Patent Application
20230380380
This invention relates to drinker bases. In particular, the invention relates to a drinker base that accepts multiple types of containers that carry liquids.
Drinker bases are known in the art. Drinker bases function based on gravity discharge of fluid restrained by vacuum force inside the water reservoir. In other words, the water will flow down through the hole at the lower portion of the water reservoir, until the water level rises above the discharging hole and the vacuum force inside the water reservoir is created. As animals drink the water and the water level goes below the discharging hole, air is sucked into the water reservoir allowing water to discharge again until the water level rises above the discharging hole and vacuum force is created again inside the water reservoir. This process repeats until the water in the water reservoir is depleted.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,069,943 describes a device for feeding poultry.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,565,117 describes a gravity-fed feeder.
However, none of the known art discloses a drinker base with multiple chambers to allow the use of different sized water containers in the same base, which then requires the use of multiple sized drinker bases, adding to expense and storage area. Therefore, a need exists for a universal drinker base that can accommodate different water containers.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
An embodiment of the disclosure is a drinker base for supplying water for animals, the drinker base comprising a substantially annular outer chamber configured to store water, a substantially annular middle chamber configured to store water, a substantially annular inner chamber configured to store water, a first set of threads for accepting a container device, the first set of threads disposed on an outer surface of the substantially annular middle chamber, a second set of threads disposed on an inner surface of the substantially annular middle chamber, a third set of threads disposed on an inner surface of the substantially annular inner chamber, a first port configured to transfer water between the substantially annular inner chamber to the substantially annular middle chamber; and a second port configured to transfer water between the substantially annular middle chamber substantially annular middle chamber to the substantially annular outer chamber.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinker base is composed of plastic.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinker based is composed of metal.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the inside surface, the threads on the outer surface of the inner chamber and the threads in the outer surface of the middle chamber are configured to accept containers of water.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the inner surface of the inner chamber are configured to accept a container of water with a bottle neck diameter comparable to a bottle neck diameter of a 750 ml container, such as a plastic soda bottle, known to one of skill in the art.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the inner surface of the middle chamber are configured to accept a container of water with a bottle neck diameter comparable to a mason jar, known to one of skill in the art.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the outer surface of the middle chamber are configured to accept a container of water with a bottle neck diameter comparable to a large drinking cup, known to one of skill in the art.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinker base is configured to provide water to small animals, such as ducklings, chicks, quail and other small farm poultry, cats, small dogs, and other domestic animals.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the inner surface of the inner chamber 104c are configured to accept a container of water with a bottle neck diameter comparable to a bottle neck diameter of a 750 ml container, such as a plastic soda bottle, known to one of skill in the art.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the inner surface of the middle chamber 104b are configured to accept a container of water with a bottle neck diameter comparable to a mason jar, known to one of skill in the art.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the threads on the outer surface of the middle chamber 104a are configured to accept a container of water with a bottle neck diameter comparable to a large drinking cup, known to one of skill in the art.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinker base 100 is configured to provide water to small animals, such as ducklings, chicks, quail and other small farm poultry, cats, small dogs, and other domestic animals.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinker base 100 may be composed of plastic, such as polypropylene or other suitable plastic materials known to one of skill in the art. The drinker base 100 may be manufactured in plastic by extruded plastic equipment, 3D additive printing technology or stereolithography. Other manufacturing methods known to one of skill in the art may be employed.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinker base 100 may be composed of metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other suitable metal materials known to one of skill in the art.
The drinker base 200 comprises a first port 208 configured to transfer water between the substantially annular inner chamber 204 to the substantially annular middle chamber 209. The drinker base 200 comprises a second port 207 configured to transfer water between the substantially annular middle chamber 209 to the substantially annular outer chamber 202.
In an embodiment shown in
In an embodiment, the drinker base 500 is a surface of revolution around an axis of rotation 510.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
