Animal watering apparatus

Abstract

A water tank for supplying water to a caged animal includes a cylindrical container having an open upper end and a threaded lower neck opening. The upper opening is provided with a hinged, flip-top closure for easy filling, the closure being open to ambient air pressure. Joined to the lower neck opening is a dispenser assembly that includes a threaded cap received on the threaded neck, and dispenser tube extending obliquely from the bottom of the cap. Within the dispenser tube, a stainless steel valve assembly is secured, and a valve stem assembly extends to the lower opening of the dispenser tube. An animal may use its tongue to depress the valve stem assembly and cause a small amount of water to flow gravitally from the tank through the tube to the animal. The displaced liquid is replaced by air flowing into the non-sealed top opening, so that there is no retrograde air flow through the valve assembly to introduce contaminants. The tank is provided with a plurality of annular ridges spaced in equal increments along the vertical (axial) extent thereof. A tank mounting assembly includes a bracket having a partial annulus that defines a pair of opposed arms. The tank may be snap-engaged by the arms, which are dimensioned to fit between two adjacent annular ridges. The mounted height of the tank may be selected by snap-engaging the mounting bracket between selected annular ridges. The bracket may be secured to the vertical or horizontal wires of the cage.