Pet feeding apparatus

• US 8,627,786 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peters Arthur
• Original Assignee: Peters Arthur
• Inventors: Arthur, Peters
• Primary Examiner(s): VALENTI, ANDREA M
• Application Number:
  US13/109,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20120285385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.11, 119/51.01, 119/51.5, 119/61.5, 119/53, 119/63, 119/900, 119/51.02, 119 5112- 1515, 119/57.92, 222/650, 177/25.16, 177/126, 177/238, 177/244, D30/122, D30/121, D30/129, D30/133
• US Class Current: 119/51.11
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0114 Pet food dispensers; Pet food trays time-controlled A01K5/0291
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0283 by weight

Abstract

A pet feeding apparatus includes a container and a base assembly, wherein the base assembly includes a sensor assembly operatively coupled to a portion keypad circuit board and operation keypad circuit board. The base assembly displays an indication of the amount of food carried by the container, and the base assembly provides an indication of the feeding time.

Claims

1. A pet feeding apparatus, comprising:

a container;

a base assembly, which includes a sensor assembly operatively coupled to a portion keypad circuit board and operation keypad circuit board, the base assembly including an annular sidewall, and an upwardly facing base opening sized and shaped to receive the container, wherein the annular sidewall includes an upper annular lip which bounds the base opening;

wherein the base assembly includes a panel which extends through the annular sidewall below the upper annular lip;

the panel includes an operation selector with a feed setting and a timer setting and a portion selector directly adjacent at least two portion symbols corresponding to at least two pet portion sizes that are recommended amounts of food to be given to a pet of a given size;

wherein the panel displays the amount of food carried by the container and provides an indication of the feeding time;

wherein feed and feeding times are accurately regulated to reduce over feeding and irregular feeding patterns.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amount of food carried by the container is determined in response to setting a portion selector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication of the feeding time is determined in response to setting an operation selector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly carries the container, and provides an indication of the amount of food carried by the container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes a light which is activated and deactivated in response to the indication of the feeding time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes an alarm which is activated and deactivated in response to the indication of the feeding time.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base assembly provides a sound in response to the alarm being activated.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the base assembly terminates the sound in response to the alarm being deactivated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes a light which is activated and deactivated in response to the alarm being activated and deactivated, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly stores the amount of time between feeding times.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly provides a sound in response to the indication of the feeding time.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes an alarm which is activated in response to the amount of food being driven to a predetermined amount of food.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes a light which is activated in response to the amount of food being driven to a predetermined amount of food.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base assembly provides a sound in response to the amount of food being driven to a predetermined amount of food.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion keypad circuit board and operation keypad circuit board extend through the annular sidewall.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a base plate coupled to the base body opposed to the upwardly facing base opening, wherein the panel is between the base plate and upper annular lip.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensor assembly is carried by the base plate, and the container is carried by the sensor assembly.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a base plate coupled to the base body opposed to the annular sidewall, wherein the sensor assembly is carried by the base plate, and the container is carried by the sensor assembly.