Animal feeder

Abstract

An animal feeder has a base in which food or water may be placed, a cover for the contents of the base, and a detector for the presence or absence of an animal and a mechanism for opening the cover or allowing it to close according to the relative movement between a first cam associated with the cover and a second cam responsive to the detector

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . An animal feeder including a base for a container for food, a cover for the container, the cover having an outer surface, a pedal arranged for operation in response to a force exerted against the pedal by a body part of an animal, a first cam having a first operating cam surface which is an extension of an outer surface of the cover and a second cam having second operating cam surface which is coupled with the pedal and movable in response to the body part of the animal depressing the pedal, the first and second cam surfaces being in engagement, whereby movement of the second cam surface in a first direction in response to the body part of the animal depressing the pedal causes the cover to open the container and movement of the second cam surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction in response to the body part of the animal no longer depressing the pedal causes the cover to close the container.  
   
   
       13 . An animal feeder as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first operating cam surface of the first cam and the second operating surface of the second cam are outside the container.  
   
   
       14 . An animal feeder as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the operating cam surface of the first cam and the second operating surface of the second cam are arranged to roll upon each other to provide for smooth and regular movement of the cover throughout its movement between the open and closed conditions of the container.  
   
   
       15 . An animal feeder as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the operating cam surface of the first and the second operating surface of the second cam are arranged to roll upon each other to provide for smooth and regular movement of the cover throughout its movement between the open and closed conditions of the container.  
   
   
       16 . An animal feeder as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least a part of the cover is transparent, the transparent portion being arranged for enabling the animal to see the contents of the container while the cover closes the container, and wherein the cover has a center of gravity below the fulcrum when the cover is closed and when the cover is open.  
   
   
       17 . An animal feeder as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the cover is dimensioned so as to have a center of gravity below the fulcrum when the cover is closed and when the cover is open.  
   
   
       18 . An animal feeder as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the cover includes a counterweight for causing the cover to have a center of gravity below the fulcrum when the cover is closed and when the cover is open.  
   
   
       19 . A cat feeder including a base for a container for food, a cover for the container, the cover having an outer surface, a pedal arranged for operation by a foot of a cat, a first cam having a first operating cam surface which is an extension of an outer surface of the cover and a second cam having second operating cam surface which is coupled with the pedal and movable in response to the foot of the cat depressing the pedal, the first and second cam surfaces being in engagement, whereby movement of the second cam surface in a first direction in response to the foot of the cat depressing the pedal causes the cover to open the container and movement of the second cam surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction in response to the cat no longer depressing the pedal causes the cover to close the container.  
   
   
       20 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least a part of the cover is transparent, the transparent portion being arranged for enabling the cat to see the contents of the container while the cover closes the container.  
   
   
       21 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the first cam operating surface of the first cam is curved in one direction over at least a part of its surface, and is pivoted for rotation with the cover.  
   
   
       22 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the second cam is rotatable about a point on the base.  
   
   
       23 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which at least a part of the movement of the second cam is along a linear path.  
   
   
       24 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the cover is rotatable with respect to a fulcrum on the base and in which when the cover is closed, the point of engagement between the first and second cams is relatively far from the fulcrum, and in the open position of the cover the point of engagement between the first and second cams is relatively close to the fulcrum.  
   
   
       25 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the cover includes a counter balance to the movement of the cover.  
   
   
       26 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the pedal includes a hinged extension.  
   
   
       27 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the cover is made from a low inertia lightweight plastics material.  
   
   
       28 . The cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which at least a part of the cover is transparent, the transparent portion being arranged for enabling the cat to see the contents of the container while the cover closes the container.  
   
   
       29 . A cat feeder as claimed in  claim 19 , in which one of the first operating cam surface of one of the first cam and the second operating surface of the second cam has a driving surface part and a braking surface part.  
   
   
       30 . A cat feeder as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein at least a part of the cover is transparent, the transparent portion being arranged for enabling the cat to see the contents of the container while the cover closes the container, and wherein the cover has a center of gravity below the fulcrum when the cover is closed and when the cover is open.  
   
   
       31 . A cat feeder as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the cover is dimensioned so as to have a center of gravity below the fulcrum when the cover is closed and when the cover is open.  
   
   
       32 . A cat feeder as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the cover includes a counterweight for causing the cover to have a center of gravity below the fulcrum when the cover is closed and when the cover is open.