PET FEEDING SYSTEM

Description

BE2024 / 5916 2 pets in recent years, with a significant number of dogs, cats, small mammals and domestic birds also needing to be classified.

[008] Currently, strategies to combat obesity in pets focus primarily on diet management and increasing physical activity. Veterinarians often recommend controlled portions and specialized low-calorie diets. However, these strategies have limitations,5 as many pet owners find it difficult to adhere to a strict feeding regime. Others have started exploring automated feeding solutions.

[009] WO2015 / 184297 describes a pet feeding device that makes food available when the sensor detects the presence and identity of a pet via a tag attached to the pet's collar.10

[010] WO2022 / 243652 describes a pet feeder that uses an RFID sensor to detect the presence of an authorized RFID chip in a pet approaching the open front.Upon recognition of an authorized RFID chip, an electric motor moves a lid from a closed position to an open position, allowing the pet access to the food in the container.15

[011] NZ756554B2 describes a pet feeder with multiple food compartments and doors, allowing it to deliver multiple meals over time or different meals to different authorized pets. The feeder contains an RFID tag reader sensor to identify the pet.

[012] The above-mentioned systems have significant limitations. They either use an external tag for identification, which can lead to damage to the tag or the risk of the pet getting caught on the collar. Additionally, the pet's nutritional and health parameters are not taken into account, resulting in a lack of personalized nutritional advice. This can lead to ineffective regulation of food intake and an increased risk of obesity or malnutrition, which can negatively affect the pet's health.Summary of the invention

[013] A first aspect of the invention concerns a system for feeding a pet30 comprising: − a stock system comprising one or more types of food; − a feeding device for feeding the pet with the types of food from the stock system; −a sensor device for reading a microchip implanted in the pet;35 −a control system designed to make available to the pet a specific quantity of the feed types at a specific frequency via the feeding device, 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 3 where the provision occurs only to the pet that was uniquely identified by reading the microchip by the sensor device, and not to other pets, where the specific quantity is calculated by the control system on the basis of one or more body parameters of the pet one or more nutritional values ​​of the feed types.5

[014] The inventors have discovered that a system according to the invention is particularly effective in reducing the risk of obesity or malnutrition in pets through a personalized, regular feeding regime. Furthermore, the system minimizes the risk of food theft in households with multiple pets by only dispensing food when the authorized pet is recognized. Furthermore, by combining the nutritional values ​​of food types with various body parameters of the pet, the system can calculate the exact amount of food needed for a healthy diet with greater accuracy than known methods. Finally, due to the use of the microchip implanted in the pet for identification, no additional external tags, such as those on a pet collar, are needed.15

[015] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of feeding from a pet by means of a system according to the present invention.

[016] A final aspect of the invention relates to a computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using a system in accordance with the present invention, the method comprising: 20 −recognizing the presence of a pet by reading their implanted microchip with the aid of the sensor device; −establishing, via the control system, a communication link with a database containing the body parameters of the said pet and the nutritional value of the food in the stocking system; 25 −calculating the amount of food to be dispensed on the basis of the body parameters of the pet and the nutritional value of the food; and −dispensing the calculated amount of food.Detailed description of the invention30

[017] The expression “include” and variations thereof, such as “includes” and “including” as used herein, must be understood in an open, inclusive sense, which means that the described form of execution includes the stated features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features, as long as these do not render the form of execution unworkable.35

[018] The expressions “one form of execution”, “a specific form of execution”, “a specific execution” etc. as used herein, must be understood as meaning that a specific feature, structure or property described in connection with the form of execution is included in at least one form of execution. Thus the occurrences of such expressions at different 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 4 places in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same implementation form. Furthermore, the specific characteristics, structures or properties can be combined in a suitable manner into one or more implementation forms.Certain features of the public disclosure described herein in the context of separate performances are, for example, also explicitly provided for in combination in a single form of performance.5

[019] The singular forms “de,” “het,” and “een” as used herein must be understood to encompass multiple referents, unless content clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the term 'or' is generally used in the broadest sense of the word, i.e., in the meaning of 'and / or', unless content clearly indicates otherwise.

[020] A first aspect of the invention relates to a system for feeding10 a pet comprising: −a supply system comprising one or more types of feed; −a feeding device for feeding the pet with the types of feed from the supply system; −a sensor device for reading out a microchip implanted in the pet;15 −a control system designed to make available to the pet a certain quantity of the types of feed with a certain frequency via the feeding device, whereby the making available only occurs to the pet that is uniquely identified by reading out the microchip by the sensor device, and not to other pets,20 wherein the certain quantity is calculated by the control system on the basis of one or more body parameters of the pet and one or more nutritional values ​​of the types of feed.

