Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 11/052,151, filed Feb. 7, 2005 now abandoned, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/547,877, filed Feb. 26, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates in general to the field of devices for feeding pets, more particularly, to a device for keeping pets&#39; ears clean or substantially clean. 
   BACKGROUND 
   When animals or pets eat food or drink water, they mainly place their faces in the bowl or dish containing the food. For example, when dogs eat food or drink water, they place their snouts in the bowl or dish in order to obtain access to the food or water. Dogs that have floppy ears, i.e., ears that hang toward the ground instead of “cropped ears,” often get their ears wet or food stuck in the hair of their ears when they place their faces in the bowls or dishes containing food or water. 
   There is thus a need for a device that keeps pets&#39; ears clean or substantially clean. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an ear prop prevents a pet&#39;s ears from contacting or substantially contacting food or water in a bowl or dish. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a dish for holding food or water for a pet is constructed to keep the pet&#39;s ears from contacting or substantially contacting food or water in the dish. The dish comprises a bowl section and an ear prop section. The bowl section has a floor piece with a boundary continuously connectable to a boundary of a side wherein another boundary of the side defines an opening of the dish. The ear prop section is operably connected to the opening to provide a mechanism for elevating, supporting or displacing the pet&#39;s ears. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an ear prop for preventing a pet&#39;s ears from contacting or substantially contacting food or water in a bowl or dish comprises a shield. The shield has members for elevating, supporting or displacing the pet&#39;s ears. 
   It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the detailed description are exemplary, but not restrictive of the invention. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, which are discussed below, one or more preferred embodiments are illustrated, with the same reference numerals referring to the same pieces of the invention throughout the drawings. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments depicted in the drawings herein, but rather it is defined by the claims appended hereto and equivalent structures 
       FIG. 1  is one embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention operably connected to a bowl. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the ear prop of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3   a  is a second embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a third embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a fourth embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention operably connected to a bowl. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the ear prop of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6   a  is a fifth embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6   b  is a sixth embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as the invention, the invention will now be further described by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the above-described accompanying drawings. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , an ear prop  100 ,  400  is operably connected to a bowl  102 . The ear prop  100 ,  400  can be either incorporated into the mold of the bowl  102  at the time of manufacture or an add-on accessory purchased after the purchase of the bowl  102 . The ear prop  100 ,  400  also can be adjustable so that it can be used on different sized bowls and/or for different sized pets. As discussed herein, the term “pet” includes all types of animals, not just domesticated animals. 
   In  FIG. 1 , the ear prop  100  engages the rim or edge  104  of the bowl  102 . The ear prop  100  has members  106 ,  108  connected to one another through an attachment piece  110 . In another embodiment, not shown, the members  106 ,  108  are not connected to one another through an attachment piece. The members  106 ,  108  are positioned so that they will be in contact with the pet&#39;s ears  112 ,  112  when the pet  114  places his head  114  in the bowl  102 . The members  106 ,  108  can be set at a predetermined height by the manufacturer or adjusted by the pet&#39;s owner; when adjustable, each member  106 ,  108  may be moved either dependent or independent of the other member. As a result of the members  106 ,  108 , the pet&#39;s ears  112 ,  112  are elevated, supported, or displaced so that they do not come into contact with the food or water in the bowl  102 . 
   In an adjustable embodiment of the ear prop  100 , when the ear prop&#39;s members  106 ,  108  are raised and lowered, the attachment piece  110  between the members  106 ,  108  does not also raise and lower. In an alternative embodiment, the attachment piece  110  between the members  106 ,  108  also raises and lowers in correlation or proportion to the change in the members  106 ,  108 . In another alternative embodiment, the attachment piece  110  is not present and the members  106 ,  108  can be adjusted either independently or dependently, i.e., if the members  106 ,  108  are dependent, when one member is raised or lowered to a specific height, the second member automatically raises or lowers to the same height as a result of a mechanism found inside of the bowl  102 ; if the members  106 ,  108  are independent of each other, adjusting one member does not automatically adjust the other member. When raising the members  106 ,  108 , the members  106 ,  108  move on a diagonal path toward the pet  114 ; when lowering the members  106 ,  108 , they move on a diagonal path away from the pet  114 . In an alternative embodiment, raising and lowering the members  106 ,  108  results in adjustment of either the vertical or the horizontal distance between the members  106 ,  108  and the edge  104  of the bowl  102 . Raising and lowering the members  106 ,  108  allows the ear prop to be adjusted based on the size or diameter of the pet&#39;s head  116 . 
   When an attachment piece  110  is located between the members  106 ,  108  of the ear prop  100 , the attachment piece  110  can be adjustable so that the ear prop  100  can be used on different shaped or sized bowls. Additionally, although shown as located below the highest portion of the members  106 ,  108 , the attachment piece  110  can be located at a height identical to or higher than the highest portion of the members  106 ,  108 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show embodiments of the ear prop of  FIG. 1  not operably connected to a bowl.  FIG. 2  shows the ear prop  100  having members  106 ,  108  connected to one another through an attachment piece  110 ; the members  106 , 108  and attachment piece  110  are preset by the manufacturer. Adjustable embodiments are shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows ear props  300 ,  350  having adjustable members  302 ,  304  connected to an adjustable attachment piece  306 . In the ear prop  300  shown in  FIG. 3   a,  the members  302 ,  304  are adjusted dependently or independently relative one another, and the attachment piece  306  is adjusted independently from the members  302 ,  304 . In  FIG. 3   b,  the ear prop  350  has the members  302 ,  304  and attachment piece  306  dependently adjustable; in other words, manually adjusting member  302 , member  304  or attachment piece  306  automatically adjusts the non-manually adjusted items. The attachment piece  306  comprises at least one telescopic member comprising an inner and outer portion  306   a,    306   b.  The inner and outer portions  306   a,    306   b  may be adjustably positioned with respect to each other 
   Another embodiment of the ear prop is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the ear prop  400  resembles a shield. The ear prop  400  is located toward and engages the back of the bowl  102 . As shown, the ear prop  400  optionally is angled toward the body of the pet  114  which will place its head  116  in the bowl  102  to eat or drink. The ear prop  400  contains members  402 ,  404 . When the pet&#39;s mouth is in the bowl  102 , the pet&#39;s ears  112 ,  112  are elevated, supported or displaced by the members  402 ,  404  so that they do not come into contact with the food or water in the bowl  102 . The members  402 ,  404  can be either set at a predetermined height by the manufacturer or adjusted by the pet&#39;s owner. 
