Abstract:
A plural day gravity fed animal feeding and watering apparatus. The non-electric apparatus has compartments for food and water. A timer that uses the principle of wicking action permits food and water to enter respective dishes. Alternatively, mass reduction via disposition of water in a bored container can deliver water to the water bowl. The mass of water disposed in a container is to be reduced by the wicking action to reduce fluid mass. For food delivery, the mass of water holds an impact plate upward but when the mass is reduced by the wicking action, the weight will discontinue hold up the impact plate and a gap opens thereby allowing food to exit through the apparatus into the food dish. Selection of wicks controls the time period before the gap opens. Each distinct areas for dispensing food or drink can be controlled separately by the proper choice of wick.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding and providing water to animals over an extended period of time during one&#39;s absence. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the high cost of kennels and doggy hotels, and the limited availability of animal feeding companies, people find that there is a need for the ability to feed animals during extended periods of time away from their pet. These periods include holiday visits, vacation, business trips and during periods of illness of themselves or a loved one. Indeed a review of the patent literature shows that many different electrically operated animal feeders have been conceived, and there are many animal watering devices available using different operating principles. Many of these work for a night or two, while others operate over a longer period. But what if the power goes out? Then Fido or Fluffy will go hungry and/or thirsty. Thus there is a need for a low-tech non-powered extended-period animal feeder and waterer apparatus that is light weight, portable and easy to use. This apparatus fills the recited needs for a combination extended period of use animal feeder and waterer. 
         [0003]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A portable low-tech easy-to-use animal feeder and waterer that operates without the need for electricity over a controllable period of time that uses the wicking of water as a timing device to cause a pre-measured amount of food to be released into a dish to be accessed for consumption by a dog or cat or other small animal. Timed-release water is delivered to a separate bowl for access by the animal. Food is released from a bin to drop down an inclined plane into a food receiving area which further delivers the food by gravity into a bowl for consumption. Water is released into a water receiving bowl from which it is transferred by gravity to a water accessing bowl for animal consumption. 
         [0005]    It is an object of this invention to provide a low-tech non-electric animal waterer and feeder for use over extended periods of time. 
         [0006]    It is another object to provide an apparatus for feeding animals and providing water to them over an extended period of time. 
         [0007]    It is a third object to provide a feeder/waterer whose operation as to start time can be controlled mechanically by certain predeterminations. 
         [0008]    It is a fourth object to provide an animal feeder and watering apparatus that can be setup to release food over a predefined time period. 
         [0009]    It is a fifth object to provide an easy to clean animal feeding and watering apparatus. 
         [0010]    It is a sixth object to provide an animal feeding and animal water-providing apparatus that operates by gravity. 
         [0011]    Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a right side perspective view of the first embodiment of the animal feeder-waterer of this invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view with the lid also known as the top open. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a water vessel used with this invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top closeup perspective view showing the disposition of a water vessel in embodiment 1. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a closeup perspective view of a mounted second retainer assembly that holds a water vessel. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top interior view of the upper body of this invention&#39;s first embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a closeup perspective view of a part of the upper interior body with water vessel in place in the first embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  but without the water vessel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the outside lower body of this apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the interior of the lower body. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the interior lower body of this animal feeder-waterer. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a closeup top perspective view of a portion of the interior of the upper body. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of the body of the invention&#39;s first embodiment from a top vantage point. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a side bottom perspective view of the body of this feeder/waterer. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a top rear perspective view of the interior of the lower body of this apparatus. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the upper body of this invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a closeup top perspective view with one water vessel in position for use and one water vessel is absent. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the tray utilized to hold the lower body of the invention and to receive water as well. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a left side perspective view of the lower body of this invention&#39;s first embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a rear perspective view of the lower body of this invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  is a top slightly perspective view of the upper body of this apparatus. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  is a closeup perspective view of a first retainer assembly and a vessel deployed therein with its wick and weight. 
           [0035]      FIG. 24  is a front cutaway view in the format of an engineering drawing too illustrate the operation of this apparatus, and to present a second embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  is a top perspective view of the second embodiment interior. 
