Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for feeding birds. The apparatus is configured to resist destruction by birds and to be firmly attached to a perch, branch or cage bar. The apparatus includes a bowl that is threadably engaged to a bolt, which, in turn, serves to attach the bowl to a perch, branch, or cage bar. A method for feeding an animal is also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to feeding apparatuses for birds and other animals.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the present state of the art, various types of feeders are utilized for providing birds and other animals with food and water. Many of the known feeders are adapted to be attached to cage walls or to perch devices, thus allowing a bird to ingest food and water while situated within its cage or on an external perch. Typical feeding cups are made of stainless steel or other metals and are provided with a lead-free finish. Various plastics are also commonly used to construct feeders. Metal feeding cups can be more expensive than plastic ones and can be dangerous to the health of pet birds if they are not properly coated. On the other hand, conventional plastic cups can often be progressively destroyed through the pecking action of larger pet birds, such as parrots.  
           [0003]    Feeding cups are often attached to cage walls or to perches through the use of bolts that are threadably engaged to the cups. While it is desirable that feeding cups be securely attached to cages or perches, the cups must be easily removable for refilling and cleaning. Larger birds may possess considerable strength and dexterity and, thus, may be able to unscrew a feeding cup that is not securely attached to a cage or perch. This may result in unnecessary spillage of food and can deprive a bird of necessary nutrients if the food spills beyond the bird&#39;s reach.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIGS. 1 a - b  illustrate a feeding apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 a  is a side perspective view thereof. FIG. 1 b  is a side perspective view of the feeding apparatus attached to a branch or perch.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIGS. 2 a - b  illustrate a locking mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 a  is a side perspective view thereof. A locking bolt that is internal to the locking mechanism is shown. FIG. 2 b  is a perspective view of the locking mechanism from above. The locking bolt is shown extending into the opening formed by the contour of the locking mechanism.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIGS. 3 a - b  illustrate the operation of the locking mechanism. FIG. 3 a  is a side perspective view of the locking mechanism engaged to an attachment bolt that extends from a bowl structure of the feeding apparatus. The locking bolt that is internal to the locking mechanism is also shown. FIG. 3 b  is a side perspective view of an allen key engaged with the locking bolt of the locking mechanism.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the bowl structure from above.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the bowl structure from below. A connecting structure extending from the center of the base of the bowl structure is shown.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 illustrates the attachment bolt that may be threadably engaged with the connecting structure. A side perspective view thereof is shown. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, one aspect of the invention is embodied in a bird feeding apparatus  1 . As depicted in FIG. 1 a , the bird feeding apparatus  1  may include a bowl  2  that is threadably engaged to an attachment bolt  3  at the center of a base  6  of the bowl  2 . The bowl  2  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, but in no way limited to, polycarbonate plastic. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that many materials (in addition to polycarbonate plastic) may be employed in the construction of the bowl  2 , as long as the materials are of sufficient strength and are not toxic to animals. As depicted in FIG. 1 b , the bird feeding apparatus  1  may be attached to a perch  4  with the attachment bolt  3 . The provided apparatus  1  may be resistant to certain detrimental actions of large pet birds, which may include the destruction of the bowl  2  (e.g., if it is not made of sufficiently resilient material) and the dislodging of the apparatus  1  from the perch  4  (e.g., if it is not sufficiently attached to the perch  4 ).  
         [0011]    As depicted in FIG. 1 a , the bowl  2  of the bird feeding apparatus  1  may be configured to have an open end  5  and may be further configured to have a closed end forming the base  6  (FIGS. 4 and 5 depict perspective views of the open end  5  and base  6  of the bowl  2 , respectively). Additionally, the open end  5  of the bowl  2  may be contoured to form a lip  7 . The sides  8  of the bowl  2  may be formed such that the shape of the bowl  2  is roughly cylindrical about a central axis  9 . One skilled in the art will realize that the shape of the bowl  2  may vary, forming at its open end  5  a circle, a square, a rectangle, a triangle or any other shape. The base  6  of the bowl  2  may be roughly concave in contour, with a vertex  10  at the center of the base  6 , positioned along the central axis  9  of the bowl  2 . One skilled in the art will realize that the base  6  of the bowl  2  may be flat or convex or may have any other contour.  
