Patent ID: 7523717

Claim:
An animal feeder apparatus, comprising: a food storage hopper which includes a top hopper portion and a bottom hopper portion, a food retainer assembly adapted to be attached to said bottom hopper portion, wherein said food retainer assembly includes a top retainer portion, a bottom retainer portion, and top-to-bottom connection means connected between said top retainer portion and said bottom retainer portion, wherein said top retainer portion includes a top food passage channel, and wherein said bottom retainer portion includes a bottom food passage channel, said top food passage channel of said top retainer portion adapted to be in registration with said bottom hopper portion, a timer-controlled food distribution assembly adapted to be attached to said bottom retainer portion in registration with said bottom food passage channel of said bottom retainer portion, and a stand for supporting said food storage hopper, said food retainer assembly, and said timer-controlled food distribution assembly, wherein said top retainer portion further includes a top flow valve for controlling flow of food through said top food passage channel, wherein said bottom retainer portion further includes a funnel portion for retaining food therein prior to release by said timer-controlled food distribution assembly and wherein said funnel portion is in registration with said bottom food passage channel of said bottom retainer portion, wherein said top-to-bottom connection means include a top-to-bottom hinge assembly connected between a first side of said top retainer portion and a first side of said bottom retainer portion, and wherein said food retainer assembly further includes a top-to-bottom lock assembly connected between a second side of said top retainer portion and a second side of said bottom retainer portion.