           [0037]      FIG. 26  is a closeup view of two elements seen in  FIG. 25 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of the food delivery element, which constitutes a combination of several elements from the first embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 28  is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of this apparatus of this invention,  10 . The apparatus has an upper body  11 A and a lower body,  11 B. The upper body will be described first. The apparatus  10  has a pair of spaced side walls  15 A and  15 B, The back wall  25  is seen in  FIG. 2 , A top wall  13  is hingedly connected to the back wall by hinges  23 . A front wall  17  is spaced from the back wall and is connected between the two side walls  15 A and  15 B. Optional round corner bracing can be employed for both strength and aesthetics at all four corners where the front and rear panels meet the sides. 
         [0041]    The lower body  11 B has spaced side walls  21 A and  21 B of spacing equal to that of the upper body side walls  11 A &amp;  11 B and each lower body sidewall may be integrally formed with the upper body side wall as may be desired. As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , The back wall extends the full length of both the upper and lower bodies. The front wall  22  is seen in both  FIGS. 1 and 17  and it is connected at the front edge of said lower side walls to both of the spaced lower body side walls. Note that the lower body side walls extend forwardly of the side walls of the upper body. An access shelf  19  extends forwardly from the base of the front of the upper body to the top edge of the front of the lower body. The access shelf  19  is coextensive with the side walls of the apparatus laterally. A pair of spaced preferably round cutouts  20  provide access to both a water bowl and a feed bowl, both of which will be discussed infra. 
         [0042]    The discussion now turns to  FIG. 3 , which is a top perspective view of the interior of the upper body of this embodiment. As can be seen the space between the two side walls  15  A &amp; B is divided into three major sections of about the same size from left to right. The middle section is divided in half. The left section is laterally defined by the left side wall  15 A and the left stabilizer-divider, hereinafter to abbreviated as (S-D), here (S-D)  27 L. A spaced (S-D) is disposed inwardly an equal amount from right side wall  15 B to define the right chamber. That (S-D) is designated  27 R. While the (S-D) that extends downwardly vertically part way toward the lower body that is in the middle is designated  27 C for central. The upper edge of each of the outer (S-Ds) is the upper edge of the front and rear walls, while the center stabilizer-divider commences spaced down from the top edges of the front and rear walls of the upper body. Each of the two outer (S-D)s extend downwardly to an impact shelf  33  that is part of the assembly  35 . The impact shelf is disposed normal to the (S-D) and butts up to it when the vessels with the first wicking means defined as a wick and attached to a weight, have water or other fluid such as milk therein. See  FIG. 3 . The movement of and structure of the first retainer assembly  35  will be discussed infra in the discussion of  FIG. 6 . Note that the (S-D)s  27 L and  27 R terminate just above the impact shelf  33 , which extends outwardly beneath said respective (S-D) to be designated element  37 . The overall designation is food hopper  30 . 
         [0043]    Lateral dividers  29 C and  9 CC normally bifurcate the central areas between the left and right (S-D)s. These lateral dividers preferably commence at an elevation equal to that of the (S-D)  27 C Lateral dividers  29 L and  29 R are each spaced down even further from the top edge of the apparatus  10 , and also extend laterally between their respective stabilizer-divider and a side wall to divide the outer areas into two chambers. 
         [0044]    In three of the four central zones  28  that lie between the (S-D)  27 L and  27 R, an incline plane  31  diverges downwardly from the middle stabilizer-divider  27 C. The incline plane of the left front zone  28 , defined by  27 L,  27 C,  29 C and the front wall  17  has had the incline plane  31  removed to reveal the space below each of the inclined planes  31 . The space or opening that is visible in  FIG. 3  is designated  34 . 
         [0045]    In each of the outer four chambers there is disposed a retainer assembly  35  one of which is seen up close in  FIG. 6 . Further discussion on the retainer assembly  35  will follow infra. In each first and second retainer assembly sits a water vessel  80  having content markings  82  scrawled or etched into the side wall. See  FIG. 4  specifically. A simple plastic beaker wider at the top than at the bottom will suffice for each water vessel. Each of the two left vessels each carry a weight  82  such as a stainless steel or brass nut  82  to which is tied a cotton or other suitable material wick of a predetermined size. More on the sizing of the first and second wicking means infra. The reader should also note that the vessels on the right side of the apparatus specifically have a wick extending therefrom but are not seen in this view. Suffice it to say that the first wicking means are associated with the first vessels for food delivery and the second wicking means are for fluid or water delivery for drinking by the animal. 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 5 , one of the vessels  80 A used in the right side of the apparatus is shown. This vessel  80 A also has volume markings thereon designated  82 . In the base of the vessel, while here again can be a conventional polyethylene plastic beaker, a series of apertures  84  are seen. These permit any fluid placed in the vessel  80  to slowly drain out the bottom of the vessel. Due to cost considerations to drill tiny predefined apertures on a repetitive basis for commercial product quantities, the use of the wick as the fluid draining means is preferred here as well. 
