# US 5,345,894 A · Adaptor plate for shielded drop-lock adjustment on an animal feeder

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- Number: US 5,345,894 A
- Document ID: US5345894A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/954,824
- Filed: 1992-10-01
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1992-06-01
- Assignees: Staco, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert B. Evans, III; Leon S. Zimmerman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345894A

## CPC

- A01K 5/0241: {dispensing by means of stirring mechanisms or agitators operated by the animal}
- Y10T 74/20756: Collapsible
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

This invention is a drop-lock adjustment used on automatic feeders to adjust the feed gates either up or down and includes shielded drop locks connected to control rods that pass through a channel. An adaptor plate mounted on the channel has a downwardly projecting flange spaced from the channel with an elongated slot in the plate to prevent the animals being fed from tripping the lock to cause either more or less feed to be dispensed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shielded drop-lock adjusting means comprising: a support channel; at least one control rod means passing through at least one opening in said channel; a handle means pivotally mounted on one end of said control rod means and having at least one angularly disposed end; and an adaptor plate mounted on said channel and having at least one flange downwardly projecting therefrom in spaced relation to a side of said channel, said plate including an elongated slot running parallel to the space between the at least one adaptor flange and the channel side whereby when the at lest one angularly disposed end of said handle means is pivoted away from said support channel, such handle can be used to manipulate said control rod means and when said angularly disposed end is pivoted downwardly into engagement with said slot-like opening, such handle will be locked and cannot manipulate said control rod means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adjusting means of claim 1 wherein said handle means is angled at both ends; and a pair of slot-like openings are provided in said adaptor plate on opposite sides of said channel whereby said angled ends will engage said slot-like openings to lock said handle in place.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The adjusting means of claim 1 wherein a fastening means is used to fixedly secure said adaptor plate to said channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The adjusting means of claim 3 wherein said securing means is at least one rivet-type fastener.