Patent Publication Number: US-2005115508-A1

Title: Healthy pet appropriate food and drink table

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to pet feeding apparatus and in particular to a pet feeding table dispensing both pet food and water and structured to a pet appropriate height and configuration for pet health and convenient access.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      It has been found that the health of a dog, cat, or other such pet can be improved by providing a feeding position which is raised above the ground or floor. This reduces or eliminates the need for the dog to position its head downward during feeding. Among the benefits of an elevated feeding position are that the pet swallows less air during feeding. Moreover, pets suffering from arthritis can feed with reduced pain. Overall, an elevated feeding position provides a more comfortable and convenient as well as a healthy feeding position.  
      While there are structures known in the prior art which provide an elevated position for a feeding vessel, these structures have many significant disadvantages. The disadvantages include feeding vessels which are fixed to the support structure or to the floor, or feeding vessels which have curved bottom surfaces. These types of feeding vessels are inconvenient to fill with foodstuff, such as pet food or water. Moreover, such feeding vessels cannot be placed on the ground or floor for use separate from the support structure.  
      Feeder apparatuses of the prior art have included many different designs. For small animals, a feeder apparatus may include non-removable feeder vessels which are typically molded into a one-piece feeder apparatus of approximately 2-3 inches in height. Obviously, a feeder apparatus of this size does not require legs for support but does not provide adequate height for healthy eating.  
      Many prior art pet feeders are fabricated of synthetic materials, such as plastic. These synthetic materials are fabricated of materials which may be unhealthy for the pet to consume if a piece of the feeder is chipped off and eaten and some of the synthetic materials also give off unhealthy gases. Some of the synthetic materials, especially if they become scratched are difficult to clean. They are also lightweight and tend to move around as the pet is trying to eat.  
      For larger animals, those requiring a feeder apparatus having a height of six inches or greater, feeder apparatuses of the art tend to be large structures with legs for support or of a multi-piece box design. A feeding apparatus with foldable or adjustable legs tend to have support problems. Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,376 it is taught a feeding apparatus for larger animals wherein the legs are hollow to allow ballast to provide support, which requires filling up the legs with water or sand or something else that can be poured in for weight. In some structures, the unit may have foldable legs to provide a reduced “footprint” of the feeder assembly for shipping or display. Such detachable or folding legs tend to become unstable during prolonged use.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,376, issued Apr. 23, 1996 to Tsengas, depicts an animal feeder assembly that provides food and water at an elevated position from a support surface and is therefore particularly suited for feeding large dogs in a manner which avoids digestive and posture problems associated with feeding such animals from containers positioned at the level of the support surface. The feeder assembly comprises a feeder tray and a plurality of hollow legs releasably attached to the feeder tray. Each of the hollow legs are capable of holding ballast material such as sand or water for lowering the center of gravity of the assembly relative to the support surface, thereby enhancing the stability of the assembly and inhibiting the animal form transporting the feeder assembly from the preferred feeding location. The tray and legs are preferably made of blow molded plastic and the tray is formed to include a closed interior cavity, each of which facilitates cleaning the assembly. Each leg is releasably attached to the tray and may be releasably locked to a receptacle formed in a bottom surface of the tray.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,487, issued Apr. 3, 2001 to Quinlan, shows an improved elevated animal feeder apparatus that provides food at an elevated position to provide a more comfortable and healthy feeding position for animals. The animal feeder apparatus includes a support structure having removable feeder vessels. The support structure is of a unitary molded plastic construction and is configured for nested stacking with like feeder assemblies for convenient and compact storage and handling. The base of the top surface of the support structure is generally oblong in shape with flared side surfaces to provide support. The top surface has openings for receiving feeding vessels. A preferred feeding vessel has a raised back surface to act as a back splash. The raised back splash may also include a notch for easily removing the feeding vessel form the support structure for filling and cleaning the vessel. The feeding vessel has a novel shape, having the outline of a bone.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D446,611, issued Aug. 14, 2001 to Gunter, claims the design for a height adjustable dog and cat feeding table with removable feeding containers.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,114, issued Jul. 1, 1958 to Grant, describes an improved multiple dish racking, supporting and serving stand susceptible of feasible use when feeding house pets, for example, cats, dogs and the like.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D424,759, issued May 9, 2000 to Sipka, discloses an ornamental design for an elevated, adjustable height dog feeder. The dog feeder has recesses in the top created to receive removable bowls.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,723, issued Aug. 30, 1977 to Fitzpatrick, indicates an animal feeding apparatus particularly suitable for feeding large dogs such as Great Danes, includes a table having angularly disposed legs which support the table top in a substantially braced position above a floor surface and at a feeding level which may be chosen with reference to the normal height of the animal to be fed. Container means located in the table top provides for holding a serving of dog food in a raised position. A cover element is formed with hinge means along one edge of the table top and is movable into a position to overlie the top. The cover element is recessed to receive the container means therethrough in an upwardly projecting position when the cover is closed, and portions of the container means are engaged between the cover and top so that no displacement of the container means takes place during the feeding period.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D377,244, issued Jan. 7, 1997 to Steininger, illustrates the ornamental design for a pet dining table, showing an elevated feeding bench with two recesses for holding the pet food and water dishes.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D293,947, issued Jan. 26, 1988 to Younker, concerns the ornamental design for an elevated pet feeder, wherein the pet feeder is made of wood. Two recesses are created in the top surface of the feeder for holding bowls. A novel design of a cat&#39;s face is placed on each end of the pet feeder.  
