US 7,073,460 B1 · Mobile feeder

Abstract

A mobile feeder uses a wagon wheel set with a draw bar. The wheel set serves as the undercarriage for the feeder. The feeder has a plurality of arcuate supports that are spaced sufficiently to allow livestock to feed between. The arcuate supports are resiliently hung from a frame that defines the outer dimensions of the feeder and pass under a central, longitudinally extending frame bar. When impacted from an animal feeding transverse to the feeder, the arcuate supports flex resiliently, while still retaining proper spacing for both feed and animal. Resilient attachments couple the arcuate supports to frame, and links couple adjacent arcuate supports and thereby distribute forces and help to maintain spacing. Feed trays are provided beneath the arcuate supports to catch and retain any feed inadvertently escaping from the arcuate supports. The feed trays are most preferably sloped from the longitudinal center down and away from the longitudinal center, to provide gravity assist in delivering the errant feed to feeding animals.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A mobile feeder, comprising:

a mobile base having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of wheels displaced relative to said longitudinal axis and including both front and rear wheels, at least one base framework extending between said plurality of wheels, a longitudinally directed frame member which extends between said front wheels to said rear wheels and maintains proper orientation therebetween, and a tongue suitable for enabling a connection of said mobile base to various tow vehicles;
and
a feeder supported upon said mobile base having an upper framing which circumscribes an open top, a feeder base, side framing members extending between said upper framing and said feeder base, attachment members coupling said feeder to said mobile base, a low and generally central longitudinally directed framing member extending longitudinally between said attachment members, a plurality of straps extending generally from adjacent upper framing down therefrom and underneath said low and generally central longitudinally directed framing member in an arcuate fashion, resilient attachments coupling said plurality of straps to said upper framing, and links coupling and spacing said plurality of straps.

In combination, a mobile base and a feeder defining a mobile feeder, said mobile base comprising:

a longitudinal axis and a plurality of wheels displaced relative to said longitudinal axis and including a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels;
at least one base framework extending between said plurality of wheels;
a longitudinally directed frame member which extends between said front wheels and said rear wheels and maintains proper orientation therebetween;
a tongue suitable for enabling a connection of said mobile base to various tow vehicles and further coupled to said pair of front wheels to re-orient said pair of front wheels when said tongue is moved relative to said longitudinally directed frame member;
said feeder supported upon said mobile base and comprising:
an upper framing which circumscribes an open top;
a feeder base;
side framing members extending between said upper framing and said feeder base;
attachment members coupling said feeder base to said mobile base;
a plurality of straps extending from a first terminus adjacent to said upper framing to a second terminus adjacent said upper framing member in an arcuate fashion;
resilient attachments suspending said plurality of straps from said upper framing, and permitting said location of said termini to change relative to said upper framing responsive to an external force applied to said plurality of straps;
and
links coupling and spacing said plurality of straps.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mobile feeder

Life of this patent

Mobile feeder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22