[021] The inventory system designed according to the present invention contains one or more types of feeds.Accordingly, in some 25 designs, the storage system comprises at least two compartments for holding different types of feed. Such designs enable the system for feeding a pet of the present invention to feed more pets or, alternatively, to store different types of feed for the same pet in separate compartments. This is particularly useful during dietary transitions, when prescribed diet food must be administered selectively, or for providing a variety of regular food to maintain nutritional balance.

[022] In other designs, the storage system has only one compartment to hold exactly one type of feed.

[023] Preferably, the storage system has a volume of at least 2 liters, more preferably at least 5 liters. Most preferably, the storage system has a volume of at least 10 liters.

[024] Preferably, the stocking system should contain an amount of food sufficient to provide the pet with food at a fixed frequency for at least one week. This has the additional advantage that the pet is always provided with sufficient food, even when the owner is absent for a longer period.

[025] The feeding device is designed to contain the food dispensed from the supply system and to release it upon recognition of the authorized pet. Preferably, the feeding device is a bowl. In a preferred form, the bowl may be a so-called haptic feeder, which is specially designed to slow down the eating behavior of the pet and prevent gulping. This type of feeder contains raised areas or obstacles that make it more difficult for the pet to eat quickly, which can contribute to healthier digestion and reduce the risk of overeating.

[026] Preferably, the feeding device is detachable from the pet feeding system to enable easy cleaning by pet owners.

[027] Preferably, the feeding device includes a built-in scale. This enables the pet feeding system to recognize the amount of food remaining in the feeding device, which can optionally be taken into consideration when calculating the amount of food to be dispensed, thereby preventing food waste. This also enables the owner to receive a warning when the pet is consuming insufficient food.

[028] In preferred versions of the invention, the feeding device is designed to provide controlled access to the food for an authorized pet, while preventing access by other pets. In such versions, the device includes a cover that provides access to only one pet at a time.The feeding device in this form is essentially covered on all sides, with the exception of a main opening that allows access by only one pet. This ensures that other animals cannot access the food while the authorized pet is eating.

[029] The pet that can be fed with a system according to the present invention refers to any animal that can be monitored and fed. The pet can be an avian, bovine, canine, equine, feline, lupine, murine, ovine or porcine species. In a particular preferred version of the invention the pet is a canine or feline species, preferably a dog or a cat.

[030] The inventors have discovered that a system for feeding a pet according to the present invention is particularly useful for pets with certain health problems that can be considered diet-related, and for managing conditions that must be treated or controlled by diet.It was discovered that the use of the system for feeding a pet in accordance with the present invention ensures that such pets adhere to a regular, better managed eating pattern, which contributes to alleviating the symptoms of such health problems. 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 6

[031] In some versions the pet suffers from a condition selected from the group consisting of an allergy, kidney failure, gastrointestinal problems, idiopathic cystitis, and / or diabetes.

[032] In other forms of implementation, the pet does not suffer from diet-related problems. By using the pet feeding system according to this invention, the risk of developing such health problems can be effectively reduced by preventing overeating and reducing the risk of food theft by other pets in the household.

[033] As mentioned above, the feeding device according to this invention further comprises a sensor device.This sensor device is designed to read a microchip implanted in the pet to identify the pet, so that the pet receives the correct type of food in the correct quantity and at the correct frequency. In some versions, the sensor device can also recognize other chips for identifying a pet or sharing specific pet information. An example of such a chip is an RFID tag in some pet collars.15

[034] In a particularly preferred version of the invention, the microchip implanted in the pet is the pet microchip that is usually implanted in the pet when it is still in its juvenile developmental phase. As is known to the professional, such pet microchips are generally passive radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, which transmit identification data about the relevant pet as soon as they are activated by electromagnetic waves emitted by the sensor device.This makes the unique identification of pets possible without the need for external labels, such as a collar with an identification tag.

[035] In particular preferred versions of the invention, the sensor device is designed to recognize only one pet. In a household with multiple pets, this has the advantage that food stealing is effectively prevented.

[036] In other versions of the invention, the sensor device is designed to recognize multiple pets. This is particularly advantageous in versions where the storage system has multiple compartments, allowing a single system to be used for feeding one pet by multiple pets. In such versions, the system for feeding a pet can be adapted to include more than one feeding device.

[037] The sensor device is preferably positioned above the feeder at an angle of 15-60°, or preferably 25-50°, with the sensor device directed downwards towards the neck of the pet.In designs in which the feeding device is covered by a cover, the sensor device can be integrated into this cover.

