Patent Publication Number: US-2003230244-A1

Title: Pet bowl

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This is a continuation in part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/171,521 filed Jun. 12, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to pet bowls and more particularly to a pet bowl with an inwardly directed lip portion to reduce spillage of food and water.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Pet bowls are known in the art. The bowls may be used to hold food or water. The bowls may be made from metal, plastic, or ceramic and may have a base dimension greater than a rim dimension. The bowls may be circular or rectangular. The shape of the inside portion of the bowl is concave and the inside dimension of the bowl typically increases from the base upward. The wall thickness of the bowls is typically uniform.  
       [0004] A drawback to these bowls is that the sloped inside surface of the bowl allows food or water in the bowl to easily spill out when the bowl is moved. What is needed is a pet bowl that includes an inwardly directed lip portion to impede water and food from spilling from the bowl.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The invention is directed to a pet bowl that includes an inwardly directed lip portion to impede water and food from spilling from the bowl.  
       [0006] In one embodiment the invention provides a pet bowl having an interior volume for holding food or water. The interior volume defined by a bottom and an upwardly extending sidewall. The bowl further having a lip portion that extends inwardly from the surface of the sidewall. The lip portion having at least two downwardly extending portions that cooperate with the openings in the bowl to secure the lip portion to the bowl portion.  
       [0007] In another embodiment, the invention provides a lip for a pet bowl having an inwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion. The profile of the downwardly extending portion shaped to be captured in an opening on a cooperating bowl.  
       [0008] The above and other objects, feature, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a first exemplary pet bowl consistent with the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a side view of a second exemplary pet bowl consistent with the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of a third exemplary pet bowl consistent with the present;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a side view of a fourth exemplary pet bowl consistent with the present invention; and  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a side view of a fifth exemplary pet bowl consistent with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0014]FIG. 1 shows a pet bowl  100  resting on a supporting surface  102 . The bowl  100  has a bottom  110  and an upwardly extending sidewall  112  that form an interior volume  108 . The bowl may be made from a polymeric, metallic, or ceramic material. The general shape of the bowl when viewed from the top may be circular, rectangular, oval, or any other shape. The interior volume  108  may alternately hold water  116  or food  114 . The sidewall  112  may have a straight section that is oriented at an angle “A” to the vertical axis. Alternatively, the sidewall may have an arcuate shape (see FIG. 2). The sidewall  112  may be coupled to a downwardly extending leg portion  106 . The leg portion  106  may have a foot portion  104  that extends outward. A non-slip pad  116  may be coupled to the foot to increase the sliding resistance of the bowl  100 . The feet  104  may elevate the bowl so the bottom surface of the bottom  110  is not in contact with the supporting surface  102 . The downwardly extending legs  106  may increase the outside dimension of the bowl  100  to make the bowl more stable.  
     [0015] A lip  120  may be coupled to the sidewall  112 , the leg portion  106 , or a web formed between the sidewall  112  and the leg portion  106  and extends inwardly a distance “D”. The distance “D” is measured from the inside surface of the sidewall at the upper end. The distance “D” is preferably {fraction ( 1 / 8 )}″ to 1″, more preferably ⅜″ to ¾ and most preferably ½″. The lip  120  may be useful for preventing water or food from spilling out from the interior volume  108  when the bowl is moved. The lip  120  may extend around the entire perimeter of the bowl  100 . The lip  120  may be secured in a recess  122  formed in the sidewall  112 , the leg portion  106 , or a web formed between the sidewall  112  and the leg portion  106 . The lip  120  may be secured using a mechanical fit or an adhesive bond. Alternatively, the lip  120  may be releasably secured to the sidewall  112  to allow for separate washing or to allow for individual replacement. An upwardly standing rib  124  may be coupled to the leg portion  106  or a web formed between the sidewall  112  and the leg portion  106  to add structural support. The lip  120  may be made from a polymeric material, including but not limited to, neoprene, olefin, olefin rubber, PVC, isoprene, butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, and urethane. In profile, the inside surface of the lip  120  may be linear or arcuate. The lip  120  may also have an outwardly extending portion  126  which may be helpful in grasping and lifting the bowl  100  or inserting the lip  120 .  
