Modular Gravity Wildlife Feeder with Segmented Hopper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wildlife feeders occupy unnecessary space during packaging, sale, and storage due to their large volume design, which is inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A wildlife gravity feeder assembly comprising a hopper body and a base assembly with a feed director that directs bulk feed material to flow by gravity through funnels to a feed outlet, allowing for modular sidewalls that connect to form the hopper body and reduce storage space when not in use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the feeder is designed with a large volume hopper body to hold bulk feed material, then the feed storage capacity is improved, but the storage space requirement during packaging and storage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed storage capacityVSAvoidstorage space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hopper body is divided into multiple separate sidewall portions that can be assembled together, allowing the feeder to be disassembled into compact components for storage while maintaining large feed storage capacity when assembled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular sidewall portions can be nested or stacked together during storage, enabling compact packaging of the hopper body while preserving the ability to form a large-volume container when assembled for use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If the feeder is designed as a single integrated unit, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidease of assembly and disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The feeder is segmented into modular components including separate sidewall portions and a base assembly that can be easily connected and disconnected, improving ease of assembly while maintaining relatively simple structure through standardized connection mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feeder transitions from a static integrated structure to a dynamic modular system that can be easily assembled and disassembled through simple connection mechanisms, allowing flexible setup and storage while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 efficiently dispenses bulk feed material on the ground surface, reducing storage space requirements and allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, while ensuring a controlled and intermittent flow of feed to wildlife.

Implementation Method 1

The feed director body defines at least one funnel configured to direct bulk feed material to flow by gravity from the interior toward the at least one feed outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20230189755A1Wildlife feeder

Publication Date: 2023.06.22 AOB PRODUCTS CO

AI summary

A ground level gravity wildlife feeder assembly, components thereof, and associated methods. The wildlife feeder comprises a base assembly including a base, a feed director, and a plurality of selectively moveable gates configured to permit or restrict feed from exiting the base. The wildlife feeder comprises a hopper assembly configured to hold a supply of feed material and is supportably connected to the base.