Combination feeder
AssigneeAll Seasons Feeders, Ltd.
InventorZach Gates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination feeder can selectively broadcast feed, time-feed into feed troughs, and use an adaptable vibrator plate with a motor to feed a variety of feeds. A feeding device can comprise a hopper, a feed trough, a conversion box assembly that can be connected to the hopper, a motor, and one or more feed outlet openings connected to the conversion box assembly. The conversion box assembly can have one or more flaps that can be transitioned between a raised and a lowered position allowing the feeding device to transition from trough feeding to broadcast feeding.
Claims11
A feeding device for dispensing feed for animal consumption, the feeding device comprising:
- a hopper for storing the feed;
- a feed trough operably positioned below the hopper for receiving the feed, the feed trough having a feed ramp;
- a plurality of legs configured to support the feeding device;
- a motor;
- a removable conversion box assembly connected to the hopper and configured to couple to the motor, the conversion box assembly having one or more flaps configured to transition between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, wherein when the one or more flaps are in the lowered position, the feed is broadcast in an area around the feeding device, and wherein when the plurality of flaps are in the raised position, the feed is directed into the feed trough;
- one or more feed outlet openings in a bottom of the conversion box assembly;
- and
- a removable vibration plate configured to couple to the motor, the vibration plate configured to use vibration to move feed through the feeding device and disperse the feed;
- wherein the feeding device includes two interchangeable configurations, the first configuration with the conversion box assembly, and the second configuration with the conversion box assembly removed and replaced with the vibration plate.
A feeding device for dispensing feed for animal consumption, the feeding device comprising:
- a hopper for storing the feed, the hopper having a top section and a funnel section extending from the top section;
- a feed trough operably positioned below the hopper for receiving the feed, the feed trough having a feed ramp;
- a plurality of legs extending to the top section of the hopper and configured to support the feeding device;
- a motor;
- a removable vibration plate configured to couple to the motor, the vibration plate having a plate ramp shaped to correspond to a shape of the feed ramp, wherein the plate ramp is configured to receive thicker feed from the funnel section when the motor is active;
- a removable conversion box assembly configured to couple to the motor, the conversion box assembly having one or more flaps configured to transition between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, wherein when the one or more flaps are in the lowered position, the feed is broadcast in an area around the feeding device, and wherein when the plurality of flaps are in the raised position, the feed is directed into the feed trough;
- and
- wherein the feeding device includes two interchangeable configurations, the first configuration with the vibration plate, and the second configuration with the vibration plate removed and replaced with the conversion box assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.