Water shut-off structure of a drinking device for a pet

Details Water shut-off structure of a drinking device for a pet Water shut-off structure of a drinking device for a pet

2002-03-12

2003-04-29

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)

Animal husbandry

Watering or liquid feed device

Drop-delivering

C119S477000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06553937

ABSTRACT:

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a drinking device for a pet, and more particularly to a water shut-off structure of the drinking device for a pet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As shown in
FIGS. 1-3
, a prior art drinking device is designed for use by a pet and is formed of a water container
10
and a water outlet
11
located at the bottom of the container
10
. The water outlet
11
is provided with a water shut-off structure comprising a spout tube
12
, a washer
14
, and a steel ball
15
. The washer
14
and the steel ball
15
are received in the spout tube
12
such that the washer
14
and the steel ball
15
are located in proximity of a discharge port
13
of the spout tube
12
, as shown in FIG.
2
. Located between the inner wall of the spout tube
12
and the washer
14
is a projected portion
16
, as illustrated in FIG.
3
. When the steel ball
15
is joined with the washer
14
, the flow of water in the water outlet
11
is shut off. As the steel ball
15
is moved away from the washer
14
by the tongue of a pet, the water is let out via the discharge port
13
of the spout tube
12
. As soon as the pet has withdrawn its tongue from the steel ball
15
, the steel ball
15
falls back to join with the washer
14
to prevent the passage of water through the discharge port
13
.
Such a prior art water shut-off structure as described above is defective in design because the steel ball
15
tends to move sideways at the time when the steel ball
15
is licked by the tongue of a pet, thereby resulting in an incomplete reunion of the steel ball
15
with the washer
14
. As a result, the water flow is not completely shut off at the discharge port
13
. In addition, the projection
16
of the inner wall of the spout tube
12
hinders the immediate reunion of the steel ball
15
with the washer
14
. Furthermore, the washer
14
is apt to be displaced by the act of licking.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pet drinking device with a water shut-off structure which is free of the shortcomings of the prior art structure described above.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a water shut-off structure comprising a water outlet, a spout tube, a steel ball, and a washer. The spout tube is fastened with the water outlet of a water container. The spout tube is provided in the inner wall of a discharge port thereof with a stop ring. The steel ball and the washer are disposed in the spout tube such that the steel ball and the washer are located between the stop ring of the inner wall of the spout tube and the outer end of the water outlet of the water container. The washer is securely located between the stop ring of the spout tube and the outer end of the water outlet. The washer is of a cone-shaped construction. The steel ball is received in the cone-shaped washer such that the steel ball can easily fall back into place to make an intimate contact with the inner wall of the cone-shaped washer as soon as the act of licking the steel ball by a pet is interrupted.
The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2014652 (1935-09-01), Jones
patent: 3771496 (1973-11-01), Atchley
patent: 3838664 (1974-10-01), Atchley
patent: 4589373 (1986-05-01), Hostetler et al.
patent: 5287994 (1994-02-01), Dempsey
patent: 5363802 (1994-11-01), Huff
patent: 5816194 (1998-10-01), Huff
patent: 2329953 (1999-04-01), None

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