Electronic fish feeder

• US 5,873,326 A
• Filed: 08/01/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerard R. Davet, Jean-Paul Davet
• Original Assignee: Gerard R. Davet, Jean-Paul Davet
• Inventors: Davet, Jean-Paul, Davet, Gerard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERT, EDUARDO C
• Application Number:
  US08/695,217
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.04, 119/51.11, 119/53, 119/56.1, 119/57.1, 119/57.92, 119/230, 119/52.1, 119/476, 222/650, 222/410
• US Class Current: 119/245
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/85 for use with aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Abstract

An electronic food distribution system for pets, particularly fish for feeding and maintaining fish in an aquarium. The system contains an electrical timing circuit for periodically distributing food stuffs contained in a hopper to the aquarium. The distribution is accomplished by an electric motor driving a gear box, the output of the gear box driving a cylinder that has a rough surface. The cylinder in cooperation with a pair of baffles sends a predetermined amount of food into the aquarium during the feeding time interval. This system maintains the feeding of fish during times when manual feeding is unavailable, i.e., absence, vacation, etc. The aesthetic nature of the food distribution system enhances the decor in the environment in which it is used, as well as performing the function for which it is intended.

Claims

1. A feeding device in combination with a cage for delivering foodstuffs to caged pets automatically comprising:

a food hopper having a removable cover, a front wall, a back wall having an exit aperture, a pair of side walls, and an open bottom;

a cylinder rotatably disposed beneath said food hopper at said open bottom, said cylinder having an irregular surface;

a first baffle extending from said front wall toward and radially engaging said irregular surface of said cylinder, said first baffle and said cylinder closing a portion of said open bottom of said hopper;

a second baffle extending from said back wall to a first position above said cylinder, and bending and retreating from said first position toward said back wall, forming a tangent against said cylinder, and said second baffle and said cylinder closing the remaining portion of said open bottom of said hopper;

a slide member having a smooth inclined surface disposed beneath said hopper for directing the foodstuffs from said hopper to the caged pet through said exit aperture;

vibrating means operatively coupled to said slide member for encouraging the foodstuffs to advance down said smooth inclined surface of said slide member;

motor means having a control circuit for systematically operating said motor means, said motor means operatively coupled to said cylinder for rotation thereof, said motor means also operatively coupled to said vibrating means for causing said vibrating means to vibrate; and

a distribution chute coupled to said exit aperture for receiving the foodstuffs from said slide member and distributing said foodstuffs to the caged pets, said distribution chute extending from said exit aperture into the cage of the caged pet;

wherein, said motor means rotates said cylinder, said irregular surface of said cylinder pushes the foodstuffs between said second baffle and said cylinder at said tangent, the foodstuffs falling onto said slide member, said vibrating means responsive to said motor means vibrating said slide member causing the foodstuffs to slide through said exit aperture into said distribution chute.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising adjustment means disposed in said back wall for controlling the amount of foodstuffs allowed to pass through said exit aperture.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said distribution chute comprising an inverted rectangular funnel shaped member having a large end and a relatively small end.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said cage is an aquarium having a water surface, and wherein the large end of said rectangular funnel shared member being disposed below the water surface, and the small end of said rectangular funnel shaped member being adjacent said exit aperture, thereby directing the foodstuffs from said exit aperture into the water of the aquarium;

whereby, the distribution chute forms a vapor lock over the area of water under said distribution chute.

5. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising indication means coupled to said control circuit for visually indicating when the feeding operation is actuated.

6. The combination according to claim 1, further including additional motor means coupled to said control circuit and being responsive thereto, for generating a mechanical motion independent of said feeding operation so as to provide a mechanical indication when the feeding operation is actuated.