Dog feeding bowl set

Abstract

The invention relates to a set of feeding bowls for dogs, comprising at least one first and one second feeding bowl (01; 20). Each feeding bowl has a base section (03) with a standing surface and a head section (02) molded onto the base section (03), the head section having a wall (04) and an access opening (07). The base section (03) has an outer diameter that is smaller than the access opening (07), allowing the base section of a similar feeding bowl to be inserted into the access opening. The wall (04) has a collar (08) in the area of ​​the transition to the base section, which projects radially beyond the base section. The outer diameter (D WZThe diameter of the head section at the access opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the collar (08) and larger than the maximum outer diameter of the foot section. The wall (04) has an inner surface (13) that extends with a continuously increasing slope from a base surface (06) to the access opening (07). The feeding tray is formed in one piece from unglazed ceramic material. The feeding tray set is characterized in that the foot section (03) of the first feeding tray (01) has a lower axial height than the foot section (03) of the second feeding tray (20), and that the base surface (06) of the first feeding tray (01) is located in the transition plane between the head and foot sections, and the base surface of the second feeding tray (20) is located in the foot section (03).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a feeding bowl set comprising at least two feeding bowls. The feeding bowl has a preferably circular base section with a standing surface and a head section molded onto the base section. The head section has a wall enclosing a feeding chamber and a circular access opening. The invention further relates to:

[0002] Pet food bowls, especially dog ​​bowls, have various requirements, for example, regarding the body size of different dog breeds, the animals' eating preferences, and whether the food bowls are used for dry or wet food or to provide water. The food bowls commonly used in practice are made of metal, porcelain, glass, or plastic, each of which meets only some of these requirements and often represents a more or less suitable compromise.

[0003] EP 0 732 051 B1 discloses a pet food bowl set. The pet food bowl set comprises a food tray and at least one food container. The tray has a substantially horizontal tray surface, a rear wall extending along and projecting from the surface, and the food container rests on the tray surface. The tray surface extends over the container to collect food spilled during feeding. The rear wall has a plurality of retaining components for selectively receiving and releasably holding the food container resting on the tray.

[0004] DE 103 24 762 B3 describes a feeding bowl with species-specific and behavior-relevant functional zones. This feeding bowl is particularly suitable for dogs and cats. The feeding bowl has a recess for holding food and liquids, which is embedded in a surrounding zone divided into a front, a side, and a rear functional area. The functional areas vary in size and volume along their circular course.

[0005] DE 10 2021 108 352 B3 describes a feeding station for feeding flying insects. The feeding station comprises a centrally located fluid feeding area for receiving fluid feed, which has several raised portions that protrude above a base surface of the fluid feeding area. Furthermore, a dry feeding area with a support surface for placing dry feed is provided, with the dry feeding area surrounding the fluid feeding area. The feeding station also comprises a water channel for receiving water, which surrounds the dry feeding area. The fluid feeding area, the dry feeding area, and the water channel are integrally formed from a ceramic material.

[0006] US 4 784 086 A shows a feeding bowl which includes, among other things, a conical outer shell and a support plate to make it difficult for insects to reach the food contained in the feeding bowl.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved feeding bowl set which optimizes dog feeding in many ways and can be used for different dog breeds, types of food and feeding methods.

[0008] This object is achieved by a feeding bowl set according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are explained in the subclaims and in the following description.

[0009] The feeding bowl included in the feeding bowl set is particularly suitable for giving food or water to dogs, but can also be used for other pets. The feeding bowl is characterized by the fact that the base section has an outer diameter that is smaller than the access opening. This ensures that the base section of a similar feeding bowl can be inserted into the access opening. This allows several feeding bowls to be stacked, and it also serves several additional functions: If the user has at least two similar feeding bowls available in a set, they can vary the height of the used bowl by placing the unused bowl underneath. Slipping of the upper bowl is impossible because the base section of the upper bowl engages with the access opening of the lower bowl.At the same time, the lower bowl is closed at its access opening so that the food or water contained therein is no longer accessible, thus regulating the amount of food provided to the animal and protecting the food or water from contamination.

