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US 8,347,817 B1Granted
Pet feeder
OwnerKevin Millerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for feeding a pet in a manner that engages the pet and provides stimulation and exercise. Exemplary apparatus for dispensing animal food include a food hopper for containing animal food operatively connected to a food handler that launches a portion or ration of the animal food away from the unit in response to detecting a triggering action of the animal.
Claims24
A method of dispensing animal food to an animal, comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- an animal sensor for detecting a triggering action of an animal other than a human;
- a food hopper for containing animal food;
- a food handler operatively connected to the food hopper;
- a food portioner arranged to receive animal food from the food hopper and automatically separate and transfer portions of the food to the food handler;
- and
- a control unit operatively connected to at least the animal sensor and the food handler, wherein the control unit provides a signal to the food handler that causes the food handler to launch a portion of the animal food away from the apparatus in at least a horizontal direction in response to a signal from the animal sensor that indicates detection of a triggering action;
- and
- detecting with the animal sensor a triggering action of an animal;
- containing in the food hopper a supply of animal food;
- automatically separating portions of animal food from the supply with the food portioner;
- detecting when portions of animal food are separated from the supply;
- and
- automatically launching with the food handler a portion of the animal food substantially horizontally away from the apparatus in response to detection of a triggering action of the animal.
11 more elements
A method of dispensing animal food to an animal, comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- an animal sensor for detecting a triggering action of an animal;
- a food hopper for containing animal food operatively connected to a food handler that launches a portion of the animal food substantially horizontally away from the apparatus in response to detection of a triggering action of the animal;
- a food portioner operatively connected to the food hopper for transferring a portion of food from the hopper to the food handler;
- a food detector operatively connected to the food handler to detect that a portion of food has been transferred by the food portioner;
- a control unit operatively connected to at least the animal sensor, the food detector, and the food handler;
- and
- wherein the control unit, the food detector, and the food handler cooperate to ensure that a portion of animal food is launched in response to detection of a triggering action of the animal;
- and
- detecting with the animal sensor a triggering action of an animal;
- containing in the food hopper a supply of animal food;
- automatically separating portions of animal food from the supply;
- detecting with the food detector when portions of animal food are separated from the supply;
- and
- automatically launching with the food handler a portion of the animal food substantially horizontally away from the apparatus in response to detection of a triggering action of the animal.
12 more elements
A method of dispensing animal food to an animal, comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- an animal sensor for detecting a triggering action of an animal other than a human;
- a food hopper for containing animal food;
- a food handler operatively connected to the food hopper;
- and
- a channel;
- and
- a control unit operatively connected to at least the animal sensor and the food handler, wherein the control unit provides a signal to the food handler that causes the food handler to launch a portion of the animal food away from the apparatus in at least a horizontal direction in response to a signal from the animal sensor that indicates detection of a triggering action;
- and
- detecting with the animal sensor a triggering action of an animal;
- containing in the food hopper a supply of animal food;
- automatically separating portions of animal food from the supply;
- detecting when portions of animal food are separated from the supply;
- and
- automatically launching with the food handler a portion of the animal food at least five feet substantially horizontally away from the apparatus along the channel in response to detection of a triggering action of the animal.
12 more elements
A method of dispensing animal food to an animal, comprising:
- providing apparatus for dispensing animal food, comprising:
- an animal sensor for detecting a triggering action of an animal other than a human, wherein the animal sensor is a switch located away from a food exit of the apparatus;
- a food hopper for containing animal food;
- a food handler operatively connected to the food hopper, wherein the food handler comprises an actuator operatively coupled to an arm and a paddle connected to a spring;
- and
- a control unit operatively connected to at least the animal sensor and the food handler;
- and
- wherein the control unit provides a signal to the food handler that causes the food handler to launch a portion of the animal food out of the food exit and away from the apparatus in at least a horizontal direction in response to a signal from the animal sensor that indicates detection of the triggering action;
- and
- wherein in response to the signal from the control unit, the actuator of the food handler rotates the aim in a first direction such that a catch of the arm engages a portion of the paddle to rotate the paddle in the first direction from a ready position to a launch position;
- and
- wherein the spring is tensioned as the paddle is moved from the ready position to the launch position;
- and
- wherein in the launch position, the catch of the arm releases the paddle such that a force provided by the spring moves the paddle in a second direction opposite the first direction to launch the portion of the animal food out of the food exit and away from the apparatus;
- and
- detecting with the animal sensor a triggering action of an animal;
- containing in the food hopper a supply of animal food;
- automatically separating portions of animal food from the supply;
- detecting when portions of animal food are separated from the supply;
- and
- automatically launching with the food handler a portion of the animal food substantially horizontally away from the apparatus in response to detection of a triggering action of the animal.
18 more elements
A method of dispensing animal food to an animal, comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- an animal sensor for detecting a triggering action of an animal other than a human;
- a food hopper for containing animal food;
- a food handler operatively connected to the food hopper;
- a food portion availability signaling arrangement;
- and
- a control unit operatively connected to at least the animal sensor and the food handler, wherein the control unit provides a signal to the food handler that causes the food handler to launch a portion of the animal food away from the apparatus in at least a horizontal direction in response to a signal from the animal sensor that indicates detection of a triggering action;
- and
- detecting with the animal sensor a triggering action of an animal;
- containing in the food hopper a supply of animal food;
- automatically separating portions of animal food from the supply;
- providing an indication to the animal that a food portion is available for launching by the food handler;
- detecting when portions of animal food are separated from the supply;
- and
- automatically launching with the food handler a portion of the animal food substantially horizontally away from the apparatus in response to detection of the triggering action of the animal.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.