초록 ▼

An animal water bowl assembly is maintained clean by allowing a bowl to dry out after a use period, before refilling. Uses include: birdbath and pet and farm animal watering. Two bowls can be coordinated so that one is in use with water while one is drying out. A two-faced assembly with oppositely f

An animal water bowl assembly is maintained clean by allowing a bowl to dry out after a use period, before refilling. Uses include: birdbath and pet and farm animal watering. Two bowls can be coordinated so that one is in use with water while one is drying out. A two-faced assembly with oppositely facing bowls can automatically coordinate the steps for the two bowls. The process of filling a bowl, allowing it to be used, emptying it, filling another, allowing it to be used while the first dries out, can be automated with an actuator and a controller. An animal water bowl assembly has at least two bowls, with means for coordinating the filling and use and drying steps. As an example, a two faced bowl is rotatable around an axis. An electronic controller opens a valve to provide power to a hydraulic actuator, which flips the two faced bowl to empty the first and present the second for filling. Filling with water occurs automatically, also using water from the hydraulic source. Many versions only require a user to set a duration on a controller, during which time hydraulic power is provided, which duration is sufficient to flip and fill the two bowls of an assembly. Flipping and filling occur automatically at the right times. A user interface has a single valve, and a single cycle. The user sets a period for activation, and the duration that power is provided. More than two bowls can be used. Electromechanical, rather than hydraulic power can be used to actuate the assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for maintaining an animal water bowl, said method, comprising the steps of: a. providing a first bowl, having a concave surface; b. providing said first bowl with water; c. allowing water to remain in said first bowl for use; d. at a time before any significant quant

What is claimed is: 1. A method for maintaining an animal water bowl, said method, comprising the steps of: a. providing a first bowl, having a concave surface; b. providing said first bowl with water; c. allowing water to remain in said first bowl for use; d. at a time before any significant quantity of matter has become adhered to said first bowl surface, removing substantially all of said water from said first bowl; e. drying said surface of said first bowl by allowing said first bowl to remain empty for a period of time sufficient for said surface of said first bowl to dry off so that it is substantially dry; f. repeating said steps b, providing water, through e, drying, thereby enabling periodic use by an animal of said first bowl; g. further comprising the steps of: i. providing a second bowl, having a concave surface; ii. providing said second bowl with water; iii. allowing water to remain in said second bowl for use; iv. at a time before any significant quantity of matter has become adhered to said second bowl surface, removing substantially all of said water from said second bowl; v. drying said second bowl surface so that it is substantially dry; and vi. repeating said steps, ii, providing water, through v, drying, regarding said second bowl, thereby enabling periodic use by an animal of said second bowl; h. timing said steps: b, providing said first bowl with water through e, drying said first bowl surface, relative to said sub-steps g. ii., providing said second bowl with water through q. v., drying said second bowl surface, such that at substantially all times, at least one of said first and second bowls contains sufficient water for use by an animal. 2. The method of claim 1, said bowls being of a configuration suitable for birds to bathe in. 3. The method of claim 1, said bowls being of a size and configuration suitable for a household pet animal selected from the group consisting of: dog and cat, to drink water from. 4. The method of claim 1, said bowls being of a size and configuration suitable for a farm animal selected from the group consisting of: cow, pig, horse, sheep, goat and chicken to drink water from. 5. The method of claim 1, said step of removing said water from said first bowl, comprising tilting said first bowl enough to pour out said water. 6. The method of claim 1, said step of removing said water from said first bowl comprising opening a port in said first bowl located such that when opened, water empties out through said port. 7. The method of claim 1, said step of drying comprising hanging said first bowl at an incline, such that said first bowl drains and said first bowl surface dries. 8. The method of claim 1, said first bowl being secured to a fixture by a hinge, with said concave surface facing upward, said step of drying comprising releasing said hinge to hang said first bowl from said hinge with said concave surface, facing angled away from upward. 9. The method of claim 1, said first and second bowls comprising a pair of back-to-back bowls, with their respective concave surfaces facing away from each other. 10. The method of claim 1, said step of allowing water to remain in said first bowl for use being conducted substantially simultaneously with said step of drying said second bowl surface, such that said first bowl is available for use while said second bowl surface is drying. 11. The method of claim 10, said step of allowing water to remain in said second bowl for use being conducted substantially simultaneously with said step of drying said first bowl surface such that said second bowl is available for use while said first bowl surface is drying.