[038] In certain designs of the present invention, the pet feeding system may include a mechanism to block access to the feeding device. Examples of such mechanisms include automated gates, retractable covers or lockable doors controlled by the sensor device in combination with an electric motor. These mechanisms only provide access to the 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 7 feeding device when the authorized pet is recognized, thereby significantly reducing the risk of food theft, especially when the authorized pet does not eat the entire portion of food at once. This is particularly useful in households with multiple pets.In addition, this function can be integrated with the system's monitoring capabilities, allowing pet owners to track feeding activity and receive notifications when unauthorized access is consistently attempted.

[039] The pet feeding system can further include additional sensor devices. An example includes a passive infrared (PIR) sensor device to detect the proximity of a pet. This makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the pet feeding system. In a preferred configuration, the pet feeding system includes a sensor device that determines the amount of food in the feeding direction to prevent it from overflowing.

[040] Upon detecting the authorized pet, a control system made a specific amount of food available. The amount of food is calculated based on various parameters. Such parameters can be divided into two groups: 15 body parameters and nutritional parameters.

[041] The caloric needs of a pet will vary significantly depending on a multitude of factors, which means there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach when it comes to the optimal feeding regimen of a pet. It is also important that the portion sizes on pet food packaging often overestimate the amount of food that should be given to a pet when the pet has a low activity level, which causes weight gain, while for more active pets (such as outdoor cats) the portion size may be too low.

[042] Preferably, the amount of food is calculated based on at least one of the body parameters selected from the group consisting of age, body weight, sex, species, average physical activity, whether the pet is neutered, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the amount of food is calculated based on at least two or more of the body parameters selected from the group consisting of age, sex, body weight, species, average physical activity, whether the pet is neutered, and combinations thereof.The amount of food is preferably calculated based on all the above-mentioned 30 body parameters.

[043] In certain versions of the invention, the pet feeding system can further be equipped with a pet scale. This makes it possible to dynamically determine the pet's body weight and optionally adjust the amount of food to be dispensed accordingly.

[044] The nutritional value of a specific type of pet food will vary considerably between different brands, as well as different types of food. Therefore, the amount of food is preferably calculated based on the actual nutritional value of the food stored in the stock system, where the nutritional values ​​are selected from the group consisting of energy content, carbohydrate content, protein content, fat content, ash content, fiber content, and 40 combinations thereof.2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 8

[045] In particular preferred forms of implementation of the invention, the pet feeding system is designed to store and use nutritional data provided by the food manufacturer. These data can be entered manually by pet owners or retrieved automatically via a barcode or RFID tag on the food packaging. This ensures that the system dispenses an appropriate amount of food5 that meets the specific dietary requirements of the pet, taking into account the actual nutritional value of the food. Such data are preferably entered via a mobile application, as discussed later in this application.

[046] The system for feeding a pet according to this invention is designed to make a certain amount of food available to the pet via the feeding device at a certain frequency. Preferably, the frequency is two to six times a day, but preferably three to six times a day.

[047] In particularly preferred forms of implementation, the control system of the pet feeding system under this invention further determines the last time feed is dispensed, whereby a predetermined period of time must elapse between each dispensing and 15 before the next one takes place. Preferably, at least 2 hours must elapse between each dispensing, but preferably at least 4 hours. This prevents pets from overeating by activating the dispensing mechanism multiple times in a row. Alternatively, dispensing may take place at predefined times, whereby the control system regulates access to the feeding device to ensure that the pet only gains access when there is feed in the feeding device and / or when this pet is authorized. This is particularly advantageous when the dispensing of the feed takes place at regular intervals based on a timer.

[048] Optionally, the pet feeding system under this invention may further include an alarm to warn the pet when the next amount of food is available to be dispensed. This may be, for example, in the form of a sound or by means of a flashing light.

[049] In a particularly preferred form of implementation of the present invention, the pet feeding system further comprises a mobile application running on a mobile system and a wireless connection between the mobile system and the pet feeding system, whereby the mobile system is implemented to enable a user to specify the specified frequencies and / or body parameters and / or the nutritional value via the mobile application. In such a form of implementation, the pet feeding system would be connected to the internet, and a centralised database would be used to store all metrics collected and shared by the pet feeding system.35

[050] Preferably, the mobile application of the pet feeding system provides the pet owner with data on the pet's eating habits / or data on the amount of food still present in the stock system via the mobile application running on a mobile system. The former enables the pet owner to monitor whether the pet is consuming the correct amount of food and to signal deviations from normal40 eating patterns that may indicate illness, while the latter enables the system 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 9 to warn the pet owner if the amount of food falls below a predetermined threshold, thereby enabling timely refilling of the pet feeding system and maintaining optimal feeding conditions.

[051] The design of the pet feeding system under this invention is not particularly restricted. For example, the pet feeding system5 may be a stand-alone device or may form part of a functional piece of furniture.For example, the pet feeding system can be integrated into the side of a sofa or a pouf. This made better integration of the pet feeding system into the interior design of a household possible.

