GB2494167A

GB2494167A - Self righting feed bowl

Info

Publication number: GB2494167A
Application number: GB1115101.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith John Burberry; Felicity Burberry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-01
Filing date: 2011-09-01
Publication date: 2013-03-06
Also published as: GB201115101D0

Abstract

A self righting feed bowl 10, has an upper bowl member 11 with a wall 12 defining an inner surface and an open upper face 13. The wall 12 of the upper bowl member 11 adjacent to the open face 13 is provided with a curved lip 12A which may serve as a carrying handle. A lower bowl member 14 is secured to the bottom of the upper bowl member 11, and has an outer surface 14A in the form of a truncated dome. The lower bowl member 14 is fitted with a weight. In use, when the bowl 10 is kicked by a horse or other animal, the weight maintains the bowl 10 in a righted position, preventing the bowl 10 from inverting.

Description

I

Title: Self Righting Feed Bowl The present invention relates to a self righting feed bowl, especially for use with horses.

Many horses feed from a feed bowl which is often in the form of a flexible low bucket. Some hones have a habit of kicking the bowl, often turning the bowl over. Feed in the bowl is scattered over the floor as a consequence, and this is wasteful (and thus costly), and a horse ends up not fully nourished and feed is scattered on the floor and contaminated with exeretia and foul bedding.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a self righting feed bowl comprising: a) a bowl member having a wall defining an inner surface to contain feed and an open upper face, and b) a weight at the base of the bowl member, in use when said bowl is kicked by an animal said weight preventing the said bowl from inverting.

Preferably the bottom of the bowl member is generally planar. A lower part of the bowl member may be in the form of a truncated dome. Preferably the weight is provided between the bottom of the inner surface of the bowl member and the bottom of the outer surface of the bowl member.

En one embodiment, the bowl member may have an upper bowl member to contain feed and a lower bowl member to provide said weight. Preferably the lower bowl member has an outer surface in the form of a truncated dome with the bottom of the outer surface of the lower bowl member being generally planar. Preferably the lower bowl member includes a centred container extending on its inner surface towards the bottom of the upper bowl member.

Preferably the centred container contains concrete to act as said weight. Preferably the top of the container supports the bottom of the upper bowl member. Preferably the container contains 0.8 -1.6 kg of concrete, e.g. 1.2kg of concrete.

Preferably an inwardly directed flange is provided at the top of the wall adjacent the open upper face. Preferably the inwardly directed flange is supported on a rim member which releasably connects to the top of the bowl member wall. In one embodiment, the rim member may be separable into two components when removed from the top of the bowl member. The rim member may form a friction fit with the top of the bowl member.

In one embodiment the bowl member wall adjacent the open face is turned over to provide a curved lip by which the feed bowl may be carried.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view, and Figure 2 shows an assembled part cross section part side view of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 and 2, there is shown a self righting feed bowl 10.

Feed bowl 10 has an upper bowl member 11 having a wall 12 defining an inner surface to contain feed and an open upper face 13. The upper bowl member wall adjacent the open face is turned over to provide a curved lip 12A by which the feed bowl may be carried.

A lower bowl member 14 is secured to the outside of the bottom of the upper bowl member 11, and has an outer surface in the form of a truncated dome with the bottom 14A of the outer surface of the lower bowl member being generally planar. Lower bowl member 14 provides a weight at the base of the bowl 10.

Lower bowl member 14 includes a centred container in the form of a tube 14B centred above the bottom 14A. Tube 14B extends from the inner surface of the lower bowl towards the bottom of the upper bowl member, and the top of the tube supports the bottom of the upper bowl member. Tube 14B contains 0.8 1.6 kg of concrete, e.g. 1.2kg of concrete to provide the weight for the bowl member 11.

An inwardly directed circular flange 15 is supported on a circular rim member 16 which releasably connects by a friction fit to the inside of the top of the bowl member wall 12 adjacent the open upper face 13. Rim member 16 may be separable into two components 16A,16B when removed from the top of the bowl member. One end of each component 16A,168 has apertures 17A which receive pegs 17B on an opposite end of each component 16A,168, whereby the rim member 16 is maintained as a single component when on the top of the bowl, but can separate into two components when removed from the top of the bowl.

In use when the bowl 10 is kicked by a horse, the bowl may roll temporarily over onto its side, but the weight will roll the bowl back so its sits on its planar bottom. The weight prevents the bowl from inverting. Also the inwardly directed flange prevents feed in the bowl member from being cast out of the bowl member when the bowl is kicked either when it rolls over or just slides sideways along the ground. The inwardly directed flange may be flexible to prevent damage to a horse's head and mouth. If the rim member 16 supporting flange 15 is removed by a horse so that the rim member forms a band around the horse's neck, the rim member will separate into its two components parts 16A,168 and fall off the horse's neck.

Much of the time the bowl 10 may be used with the circular rim member 16 with inwardly directed flange 15 removed, with feed still staying in the bowl. The rim member with inwardly directed flange may thus be considered an optional feature.

Whilst the feed bowls of the invention has been described with reference to horses, it could be used with other animals such as dogs.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the presenting invention.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A self righting feed bowl comprising: a) a bowl member having a wall defining an inner surface to contain feed and an open upper face, and b) a weight at the base of the bowl member, in use when said bowl is kicked by an animal said weight preventing the said bowl from inverting.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A feed bowl according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the bowl member is generally planar.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A feed bowl according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a lower part of the bowl member is in the form of a truncated dome.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A feed bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the weight is provided between the bottom of the inner surface of the bowl member and the bottom of the outer surface of the bowl member.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A feed bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the bowl member has an upper bowl member to contain feed and a lower bowl member to provide said weight.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A feed bowl according to claim 5, wherein the lower bowl member has an outer surface in the form of a truncated dome with the bottom of the outer surface of the lower bowl member being generally ptanar.</claim-text> <claim-text>7, A feed bowl according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the lower bowl member includes a centred container extending on its inner surface towards the bottom of the upper bowl member.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A feed bowl according to claim 7, wherein the centred container contains concrete to act as said weight.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A feed bowl according to claim 8, wherein the container contains 0.8-1.6kg of concrete, e.g. 1.2kg of concrete.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A feed bowl according to claim 1, 8 or 9, wherein the top of the container supports the bottom of the upper bowl member.</claim-text> <claim-text>II. A feed bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein an inwardly directed flange is provided at the top of the wall adjacent the open upper face, said inwardly directed flange preventing feed in the bowl member from being cast out of the bowl member.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A feed bowl according to claim 11, wherein the inwardly directed flange is supported on a rim member which releasably connects to the top of the bowl member wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A feed bowl according to claim 12, wherein the rim member is separable into two components when removed from the top of the bowl member.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A feed bowl according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the rim member forms a friction fit with the top of the bowl member.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A feed bowl according to any preceding claim, wherein the bowl member wall adjacent the open face is turned over to provide a curved lip by which the feed bowl may be carried.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A self righting feed bowl substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>