US 5,345,893 AGranted

Hay dispenser

OwnerJ. W. Morrisinventor

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Abstract

A dispenser for storing and dispensing food, such as hay, to an animal at predetermined intervals utilizes a linear force device, such as a solenoid, to operate the dispensing mechanism. The dispenser generally comprises a housing, a plurality of spaced superimposed shelves hingedly supported by the housing defining a plurality of contiguously stacked bins for supporting animal food above the ground, a latch assembly including a latch rod for supporting the shelves, and an activation mechanism coupled to the latch rod. The activation mechanism includes a battery, a solenoid having a shaft, a timer for activating the solenoid, shaft biasing means and a conversion mechanism coupling the shaft to the latch rod such that linear movement of the shaft in a first direction rotates the rod for dispensing food and such that movement of the shaft in a second direction does not rotate the rod.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A device for storing and dispensing food to an animal at predetermined intervals comprising:

a housing;
a plurality of spaced superimposed shelves supported by said housing defining a plurality of contiguously stacked bins for supporting animal food above the ground;
including:
a bottom shelf having:
an attached end pivotally attached to said housing;
and
a free end;
said bottom shelf pivotable from a storage position wherein said bottom shelf free end is supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf may support a quantity of animal food to a dispensing position wherein said bottom shelf free end is not supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf pivots about said bottom shelf attached end for dispensing food thereon;
and
a second shelf having:
an attached end pivotally attached higher to said housing than said first shelf and
a free end;
said second shelf pivotable from a storage position wherein said second shelf free end is supported by a second latch such that said second shelf may support a quantity of animal food to a dispensing position wherein said bottom shelf free end is not supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf pivots about said bottom shelf attached end for dispensing food thereon;
a latch assembly including:
a plurality of latches including:
a bottom latch having a storage position supporting
said bottom shelf free end and a dispensing position not supporting said bottom shelf free end;
a second latch having a storage position supporting said second shelf free end and a dispensing position not supporting said second shelf free end;
and
a latch rod coupled to said latches such that a first rotation of said rod moves said bottom latch from the storage position to the dispensing position and a second rotation of said rod moves said second latch from the storage position to the dispensing position;
and
an activation mechanism coupled to said latch rod for rotating said latch rod the first rotation and then the second rotation at predetermined time intervals comprising:
an energy source;
a solenoid connected to said energy source;
said solenoid having a shaft;
a timer connected to said solenoid for activating said solenoid to linearly move said shaft from a first position to a second position at predetermined time intervals;
a biasing means connected to said shaft for returning said shaft to the first position when said solenoid is not activated;
and
a conversion mechanism coupling said shaft to said rod such that linear movement of said shaft in a first direction rotates said rod for dispensing food and such that movement of said shaft in a second direction does not rotate said rod.

26 more elements

A device for storing and dispensing food to an animal at predetermined intervals comprising:

a housing;
a plurality of spaced superimposed shelves supported by said housing defining a plurality of contiguously stacked bins for supporting animal food above the ground;
including:
a bottom shelf having:
an attached end pivotally attached to said housing;
and
a free end;
said bottom shelf pivotable from a storage position wherein said bottom shelf free end is supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf may support a quantity of animal food to a dispensing position wherein said bottom shelf free end is not supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf pivots about said bottom shelf attached end for dispensing food thereon;
and
a second shelf having:
an attached end pivotally attached higher to said housing than said first shelf and
a free end;
said second shelf pivotable from a storage position wherein said second shelf free end is supported by a second latch such that said second shelf may support a quantity of animal food to a dispensing position wherein said bottom shelf free end is not supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf pivots about said bottom shelf attached end for dispensing food thereon;
a latch assembly including:
a plurality of latches including;
a bottom latch having a storage position supporting said bottom shelf free end and a dispensing position not supporting said bottom shelf free end;
a second latch having a storage position supporting said second shelf free end and a dispensing position not supporting said second shelf free end;
and
a latch rod coupled to said latches such that a first rotation of said rod moves said bottom latch from the storage position to the dispensing position and a second rotation of said rod moves said second latch from the storage position to the dispensing position;
said latch rod including:
a pinion;
and
an activation mechanism coupled to said latch rod for rotating said latch rod the first rotation and then the second rotation at predetermined time intervals comprising:
an energy source;
a solenoid connected to said energy source;
said solenoid having a shaft;
a timer connected to said solenoid for activating said solenoid to linearly move said shaft from a first position to a second position at predetermined time intervals;
biasing means connected to said shaft for returning said shaft to the first position when said solenoid is not activated;
a ratcheting pawl connected to said solenoid shaft for movement with said shaft;
a first rack coupled to said ratcheting pawl such that movement of said pawl in a first direction moves said first rack in the first direction and such that movement of said pawl in the second direction does not move said first rack;
and
a second rack attached to said first rack and engaging said latch rod pinion;
said second rack moving linearly with said first rack and thereby rotating said latch rod for dispensing food.

30 more elements

A device for storing and dispensing food to an animal at predetermined intervals comprising:

a housing;
a plurality of spaced superimposed shelves supported by said housing defining a plurality of contiguously stacked bins for supporting animal food above the ground;
including:
a bottom shelf having:
an attached end pivotally attached to said housing;
and
a free end;
said bottom shelf pivotable from a storage position wherein said bottom shelf free end is supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf may support a quantity of animal food to a dispensing position wherein said bottom shelf free end is not supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf pivots about said bottom shelf attached end for dispensing food thereon;
and
a second shelf having:
an attached end pivotally attached higher to said housing than said first shelf and
a free end;
said second shelf pivotable from a storage position wherein said second shelf free end is supported by a second latch such that said second shelf may support a quantity of animal food to a dispensing position wherein said bottom shelf free end is not supported by a bottom latch such that said bottom shelf pivots about said bottom shelf attached end for dispensing food thereon;
a latch assembly including:
a plurality of latches including:
a bottom latch having a storage position supporting said bottom shelf free end and a dispensing position not supporting said bottom shelf free end;
a second latch having a storage position supporting said second shelf free end and a dispensing position not supporting said second shelf free end;
and
a latch rod coupled to said latches such that a first rotation of said rod moves said bottom latch from the storage position to the dispensing position and a second rotation of said rod moves said second latch from the storage position to the dispensing position;
said latch rod having a longitudinal axis;
and
an activation mechanism coupled to said latch rod for rotating said latch rod the first rotation and then the second rotation at predetermined time intervals comprising:
an energy source;
a solenoid connected to said energy source;
said solenoid having a shaft;
a timer connected to said solenoid for activating said solenoid to linearly move said shaft from a first position to a second position at predetermined time intervals;
a biasing means connected to said shaft for returning said shaft to the first position when said solenoid is not activated;
and
a ratchet mechanism coupling said shaft to said rod such that linear movement of said shaft in a first direction rotates said rod for dispensing food and such that movement of said shaft in a second direction does not rotate said rod.

26 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.