Abstract:
A feeder system comprising a directional automatic feeder; a feed container positioned above the directional automatic feeder; a cavity below the feed container; a structure surrounding the directional automatic feeder, the feed container, and the cavity in which the structure anchored securely to the ground is taught. The use of such feeders is also taught.

Description:
[0001]    A feeder system described herein may, for example, comprise a directional automatic feeder; a feed container positioned above the directional automatic feeder; a cavity below the feed container; a structure surrounding the directional automatic feeder, the feed container, and the cavity; wherein the structure is arranged and configured to be anchored securely to the ground. In a related example, the feeder system may have tension lines arranged and configured to be anchored securely to the ground. In a further related example, the structure comprises fiberglass reinforced concrete. In a further related example, the structure consists essentially of fiberglass reinforced concrete. In a further related example, the structure is camouflaged relative to wooded environments. In a further related example, the structure resembles a tree stump. In a still further related example, the structure resembles a tree stump selected from an oak tree stump, a cypress tree stump, and a pine tree stump. In a further related example, the structure resembles a tree stump selected from a hardwood tree stump and a coniferous tree stump. In a further related example, the structure has a diameter of greater than 24 inches. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the feeder system. 
           [0003]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the feeder system. 
           [0004]      FIG. 3  is a cut away view of the feeder system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example 1 
       [0005]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the feeder system comprises Feeder housing  10  which is constructed of a durable weather resistant material such as fiberglass reinforced concrete. Feeder housing  10  may also be constructed of other materials including plastic, epoxy, foam, Poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, carbon fiber and other materials which are durable and weather resistant. Feeder housing  10  is arranged and configured to surround, conceal, and protect a Feed container  75  (not shown) and an Automatic feeder  90  (not shown). Feeder housing  10  is configured to have the general appearance of a tree stump and may be configured to blend in with natural surroundings like wooded areas. Feed distribution orifice  20  is located at and elevated position on Feeder housing  10 . Feed distribution orifice  20  is a size and shape suitable to allow for the effective distribution of an animal feed through the air by Automatic feeder  90 . Feed container support bar anchor points  25  indicate positions at which Feeder support bars  80  may be attached on the interior of Feeder housing  10 . Message board  30 , if present, may indicate through text or other markings, some form of communication such as a trademark of the manufacturer or a message to those that could encounter the feeder system. Knot  35  is an example of one of many potential camouflaging elements that may aid in allowing Feeder housing  10  to blend in to the surroundings. Feeder housing top  40  may be open allowing for easy retrieval and placement of Feeder housing  10 . Feeder housing base  50  is in contact with the ground and may optionally be secured tightly to the ground. 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  of the drawings depicts the side of Feeder housing  10  that is opposite the side depicted in  FIG. 1 . Feed container support bar anchor points  25  are located on the upper portion of Feeder housing  10 . Knot  35 , Feeder housing top  40 , feeder housing base  50 , and Feeder housing anchor points  65  are arranged and configured essentially as described in the depiction of  FIG. 1 . Feeder rear access panel  60  serves as a panel door to access the interior of Feeder housing  10  so that set up, maintenance, and other activities requiring access to the interior of Feeder housing  10  may be accomplished through the opening Feeder rear access panel  60  may also be closed in a secure way that limits undesired access to the interior of Feeder housing  10 . Feeder rear access panel  60  may for example be secured by a lock. 
         [0007]      FIG. 3  of the drawings depicts a cut away view of Feeder housing  10 . Feeder support bar  80  spans the interior space of Feeder housing  10  and supports the weight of Feed container  75 . Automatic feeder connection brackets  85  suspends Automatic feeder  90  below Feed container  75  and position Automatic feeder  90  such that Automatic feeder  90  is positioned to distribute the through Feed distribution orifice  20 . Automatic feeder  90  may for example be the Directional Feeder Kit model no. MFHP60059 sold by Moultrie Feeders, 150 Industrial Road Alabaster, Ala. 35007. Ground anchor rods  100  are fixed securely in the ground and may take the form of stakes. Anchoring lines  105  serve to compress Feeder housing base  50  against the ground upon the tensioning of Anchor lines  105  by Anchoring tensioning device  110  which may for example be a turnbuckle. Anchoring line  105  is secured to Feeder housing  10  by Housing anchor bolt  115  at Feeder housing anchor point  65 . Feed container  75  is positioned in the upper portion of Feeder housing  10  in a position that may be accessed through the opening at Feeder housing top  40 . Feed container  75  typically has a feed container top  77  which protects the feed from the weather. Feed container top  77  may, for example, be secured in place by one or more security measures such as ratcheting straps accessible only from the interior of Feeder housing  10 . 
         [0008]    Feeder housing  10  is constructed of fiberglass reinforced concrete having a thickness that is sufficient to resist moderate tampering and having a diameter that is narrow enough to place the feeder system on the rack of an all-terrain vehicle. In one example, Feeder housing base  50  has a diameter of less than 40 inches. In a related example, Feeder housing base  50  has a diameter of less than 35 inches. In a further example, Feeder housing base  50  may have a diameter of 31 inches. In a still further related example, Feeder housing base  50  may have a diameter of at least 12 inches. In a still further related example, Feeder housing base  50  may have a diameter of at least 18 inches. In a further related example, Feeder housing  50  may be less than 85 inches tall. In a related example, Feeder housing  50  may be less than 65 inches tall. In a further related example, feeder housing may be 54 inches tall. Feeder housing  50  may be greater than 20 inches tall. In a related example, Feeder housing  50  may be greater than  45  inches tall. 
         [0009]    Optionally, the feeder system has a shaped piece of sheet metal between Feed distribution orifice  20  and Automatic feeder  90  which guides the feed out of Feeder housing  10 . Optionally, the feeder system has multiple wires across Feed distribution orifice  20  having a wire gauge and spacing sufficient to deter small animals such as squirrels from entering Automatic feeder  90 . 
       Example 2 
       [0010]    The above described feeder system may be secured to the rack of an all-terrain vehicle and transported to a location that is desirable for feeding animals such as deer. After arriving at general area of the feeding location, a location for the feeding system may be identified so that Feed distribution orifice  20  is adjacent to an area which Automatic feeder  90  may spread feed over and which is easily accessible by the desired animals which are to be fed. After identifying the location for placement of the feeder system, Ground anchor rods  100  should be driven into the ground at locations that will be interior to Feeder housing  10 . Then, Feeder housing  10  is placed and positioned as previously identified and Anchoring lines  105  are attached to Ground anchor rods  100  followed by the tensioning of Anchoring lines  105  using Anchoring tensioning devices  110  which may be turnbuckles. Work with Anchoring lines  105  is accomplished through Feeder rear access panel  60 . After the feeder system is secured in place Feed container  75  with Automatic feeder  90  already attached is lowered through the opening in Feeder housing top  40  until Feed container  75  rests on Feeder support bar  80 . Automatic feeder  90  is then rotated until the direction of feed ejection is aligned with Feed distribution orifice  20 . Optionally, Feed container  75  and Feed container top  77  may be securely strapped into position by a securing device such as ratchet straps. Such securing may also serve to prevent tampering. After the feeding system is properly set up Feeder rear access panel  60  may be closed and optionally locked. 
         [0011]    As that term is used herein “diameter” refers to the diameter of the smallest circle that will completely enclose the base of the relevant Feeder housing  10  when the base of Feeder housing  10  is not circular. 
         [0012]    The above-described embodiments have a number independently useful individual features that have particular utility when used in combination with one another including combinations of features from embodiments described separately. There are, of course, other alternate embodiments which are obvious from the foregoing descriptions of the invention, which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.