Pet food dispenser

• US 4,840,143 A
• Filed: 11/20/1987
• Issued: 06/20/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Four Paws Products Limited (Central Garden & Pet Company)
• Original Assignee: Four Paws Products Limited (Central Garden & Pet Company)
• Inventors: Simon, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/123,129
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.5, 119/52 R, 119/72, 119/77, 119/61, 119/78, D30/121, D30/132, D30/133, 220/20, 220/293, 215/6, 215/356, 222/184, 222/185, 222/457, 43/131
• US Class Current: 119/52.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0225 Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper for poultry A01K39/012

Abstract

A storage and dispensing apparatus for dry or liquid pet food of the type including a serving tray and a generally cylindrical storage container detachably secured to the tray so as to extend axially thereabove. The tray is provided with a generally circular opening for receiving the bottom of the storage container, and a flange projects radially into the opening. The flange is interrupted over a predetermined circumferential arc. The bottom of the storage container has a skirt portion that flairs downwardly and outwardly and has an outside diameter which is larger than the inside diameter of the interrupted flange. On the flaired skirt, a pair of diametrically opposed lugs project radially outwardly and each lug has a circumferential dimension which is smaller than the circumferential extent of the interruption in the tray flange. Immediately above the flaired skirt there is provided a downwardly facing annular seat. In order to mount the storage container to the tray, one of the lugs is aligned with the interruption in the tray flange and the storage container is tilted so that the other lug extends under the tray flange. The storage container is then pressed towards the tray so that the flaired skirt portion snaps past the tray flange, so that the flange is captured between the skirt portion and the storage container annular seat. Rotating the storage container with respect to the tray so as to place both lugs under the tray flange will then lock the storage container against withdrawal from the serving tray.

Claims

1. A storage and dispensing apparatus of the type including a tray adapted to rest securely on a flat surface and a generally cylindrical storage container extending axially above said tray, comprising:

an annular, inwardly projecting flange formed on a surface of said tray, said flange being interrupted over a predefined circumferential distance thereof;

a downwardly and outwardly flaring skirt portion formed near the bottom of said container, the outside diameter of said skirt portion at the point of largest diameter being larger than the inside diameter of said flange;

a plurality of radially outwardly projecting lug members formed on said skirt so as to project radially outwardly beyond said skirt, at least one of said lug members having a circumferential extent which does not exceed the circumferential extent of the interruption in said flange; and

means on said container defining an annular, downwardly facing seat above and proximate to said skirt for engaging said tray from above.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said plurality of lug members is a pair of lug members in diametrically opposed relationship.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the lug members each occupy a circumferential arc which is less than 180°

.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one of the lug members occupies a circumferential arc which is in the range of 45°

.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one of the lug members occupies a circumferential arc which does not exceed 45°

.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lug members each occupy a circumferential arc which is less than 180°

.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the lug members occupies a circumferential arc which is in the range of 45°

.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the lug members occupies a circumferential arc which does not exceed 45°

.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tray further comprises a forward feeding compartment and a rearward receiving compartment for said container, said feeding and receiving compartments being in open communication over a distance equal to the extent of the interruption in said flange.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said feeding compartment has a bottom wall and said receiving compartment has a bottom wall which slopes upwardly and rearwardly away from the bottom wall of said feeding compartment.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage container further comprises a radially outwardly projecting flange member at its top, said apparatus further comprising a cover dimensioned and shaped so that the interior thereof will conform to said flange member, said cover having a closed top and a radially inwardly projecting, resilient flange portion, said flange portion being positioned at a distance below said closed top calculated so that said flange portion passes under the top flange of said container when said cover is pressed down onto said top flange of said container.

12. A method for assembling a storage and dispensing apparatus of the type including a tray adapted to rest securely on a flat surface and a generally cylindrical storage container extending axially above said tray, an annular, inwardly projecting flange formed on a surface of said tray, said flange being interrupted over a predefined circumferential distance thereof;

a downwardly and outwardly flaring skirt portion formed near the bottom of said container, the outside diameter of said skirt portion at the point of largest diameter being larger than the inside diameter of said flange;

a plurality of radially outwardly projecting lug members formed on said skirt so as to project radially outwardly beyond said skirt, at least one of said lug members having a circumferential extend which does not exceed the circumferential extent of the interruption in said flange; and

means on said container defining an annular, downwardly facing seat above and proximate to said skirt for engaging said tray from above, comprising the steps of;

aligning said at least one lug member with said flange interruption;

inserting the other lug member under the flange;

urging said container and said tray towards each other until said skirt snaps past said flange; and

rotating said container and said tray relative to each other until each lug member is at least partially under said flange.