GB2425704A

GB2425704A - A hay feeder with a mesh type hinged lid

Info

Publication number: GB2425704A
Application number: GB0509331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mayes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-07
Filing date: 2005-05-07
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Also published as: GB0509331D0

Abstract

A hay feeder comprises a holding vessel 2 with a mesh lid 3 attached by a hinge 4. The lid fits inside the rim of the holding vessel and is fitted with a ratchet mechanism 5. The lid presses down onto the hay which is placed in the feeder allowing a horse to draw hay through the mesh. The ratchet allows movement of the lid in one direction only. The lid prevents the animal from rooting about in the food and reduces wastage. To refill the feeder, the ratchet is released using ratchet arm 6 and the lid opened. The feeder may be mounted centrally on a wall 1 or in a corner. The feeder may also be mounted on a hinge which allows for it to be swung to the outside of the stable when not required.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Hay Feeder

Background

This device holds animal feed material in a vessel, so that the animals can feed without rooting into it or pulling out large amounts of the feed that can drop onto the ground. If the feed is dropped onto the ground it maybe wasted or pick up contaminants which may be ingested by the animal later. It has been developed with the specific aim of feeding hay to horses in stable boxes, but could be used and adapted for other animals and other feed materials in other surroundings.

The feeder uses a bowl type holding vessel which holds the hay. A grid or mesh top feed cover is hinged along one edge of the top rim of the holding vessel. It can be lifted open to allow access into the vessel. It can also be pushed closed to contain the hay and allow the animal to feed through it. The mesh feed cover fits inside the walls of the vessel to allow it free movement up and down. It will prevent the animal from rooting in the hay and pulling it out of the vessel because the gaps in the mesh will only allow small amounts of feed to be taken at a time. As the volume of hay diminishes the mesh cover moves down due to its weight and the pushing force that the animal excerpts on it. It is prevented from moving back up again by the use of a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet can easily be released by the operator to allow the mesh cover to open upwards, but is difficult for the animal to release.

The feeder may be situated mid-wall which means away from walls at either side; or in the corner of two walls. It will be possible in some situations to fit the device with a hinge that allows it to swing outside the stable.

The feeding device will be made from plastics material, metal or wood, or from a combination of these materials.

The Drawings What the Numbers describe: 1/ Stable wall for fixing the feeder to.

2/ Holding vessel.

3/ Grid or mesh feed cover.

4/ Feed cover hinge.

5/ Ratchet body.

6/ Ratchet arm.

7/ Fixed pivot point of ratchet arm.

8/ Removable handle for lifting pivot arm.

9/ Corner of two walls.

10/ Corner hinge for corner fitted feeder.

11/ Bottom hinge for mid-wall fitted feeder.

DESCRIPTION

Hay Feeder What the Figures describe FIG. 1 Angled view from above and to the side of a feeder where the shape would derive from a 45 (or less) radial section of a cylinder.

FIG. 2 View from directly above the feeder featured in FIG. 1 feeder.

FIG. 3 Vertical cross section of the feeder featured in FIG. 1 showing how it may be opened from outside the stable.

FIG. 4 Angled view from above and to the side of a corner fitted feeder.

FIG. 5 View from directly above the feeder featured in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 Horizontal cross section of the feeder featured in FIG. 4 showing how it may be opened from outside the stable.

FIG. 7 Angled view from above and to the front of an alternate shape for a mid-wall feeder.

FIG. 8 Vertical cross section through a feeder.

FIG. 9 Close-up the ratchet mechanism shown in FIG. 7.

Method of Operation When the feeder requires filling the operative releases the ratchet arm (6) and lifts up the feed cover (3) to gain access to the holding vessel (2). The feed cover has a hinge (4) which is attached along one side to the top rim of the holding vessel. The operative will then put the required amount of hay into the holding vessel (2) and push down the feed cover (3). The feed cover will be pushed down until it both compresses the hay in the holding vessel to the desired level and also engages the ratchet mechanism.

The feed cover is made of a mesh or grid contained in a frame around its perimeter. The feed cover will be small enough to leave a reasonable clearance gap between its outer edge and the wall of the holding vessel. The clearance gap will allow for any small dent and deformation in the structure of the feeder, so as not to affect the correct functioning of the feeder. The clearance gap should not be wider than the holes or gaps in the mesh or grid. The size and gauge of the mesh or grid in the feed cover will allow the intended animal to feed adequately through it, whilst being strong enough to prevent it being unduly bent or deformed.

As the hay diminishes the feed cover moves down. This is because of its weight and the pushing force excerpted by the animal feeding through it. The ratchet arm (6) is attached to the feed cover and moves with it progressively latching on teeth further down the ratchet body (5) as it goes and so preventing it from moving backwards. When the holding vessel is empty of hay the feed cover comes to rest hanging down in a vertical or near vertical position up against the back wall of the holding vessel.

The feeder may be situated mid-wall, away from walls at either side; or in the corner of two walls. There are several possibilities for the shape of the device and FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and EI..

2 are three examples. FIG. 1 could be fitted either mid-wall or in a corner. FIG. 4 would be most suited to a corner fitting. FIG. 7 would be most suited to a mid-wall fitting.

The feeder body may be fitted with a hinge (11, FIG. 3 or 10, FIG. 6) that allows it to swing to the outside of the stable. This may be useful for accessing the feeder without having to enter the stable and for leaving it outside the stable when it is not wanted inside the stable.

Claims

Hay Feeder 1/ An animal feeder that comprises a bowl type holding vessel hinged to a mesh or grid top feed cover to contain the feed material, whilst still allowing the animal to remove the feed material through the mesh or grid feed cover.

2/ An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 where the hinged feed cover can be easily be lifted and opened by an operative to allow access to the holding vessel for reasons such as filling, cleaning or maintenance.

3/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where by when the feed cover is closed to contain the feed material it engages a ratchet mechanism which holds it in place and prevents it from being opened unless the ratchet is disengaged.

4/ An animal feeder as claimed in claim 3 where the ratchet mechanism is designed to be easy for a Human operative to disengage, but difficult for the feeding animal to disengage.

5/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the feed cover moves down as the feed material reduces in volume, the downward movement being due to the weight of the feed cover and the force of the feeding animal pushing on it.

3/2_ An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 3, Claim 4 or Claim 5 where the ratchet mechanism will engage progressive teeth to hold the feed cover as it moves down and prevent it from substantially moving backwards.

4/
2.. An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the feed cover is made of a mesh or grid in a frame around its perimeter with large enough holes or gaps to allow the animal to feed adequately.

5/2.. An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the feed cover and the holding vessel are strong enough to prevent them from being unduly bent or deformed during normal use.

6/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the feed cover has a good clearance gap between it and the holding vessel to more than allow for free movement. L4-

Hay Feeder 7/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the body of the feeder may be mounted on an additional hinge to allow it to be swung outside the stable if it is not required in the stable or if access to it is preferred outside rather than inside the stable.

8/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the feeder may be situated mid-wall which means away from walls at either side; or in the corner of two walls.

9/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim where the body of the feeder can take a variety of shapes.

10/ An animal feeder as claimed in any preceeding claim which is made from plastics material, metal or wood, or from a combination of these materials.

11 / An animal feeder substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.