CONNECTED PET FOOD BOWL

Abstract

The invention relates to a bowl (2) for domestic animals (1); comprising a food receptacle (5) comprising at least one compartment (50) capable of comprising a food portion, a cover (24) movable between an open position and a closed position, a module for controlling the opening and closing of the bowl, and a module (20) for recognizing at least one animal. The bowl comprises a second cover (6) for closing said at least one compartment (50) of said receptacle (5), said second cover (6) comprising a through opening (60) for access to said at least one compartment (50) and being mounted movable between several positions allowing said at least one compartment (50) to be closed or opened. The module for controlling the opening and closing of the bowl controls the mobility of said second cover (6) to make said compartment (50) accessible or not. Figure for abstract: [Fig.1]

Description

Title of the invention: CONNECTED PET FOOD BOWL Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connected bowl for pets, as well as an assembly comprising such a connected bowl and a device capable of communicating with said bowl, allowing food monitoring of said animals. State of the art

[0002] When pet owners travel outside their homes, for example during holiday periods, the problem of looking after these animals arises. Some owners cannot physically take their pet with them and do not wish to entrust it to a kennel or other specialist structure.

[0003] They have the option of leaving the animal at home and asking a trusted person to come regularly to give it a portion of food.

[0004] This is of course a very restrictive solution, and it is with the aim of solving this problem that automatic animal feed distribution devices have been proposed.

[0005] Documents FR 2 664 129 and FR 2 777 668 describe, for example, an automatic dispenser which comprises a food reservoir supplying a supply and dosing device, and a control device, which is linked to the aforementioned means and which controls the supply and dosing device to obtain distribution at fixed time intervals of determined quantities of food into a bowl accessible to the animal.

[0006] Devices of this type have subsequently been improved to allow distribution of a dose of food for the animal by detecting the presence of the animal nearby: for example, the animal wearing an electronic collar or an RFID implant is recognized by a device equipped with an antenna and embedded in the bowl. The delivery of food is then controlled only in the presence of the animal near the bowl, which prevents the food from remaining in the open air without being eaten. Document WO 2015 / 057278 describes an example of implementation.

[0007] Such bowls can be used to feed several animals, but they provide the same food: the animals must therefore have the same diet.

[0008] The invention proposes a connected bowl which allows several people to be delivered animals their food portion, such portions being able to be of different natures depending on the diet followed by the animal.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is to enable dietary monitoring of different animals using the connected bowl and a device associated with it.

[0010] Another aim of the present invention is also the preservation of the food contained in the bowl. Statement of the invention

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a bowl for domestic animals, comprising a food receptacle comprising at least one compartment capable of comprising a food portion, said bowl comprising: - a cover, movable between an open position where the receptacle is accessible to an animal and a closed position where the receptacle is not accessible to the animal, - a control module for opening and closing the bowl, and - a module for recognizing at least one animal, which communicates with said control module to condition the opening or closing of the bowl depending on whether the animal is recognized or not by said recognition module.

[0012] The bowl according to the invention is remarkable in that it comprises: - a second cover for closing said at least one compartment of said receptacle, said second cover comprising a through opening for access to said at least one compartment, said second cover being mounted to move between several positions allowing said at least one compartment to be closed or opened by making said through access opening and said at least one compartment correspond, and in that said bowl opening and closing control module controls the mobility of said second cover to make said compartment accessible or not.

[0013] Thus made, the double lid ensures good food preservation. The first lid allows the bowl to be opened and closed while the second lid gives access to a particular compartment in the receptacle. This allows access only to the compartment dedicated to the animal that is identified.

[0014] Advantageously, the invention has one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

[0015] Advantageously, the receptacle comprises at least two compartments, each capable of accommodating a food portion of different nature and weight, each compartment being associated with an animal identifiable by said identification module among several animals. Thus, the bowl can be used to feed at least two animals with different diets.