[0010] The wall of the head section of the food bowl has a collar in the area where it meets the foot section, which projects radially beyond the foot section. The outer diameter of the bowl is therefore recessed at this transition because the foot section has a smaller outer diameter than the maximum outer diameter of the head section in the area of ​​the collar. The outer diameter of the head section at the access opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the collar and larger than the maximum outer diameter of the foot section. This aids stackability because the collar of an upper food bowl rests on the upper edge of the wall of the head section of the lower bowl. This rest ensures that the access opening of the lower bowl is well closed, which also counteracts odor emission, for example.

[0011] The largest outer diameter of the head section of the food bowl is preferably located directly adjacent to the smaller-diameter base section. This places the center of gravity of the food bowl relatively low, preventing it from being knocked over. Furthermore, the point of the largest outer diameter features a greater material thickness than a classic top rim on conventional food bowls. This ensures greater break resistance because the contact point between two adjacent food bowls is particularly stable.

[0012] The wall of the head section has an inner surface that extends at a steadily increasing gradient from the base to the access opening. Unlike conventional bowls and dishes, there are no discontinuities in the wall in the feeding area. This makes it easier for the dog to eat with its tongue, as there are no edges or sharp angles that the dog cannot or only with difficulty reach with its tongue to pick up food residue. At the same time, this design makes it easier for the user to clean the interior of the feeding bowl.

[0013] The feeding bowl is formed in one piece, preferably from unglazed ceramic material. This results in numerous advantages. First, this choice of material makes it particularly easy to achieve the aforementioned shapes. Furthermore, the material is easy to clean, heavy enough to ensure the feeding bowl remains stable, and heat-retaining, preventing warmed food from cooling down too quickly. Further advantages are explained in the following description.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the head section is rotationally symmetrical, i.e., the head section is circular in cross-section, albeit with a variable diameter along the wall. Particularly preferably, the base section is also rotationally symmetrical, so that the entire feed bowl has a cylindrical or truncated cone-like shape in sections. This eliminates the need for rotational alignment when stacking similar feed bowls.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the wall has an outer diameter that tapers continuously towards the access opening, i.e. the outer diameter is largest at the end of the wall facing the foot section and smallest at the opposite end, where the access opening is located. The resulting truncated cone shape on the outside has the advantage that in dogs with drooping ears, these are guided outwards by the wall so that they do not dip into the food when eating. Furthermore, this shape means that when the food bowl comes into contact with objects, walls or neighbouring food bowls, the contact surface is not the upper area of ​​the wall, which has a thinner material, but the lower area, which has a greater thickness and is therefore more robust.

[0016] It is advantageous if the gradient of the inner surface of the wall is described by an exponential function, particularly preferably by the function f(x) = 2 x This slope has proven particularly suitable for allowing the dog to easily eat from the food bowl while simultaneously achieving high stability and optimal use of the bowl's volume. When eating, the dog pushes the food in the bowl slightly upwards toward the top edge with its tongue. The continuous slope of the inner surface of the bowl makes it easier for the dog to pick up the food. At the same time, the increasing slope ensures that the food is not pushed over the edge.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the wall has its smallest thickness at the access opening, and the collar of the wall at the transition between the head and foot sections is wider than this smallest thickness. Particularly preferably, the width of the collar in the radial direction is more than twice this smallest thickness of the wall at the access opening. This ensures that when two feed trays are stacked, the upper edge of the wall of the lower tray, i.e., in the plane of the access opening, is fully covered by the collar of the upper tray, thus achieving a good closure of the lower tray.

[0018] In alternative designs of the feeding bowl, the base is located either in the foot section or the head section, or in the transition plane between the head and foot sections. This allows for feeding bowls with different feeding volumes to be provided. Furthermore, this changes the depth of the feeding chamber within the feeding bowl, thus advantageously adapting the feeding bowl to different physiological characteristics of individual dog breeds.