[052] Another aspect of the present invention concerns a method for feeding a pet by means of a system as described above.

[053] A final aspect of the present invention concerns a computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using a system as described above, the method comprising: •recognizing the presence of a pet by reading their implanted microchip with the aid of the sensor device; •establishing, via the control system, a communication link with a database containing the body parameters of the pet and the nutritional value of the food in the stock system; •calculating the amount of food to be dispensed based on the body parameters of the pet and the nutritional value of the food; and •dispensing the calculated amount of food.

[054] In a preferred form of implementation of the present invention, the computer-implemented method further comprises the step of determining the last time feed was issued, ensuring that a predetermined period of time elapses between each 25 issuance before the next one takes place.This is particularly advantageous when the pet has a tendency to overeat. In other preferred implementation forms, the computer-implemented method further includes information about when the pet last ate. For example, the amount of food released can be increased when the pet has not eaten for a longer period of time and has skipped certain feeding times.30

[055] In another preferred implementation form of the present invention, specifically in implementation forms where the feeding device of the pet feeding system includes a built-in scale, the computer-implemented method further includes the step of determining the amount of food still available in the feeding device. The amount of food made available is then calculated on the basis of the amount of food already present. This approach made a more accurate and consistent monitoring of the pet's feeding patterns is possible, ensuring the pet receives the correct amount of food as needed.This function also offers a mechanism for automatically adjusting the dispensing of feed based on real-time measurements, thereby preventing overeating or underfeeding.40 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 10

[056] The order in which the steps of the computer-implemented method are performed is not particularly restricted. For example, the amount of feed can be calculated prior to the recognition of a pet. Similarly, the dispensing of the feed can take place before the recognition of the pet, for example in implementation forms where access to the feeding device is regulated via a lockable cover as discussed above.5 Brief description of the figures

[057] The following description of the figures is purely illustrative in nature and is not intended to restrict the present invention. The relative dimensions of the following figures are not always necessarily drawn to scale.

[058] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a system for feeding a pet according to the present invention.

[059] Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a system for feeding a pet according to the present invention, where the storage system comprises two compartments15.

[060] Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a system for feeding a pet according to the present invention, where the storage system comprises two compartments, and where the system for feeding a pet also comprises two feeding devices.20

[061] Figures 4 and 5 show a schematic overview of the computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using the system according to the invention.

[062] Figure 6 shows a schematic overview of the computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using the system according to the invention, where access to the food is restricted by a cover.25

[063] Figure 7 shows a schematic overview of the computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using the system according to the invention, where access to the food is restricted by a cover, and where the sensor device is an RFID sensor device. 30 Detailed description of the figures

[064] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of a system for feeding a pet(100) according to the present invention, comprising a stocking system(101), a feeding device(102) with a removable food bowl and a sensor device(103) for recognizing a pet. When the pet is recognized by the sensor device(103), a quantity of food is made available from the stocking system(101) in the feeding device(102).

[065] Figure 2 shows a schematic overview of a pet feeding system(200) according to the present invention, comprising a stocking system(202), a feeding device(204) and a sensor device(203) for recognizing a pet.The 2024 / 5916 BE2024 / 5916 11 stocking system comprises two compartments(201), in which two different types of food can be stored. When the sensor device(203) recognizes a pet, the pet feeding system(200) can dispense various types based on the settings defined by the user.

[066] Figure 3 shows a schematic overview of a pet feeding system(300) according to the present invention, comprising a stocking system(302) with two compartments(301) and two feeding devices(303). Such a pet feeding system(300) is capable of providing food to multiple pets in the respective feeding devices.

[067] Figure 4 shows a schematic overview of the computer-implemented method10 for feeding a pet using the system(400) according to the invention.When the pet is recognized by the sensor device (403) via the implanted microchip (401), the control system (404) calculates the amount of food to be released based on body and feeding parameters. The determined amount of food is then released from the stock system (402) into the feeding device.15

[068] Figure 5 shows a schematic overview of the computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using the system (500) according to the invention. When the system (500) recognizes the authorized pet via the implanted microchip (501) by means of an RFID sensor device (503), food is released from the stock system (502) into the feeding device. The amount of food is calculated by the control unit (504)20 based on body and feeding parameters.

[069] Figure 6 shows a schematic overview of the computer-implemented method for feeding a pet using the system(400) according to the invention.When the system (400) recognizes the authorized pet via the implanted microchip (401) by means of a sensor device (403), food is released from the stock system (402) into the feeding device. The amount of food is calculated by the control unit (404) based on body and feeding parameters. Access to the feeding device is restricted by means of a cover, where the opening in the cover preferably only allows access to one pet at a time. [070.