Pet feeding system and method for collecting spilled food and water

Abstract

A pet feeding system for separating spilled food from spilled water comprises a housing which defines a contained feeding area adapted to hold a food bowl, a water bowl, or both. The system is capable of filtering spilled food from spilled water. A sloped surface extends downward from a bowl region toward a perforated collection region. A low portion of at least one wall has a segment which is contoured inwardly toward feeding bowls, thus allowing a pet to be closer to the bowls while feeding. A method for collecting spilled food and spilled water from a pet feeding system comprises separating the pet feeding system into a first reservoir and a second reservoir, which are detachably coupled to each other; collecting the spilled food from the first reservoir; and collecting the spilled water from the second reservoir.

1 . A pet feeding system comprising:
 a housing defining a contained feeding area adapted to hold at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water, said housing comprising means for filtering spilled food from spilled water.   
   
   
       2 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base and the means for filtering comprise a plurality of holes in the base. 
   
   
       3 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base and the means for filtering comprise a single hole in the base. 
   
   
       4 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for filtering are integral with the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for filtering are removable from the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base with a surface, the surface having a bowl region and a collection region; and the means for filtering comprise at least one hole located only in the collection region. 
   
   
       7 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base with a surface and the means for filtering extend throughout substantially the entire base of the housing. 
   
   
       8 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base with a surface and the means for filtering are perpendicular or angled toward the surface. 
   
   
       9 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 8 , wherein the means for filtering comprise a perforated rib. 
   
   
       10 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base with a sloped surface, the sloped surface having a bowl region and sloping downward from the bowl region to the means for filtering spilled food from spilled water. 
   
   
       11 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a monolithic unit. 
   
   
       12 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of units. 
   
   
       13 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first reservoir and a second reservoir. 
   
   
       14 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are detachably coupled to each other. 
   
   
       15 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first reservoir is disposed on or above the second reservoir. 
   
   
       16 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 15 , wherein the first reservoir defines the contained feeding area, the contained feeding area having a bowl region. 
   
   
       17 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 16 , wherein the first reservoir comprises the means for filtering spilled food from spilled water. 
   
   
       18 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first reservoir has a first reservoir base and the means for filtering spilled food from spilled water comprise a plurality of holes in the first reservoir base, wherein the holes are sufficiently small such that the spilled food remains in the first reservoir but the spilled water passes through the plurality of holes to the second reservoir, thereby allowing for separation of spilled food from spilled water. 
   
   
       19 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of holes are oval-shaped. 
   
   
       20 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 17 , wherein the means for filtering spilled food from spilled water further comprise a trough. 
   
   
       21 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 20 , wherein the trough is removable from the housing. 
   
   
       22 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first reservoir comprises a first reservoir base and at least one wall extending upwardly from the first reservoir base to define the contained feeding area. 
   
   
       23 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one wall has a front section and a remaining section, the front section comprising a low portion and at least one high portion, and the remaining section comprising a high portion. 
   
   
       24 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 23 , wherein a segment of the low portion is contoured inwardly toward the bowl region. 
   
   
       25 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 17 , wherein the second reservoir comprises a second reservoir base. 
   
   
       26 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 25 , wherein the second reservoir comprises at least one wall extending upwardly from the second reservoir base. 
   
   
       27 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 26 , wherein the second reservoir comprises a drawer, wherein the drawer is slideably movable relative to the first reservoir. 
   
   
       28 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 17 , wherein the second reservoir is disposed substantially entirely underneath the means for filtering spilled food from spilled water. 
   
   
       29 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 17 , wherein the bowl region defines at least one opening adapted to receive the at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water. 
   
   
       30 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is adapted to receive a food bowl and the second opening is adapted to receive a water bowl. 
   
   
       31 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first reservoir has a first reservoir base with a surface and each of the first and second openings has a periphery, wherein a peripheral wall extends upwardly from the surface. 
   
   
       32 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 31 , wherein the height of each peripheral wall as measured from the surface varies around its circumference to allow for a bowl to rest substantially parallel to the surface on which the pet feeding system rests. 
   
   
       33 . A pet feeding system comprising:
 a housing defining a contained feeding area, said housing comprising means for filtering spilled food from spilled water, wherein the housing defines at least one opening in the contained feeding area, and   at least one bowl is disposed in the at least one opening.   
   
   
       34 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 33 , wherein the housing comprises a first reservoir and a second reservoir; the first reservoir defines the contained feeding area and has a first reservoir base; and the first reservoir further comprises a support portion extending downward from the first reservoir base. 
   
   
       35 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pet feeding system rests on a floor and has a height above the floor of about 50% to about 80% of the shoulder height or withers of the pets for which the system is adapted for use. 
   
   
       36 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base with a surface and the system further comprises a removable liner on the surface. 
   
   
       37 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pet feeding system rests on a floor, the housing has a base, and the system further comprises post legs coupled to the bottom of the base, wherein the post legs hold the system above the floor so that the base does not come into contact with the floor. 
   
   
       38 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1  further comprising a lid coupled to the top of the housing for closing the system and for inhibiting access to the contained feeding area. 
   
   
       39 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pet feeding system rests on a floor, the housing has a base, and the system further comprises removable legs coupled to the bottom of the base for increasing the height of the contained feeding area as measured from the floor. 
   
   
       40 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a base and the system further comprises non-skid protective pads coupled to the bottom of the base. 
   
   
       41 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a collar. 
   
   
       42 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has handles. 
   
   
       43 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one bowl comprises a first bowl for containing food and a second bowl for containing water. 
   