         [0047]    The reader is now referred to  FIG. 6 , where the front left section is seen, and specifically the first retainer assembly,  35 . The first retainer assembly comprises a flat piece of wood, metal or plastic, a plate  37 , which serves as a counterweight to the retainer ring  40 , when said ring carries a vessel, which plate has a front face  37 F and a pair of opposed pins  38  which are designated pivot points. An interrupted ring  40  having two points  40 P are engaged by friction or retained by adhesive into bores not seen in face  37 F. 
         [0048]    As mentioned supra, plate  37  acts as a counter weight to loaded ring  40 . Note the position of ring  40  in  FIG. 3 , it has swung upward since no vessel  80  or  80 A is present. Contrast the position in  FIG. 6  with the position of the ring  40  in  FIG. 3 . A view of  FIG. 23  will show that the points  40 P of ring  40  while directed straight into the face  37 F of the plate  37 , the rest of the ring  40  is canted. This plate  37  is seen to exist on both sides of the outer stabilizer divers  27 A and  27 C. The portion of plate  37  that serves as the impact shelf for food falling down is designated  33  and is disposed on the interior side of (S-D)  27 L. Reference is made to the imaginary line  90  in  FIG. 23 . This explains why the impact shelf which was discussed previously has a lower designator number; namely,  33 . 
         [0049]    See  FIG. 7  wherein the plate in the three areas where vessels are present. Here the left front vessel is missing and the impact shelf  33  is seen to have relocated downwardly due to the absence of vessel  80 . Reinforcement of these points may be gleaned from  FIG. 8  where the impact shelf  33  portion of pivot bar  37  is seen on both sides of stabilizer divider  27 L.  FIG. 8  also shows the corner brace  43  that can be employed for both aesthetic and structural integrity purposes, rather than having a butt joint of two sheets of wood or plastic or metal at the corner of the apparatus. 
         [0050]    Reference is again made to  FIG. 7  for space  34  which is the space below each of the incline planes  31 . Space  34  is also seen in  FIG. 9  since the counterweight has repositioned itself in the absence of a loaded vessel. 
         [0051]    Wall  58  is a vertical wall disposed spaced from outside wall  15 A and which may serve as a rest for vessel  80  when a vessel is disposed in ring  40 . This wall  58  may be seen in  FIGS. 6 ,  9 , and  22  among others. It can be held in place by any conventional construction means. Wall  58  also serves to direct pellet animal feed into food receivers  16 . Wall  58  commences from beneath lateral divider  29 L and is normally disposed. Wall  58  terminates just above receivers  29  as per  FIGS. 14 and 17 . 
         [0052]    The discussion now moves to the exterior of the apparatus. Thus, reference is made to  FIG. 10 . Here the access shelf  19  is seen normally disposed relative to lower front wall  22 . A pair of circular cutouts  20  communicate indirectly with food dish and water bowl  36 . The indirect communication will be discussed infra with respect to the elements beneath access shelf  19 . Front wall  17  is seen to have a pair of spaced cutouts  17 C, to accommodate the shape of quoit shaped annular members  16  which communicate with food receiver  42  and water receiver  42  respectively. These annular receivers  16  will be discussed relative to figure. 
         [0053]    Also seen in  FIG. 10  are food pellets  120  and liquid such as milk or water  121  in respective separate bowls. As can be seen, a portion of one quoit-shaped receiver overlies part of the respective cutout  20  which permits access by the animal to the food or liquid. 
         [0054]    FIGS.  11 , 12  &amp;  16  should all be viewed together. In  FIG. 11 , a top perspective view of the interior of the lower body, as well as in  FIG. 12  a side perspective, one can see the “guts” of this apparatus which is designated as base  12  seen in  FIG. 16  among others. Base  12  has front, rear and spaced side walls, open at the bottom and has a top surface  19  with a pair of cutouts  20  therein. Disposed beneath the base is a tray  14 , which is a conventional plastic or metal painting tray with upstanding walls. Tray  14  is seen also in  FIG. 19  wherein the ridged upper inclined surface  24  is seen, which surface leads to a lower planar horizontal section. 
