GB2350276A

GB2350276A - Gravity fed animal feeder

Info

Publication number: GB2350276A
Application number: GB0008178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Eirwyn Gronow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-08
Filing date: 2000-04-05
Publication date: 2000-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-05
Also published as: GB2350276B; GB9907896D0; GB0008178D0

Abstract

An open-topped container 1 has a feeding outlet window 2 near the base of the front wall 3. An internal baffle plate 4 angles down from above the window 2 towards the rear wall 5. The internal horizontal gap 6 restricts the extent of flow of food material 7 within the container as does the vertical gap 8 between the bottom edge of the baffle 4 and the lower edge of the window 2. This creates a gently falling mound 9 of food which is readily accessible to the feeding animal. The container is formed with small holes 11 in the base wall 10 to allow small particles of foodstuff to fall through so that this fine material does not tend to clog up the feeding area.

Description

2350276 "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO ANIMAL FEEDER UNITS" Existing animal

feeder units, particularly for small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs are not entirely satisfactory in allowing for a smooth and continuous supply of food and ensuring that the unit does not readily become fouled or blocked.

According to the present invention there is provided an animal feeder unit comprising an open-topped container having an open outlet window towards the base of one side and an internal baffle angled across the interior of the container from the wall above the window towards the other side and terminating above the lower edge of the window to create a restricted vertical and then horizontal pathway for food from the open-top to the outlet window, and wherein the base of the container is in the form of a f ine mesh or grille to enable dust-like food particles only to fall through.

The hopper-like arrangement created by the internal baffle creates a smooth and continuous flow of food to the outlet window (where the animal will feed). The restricted pathway can ensure that the foodstuff does notreadily overspill from the container. The internal baffle may have a terminal portion at its free end which extends essentially vertically.

The base allows dust particles in the food to fall through so that they can be swept away f rom time to time and thus clogging of the container can be avoided. Preferably the base wall will be positioned above the termination of 2 the side wall so as to create a space below the base wall into which the dust-like food particles can collect.

The container can be modified to extend as a barred rack to one side for holding hay or the like. Furthermore a water feed bottle can be mounted on the outside of the container. This could be achieved by means of a retainer clip positioned on the container to hold a detachable water bottle.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of animal feeder unit of this invention; and is Figure 2 is a vertical section through a feed container portion of the unit shown in Figure 1.

The unit shown in the drawings is based around an opentopped container 1 which has a feeding outlet window 2 near the base of the front wall 3 of the container. Internally there is a baffle plate 4 which angles down from above the window 2 from the front wall 3 towards the rear wall 5. In this example there is then. a terminal portion 4A which extends vertically. This allows for greater depth of the outlet window 2 for larger animals. The internal horizontal gap 6 restricts the extent of flow of food material 7 within the contain er as does the vertical gap 8 between the bottom edge of the baf f le 4 and the lower edge of the window 2. This creates a gently falling mound 9 of food which is 3 readily accessible to the feeding animal. As the animal feeds more food material 7 will flow through the restriction 6 to the feeding area 9. The baffle could desirably fall at an angle of about 300 to 550 from the horizontal. Preferab- ly the fall angle of the feeding region 9 will be about 100 to 200 but it could lie in the region of 50 to 300.

The base wall 10 of the container is formed as a fine mesh, thus creating small holes 11 through which small particles of foodstuff can fall so that this fine material does not tend to clog up the feeding area. By forming the container with a raised base wall 10, a region 12 is provided into which dust-like food particles can collect, for removal when the container is lifted.

To one side of the container 1 there is provided an is extension wall 13 and; in front of that, bars 14 are provided to create a rack within which hay or similar foodstuffs can be held. At the other end of the container a water bottle 15 is mounted by means of flexible clips 16 (or some other suitable locating means).

4

Claims

1. An animal feeder unit comprising an open-topped container having an open outlet window towards the base of one side and an internal baffle angled across the interior of the container from the wall above the window towards the other side and terminating above the lower edge of the window to create a restricted vertical and then horizontal pathway for food from the open-top to the outlet window, and wherein the base of the container is in the form of a fine mesh or grille to enable dust-like food particles only to fall through.

2. A feeder unit according to Claim 1, wherein the internal baffle has a terminal portion at its free end which extends essentially vertically.

is

3. A feeder unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the base wall is positioned above the termination of the side wall so as to create a space below the base wall into which the dust-like food particles can collect.

4. A f eeder unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, 20 wherein the container is provided with a barred rack to one side for holding hay or the like.

5. A feeder unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a water feed bottle is mounted on the outside of the container.

6. A feeder unit according to Claim 5, wherein a clip is positioned on the container to hold a detachable type of water feed bottle.

7. An animal feeder unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.