Patent Application
20150128867
Wildlife and domestic animals are currently fed in a variety of manners. Typical methods for feeding wildlife, whether to sustain the population or to act as a lure, involve hand or machine dispersal of food on a ground area. Alternatively, food can be placed in troughs or other open containers. However, common foods used for wildlife feed, such as rice bran, are then exposed to the elements, such as rain. The food then gets wet and spoils quickly, rendering it unsuitable for wildlife consumption.
Although troughs or feed areas can be made that have covers that protect the food from rain, such implementations are undesirable. The transport or assembly of a trough can be cumbersome and typically requires multiple people to set up. Further, although they may be covered directly overhead, wind or other environmental factors can cause moisture to contact the food, spoiling it. Further, animals can knock over or otherwise displace a trough, rendering it unusable or spoiling the food housed therein.
Still other types of feeders, particularly those used for deer, are rigid-walled feeders that utilize a gravity feed for providing food to a tray or dispersal area. These feeders, however, are subject to clogging and typically are unsuitable for powderized food, such as rice bran. In such rigid-walled feeders the powderized food can clog or become fixed in corners or angles of the feeding mechanism. The clogging prevents the food from being properly dispersed and therefore causes the food to sit in such a fashion that it can not be eaten and often spoils. Additionally, the clogging causes a need for maintenance to be performed on the rigid-walled feeder, thus leading to additional time needed to fix or clean the feeder.
In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for feeding animals may be described. The feed bag apparatus may include a fabric bag, the fabric bag having a sealable opening proximate a top portion of the bag, a tapered shape terminating at a bottom portion of the bag, an opening at the bottom portion of the bag that facilitates a gravity feed for food, and hollow interior of the bag. The feed bag apparatus may further have a number of grommets located on a top portion of the fabric bag proximate the sealable top portion, the grommets facilitating coupling of the fabric bag to a vertical support. Additionally, the feed bag apparatus may be substantially waterproof and weatherproof.
Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which:
a is an exemplary cutaway diagram showing a feeding device.
Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and related figures directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments can be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.
Generally referring to
Referring now to exemplary
In still further exemplary embodiments, the bag may be formed in any of a variety of manners. In one embodiment, the bag may be formed with a pattern and in a substantially cylindrical shape so as to support a gravity feed of food from a top portion to a bottom portion of bag 102 with substantially no obstructions from top to bottom. Further, some embodiments may utilize textiles cut into shapes, for example “V” shapes, and in panels of different widths. Such panels may be sewn together, welded together, or otherwise coupled to provide a substantially water and weather proof seal.
Bag 102 may be formed in such a manner and out of such materials that it is easily collapsible and foldable. Additionally, bag 102 may be such that it is lightweight, for example approximately five pounds or less. Additionally, due to its construction, bag 102 may be substantially flexible or durable, for example remaining intact despite being fastened to a rough surface, such as tree bark. Additionally, bag 102 may be moved or bitten by any of a variety of animals without ripping, tearing or deforming in an undesirable manner.
