Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Timer-controlled
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-07-24
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Timer-controlled
C119S057200, C119S057400, C119S057500, C119S057700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263833
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to animal husbandry and livestock care and feeding, and more specifically to a portable device for dispensing livestock feed in measured quantities to feeding sites in the field. The present device is mounted on the bed of a flatbed truck or in the bed of a pickup truck or the like, with the dispensing of the feed being controlled remotely from the cab of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Caring for livestock and farm animals is a nearly continuous task for the farmer or rancher, with the job being made even more difficult with animals in the field, as opposed to those who return to a barn or shed at feeding times (e.g., dairy cows). For range animals dependent upon a prepared supply of food, the rancher must provide a regular supply of feed for the animals (cattle, sheep, etc.) at regular locations, with those locations most likely being relatively widespread.
Conventionally, this has been accomplished by loading a truck, farm wagon, or other appropriate vehicle with a supply of feed, and driving to the site (or sites) where the feed is to be placed for consumption by the livestock. The vehicle must be stopped at the site, with the rancher or caretaker leaving the cab and manually dispensing some of the feed from the back of the vehicle or wagon. Aside from the laborious work involved, such a distribution method does not provide any means of accurately measuring the amount of feed left in any one area. The rancher may know fairly precisely how much feed is placed on or in the vehicle at the beginning of the trip, but has no means of determining precisely how much feed is distributed at each location.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a portable livestock feed dispenser which is removably installable on the flatbed of a truck, pickup truck bed, or other suitable vehicle. The feed dispenser comprises an elongate box structure with an internal power auger which dispenses feed from one end of the apparatus. By placing the dispenser with its outlet adjacent to one edge or end of the truck bed, the feed may be dispensed therefrom without need for labor from the vehicle operator. A top lid extending the width of the structure provides for filling the dispenser. The device also includes a counter for determining the amount of feed dispensed at any one site, and/or the total amount of feed dispensed.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,065,808 issued on Nov. 27, 1962 to John N. Dodgen, titled “Portable Feed Measuring And Mixing Apparatus,” describes a vertically disposed, trailer mounted hopper having an open top with a vertically disposed dispensing auger in the center of the hopper. Weighing means is provided for the hopper when the feed is placed therein, but the Dodgen device has no means for measuring the amount of feed dispensed at each actuation of the auger, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,862 issued on May 19, 1987 to Robert L. Pitchford, Jr., titled “Timed Automatic Pet Feed And Water Dispenser,” describes a relatively small device incorporating automatic water dispensing as well as food dispensing. The Pitchford, Jr. device is connected to a water supply which dispenses water simultaneously with the pet food to make a thick, gravy-like mixture, rather than dispensing dry feed for livestock, as accomplished by the present invention. Moreover, Pitchford, Jr. includes a water dispenser and float mechanism for automatically filling a water supply for the pet as well. Thus, the Pitchford, Jr. apparatus is not portable, as is the present invention, but must be connected to a water supply at all times. In addition, the Pitchford, Jr. apparatus is operated by a timer and dispenses a predetermined amount of food with each operation. In contrast, the present invention is not automated, but may be remotely operated from the cab of the vehicle upon which it is mounted, with the operator determining the amount of feed dispensed according to a counter display.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,300 issued on Feb. 2, 1988 to Douglas G. Walker et al., titled “Automatic Feeder For Pets And Other Animals,” describes a device using a vibrating pan to shake food down into a feeding trough beneath the device, rather than an auger for dispensing the feed from one end of the device into a separate trough or other area, as provided by the present invention. The Walker et al. feeder is more closely related to the Pitchford, Jr. device discussed immediately above than to the present invention, due to its automated dispensing of a predetermined amount of food, with that amount not being controllable by an operator at the time of dispensing, as in the present remotely controlled and portable dispenser.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,538 issued on Mar. 13, 1990 to Fred J. Helmle et al., titled “Multiple Bin Cow Feeder,” describes a self propelled device having two open dispensing hoppers, for dispensing different feed mixes or ingredients to different feed troughs or feeding stations for individual animals. The device is electronically controlled from an operating station thereon, with a separate laterally disposed horizontal auger for each hopper. Counting means is provided for each auger, to measure the number of revolutions of each auger in order to determine the amount of feed dispensed. The Helmle et al. device differs considerably from the present invention, in that (a) no cover for the hopper(s) is provided; (b) the device cannot be removed from its propulsion mechanism, for removable installation on a farm vehicle; and (c) accordingly, no remote control or display means is provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,821 issued on Apr. 16, 1991 to William C. Pratt et al., titled “Computerized Process And System For Assigning And Delivering Feed To Animals In A Feedlot,” describes a semi-automated system for determining the proper quantities and mixtures of feed to be distributed to different feed bunks or troughs in a series of feed lot pens. A hopper disposed within the bed of a pickup truck is disclosed, but no cover or lid, lateral auger dispensing, nor removability for the hopper are disclosed. Moreover, Pratt et al. use an integral scale to weigh the feed in the hopper, rather than quantitatively measuring the auger output.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,300 issued on Jul. 27, 1993 to Victor Mezhinsky, titled “Automatic Dry Food Feeder For Animals,” describes another automated pet feeding device akin to the devices of the Pitchford, Jr. and Walker et al. U.S. Patents discussed above. The Mezhinsky apparatus uses a rotary vane dispenser at the bottom of the food hopper, rather than an auger (Pitchford, Jr.) or vibrating shaker tray (Walker et al.). As in the Pitchford, Jr. and Walker et al. devices, the Mezhinsky apparatus can only dispense a predetermined amount of food at each operation, and the amount cannot be adjusted at the time of dispensing due to the automatic nature of the operation of the device. In contrast, the present feeder is operated remotely but in real time by the operator of the device and vehicle upon which it is carried, with the operator being able to adjust the amount of feed being dispensed with each operation as desired, according to a readout located in the cab of the vehicle or elsewhere as desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,129 issued on Jan. 4, 1994 to T. Loren Vigesaa et al., titled “Portable Automatic Animal Feeding System,” describes another completely automated device for feeding livestock and other range animals. The device is portable, in that it may be loaded aboard the back of a pickup truck or flat bed for transport to a location in the field, where it is placed for stationary operation. However, it is not adapted for operation while being carried on the back of a flatbed or pickup truck, as provided by the configuration of the present invention. The Vigesaa et al. device includes a feed bunk or trough below the auger output means, with the
Runyan Casey
Runyan Chance
Runyan Clyde
Abbott Yvonne R.
Jordan Charles T.
Litman Richard C.
LandOfFree
Livestock feed dispenser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Livestock feed dispenser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Livestock feed dispenser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2524950