ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,778,073, issued on Nov. 3.
"Equine slow-feeder for simulating grazing behavior" was invented by Sean Steven Fintel (Firth, Neb.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An equine slow-feeder comprises an external frame defining an internal cavity for receiving baled hay, at least one openable door for loading the hay, and a set of trolley tracks sloping downward toward the middle of the internal cavity. A feed-through grid panel, movably coupled to the trolley tracks via trolley wheel assemblies, is configured to compress the hay under its weight as it rolls inward due to gravity, exposing portions of the hay through narrow feeding spaces to regula...