     [0016] Alternatively, the lip  120  may be integrally formed with the sidewall  112  and/or the leg portion  106  using a collapsible or fuseable core.  
     [0017]FIG. 2 shows a pet bowl  200  having a bottom  210  and a sidewall  212  that form an interior volume  208  for holding water  116  or food  114 . A lip  220  having downwardly projecting tabs  222  and  224  may contact the inside and outside surface of the sidewall  212 . A portion of the sidewall  212  may be sandwiched in between the tabs  222  and  224 . The tabs  222  and  224  do not have to extend around the entire perimeter of the sidewall  212 .  
     [0018]FIG. 3 shows a bowl  300  having a lip  220 ′ having a pair of inwardly directed tabs  222 ′ and  224 ′ that cooperate with a horizontal portion of the sidewall  212 ′. The lip  220  and  220 ′ may be made in a loop or in strips.  
     [0019] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a lip  320  may be compressively coupled to the outside surface of sidewall  312  of a bowl  400 . The lip  320  may be formed in a loop with the dimension of the loop being smaller than the outside dimension of the bowl. To compressively couple the lip  320  to the bowl  400 , the user stretches the loop around the outside of the bowl  400  and then releases, thereby applying a compressive force to the outside surface of the bowl.  
     [0020] The lip  220 ,  220 ′, and  320  may be sold separately from a bowl to allow a user to add a lip to an existing bowl. The lip material may have elastic characteristics that allow the lip to fit a variety of differently sized and shaped bowls.  
     [0021]FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment pet bowl assembly  500  having a bowl portion  520  and a lip portion  502 . The bowl may have a bottom surface  528  and a side surface  530 . The bowl portion may also have a surface  522 , preferably a horizontal surface at the top of the sidewall  530 . The surface  522  has an opening  524 , preferably two or more openings  524 , along the perimeter. The opening  524  preferably extends through the surface  522  and has a width “D S ”. The openings are shown as elongated slots, but other shapes including circles are contemplated.  
     [0022] The lip portion  502  may have an outwardly extending portion  504 , a downwardly extending portion  506 , an inwardly extending portion  508 , and upwardly standing portion  510 . The inside edge  508 A of the inwardly extending lip  508  is preferably elevated relative to the base  508 B. Alternatively, the inside edge  508 A may be level with or below the base  508 B. When coupled to the bowl portion  520 , the inwardly extending portion  508  extends inward a distance “D”. The distance “D” is measured from the inside surface of the sidewall at the upper end. The distance “D” is preferably ⅛″ to 1″, more preferably ⅜″ to ¾ and most preferably ½″. The lip portion  502  may be useful for preventing water or food from spilling when the bowl is moved. The inwardly extending lip portion  508  may extend continuously around the entire perimeter of the bowl  502  and the downwardly extending portion  506  may extend discontinuously around the perimeter of the bowl  502 . In a preferred embodiment, the lip portion includes the inwardly extending portion  508  and the downwardly extending portion  506 .  
     [0023] The downwardly extending portion  506  preferably has a profile that is narrower at a tip  514  than at a base  516 . The preferred profile is generally shaped like an arrowhead. The profile of the downwardly extending portion may also include a section  518 , located above the base  516 , which is narrower than the width “D b ” of base  516 .  
     [0024] The dimension “D b ” is preferably sized slightly greater than the dimension “D S ” of opening  524 . The profile and size of the downwardly extending portion  506  and the dimension of the opening  524  may depend on the types of materials used. In an alternative embodiment, the downwardly extending portions include a plurality of individually spaced protrusions that may be inserted through individual holes in the surface  522  of the bowl.  
     [0025] In an alternative embodiment, the openings are formed in the sidewall  530  of the bowl and the lip includes an inwardly extending portion and an outwardly extending portion. The outwardly extending portion cooperating with the openings formed in the sidewall of the bowl.  
     [0026] In an alternative embodiment, the bowl may be used as a litter box to hold pet litter, preferably cat litter.  
     [0027] It should be understood that various features and options disclosed may be combined and are within the scope of the present invention. The bowl of the present invention may be used as a human bowl.  
     [0028] It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims: