Automatic feeder for dogs and other animals

An automatic feeder, comprising:

• means in the form of a computerized dispenser for dispensing programmed quantities of food to an animal at programmed times;
• the computerized dispenser including programmable food-dispensing means for dispensing food;
• the computerized dispenser also including means in the form of integrated control circuitry operatively coupled to the food-dispensing means for automatically controlling the food-dispensing means in order to dispense programmed quantities of food at programmed times;
• and
• the integrated control circuitry including means for recording and playing audio in order to enable an owner to record a message for automatic playback at preprogrammed times;
• wherein the integrated control circuitry includes at least one of the following selected from the group consisting of means in the form of a telephone interface for enabling remote control with a conventional telephone, means in the form of a video telephone arrangement for enabling an owner to view a space adjacent to the automatic feeder by video telephone and be able to talk to his pet, and means in the form of a computer interface for enabling remote control with a personal computer.

An automatic feeder, comprising:

• means in the form of a computerized food-and-water dispenser for dispensing food and water to an animal;
• the computerized food-and-water dispenser including food-dispensing means for dispensing food and water-dispensing means for dispensing water;
• the computerized dispenser including means in the form of a microcomputer and integrated control circuitry operatively coupled to the food-dispensing means for causing the food-dispensing means to dispense different programmed quantities of food for each meal at up to ten programmed times;
• and
• wherein the integrated control circuitry includes at least one of the following selected from the group consisting of means in the form of a telephone interface for enabling remote control with a conventional telephone, means in the form of a video telephone arrangement for enabling an owner to view a space adjacent to the automatic feeder by video telephone and be able to talk to his pet, and means in the form of a computer interface for enabling remote control with a personal computer.