Guarded Animal Feeder With Suction Mount for Cleaner Slow Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal feeders fail to effectively distract, entertain, or calm animals during tasks like bathing or medical examinations, and they often require frequent cleaning, leading to unsanitary conditions due to saliva and slobber.
Innovation Solution
An elastomeric animal feeder with a feeding section featuring nubs to slow feeding and suction cups for secure attachment to surfaces, combined with a guard to contain saliva and drool, promoting extended occupation and sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple receptacle is used for feeding, then the device complexity is low, but the animal devours food quickly and moves the receptacle, reducing the duration of distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding surface is modified with localized nubs protruding from it, creating specific regions that slow down the animal's feeding. This local modification changes the feeding dynamics without requiring a complete redesign of the receptacle structure, thereby maintaining simplicity while extending distraction duration
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be repositioned to different locations or angles to maintain the animal's interest and prevent boredom. This dynamic element extends the effective distraction period without adding complex mechanisms
2Reliability
If the receptacle is cleaned frequently to maintain sanitation, then the hygiene level improves, but the time required for cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder utilizes a disposable or easily replaceable food container that can be quickly swapped out after use. Instead of thoroughly cleaning the entire receptacle, the user can simply remove the soiled container and insert a fresh one, dramatically reducing cleaning time while maintaining sanitation standards
Solution Approach 2:
The food storage function is extracted into a separate removable container rather than being integrated into the main receptacle body. This allows the food container to be independently removed for disposal or replacement without needing to clean the entire feeder structure, separating the cleaning requirement from the feeding function
3Ease of operation
If the receptacle is placed on a flat surface, then the ease of operation is high, but saliva and slobber drench the surrounding area, creating harmful conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is elevated from the flat surface using a stand or support structure, creating vertical separation between the food container and the surrounding area. This dimensional change allows saliva and slobber to fall away from the placement surface, preventing contamination while keeping the feeder easy to position and operate
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 feeder effectively keeps animals calm and occupied for extended periods, preventing movement during tasks while maintaining cleanliness by slowing feeding and securing the feeder to surfaces, thus aiding in tasks like bathing and training.
Implementation Method 1
On the reverse side is one or more suction cups to suction the animal feeder to a surface
Data Source
AI summary
An animal feeder and method of use is described herein. The animal feeder is configured to distract, calm, or occupy an animal for an extended period of time. The animal feeder includes an elastomeric body having an obverse side and a reverse side. The obverse side includes a feeding section having a plurality of nubs. The plurality of nubs are configured to slow an animal's ability to lick food therefrom. On the reverse side is one or more suction cups to suction the animal feeder to a surface to secure the feeder system in a single location. The animal feeder further includes a guard extending laterally from the feeding section to keep the surface below the guard free from saliva, drool, or slobber from the animal.