Portable nipple based poultry waterer

Abstract

A portable poultry waterer is provided having a manifold with a connector placed on the back surface to attach the manifold to a water storage vessel. The connector extends outward in a substantially perpendicular fashion to the manifold. Holes are placed into the manifold to accept a plurality of longitudinally spaced poultry nipples. One or more holes are placed into the manifold to accept a clean out plug(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable nipple based poultry waterer, comprising:
 a manifold;   a connector disposed on a back surface of the manifold and extending out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the back surface of the manifold;   a first clean-out plug hole disposed on the manifold;   a first nipple hole disposed on a lower surface of the manifold, wherein the first nipple hole is configured to receive a first poultry nipple; and   a second nipple hole disposed on the lower surface of the manifold, wherein the second nipple hole is configured to receive a second poultry nipple,   wherein the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole are disposed on the lower surface of the manifold such that the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole are spaced apart by a nipple feeder distance.   
     
     
         2 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises:
 a through-hole configured to allow fluids to pass therethrough;   a threaded portion with a diameter and thread configured to connect to a nut; and   an unthreaded portion which is disposed between the threaded portion and the manifold and is thicker than the threaded portion with a larger exterior diameter.   
     
     
         3 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 , wherein the nipple feeder distance is at least 3.5 inches (8.9 cm). 
     
     
         4 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 , further comprising a pad with a diameter of 7/9 inches (1.9 cm) and a thickness of ⅙ inches (0.4 cm), wherein the thickness is inclusive of the thickness of the manifold, and wherein the pad is placed in the first nipple hole. 
     
     
         5 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second clean-out plug hole disposed on the manifold,   wherein the first clean-out plug hole is disposed on a left surface of the manifold, and wherein the second clean-out plug hole is disposed on a right surface of the manifold, and   wherein the first clean-out plug hole is configured to receive a first clean-out plug and the second clean-out plug hole is configured to receive a second clean-out plug.   
     
     
         6 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first clean-out plug hole is disposed on a top surface of the manifold, and   wherein the first clean-out plug hole is configured to receive one from a group consisting of a clean-out plug and ball valve.   
     
     
         7 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the manifold is substantially circular with an internal diameter greater than or equal to the outer diameter of a portable water container.   
     
     
         8 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the manifold is flexible allowing for the internal diameter of the manifold to increase to fit around the diameter of the portable water container while also providing a grasping to the outside of the portable water container.   
     
     
         9 . The portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the manifold dimensions extend out in a horizontal direction perpendicular to an outer surface of a portable water container,   wherein the manifold dimensions extend out in a horizontal direction parallel to the outer surface of the portable water container,   wherein the manifold dimensions are such that roosting is prevented.   
     
     
         10 . A method to manufacture a portable nipple based poultry waterer, the method comprising:
 providing a manifold;   disposing a connector on a back surface of the manifold such that the connector extends out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the back surface of the manifold;   disposing a first clean-out plug hole on the manifold;   disposing a first nipple hole on a lower surface of the manifold, wherein the first nipple hole is configured to receive a first poultry nipple; and   disposing a second nipple hole on the lower surface of the manifold, wherein the second nipple hole is configured to receive a second poultry nipple,   wherein the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole are disposed on the lower surface of the manifold such that the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole are spaced apart by a nipple feeder distance.   
     
     
         11 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 providing a through-hole on the connector configured to allow fluids to pass therethrough;   providing a threaded portion on the connector with a diameter and thread configured to connect to a ⅝-11 nut;   providing an unthreaded portion on the connector which is disposed between the threaded portion and the manifold and is thicker than the threaded portion with a larger exterior diameter; and   spacing the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole apart such that the nipple feeder distance is at least 3.5 inches (8.9 cm).   providing a pad that is 7/9 inches (1.9 cm) in diameter and ⅙ inches (0.4 cm) in total thickness inclusive of the thickness of the manifold.   
     
     
         12 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 disposing a second clean-out plug hole disposed on the manifold,   wherein the first clean-out plug hole is disposed on a left surface of the manifold, and wherein the second clean-out plug hole is disposed on a right surface of the manifold, and   wherein the first clean-out plug hole is configured to receive a first clean-out plug and the second clean-out plug hole is configured to receive a second clean-out plug.   
     
     
         13 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 wherein the first clean-out plug hole is disposed on a top surface of the manifold, and   wherein the first clean-out plug hole is configured to receive one from a group consisting of a clean-out plug and ball valve.   
     
     
         14 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 shaping the manifold such that the manifold is substantially rectangular extending in a horizontal direction parallel to the outside surface of a portable water container.   
     
     
         15 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 shaping the manifold such that the manifold is substantially circular with an internal diameter greater than or equal to the outer diameter of a portable water container.   
     
     
         16 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 wherein the manifold is flexible allowing for the internal diameter of the manifold to increase to fit around the diameter of the portable water container while also providing a grasping to the outside of the portable water container.   
     
     
         17 . The method to manufacture the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 wherein the manifold dimensions extend out in a horizontal direction perpendicular to an outer surface of a portable water container,   wherein the manifold dimensions extend out in a horizontal direction parallel to the outer surface of the portable water container, and   wherein the manifold dimensions are such that roosting is prevented.   
     
     
         18 . A method for watering poultry using a portable nipple based poultry waterer, the method comprising:
 disposing, on a manifold, a connector on a back surface such that the connector extends out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the back surface of the manifold, a first clean-out hole configured to receive a first clean-out plug hole, and a first nipple hole on a lower surface of the manifold, wherein the first nipple hole is configured to receive a first poultry nipple;   disposing, on the manifold, a second nipple hole disposed on the lower surface of the manifold, wherein the second nipple hole is configured to receive a second poultry nipple,   wherein the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole are disposed on the lower surface of the manifold such that the first nipple hole and the second nipple hole are spaced apart by a nipple feeder distance;   connecting the manifold to a portable water container; and   running water from the portable water container through the connector and to the first nipple hole.   
     
     
         19 . A method for watering poultry using the portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 18 , the method further comprising:
 placing the portable water container such that the lower surface of the manifold is at least 4 inches (10 cm) above the ground.   
     
     
         20 . A method for watering poultry using a portable nipple based poultry waterer of  claim 18 , the method further comprising:
 running a cleaning agent through the first clean-out hole into the manifold, wherein the manifold is a clear material.