IP Library Granted Patent US 11,330,796
Granted Patent B2
US 11,330,796 · App. 16/819,621 · Granted May 17, 2022

Feeder

Inventors: David Veness (Fort Worth, TX); Melaney Northrop (Mansfield, TX)
Assignee: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
A01K5/0291A01K5/0225A01K5/0258A01K5/0283
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,330,796
App. No.
16/819,621
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic pet feeder includes a base, a feed auger, a food container connected to the base, and a food dish connected to the base. The feed auger is disposed for rotating movement within the base. The base is configured to receive food from the food container through an opening and delivery food to the food dish using the feed auger.

Claims (34)

1. An automatic pet feeder, comprising:

a base including an electric motor;

a feed auger disposed for rotating movement within the base, the feed auger being operably connected to the electric motor so that the electric motor selectively operates the feed auger, the feed auger including a door within the base that is movable between an open position such that food can move out of the feed auger and into the food dish and a closed position covering the feed auger and sealing food therein;

an electronic controller connected to the electric motor the electronic controller being configured to operate the electric motor to rotate the feed auger in a first direction opening the door and moving food through the feed auger and a second direction closing the door;

a food container connected to the base; and

a food dish connected to the base with the feed auger being configured to selectively move food from the food container to the food dish.

2. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller includes an electronic display/input panel configured to receive user inputted instructions including a specific amount of food and specific time to dispense food from food container to food dish.

3. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein

the base includes at least one weight sensor positioned and configured to measure weight of the food container and food contained therein.

4. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein

the feed auger includes a door within the base that is movable between an open position such that food can move out of the feed auger and into the food dish and a closed position covering the feed auger and sealing food therein.

5. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein

the base includes an opening that is open to both the feed auger and the food container, and

the food container includes a baffle located therein above the opening.

6. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein

the food container includes a removable lid that includes seals extending around a perimeter thereof such that with the removable lid installed to the food container, the seal creates a seal between an interior of the food container and an exterior of the food container.

7. An automatic pet feeder, comprising:

a base including an electric motor;

a feed auger disposed for rotating movement within the base, the feed auger being rotatable via operation of an electric motor, the feed auger including a door within the base that is movable between an open position such that food can move out of the feed auger and into the food dish and a closed position covering the feed auger and sealing food therein;

a food container connected to the base;

a food dish connected to the base with the feed auger being configured to selectively move food from the food container to the food dish; and

an electronic controller configured to operate the electric motor in order to move food from within food container to the food dish, the electronic controller being configured to operate the electric motor to rotate the feed auger in a first direction opening the door and moving food through the feed auger and a second direction closing the door.

8. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 7 , wherein

the electronic controller includes an electronic display/input panel configured to receive user inputted instructions including a specific amount of food and specific time to dispense food from food container to food dish.

9. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 8 , wherein

the base includes at least one weight sensor positioned and configured to measure weight of the food container and food contained therein, the at least one weight sensor being electronically connected to the electronic controller.

10. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 7 , wherein

the feed auger includes a door within the base that is movable between an open position such that food can move out of the feed auger and into the food dish and a closed position covering the feed auger and sealing food therein.

11. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 7 , wherein

the base includes an opening that is open to both the feed auger and the food container, and

the food container includes a baffle located therein above the opening.

12. The automatic pet feeder according to claim 7 , wherein

the food container includes a removable lid that includes seals extending around a perimeter thereof such that with the removable lid installed to the food container, the seal creates a seal between an interior of the food container and an exterior of the food container.

Assignments (15)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 072261/0915 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2025
From: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 070449/0293 →
FIRST LIEN TERM LOAN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 22, 2024
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067501/0177 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (SECOND LIEN) Recorded May 22, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067501/0320 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (CAYMAN) Recorded May 22, 2024
From: CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067501/0236 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (FIRST LIEN) Recorded May 22, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067501/0282 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2024
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067246/0427 →
FIRST LIEN RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065180/0954 →
SECOND LIEN RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065181/0322 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2023
From: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
To: CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065180/0461 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2023
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: PLUTO OPCO (CAYMAN), LLC
Reel/Frame 065179/0009 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 057524/0556 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 057524/0645 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 057704/0414 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2020
From: VENESS, DAVID; NORTHROP, MELANEY
To: DOSKOCIL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 052124/0059 →