STORAGE SYSTEM FOR CHICKEN FEEDERS

• US 20170181410A1
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duraplas LP
• Original Assignee: Southwest Agri-Plastics Incorporated (Maxi-Lift, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGregor, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,750,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/01 Feeding devices, e.g. chainfeedersA01K39/04 takes precedence; panfeeding systems, feeding pans A01K39/0125
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/0125 Panfeeding systems; Feeding pans therefor

Abstract

A feeder storage apparatus for a chicken feeder includes a body section, a coupling member and/or a mounting web substructure, and a feeder contacting section. The mounting web substructure is positioned on a first end of the body section for securing the body section to the coupling member and/or a chicken feed tube. The feeder contacting section is positioned on a second end of the body section and includes angled arms to support a feeder above the feed tube.

Claims

1. A feeder storage apparatus for storing a chicken feeder on a chicken feed tube, comprising:

a body section comprising a laterally extending shelf comprising a first distal shelf section and a second distal shelf section;

a mounting web substructure on a first end of the body section for securing the body section to the chicken feed tube and comprising a bar extending between a first distal shelf terminus of the first distal shelf section and a second distal shelf terminus of the second distal shelf section; and

a feeder contacting section on a second end of the body section, wherein the feeder contacting section includes at least one arm to support a feeder above the chicken feed tube.

2. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laterally extending shelf comprises a discontinuous laterally extending shelf at a bottom end of the body section.

3. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first distal shelf section is proximate to a first distal end of a bottom end of the body section and extends toward the second distal shelf section and terminates at the first distal shelf section terminus;

and

wherein the second distal shelf section is proximate to a second distal end of the bottom end of the body section opposite the first distal end and extends toward the first distal shelf section and terminates at the first distal shelf section terminus;

wherein a space between the first distal shelf section and the second distal shelf section is occupied by the mounting web substructure.

4. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a connecting aperture defined through and bounded by the mounting web of the mounting web substructure and configured to receive a fastener through the connecting aperture to maintain the body section and a coupling member in mechanical communication.

5. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mounting web is integrally formed with the body section.

6. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mounting web further comprises:

an inward web edge comprising a surface of the mounting web that is closest to the feeder contacting section of the feeder storage apparatus; and

an outward web edge comprising a surface of the mounting web that is opposite the inward web edge and farthest from the feeder contacting section.

7. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outward web edge is aligned flush with an outward flange edge of the laterally extending shelf.

8. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outward web edge is inward of an outward flange edge of the laterally extending shelf by an outward web inset distance extending between the outward flange edge and the outward web edge,

wherein the outward web inset distance is selected to align a coupling member to be flush with the outward flange edge when joined to the mounting web substructure.

9. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the inward web edge is outward of an inward flange edge of the laterally extending shelf by an inward web inset distance extending between the inward flange edge and the inward web edge,

wherein the inward web inset distance is selected to align a coupling member to be flush with the inward flange edge when joined to the mounting web substructure.

10. The feeder storage apparatus according to claim 6,

further comprising a connecting aperture defined through and bounded by the mounting web of the mounting web substructure and configured to receive a fastener through the connecting aperture to maintain the body section and the chicken feed tube in mechanical communication,

wherein the connecting aperture has a center spaced:

an inward edge distance from the inward web edge,

an outward edge distance from the outward web edge,

a first distal shelf distance from the first distal shelf terminus, and

a second distal shelf distance from the second distal shelf terminus.

wherein the inward edge distance and the outward edge distance are equal, and

wherein the first distal shelf distance and the second distal shelf distance are equal.

11. The feeder storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body section includes a pair of support beams and one or more transverse beams extending between the support beams.

12. The feeder storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm includes a pair of arms, the arms angled towards each other and wherein the feeder contacting section includes a bent arm extending between the pair of arms.

13. The feeder storage apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pair of arms are angled away from each other and the arms each include one or more fingers at a distal end of the arms.

14. A feeder storage system, comprising:

a feeder; and

a feeder storage apparatus, the feeder storage apparatus comprising;

a body section;

a mounting web substructure on a first end of the body section for securing the body section to at least one of a coupling member and a feed line; and

a feeder contacting section extending from a second end of the body section,

wherein the feeder contacting section supports the feeder so that at least a portion of the feeder is supported above the feed line.

15. The feeder storage system of claim 14, wherein the feeder contacting section includes arms for supporting the feeder.

16. The feeder storage system of claim 15, further comprising a bent arm extending between the arms to support the feeder.

17. The feeder storage system of claim 15, wherein the arms include a first finger, a second finger and a recess located between the first finger and the second finger for receiving an edge of a hopper of the feeder.

18. The feeder storage system of claim 14,

wherein the mounting web substructure comprises a mounting web,

wherein the mounting web comprises a rectangular bar in a space of a discontinuous laterally extending shelf of the body section, and

wherein a connecting aperture is defined through and bounded by the mounting web of the mounting web substructure and configured to receive a fastener through the connecting aperture to maintain the body section and at least one of the coupling member and the feed line in mechanical communication.

19. A method for storing a chicken feeder, comprising:

attaching a coupling member of a feeder storage apparatus that is connected to a mounting web substructure of the feeder storage apparatus to a feed tube so that a body section of the feeder storage apparatus and a feeder contacting section of the feeder storage apparatus extend upwardly from the feed tube; and

placing the chicken feeder in an inverted position on the feeder contacting section of the feeder storage apparatus so that at least part of the chicken feeder is supported above the feed tube.

20. The method for storing the chicken feeder according to claim 19,

wherein the body section comprises a discontinuous laterally extending shelf comprising a first distal shelf section and a second distal shelf section;

wherein the mounting web substructure comprises a rectangular bar in a space of the discontinuous laterally extending shelf;

wherein a connecting aperture is defined through and bounded by the rectangular bar and is configured to receive a fastener through the connecting aperture to connect the coupling member to the mounting web substructure.