         [0012]    The apparatus  1  may be further configured to include a connecting structure  11  extending outwardly from the center of the base  6  of the bowl  2 , the connecting structure  11  having proximal  12  and distal  13  ends (relative to the base  6  of the bowl  2 ). The connecting structure  11  may be cylindrical in shape, although one skilled in the art will realize that the connecting structure  11  may be square, rectangular, triangular or any other shape. The connecting structure  11  may be positioned along the central axis  9  of the bowl  2  and may have a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the bowl  2 . Additionally, the connecting structure  11  may include a female receiving portion  14  beginning at its distal end  13 . As depicted in FIG. 5, the female receiving portion  14  may include an internally threaded metal fitting  15  that may be attached to the female receiving portion  14 . The internally threaded metal fitting  15  may be configured to receive the attachment bolt  3 . In alternative embodiments, the female receiving portion  14  itself may be internally threaded and, thus, may be configured to receive the attachment bolt  3 . However, use of the internally threaded metal fitting  15  may produce a structure that is more resistant to wear. One skilled in the art will realize that the connecting structure  11  may extend outwardly from any position on the outside of the bowl  2 ; it need not be positioned at the center of the base  6  of the bowl  2  or along the central axis  9  of the bowl  2 .  
         [0013]    The apparatus  1  may further include support flanges  16  that may be equally spaced around the base  6  of the bowl  2 . The support flanges  16  may form roughly triangular sections that may extend between the base  6  of the bowl  2  and the connecting structure  11 . The support flanges  16  may thus confer a roughly conical appearance to the region of the apparatus  1  bounded by the base  6  of the bowl  2  and the distal end  13  of the connecting structure  11 . The support flanges  16  may provide structural support to the bowl  2 . Alternative embodiments of the present invention that do not include the connecting structure  11  and support flanges  16  are possible. For example, a bolt similar to the attachment bolt  3  of the present embodiment may directly engage the base  6  of the bowl  2 .  
         [0014]    As depicted in FIGS. 1 a - b  and  6 , the feeding apparatus  1  may include an attachment bolt  3 . The attachment bolt  3  may have a proximal end  17  (i.e., proximal to the bowl  2 ) and a distal end  18 . Additionally, the attachment bolt  3  may include a knob  19  at its distal end  18 , so as to provide for ease of manual operation of the attachment bolt  3 . The proximal end  17  of the attachment bolt  3  may be adapted to engage the female receiving portion  14  of the connecting structure  11 . Alternatively, the attachment bolt  3  may incorporate a handle at the distal end  18 , or any other structure designed to ease the manual operation of the attachment bolt  3 . The attachment bolt  3  may also be operated without the addition of any particular structure at its distal end  18 .  
         [0015]    As depicted in FIGS. 1 a - b ,  2   a - b  and  3   a - b , the feeding apparatus  1  may further include a locking mechanism  20  that maintains the position of the bowl  2 , the perch  4  and the attachment bolt  3  relative to one another; thereby preventing the apparatus  1  from being dislodged by a bird or other animal. The locking mechanism  20  may include a retaining structure  21  with an opening  22 , the retaining structure  21  being adapted to engage the attachment bolt  3 . The locking mechanism  20  may also include a locking bolt  23  that is threadably engaged through a side of the retaining structure  21 ; the locking bolt  23  making contact with the attachment bolt  3  to maintain the position of the locking mechanism  20  relative to the bowl  2 . The locking bolt  23  may be configured to be operated with an allen key  24 . The retaining structure  21  may be cylindrical in shape. However, one skilled in the art will realize that the retaining structure  21  may be configured in other shapes, such as, but in no way limited to, a square, a rectangle or a triangle. As depicted in FIG. 1 b , positioning the locking mechanism  20  above the perch  4  and the knob  19  of the attachment bolt  3  below the perch  4  may prevent the knob  19  of the attachment bolt  3  from being turned, thus preventing the feeding apparatus  1  from being dislodged from the perch  4 .  
         [0016]    The above embodiment of the invention is provided by way of example. One skilled in the art will realize that several alternate embodiments of the bird feeding apparatus are possible. It will be readily apparent that such alternate embodiments may be used as feeding apparatuses for pet birds of any size, for animals other than birds and for birds or other animals that are not domesticated.  
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for feeding birds. The method may include attaching a bird feeding apparatus  1  to a perch  4  by inserting an attachment bolt  3  upwards through a hole in the perch  4 , placing a locking mechanism  20  on the attachment bolt  3  above the perch  4 , tightening a locking bolt  23  of the locking mechanism  20  with an allen key  24  and engaging a bowl  2  to the attachment bolt  3  (e.g., as depicted in FIGS. 1 b ,  3   a  and  3   b ). The method may further include placing food or water in the bowl  2  and exposing an animal to the apparatus  1  to feed the animal.  
