Improvements in Feed Boxes for Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Cominunicated from abroad by NATIONAL FEED Box Co., of McGraw Building,
corner Lafayette Avenue and Griswold Street, Detroit, Michigan, United
States of America.]
Improvements in Feed Boxes for Horses and other Animals.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The invention relates to the construction of feed boxes, and consists in the
peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of such a
box comprising a box proper, a centrally apertured false bottom or follower
adapted to rest on the feed and to move down as the feed is eaten.
The follower bas a grating of improved construction secured across the aperture,
and the box provided with means for detachably supporting it upon a manger, or to
the side of a building, a board or post.
The object of the construction is to provide a metallic box, light, strong, durable
which will prevent the waste of feed, and which can be readily and quickly filled
and cleaned.
In the drawings which accompany this Specification, Fig. 1 is a perspective
view of my feed box, detached from its support and showing the follower on the
outside, as in position to fill the box.
Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the construction of the guide
for the follower.
Fig. 3 is a vertical, central section through my feed box showing it in position
on its support with the follower in its lower position.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the grating for the aperture in the follower.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the securing plates for the grating.
Figure 6 is a modification.
The feed box is made of metal, and preferably with cylindrical sides A and a
closed bottom B in the shape of an inverted truncated cone, or a concaved or dish
shaped bottom.
The top of the cylindrical portion is reinforced by turning the edges over a
reinforcing wire C, one end of this wire is projected out through the enclosing
metal, and is formed with the eye or curved portion D, and the vertical guide
portion E, which extends down into the box, and through an aperture therein and
its end a is clinched over on the under side, as shown in Fig. 2.
Before passing this guide bar or wire through the botton, it is passed through
an aperture in the edge of the follower F, which corresponds in shape to the
bottom of the box and has a central aperture G.
This follower is adapted to be raised and lowered freely in the box, being
guided on the bar E and may he turned to hang upon the outside of the box as
shown in Fig. 1, by guiding it over the eye D thereof. In this position the entire
interior of the box is exposed and it may be filled or cleaned easily and quickly.
The aperture in the bottom of the follower is spanned by a grating formed by a
single piece of wire, as shown in Fig. 4, comprising the cross bars c, the end or
securing bar d. This grating is bent so that the end portions bear against the

page_text: inclined portion of the follower and it is held in position by means of the securing
plates G, rivetted or otherwise secured to the underside of the follower. These
securing plates are provided with grooves e in which the ends of the grating
engage, thus the securing plates hold the wires of the grating against withdrawal or
movement in any direction and add greatly to the rigidity thereof.
Around the outside of the box and beneath the re-inforcing wire is a ring H,
preferably a heavy metal band, fitting snugly like a hoop around the cylindrical
portion thereof. At one side this book is provided with the depending pins 1
which are adapted to engage behind a strip or plate J.
In the lower position of the follower it rests upon the grating as shown in
Fig. 3 in such position as to leave a space between the bottom of the follower and
the upper face of the bottom B of the box, so that all the grain or feed may work
down such inclined sides and beneath the grating and thus enable the animal to
eat the feed in the box clean. Such a box as this is a great saving in feed as the
animal cannot spill any over the edges being able to get at it ouly through the
grating in the bottom of the follower.
It is easily cleaned and may if desired be used for watering as well as for
feeding. It is especially convenient in cases where the regular mangers are not
erected as it can be nailed to a post through the pius I, or to a wall by securing
the plates J thereof.
Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the follower having the grating
formed by striking out portions of the metal in the bottom thereof and turning
those portions down in the shape of flanges S to serve to hold the follower from
the bottom of the box in its lower position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
The improved feed box herein described and shown.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.