GB2367231A

GB2367231A - Feed trough with restricted access means

Info

Publication number: GB2367231A
Application number: GB0121589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Francis Concannon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-06
Filing date: 2001-09-06
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-06
Also published as: GB2367231B; GB0121589D0; IE20010808A1; IES20010807A2

Abstract

The feed trough (1) comprises a hollow interior region (6) for receiving animal feed, and an upwardly facing open mouth (10). A plurality of receiving recesses (14a to 14e) are provided in front and rear walls (3,4) of the animal feed trough (1) for selectively receiving restricting bars (15) for restricting access to the animal feed in the hollow interior region (6). The animal feed trough (1) is particularly suited for feeding foals in the presence of mares and other larger animals, where it is desired to restrict access to the feed in the feed trough (1) to foals only. The restricting bars (15) may be located in appropriately selected pairs of receiving recesses (14) so that access to the hollow interior region (6) to larger animals is prevented, but permitted to foals. The bars may be retained in the recesses by a securing bar (25, fig 7).

Description

"An animal feed trough"

The present invention relates to an animal feed trough, and in particular, though not limited to an animal feed trough for feeding a foal or other young animal. The invention also relates to a method for restricting access to animal feed in an animal feed trough for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the animal feed.

Foals, horses and mares typically share the same field, paddock or rearing unit.

Thus, feed which is provided for foals in, for example, a feed trough is likewise available to the mares and horses, and in general, is consumed by the other animals to the detriment of the foals. This IS undesirable, since it can lead to foals not receiving an adequate feed ration, with consequential detrimental effects to the animals. Similar problems arise where other animals are housed with their young, in that the young can be deprived of an adequate feed ration by the older, bigger and stronger animals.

There is therefore a need for an animal feed trough which overcomes this problem.

The present invention is directed towards providing such an animal feed trough, and the invention is also directed towards providing a method for restricting access to animal feed In an animal feed trough for preventing animals over a predetermined age or size gaining access to the animal feed.

According to the invention there is provided an animal feed trough defining a hollow interior region for animal feed, and an upwardly facing open mouth for providing

access to animal feed in the hollow interior region, at least one receiving means for receiving at least one restricting means for restricting access to the hollow interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow Interior region In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of selectable receiving means are provided for selectively locating the at least one restricting means for facilitating varying the amount of restriction to the hollow interior region Preferably, the receiving means are independently selectable Advantageously, at least two restricting means are provided each restricting means being selectively locatable In one of the receiving means In one embodiment of the invention a securing means is provided for securing each restricting means in the selected receiving means In another embodiment of the invention each receiving means comprises a pair of corresponding spaced apart receivers Preferably, the receivers of each pair of receivers are located In respective opposite sides of the feed trough for receiving one of the restricting means extending transversely across the open mouth Advantageously, each receiver comprises a receiving recess formed in the trough In one embodiment of the invention a retaining means is provided for retaining each restricting means in the selected pairs of receivers of each receiving means.

Preferably, each receivers is provided with one retaining means. Advantageously, each retaining means is formed by a bridge piece extending across the receiver.

In one embodiment of the invention a restricting means accommodating opening is provided to at least one of the receivers of each receiving means for facilitating insertion and removal of the restricting means in and from the selected receiving means. Preferably, a receiving means accommodating opening is provided to each receiver for accommodating one of the restricting means into the receivers of each pair of receivers.

In one embodiment of the invention the securing means is located for restricting movement of each restricting means through the restricting means accommodating opening of the selected receiving means for preventing withdrawal of the restricting means therefrom. Preferably, the securing means comprises an elongated securing bar located in the animal feed trough for abutting an adjacent end of each restricting means adjacent the restricting means accommodating opening of the corresponding selected receiving means In one embodiment of the invention each restricting means comprises an elongated bar for extending across the open mouth.