   
       44 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 43  further comprising a food container disposed on or above the first bowl and a water container disposed on or above the second bowl, wherein food is gravity-fed from the food container into the first bowl and water is gravity-fed from the water container into the second bowl. 
   
   
       45 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
 a base; and   at least one wall having a front section and a remaining section and extending upwardly from the base;   wherein the front section comprises a low portion and at least one high portion and the remaining section comprises a high portion.   
   
   
       46 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 45 , wherein the means for filtering comprise a filtering tray disposed above the base and abutting the at least one wall, wherein:
 (1) the filtering tray is adapted to have at least one bowl resting on or abutting the filtering tray;   (2) the filtering tray defines interstitial spaces; and   (3) the interstitial spaces are sufficiently small such that the spilled food remains on top of the filtering tray but the spilled water passes through the interstitial spaces onto the base, thereby allowing for separation of spilled food from spilled water.   
   
   
       47 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 46 , wherein the filtering tray is removable. 
   
   
       48 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 45 , wherein (1) the at least one wall further comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, and an upper portion; and (2) the inner wall, the outer wall, and the upper portion define a hollow space. 
   
   
       49 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 45 , wherein the base and the at least one wall comprise a single monolithic unit, wherein the base defines at least one mold adapted to receive at least one removable bowl for containing food or water. 
   
   
       50 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 49 , wherein the at least one mold is disposed at a location relative to the front section such that an area of the base is exposed between the at least one mold and the front section,
 wherein said area of the base is sufficiently large to contain spilled food or water.   
   
   
       51 . A pet feeding system comprising:
 a housing defining a contained feeding area having a bowl region and a perforated collection region for filtering spilled food from spilled water, wherein the bowl region is adapted to hold at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water.   
   
   
       52 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 51 , wherein the perforated collection region comprises a trough. 
   
   
       53 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 52 , wherein the trough is concave and curves downwardly. 
   
   
       54 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 53 , wherein the perforated collection region comprises a single hole or a plurality of holes. 
   
   
       55 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 51 , wherein the housing further comprises a sloped surface extending downward from the bowl region toward the perforated collection region. 
   
   
       56 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 55 , wherein the housing comprises a first reservoir and a second reservoir, wherein the first reservoir is disposed on or above the second reservoir. 
   
   
       57 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 56 , wherein the first reservoir comprises the contained feeding area having the bowl region and the perforated collection region and the sloped surface extending downward from the bowl region toward the perforated collection region. 
   
   
       58 . A method for containing spilled food and spilled water from a pet feeding system comprising the steps of:
 separating the pet feeding system into a first reservoir and a second reservoir, wherein the first reservoir comprises a bowl region adapted to hold at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water;   removing the spilled food from the first reservoir; and   removing the spilled water from the second reservoir.   
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the separating step comprises lifting the first reservoir off of the second reservoir. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the separating step comprises detaching the first reservoir from the second reservoir. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the separating step comprises removing the second reservoir from underneath the first reservoir. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the separating step comprises sliding the second reservoir out from underneath the first reservoir. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the first reservoir comprises at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water, and the method further comprises the step of setting the first reservoir on a surface, wherein the at least one bowl remains substantially parallel to the surface. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising the steps of holding the spilled food and spilled water for safe disposal, re-use, or both. 
   
   
       65 . A pet feeding system comprising:
 a base;   at least one wall having a front section and a remaining section and extending upwardly from the base to define a contained feeding area; and   at least one bowl for containing food and water disposed on, above, or extending through openings in the base,   wherein the front section comprises a low portion and at least one high portion and the remaining section comprises a high portion,   wherein the top of the low portion is above the top edge of the bowl.   
   
   
       66 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 65  further comprising leg extensions. 
   
   
       67 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 65 , wherein a segment of the low portion is contoured inwardly toward the contained feeding area. 
   
   
       68 . A pet feeding system according to  claim 65 , wherein the height of the high portion as measured from the base is sufficient to contain substantially all of the spills and splashes in use. 
   
   
       69 . A pet feeding system according to  claim 65 , wherein the pet feeding system rests on a floor and the at least one high portion has a height above the floor of about 50% to about 80% of the shoulder height or withers of the pets for which the system is adapted for use. 
   
   
       70 . A pet feeding system according to  claim 65 , wherein the top of the low portion is at least about one-quarter inch above the top edge of the bowl. 
   
   
       71 . A pet feeding system according to  claim 65 , wherein the base defines a bowl region and a collection region, wherein said collection region is closer to the front section than the bowl region, and said base has a sloped surface extending downward from the bowl region toward the collection region such that the collection region is lower than the top edge of the bowl. 
   
   
       72 . A pet feeding system comprising:
 a first reservoir and a second reservoir, wherein the first reservoir comprises a bowl region adapted to hold at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water, wherein the first reservoir is adapted to contain spilled food and the second reservoir is adapted to contain spilled water.   
   
   
       73 . A pet feeding system comprising:
 a housing defining a contained feeding area having a bowl region adapted to hold at least one bowl for containing food, water, or both food and water and a collection region, the housing having a base with a sloped surface for directing water from the bowl region to the collection region, wherein the collection region is adapted to contain a quantity of water.   
   
   
       74 . The pet feeding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a base and at least one wall extending upwardly from the base, and the means for filtering comprise a filtering tray disposed above the base and abutting the at least one wall, wherein:
 (1) the filtering tray is adapted to have at least one bowl resting on or abutting the filtering tray;   (2) the filtering tray defines interstitial spaces; and   (3) the interstitial spaces are sufficiently small such that the spilled food remains on top of the filtering tray but the spilled water passes through the interstitial spaces onto the base, thereby allowing for separation of spilled food from spilled water.