Cat scratching post feeder

Abstract

A .[.cat.]. scratching post feeder comprising a .[.dry food filled inner cylinder.]. .Iadd.first shell able to receive food .Iaddend.with a .[.spring-loaded lower lid.]. .Iadd.tension-loaded door .Iaddend.and a .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.that slides over the .[.inner cylinder.]..Iadd.first shell .Iaddend.and rests upon the .[.inner cylinder's lower lid steel support rod.]. .Iadd.first shell's door support element. .Iaddend.The .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.rests directly upon the .[.lower lid's protruding steel support rod.]. .Iadd.door support element. .Iaddend.Scratching action of a cat upon .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.the second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.exerts downward force through the .[.steel support rod.]. support element to the .[.spring-loaded lower lid.]. .Iadd.tension-loaded door .Iaddend.causing the .[.lower lid.]. .Iadd.door .Iaddend.to open and dispense .[.dry cat.]. food. The .[.cat.]. scratching post feeder can be mounted to a fixed wall or .[.mounted to a free standing base.]. .Iadd.configured as a free standing unit. .Iaddend.The .[.cat.]. scratching post feeder is a dual function device acting as a scratching post and as a pet-activated feeder.

I claim: 
     
       1. A .[.cat.]. scratching post feeder comprising a wall mountable .[.dry food fillable inner cylinder.]. .Iadd.first shell able to receive food.]..Iaddend. with a .[.spring-loaded hinged.]. .Iadd.tension-loaded .Iaddend..[.lower lid.]. .Iadd.door, .Iaddend..[.a steel support rod attached to the bottom of  .Iadd.at least one projection protruding from .Iaddend.the lower lid.]. .Iadd.door, .Iaddend.and a .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.that slides over the .[.inner cylinder.]. .Iadd.first shell .Iaddend.and rests upon the .[.steel support rod.]. .Iadd.at least one projection .Iaddend.thereby creating a dual function device, .[.cat.]. scratcher and .[.pet-activated.]. feeder, which will dispense .[.dry cat.]. food whenever .[.a cat exerts.]. downward force .Iadd.is exerted .Iaddend.on the .[.support rod.]. .Iadd.at least one projection .Iaddend.by scratching the .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       2. A .[.cat.]. cat scratching post feeder comprising a free standing .[.platform, with a weld-attached vertically positioned short length of hollow tubing into which slides a separate longer length of predrilled tubing, a dry food fillable inner cylinder.]. .Iadd.first shell able to receive food .Iaddend.with a .[.spring-loaded, hinged lower lid, a steel support rod attached to the bottom of.]. .Iadd.tension-loaded door, at least one projection protruding from .Iaddend.the .[.lower lid.]. .Iadd.door, .Iaddend.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch .Iaddend.that slides over the .[.inner cylinder.]. .Iadd.first shell .Iaddend.and rests upon the .[.steel support rod.]. .Iadd.at least one projection ep thereby creating a dual function device, .[.cat.]. scratcher and .[.pet-activated.]. feeder, which will dispense .[.dry cat.]. food whenever  a cat exerts.]. downward force .Iadd.is exerted .Iaddend.on .[.the steel support rod.]. .Iadd.the at least one projection .Iaddend.by scratching the .[.carpeted outer cylinder.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surface that cats like to scratch. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       3. A .[.cat.]. scratching post feeder as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein: said .[.steel support rod comprises a weld-attached metal washer for single rivet fastening to the underside of the inner cylinder's lower lid and said steel support rod is shaped with upward and outward bends at each of its two ends so as to follow the contour of the underside and sides of the lower lid door and.]. .Iadd.at least one projection .Iaddend.protrude .[.outward.]. from the .[.lower lid at two opposing points.]. .Iadd.door .Iaddend.thereby supporting the .[.carpeted outer cylinder which rests upon the two ends of the steel support rod.]. .Iadd.second shell with a surfce that cats like to scratch. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       4.  A scratching post and feeder apparatus comprising: a first shell able to receive food;   a door for the shell at one end of the shell;   means during the door closed;   at least one projection extending from the door;   a second shell received on the first shell and able to reciprocate along said first shell, whereby movement downwardly of the second shell on the first shell acts upon said at least one projection to open the door. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the means urging the door closed is a spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the spring is a coil spring mounted at one of its ends to the door and at another to said first shell. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the second shell further comprises a surface that cats like to scratch. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the   
     
     
        surface is a carpet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9.  Apparatus as in claims 4 or 7, further comprising a cap to cover at least one of said shells. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. Apparatus as in claim 9, further comprising means for mounting 
     
     
        said apparatus on a surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11.  Apparatus as in claims 4 or 7, further comprising means for mounting said apparatus on a surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the at least one projection comprises a pair of posts extending from the door. .Iaddend.