         [0055]    A pair of spaced side by side bowl like elements each support one of the quoit-shaped annular members  16  thereon. These bowl-like elements have a central opening  16 C through which food and water flow respectively from up in the apparatus down to the respective food and water receiver  42  disposed beneath the member  16 F. Food receiver  42 L has an interrupted side wall where the bowl-like receiver  42  intersects dish  36  which also has an interrupted sidewall. Due to the interruptions, food can fall from the receiver  42  into the bowl  36 . See also  FIG. 16 . 
         [0056]    On the fluid side, only the wall of the annular member  16 L, wherein L is for Liquid, is interrupted as can be seen in  FIG. 10 . The bowl like receiver  42 R for the fluid has its side wall intact, but for the bores  50  which communicate with liquid bowl  26 L. See  FIG. 16 . 
         [0057]    Surround  18 , seen in  FIG. 20  and elsewhere is part of the support  51 . The surround  18 , is a planar member that is disposed beneath the access shelf  19  has similar cutouts  20 ′ which are sized and shaped similar to the cutouts  20  with which they communicate. That is openings  20  are respectively above openings  20 ′ because the surround  18  is disposed directly beneath the access shelf  19 . The support  51  comprises the surround  18  which is supported by a W-shaped inside framework having a pair of spaced opposed sides  52 — FIG. 12 , a front or base member  54 ,— FIG. 16  and a center support frame member  56 , whose edge is seen also in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0058]    As can be seen the W-shaped frame, unnumbered since never shown as an entity in the figures, rests within the tray  14  to support surround  18 , which optionally may be attached thereto by nails, staples, screws etc. The width of surround  18  is equal to the width of tray  14 . The planar surround,  18 , while having outer edges that are normal to its base, includes a pair of opposed mirror image leading arcuate edges  18 C and a central section  26  with a pair of arcuate edges  18 CC. The curvature of the arcuate edges  18 C and  18 CC is mated to the curvature of the quoit-like annular members  16  and serve as an alignment surface for the placement of the annular members  16  to butt up against. 
         [0059]    Thus it is seen that as food drops down from the top, it enters receiver  42 F through the annular member  16  disposed on top of the receiver and since the surface  24  of tray  14  slopes forwardly, the receivers therefore are disposed at an incline rather than flat. Thus the food pellets fall forwardly from the receiver  42 F for food, into the bowl  36  adjacent thereto by gravity as well. 
         [0060]    Fluid takes a similar path. It enters through opening  16 C into the annular member  16  to reach its receiver  42 L for liquid, which is also inclined due to the inclination of surface  24  upon which it rests. The fluid then flows through bores  50  into the liquid bowl  36 L. See  FIG. 21  as well which shows the pellets flowing into the food bowl and the fluid coming through the bores  50 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the center of this apparatus. The four zones  28  have previously been defined. This view being a bit close up shows the open space  34  below the impact plane  31  missing from the front left zone. 
         [0062]      FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIGS. 17 and 22  should all be considered together, in order to understand the path that the food pellets traverse on the way down to annular member  16  and from there to end up in the bowl  36  as noted supra. 
         [0063]    In  FIG. 14  the upper housing is seen removed from the tray  14  which is seen in the background. The rear wall  25  is seen connected to the upper and lower side walls and the braces  43  are also seen in this FIGURE. Internal wall  58  is seen to terminate prior to the bottom of the rear wall as per  FIG. 14 . This is because of the elevation of the annular member  16  to which internal wall  58  leads and because the purpose of wall  58  is to direct food into the annular member  16  directly below. The small food director  47  is a planar member connected to internal wall  58 , rear wall  25 , and large food director  45 . Its purpose is to receive food pellets that fall through space  34  when the impact shelf is down due to no fluid in the vessel  80 . Food pellets impact the food director  45  and fall into annular member  16 . See  FIG. 22  where the left rear first retainer assembly has been removed for ease of understanding of the travel path of the food pellets. Small food director  47  is mounted at about a 45-degree angle forwardly down. 
