Patent ID: 7874265

Claim:
A restricted access animal feeder, comprising: a. an activation means comprising a pendant that hangs from a collar worn by an animal, the pendant affixed to the collar by affixation means, the pendant retaining a first permanent magnet which in turn retains a second permanent magnet, the second permanent magnet having a stronger magnetic force than the first permanent magnet so that if the second permanent magnet is attached to an object, a pulling force by the animal will cause the first permanent magnet to be released from the second permanent magnet; b. a feeder comprising a housing having a means for retaining animal food, shield means to enable access to the food from only one location, adjustment means to enable the height of the means for retaining animal food to be raised or lowered, adjustment means to enable an area between the shield and the food retaining means to be increased or decreased, the housing retaining a movable cover which moves over the means for retaining animal food to prevent access to the food retaining means and is retractable back into the housing to permit access to the food retaining means, the movement of the cover created by a sliding mechanism connected to at least one electric motor which is connected to a magnetic switch; and c. the housing having magnetic sensor means which is activated when the pendant having the two magnets is adjacent the housing, the sensor means causing the magnetic switch connected to a power supply to close when activated so that the electric motor connected to the power supply is activated and activates means which causes the cover to move from one location in the housing to another location in the housing.