Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a pet feeding apparatus, and more particularly, to a continuous and gravity fed pet feeder including a safety restriction device to prevent pets from injuring or suffocating themselves when using the pet feeding apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Although there have been numerous pet feeders designed, many have proven to be hazardous to small pets. Pet feeders typically contain large inverted storage containers that gravity feed pet food into a base portion having a food bowl. By using these devices, pet owners have the convenience of feeding their pets less frequently as the food dispensing function is performed automatically; thus, pet owners can be away from their pets for longer periods of time. 
     In some instances, however, food containers will separate from the base portion for various reasons, often posing a hazard to pets. If a pet owner is not present to reassemble the device, small pets will often insert their heads into the storage container to eat the food located inside. Because the opening is large enough for pets to insert their heads, some pets are seriously injured and in some instances have died from suffocation. 
     The present invention prevents pets from inserting their heads inside such containers while also allowing food to gravity feed into a lower bowl. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a pet feeding apparatus to dispense a constant supply of pet food for pets during extended periods of time. The pet feeding apparatus comprises a storage container for storing pet food, a base structure that includes a mounting structure to support and hold the storage container and a bowl to receive pet food as it is dispensed from the storage container exit. Food is gravity fed into the bowl from the container to maintain a minimum food level in the bowl for extended periods of time. 
     The present invention further comprises a restriction device that attaches to the storage container opening to prevent pets from inserting their heads inside the container in the event that a pet separates the storage container from the base structure mount. The restriction device comprises at least one restriction bar extending across the inner boundary of the restriction device. The present invention reduces the risk of suffocation or serious injury to the pet by preventing the pet from inserting its head inside the container. The restriction bar contains a V-shaped cross section or any other cross section suitable to prevent food from lodging on the restriction bar as food exits the container past the bar and into the lower bowl. The restriction device can be permanently attached or molded as an integral part of the container or it can be removable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pet feeding device showing the food storage container, base structure and restriction device. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the safety restriction device. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the safety restriction device. 
     FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a section view taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the safety restriction device having a semi-circular cross section. 
     FIG. 7 is a top elevation view of the safety restriction device having multiple restriction bars. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to Drawings wherein like reference characters denote like or similar parts throughout the five figures. Referring to FIG. 1, a pet feeder generally identified by the numeral  10  includes a container  12 , a base generally identified by the numeral  14  and a restriction device generally identified by the numeral  16 . 
     Container  12  includes a lid  18 , a storage area  20 , and storage area opening  22 . Pet food is deposited inside container  12  by removing lid  18  and filling storage area  20  with pet food. Container  12  preferably fabricated from a lightweight plastic material and is clear to enable pet owners to view the food level. 
     Base  14  includes a bowl  24  and a container support  26 . Bowl  24  has an open top and is shaped to hold a supply of pet food so pets may eat therefrom. Support  26  is connected adjacent bowl  24  and supports container  12  when the container is mounted on a support opening  28 . As best seen in FIG. 4, container  12  mounts onto support  26  by inserting a lip  30  extending from container  12  inside a support slot  32 , which extends around storage area opening  22 . This configuration permits container  12  to be easily removed from support  26  without using tools and with minimal force in order to clean or store the apparatus. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, pet food gravity feeds from container  12  into bowl  24  via a ramp  34 , which provides a passageway for food to travel from opening  22  to bowl  24  through support  26 . 
     Restriction device  16  is positioned in storage area opening  22  and is detailed in FIGS. 2 and 3. Restriction device  16  is generally shaped as a ring having an opening  36  and includes an outer boundary  38 , an inner boundary  40 , a restriction bar  42  and a tab  44 . When placed in opening  22 , restriction bar  42  prevents pets from inserting their heads inside container  12  thereby reducing the risk of suffocation or serious injury. While only one restriction bar  42  is illustrated extending into opening  36  and across the diameter of the inner boundary  40 , there may be multiple restriction bars extending across the diameter (not shown) or there may be multiple restriction bars extending across a chord length (i.e., extending from any two points on the inner boundary of the restriction device) of restriction device  16  (FIG.  7 ). A bar for purposes of this invention is defined not only to include straight pieces that are longer than are wider, but also any shaped piece that extends from inner boundary  40  into opening  36 . Examples of various configured bars may include, but are not limited to bars with multiple curves or “turns”, “L” shaped bars, “C” shaped bars, etc. It should also be noted that any bar  42  configuration, or combination of bars  42  extending into and/or across opening  36  can be used as long as it prevents pets from inserting their heads inside container  12  while allowing food to empty from the container  12 . Restriction bar  42  can be mounted as a cantilever so that it is supported on one end while having the other end extend while being unsupported toward the middle portion of opening  16 . Furthermore, the restriction bar can extend out of the plane created by opening  16  in a direction toward container  12  or in a direction toward support  26 . 
     In one embodiment, restriction bar  42  has a V-shaped cross sectional area (FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 ) with the point end facing toward main storage area  20  (FIG.  1 ). This shape prevents food from lodging along the restriction bar as food exits container  12  into support  26 . Alternate embodiments of the restriction bar may include any other shaped cross section that prevents food from lodging when food flows through restriction device  16  into support  26  and onto ramp  34 , such as a half circle, as seen in FIG.  6 . Restriction device  16  can be fabricated with a flexible metal or plastic material having sufficient strength to prevent pets from removing the restriction device from container  12  and inserting their heads inside the container. 
     Installation of restriction device  16  is performed while container  12  is empty by removing lid  18  (FIG. 1) and placing the restriction device inside the container. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, outer boundary  38  on device  16  is appropriately shaped and sized so that it snaps inside a slot  48  within container  12  to maintain a sufficient seal to prevent restriction device  16  from disengaging with container  12 . Tab  44  is positioned so that it engages with a cavity  46  (FIG. 5) to prevent device  16  from rotating while it is positioned in slot  32 . Alternatively, restriction device  16  can be permanently attached by gluing or the like to storage area opening  22 , or device  16  can be integrally molded as part of container  12 . Inner boundary  40  is appropriately sized so that sufficient clearance is provided to permit pet food to freely flow through restriction device  16  and into support  26 . 
     In normal use and operation of the pet feeder, lid  18  is removed from container  12  and food is placed inside storage area  20  to the desired level. The food is gravity fed into support  26  by passing through safety restriction device  16  and over restriction bar  42 . Food slides down ramp  34 , which is located inside support structure  26 . Ramp  34  deposits the pet food into bowl  24  where the pet can eat therefrom. This configuration provides pet owners the convenience of feeding their pets less frequently as this function is performed automatically. In the event that container  12  separates from support structure  26 , restriction device  16  prevents a pet from inserting its head inside the container. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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