Patent ID: 7717660

Claim:
A hay bale feeder capable of being tilted and transported in association with the directed movement of a conventional hay bale, the feeder comprising: (a) a structure configured for enclosing the hay bale having a bottom, a bottom edge, an exterior, a top edge, a bottom portion, and a top portion with said top portion having a plurality of sufficiently sized openings for livestock to access and feed on the hay bale; (b) at least one tilt ramp having an upper end and a lower end, said at least one tilt ramp disposed on the outside of said exterior of said structure, said lower end being positioned adjacent to said bottom edge of said structure, said at least one tilt ramp being connected to said structure at a first point and said upper end of said at least one tilt ramp extending towards said top edge of said structure in a spaced relationship thereto, such that said at least one tilt ramp forms an acute angle with respect to said exterior of said structure; (c) at least one brace connecting to said at least one tilt ramp at a second point, above said first point, and to said structure at a third point, above said first point, in said spaced relationship thereto; and (d) at least one stabilizing member connected to said structure, said at least one stabilizing member being positioned adjacent to said bottom of said structure apart from said at least one tilt ramp, said at least one stabilizing member configured to limit sliding movement of said structure with respect to the ground in a reverse direction, defined as a said tilt ramp to said at least one stabilizing member direction, permit sliding movement with respect to the ground in a forward direction, opposite from said reverse direction, and limit rocking movement with respect to the ground in a side to side direction; wherein directing the movement of the hay bale in said reverse direction against said at least one tilt ramp results in the upward tilting of said structure until said lower end of said tilt ramp is located on the top of the hay bale and an engagement of said lower end of said tilt ramp with the hay bale upon movement of the hay bale in said forward direction, said engagement sufficient to permit the transport of said structure when the hay bale is moved in said forward direction.