This invention relates to the field of caring for pets, and provides a portable apparatus for supplying liquids or food to a pet.
Pet owners often face the problem of properly caring for their pet while traveling. Since pet supplies must share space with other traveling essentials, space is at a premium. Existing pet bowls and feeders are designed to withstand the rigors of pet ownership and often incorporate features that make the product more durable, spill-resistant or immovable. While such features are ideal for feeders intended for non-portable use they also add considerable bulk and weight, making the feeder inconvenient for travel.
The present invention provides a solution to these problems in the form of a durable pet feeder with collapsible membrane bowls that allow for thin-profile storage without sacrificing capacity, and folding legs that extend to elevate the feeder to a level more comfortable for pets, and collapse to allow for a thin-profile storage configuration.
In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, a rigid support frame with a pivotally connected set of legs provides a set of flexible membrane bowls that are shaped to facilitate the novel function of the invention. The bowls are removable and interchangeable, allowing the user to make modular changes or use the bowls separately as needed. The pivoting legs are attached at the perimeter of the rigid support frame and may be manually rotated upward so that they become parallel with the support frame. These features allow a set of fully-sized pet bowls to fit in an unusually small storage space.
A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from a review of the Detailed Description in conjunction with the following Drawings, in which:
Referring initially to
The membranes 12, 14 have at least two selectable membrane configurations, as shown in
The membranes 12, 14 each have having an inner and outer surface 19a (
A key feature of the invention is that the membranes 12, 14 are formed to be stable in both the storage and use configurations. This enables the user to select either configuration which the membranes 12, 14 will then statically hold indefinitely until it is shifted to the other configuration. One example of the membrane 12, 14 is formed of silicone rubber.
Another key feature is a set of movable legs 22, 24, 26, 28 pivotally-connected to the main support frame 20. In the use configuration (
In operation, in its storage configuration, each flexible membrane is in a near flat shape, suspended at its perimeter by a modular rigid support frame which in turn fits within the main rigid support frame. For use, the pet feeder is taken out of its storage space and the user manually folds the pivoting legs downward while gripping the main support frame. Once the legs are in place, the feeder is placed on a flat surface such as a floor or countertop, where the user then extends the collapsible bowls by exerting downward pressure upon the membranes. The pet feeder can then be used for pet care purposes in a manner consistent with the prior art. When the cup is ready for storage, the user simply reverses the process for use preparation.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied one type of pet feeder, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.