[0016] Advantageously again, said receptacle is circular in shape, said at least one compartment is defined between two radial edges, the second cover is a disc coaxial with said receptacle, the shape and dimensions of said through access opening corresponding to those of said at least one compartment. In addition, said second cover is mounted to rotate about the axis of said receptacle so as to make said through access opening coincide, or not, with said at least one compartment. Thus produced, the bowl comprises a pivoting cover which only reveals the compartment concerned by the animal which triggered the opening of the bowl.

[0017] Advantageously, the bowl has a spherical shape, comprising a base having a half-sphere shape surmounted by said cover also having a half-sphere shape, said cover comprising two symmetrical cover parts which are pivotally mounted around an axis which extends along a diameter of the peripheral edge of said base, between an open position of the cover in which the two cover parts retract into said base and a closed position in which the two cover parts form the half-sphere which surmounts said base.

[0018] Furthermore, the bowl comprises a separating device, having separating walls which are arranged to be positioned above edges of said at least one compartment, said separating device being able to be positioned on said second cover and to be inserted into said bowl in the closed position of said cover. This embodiment allows the animal which is feeding not to be disturbed by other animals which could steal its meal.

[0019] Preferably, the bowl comprises a food weighing device included in said at least one compartment. It is thus possible to monitor the quantity of food consumed by the animal and to place precise quantities of food in each compartment.

[0020] More preferably, the bowl comprises a rechargeable battery and, possibly, a visual battery charge indicator and / or possibly an audible indicator. The bowl can thus operate without always being connected to the mains: it can be positioned wherever the user wishes.

[0021] In addition, the bowl includes a module for recording and transmitting data to a tracking tool, remote from said bowl. The user can thus track the use of the bowl on his smartphone.

[0022] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a bowl as defined above, at least one identification device to be positioned on an animal and a tracking tool, capable of communicating with said bowl and with a remote server.

[0023] Advantageously, the monitoring tool implements a computer program capable of delivering initial information relating to a quantity of food consumed. in said at least one compartment of said bowl and possibly second information relating to the animal. Brief description of the figures

[0024] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig-1]: [Fig.l] illustrates a connected bowl in accordance with the invention, an animal domestic and an animal food tracking device, connected to the bowl,

[0026] [Fig.2]: [Fig.2] illustrates the bowl opening, when an animal pre determined was recognized near the bowl,

[0027] [Fig.3]: [Fig.3] illustrates the open bowl and a receptacle with several compartments. compartments, closed by a pivoting cover, the cover having an opening completely revealing a compartment,

[0028] [Fig.4]: [Fig.4] is an exploded and perspective view of different elements that includes the bowl described and illustrated,

[0029] [Fig.5] :1a [Fig.5] illustrates a four-compartment receptacle, seen from above,

[0030] [Fig.6]: [Fig.6] illustrates an alternative embodiment of a three-com receptacle compartments, seen from above,

[0031] [Fig.7]: [Fig.7] further illustrates an alternative embodiment of a two-way receptacle compartments, top view,

[0032] [Fig.8]: [Fig.8] is a perspective view of the bowl in the open position, with a separating element overhanging the lid of the bowl, and

[0033] [Fig.9]: [Fig.9] is a schematic representation of part of the bowl associated with a charging device, allowing a battery in the bowl to be recharged.

[0034] It is understood that the embodiments which will be described below are in no way limiting. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described below isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if it is this part which is only sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art.

[0035] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0036] In the figures and in the remainder of the description, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference. Detailed description

[0037] [Fig.l] illustrates the elements of an assembly according to the invention, which makes it possible to feed several animals 1 with the same bowl 2, each of the animals 1 being able to have a different diet.

[0038] In the context of our example of embodiment and application, the bowl 2 is designed to feed and monitor the diet of four animals: only one animal (a cat 1) has been shown.

[0039] It should be understood that the bowl could be implemented for a single animal, which can be fed up to four times, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0040] The bowl according to the invention has a control unit 20, shown schematically in [Fig.l], which allows it to receive information 30 from an identification device 3 carried by the cat 1 and which also allows information 40 to be transmitted to an application implemented on a smartphone 4.

