Abstract:
An animal water holding tank and trough is described, that allows multiple animals to drink from opposite sides of the tank simultaneously. The tank and trough interconnect together and water is gravity fed to the trough without requiring a shutoff float. The trough may be positioned under the tank to extend out opposite sides of the tank or just one side of the tank.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0004]    This invention pertains generally to gravity fed water tanks. More particularly, the invention pertains to a gravity fed water tank having an adjustable water trough extending from one or both sides of the water tank. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    Both wild animals and domesticated livestock need a dependable source of water to survive. Oftentimes there is a need to complement natural, uncontaminated drinking water sources with water tanks and water troughs filled from water sources inaccessible to wild animals or livestock. Also, scarce water sources for animals in various regions and geographic locations require supplemented water sources to keep the animals from ranging away from sparse water locales. And, with the continued encroachment on natural habitat and development of regular range land, it has become increasingly difficult to interest certain wild animals to utilize preferred acreages without providing a viable uncontaminated drinking water source. Further, in drier climates it may be desirable to provide an easily transportable and re-locatable water source to avoid over use of land adjacent the water source. 
         [0006]    Although ground tanks and troughs may be desirable to provide a water source to a variety of animals, open access to voids under the tank may also provide suitable habitat for unwanted reptiles. Elevating the tank or trough above the ground may eliminate habitat for reptiles, however, an elevated trough or tank may be difficult for some animals to utilize the water source. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments according to aspects of the invention are capable of providing a suitable portable alternative ground water source. Further embodiments according to aspects of the invention are capable of providing a ground supported water tank that includes sidewall openings to allow a trough to slide between the openings while obstructing reptiles from accessing the underside of the tank. 
         [0008]    An embodiment according to aspects of the invention includes a tank having an enclosed top and bottom with a continuous sidewall interconnecting the top and bottom. A fluid inlet is formed in the enclosed top and a fluid outlet is formed in a lower bottom portion of the tank. The continuous sidewall extends downward from the bottom of the tank beyond a perimeter of the enclosed bottom. Two opposed openings are formed in the lower portion of the sidewall and the openings extend through the sidewall below the enclosed bottom of the tank. A water trough may be positioned to extend through the opposed sidewall openings. A trough stop extends downward from the enclosed bottom and restricts an end of the trough from being pulled under the tank. The fluid inlet includes a removable plug of known suitable construction that seals to the fluid inlet. A shaw plug is one such suitable plug that includes a lever to efficiently disengage the plug from the fluid inlet. The fluid outlet is positioned in a lower bottom portion of the tank and includes a threaded orifice. A drain or flow control valve may be coupled to the threaded orifice to allow a user to control the flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet. 
         [0009]    In use, a trough may be dimensioned and aligned to extend through the two opposed openings of the continuous sidewall in a manner that the trough may slide through the openings while obstructing the openings and restricting access into an interior region formed by said continuous sidewall. When a plug is sealed in the fluid inlet, water flows into the trough from the fluid outlet of the tank into the trough until the water level in the trough reaches the horizontal level of the fluid outlet. The gravity fed flow of water reaches an equilibrium and stops flowing when the water height in the trough is level with the fluid outlet. The user may selectively slide the trough through the openings so that the trough only extends from one side of the trough or both sides of the trough. When the trough is being slid through the openings, a trough stop extending from the bottom of the tank or the fluid outlet will engage an end of the trough so that the trough end is stopped flush with an adjacent outer sidewall. When the tank is full of water, a top edge of the trough may engage the sidewall opening to provide further support and stability to the tank. 
