nutritional needs and feeding habits. In order to enable these individuals to properly care for this multitude of aquatic animals, they must have an effective means to feed them.  
       [0006] The primary means currently utilized to feed these animals include fish flakes of preserved food matter, frozen shrimp or krill formulations, and live feeder fish. The type or means of feeding these animals depends upon the specific needs of the feeding aquatic animal.  
       [0007] Fish flakes typically can be stored for long periods of time without any refrigeration. In addition, the manufacturer can adjust the nutritional components of the flakes to target different species of aquatic animals. Such flakes, however, typically only successfully feed top-feeders, and uneaten flakes often sink to the bottom of the aquarium and decompose, causing biochemical hazards for the aquatic animals.  
       [0008] Frozen shrimp, krill, and other non-processed formulations typically have the benefit of attracting many scavenging bottom feeders and many invertebrates that do not eat fish flakes. Because shrimp and krill are the actual food of some aquatic animals, acceptance by those aquatic animals is greatly improved due to the genuine texture, appearance, and scent of the shrimp and krill. Frozen shrimp and krill formulations, however, typically have a shorter shelf life than fish flakes and usually require refrigeration. Unlike fish flakes, the quality and nutritional value of this natural food source can be difficult to control.  
       [0009] Neither fish flakes nor frozen shrimp formulations are capable of feeding non-scavenging aquatic animals that require some sort of engagement from their prey. Such animals are often fed with live feeder fish, such as feeder goldfish, minnows, guppies, and other smaller fish. Live feeder fish can provide the necessary attack stimulus for most aquatic animals, and can have genuine characteristics, as they are the actual prey of many species.  
       [0010] Using live feeder fish, however, presents many problems. Most significantly is the cost and inconvenience associated with keeping and obtaining live feeder fish. Consumers must either frequent a live feed store or maintain a separate tank just to store the live feeder fish. Stores that provide live feeder fish are generally only located in metropolitan areas, and even at that they are not very prevalent. Maintaining a separate aquarium is expensive and can require a tank, aeration, heater, and a biological filter. In addition, a significant amount of time is involved to care for an aquarium including water testing, water changes, and feeding. This additional cost accumulates because live feed stores also have to maintain separate tanks for the live feeder fish. Furthermore, consumers often require certain live feeder fish to feed their particular aquatic species, and due to the plethora of aquatic species which require various live feeder fish, a consumer&#39;s ability to keep certain species is severely limited by the impracticality of stores making the expansive number of desired feeder fish available.  
       [0011] Another significant disadvantage of feeding with live feeder fish is the danger of introducing diseases and pathogens to the aquarium. Whenever living fish are added to an aquarium, there is a significant risk that the fish could have a contagious disease or pathogen that may infect the other aquatic animals. Introduced diseases can have a devastating impact on an aquarium, possibly killing all of the aquatic animals. As a preventative, many consumers maintain quarantine systems to ensure that new species are free of disease before adding new animals to their aquariums, albeit at a great cost.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a device and method for effectively and safely feeding various types of aquatic animals, including those requiring some engagement from their prey. In addition, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a device and method for allowing interaction between the aquatic animals and the feeder.  
       [0013] The invention provides a device and method for interactively feeding (and/or medicating) aquatic animals using a body with non-living edible material that is secured to an elongated lead that can be held by a user. The body can be disposed in an aquarium and manipulated by the user.  
       [0014] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aquatic animal feeding device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another aquatic animal feeding device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a method of feeding an aquatic animal with the device of either FIG. 1 or  2 ;  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package for the aquatic animal feeding device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0019]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the package of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0020] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.  
     [0021] As shown in FIG. 1, an aquatic animal feeding device, indicated generally at  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown for feeding a captive aquatic animal  14  (FIG. 3). The captive aquatic animal  14  (FIG. 3) can include various breeds or species of fish, other aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates, etc. In addition, the captive aquatic animal  14  (FIG. 3) can be captive by, or contained by, an aquarium  18  (FIG. 3) or the like. As used herein, the term aquarium refers to aquariums, fish tanks, tanks, fish bowls, backyard ponds or pools, and similar enclosures used for keeping aquatic animals captive.  
     [0022] The device  10  includes an elongated lead  22  and a body  26  secured directly to a distal end of the elongated lead. The body  26  can include a bore  28  in which the lead  22  is disposed. The body  26  includes a non-living edible material for the aquatic animal  14  (FIG. 3). In one aspect, the body  26  itself can be formed by the edible material.  
     [0023] The elongated lead  22  can include a monofilament line. However, any device can be used that provides an elongated lead attached to the body  26 . In one aspect, the elongated lead  22  can be flexible, resilient, and/or elastic. A flexible lead can allow the body to move. A resilient and elastic lead can form a spring, or spring-like member, and can impart an oscillating and/or sporadic movement to the body. Such a lead can help give the body fluid movements through the water. The elongated lead can be any length and can be adjusted based on the size of the aquarium  18 .  
