Species specific feeder

• US 10,292,363 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wiseeye Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harold G. Monk
• Inventors: Monk, Harold G
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Joshua D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hutchens, Christopher D
• Application Number:
  US14/618,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0142 with means for preventing other animals or insects from eating
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/02 Automatic devices automatic identification devices for stock A01K11/006
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0225 Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper for poultry A01K39/012
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 25/002 Bait holders, i.e. stationary devices for holding poisonous bait at the disposal of the animal
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/24 using electric or magnetic effects, e.g. electric shocks, magnetic fields or microwaves

Abstract

Animal feeders are disclosed that include housings resilient to specific species, feed compartments resilient to selected species, a protected region in the housing, a barrier between the protected region and the feed compartment, an access door, a species recognition device, an access door actuator, a controller, and an arm projecting through the housing or the barrier.

Claims

1. An animal feeder comprising:

a. a housing wherein the housing is resilient to a selected species;

b. a feed compartment within the housing wherein the feed compartment is resilient to the selected species;

c. a protected region within the housing;

d. a barrier between the protected region and the feed compartment;

e. an access door located in the housing;

f. a species recognition device;

g. an access door actuator located in the protected region; and

h. an electric shock deterrent;

i. wherein an external portion of the housing is electrically conductive;

j. wherein the protected region is not accessible to the selected species;

k. wherein the housing is a hog resilient housing;

l. wherein the access door is a hog resilient access door; and

m. wherein the selected species is a mammalian species.

2. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein the electric shock deterrent is configured to deactivate in response to a recognition of the mammalian species by the species recognition device.

3. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein the access door is configured to open in response to a recognition of the mammalian species by the species recognition device.

4. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein the selected species is wild boar.

5. An animal feeder comprising:

a. a housing wherein the housing is resilient to a selected species;

b. a feed compartment within the housing wherein the feed compartment is resilient to the selected species;

c. a protected region within the housing;

d. a barrier between the protected region and the feed compartment;

e. an access door located in the housing;

f. a species recognition device;

g. an access door actuator located in the protected region; and

h. an electric shock deterrent;

i. wherein the access door actuator operates in response to the species recognition device;

j. wherein the access door actuator operates the access door through an obstruction selected from the housing and the barrier;

k. wherein the barrier is a selected species barrier;

l. wherein the access door actuator has an access door actuator communication line and the access door actuator communication line is entirely within the protected region;

m. wherein the housing is a bear resilient housing;

n. wherein the access door is a bear resilient access door; and

o. wherein the selected species is selected from a mammalian species and an avian species.

6. The animal feeder of claim 5 further comprising

a. an arm projecting through the obstruction;

and

b. an armhole in the obstruction through which the arm projects;

c. wherein the arm is connected to the access door; and

d. wherein the arm is connected to the access door actuator.

7. The animal feeder of claim 6 wherein a cross sectional area of the armhole is no more than ten times a cross-sectional area of the arm.

8. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein an animal feed passage is provided in the barrier.

9. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein the access door is operated by a mechanical screw.

10. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein the access door is operated hydraulically.

11. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein the access door is resistant to non-actuated motion.

12. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein no communication lines are located in the feed compartment.