In another embodiment of the invention the feed trough comprises a base, front wall and a spaced apart rear wall extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the base and joining the front and rear walls, the front, rear and side walls defining the hollow interior region, and the front, rear and side walls and the base defining an upper rim which In turn defines the upwardly facing open mouth. Preferably, the receiving means are formed in the front and rear walls Advantageously, the at least one restricting means accommodating opening of each receiving means is provided in one of the front and rear walls.

Preferably, the at least one restricting means accommodating opening of each receiving means IS located In the rear wall In one embodiment of the invention the animal feed trough IS sized to accommodate animal feed for one or more foals In another embodiment of the invention the receiving means and the restricting means are provided for restricting access through the open to animal feed In the hollow Interior region so that access to the animal feed IS permitted to a foal only and not to a larger animal Additionally, the Invention provides a method for restricting access to animal feed In a hollow interior region of an animal feed trough through which access to the hollow Interior region IS provided through an open mouth the method comprising the step of locating an at least one restricting means In a receiving means of the animal feed trough for restricting access to the hollow Interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow interior region In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of selectable receiving means are provided in the animal feed trough, the method comprising the step of selecting at least one appropriate receiving means and locating one of the restricting means in the at least one selected receiving means.

The advantages of the invention are many A particularly important advantage of the Invention is that an animal feed trough is provided which allows for animals of

different size to be fed in the same location without danger of bigger and stronger animals consuming rations in the animal feed trough which are provided for smaller animals only. A particularly important advantage of the invention is achieved when a plurality of selectable receiving means are provided for facilitating varying the amount of restriction to the hollow interior region of the trough, in that as the smaller animals grow, the amount of restriction being provided to the hollow interior region can be varied, and thus, decreased for accommodating the mouth region of the head of the animal as the animal grows. By decreasing the amount of restriction as an animal grows, one can still restrict access to the hollow interior region to larger animals. A particularly important advantage of the invention is achieved when the animal feed trough is suitably sized for feeding foals in that by appropriately restricting the access to the hollow interior region foals may be permitted access to the animal feed in the hollow interior region, while mares and horses would be prevented from accessing the animal feed Additionally, the restriction to the hollow interior region may be decreased as the foals grow The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an animal feed trough according to the invention, Fig 2 is another perspective view of the animal feed trough of Fig 1, but with portions of the trough removed,

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig 1, Fig 4 is a side elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig 1, Fig 5 is a plan view of the animal feed trough of Fig 1, Fig 6 is a rear elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig 1 and Fig 7 IS a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of the animal feed trough of Fig 1 on the line VII-VII of Fig 6 Refernng to the drawings there IS s illustrated an animal feed trough according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. which is particularly suitable for feeding foals, while at the same time preventing access to animal feed in the feed trough to mares, horses and other older, larger and stronger animals The feed trough 1 IS of plastics material and comprises a dish shaped base 2, spaced apart front and rear walls 3 and 4, respectively, extending upwardly from the base 2 and jointed by upwardly extending side walls 5, all of which with the base 2 define a hollow Interior region 6 for the animal feed The front and rear walls 3 and 4, and the side walls 5 return Inwardly at 7 to form returns 8, which In turn define an upper rim 9 which defines an upwardly facing open mouth 10 to the hollow Interior region 6 for providing access to animals to feed in the hollow interior region 6 A portion 11 of the rear wall 4 extends upwardly beyond the upper rim 9, and IS provided with a pair of spaced apart openings 12 for receiving fixing screws (not shown) for securing the feed trough 1 to a wall (also not shown) or other suitable mounting structure. An

opening 13 in the rear wall 4 is also provided for receiving a fixing screw or other fixing for securing the trough 1 to the wall (not shown) or other structure.

