Dual hopper animal feeder device

• US 8,573,156 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: All Seasons Feeders Limited
• Original Assignee: All Seasons Feeders Limited
• Inventors: Gates, Burnell
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUSON, JOSHUA DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/728,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20100307421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.5, 119/51.01, 119/51.11, 119/52.1, 119/52.2, 119/57.1, 119/57.8, 119/57.91, 119/51.13, 222/144.5, 222/559, 222/561, 222/133, 222/135, 222/142.5
• US Class Current: 119/53
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/012 filling automatically , e.g. by gravity from a reserve
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0225 Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper for poultry A01K39/012
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0291 with timing mechanisms, e.g. pet feeders

Abstract

An animal feeding device for feeding animals, including wildlife, is disclosed. The animal feeding device includes a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment inside the first storage compartment. Both storage compartments have openings on the upper ends thereof. The first and second storage compartments have feed assemblies engaged to the lower end thereof, to provide a first feed from a first storage compartment to a first feed assembly, and a second feed from a second storage compartment to a second feed assembly. In this manner, two different types of feed may be poured into one device, but kept separate, a first feed, for example, in a first storage compartment, and a second feed in a second storage compartment. Moreover, a first and second feeding assembly can be engaged with the first or second storage means and below the first and second storage means to gravity feed the first feed to the first feed assembly and the second feed to the second feed assembly. By having two different feeds kept separate, two different types of animals can be fed.

Claims

1. An animal feed device comprising:

a first outer storage compartment having a first feed receiving opening and side walls wherein side walls of the first storage compartments include funnel shaped walls at a lower end thereof;

a second inner storage compartment having a second feed receiving opening and side walls, wherein side walls of the second storage compartments include funnel shaped walls at a lower end thereof;

wherein the second storage compartment is contained within the walls of the first storage compartment such that the first and second compartments are co-axially aligned;

a first passive feed assembly in fluid communication with only the first storage compartment comprising an outer throat defined between the funnel shaped walls of the first compartment and the funnel shaped walls of the second compartment for providing fluid communication between the first storage compartment and a multiplicity of feed chutes;

a feed dispensing means in fluid communication with only the second storage compartment comprising an inner throat defined by the funnel shaped walls of the second storage compartment for providing fluid communication between the second storage compartment and the feed dispensing means, wherein said feed dispensing means is a broadcast type dispenser

a multiplicity of legs dimensioned to support the first storage compartments above a support surface such that the feed dispensing means and the multiplicity of feed chutes are located above the support surface;

a first gate assembly for controlling the vertical flow of a first feed and a second feed, the first gate assembly comprising a plate movably arranged within a slot horizontally disposed through the inner and outer throat assemblies, said plate comprising a predetermined arrangement of openings corresponding to the openings defined by the inner and outer throats for controlling the vertical flow of at least the first feed from the first storage compartment to the passive feed assembly.

2. The animal feed device of claim 1, further including at least one lid for covering at least one of the feed receiving openings of the storage compartments.

3. The animal feed device of claim 1, further comprising a second gate assembly for controlling the substantially lateral flow of a first feed through the passive feed assembly.