         [0010]    An embodiment according to aspects of the invention includes a tank and a trough slidingly engaged with the tank. The tank includes an enclosed top and bottom with a continuous sidewall interconnecting the top and bottom. A fluid inlet is formed in the enclosed top and a fluid outlet is formed in the enclosed bottom portion of the tank. A removable plug creates a water tight seal in the fluid inlet. The fluid outlet includes a drain that controls the rate of flow of fluid from the fluid outlet. The continuous sidewall extends downward from the bottom of the tank beyond a perimeter of the enclosed bottom. The sidewall includes first and second opposed openings extending through the sidewall below the enclosed bottom of the tank. The trough extends through the two opposed openings of the continuous sidewall in a manner that the trough obstructs access through the openings into an interior region below the bottom of the tank formed by the continuous sidewall. The tank may further include a trough stop extending downward from the enclosed bottom of the tank. The trough stop is positioned or aligned on the enclosed bottom proximate to the first opening, wherein the trough slides through the first opening and the trough stop restricts an end of the trough from sliding inward past the first openings. The fluid outlet may further include a threaded orifice to which the drain is coupled. The drain may be a restricted opening, for example, or may include an actuable flow control valve that actuates between a fluid flow open and closed position. 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention of the type shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a bottom side perspective view of an embodiment of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is an opposing side view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a back view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a top front perspective view of an embodiment of the animal watering apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a bottom back perspective view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a side view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is an opposing side view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a front view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  is a back view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 17 ; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  is a bottom plan view of the animal watering apparatus of the type shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0038]    The apparatus  10  of the present invention is particularly well suited for providing an alternative uncontaminated water source for animals. In an embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes water tank  14  and trough  16 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  the trough  16  includes water tray  90 , ends  92  and top edge  94 . The outside edges of the trough  16  and inner edges of water tray  90  may include rounded corners and edges  96 . Tank  14  includes an enclosed top  30  and enclosed bottom  32  that are separated by a continuous sidewall  34 . Enclosed top  30  includes a top rim  36  that extends about the perimeter of the top  30 . The rim includes a hole  38  extending through the rim and into a hollow center portion of tank  14 . A shaw plug  40  of suitable known construction engages with hole  38 . The shaw plug  40  includes a lever  42  that pivots between an open and closed position. When in a closed position, an external diameter increases from a diameter when the lever is in an open position. The shaw plug  40  is sized so that when the lever  42  is in the closed position the external cylindrical wall of the shaw plug engages with the sides of the hole with enough force that air does not escape between the shaw plug  40  and hole  38 . The rim  36  further includes an ornamental edge recessed into the enclosed top  30 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 4-9  further illustrates features of the tank  14  of the present invention. Continuous sidewall  34  extends downward forming an extended sidewall  62  which extends from a perimeter  60  of the enclosed bottom  32  terminating in a bottom rim  48 . The bottom rim  48  includes an inner concentric ledge  50 . Pads  52  extend from ledge  50  and are suitable to engage with the top rim  36  and perimeter edge  58  of another tank on which it may be stacked. First opening  64  and second opening  66  are formed in the extended sidewall  62  and are sized and shaped to conform with an external shape of trough  16 . Interior region  68  is defined by enclosed bottom  32  and extended sidewall  62 . Within the interior  68  and aligned with first opening  64  is drain  72  integrated with fluid outlet  20 . The drain  72  may, by way of example, include a hex insert  74  molded congruent with the tank  14 . A round threaded hole  76  is formed in the hex insert  74 . The threaded hole  74  is adapted to receive drain plug  78  having an orifice  80  extending therethrough. The diameter of the orifice may be increased or decreased to control the rate of fluid draining out of the tank  14  through the drain  72  and orifice  80 . The plug  78  may include a shape  82  such as a square to provide a gripping shape for a tool to rotate and tighten the plug  78  within the hole  76 . Alternatively, a faucet or valve may be coupled to the threaded hole  74 . The outer hex portion of insert  74  embeds within the sidewall so that when plug  78  or a faucet is tightened within the threaded hole  76  the insert does not rotate within the sidewall. 
         [0040]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the tank  14  and trough  16  may be constructed from a variety of materials including a roto moldable food grade resin to avoid toxins from leaking into the water contained within the tank or trough. Further the exterior of the tank  14  and/or trough  16  may be colored, textured  24 , and include an ornamental look and feel to blend into a natural surroundings.  FIGS. 9-24  illustrate embodiments of tank  14  that includes an ornamental design. Having described the construction and ornamental features of the present invention, the mode of use will now be presented. In use, trough  14  is positioned on the ground over tray  16  extending through the two opposed openings  64  and  66  of the continuous sidewall  34  of the tank. The trough  16  may slide from side to side through the openings  64  and  66 . The outer sides of trough  16  may be sized to obstruct the openings and restricting access into an interior region formed by the extended sidewall  62 . Fluid outlet drain  72  is aligned with opening  64  allowing a user to access the drain and interchange a drain plug  78  or valve without disengaging the tank from the trough  16 . 
         [0041]    When a plug  78  is sealed in the fluid inlet, water flows into the trough through orifice  80  until a water level in the trough reaches the height of the orifice  80 . The flow of water out of the tank reaches an equilibrium and stops flowing when the water height in the trough is level with the orifice (so long as the plug  40  is sealed in the fluid inlet  18 ). The user may selectively slide the trough  16  through the openings  64  and  66  so that the trough only extends from one side of the trough or both sides of the trough. When the trough is being slid through the openings, trough stop  70  engages with an end  92  of the trough  16  so that the trough end aligns flush with an adjacent outer sidewall of the tank (see  FIG. 3 ). When the tank  14  is full of water, a top edge of the trough may engage the sidewall opening to provide further support and stability to the tank. To refill the tank, the user removes plug  40  and directs fluid into the fluid inlet  18 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a second tank  14  may be transported on a motorized vehicle and used to fill a partially empty first tank located in the field. 
         [0042]    These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.