Patent ID: 7458336

Claim:
An animal feeding device having electronic identification and feed control comprising: an enclosed feeding chamber having a single aperture therethrough permitting animal entry into said feeding chamber; a bezel attached about said aperture and extending outwardly therefrom and substantially transversely thereto with an interior volume of said bezel defining a single entryway into said feeding chamber, said entryway dimensioned for entry into said feeding chamber by only one animal at a time, of an intended size range; a door having a pivotal attachment within said feeding device in proximity to said aperture, said door having a closed position blocking said aperture; said door in said closed position defining the length of said entryway and thus the length of said bezel; said length of said entryway and said length of said bezel being at least equal to a length measured from the shoulders of said animal forward to the tip of the nose of said animal, and no longer than the total length of said animal; said door further being pivotally attached to said feeding device in proximity to the upper boundary of said aperture; said door being upwardly and inwardly pivotable into said feeding chamber if unlocked and pressed upon from outside said feeding chamber; said door further comprising an upper substantially flat portion and a lower curved portion joined together, said lower curved portion curving inwardly towards said feeding chamber with a radius of curvature between 18 mm and 65 mm, spanning an arc section of between 30 degrees and 75 degrees, thereby when said door is upwardly and inwardly pivoted, said lower curved portion preventing objects from catching on said door; locking means for locking and unlocking said door and operable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, said locking means, with said door closed, operable to a locked position and, with said lock in an unlocked condition enabling said door to be opened; radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor means configured to function cooperatively with an RFID-tagged animal; said RFID sensor means including at least one antenna element positioned forward of said aperture and formed into at least one loop to circumferentially surround said entryway; and said RFID sensor means actuating said locking means thereby permitting access to said feeding chamber by said RFID-tagged animal.