Still referring to exemplary
Additionally, bag 102 may have any desired fastening elements or fastening capabilities thereon or associated therewith. In one exemplary embodiment, bag 102 may be fastened to a support, such as a tree, using any desired rope, strap or flexible cords to secure the bag thereto. Thus, in one example a rope or series or ropes could simply be tied around bag 102 to secure it at a desired height and location. In another exemplary embodiment, a number of grommets 114 may be located on bag 102. Grommets 114 may be at a top portion of bag 102 as well as any other portion of bag 102, such as a middle or substantially middle portion. In such embodiments, bag 102 may be secured to a tree or other support using bungee cords where hooks on the cords are inserted in the grommets to facilitate securing bag 102. Such embodiments of bag 102 may also be fastened to a support by threading rope, wire, or other strapping mechanisms through the grommets and around the support. Also, the at least one grommet may be used to hang bag 102 from a hook, nail, or other hanger suspended by a support. In still other examples, any number of hooks may be disposed about bag 102 that may allow for direct coupling to a support structure or may be used in conjunction with rope or cord to secure bag 102 to a support structure. Yet another embodiment of bag 102 may include a loop or strap for hanging bag 102 from a support, or for easy carrying and maneuvering of bag 102 when either full of feed or empty. The loop or strap may disposed on a top portion or side portion of bag 102 and may be made of the same material as bag 102 or any other material reasonably understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
In further exemplary embodiments, bag 102 may be formed with any desired size. In one embodiment, and referring now to the exploded view of
Still referring to exemplary
In still other exemplary embodiments, bag 102 may be used in conjunction with one or more other bags. For example, bag 102 may be an interior bag fitted inside of an exterior bag. Bag 102 may continue to function as described herein, and an exterior bag may provide any other protection from the elements. For example, an exterior bag may be formed of a waterproof plastic or composite material that can be used to provide additional sealing or protection qualities to feeding device 100 and feed bag 102. Alternatively, an exterior bag may be utilized for other protective qualities or other appearance qualities. For example an exterior bag may be branded in any desired fashion, may have any desired decorative or functional patterns disposed thereon, such as camouflage, or may be colored in any desired fashion, for example blaze orange. In still further exemplary embodiments, an exterior bag can provide additional support, fastening or coupling elements that allow for a desired securing and range of movement of feeding device 100.
In another embodiment, and referring now to exemplary
Still referring to exemplary
In further exemplary embodiments, the height of bag 102 off of the ground may be varied based on any of a variety of situations. For example, flap 111 may be open, allowing bag 102 to be filled with a type of food. Then gravity may cause the food to move from a top portion of bag 102, through inside portion 103, to bottom portion 104 and, ultimately, through an opening 116 at bottom portion 104 of bag 102. The food may then be deposited on the ground. However, if bottom portion 104 of bag 102 is located a desired distance off the ground, the food may pile or stack on the ground in a substantially conical or pyramidal shape 204 as it exits bag 102. The food 204 will then pile or stack until the food meets bottom portion 104 of bag 102. The piling or stacking of the food may be such that, as it meets bottom portion 104 of bag 102, it substantially seals bottom portion 104 of bag 102 such that the flow of food from bag 102 to the ground ceases. No more food may flow from bag 102 to the ground until the food is eaten or otherwise displaced to remove the effective seal and allow for additional food to be released. This may be further shown in exemplary
After bag 102 is secured to tree 200, it may be filled with any desired material. In one exemplary embodiment, bag 102 can be filled with rice bran, a food desirable to deer, although any type of food, including granules, minerals, powders, or other food items may be utilized. It may be appreciated that any other desired food which may be suitable or desirable to any other type of animal may be used with bag 102, however. The food may be inserted through top opening 110 and, after the food is inserted, top opening 110 may be sealed so as to prevent any undesired access and keep bag 102 weatherproof. Further, it may be noted that while bag 102 is being filled, opening 116 on bottom portion 104 may be left open. In such embodiments, food may flow through bag 102 onto the ground until it creates a seal at bottom portion 104 of bag 102, allowing bag 102 to be filled to a desired level. Alternatively, opening 116 may be closed and sealed while bag 102 is filled. Opening 116 may be closed and sealed in any desired manner, for example through use of a drawstring or any other known closing and sealing mechanism.
Referring now to exemplary
In still another exemplary embodiment, bag 102 may utilize a timed broadcast or release system. In these exemplary embodiments, a timing system may automatically meter the amount of food dispersed from bag 102. The timing system may be such that food may be automatically dispensed at a desired or predetermined time. In some exemplary embodiments, food may be dispensed when it is determined that there is insufficient or an undesired amount of food available on the ground for animals. Such determinations may be made automatically or through the assistance of a remotely located camera and monitoring system. In such embodiments, a remote control or any other known transmitter may be utilized to provide a signal to a receiver or transceiver located on bag 102. Such a signal may prompt the actuation of a flap or spinner to dispense food.
In such exemplary embodiments, and referring now to exemplary
The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, one or more embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
