Patent ID: 8931434
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. A collapsible bird feeder, which comprises: a seed reservoir for holding bird seed therein, the seed reservoir being formed of telescopically adjustable sections, the seed reservoir having an open top side for filling the reservoir with seed and an open bottom side situated axially opposite the open top side for dispensing seed held by the reservoir therethrough; a dome covering the open top side of the seed reservoir, the dome including a seed fill hole formed through the thickness thereof, the seed fill hole of the dome being positioned in alignment with the open top side of the seed reservoir; a dome cap, the dome cap having a central portion and a bottom portion which extends outwardly from the central portion, the dome cap being mounted on the dome, with the bottom portion of the dome cap covering the seed fill hole formed in the dome; and a base, the base having a plurality of perch structures to support feeding birds, the base being situated below the open bottom side of the seed reservoir and being in seed flow communication therewith to receive seed held by the reservoir and dispensed through the open bottom side thereof; wherein the seed reservoir is adjustable between at least a first state in which the telescopically adjustable sections of the reservoir are expanded relative to one another to provide the seed reservoir with a first axial length, and a second state in which the telescopically adjustable sections of the seed reservoir are contracted relative to one another to provide the seed reservoir with a second axial length which is less than the first axial length, the bird feeder being in a collapsed state when the seed reservoir has the second axial length, the bird feeder being in a non-collapsed state when the seed reservoir has the first axial length; wherein the dome cap further includes a hook for hanging the bird feeder from a supporting structure, the hook being mounted on the central portion of the dome cap and extending outwardly therefrom; wherein the dome includes a hub situated centrally in the seed fill hole formed therein and at least one cross member connected to the hub and bridging the seed fill hole; wherein the central portion of the dome cap is removably mounted to the hub of the dome; wherein the dome includes an outer surface portion defining the seed fill hole; wherein the at least one cross member bridging the seed fill hole in the dome is recessed below the outer surface portion of the dome which defines the seed fill hole and is bowed downwardly and inwardly of the fill hole to minimize the spillage of bird seed poured into the fill hole of the dome; and wherein the at least one cross member which bridges the seed fill hole formed in the dome includes sloped side walls and a top ridge defined by the sloped side walls to minimize the spillage of bird seed that is poured into the fill hole of the dome.