Ten selectable receiving means provided by ten pairs of receivers formed by respective pairs of receiving recesses 14a to 14e are located in the returns 8 of the front and rear walls 3 and 4 adjacent the upper rim 9 for selectively receiving restricting means, namely, elongated restricting bars 15 for restricting access through the open mouth 10 to the hollow interior region 6 for preventing animals larger than foals gaining access to the animal feed. The restricting bars 15 are of tubular steel of circular cross-section. The pairs of receiving recesses 14 are arranged in groups of five on respective opposite sides of a centre line 18 of the feed trough 1, and corresponding pairs of receiving recesses 14a to 14e are equi-spaced on the opposite sides of the centre line 18, the receiving recesses 14a being closest to the centre line 18. The receiving recesses 14 define upwardly facing access openings 19 for receiving the restricting bars 15. Restricting means accommodating openings, namely, restricting bar accommodating openings 20 in the returns 8 of the front and rear walls 3 and 4 accommodate the restricting bars 15 beneath retaining means, namely, retaining bridges 21 extending over the receiving recesses 14 for retaining the restricting bars 15 in the receiving recesses 14.

A securing means for securing the restricting bars 15 in the receiving recesses 14 beneath the retaining bridges 21 comprises an elongated securing bar 25 of box section steel. The securing bar 25 is releasably secured to a platform 26 formed in the return 8 of the rear wall 4 by bolts (not shown) and nuts (not shown) through openings 27 in the platform 26 and corresponding bores (also not shown) in the securing bar 25. The restricting bars 15 are of length just less than the distance A

between an Inner face 28 of the front wall 3 and a face 29 of the securing bar 25 for preventing removal of the restricting bars 15 when the securing bar 25 IS secured In place to the platform 26 However, the length of the retaining bars 15 IS such that when the securing bar 25 is removed each retaining bar 15 can be inserted into the selected receiving recesses 14 by initially Inserting the retaining bar 15 In the receiving recess 14 In the return 8 of the rear wall 4 of the selected pair of receiving recesses 14, and then urging the restricting bar 15 through the restricting bar accommodating opening 20 in the return 8 of the rear wall 4 until the other end of the restricting bar 15 has cleared the retaining bridge 21 of the receiving recess 14 In the return 8 of the front wall 3, so that the restricting bar 15 can be Inserted In the receiving recess 14 in the return of the front wall 4 The receiving bar 15 is then urged forwardly to abut the inner face 28 of the front wall 3 for facilitating securing of the securing bar 25 to the platform 26 In use with the animal feed trough 1 secured to a wall or other structure the appropriate number of restricting bars 15 are secured in selected receiving recesses 14 to provide the appropriate amount of restricted access to the hollow interior region 6 As described above with the securing bar 25 removed from the platform 26, the restricting bars 15 are initially inserted into the selected receiving recesses 14 in the rear wall 4, and urged through the restricting bar accommodating openings 20 for facilitating insertion in the receiving recesses 14 in the front wall 3 The restricting bars 14 are then urged forwardly to facilitate securing of the securing bar 25 to the platform 26 The securing bar 25 is then placed In the hollow interior region 6 and offered up to the platform 26 where it is secured by nuts and bolts (not shown) through openings 27 to the platform 26.

The receiving recesses 14a to 14e into which receiving bars 15 are to be inserted are selected to suit the size and age of the foal or foals which are to have access to animal feed in the hollow interior region 6 of the animal feed trough 1, and also in order to prevent such access to larger animals, such as, for example, a mare or mares. Fig. 1 illustrates four restricting bars 15 located in the receiving recesses 14b and 14d. However, needless to say, any other selection of receiving recesses may be made Indeed, in the case of relatively young foals, restricting bars 15 may be provided in the two pairs of receiving recesses 14a, and also in the two pairs of receiving recesses 14d. As the foals increase in size the restricting bars in the receiving recesses 14a may be moved to the recesses 14b, and so on to the recesses 14c and in turn the recesses 14d.

Needless to say, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any combination of receiving recesses may be selected, and it is not essential that the selected recesses be selected to be symmetrical about the centre line 18. Needless to say any number of restricting bars may be used, and in certain cases, one single restricting bar in a single pair of receiving recesses may be sufficient to provide the desired amount of restricted access to the hollow interior region.