[0019] The ceramic material of the food bowl is particularly preferably unglazed granite ceramic. Titanium dioxide is preferably added to the raw ceramic mass during production. The use of granite ceramic for the food bowl offers significant advantages over other materials. Previously known food bowls made of plastic have only limited temperature resistance. Furthermore, plastics contain plasticizers necessary for molding. These can migrate into the water or food upon contact, posing a risk of health problems for the pets being fed. Dogs, in particular, are very sensitive to taste and smell and sometimes react negatively to food presented in plastic bowls. Granite ceramic has even been proven to be particularly suitable for contact with food, as confirmed by appropriate tests. The material is chemically inert; no substance migration occurs.This means there's no risk of adverse health or taste effects. Furthermore, the ceramic is heat-resistant up to at least 800°C, so the food bowl can be placed in an oven or gas stove to warm food without causing damage to the material.

[0020] But the granite-ceramic food bowl also offers significant advantages over metal food bowls. Metal bowls cannot be used in microwaves because they reflect microwave radiation, potentially damaging the microwave oven. Recently, there have also been increasing reports of allergic reactions in dogs when food is served in metal food bowls. All of these problems can be avoided with the granite-ceramic food bowl.

[0021] In general, the hard surface of granite ceramic and its low water absorption allow the food bowl to be cleaned in the dishwasher or by hand, even with aggressive cleaning agents. Granite ceramic is chemically inert, so no surface changes occur. No food particles can become embedded in the surface. This effectively prevents the risk of mold growth or bacterial contamination.

[0022] In the production of so-called granite ceramics, fine-grained granite flour is mixed into the raw material. The sintered ceramic is densely fired, chemically inert, offers little surface area for bacteria and odors to attack, and is easy to clean, for example, with a soap solution or, for special requirements, with weak acids and alkalis. By manufacturing using molding or casting techniques, the thickness of the ceramic material can be kept relatively thin, so that the weight of the food bowl is not excessive, even with comparatively large dimensions.

[0023] The grain size of the granite ceramic is preferably selected with increased roughness to prevent the food from being pushed out of the bowl due to friction between the food and the surface. It has been shown that a grain size of 0.4–0.8 mm is advantageous for achieving optimal roughness. In contrast to the smooth surfaces of porcelain or glass, granite ceramic, which is composed of rough or granular components, can withstand significantly higher mechanical loads because impact forces can be better dissipated in the uneven material structure.

[0024] The food bowl is particularly preferably made of unglazed ceramic, with titanium dioxide added to the raw ceramic mass during the manufacturing process. This creates a bactericidal surface. The material thus treated is chemically inert and food-safe. When fired above 800°C, anatase and rutile pigments, variations of titanium oxide, form on the surface of the ceramic body. These pigments are photocatalytically active. Upon exposure to light in combination with atmospheric oxygen and humidity, free reactive hydroxy and peroxy radicals are formed. These free radicals react with local organic compounds (such as bacteria) and destroy them. Approximately 2% titanium dioxide is preferably added to the raw ceramic mass. The pigments are bound in the ceramic and cannot be dissolved or washed out.This measure makes the ceramic bactericidal, thus increasing the storage time of food in the food bowl and reducing the formation of odors, for example in wet food.

[0025] The feeding bowl set according to the invention is particularly suitable for dogs, but can also be used for feeding or giving water to other pets. The feeding bowl set comprises at least a first and a second feeding bowl, each designed according to one of the aforementioned embodiments. Furthermore, the two feeding bowls differ at least in that the foot section of the first feeding bowl has a lower axial height than the foot section of the second feeding bowl, and that the bottom surface of the first feeding bowl is arranged in the transition plane between the head and foot sections, while the bottom surface of the second feeding bowl is arranged in the foot section. Due to the latter features, the first feeding bowl has a smaller volume in the feeding space than the second feeding bowl, and the overall height of the first feeding bowl is smaller than that of the second feeding bowl.The combination of the two similar, but not identical, feeding bowls leads to numerous advantages, the most important of which are listed below.