         [0018]    As depicted in FIG. 1 a , the bird feeding apparatus  1  may include a bowl  2  that is threadably engaged to an attachment bolt  3  at the center of a base  6  of the bowl  2 . The bowl  2  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, but in no way limited to, polycarbonate plastic. The present method may prevent certain detrimental actions of large pet birds, which may include the destruction of the bowl  2  (e.g., if it is not made of sufficiently resilient material) and the dislodging of the apparatus  1  from the perch  4  (e.g., if it is not sufficiently attached to the perch  4 ).  
         [0019]    As depicted in FIG. 1 a , the bowl  2  of the bird feeding apparatus  1  may be configured to have an open end  5  and may be further configured to have a closed end forming the base  6  (FIGS. 4 and 5 depict perspective views of the open end  5  and base  6  of the bowl  2 , respectively). The sides  8  of the bowl  2  may be formed such that the shape of the bowl  2  is roughly cylindrical about a central axis  9 . The base  6  of the bowl  2  may be roughly concave in contour, with a vertex  10  at the center of the base  6 , positioned along the central axis  9  of the bowl  2 .  
         [0020]    The apparatus  1  may be further configured to include a connecting structure  11  extending outwardly from the center of the base  6  of the bowl  2 , the connecting structure  11  having proximal  12  and distal  13  ends (relative to the base  6  of the bowl  2 ). The connecting structure  11  may be cylindrical in shape. The connecting structure  11  may be positioned along the central axis  9  of the bowl  2  and may have a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the bowl  2 . Additionally, the connecting structure  11  may include a female receiving portion  14  beginning at its distal end  13 . As depicted in FIG. 5, the female receiving portion  14  may include an internally threaded metal fitting  15  that may be attached to the female receiving portion  14 . The internally threaded metal fitting  15  may be configured to receive the attachment bolt  3 .  
         [0021]    The apparatus  1  may further include support flanges  16  that may be equally spaced around the base  6  of the bowl  2 . The support flanges  16  may form roughly triangular sections that may extend between the base  6  of the bowl  2  and the connecting structure  11 . The support flanges  16  may provide structural support to the bowl  2 .  
         [0022]    As depicted in FIGS. 1 a - b  and  6 , the feeding apparatus  1  may include an attachment bolt  3 . The attachment bolt  3  may have a proximal end  17  (i.e., proximal to the bowl  2 ) and a distal end  18 . Additionally, the attachment bolt  3  may include a knob  19  at its distal end  18 , so as to provide for ease of manual operation of the attachment bolt  3 . The proximal end  17  of the attachment bolt  3  may be adapted to engage the female receiving portion  14  of the connecting structure  11 .  
         [0023]    As depicted in FIGS. 1 a - b ,  2   a - b  and  3   a - b , the feeding apparatus  1  may further include a locking mechanism  20  that maintains the position of the bowl  2 , the perch  4  and the attachment bolt  3  relative to one another; thereby preventing the apparatus  1  from being dislodged by a bird. The locking mechanism  20  may include a retaining structure  21  with an opening  22 , the retaining structure  21  being adapted to engage the attachment bolt  3 . The locking mechanism  20  may also include a locking bolt  23  that is threadably engaged through a side of the retaining structure  21 ; the locking bolt  23  making contact with the attachment bolt  3  to maintain the position of the locking mechanism  20  relative to the bowl  2 . The locking bolt  23  may be configured to be operated with an alien key  24 . The retaining structure may be cylindrical in shape. As depicted in FIG. 1 b , positioning the locking mechanism  20  above the perch  4  and the knob  19  of the attachment bolt  3  below the perch  4  may prevent the knob  19  of the attachment bolt  3  from being turned, thus preventing the feeding apparatus  1  from being dislodged from the perch  4 .  
         [0024]    The apparatus  1  of the present method is described by way of example. Alternative embodiments of the apparatus are possible, such as, but in no way limited to, those already described herein. All alternative embodiments are suitable for purposes of the present method.  
         [0025]    The apparatus  1  of the present method may be attached to a branch or perch that is situated inside or outside a cage or other containment structure, and may also be attached to an element of the cage or containment structure. One skilled in the art will realize that the branch or perch that the apparatus  1  is attached to may be made of any material and may be a component of a larger bird feeding or exercise station, or indeed, a component of a bird cage. The method of the present embodiment may provide a means for feeding birds whereby the birds cannot destroy or dislodge the feeding apparatus  1 . It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the method of the present embodiment may be used to feed pet birds of any size, animals other than birds and birds or other animals that are not domesticated.  
         [0026]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to people of ordinary skill in the art that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to encompass such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.