Abstract: A structurally simple and inexpensive valve enables caged small animals to obtain water on demand by moving the tip of a rod which protrudes from an end of the valve. An annular valve body has a first end fitted into one end of a tube and an opposite end forming a valve seat that faces away from the tube. The rod extends through the tube and through an opening at the center of the valve seat and into a moveable sleeve which seals the opening when the valve is in the closed condition. Resilient material extends between the valve body and movable sleeve to support the sleeve and rod and to bias these components towards their opening sealing position. At least the portion of the rod which extends within the valve seat opening is of smaller diameter than the opening thereby enabling opening of the valve by pivoting movements of the rod as well as by axial movement of the rod. The inlet end of the valve may be situated within the outlet spout of an animal water bottle or other water source.

Abstract: A shield or guard for preventing damage to an animal watering bottle by an animal within a cage comprises a generally planar web of metal or similarly hard material having length and width dimensions similar to the water bottle assembly being protected. A pair of tabs are formed at the upper edge of the web, and are angled downwardly to engage a lateral wire of the animal cage wall. A tube opening is provided in the web adjacent to the lower end thereof to permit the water delivery tube to extend from the bottle through the shield and through the cage wall. The water bottle is disposed to impinge on the outer surface of the web, with the delivery tube extending through the tube opening, and a wire bail is secured about the bottle and hooked to a lateral wire of the cage wall to support the bottle on the cage.

Abstract: A water dispenser for attachment to an animal cage or the like has a bottle from which a drinking tube extends. The opening for filling the bottle is situated at the front wall of the bottle which faces the cage. In the preferred form, a threaded rim encircles the opening and a threaded closure cap engages on the rim. The bottle may be made of plastic while the closure cap is formed of metal or other relatively hard material. The protruding rim and hard closure cap hold the bottle away from the cage to prevent gnawing or clawing of softer portions of the dispenser. The frontal location also enables the opening to be large and thereby facilitates cleaning of the bottle. A resilient hanger rod clasps the rim of the opening and has outward extending hooked ends for engaging the cage. Also in the preferred form, gripping of the bottle is facilitated by recesses in the side walls which are adjacent a portion of the back wall that is of reduced width.