[0026] Different dog breeds vary significantly in their body size. Large dogs prefer a higher food bowl and require larger amounts of food, while small dogs require a lower food bowl and can get by with less food. The food bowl set offers the option of using the right bowl for each feeding and can also be used for different dogs. Furthermore, the height of the bowl in use can be adjusted by combining it with the other bowls.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the food bowl set comprises a bowl stand having a receiving area that is complementary to the base sections of the first and second food bowls. The bowl stand can accommodate both the first and second food bowls with their base sections, thus increasing their standing height. Since the two food bowls can be stacked in any order, numerous standing heights can be selected for each bowl, for example, the first food bowl without a base, the first food bowl stacked on top of the second food bowl, the first food bowl inserted in the bowl stand, or the first food bowl stacked on top of the second bowl, which in turn is inserted in the bowl stand. The food bowl set allows the optimal eating height to be set for different dogs.

[0028] The bowl stand is preferably formed from two panels, for example, made of waterproof plywood. Both panels have a U-shaped recess whose clear width is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the base section of the feeding bowls. Furthermore, each panel has a preferably centrally located slot, which are complementary to each other, so that the two panels can be plugged together at an angle to each other.

[0029] Using a bowl stand also protects the floor and reduces noise when the dog moves the food bowl while eating. Since moisture can affect the stand, waterproof plywood or a similar material should be used.

[0030] Due to the different positioning of the base and the possibly different dimensions of the foot section height, the first and second dog bowls provide two different volumes for the food. This is adapted to the feeding needs of large and small dogs, respectively. The different depths in the food bowls, which result from the different positioning of the base, allow for the optimal selection of the right food bowl for different dogs, which can differ from one another due to significantly different head and snout shapes. Dogs with a long, pointed head (e.g. German Shepherd) prefer a deeper food bowl, dogs with a short, flat head (e.g. Bulldog) prefer a shallower food bowl.

[0031] Since the feeding bowls are designed to be stackable in any order, the diameter of the access opening is identical for all models. The feeding bowls are particularly preferred with an outer diameter between 18 and 24 cm and an access opening diameter between 17 and 23 cm. This allows both small and large dogs with flat snouts to use the feeding bowl effectively.

[0032] According to an advantageous embodiment, the feeding bowl set further comprises a lid sized to fit over the access opening of both the first and second feeding bowls. This lid can be used to cover food residue in the feeding bowl, thus limiting oxidation and odor formation. Furthermore, the lid can be used as a cover when heating the food in the oven or microwave, preventing the food from drying out.

[0033] A further refined version of the food bowl set includes an anti-gulping insert featuring a base plate with numerous nubs arranged on it. The base plate is dimensioned to rest on the bottom of the first or second food bowl. Some dogs tend to gulp food too quickly, which can result in digestive problems or even intestinal obstruction. The anti-gulping insert can counteract this overeating, as it makes it difficult for the dog to eat several pieces of food at once. Instead, the dog must use its tongue to expel the food from between the nubs of the insert. The anti-gulping insert fits on the bottom of the food bowl and can be used alternatively for both food bowls in the set.

[0034] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a feeding bowl; Fig. 2 a sectional view of a second embodiment of the feeding bowl; Fig. 3 an overview of the components of a feeding bowl set; Fig. 4 a view of three possible combinations of the components of the feeding bowl set; Fig. 5 a top view and a front view of two plates of a bowl stand.

