Patent ID: 8596218

Claim:
An on-demand animal feed apparatus comprising: a receiving chamber including an inner wall and an outer wall and configured to transfer animal feed from a feed supply to a feed reservoir, the receiving chamber comprising an upper section to connect to the feed supply, a lower section, and an intermediate section disposed between the upper and lower sections, wherein the inner wall defines at least a poetion of the intermediate section separating the upper section from the lower section; a base tube connected to the lower section of the receiving chamber, the base tube having an upper portion that cooperates with the receiving chamber to define the feed reservoir, and a lower portion comprising a tapered cylindrical cross-section and defining a discharge opening for dispensing animal feed; and an actuator disposed at least partially within the base tube, the actuator being configured to raise and lower in an axial direction in response to movement of the actuator by an animal, thereby allowing an on-demand transfer of the animal feed from the feed reservoir through the discharge opening, wherein the lower section of the receiving chamber defines a relief area between the inner wall and the outer wall for a temporary displacement of the animal feed when the actuator is raised or lowered.