Collapsible Pet Feeder with Angled Gravity Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet feeders are bulky, inconvenient to store and transport, and expensive, failing to address the need for a simple, high-quality, and affordable solution for timely pet feeding, especially during owner absences.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible feeder with a spring-shaped barrel body, adjustable height, and a 30-degree angled discharge port, utilizing gravity to dispense pet food from a large storage capacity, ensuring continuous feeding and easy transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic feeders are used to ensure timely pet feeding, then feeding reliability is improved, but device volume increases and storage convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a collapsible barrel body that can dynamically change its volume. When not in use, the barrel collapses to a compact size for easy storage and transport. When in use, it expands to provide sufficient food storage capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining feeding reliability and reducing feeder volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible barrel body is designed to nest within itself when collapsed, creating a compact form factor. This nesting mechanism allows the feeder to occupy minimal space during storage while maintaining full functionality during use, addressing the volume-convenience contradiction.
2Reliability
If automatic feeders are used to ensure timely pet feeding, then feeding reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder utilizes gravity as a free natural force to automatically dispense pet food from the collapsible barrel into the food basin. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for motors, sensors, and control systems found in conventional automatic feeders, dramatically reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable feeding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and electronic systems with a simple gravity-based dispensing mechanism. By substituting motors and control circuits with gravitational force, the invention achieves automatic feeding at a fraction of the manufacturing cost of traditional automatic feeders.
3Duration of action of moving object
If large food storage capacity is provided, then feeding duration is extended, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible barrel body provides large food storage capacity when expanded, extending feeding duration. When not in use, it collapses to a small volume for convenient storage. This dynamic volume adjustment resolves the contradiction between providing extended feeding duration and maintaining compact size.
4Strength
If rigid barrel body is used for durability, then strength is improved, but transport convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel body transitions between a rigid state during use (providing strength and durability) and a collapsible state during transport (providing convenience). This dynamic structural change allows the barrel to maintain strength when needed while enabling easy transport when collapsed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible yet durable barrel body that can collapse and expand. This flexible shell design maintains sufficient strength for durability while enabling compact folding for transport, resolving the contradiction between strength and transport convenience.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The collapsible feeder ensures timely pet feeding, fosters good eating habits, and is durable, easy to clean, and cost-effective, addressing the limitations of existing feeders by providing a convenient and affordable solution for pet owners.
Implementation Method 1
The fact that the bottom of the collapsible barrel body is higher than the rim of the food basin, and the discharge port forms an angle of 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal line of the bottom of the food basin, ensures that pet food stored in the collapsible barrel body can slide down freely under its own weight to the food basin in the base
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible feeder, relating to a pet feeder, includes a top cover, a collapsible barrel body, a discharge port, a base and a food basin. The food basin is disposed at one end of the base, and the collapsible barrel body is disposed at the other end of the base. The top cover is disposed at the top of the collapsible barrel body. A bottom of the collapsible barrel body is higher than a rim of the food basin, and the discharge port forms an angle of 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal line of a bottom of the food basin.