Susan Carol King

US Patent:

20020134313, Sep 26, 2002

Filed:

Mar 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/105435

Inventors:

Robert Andrew King - North Bethesda MD, US
Susan Hoppe King - North Bethesda MD, US
Floyd Brantley Chapman - Alexandria VA, US

International Classification:

A01K001/10
A01K005/00
A01K039/00

US Classification:

119/051020

Abstract:

A feeding apparatus is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the feeding apparatus includes a housing that is configured to contain food. The housing includes a container for food, a moveable cover to control access to the container for food, said moveable cover being configured to move in at least i) a closed position to preclude access to the container for food, and ii) an open position to permit access to the container for food, a sensor that detects at least one identification device, and a controller that controls movement of the moveable cover. The controller causes the moveable cover to the open position in response to the detection of an authorized identification device. A method for controlling access to a feeding apparatus is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of (1) sensing a presence of a first animal through the use of an identification device; (2) determining if the first animal is an authorized user; (3) determining if one or more over-ride conditions are met; (4) and if no over-ride conditions are met, opening a moveable cover to provide access to an interior of the feeding apparatus is allowed.