Abstract:
A livestock hay saver which protects hay from the elements and contamination. The apparatus has timer-operated doors which provide control to completely automated means for providing feed to horses and cattle. Its battery-operated, solar-recharged power system makes it completely portable and minimizes the need for user attention or maintenance.

Description:
DESCRIPTION  
       [0001]     The present patent application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/616,313 filed Oct. 6, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a novel and unique feeder apparatus, and methods of constructing and utilizing same.  
         [0003]     More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic livestock feeder apparatus, and methods of constructing and utilizing same.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     At the present time there are a variety of hay rings and open field feeding stations on the market for horses and cattle. In many cases, these conventional devices permit the hay to rest directly on the ground, thereby enabling a substantial portion of it to become contaminated by mud and animal waste, and subject to the elements. They are also often uncovered, thereby allowing the hay or other feed to become saturated and eventually ruined by rain or other precipitation. Such conventional feeders also provide little control of feeding rates, thereby permitting animals to be overfed.  
         [0005]     There have been some attempts to address the problems mentioned hereinabove.  
         [0006]     The prior, but not necessarily relevant, art is exemplified by the following United States Patents: 
        Bullock U.S. Pat. No. 1,442,382 entitled “AUTOMATIC FEED BOX”;     Carr et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,744 entitled “ANIMAL SELF FEEDER”;     Ruth U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,189 entitled “MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT ANIMAL FEEDER”;     Pitzen U.S. Design Pat. No. 286,455 entitled “AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR BARN ANIMALS”;     Peters et al. U.S. Design Pat. No. 332,156 entitled “AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR ANIMALS, INCLUDING LIVESTOCK, HOUSEHOLD PETS, AND AQUATIC LIFE”;     Eberhardt U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,120 entitled “DISPENSER FOR BALES OF HAY”;     Jenson U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,169 entitled “AUTOMATIC HAY, GRAIN AND PELLET FEEDER FOR LIVESTOCK”; and     Sturgis U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,421 entitled “AUTOMATIC HAY FEEDER”.        
 
         [0015]     The prior art devices do not completely solve the problems mentioned hereinabove, and/or require an inordinate amount of personal attention and maintenance, and/or are expensive to fabricate and maintain.  
         [0016]     It is a primary desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversions of the prior art and conventional devices and techniques, and at the same time to provide a novel, efficient and relatively inexpensive solution to the problems described hereinabove.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The present invention provides a feeder apparatus comprising: a transportable housing structure within which food for animals may be periodically stored; said transportable housing structure being provided with one or more selectively openable and closable doors which permit animals to gain access to at least some portion of said food when one or more of said doors are at least partially opened; first means for opening and closing said doors; second means operably connected to said first means for operating said first means at preselected times; third means operably connected to said first and second means for supplying power to said first and second means; and said third means including one or more photovoltaic devices.  
         [0018]     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a feeder apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein said apparatus comprises a livestock hay saver, and said transportable housing structure consists of a shed-style structure.  
         [0019]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeder apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein said transportable housing structure has its lower base mounted on a pair of beveled front end skids which permit the feeder apparatus to be towed into position via a tractor.  
         [0020]     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a feeder apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein the roof of said transportable housing structure is provided with a slight slope thereto, and which roof may be fabricated from plastic or clad with standard roof decking.  
         [0021]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeder apparatus as described hereinabove, wherein the rear side of the apparatus may be provided with a pair of full-sized vertically hinged doors which would provide access to the apparatus for loading it with hay.  
         [0022]     The aforementioned objects, advantage and other features will become more apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the detailed description set forth hereinbelow when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the electrical or mechanical components of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the slidable doors of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the selectively operable and movable doors, such as the door shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]     The feeder apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10 . The feeder apparatus  10  includes a transportable housing structure  11  within which food  12  for animals may be periodically stored.  
         [0028]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the transportable housing structure  11  may take the form of a shed-like structure which would measure  7 ′  8 ″ high by 8′ long by 6′ wide. The transportable housing structure  11  would include a lower base  13  mounted on a pair of beveled front end skids  14  and  15  which would permit the entire feeder apparatus  10  to be towed into position by the use of a tractor.  
         [0029]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the transportable housing structure  11  would be provided with a roof  16  which has a slight slope to facilitate the flow thereoff of precipitation.  
         [0030]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the front side  17  and one end side  18  of the feeder apparatus  10 . The end side  19  hidden from view in  FIG. 1  is similar to the end side  18  clearly shown in  FIG. 1 . Both end sides  18  and  19  and the front side  17  are provided with selectively openable and closable doors  20 ,  21  and  22  to permit animals to gain access to at least some of the food  12  stored in the feeder apparatus  10  when one or more of the doors  20 ,  21  and  22  are at least partially opened.  
         [0031]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the rear side  34  of the feeder apparatus  10  (hidden from view in  FIG. 1 ) would include a pair of full-size vertically hinged doors which would provide access to the housing structure  11  for loading it with hay  12  or other food periodically.  
         [0032]     The front and end doors  20 ,  21  and  22  would be controlled by a motorized opener/closer system  23 . The motorized system  23  would include a system of sprockets and roller chains, as well as cables  24  and pulleys linked to an electric motor  25 .  
         [0033]     The electric motor  25  and other electrical components of the apparatus would be powered by a deep cycle lead-acid battery  26 , the charge of which would be maintained by a recharging circuit within a photovoltaic panel, indicated in the drawings as a solar panel  27 . The operation of the motorized door system  23  would be automatically regulated by digital timers  28 . Preferably, but not necessarily, the system  23  can be set to open for one to eight open cycles each day.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the solar panel  27  is electrically connected to the battery  26 , and the solenoid  29 , which in turn is connected to the timers  28  and motor  25 .  
         [0035]     The unit marked solenoid  29  in  FIG. 2  also includes appropriate relays.  
         [0036]     The feeder apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention thoroughly protects hay  12  or other animal food from mud/manure contamination, as well as shielding it from the rain, snow and other elements. In use, the feeder apparatus  10  would be towed into position by way of a tractor on its integral skid-style base  13 ,  14  and  15 .  
         [0037]     Periodically, up to eight times a day, the timer-controlled door opener mechanism  23  would simultaneously open the doors  20 ,  21  and  22  on the front and end sides  17 ,  18  and  19 , respectively, to allow animals to feed. The doors  20 ,  21  and  22  would then be automatically closed at the end of each feeding period.  
         [0038]     In addition to providing full protection from the elements, the feeder apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention enables it to effectively prevent overfeeding, thereby ensuring good animal health while simultaneously minimizing the waste of feed  12 .  
         [0039]     The feeder apparatus  10  employs a battery/voltaic cell base power system  23 , which is a configuration that enables it to be set up virtually anywhere. This also simplifies maintenance and eliminates the risk of electrocution-related accidents.  
         [0040]     The feeder apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention would help reduce the operating costs of a horse ranch, dairy farm, cattle ranch, or related establishment. It also minimizes the amount of labor that would be required to provide animals with feed  12 , particularly during the winter months.  
         [0041]     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a typical door  20  suspended by rollers  30  and  31  in a track  32 . Each door  20 ,  21  or  22  is provided with a bracket  33  near its upper mid point connected to a cable  24  of the motorized door opening/closer system  23 .  
         [0042]     There has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described hereinabove, only one unique and novel preferred embodiment of the present invention which can be constructed in various different sizes and shapes.  
         [0043]     It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present invention will become apparent to persons skilled in this particular area of technology after having been exposed to the present patent specification and accompanying drawings.  
         [0044]     Any and all such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are therefore covered by and embraced within the present application and the patent claims set forth hereinbelow.