CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/691,650, filed Jun. 20, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The early portable bale feeders were generally formed of metal tubes which were welded to provide a rigid, stable structure. Shipping and handling were difficult and the feeders were vulnerable to corrosion. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,713. Early bale feeders were most commonly round and, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,624, could be made somewhat more portable when fabricated as arcuate sections that could be bolted together. Polymeric tubing has been substituted for the metal tubes in more recent feeders. Such feeders present stability problems as the parts are not-suitable for welding. To provide stability, it is known to provide apertures in the circumference of the ring tubes that have upright tubes inserted therein and that are maintained in place with fasteners, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,422. This mode of assembly and stabilization is costly and presents difficulties in assembly. An alternate means of assembly and stabilization may be provided by clamps or other techniques connecting the ring tubes to the upright tubes such as presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,202.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention provides an improved bale feeder construction that employs polymeric tubular structural members that are assembled in a rigid and stable manner utilizing common assembly hardware. The bale feeder includes three or more generally horizontal rings, a plurality of polymeric tubular legs overlying and supporting the rings, and stabilizers that extend between and overlie at least two of the rings at circumferentially spaced locations. The overlying portions of the legs, rings and stabilizers are apertured to receive conventional fasteners whereby the stabilizers insure lateral stability of the bale feeder. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the bale feeder of this invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken on the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  showing a ring segment connection;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side view of one ring segment connector of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the ring segment connector of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a top view of second embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is an elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a bale feeder  10  is shown comprising four rings  12 , each made up of five segments  14  having abutting portions  16  forming a segment joint. The spacing of the top ring  12   a  above the base ring  12   b  is usually in the range of 4 to 6 feet. One or more rings are usually mounted at intervals of six to nine inches to aid in retaining feed in the feeder and avoiding ruining the hay from trampling or defecation. There are two upright legs  18  associated with each ring segment  14 . One leg  18   a  is secured against an abutting portion  16  of a ring segment  14  by a fastener  22  and a second leg  18   b  is similarly secured against the central portion  20  of each ring segment. There is a connector (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) that is fitted within the abutting portions  16  at each segment joint. The two abutting portions  16  and the connector are apertured to receive fasteners  22  that prevent separation of the abutting portions and connectors, as best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The preferred fastener in all locations includes a hex head bolt, spring washers and a locking nut. The bale feeder  10  is rendered rigid and stable in its configuration by a stabilizer means. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1  the stabilizer means comprises one or more polymeric tubes  24  spaced around the periphery of the feeder  10 . Each stabilizer tube  24  is secured to at least two of the rings  12  at circumferentially spaced locations by fasteners  22 . The circumferential spacing between the points of attachment of the stabilizer to two vertically spaced rings is selected to provide the desired stability that a triangular configuration provides. While stabilization is accomplished with polymeric tubes in the illustrated embodiments, other stabilizer means can be employed. One alternative is polymeric sheet material secured to two or more of the rings with fasteners at circumferentially spaced locations which provides the rigidity of a triangle.  
         [0012]     The connection details of the abutting ring portions  16 , the connectors  28  and respective apertures  26  therein can be best understood from the exploded view of  FIG. 2 . As shown in this view, the ring segments  14  are separated at their abutting portions  16  to expose the connector  22  and show the relationship of the parts. The apertures  26  in the abutting portions  16  and connector  28  are aligned in the assembled feeder  10  and receive appropriate fasteners. The details of the connection of the rings  12  to the legs  18  and stabilizer tubes  24  can best be understood from the enlarged section view  FIG. 3 , taken on the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the abutting portion  16   a  and  16   b  of two abutting ring segments are shown in cross section. The connector  28  is shown snuggly fitted in the two abutting portions  16   a  and  16   b . Apertures  26  in the abutting portion  16   a  are shown aligned with corresponding apertures in the connector  28 . The relationship of those parts is assured by a short bolt  30 . Spring (arcuate) washers  34  are fitted on bolt  30  and a locking nut  32  is applied to establish a secure connection of the abutting portion  16   a  and the connector  28 . The abutting ring portion  16   b  and the connector  28  have similar aligned apertures  26 . In this configuration a long bolt  36  is inserted in the aligned apertures  26  in the connector  28  and ring portion  16   b . Leg  18 a has apertures  26  aligned with apertures  26  in ring portion  16   b  and connector  28 . The long bolts  36  are used at all locations where a leg  18  or a stabilizer  24  is to be attached to a ring. A locking nut  32  and spring washers  34  are applied to bolt  36  in the manner already described.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate one polyethylene connector  28   a  used in the particular embodiment described. The outside diameter of connector  28   a  is selected to provide a sliding tolerance with the inside diameter of the rings. Slots  38  are provided to facilitate insertion of the connector in the rings during assembly.  
