Patent ID: 9648855
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: A01K

Claim:
1. A top-fill liquid hummingbird feeder for providing liquid nectar to hummingbirds, comprising: a liquid container configured to contain a volume of liquid nectar and having a top opening and a bottom portion with a liquid flow opening; a cap adapted to close said top opening and to be removed to allow filling through said top opening; a liquid tray adjacent said container bottom portion and configured to receive and contain a quantity of liquid nectar flowing from said container through said liquid flow opening into said liquid tray, said liquid tray including at least one feeding port therein having a narrow elongated passageway that is sized for a hummingbird's beak to allow access by hummingbirds while preventing access by bees, liquid contained in said liquid tray being accessible to hummingbirds only through said feeding port when said feeder is in use; and a valve mechanism including a fixed member and a movable member displaceable with respect to said fixed member between a first position and a second position, said liquid flow opening being opened when said movable member is displaced to said first position relative to said fixed member and being closed when said movable member is displaced to said second position relative to said fixed member, closure of said flow opening by placement of said movable member of said valve mechanism in said second position enabling said liquid container to be filled by removing said cap and adding liquid nectar through said top opening while, at the same time, preventing overflow of nectar through said feeding port.