      What is needed is an elevated pet feeder with removable easily cleaned food and water containers fit into a table platform structured in a pet specific size and shape made of natural material of a heavy weight with heavy legs to hold the feeder in place while the pet eats and drinks.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A primary object of the present invention is to provide a pet feeding and drinking table having a pet specific shape (bone for a dog and fish for a cat, both sized for different sizes of the pets) with the bowls and legs sized appropriately for pet size and type with indentations in the pet specific table shape which enable the pets to position themselves immediately adjacent to the feeding bowls.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide an elevated pet feeder with removable easily cleaned food and water containers fit into a table platform structured in a pet specific size and shape made of natural material of a heavy weight with heavy legs to hold the feeder in place while the pet eats and drinks.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an elevated pet feeder, which by raising the containers up from the ground provides a comfortable and healthy feeding position, in which the posterns and spinal alignment are protected and the pet swallows less air while eating.  
      One more object of the present invention is to provide bowls, which are preferably stainless steel to be highly scratch resistant and durable and easily removed for washing and easily replaced with food and water in them.  
      In brief, a pet feeding table device provides a healthy pet specific easy bowl access eating and drinking environment for pets. The device comprises a pair of round open top containers (feeding and drinking bowls) for holding pet food and water therein. Each of the containers has a top circular opening sufficiently large to permit a head of an appropriate size and type of pet to fit into the container for eating and drinking and inwardly sloping sides to permit easy access to everything in the container. The opening of each bowl has a protruding lip around the edge, which holds the bowl in place when positioned within the opening of the pet table surface. The containers are preferably fabricated of stainless steel for easy cleaning and durability.  
      The pet table surface is formed of a thick heavy weight piece of wood and the legs are formed of thick heavy weight pieces of wood so that the pet feeding device is sufficiently heavy to remain in a stationary position while the pet eats and drinks. The elevated pet feeding table device is structured with a pet specific shape (bone for a dog and fish for a cat) and is sized for specific sizes of pets. The bowls and legs are also sized appropriately for pet size and type. The pet specific shaped pet table surface has indentations, which enable the pet to position itself immediately adjacent to the feeding bowls.  
      An advantage of the present invention is that the food and water are elevated.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is that the feeder will remain stationary as the pet eats.  
      An additional advantage of the present invention is that the pet may readily position itself close to the food.  
      One more advantage of the present invention is that the shape is pet specific.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the size is pet specific.  
      A further advantage of the present invention is that the height is pet specific.  
      Still another advantage of the present invention is the bowls are removable.  
      A final advantage of the present invention is that it provides a comfortable and healthy feeding position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a double removable bowl pet feeder for dogs with a pet table eating surface having a bone configuration indented adjacent to the bowls for easy pet access to each bowl and showing the bowls aligned for insertion in the openings in the pet table surface;  
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a smaller size for smaller dogs of the double removable bowl pet feeder for dogs of  FIG. 2  with a table top having a reduced size bone configuration, reduced container size, and reduced size legs;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a double removable bowl pet feeder for cats with a table top having a fish configuration indented adjacent to the bowls for easy pet access to each bowl;  
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a smaller size for smaller cats of the double removable bowl pet feeder for cats of  FIG. 2  with a table top having a reduced size fish configuration, reduced container size, and reduced size legs. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      In  FIGS. 1, 1A ,  2 , and  2 A, a pet feeding table device  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B, and  20 BS provides a healthy pet specific easy bowl access eating and drinking environment for pets. The device  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B, and  20 BS comprises a pair of round open top containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS for receiving pet food and water therein, which are preferably stainless steel for easy clean up and scratch resistant durability. Each of the containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS has a top circular opening  28  sufficiently large to permit a head of an appropriate size and type of pet to fit into the container  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS for eating and drinking and inwardly sloping sides  29  to permit easy access to everything in the container  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS. Each of the bowls  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS have a protruding lip  19  extending outwardly from the circular opening  28 , as seen in  FIG. 1 .  
      The device  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B, and  20 BS also includes a pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS that comprises a thick slab of elongated wood structured in a pet specific shape for a particular size and type of pet, such as a small, medium or large bone for a small, medium or large sized dog, as in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, or a small, medium or large fish for a small, medium or large cat, as in  FIGS. 2 and 2 A.  