     [0024] In one aspect, the body  26  or edible material can include a mixture of water, Gelatin, and a composition of non-living edible materials, such as fishmeal, vitamins, oils, and/or minerals. The Gelatin can allow the edible material to be formed into a desired shape, and can also bind the various materials together. In another aspect, the body  26  or edible material can include medication, probiotics, and/or imunostimulants. The edible material can include any material or substance used for the sake of providing nutrition, inedication, probiotics, or imunostimulants. In addition, the edible material can include fillers, colorants, flavors, scents, etc. The use of non-living edible materials allows the invention to be stored for long periods. Preservatives can be added to allow storage without refrigeration. In addition, the edible materials can be adjusted in order to target the nutritional requirements of different species. The food can be bound together in the body  26  so that the uneaten portion does not fall to the bottom of the aquarium  18 . Thus, the remaining portion can be reused, preventing waste and the decomposition of uneaten food that leads to biochemical hazards. The body  26  can also consist of dry formulations known in the art that are designed to slowly feed aquatic animals  14  over an extended period of time. With such a dry formulation, the body  26  can provide food to an aquarium  18  over several days by being placed in the aquarium  18  so that the aquatic animals  14  can slowly peck at the body  26 .  
     [0025] The composition of the body  26  can be adjusted by varying components of differing buoyancies to obtain a desired buoyancy of the body  26 . Appropriate buoyancies help the body  26  obtain fluid movements through the water. For example, bodies  26  with greater buoyancy would merely float, and bodies  26  with less buoyancy would sink quickly and merely hang on the lead  22 .  
     [0026] A mixture of edible materials, Gelatin, and heated water can be poured into a mold which has the elongated lead  22  positioned in the mold so that the cooling mixture surrounds the end of the elongated lead  22 . The cavity  58  (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the package  50  (FIG. 4), described below, can serve as the mold. This can reduce packaging expenses since the bodies  26  are formed directly in the packaging  50 . In addition, the packages  50  can be reused. After cooling, the Gelatin swells and the elongated lead  22  is directly secured to the body  26  by a force of friction. Other embodiments of the body  26  may include binders in the edible material that act to hold the edible material together and/or secure it to the elongated lead  22 .  
     [0027] In another aspect, the body can also include frozen formulations of shrimp, krill, or any other edible substance. The outer portions of a body  26  of these frozen formulations can slowly melt and break away from the body  26 , simultaneously providing effective feeding for top, middle, and bottom feeding scavengers, invertebrates, and species that require engagement from their prey. The use of shrimp, krill, or other natural food formulations can aid the effective feeding of the aquatic animals  14 . Shrimp and krill are actual prey for many species, therefore formulations of shrimp and krill have genuine characteristics of prey such as scent, appearance, and texture. For instance, shrimp and krill formulations can have a fleshy feel to them increasing acceptance by the aquatic animals  14 . The body  26  can have an authentic characteristic of an authentic food source of the aquatic animal  14  to attract a feeding response from the aquatic animal  14 . Authentic refers to any characteristic that attracts a feeding response in the aquatic animal  14 . The body  26  can be shaped and/or sized to have a shape and/or size, and thus appearance, of an authentic food source. For example, the body  26  can be shaped as a fish, as shown. Other shapes and sizes, such as those giving the appearance of the prey of an aquatic animal  14  can also be used. Examples of possible shapes and sizes include, but are not limited to, the shapes and sizes of goldfish, guppies, worms, shrimps, and minnows. Shapes can also be designed to effectuate movement of the body  26  through the water. Shapes and sizes which provide authentic appearance and movement can aid in attracting a feeding response from the aquatic animals  14 . Similarly, the body  26  or edible material also can include a texture of an authentic food source.  
     [0028] In addition, the body  26  or edible material can have a color or can be colored to include a color of an authentic food source. Coloring can be accomplished by the use of dyes included in the edible material, or applied to the body  26 . The body  26  can include a color of the prey of the aquatic animal  14  to aid in attracting a feeding response. In another aspect, the body can be colored so that it catches the attention of the aquatic animal  14  (e.g. shiny silver).  
     [0029] In addition, the body  26  or edible material can include scent attractants or maskers, as known in the art, to attract aquatic animals  14 . The scent can include a scent of an authentic food source. Examples include, but are not limited to, garlic oil, shrimp oil, menhaden oil, anise oil, amino acids, artificial and natural fish, seafood oils, or extracts of worms, planktons, fish, shrimp, squid, crabs, or artificial equivalents. In addition, the body  26  or edible material can also contain flavoring materials or a certain composition of ingredients providing a desired flavor of an authentic food source.  
