Feeding equipment

Abstract

We provide a feeding device that prevents pets from eating their food too quickly. [Solution] The feeding device is gently sloped and consists of a mortar-shaped surface portion 1 and a base portion 2 that hangs down and continues from the outer edge 1a of the surface portion 1. Multiple bowl-shaped recesses 1b for filling with dog food are arranged at equal intervals on the surface portion 1, and the shortest distance between the edges 1c of these recesses 1b is approximately the same for all recesses 1b. When viewed from above, the recesses 1b are circular with the same diameter and are hemispherical indented to form a bowl shape. Dogs eat the dog food filled in one recess 1b by scooping it up with their tongues, and while eating, they can visually confirm the next recess 1b to eat, allowing them to continuously eat the dog food in the recesses 1b.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a feeding utensil that can be suitably used for pet animals such as dogs and cats.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, when feeding a pet animal, for example, pet food as the food is put into a dish or a bowl and given. However, with such a dish, rapid eating cannot be avoided.

[0003] When a pet animal eats pet food vigorously due to rapid eating, there is a possibility that it may lead to asphyxiation death by swallowing the dog food whole, or it may cause aspiration pneumonia.

[0004] Also, Patent Document 1 discloses a feeding utensil for pet animals that has one concave portion, and pet food is put into this concave portion to feed the pet animal. When feeding dog food to a dog using this feeding utensil for pet animals, the rapid eating of the dog is somewhat suppressed, but it does not sufficiently regulate a rapid eating state where the dog eats the dog food all at once vigorously.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, it is possible to make the structure difficult to eat in order to prevent rapid eating, but if the structure is made too difficult to eat, the pet animal will give up eating the pet food and a problem of leaving food uneaten will occur.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a feeding device that prevents pet animals from eating pet food too quickly and ensures that no pet food is left uneaten. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The feeding device according to the present invention, which achieves the above objective, is a feeding device comprising a mortar-shaped surface portion that slopes gently inward and a base portion that is continuous with the outer edge of the surface portion, characterized in that a plurality of bowl-shaped recesses are arranged on the surface portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The feeding device according to the present invention has a structure that is moderately difficult to eat from, thus preventing pets such as dogs and cats from eating pet food too quickly, and allowing pets to continue eating without giving up on eating the pet food. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the feeding equipment from above. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view from below. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing a dog eating using a feeding device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the feeding device seen from above, Figure 2 is a perspective view seen from below, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A' in Figure 1.

[0012] The feeding device is molded from a hard synthetic resin material, for example, and has a diameter of about 15 cm and a height of about 4 cm. Other materials such as metal and silicone rubber can also be used, and the size can be adjusted according to the dog breed.

[0013] The feeding device consists of a mortar-shaped surface portion 1 that slopes gently inward, and a base portion 2 that hangs down and continues from the outer edge 1a of the surface portion 1. In addition, the surface portion 1 has a plurality of bowl-shaped recesses 1b arranged at equal intervals.

[0014] In this embodiment, one recess 1b is positioned in the center, and six other recesses 1b are arranged around it. The shortest distance r1 between the edges 1c of these recesses 1b is approximately the same for all recesses 1b, for example, 3 mm. The surface portion 1 other than the recesses 1b is gently sloped downward, as described above.

[0015] The recess 1b, when viewed from above, is a hemispherical, bowl-shaped recess with a circle of the same diameter. The base 2 consists of a cylindrical side wall 2a, and the circular lower edge 2b is provided with a pair of notches 2c for gripping with fingers to facilitate carrying during feeding.

[0016] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing dog D eating using a feeding device. After filling each recess 1b to about 80% with dog food F, dog D is fed. Dog D eats the dog food F in one recess 1b by scooping it up with its tongue, and while eating, it visually checks the dog food F in the next recess 1b to be eaten.

[0017] In this way, the dog eats the dog food F in the recess 1b over time. Furthermore, because the recess 1b is bowl-shaped and difficult to get stuck in, dog D cannot gnaw on the feeding utensil with its teeth, and therefore cannot eat the dog food F itself without using its tongue. As a result, dog D cannot bite the feeding utensil and, for example, drag it around or turn it upside down.

[0018] In addition, since the surface portion 1 other than the recess 1b is gently inclined in a mortar shape, the dog food F is unlikely to fall from the pedestal portion 2 to the outside, and has a structure that prevents this. The dog food F that spills from within the recess 1b will roll downward along the inclined surface of the surface portion 1 and return to within another recess 1b.

[0019] Also, as described above, when the dog D is eating the dog food F within a predetermined recess 1b, it visually confirms the dog food F in another recess 1b that it will eat next. Therefore, even if it takes a little more time to eat the dog food F within the recess 1b, it can continuously eat the dog food F in the next recess 1b.

[0020] In this way, although the dog D eats slowly, it can eat the dog food F without interruption, so it will not give up eating the dog food F halfway.

[0021] In order to make it possible to visually confirm the dog food F that the dog D will eat next and to enable easy transfer, it is preferable that the recesses 1b are adjacent to each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the shortest distance r1 between the edge portions 1c in one central recess 1b and the six recesses 1b adjacent radially and concentrically to this recess 1b is preferably in the range of 1 / 6 to 1 / 10 with respect to the circular diameter r2 of the recess 1b. Furthermore, it is preferable that the shortest distance r1 between the edge portions 1c is substantially the same between any of the recesses 1b.

[0022] As described above, according to the feeding utensil of the present invention, since it has a structure that is moderately difficult to eat, it prevents pets such as dogs and cats from quickly eating pet food, and pets can continuously eat without giving up eating pet food.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0023] 1 Surface portion 1a Outer edge 1b Recess 1c Edge portion 2 Pedestal portion D Dog F Dog Food

Claims

1. A feeding device comprising a mortar-shaped surface portion that slopes gently inward and a base portion that is continuous with the outer edge of the surface portion, The feeding device is characterized in that a plurality of bowl-shaped recesses are arranged on the surface portion.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of recesses are arranged so as to surround one recess located in the center of the surface portion.

3. The feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shortest distance between the edges of adjacent recesses is substantially the same for all of the recesses.

4. The feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that the shortest distance between the edges of the recesses is within the range of 1 / 6 to 1 / 10 of the diameter of the recesses.

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