Animal Feeding Container and Method of Using

Abstract

A container for holding food or water for an animal includes: a unitary vessel having a generally elliptical plan and a trough in the upper surface to contain material for consumption by an animal, and further including: a flat rim on the lower surface to allow the vessel to rest stably on a horizontal surface; outer sides that slope outwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface at a selected angle from the vertical; and, a cantilevered handle extending from the upper surface in a direction along the major axis of the oval and having sufficient dimensions and sufficient strength to support the weight of the vessel and its contents; and wherein, the inner surface of the trough slopes inwardly from the upper rim of the trough to the bottom of the trough at a selected angle from the vertical. A related method is also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for feeding an animal comprising the steps of:
 providing a bowl with a flat lower surface to allow said bowl to rest stably on a horizontal surface, said bowl further including a trough having a concave bottom, and an elliptical shape whose minor axis is less than the distance between a selected animal's ears, and whose major axis is at least 125% of said minor axis, wherein:
 the surface of said trough forms a smooth tangent to said concave bottom in order to eliminate internal corners; 
 the surface of said trough slopes inwardly at an angle θ from the vertical that varies around the circumference of said ellipse, with a steeper slope θ 3  on the sides of said ellipse and a shallower slope θ 2  on the ends of said ellipse, with the vertical direction defined as perpendicular to the flat lower surface; and, 
 said bowl further comprises a cantilevered handle extending from the outer surface of the bowl along the major axis of the bowl; 
   placing material to be consumed by the animal into the trough; and,   placing said bowl onto a flat surface with the cantilevered handle extending in a selected direction so that the animal will approach the bowl from the direction of the cantilevered handle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said inward slope θ 3  on the side of said ellipse is about 10° to about 30° from the vertical, and said inward slope θ 2  on the end of said ellipse is about 20° to about 50° from the vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 providing a component on the lower surface of said bowl to minimize slippage on smooth surfaces, said component selected from the group consisting of:
 non-slip rubber feet; 
 segments of slit elastomeric tubing; and, 
 a substantially continuous elastomeric U-ring disposed around the periphery of said lower surface. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of said bowl slopes outwardly at an angle θ1 from the vertical of about 5° to about 40°. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said bowl comprises an injection molded thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 personalizing said bowl by:
 forming a depression on the outer surface of said bowl; 
 printing a user-supplied image on a label cut to the size and shape of said depression; 
 inserting said label into said depression; and, 
 covering said label with a transparent plastic cover that snappably engages into said depression. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 providing a supporting structure onto which one or more bowls may be disposed. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said supporting structure holds two bowls parallel to one another with adequate spaces on both sides of each bowl for the animal's ears to hang down without contacting the contents of one bowl while using the other. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said supporting structure allows each of said one or more bowls to be removed easily for cleaning and filling. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the surface of said trough is provided with indicia selected from the group consisting of: marks, fill lines, and volumetric measures. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said indicia comprise separate fill lines for food and water respectively.