[0035] In Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a feed bowl 01 in axial section. The feed bowl 01 is one-piece, rotationally symmetrical, and formed from a head section 02 and a foot section 03. The head section 02 has a circumferential wall 04 that is integrally formed with the foot section 03. Surrounding the wall is a feed chamber 05, which is closed at the bottom by a base surface 06 and opens at the top by an access opening 07. The wall 04 has an outer diameter D WA , which has its largest value at the lower end of the head section. At the transition between the head section 02 and the foot section 03, the outer diameter D WA back and forms a collar 08 with a width B K . The maximum outer diameter of the foot section 03 is thus the difference between the maximum outer diameter D WA the wall minus the collar width B K. The outer diameter D WA the wall 04 decreases towards the top, so that at the access opening 07 a minimum outer diameter D WZ At the upper end, the wall has a minimum thickness B Rand forms a support edge 09. The outer diameter of the foot section tapers downwards, for example with an inclination of 10° compared to the perpendicular axis of rotation of the feed bowl. The foot section is dimensioned such that when similar feed bowls are stacked, the foot section can be inserted into the access opening 07 and the support edge 09 of the lower bowl comes to rest on the collar 08 of the upper bowl. The foot section can comprise shaped feet 11 so that when placed on a flat surface an air gap 12 remains to the lower surface of the feed bowl in order to prevent condensation from forming. The wall 04 has an inner surface 13 with a gradient that increases continuously from the base surface 06 up to the access opening 07. The gradient is preferably described by a quadratic function.In this embodiment, the base surface 06 extends approximately in the plane which separates the head section 02 from the foot section 03.

[0036] At the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the entire feeding bowl 01 is made of unglazed granite ceramic. The feeding chamber 05, for example, has an inner height H of 60 mm. The maximum outer diameter D WA the wall is about 226 mm, the minimum outer diameter D WZ is approximately 216 mm. The width B K of the collar can be 13 mm.

[0037] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a feeding bowl 20 according to a second embodiment, which differs from the previously described embodiment primarily in its dimensions. The feeding chamber 05 has an enlarged volume, resulting from a displacement of the base surface 06 into the foot section 03. Thus, the internal height H in the feeding chamber is greater, for example, 85 mm. The external dimensions of the head section 02 correspond to the previously described first embodiment. The foot section 03 differs from the first embodiment in its greater height, which is increased by approximately the amount of the larger internal height H, for example, 41 mm.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of a feeding bowl set. This comprises a first feeding bowl 01 according to the first embodiment described above, a second feeding bowl 20 according to the second embodiment described above, a bowl stand 30, a lid 40, and an anti-gouging insert 50. The bowl stand 30 consists of a first plate 31 and a second plate 32, which are inserted into one another and are arranged at an angle of approximately 90°. The anti-gouging insert 50 is also made of granite ceramic and is formed in one piece from a base plate 51 with numerous studs 52 arranged thereon. The anti-gouging insert is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the feeding bowls 01, 20 such that the base plate 51 rests flat on the base surface 06. The base surface 06 can preferably have a disc-shaped recess into which the base plate 51 can be inserted.

[0039] In Fig. 4 shows three usage variants of the feeding bowl set. In the left-hand illustration, the first feeding bowl 01 is placed on the second feeding bowl 20, with the first feeding bowl 01 closed by the lid 40 and the second feeding bowl 20 closed by the first feeding bowl 01. In the middle illustration, the first feeding bowl 01 is placed on the bowl stand 30. In addition, the lid 40 is placed over the access opening of the feeding bowl, so that it is closed. In the right-hand illustration, the second feeding bowl 20 is inserted into the bowl stand 30. It can be seen that in this case the larger foot section engages deeper into the bowl stand 30. In both cases, the collar 08 of the feeding bowl rests on the free ends of the plates 31, 32 of the bowl stand 30.