[0041] Examples of information transmitted and processed will be presented later, within the framework of an example application.

[0042] The bowl 2 is shown in particular in figures 2 to 4: it has a spherical overall shape which, in addition to its playful side, makes it possible to avoid any injury to the animal 1 or animals 1.

[0043] The bowl 2 comprises two parts: a base 21 in the shape of a half-sphere, forming a receiving bowl for some of the elements that the bowl comprises, and a retractable cover 24.

[0044] The base 21 comprises feet 22, allowing the bowl to be placed on a flat support (for example on the ground) in a stable manner.

[0045] It also has two radial grooves 23 which extend from the upper edge of the base 21 to the feet 22 or substantially to the feet 22.

[0046] These radial grooves 23 have the function of receiving a projecting part of the retractable cover 24.

[0047] The retractable cover 24 surmounts the base 21 and also has a half-sphere shape.

[0048] It comprises two symmetrical cover parts 25, which are pivotally mounted around a substantially horizontal axis X (see [Fig.4]) which extends along a diameter of the edge of the base 21. The two parts open and close at the same time, between an open position of the cover 24 (see [Fig.3]) in which the two parts 25 retract into said base 21 and a closed position ( [Fig.l]) according to which the two parts 25 of cover 24 form the half-sphere which surmounts the base 21 and protects the elements inside the bowl.

[0049] To do this, the bowl is equipped with end-of-travel sensors, signaling the end of opening and the end of closing to the control unit 20. Two stepper motors ensure the movement of the parts 25 of the cover 24.

[0050] Each cover portion 25 has a protruding ear, imitating the ears of an animal, which fits into a groove 23 of the base 21 when the cover 24 opens (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0051] [Fig. 4] illustrates the bowl 2 with the lid 24 in the open position. It also illustrates other elements included in the bowl according to the invention.

[0052] The bowl 2 comprises a food receptacle 5 which comprises, in the context of the illustrated example, four compartments 50, each able to accommodate a different food portion.

[0053] It should be understood that the four compartments could also accommodate four portions of the same food, or even four portions of different nature and quantity, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0054] The base 21 being spherical, and the receptacle 5 being received in the base, the receptacle 5 is circular in shape.

[0055] The compartments 50 are separated from each other by at least one radial wall (which extends along a radius of the circular receptacle) and the compartments 50 all have the same size: the receptacle 5 is illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0056] It should however be understood that they could have different sizes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, [Fig.6] illustrates a three-compartment receptacle, with different compartment sizes.

[0057] [Fig.7] further illustrates an alternative embodiment of a receptacle 5 of a bowl 2 according to the invention, comprising two symmetrical compartments.

[0058] The receptacle 5 is removable: it can be manually removed from the bowl, to be cleaned and / or replaced by another, with a different number of compartments.

[0059] As can be seen in [Fig.4], the receptacle is received in a flat tank 51 forming a support, which is also received in the base 21.

[0060] The flat tank 51 is positioned on a weighing device, incorporated in a technical block 52 which also includes the control unit 20 shown schematically in [Fig.l].

[0061] The weighing device makes it possible to weigh the portions of food in each compartment 50 of the receptacle, thus making it possible to feed the animal 1 precisely, by offering precise portions of food. It is also possible to know the weight of food eaten by the animal 1.

[0062] All the elements included in the bowl can be combined with each other. by storing gaskets between them.

[0063] The technical block 52 includes an electronic card which allows the bowl to associate each compartment of the receptacle with a given animal: each compartment then receives a precise portion of a given food which corresponds to the diet of the animal concerned.

[0064] As indicated previously, the animal 1 is identified by an identification device 3, comprising for example an RFID chip.

[0065] The technical block 52 also makes it possible to control the motors which ensure the opening of the cover 24 and to control the rotation of a second cover 6 which the bowl according to the invention comprises, and which will now be described:

[0066] The second cover 6 is a disc which is coaxial with the receptacle 5, positioned on the receptacle 5 to form a protective cover over the compartments 50 comprising food.