         [0064]    Large food director  45  is disposed between the front and rear walls at a leftwardly 45-degree angle downward. Its lower edge between the front and rear walls terminates at about the same elevation as small food director  47 . A gap  49  between the two food directors aforementioned is where the food pellets descend. Large food director  45  commences immediately beneath right stabilizer divider  27 R, and serves to receive food pellets from the right two zones  28 , denoted in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 22  and works in conjunction with the small food director  45  to deliver food pellets to the annular member  16 . 
         [0065]    The reader should again note  FIG. 13  wherein only the four zones  28  are seen. While not specifically defined separately, it is readily understood that they are left front, left rear, right front and right rear. Front is the direction of the forward extension of the lower body that holds the two bowls. From  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  17  it can be seen that the path of the food pellets is not the same for each of the four zones. One can envision the placement of the annular receiver  16  substantially directly below the front-left zone per  FIG. 13 . 
         [0066]    Food pellets from the front left zone  28  after impacting the inclined plane  31 , then the pivot bar  37 , fall into space  34  and then drop directly down into annular member  16  through the gap seen in  FIGS. 14 and 17 , which gap is in front of small food director  47 . 
         [0067]    Food pellets from the left rear zone after impacting elements  31  and  33  would fall onto small food director  47  and be directed forwardly into annular member  16 . 
         [0068]    Food pellets from the right rear zone  28  would, after impacting elements  31  and  33 , are angularly directed to the large food director  45  and then into annular member  16 . 
         [0069]    Food pellets from the right front zone, after impacting elements  31  and  33  fall through the respective space  34  onto large food director  45  and then into the annular member  16 . 
         [0070]    The discussion now moves to the filling of the fluid bowl  36 L. As may have been mentioned, the path into the bowl  36  for fluid is the same as for pellets in part. When the fluid falls it enters into annular member  16 , through opening  16 C for delivery into receiver  42  siting on an incline on tray  14 , and flows through the bores  50  into the bowl  36 L by gravity. One should remember that fluid can leave the vessel for the watering side of the apparatus through the use of gravity fed apertures as discussed above or by use of a wick also discussed above. 
         [0071]    Now the discussion relates to getting the liquid to the annular member  16 . As can be seen from  FIGS. 5 &amp; 14 , and  FIG. 17  &amp;  FIG. 18 , the vessel  80  has bores or holes  84  in the base thereof such that water placed in the vessel will eventually but slowly drip through the series of holes  84  and fall directly downwardly into annular member  16  below. Thus the placement of the annular member and the receiver  42  must be coordinated to ensure that the gravity flow of fluid goes directly into the annular member  16 . Wick placement may be less precise but should be net. 
         [0072]    From FIGS.  3 , 4 , 8 , and  23  it is noted that the weight, which can be a ½ inch stainless steel or brass nut to avoid water corrosion, has a wick  83  secured thereto. The wicks employed here may be cotton, polyester or a cotton blend among other fabrics and usually of a length about eight to ten inches long. Wicking action is well known and need not be discussed in detail. In any event, by placement of the end of the wick below the bottom of the respective vessel  80 , fluid will flow along the wick and drop down onto the plastic tray  14  for temporary storage until disposed of. Since the food receiver  42  and the food bowl are made from materials that are water impervious, the food pellets will not be made soggy. Provision can be made for fluid to enter into the rear of the fluid receiver  42  by appropriate through bores, such that wick water can be delivered for addition to the fluid bowl  36 . 
         [0073]    By careful selection of the wick as to the material chosen and the number of strands and their diameter, time can be adjusted as to when the vessel will be emptied by wicking action. The wick in this application means the total number of strings used as described below. Volume control is one reason for the measurement indicia  81  on the side of vessel  80 . The combination of water volume and the size of the wick, and material of the wick control the time for depletion of the water from vessels  80 . Thus it is seen to be beneficial to have two different combinations of water volume and wick size and/material, in order to permit sequential addition of food to the food bowl. I have found that by using a finite number of ounces of water and a wick having a specific number of strands, and each wick is of a specific gauge or size in diameter that one can control the number of hours to drain the vessel. This time period can range from 4 hours, to 1 day to 4 days or more as may be desired. For each extra ounce of water added, the additional time to complete drainage is hours. By adding or removing strands to or from the wick, as well as the volume of water utilized, the time of water depletion can be controlled as well. 