         [0015]     The benefits of the invention include portability, shippability, ease of assembly, use of standard and available materials and durability. The invention can be practiced in various configurations of height and adaptations for various animals already known to the rancher and farmer. The components include polyethylene tubing and fasteners that may be nuts, washers and bolts of stainless steel, zinc coated or other non-corrosive and weather tolerant materials. One popular feeder configuration is the one shown in  FIG. 1  in which the diameter is nominally 8 feet and the height is 4 feet. The longest feeder component of polyethylene tubing is a curved ring segment that is barely over 5 feet long. Thus the entire feeder can be shipped through conventional cartage and delivery services such as UPS at relatively low cost. Whether the feeder is assembled in a factory or on a farm or ranch, the tools required for assembly are found in most tool boxes. A power drill and a few wrenches are the required tools. The legs customarily come to the farmer or other assembler with the legs predrilled to insure constant ring spacing.  
         [0016]     A second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . For some applications and for some animals a feeder configuration is preferred in which the legs as described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2  are not upright, but sloping.  FIG. 6  shows a top view of such a feeder and  FIG. 7  shows a side or elevation view thereof. This feeder  40  has only three rings. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the rings  42  are constructed of five ring segments  44 . As described above, each adjacent pair of segments  42  have abutting portions  46  and a connector  48  extending therein. The segments and connector are secured together by fasteners  52 . As shown best in  FIG. 7 , the slant bars  50  of this embodiment are secured to the base ring  42  and extend angularly upward to overly the middle and top ring at circumferentially displaced locations. The embodiment of  FIG. 1  has a total of ten legs  18 , one against each connector, and one centrally located between connectors. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7  there are two equally spaced slant rods  50  between connectors or a total of  20  around the ring periphery. This configuration has been found advantageous in feeding smaller animals. There is a stabilizer  54  between adjacent slant bars  50  that is secured by fasteners  52  to two of the rings  42 . The configuration of the slant bars  50  and stabilizers  54  define a triangle like configuration that provides stability and rigidity in the feeder. As described with respect to the first embodiment, the fasteners  52  comprise zinc plated steel, stainless steel or other corrosion resistant bolts, nuts and washers which, with the polymeric tubes, provide a durable, weather tolerant, sturdy feeder. Alternative corrosion resistant hardware can also be employed.  
         [0017]     The following example further illustrates the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.  
       EXAMPLE _b  1   
       [0018]     This is a list of actual components for assembling a three ring feeder approximately 8 feet in diameter and identical to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  but omitting the first ring above the base ring. This example demonstrates the user friendly simplicity of design with a very basic parts list that is economical, yet rugged, durable and simple to assemble:  
                                                                                                                                                             Ring segments:   15 pieces   1611   mm long   63 mm OD, 50 mm ID                Coiled polyethylene pipe - UV stable with           2.5% carbon black            Connectors:   15 pieces   254   mm long   50 mm OD/38 mm ID                Straight polyethylene pipe - UV stable with           2.5% carbon black            Legs:   10 pieces   1219   mm long   50 mm OD/40.5 mm ID                Straight polyethylene pipe - UV stable with           2.5% carbon black            Stabilizers:   10 pieces   600   mm long   50 mm OD/38 mm ID                Straight polyethylene pipe - UV stable with           2.5% carbon black       Hex Head Bolts:   zinc plated - 53 pieces, 8 × 125 mm &amp; 25 pieces           8 × 70 mm.       Spring (Curved) Washers:   zinc plated - 43 pieces - 9 mm ID - 16 to 20 mm OD.       Locking Nuts with Nylon Insert:   zinc plated - 73 pieces - Must fit hex head bolts.                  
 
         [0019]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0020]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This invention provides an improved bale feeder construction that employs polymeric tubular structural members that are assembled in a rigid and stable manner utilizing common assembly hardware, the bale feeder including three or more generally horizontal rings, a plurality of polymeric tubular legs overlying and supporting the rings, and stabilizers that extend between and overlie at least two of the rings at circumferentially spaced locations, the legs, rings and stabilizers being apertured at the overlying portions to receive fasteners whereby the stabilizers insure lateral stability of the bale feeder.