IP Library Granted Patent US 11,330,795
Granted Patent B2
US 11,330,795 · App. 16/223,636 · Granted May 17, 2022

Elongated slow feeding device

Inventors: Fernando Becattini, Jr. (Malvern, PA); Jacquelyn N. Becattini (Malvern, PA); Fernando Becattini, Sr. (Devon, PA); John D. Fiegener (Marblehead, MA); William P. Liteplo (Middleton, MA)
Assignee: TOWERSTAR PETS, LLC
A01K5/0114
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,330,795
App. No.
16/223,636
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A feeding device including a base with at least one leg extending downwardly from the base to support the base above a surface; a feeding chamber defined in the base; and a plurality of obstructions extending upwardly into the feeding chamber. A removable liner may be nestingly engaged with the base. The liner may include a second feeding chamber and the plurality of obstructions extending upwardly into the second feeding chamber. The method of feeding an animal may include arranging pieces of food within a feeding chamber according to a random distribution pattern; placing the feeding chamber within reach of an animal to be fed; and obstructing the animal from simultaneously locating all pieces of food within the feeding chamber while feeding using obstructions arranged in a pattern.

Claims (47)

1. A feeding device comprising:

a base including a bottom wall; wherein at least a part of the bottom wall is shaped into one or more sinuous waves and

a plurality of feeding compartments defined by the bottom wall; wherein the plurality of feeding compartments are spaced a distance apart from each other; and wherein each of the plurality of feeding compartments is adapted to hold a portion of a quantity of food therein;

wherein the part of the bottom wall that is shaped into one or more sinuous waves includes a plurality of sinuous waves that are oriented in multiple directions relative to each other and intersect each other in such a way as to form three-dimensional peaks and three-dimensional troughs; and the three-dimensional peaks form obstructions that separate adjacent feeding compartments from each other; and the three-dimensional troughs form the feeding compartments.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall; and wherein the bottom wall and sidewall bound and define a feeding chamber; and wherein the plurality of feeding compartments are located within the feeding chamber.

3. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of feeding compartments includes a first feeding compartment and a second feeding compartment that is adjacent the first feeding compartment; and wherein the feeding device further comprises;

at least one obstruction located between the first feeding compartment and the second feeding compartment; wherein the at least one obstruction is adapted to prevent food from moving between the first compartment and the second compartment.

4. The feeding device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one obstruction extends for a distance upwardly from the bottom wall and between the first feeding compartment and the second feeding compartment.

5. The feeding device according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more legs extending downwardly from the base; wherein the one or more legs are adapted to support the bottom wall at a first height above a surface upon which the one or more legs rest.

6. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the base is generally rectangular when viewed from above.

7. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the base is one of substantially square, trapezoidal and circular when viewed from above.

8. The feeding device according to claim 7 , wherein the front and the back are of a first length and the first side and the second side are of a second length; and the first length is greater than the second length.

9. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall; and wherein the sidewall is generally rectangular when viewed from above and includes a front, a back opposed to the front; and a first side and a second side extending between the front and back; and wherein a corner is formed where each of the front and the back meets the first side and the second side; and wherein each corner is truncated.

10. The feeding device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an extension base having a sidewall and one or more legs extending downwardly from the sidewall; wherein the extension base is configured to nest with the base; and wherein the extension base is adapted to raise the base a first distance above a surface upon which the legs of the extension base rest.

11. The feeding device according to claim 10 , further comprising a leg extender configured to operatively engage with each one of the one or more legs of the extension base; wherein the leg extenders are adapted to raise the extension base a further distance above the surface and to thereby raise the base to a second distance from the surface upon which the leg extenders rest.

12. The feeding device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing defining a cavity therein; and wherein the base comprises a liner that is removable received within the cavity of the housing.

13. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein a part of the bottom wall of the base is free of the plurality of feeding compartments.

14. A feeding device comprising:

a base including a bottom wall; and

a plurality of feeding compartments defined by the bottom wall; wherein the plurality of feeding compartments are spaced a distance apart from each other; and wherein each of the plurality of feeding compartments is adapted to hold a portion of a quantity of food therein;

wherein a part of the bottom wall of the base is free of the plurality of feeding compartments; and a partition separates the part of the bottom wall that is free of the plurality of feeding compartments from a part of the bottom wall that includes the plurality of feeding compartments.

15. The feeding device according to claim 14 , further comprising one or more legs extending downwardly from the base; wherein the one or more legs are adapted to support the bottom wall at a first height above a surface upon which the one or more legs rest.

16. The feeding device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

an extension base having a sidewall and one or more legs extending downwardly from the sidewall; wherein the extension base is configured to nest with the base; and wherein the extension base is adapted to raise the base a first distance above a surface upon which the legs of the extension base rest.

17. The feeding device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a housing defining a cavity therein; and wherein the base comprises a liner that is removable received within the cavity of the housing.

18. A method of feeding an animal comprising:

providing a feeding device having a bottom wall with a plurality of feeding compartments therein, wherein the plurality of feeding compartments are discrete and spaced apart from each other; wherein at least a part of the bottom wall is shaped to include a plurality of sinuous waves that are oriented in multiple directions relative to each other and intersect each other in such a way as to form three-dimensional peaks and three-dimensional troughs; and the three-dimensional peaks form obstructions that separate adjacent feeding compartments from each other; and the three-dimensional troughs form the feeding compartments;

placing a portion of a quantity of food into one or more of the plurality of feeding compartments;

placing the feeding device within reach of an animal to be fed;

substantially preventing the animal, during feeding, from moving some of the portion of the quantity of food from a first feeding compartment of the plurality of feeding compartments to a second feeding compartment of the plurality of feeding compartments with the obstructions.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:

raising the plurality of feeding compartments a distance above a surface upon which the feeding device rests.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the raising includes:

extending one or more legs downwardly from the base of the feeding device; and

resting a terminal end of each of the one or more legs on the surface.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the raising further includes:

positioning an extension base beneath the base of the feeding device; wherein the extension base includes one or more extension base legs;

placing a terminal end of each of the one or more extension base legs in contact with the surface; and raising the terminal end of each of the one or more legs of the base a distance off the surface.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the raising further includes:

engaging a leg extender with one of:

each of the one or more legs of the base; and

each of the one or more extension base legs.

23. The method according to claim 18 , wherein providing the bottom wall includes providing a part of the bottom wall that is free of the plurality of feeding compartments.

24. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising providing a partition between the part of the bottom wall that is free of the plurality of feeding compartments and a part of the bottom wall that includes the plurality of feeding compartments.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2018
From: BECATTINI, FERNANDO, JR.; BECATTINI, JACQUELYN N.; BECATTINI, FERNANDO, SR.; FIEGENER, JOHN D.; LITEPLO, WILLIAM P.
To: TOWERSTAR PETS, LLC
Reel/Frame 047806/0382 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62644106 · Mar 16, 2018
Related Publication 20190281788A1 · Sep 19, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,490,719