         [0074]    The apparatus of this invention is assembled and disassembled quite easily. The entire body of the apparatus can be seen in  FIGS. 15 &amp; 17 . The body is merely lifted vertically from the base  12  which is seen in  FIGS. 11 &amp; 12 . The support  51  described supra is readily removable from the tray  14  such that the tray can be cleaned as may be necessary due to the presence of dried fluid other than water such as milk when used as the fluid for the animal. The quoit like annular member  16  is removable from its respective receiver for easy cleaning. 
       Operation 
       [0075]    When and as the apparatus owner desires to go away for an extended period, he/she places the assembled apparatus at the desired location in the kitchen bath or elsewhere in the household. He/she then places the four vessels  80  and  80 A in their respective assembly receivers  35  and fills the leftwardly ones with water to a desired fullness level as set forth by the indicia  81  on the vessel. A wick  83  chosen specifically for the desired time period, —FIG.  23 — is attached to a nut  82  and placed in each of the two left side vessels with the wick  83  dangling down out of the vessel, as is known to the art. The two filled vessels cause their respective assembly first retainer&#39;s ring to rest horizontally with their respective impact bar  33  up in touch with their respective inclined plane  31 , thereby NOT creating a space  34 . Food pellets  120  are placed into the front and rear left zones  28 . Of course food may be placed directly into the food bowl  36  as may be desired for immediate access by the animal. 
         [0076]    Liquid such as water may be placed directly in the liquid bowl  36 L if desired. Vessels  80 A are placed in position in their second retainers assemblies  35 , and filled with fluid, usually water. The fluid will immediately commence to drain through the apertures  84  in the bottom of the vessels  80 A downwardly toward the quoit like annular member  16  and proceed downwardly into the bowl  36 L as described supra. 
         [0077]    Meantime back at the food, the water will drain downwardly into the tray  14  and cause the vessels  80  on the left side to drain, which when that condition is reached the impact bar raises creating space  34  such that the stored food pellets can fall downwardly to impact the respective food director(s)  47  and the food diverter  45  as discussed above on the way to the food bowl  36 . See also  FIGS. 14 and 17 . 
         [0078]    The discussion now moves to the second embodiment, which operates in the same manner using the same principles as the first embodiment. The primary difference is that many of the components of version  2  are molded plastic thus lending itself more to commercial large scale production at reasonable cost. Turning now to  FIG. 24  one sees a more streamlined structure that falls with in the metes and bounds of this invention. In this second embodiment, rather than employ a wire assembly  35  to hold a separate water vessel  80 , a molded water vessel  180  with an integral or adhesed impact shelf  133  is employed. See  FIG. 26  where this sub-combination is illustrated. It is noted that in the second embodiment like elements are designated with like numbers but in the 100 series. Thus the designation  180  for the vessel. 
         [0079]    Reference is now made to the engineering drawing of  FIG. 24  wherein the operating principle of this invention is illustrated. Reference should also be made simultaneously to  FIG. 25 , a top perspective view. In  FIG. 24 , vessels  180  are seen to be a molded part having a series of spaced raised linear bosses  201  with a channel  202  between each boss. These channels are intended to receive the wick strings previously described to keep them neat and to make sure that they terminate below the vessel without curling upwardly. These vessels include a built in hinge  138  and an impact shelf  133 . The vessel  180 L is seen to contain fluid as designated by the wavy line at the top of the water. For this reason the impact shelf fits tight against the hopper. On the right side for vessel  180 R, the water has drained and thus the pivot member by gravity has swung down. The wicks are not shown in this FIGURE for ease of understanding of the FIGURE. 
         [0080]    The food delivery element  160  seen in its entirety in  FIG. 27  is a funnel having 3 vertical sides normal to each other and the 4 th  side while normal to two of the sides to present a rectangular cross section, is an inclined plane  161 . Wall or side  161  serves the same function as food diverter  45  and food director  47  in  FIG. 14 , and also  FIG. 24 . The food delivery element serves the same function as the combination of parts  45  and  47 ; namely to deliver food to the annular ring  15  as seen in  FIG. 20 . Part  161  is a slot used during assembly of a totally or substantially totally plastic apparatus of the second embodiment and is non-functional with respect to usage and operation. 
