received by the International Bureau on 12 February 2018 (12.02.2018)

Claims

1. A slow feeder comprising;

a container for, In use, containing food for an animal, the container having a side wall through which a slot is defined;

a feeding restrictor for, in use, resting on top of the food; and a retaining element which is movably engageable with an outer portion of the container;

in which the feeding restrictor is removably couplable to the retaining element.

2. A slow feeder according to claim 1 , in which a portion of the feeding restrictor extends through the slot. 3. A slow feeder according to claim 2, in which the feeding restrictor is couplable to the retaining element by means of a fastener located outside the container.

4. A slow feeder according to claim 2, in which the feeding restrictor is couplable to the retaining element by changing a configuration of the retaining element.

5. A slow feeder according to claim 1 , in which a portion of the retaining element extends through the slot.

6. A slow feeder according to claim 5, in which the feeding restrictor is couplable to the retaining element by means of a fastener located Inside the container. 7. A slow feeder according to claim 1 , in which the feeding restrictor is couplable to the retaining element by means of a fastener located within the slot.

8. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, In which the retaining element encircles the container, preferably comprising a ring of a shape corresponding to an outer shape of the container, 9. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which the slot is one of a plurality of slots defined through the side wall of the container, and the feeding restrictor Is, In use, coupled to the retaining element at each slot.

10. A slow feeder according to claim 9, in which the slots are spaced around the container, preferably being evenly spaced around the container.

1 1. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which, when coupled together, the feeding restrictor and the retaining element form an assembly which comprises a locating element extending through the or each slot.

12. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which when coupled together, the feeding restrictor and the retaining element form an assembly which cannot be removed from the container.

13. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which when the feeding restrictor is uncoupled from the retaining element, the feeding restrictor can be removed from the container. 14. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, In which when the feeding restrictor Is uncoupled from the retaining element, the retaining element cannot be removed from the container.

15. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which the slot extends between closed upper and lower ends of the slot

16. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which the side wall of the container is fabricated in two or more segments, the or each slot being defined between pairs of adjacent side-wall segments.

17. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which the feeding restrictor is light coloured, preferably white. 18. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which an upper edge or rim of the container side wall is light coloured, preferably white.

19. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which the openings are defined through the feeding restrictor through which the animal can access the food, at least 80% of the openings, and preferably all of the openings, being between 35cm² and 50cm² in area, and preferably between 40cm² and 47cm².

20. A slow feeder according to claim 19, In which the openings comprise between 50% and 60% of the total area of the feeding restrictor.

21. A slow feeder according to claim 19 or 20, in which the feeding restrictor is circular, and the openings comprise a central opening and three concentric circular rows of openings.

22. A slow feeder according to any preceding claim, in which the retaining element has a mass of between 1.5 kg and 3 kg, and the feeding restrictor has a mass of less than 0.75 kg, 23. A method for feeding food to an animal, comprising the steps of;

providing a container having a side wall through which a slot is defined, between upper and lower slot ends;

placing food in the container;

placing a feeding restrictor on top of the food, and coupling the feeding restrictor, through the slot, to a retaining element movably engageable with an outer portion of the container;

allowing the animal to feed, through the restrictor, such that the feeding restrictor and the retaining element move downwards, along the slot, as the food is eaten; and uncoupling the feeding restrictor from the retaining element to allow further food to be placed in the container.

24. A method according to claim 23, in which the step of coupling the feeding restrictor to the retaining element includes operating a fastening means.

25. A method according to claim 23, in which the step of coupling the feeding restrictor to the retaining means includes changing a configuration of the retaining means to convert it to a configuration in which it cannot pass through the slot.

26. A method according to claim 23, in which the step of uncoupling the feeding restrictor from the retaining means includes changing a configuration of the retaining means to convert it to a configuration in which it can pass through the slot.

27. A feeding restrictor for a slow feeder, in which the feeding restrictor is light coloured, preferably white.

28. A slow feeder comprising a container for food, the container having a side wall, in which an upper edge or rim of the container side wall is light coloured, preferably white. 29, A feeding restrictor for a slow feeder, in which openings are defined through the feeding restrictor, through which an animal can access the food, at least 80% of the openings, and preferably all of the openings, being between 35cm² and 50cm² in area, and preferably between 43cm² and 47cm².

30. A feeding restrictor according to claim 29, in which the openings comprise between 50% and 60% of the total area of the feeding restrictor.

31. A feeding restrictor according to claim 29 or 30, In which the feeding restrlctor is circular, and the openings comprise a central opening and three concentric circular rows of openings. 32. A slow feeder substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

33. A method for feeding an animal substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. A feeding restrictor substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.