The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 22, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 06, 1999
Motohiro Niki, Tokyo-To, JP;
Atsushi Kidachi, Sakura, JP;
Other;
Abstract
A water feed device for small animal rearing apparatus has a water feed member ( ) and a closing valve ( ) operated by the water feed member ( ). The water feed member ( ) is sheathed in a sheathing pipe ( ) so that a thin annular space (M) is formed between the water feed member ( ) and the sheathing pipe ( ). The sheathing pipe ( ) is disposed coaxially in a protective pipe ( ) so that a thick annular space (N) is formed between the sheathing pipe ( ) and the protective pipe ( ). When a small animal touches a fore end portion ( ) of the water feed member ( ) projecting from the extremity of the sheathing pipe ( ), the valve ( ) is opened to permit water flow along the water feed member ( ) toward the fore end portion ( ) to enable the small animal drink water. Since the thick annular space (N) is much greater than the thin annular space (M), mischievous small animals try to thrust litter, food or dirt into the greater annular space and do not thrust the same into the thin annular space, so that basic water feeding function of the water feed member ( ) is maintained.