      The pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS is supported by four heavy thick rigid legs  22 A,  22 AS,  22 B and  22 BS securely attached below the pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS. The legs  22 A,  22 AS,  22 B and  22 BS are sized for a particular size and type of pet, such as the small, medium and large size legs  22 A and  22 AS for small, medium and large size dogs in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, and the small, medium and large size legs  22 B and  22 BS for cats in  FIGS. 2 and 2 A.  
      The pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS has two round, spaced bowl openings  23  in the pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS that are structured to receive the pair of bowls  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS therein. Each of the openings  23  are sufficiently large to permit one of the pair of containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS to be inserted therein with the protruding lip  19  contacting the pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS to retain the container  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS in the opening  23 .  
      The pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS has a pet table eating surface width and a pet table eating surface length extending beyond the bowl openings  23  a sufficient distance to accommodate the rigid attachment of the four legs  22 A,  22 AS,  22 B and  22 BS spaced apart from the bowl openings  23  with the legs  22 A,  22 AS,  22 B and  22 BS positioned outside of the containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS on both the pet table eating surface width and length to provide a broad support base so that the pet eating table  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B and  20 BS is not easily tipped over by the pet.  
      The pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS is structured in a pet specific shape appropriate to the size and type of pet. The pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS has indentations  25 A and  25 B in the pet specific shape intruding into the pet table eating surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS to a point immediately adjacent to the containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS to provide a close pet access space so that a neck of the pet is positioned immediately adjacent to the container  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B and  24 BS for easy access to the contents of the container.  
      In  FIG. 1 , the pet specific shape of the pet table eating surface  21  A comprises a dog bone shape of a specific size coordinated with specifically sized containers  24 A and specifically sized legs  22 A for a dog of a specific size. The pet table top  21 A comprises rounded expanded bone ends  26 A at each of two ends of the pet table top  21 A to receive two legs  22 A at each end. The indentations on either side of the pet table eating surface  21 A form an indented elongated straight bone center portion  25 A between the rounded ends  26 A of the bone shape  21 A, which enable the positioning of a neck of a dog to be positioned immediately adjacent to each of the pair of containers  24 A along a portion of the straight bone center portion  25 A.  
      In  FIG. 1A , the pet feeder device  20 AS is a smaller size for smaller dogs and comprises a pet feeder table  21 AS having a reduced size bone configuration, reduced container size  24 AS, and reduced size legs  22 AS.  
      In  FIG. 2 , the pet specific shape of the pet table eating surface  21 B comprises a fish shape of a specific size coordinated with specifically sized containers  24 B and specifically sized legs  22 B for a cat of a specific size. The pet table eating surface  21 B has a fish tail portion  26 T extending outwardly from the bowl openings  23  to receive two of the legs  22 B attached thereto. The pet table eating surface  21 B also has a fish head portion  26 H extending outwardly from the bowl openings  23  to receive two of the legs  22 B. An indentation in a first edge of the pet table eating surface  21 B comprises an indented portion  25 B between the fish tail portion  26 T and a center fish fin portion  27  enabling a neck of a cat to be positioned adjacent to one of the pair of containers  24 B and a second indented portion  25 B between the fish head portion  26 H and a center fish fin portion  27  enabling a neck of a cat to be positioned adjacent to the other of the pair of containers  24 B. The opposite second edge of the pet table eating surface  21 B also has an indentation that comprises two indented portions  25 B, one of the indented portions  25 B positioned close to the rim  19  of the each of the containers  24 B, enabling a neck of a cat to be positioned adjacent to one of the pair of containers  24 B.  
      In  FIG. 2A , the pet feeder device  20 BS is a smaller size for smaller cats and comprises a pet feeder table  21 BS having a reduced size fish configuration, reduced container size  24 BS, and reduced size legs  22 BS.  
      The pet table surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B and  21 BS is formed of a thick heavy weight piece of wood and the legs  22 A,  22 AS,  22 B and  22 BS are formed of thick heavy weight pieces of wood so that the pet feeding device  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B, and  20 BS is sufficiently heavy to remain in a stationary position while the pet eats and drinks. The containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS are preferably fabricated of stainless steel for easy cleaning and durability.  
      In practice, a pet owner chooses a pet feeding table device  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B, or  20 BS to match the species and size of their pet, for example a small cat would require the smaller fish shaped feeder  20 BS, seen in  FIG. 2A . The pet should be able to access the food containers  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS without having to lower their heads. The bowls  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS are placed into the holes  23  and the pet food and water is then placed inside of the bowls  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS. When the feeder  20 A,  20 AS,  20 B, and  20 BS is placed on the floor the pet feeder surface  21 A,  21 AS,  21 B, and  21 BS is the appropriate height for the size and type of pet and the pet can get immediately adjacent to the bowls  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS. When the pet is finished eating the bowls  24 A,  24 AS,  24 B, and  24 BS, which are preferably stainless steel are easily removed for washing and easily replaced with food and water in them.  
      It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.