[0067] The disc however comprises a through opening 60 (or window) made through the disc and which has a shape and dimensions which correspond to those of each of the compartments, within the framework of the exemplary embodiment (see [Fig.3] for example).

[0068] Thus, when the window (or the through opening 60) is positioned in front of a compartment, the contents of the compartment are accessible to the animal 1.

[0069] To allow this access, the second cover 6 is mounted to be able to rotate around the axis Z of said receptacle 5 so as to make said opening coincide, or not, with said at least one compartment to allow said opening, or not, of the compartment.

[0070] The figure shows the rotation axis Z and the motor 61 ensuring the rotation of the second cover 6 when its operation is commanded.

[0071] [Fig.8] shows that the bowl can also be equipped with a separation device 7.

[0072] The device 7 comprises dividing walls which are oriented so as to define a space above the window opening to make the compartment accessible to the animal while preventing other animals 1 from also attempting to come and eat in the vacated compartment: the device 7 creates a protective space for the animal 1 coming to feed.

[0073] Concretely, the walls of the device form extensions of the edges of the compartment accessible in the receptacle.

[0074] The separation device 7 is positioned on said second cover and it has a shape and a height such that it fits into the bowl, between the half-spherical cover 24 and the second cover 6 when the bowl is closed.

[0075] [Fig.9] illustrates that the bowl can be recharged on a recharging station 8, which plugs into the mains.

[0076] To do this, the bowl 2 includes a rechargeable battery, integrated into the technical unit 52, and the recharging station 8 includes a plug 80 which is removably inserted into a housing 26 in the base of the bowl to ensure recharging of the battery.

[0077] The bowl may also be equipped with a visual charge indicator, or even an audible indicator, to indicate when the bowl's battery is recharged or when it needs to be recharged.

[0078] The technical box 52 can also transmit a message via the smartphone application 4, indicating the battery status of the bowl.

[0079] To transmit and receive messages, the technical block 52 of the bowl comprises one or more data reception modules, coming from the animal's identification device 3 but also data generated by the bowl: for example, the weight of food included in a compartment 50.

[0080] The module(s) process the information received 30, for example by triggering the opening of the cover 24 and the rotation of the second cover 6 so that the animal can access the compartment associated with it.

[0081] The module(s) optionally record the data 30 and / or the data 40 generated by the bowl 2 and transmit them to a computer monitoring tool, implemented on a remote server, and which communicates with the smartphone 4 to make this information accessible to the user.

[0082] Thus, the user can monitor the health status of the animal 1 through what it eats. The device 3 can be equipped with a temperature sensor, to transmit this medical data, associated with its identifier, during the transmission of data 30 to the bowl. Alternatively, it may be provided to take the temperature by an infrared device with which the bowl would be equipped, while the animal 1 is eating.

[0083] An example of implementation of the invention could be the following:

[0084] Several animals 1, each carrying an identification device 3, each follow a different diet.

[0085] The bowl 2, comprising several compartments 50 in a receptacle 5, is prepared in such a way that each compartment 50 associated with a given animal, comprises the exact quantity of food adapted for the diet of the animal associated with it.

[0086] To do this, the user used the application on his smartphone: he identified a first compartment 50 for a first animal 1, a second compartment 50 dedicated to a second animal 1, etc.

[0087] In addition, the user used the internal scale in the bowl (weighing device) to pour the recommended weight of food into each compartment.

[0088] A first animal 1 approaches the bowl 2: the control unit 20 of the technical block receives the identifier of the animal and recognizes it ([Fig. 1]).

[0089] It then controls the opening of the first cover 24: the two half-covers 25 open at the same time, on either side of the second cover 6 and retract into the base 21 of the bowl ([Fig.2], then [Fig.3]).

[0090] The cover 6 is also rotated to provide access to the contents of the compartment which is associated with the animal 1: the animal 1 eats the food contained in the compartment 50, partially or entirely.