[0040] In Fig. 5, the plates 31, 32 of the bowl stand 30 are each shown in a top view and an end view. Both plates are essentially U-shaped and are preferably made of waterproof plywood, for example, with a thickness of 15 mm. A slot 33 is provided in the center of each of the plates, extending approximately halfway into the base of the plate. The slot 33 is open upwards in the first plate 31, i.e., into a receiving recess 34, and downwards in the second plate 32, i.e., into the base of the plate. Thus, the two plates can be plugged together in a cross shape and disassembled again if necessary. The bowl stand, for example, has a total height of 140 mm and a total width of 244 mm. The receiving recess 34 is selected such that it can accommodate the foot section 03 of both the first feeding bowl 01 and the second feeding bowl 20, as shown in Fig.4 is shown. Reference symbol 01 first feeding bowl 02 Head section 03 Foot section 04 Wall 05 Feed room 06 Floor area 07 Access opening 08 Collar 09 Mounting edge 10 11 feet 12 Air gap 13 Inner surface of the wall 20 second feeding bowl 30 bowl stands 31 first plate 32 second plate 33 slot 34 Recess 40 lids 50 anti-sling insert 51 Base plate 52 studs D WA maximum outer diameter of the head section D WZ Outer diameter of the head section at the access opening B K Collar width B R minimum wall thickness

Claims

[1] Feeding bowl set for dogs, consisting of a first and a second feeding bowl (01; 20), each comprising a foot section (03) with a standing surface and a head section (02) formed on the foot section (03) with a wall (04), wherein - the head section (02) has an access opening (07); - the foot section (03) has an outer diameter which is smaller than the access opening (07), so that the foot section (03) of a similar feed bowl (01; 20) can be inserted into the access opening (07); - the wall (04) has a collar (08) in the region of the transition to the foot section (03) which projects radially beyond the foot section (03); - the outer diameter (D WZ ) of the head section (02) at the access opening (07) is smaller than the outer diameter of the collar (08) and larger than the maximum outer diameter of the foot section (03); - the wall (04) has an inner surface (13) which extends with a continuously increasing gradient from a base surface (06) to the access opening (07); - the feeding bowl (01; 20) is formed in one piece from non-glazed ceramic material; characterized by that the foot section (03) of the first feed bowl (01) has a lower axial height than the foot section (03) of the second feed bowl (20), and that the bottom surface (06) of the first feed bowl (01) is arranged in the transition plane between the head and foot sections and the bottom surface of the second feed bowl (20) is arranged in the foot section (03). [2] Feed bowl set according to claim 1, further comprising a bowl stand (30) having a receiving recess (34) which is complementary to the foot sections (03) of the first and second feed bowls (01; 20) so that both the first and the second feed bowl (01; 20) can be inserted there with their foot section (03). [3] Feeding bowl set according to claim 2, characterized by that the bowl stand (30) consists of two plates (31; 32), each having a U-shaped recess, the clear width of which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the foot section (03) of the feed bowls (01; 20), and each having a slot (33) so that the two plates (31; 32) can be plugged together at an angle to one another. [4] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a lid (40) which is dimensioned to be placed on the access opening (07) of both the first and the second feeding bowl (01; 20) and to close them. [5] Feeding bowl set according to claim 4, characterized by that the lid (40) is made of the same material as the feeding bowls (01; 20). [6] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an anti-gulping insert (50) having a base plate (51) with numerous knobs (52) arranged thereon, the base plate (51) being dimensioned to be able to rest on the bottom surface (06) of the first or second feeding bowl (01; 20). [7] Feeding bowl set according to claim 6, characterized by that the anti-sling insert (50) consists of a non-glazed granite ceramic, with titanium dioxide added to the raw ceramic mass. [8] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the head section (02) and preferably also the foot section (03) are rotationally symmetrical. [9] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the wall (04) has an outer diameter that continuously tapers towards the access opening (07). [10] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the gradient of the inner surface (13) of the wall (04) is described by an exponential function, preferably by the function f(x) = 2 x . [11] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the wall (04) has its smallest thickness at the access opening (07), and that the collar (08) of the wall is wider than this smallest thickness, preferably more than twice this smallest thickness of the wall. [12] Feeding bowl set according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the ceramic material is a non-glazed granite ceramic with titanium dioxide added to the raw ceramic mass.

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