     [0030] Referring to FIG. 2, another aquatic animal feeding device  10   b  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown which is similar in many respects to that described above. The device  10   b  can include an elongated lead  22  secured by disposing the elongated lead through a bore  28  in the body  26 . In addition, the lead  22  can include an enlargement, such as a knot  32 , at the end, as shown at  32 , or within the body, as shown at  32   b , in order to maintain the body  26  on the lead. The enlargement or knot  32  can be larger than the bore  28  so that the enlargement or knot  32  cannot pass through the bore. The knot  32  can be formed by tying the knot  32  in the lead. The body can be formed around the knot  32   b  by placing the lead through the slits  66  (FIG. 5) so that the knot  32   b  is centered within the cavity  58 , and then pouring the non-living edible material into the cavity to mold the body  26  around the knot. The enlargement or knot  32  or  32   b  can provide extra resistance to prevent the body  26  from separating from the lead. This allows the body to be subjected to powerful strikes from an aquatic animal without separation from the lead. Furthermore, the body is secured to the lead without the use of a capturing device allowing safe and effective interactive feeding of the aquatic animal  14 .  
     [0031] Referring to FIG. 3, a method of feeding aquatic animals  14  in an aquarium, and a method of using the devices described above, is shown. The user can hold or grip the elongated lead  22  at a proximate end opposite the body  26 . The body  26  can be inserted into the aquarium  18  or the water containing the captive aquatic animal  14 . As described above, the buoyancy of the body can be designed so that the body does not float on the surface, but sinks below the surface of the water. The user can manipulate the placement of the body  26  by displacing the lead  22 , indicated by arrow  36 . Thus, the user can selectively position the body  26  proximate the aquatic animal  14  by selectively positioning and manipulating  36  the lead  22  to displace or drag the body  26 . A specific animal  14  can be targeted for feeding or enticed to come out into the open for observation. In addition, the user can manipulate other movement and/or acceleration of the body  26 , indicated by arrow  40 , to mimic movements of an authentic food source of the aquatic animal. Thus, in addition to looking, smelling and/or tasting like an authentic food source, the body  26  can also be made to act or move like the authentic food source. By emulating the movement of prey, the invention can stimulate a predatory response from an aquatic animal  14 , and thereby effectuate the feeding of aquatic animals  14  that require some engagement from their prey without the costs and inconveniences associated with using live feeder fish. It will be appreciated that the feeding device  10  or  10   b  allows the user to go beyond mere observance of the aquatic animals to actually interacting with the aquatic animals by manipulating the placement and movement of the body. An example of such interaction includes “playing” with an aquatic animal  14  by attempting to entice a predatory response or maneuvering the body to avoid attack. Another example includes experiencing the feeling of an aquatic animal  14  striking at the body without capturing or causing harm to the aquatic animal.  
     [0032] Again referring to FIG. 3, a method of storing the body  26  in a liquid or gelatinous preservative  44  is shown. Liquid and gelatinous preservatives  44  known in the art can be used to store bodies consisting of non-preserved edible material without refrigeration. A container  48  of the liquid or gelatinous preservative  44  can be situated proximate to the aquarium  18  so that users can conveniently feed or interact with the aquatic animals  14 . The use of a liquid or gelatinous preservative  44  for storage enables the body to include non-preserved feed such as formulations including shrimp and krill without the need for refrigeration.  
     [0033] Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of devices  10  or  10   b  can be packaged in a package  50  that can maintain the form or shape of the bodies  26  (FIGS. 1 and 2), and can maintain or store the leads  22  (FIGS. 1 and 2). The package  50  can include a shell  54  or clamshell that can include a pair of halves pivotally coupled by a hinge or living hinge so that the halves can fold together to enclose the devices therein, and can fold apart to expose the devices. The shell  54  or halves can include a plurality of cavities  58 , each partially or substantially surrounded by a perimeter wall  62 . The cavities  58  can be sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the bodies  26  (FIGS. 1 and 2). Thus, the cavities  58  can help maintain the shape or form of the bodies, and/or resist contact between the bodies. A slit  66  can be formed through the wall  62  proximate each cavity  58  to receive and bind the leads  22  (FIGS. 1 and 2). An array or grid of channels  70  can be formed between the cavities  58  to store the excess length of the elongated leads. A ridge  74  can be formed around a portion of the perimeter wall  62  forming a channel  78  around the wall to store the elongated lead  22  (FIGS. 1 and 2). The lead  22  can be wound around the perimeter wall  62 , and the end of the lead can be bound by inserting it through one of the slits  66  in the wall to prevent loosening of the lead.  
     [0034] It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and described above in connection with the exemplary embodiments(s) of the invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.