Vertically Moving Pet Bowl Apparatus with Movable Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet bowl systems fail to provide an efficient and easy-to-use solution for pet owners, particularly elderly individuals, to place and retrieve pet food and water bowls without bending, which is painful or difficult for many due to their age or medical conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vertically moving pet bowl apparatus with a movable tray that can be secured between two support columns, allowing users to access and lower the tray from a standing position, eliminating the need to bend, and featuring a top console for controlling the tray's movement, easy assembly, and optional features like adjustable size openings and a battery-operated timer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pet bowl system is placed on the floor level for pet access, then the pet can easily access food and water, but the owner must bend down to place and retrieve bowls which is painful or difficult for elderly individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vertical movement capability to the pet bowl system, transforming it from a static floor-level placement to a vertically movable structure. The bowl carrier can be positioned at different heights along vertical guides, allowing the owner to place bowls at waist level or higher and then lower them to floor level for pet access, eliminating the need for the owner to bend down while maintaining pet accessibility
2Ease of operation
If a vertically moving pet bowl apparatus is implemented, then the owner can avoid bending down, but the device complexity increases with support columns, movable trays, and control consoles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bowl carrier into separate modular components including a first bowl carrier portion and a second bowl carrier portion that can be independently positioned and secured at different heights. This segmentation allows the complex vertical system to be broken down into simpler, independently adjustable modules, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the vertical movement functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-locking mechanisms and gravity-assisted positioning systems that allow the movable tray to automatically secure at desired heights without requiring complex motors or electronic controls. The system uses simple mechanical means such as friction locks, cam mechanisms, or weight-balanced systems that automatically maintain position, eliminating the need for sophisticated control systems while achieving reliable vertical positioning
3Ease of operation
If the movable tray is designed to move vertically between support columns, then the owner can access the tray from a standing position, but the ease of assembly and disassembly for shipping and storage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vertical support structure into separable column sections and the bowl carrier into modular portions that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The support columns can be detached from the base, and the bowl carrier portions can be removed from the columns, allowing the system to be broken down into compact, easily transportable components without compromising the vertical movement functionality when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs quick-connect mechanisms and snap-fit joints that allow the support columns and bowl carrier portions to be rapidly assembled and disassembled without tools. The dynamic connection systems enable easy configuration changes for shipping, storage, or reconfiguration, while providing stable, rigid connections during operation when the tray is being used
Data Source
AI summary
A vertically moving pet bowl apparatus has a vertical tower having a first support column and a second support column. A movable tray may be secured to and located between the first and second support column. The movable tray has a plurality of openings for receiving at least one pet food bowl and/or a water bowl. The movable tray moves vertically between the first and the second support columns so that a user can access the movable tray in the up position and then lower the movable tray to the lower position wherein the pet may gain access. The apparatus allows the user to avoid bending down to provide food/water to the pet and instead allows a user to deliver food and water to the pet from an upright standing position. A top console controls the movement of the movable tray in the up and down position.