The restricting bars 15 prevent access to animal feed in the hollow interior region 6 through the open mouth 10 to animals whose heads are of a size greater than the spacing between adjacent restricting bars 15, and also between the side walls 5 and the restricting bars 15 adjacent the side walls 5, while permitting access to the feed in the hollow interior region 6 through the open mouth 10 to foals or animals whose heads are of size which can be accommodated between the adjacent restricting bars 15 and the side walls 5 and the adjacent restricting bars 15

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An animal feed trough defining a hollow interior region for animal feed, and an upwardly facing open mouth for providing access to animal feed in the hollow interior region, at least one receiving means for receiving at least one restricting means for restricting access to the hollow interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow interior region
2. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 1 in which a plurality of selectable receiving means are provided for selectively locating the at least one restricting means for facilitating varying the amount of restriction to the hollow interior region.
3. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the receiving means are independently selectable.
4. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least two restricting means are provided, each restricting means being selectively locatable in one of the receiving means.
5. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim In which a securing means is provided for securing each restricting means in the selected receiving means.
6. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiving means comprises a pair of corresponding spaced apart receivers.
7 An animal receiving trough as claimed In Claim 6 in which the receivers of each pair of receivers are located In respective opposite sides of the feed trough for receiving one of the restricting means extending transversely across the open mouth
8 An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 In which each receiver comprises a receiving recess formed In the trough
9 An animal feed trough as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8 in which a retaining means is provided for retaining each restricting means in the selected pairs of receivers of each receiving means
10 An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 9 In which each receiver is provided with one retaining means
11 An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 in which each retaining means is formed by a bridge piece extending across the receiver
12 An animal feed trough as claimed In any of Claims 6 to 11 in which a restricting means accommodating opening is provided to at least one of the receivers of each receiving means for facilitating insertion and removal of the restricting means in and from the selected receiving means
13. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 12 in which a receiving means

accommodating opening is provided to each receiver for accommodating one of the restricting means into the receivers of each pair of receivers.
14. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claims 12 or 13 in which the securing means is located for restricting movement of each restricting means through the restricting means accommodating opening of the selected receiving means for preventing withdrawal of the restricting means therefrom.
15. An animal feed trough as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 14 in which the securing means comprises an elongated securing bar located in the animal feed trough for abutting an adjacent end of each restricting means adjacent the restricting means accommodating opening of the corresponding selected receiving means.
16 An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which each restricting means comprises an elongated bar for extending across the open mouth.
17. An animal feed trough as claimed in any preceding claim in which the feeding trough comprises a base, front wall and a spaced apart rear wall extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the base and joining the front and rear walls, the front, rear and side walls defining the hollow interior region, and the front, rear and side walls and the base defining an upper rim which in turn defines the upwardly facing open mouth.
18. An animal feed trough as claimed in Claim 17 in which the receiving means are formed in the front and rear walls.
19. An animal feed trough as claimed In Claim 17 or 18 when dependent on Claim 12 In which the at least one restricting means accommodating opening of each receiving means is provided In one of the front and rear walls
20 An animal feed trough as claimed In Claim 19 in which the at least one restricting means accommodating opening of each receiving means is located In the rear wall
21 An animal feed trough as claimed In any preceding claim In which the animal feed trough IS sized to accommodate animal feed for one or more foals
22 An animal feed trough as claimed In Claim 21 in which the receiving means and the restricting means are provided for restricting access through the open mouth to animal feed In the hollow Interior region so that access to the animal feed is permitted to a foal only and not to a larger animal
23 An animal feed trough substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated In the accompanying drawings
24 A method for restricting access to animal feed In a hollow Interior region of an animal feed trough through which access to the hollow Interior region is provided through an open mouth, the method comprising the step of locating an at least one restricting means In a receiving means of the animal feed trough for restricting access to the hollow Interior region through the open mouth for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the hollow interior region.
25. A method as claimed in Claim 24 in which a plurality of selectable receiving means are provided in the animal feed trough, the method comprising the step of selecting at least one appropriate receiving means and locating one of the restricting means in the at least one selected receiving means.
26. A method for restricting access to animal feed in a hollow interior region of an animal feed trough for preventing animals over a predetermined size or age gaining access to the animal feed, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.