[0091] When it no longer wants to eat, the animal 1 moves away from the bowl 2. The control unit 20 no longer detects the presence of the animal 1 because it no longer receives the information 30 transmitted by the device 3. The control unit 20 then commands the closing of the cover 24.

[0092] At the same time, information (or data) 40 is transmitted to the user on his smartphone 4: he is informed, via the application, of the quantity of food eaten by the animal (thanks to the weighing device), possibly of the time at which the animal fed, of its body temperature, etc.

[0093] If a second animal appears in front of the bowl 2, and the control unit 20 recognizes the identifier of the device 3 carried by the second animal, then it opens in the same way and the second cover turns to reveal the compartment which is associated with the second animal 1.

[0094] It is understood from the preceding description how the invention makes it possible to feed several animals which have different diets, while preserving the food and communicating food monitoring data to a user via their smartphone.

[0095] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. It should be understood that it extends to the implementation of any equivalent means.

Claims

Claims

1. Bowl (2) for domestic animals (1); comprising a food receptacle (5) comprising at least one compartment (50) capable of comprising a food portion, said bowl comprising: - a cover (24) movable between an open position where the receptacle (5) is accessible to an animal (1) and a closed position where the receptacle (5) is not accessible to the animal, - a control module for opening and closing the bowl, and - a recognition module (20) for at least one animal, which communicates with said control module to condition the opening or closing of the bowl (2) depending on whether the animal (1) is recognized or not by said recognition module (20), characterized in that it comprises: - a second cover (6) for closing said at least one compartment (50) of said receptacle (5), said second cover (6) comprising a through opening (60) for access to said at least one compartment (50),said second cover (6) being mounted to be movable between several positions allowing said at least one compartment (50) to be closed or opened by making said through access opening (60) correspond to said at least one compartment (50), and in that said module for controlling the opening and closing of the bowl controls the mobility of said second cover (6) to make said compartment (50) accessible or not.,

2. Bowl according to claim 1, characterized in that said receptacle (5) comprises at least two compartments (50), each capable of accommodating a food portion of different nature and weight, each compartment (50) being associated with an animal identifiable by said identification module (20) among several animals.

3. Bowl according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said receptacle (5) is circular in shape, in that said at least one compartment (50) is defined between two radial edges, in that said second cover (6) is a disc coaxial with said receptacle (5), the shape and dimensions of said through access opening (60) corresponding to those of said at least one compartment (50), and in that said second cover (6) is mounted to rotate about the axis (Z) of said receptacle (5) so as to make said through access opening (60) coincide, or not, with said at least one compartment.

4. Bowl according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a spherical shape, comprising a base (21) having a half-sphere shape surmounted by said cover (24) also having a half-sphere shape, said cover (24) comprising two symmetrical cover parts (25) which are pivotally mounted around an axis (X) which extends along a diameter of the peripheral edge of said base (21), between an open position of the cover in which the two cover parts (25) retract into said base (21) and a closed position in which the two cover parts (25) form the half-sphere which surmounts said base (21).

5. Bowl according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a separation device (7), having separation walls which are arranged to be positioned above edges which at least partially delimit said at least one compartment (50), said separation device (7) being able to be positioned on said second cover (6) and to be inserted into said bowl in the closed position of said cover (24).

6. Bowl according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a food weighing device included in said at least one compartment (50).

7. Bowl according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rechargeable battery as well as, optionally, a visual battery charge indicator and / or optionally an audible indicator.

8. Bowl according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a module for recording and transmitting data to a monitoring tool (4), remote from said bowl (2).

9. Assembly comprising a bowl (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one identification device (3) to be positioned on an animal (1) and a tracking tool (4), capable of communicating with said bowl (2) and with a remote server.

10. Assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that said monitoring tool (4) implements a computer program capable of delivering first information (40) relating to a quantity of food consumed in said at least one compartment (50) of said bowl. and possibly second information (30) relating to the animal.

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