         [0081]    The reader&#39;s attention is directed to  FIG. 25  wherein the vessel  180  in the lower right corner of the FIGURE is being held by a person&#39;s finger to simulate the location of the vessel  180 R if it had no water therein as in  FIG. 24 . All of the other 3 vessels  180  are in a position similar to  180 L though no water is actually present. Thus one cn see the gap between members  131  an  133  as per  FIG. 24 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 28  is a bottom plan view of the tray  114  showing the built in dimples  114 D, or feet for raising the tray off the ground. 
       Time-Period Determination 
       [0083]    I have found that by the careful selection of the material for the wicks and the number and size of the wicks, that I can predetermine when the desired amount of water will have exited the vessel  80  and the pivot bar will move too permit food to be delivered vertically. The wicks can be made of silk, nylon, polyester or cotton fibers, but I prefer cotton. 
       Specific Examples— 
       [0084]    #1 I used increments of 3 strings, IE. 3, 6, 9, and 12 strings of 1/16th polyester cord made by Wrights, about 18 inches long to control delivery of a 32 ounce cup of food for a large dog. 
         [0085]    #2 For a collie who only needed 16 ounce cups of food, and which I refer to as a medium dog, I used size 3 mercerized cotton string also about 18 inches long. The more strings I used, the quicker the water was drained out of the container. 12 strings caused food drop in 1 day, 6 strings 2 days and 3 strings 4 days. It is within the skill of the art based on the information provided to select the thread and number of strings needed for the particular animal and time frame. 
         [0086]    #3 For a small dog like a basset, cocker spaniel, who need less food, perhaps 8 oz, the number of strings can be determined. Thus 12 strings would drop 8 oz in day and 6 strings in a single day. 
         [0087]    It is seen that doubling of the number of strings reduces the time frame by 50%. I found that the ideal string is size 10 mercerized cotton crochet thread made by JP Coates. It appears that cotton is a slower to operate wick than is polyester. 
         [0088]    When placing the string in the water for wicking to transpire, it is important that the length of the string must end BELOW the bottom of the container  80 , otherwise the container will not fully drain. 
         [0089]    It is also seen that mathematically, that reduction of the water volume will also affect the time frame for food to drop. A 50% reduction in water volume will reduce the time for a given amount of strings by ½. 
         [0090]    It is also within the skill of the art to determine the combination of the number of apertures and the diameter thereof to permit drainage by gravity for any predefined time period. One big problem with using the aperture method of water delivery to the trough for the animal, especially in those situations where the elapsed time is to be relatively long, and the aperture(s) are quite narrow, is the presence of calcium and other minerals in the water. The minerals cn precipitate out and clog the apertures, thus leaving the animal thirsty. One can draw the analogy to mineral deposits on the shower door. 
         [0091]    The high cost of precision drilling, also bears consideration when doing an analysis of cost of production versus marketing price point of the apparatus. 
         [0092]    It is seen that I have created an animal feeder and waterer, IE, water delivery unit, that can be set to deliver food and fluid to the animal at precise future times by picking the number of strands and fabric of the wicks for vessels  80  for the food, and the diameter of and number of apertures of the vessels  80 A for the delivery of fluid. This apparatus permits the user to go away for a weekend or a brief vacation and know that the cat or dog will be fed, without worrying about batteries wearing out or a power failure taking place. 
         [0093]    Thus it is seen that the release of water by wicking action, from each of the fluid containing vessels causes the respective vessel to lose content mass, IE water. For food delivery, at a critical point in time upon the loss of a finite amount of fluid, the respective second retainer assembly which holds each vessel  80 , for the vessels that serve as timing devices for food delivery, and which retainer assembly is also attached to an impact shelf  33 , actually moves from a first position to a second position, upward of the first position, which movement causes the attached impact shelf to move from a first position which closes off a food bin to a second position downwardly, to provide a gap between the previously touching impact shelf  33  and an adjacent inclined plane  31  to permit food pellets to fall through to the respective gap onto the food diverter  45  or the food director  47 ; and then ultimately through the annular member  16  for delivery to food dish  36 L. 
         [0094]    Water for the water bowl flows in a more direct path. The wicking action removes water from the water from the water vessels and delivers it down to the tray  24 ,  FIG. 19  for entry through communication bores  50  to the water bowl  36 R. 
         [0095]    Since certain changes may be made in the described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense