Animal feeder

Abstract

An animal feeder for supplying a feed to an animal of choice for feeding the animal of choice in an unprotected environment such as the outdoors. The feeder comprising a base for support the feeder on a ground surface, a support frame extending upwardly from the base and a hopper supported by the frame. The hopper having a storage reservoir for storing a supply of feed with a feed entry opening that is closeable to prevent exposure to the outdoors. The hopper further including a feed chute below the reservoir having an upper region sealingly joined to the reservoir and a lower region below the upper region that is sealingly joined to a feeding chamber. The feeding chamber having a bottom surface wherein the feed supply can move from the reservoir into the feeding chamber and rest on the bottom surface based on gravity alone. The hopper further including a horizontally extending elongated channel extending from the feeding chamber with an outer end having a feeding opening open to the outdoors wherein the feeding chamber is spaced from the opening and the feed substantially remains within the hopper and spaced from the outdoors until it is consumed by the animal of choice.

1 . An animal feeder for supplying a feed to an animal of choice for feeding the animal of choice in an unprotected environment such as the outdoors, said feeder comprising a base for supporting said feeder on a ground surface; a support frame extending upwardly from said base; and a hopper supported by said frame, said hopper having a storage reservoir for storing a supply of feed with a feed entry opening that is closeable to prevent exposure to the outdoors, said hopper further including a feed chute below said reservoir having an upper region sealingly joined to said reservoir and a lower region below said upper region that is sealingly joined to a feeding chamber, said feeding chamber having a feed supporting surface wherein said feed supply can move from said reservoir into said feeding chamber and rest on said surface based on gravity alone, said hopper further including a horizontally extending elongated channel extending from said feeding chamber, said channel having an outer end and being enclosed except for a feeding opening that is open to the outdoors wherein said feeding chamber is spaced from said opening and the feed substantially remains within said hopper and spaced from the outdoors until it is consumed by the animal of choice.  
   
   
       2 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said feeding chamber is in said horizontally extending elongated channel.  
   
   
       3 . The animal feeder of  claim 2 , wherein said feeding chamber is in said horizontally extending elongated channel.  
   
   
       4 . The animal feeder of  claim 2 , wherein said horizontally extending elongated channel is cylindrical.  
   
   
       5 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said horizontally extending elongated channel has a cross-sectional configuration shaped to receive a substantial portion of the snout of the animal of choice and has a length such that said opening is spaced from said feeding chamber a distance slightly less that the length of the snout of the animal of choice.  
   
   
       6 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said feeding chamber is tubular and said horizontally extending elongated channel forms a portion of said chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said hopper includes a plurality of said feed chutes below said reservoir sealingly joined to a respective plurality of said feeding chambers and said horizontally extending elongated channels such that more than one of the animal of choice can feed simultaneously.  
   
   
       8 . The animal feeder of  claim 7 , wherein said feeder has a front side and a back side and said plurality of feed chutes, feeding chambers and channels includes four on said front side and four on said back side.  
   
   
       9 . The animal feeder of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of feed chutes, feeding chambers and channels includes at least one channel that has a different configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The animal feeder of  claim 9 , wherein said different configuration is a smaller configuration for younger animals.  
   
   
       11 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said upper region has a cross-sectional area and said lower region has a cross-sectional and said cross-sectional area of said lower region is less than said upper cross-section area.  
   
   
       12 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said hopper is a unified molded component.  
   
   
       13 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , further including a trough pivotably connected to said frame, said trough pivoting between an opened position wherein said trough is spaced from said feeding opening and a closed position wherein said trough covers said feeding opening sufficiently to prevent the animal of choice from feeding.  
   
   
       14 . The animal feeder of  claim 13 , wherein said trough seals said feeding opening when in said closed position.  
   
   
       15 . The animal feeder of  claim 13 , wherein said trough is pivotable about a horizontal axis wherein said trough is positioned below said feeding opening when in said opened position such that said trough is positioned to catch feed falling from the opening as the animal of choice is feeding.  
   
   
       16 . The animal feeder of  claim 15 , wherein said trough includes a base sheets having at least one peripheral edge and upwardly extending side walls extending upwardly from said at least one edge.  
   
   
       17 . The animal feeder of  claim 16 , wherein said trough further include a drainage hole.  
   
   
       18 . The animal feeder of  claim 13 , wherein said feeder has a front side and a back side and said hopper includes a plurality of said feed chutes below said reservoir sealingly joined to a respective plurality of said feeding chambers and said horizontally extending elongated channels such that more than one of the animal of choice can feed simultaneously, said plurality of feed chutes, feeding chambers and channels including a first plurality on said front side and a second plurality on said back side, said trough being a first and a second trough wherein said first trough is aligned with said first plurality and said second trough is aligned with said second plurality, both said first and second troughs pivoting about a respective horizontal axis.  
   
   
       19 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said hopper includes a plurality of said feed chutes below said reservoir sealingly joined to a respective plurality of said feeding chambers and said horizontally extending elongated channels such that more than one of the animal of choice can feed simultaneously, said plurality of feed chutes each having a respective said upper and lower regions, each said respective upper region having a cross-sectional area and each said respective lower region having a cross-sectional area, said cross-sectional area of said lower region being less than said upper cross-section area.  
   
   
       20 . The animal feeder of  claim 19 , wherein said each feed chute is formed by four walls, at least three of said four walls extending downwardly and inwardly.  
   
   
       21 . An animal feeder for supplying a feed to an animal of choice for feeding the animal of choice in an unprotected environment such as the outdoors, said feeder comprising a hopper having a storage reservoir for storing a supply of feed and protecting the feed from the outdoors, said feeder further including a plurality of feeding chambers in fluid communication with said storage reservoir, said plurality of feeding chambers each having an inner opening for receiving the feed from the reservoir based on a gravity flow alone and at least one feeding supporting surface positioned near said inner opening for receiving and stopping said gravity flow thereby maintaining the feed within said feeder on said at least one surface, said each chamber further including an enclosed elongated feeding channel extending outwardly away from said inner opening, said channel forming a portion of said at least one supporting surface and having an outer opening spaced from said at least one supporting surface such that said gravity flow stops before said opening, said channel having a length and a cross-sectional configuration configured to allow the snout of the animal of choice to enter said channel and reach the feed on said at least one supporting surface.  
   
   
       22 . The animal feeder of  claim 21 , wherein said hopper is a longitudinally extending hopper extending between a first end and a second end, said plurality of feeding chambers being positioned between said first and second ends and said each channel being transverse to said longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       23 . The animal feeder of  claim 21 , wherein said hopper is a longitudinally extending hopper extending between a first end and a second end and having a front and back side between said ends, said plurality of feeding chambers being a first and a second plurality of feeding chambers, said first and second plurality of feeding chambers being positioned between said first and second ends and said each channel being transverse to said longitudinal direction, said first plurality of feeding chambers extending outwardly from said front side and said second plurality of feeding chambers extending from said back side.  
   
   
       24 . The animal feeder of  claim 21 , wherein said channel forms a substantial portion of said at least one supporting surface.  
   
   
       25 . The animal feeder of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one surface is one surface and said enclosed elongated feeding channel is cylindrical.  
   
   
       26 . The animal feeder of  claim 21 , wherein said outer opening is formed by at least on edge in said enclosed elongated feeding channel, said at least one edge being substantially vertical such that said opening faces horizontally.  
   
   
       27 . The animal feeder of  claim 21 , further including a pivotal trough that is pivotal relative to said outer opening, said trough pivoting between an opened position wherein said trough is spaced from said outer opening and a closed position wherein said trough covers said outer opening sufficiently to prevent the animal of choice from feeding.  
   
   
       28 . The animal feeder of  claim 27 , wherein a portion of said trough is below said outer opening when in said opened position.