   In an adjustable embodiment, when the ear prop&#39;s members  402 ,  404  are raised and lowered, the segment  406  of the ear prop  400  between the members  402 ,  404  does not also raise and lower. In an alternative embodiment, the segment  406  between the members  402 ,  404  also raises and lowers in correlation or proportion to the change in the members  402 ,  404 . As shown, the segment  406  between the members  402 ,  404  is lower than the highest portion of the members  402 ,  404 ; alternatively, the height of this segment  406  can be identical to or higher than the highest portion of the members  402 ,  404 . When raising the members  402 ,  404 , the members  402 ,  404  move on a diagonal path toward the pet  114 ; when lowering the members  402 ,  404 , they move on a diagonal path away from the pet  114 . In an alternative embodiment, raising and lowering the members  402 ,  404  results in adjustment of either the vertical or the horizontal distance between the members  402 ,  404  and the edge  104  of the bowl  102 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show embodiments of the ear prop of  FIG. 2  not operably connected to a bowl.  FIG. 5  shows the ear prop  400  having members  402 ,  404  and segment  406  preset by a manufacturer. Adjustable embodiments are shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  shows ear props  600 ,  650  having adjustable members  602 ,  604  connected to an adjustable segment  606 . In the ear prop  600  shown in  FIG. 6   a , the members  602 ,  604  are adjusted dependently or independently relative to one another and the segment  606  is adjusted independently of the members  602 ,  604 . As shown in  FIG. 6   b , the ear prop  650  has the members  602 ,  604  and the segment  606  dependently adjustable; in other words, manually adjusting member  602 , member  604  or segment  606  automatically adjusts the non-manually adjusted items. The segment  606  comprises at least one telescopic member comprising an inner and outer portion  606   a,    606   b.  The inner and outer portions  606   a,    606   b  may be adjustably positioned with respect to each other 
   Although shown as rounded triangular shapes in  FIGS. 1-6 , the members of the ear prop are not limited to this shape. The shape of the members can be oval, circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or any other shape capable of elevating, supporting or displacing a pet&#39;s ears. Additionally, the members need not be hollow as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  or solid as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 ; the members can be solid, substantially solid, partially solid, hollow, substantially hollow or partially hollow. 
   Mechanisms for adjusting the adjustable elements described herein are well known in the art. Examples of such mechanisms are snap-lock mechanisms, press-fit mechanisms, bracket-type mechanisms, slide-and-lock mechanisms, twist-and-lock or other friction-fit mechanisms, tongue-and-groove mechanisms, clamp-type mechanisms or any other suitable mechanisms for adjusting the adjustable elements. It also is well known in the art to make adjustable elements operably connected to one another, if so desired. 
   If the ear prop is an add-on accessory to a bowl or apparatus that holds the bowl, such as a tray, table or the like, the ear prop contains a mechanism  700  to secure it to the bowl or apparatus. The mechanism may be a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a bracket-type mechanism, a slide-and-lock mechanism, a twist-and-lock or other friction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, a clamp-type mechanism or any other suitable mechanism for securing the ear prop to the bowl or apparatus. Alternatively, the ear prop can be a standalone device. In such an embodiment, the members are operably connected to one base or a plurality of bases and the bowl is located in close proximity or is operably connected to the ear prop. 
   Throughout the description herein, the ear prop has been described as elevating, supporting or displacing a pet&#39;s ears so that they do not come into contact with food or water in a bowl. However, this assumes that the ear prop&#39;s members are contacting the underside of the pet&#39;s ears as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The ear prop alternatively could be positioned so that the ear prop&#39;s members contact the exterior portions of the pet&#39;s ears, in which case the pet&#39;s ears would be elevated, supported or displaced so that they do not come or substantially come into contact with the food or water in the bowl. 
   The ear prop can be made of any suitable material that is substantially rigid so that when the pet&#39;s head rubs or presses against the ear prop, the ear prop is able to elevate, support or displace the pet&#39;s ears without bending or breaking away from the bowl. Examples of such materials are plastic, wood, rubber, metal, foam or any other suitable material or a combination of such materials. The material chosen may be one that is sufficiently flexible to permit the pet&#39;s owner or caregiver to adjust the ear prop to the size of the pet&#39;s head or to be in better contact with the pet&#39;s ears than the position set by the manufacturer. Optionally, a softer material can be located on or incorporated into the members so that the surface in contact with the pet&#39;s ears is softer than the substantially rigid material; examples of softer materials include, but are not limited to, neoprene, microfiber, cotton, felt, or any other suitable material or combinations of these materials. 
   The ear prop is not limited for use on a bowl. It can be used on a dish or any item from which a pet can eat. Although the ear prop  100 ,  400  is associated with a round bowl  102  in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the item on which the ear prop is used can be any shape; the item need not be circular or oval. 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1