FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

Not Applicable

SPECIFICATION

To all Whom it May Concern

Be it known that, Daniel Lentz and Tom Zipprian, have invented new and useful improvements in an animal feeder and method of use as described in this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Any pet owner, animal trainer, or caregiver knows the challenging task of keeping to an animal stationary, calm, and distracted while trying to perform one or more tasks on the animal. For example, many animals become anxious and unsettled while being bathed, having their hair or nails trimmed, or during a medical examination. The owner, trainer, or caregiver is left wrestling with the animal and a restraint may be used to corral the animal.

In other situations, an owner, trainer, or caregiver may choose to entertain, reward, or calm an animal for an extended period of time. Several animal treats are typically devoured in a few seconds with the animal begging for more almost instantaneously. Other treats may be made of a dense material (e.g., rawhide) to occupy the animal for an extended period of time, but these materials may not be suitable for an animal's diet or oral health.

In addition, many traditional feeder systems are comprised of a simple receptacle that receives the food or treats therein. The animal typically devours all the food within a matter of minutes while moving the receptacle from one end of the room to another, which is sub-optimal for distracting the animal while performing a task on the animal. Further, for veterinarians, trainers, caregivers, or other persons that handle several different pets in a day, it is good sanitary practice to clean those receptacles between uses. Having to constantly clean the receptacle is time consuming and if the receptacle is improperly cleaned, the animal may become ill. Furthermore, the surface or area around the receptacle may become drenched with saliva, drool, or slobber while the animal feeds, which may require a good cleaning after each feeding.

Thus there exists a need for an animal feeder to distract, entertain, calm, or occupy an animal for an extended period of time. There is a further need for an animal feeder to aid in training or rewarding an animal. There is an even further need for an animal feeder that is user-friendly, promotes good sanitary practices, and keeps the surrounding areas free from saliva, drool, or slobber.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to animal feeders, and more particularly, to an animal feeder to distract, entertain, calm, or occupy an animal for an extended period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the animal feeder, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an animal feeder which has many novel features that result in an animal feeder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.

An animal feeder is described herein. The animal feeder includes an elastomeric body having an obverse side and a reverse side. On the obverse side is a feeding section. The feeding section includes a plurality of nubs. The plurality of nubs hold food in the feeding section and 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. 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.

A method to entertain, distract, calm, or occupy an animal to keep the animal in one location for an extended period of time is also described here. The method includes the suctioning of the animal feeder to a surface. Food may be placed in the feeding section such as a creamy treat smeared between the plurality of nubs. An animal is permitted to lick the food in the feeding section. In specific applications, a user may bathe and/or examine the animal while the animal is distracted and calmed by the animal feeder.

Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present animal feeder so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Objects of the present animal feeder, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the animal feeder, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

