US 6,981,469 B1
Laterally ejecting fluid flow control system and method
Stephen B. Welbourne, Pittsfield, Ill. (US)
Assigned to Welbourne Innovations, Inc., Pittsfield, Ill. (US)
Filed on Jul. 05, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/613,840.
Application 10/613840 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/128223, filed on Apr. 24, 2002, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/404001, filed on Aug. 17, 2002.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/341780, filed on Dec. 17, 2001.
Int. Cl. A01K 7/04 (2006.01); A01K 7/06 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 119—75 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for providing fluid to a cup, said cup, as presented in side elevation, having a bottom, a substantially open top and substantially vertically projecting sides, said system further comprising means for accepting fluid projecting through the bottom of said cup, and means for ejecting said fluid into said cup;
said means for accepting fluid being incorporated in a nipple housing which further comprises a rod means situated therewithin;
said system being distinguished in that it further comprises at least one section from the group consisting of:
a restriction element frame present at least partially within said cup and in substantially vertically projecting plane which substantially bisects said cup laterally as viewed form thereabove, said rod means being projected in the plane of said restriction element, said restriction element frame comprising two sides angled and extending upwardly in opposite directions out of said cup, and a horizontal element disposed entirely outside said cup, extending between and coupling the two angled sides to form an inverted triangular shape enclosing an open space therebetween, said rod means extending outwardly from the cup and into the enclosed open space of the restriction element frame; and
an annular space present between said rod means and said nipple housing, said rod means being accessible from atop said cup and functionally incorporated into said means for accepting fluid such that movement of said rod means causes said means for accepting fluid to allow fluid to enter into said cup via said means for ejecting said fluid, said annular space between said nipple housing and said rod means being smaller at its top than it is therebeneath, said annular space having an unrestrained float therewithin, such that if fluid accumulates within said annular space, said unrestrained float freely rises in said annular space and serves to automatically restrict rod means motion, said unrestrained float having a central bore and said rod means extending entirely through said bore, said float having an upper end having a smaller diameter than that of a lower end of said float.