Temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly
A temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly that includes a portable housing having a plurality of feeding compartments operable to store wet pet food, preferably in a longitudinally oriented direction. The assembly includes a refrigeration unit operable to cool one or more of the feeding compartments with the wet pet food within a range of approximately 30-45° F. and, when desired by the user, warm up the wet pet food in one or more of the feeding compartments. When the wet pet food is warmed, the assembly will cause one or more of the ready compartments to have its cover be removed for access by the pet to feed. Once the pet is finished feeding, which may be detected with a weight scale, the assembly will automatically close the cover.
1 . A temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly comprising:
a portable housing with a bottom wall, with a sidewall coupled to the bottom wall and defining two opposing side faces and a front face interposing the two opposing side faces, and defining an interior chamber enclosed by the sidewall;
a plurality of feeding compartments each with a compartment bottom wall, with a compartment sidewall coupled to the compartment bottom wall, defining a compartment cavity, with a compartment cover having a closed position with the compartment cover selectively removably coupled to the compartment sidewall in a hermetically sealed configuration with a cover motor and having an open position along a compartment cover translation path exposing and unsealing the compartment cavity, each having a thermocouple coupled thereto and configured to detect a compartment temperature within the compartment cavity, and each disposed within the interior chamber and oriented in a longitudinally aligned configuration with one another and with the compartment bottom wall facing the compartment cover;
an electronic control unit coupled to the portable housing and communicatively coupled the cover motor for each of the plurality of feeding compartments;
a refrigeration unit communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, coupled to the portable housing, and operably configured to individually and thermally modulate the plurality of feeding compartments to a desired cooled temperature within a range of 30-45° F. corresponding to the compartment temperature and when the compartment cover is placed in the closed position;
a heating unit communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, coupled to the portable housing, and operably configured to individually and thermally modulate at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments to a desired heated temperature within a range of 70-90° F. and based on a user-selected time schedule, the electronic control unit operably configured to cause the cover motor to selectively place the compartment cover of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments to the open position at the user-selected time schedule and when the compartment temperature reaches the desired heated temperature; and
a weight scale communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, operably coupled to the compartment bottom wall of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments, and configured to detect an actual weight of pet food disposable within the compartment cavity, the electronic control unit operably configured to cause the cover motor to move the compartment cover of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments from the open position to the closed position when the actual weight reaches a programmed weight.
2 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a camera coupled to the portable housing, oriented toward the front face of the portable housing, and communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit programmed with pet recognition software configured to identity at least one unique feature associated with a predetermined pet and operably configured to cause the cover motor to selectively place the compartment cover of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments in the open position at the user-selected time schedule, when the compartment temperature reaches the desired heated temperature, and when identifying the predetermined pet.
3 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a hood assembly coupled to the portable housing on each of the two opposing side faces, displaced a height of at least 6 inches above, and covering, the compartment cover for each of the plurality of feeding compartments, and having the camera coupled thereto.
4 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a hood assembly coupled to the portable housing, displaced a height of at least 6 inches above, and covering, the compartment cover for each of the plurality of feeding compartments, and having a chip sensor coupled thereto and communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit that is operably configured to cause the cover motor to selectively place the compartment cover of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments in the open position when detecting a registered chip signal from the chip sensor.
5 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic display coupled to the portable housing, communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, and operably configured to receive the desired cooled temperature, the desired heated temperature, and the user-selected time schedule.
6 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall of the portable housing further comprises:
a friction-inducing non-skid surface disposed thereon.
7 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the portable housing further comprising:
a top cover coupled to the sidewall of the portable housing, defining a plurality of enclosed compartment apertures shaped and sized to receive each of the plurality of feeding compartments, the top cover configured to retain each of the plurality of feeding compartments and the plurality of feeding compartments selectively removably coupled the portable housing.
8 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic timer communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit and configured to initiate when the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments is placed in the open position, the electronic control unit operably configured to cause the cover motor to move the compartment cover of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments from the open position to the closed position when the actual weight reaches the programmed weight and after a feeding time period from initiation of the electronic timer.
9 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an electronic display coupled to the portable housing, communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, and operably configured to receive the desired cooled temperature, the desired heated temperature, the user-selected time schedule, and the feeding time period.
10 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to computer readable instructions programmed to cause the compartment cover of the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments moved from the open position to the closed position to remain in the closed position unless receiving active user reset selection.
11 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of LEDs coupled to the portable housing, each respectively associated with the plurality of feeding compartments, communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit, and operably configured to emit a plurality of colors, the electronic control unit operably configured to send a signal to one of the plurality of LEDs to emit a first color of the plurality of colors when the refrigeration unit is thermally modulating the plurality of feeding compartments to the desired cooled temperature and send another signal to the one of the plurality of LEDs to emit a second color of the plurality of colors when the heating unit is thermally modulating the at least one of the plurality of feeding compartments to the desired heated temperature.
12 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of buttons each respectively coupled to the compartment cover of one of the plurality of feeding compartments and operably configured to selectively place the compartment cover in the open position.
13 . The temperature-controlled automatic wet pet food feeder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to computer readable instructions programmed to prevent, unless receiving an active user reset selection, the compartment cover from being placed in the open position when, after the feeding compartments reach the desired cooled temperature, the compartment temperature exceeds the desired cooled temperature for a programmed period of time.