Abstract:
A bird feeder and other associated products having an apertured plastic floor which may be slideably and selectively removable for easy cleaning and replacement. A feed bin is defined by a set of walls, a floor and a roof. When a hinged portion of the roof is opened, at least one section of the walls is slideably removable, and the apertured plastic floor is also slideably removable. The apertured floor, which is manufactured of a perforated plastic, provides a sheet material with a pattern of holes which is strong enough to support the weight of the seed, permits drainage to keep the seed dry, and is capable of withstanding both the avian usage as well as cleaning and maintenance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a bird feeder and associated products, in particular, having an apertured floor member which is manufactured from a plastic material and is selectively removable for easy cleaning. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Many types and designs of bird feeders and related products have been developed and are used widely throughout the country. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,087 issued to Dan Bloedorn and patents cited therein, is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     One problem common to many types of bird feeders is the difficulty cleaning the feeder, especially the bottom of the feeder. If seed sits in a feeder or related product for a lengthy period of time, the seed itself can become lodged within the crevices and spaces of the feeder, it can rot, and can detract from the purpose of the bird feeder, that is, to attract birds and allow the viewing pleasure of a user. In addition, it is possible that seed that is not cleaned from the feeder can become rotten and contribute to the spread of disease. This problem can be made worse should a user replace only the top layer of seed and not allow the seed to be consumed all the way to the bottom of a feeder thereby causing increased spoilage and cleaning problems. 
     Previous feeders have incorporated various types of metal materials to the bottom or floor of the feeder, including mesh screens, expanded metal, perforated metal, and the like which were subject to oxidization and corrosion, and could taint the seed in the feeder with its rust. However, in the past, plastics and similar materials were thought unsuitable because it was incorrectly believed that such materials required expensive molding equipment, and were therefore too expensive. Perforated non-molded plastic was not considered. 
     It is therefore desirable to design a bird feeder which will keep bird seed dry and unspoiled as long as possible, which is easy to clean. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A bird feeder includes a bird seed containment area having an apertured floor member manufactured from a perforated plastic material. In some modifications of the invention, the floor member is selectively removable from the bin for easy cleaning. In others, it is not removable. The bird feeder itself generally comprises a set of walls, roof and floor for defining a bird seed containment area. The bird seed containment area includes a compartment having an opening for receiving bird seed and an opening for dispensing bird seed. In particular, a hinged portion of the roof may be opened for depositing bird seed into the bin, and closed to cover and protect the seed or other eatable material from the elements. The bird feeder may also be designed so that, when the hinged portion of the roof is open, certain portions or sections of one or more walls may be slideably removed, which facilitate the assembly of the bird feeder as well as facilitating the cleaning of the various portions thereof. 
     As mentioned, the bird feeder is provided with a selectively removable apertured floor manufactured from a perforated plastic material. The apertured floor member is supported on an edge support surface on the inner periphery of the lower portion of the bird seed containment area. The apertured floor preferably comprises a perforated plastic sheet in a generally rectangular flat shape, having no upturned edges like typical tray-like floor members found in the prior art. The apertured floor is made from a particular material which is strong enough to support the weight of the seed and feed within the seed containment area without the need for additional support structures. 
     The primary object of the invention is to produce a bird feeder that is easier to keep clean than conventional feeders and to do so at a reasonable cost while avoiding the disadvantage of using various types of metal. The material can also be made of a certain color without the need to paint or coat it, as would be necessary if constructed of metal. The apertures in the floor member are naturally small enough to contain the bird seed and other eatable material within the seed containment area, but allow moisture and air to circulate within the feeder in order to keep the seed dry and thereby reducing the occurrence of the seed becoming moldy or to sprout. Consideration should also be given to the size of bird to which the feeder is directed as it is possible that talons, beaks, or other appendages could get stuck in the apertures. The apertured floor sits within the bottom of the hopper and can be selectively removed from and replaced within the bottom of the feeder. The floor has a relatively smooth surface for easy cleaning. A sturdy, cost effective, easy-to-clean bird feeder will reduce the incidence of diseases being transmitted through rotten bird seed and lead to a healthier local bird population while not corroding or oxidizing. In certain situations, it may be desirable to use clear plastic to allow a view of the interior of the feeder from the feeder&#39;s underside. 
     Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which set forth, by way of illustration and example only, certain embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings, which constitute part of the specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, include the following: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a feeder using perforated plastic. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the feeder taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a feeder using perforated plastic. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the feeder taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line  4 A— 4 A of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tray using a perforated plastic floor. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the tray taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another tray using a perforated plastic floor. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the tray shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another tray using a perforated plastic floor. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, typical feeder  10  comprises a first wall  11 , a second wall  12 , a third wall  13 , a fourth wall  14 , a roof  15  and a floor  16  for defining a bird feed containment area  17 . The first wall  11  is spaced apart from the second wall  12 , and the third wall  13  is spaced apart from the fourth wall  14 , in order to form a box-like hopper. The first and second walls  11 ,  12  are preferably made of wood, for example inland cedar, or other suitable material. 
     The third and fourth walls  13 ,  14  are mounted in a tongue and groove-like fashion to the first and second walls  11 ,  12 . Specifically, the first wall  11  has a first groove  18  near one of its side edges, has a second groove  19  near its opposite side edge. Second wall  12  is also provided with similar grooves  18 ,  19 , which register with the grooves  18 ,  19 , of the first wall  11 . The third wall  13  is slideably disposed within the first groove  18  of the first and second walls  11 ,  12 , respectively. Similarly, the fourth wall  14  is slideably disposed within the second groove  19  of the first wall  11  and the second wall  12 . The third and fourth walls,  13 ,  14 , are preferably made of glass, plastic, Plexiglas, or other transparent material so the birds can see the feed inside the feeder and a user can assess the amount of seed that remains. The bird feed and seed is dispensed out through an undercut portion  20  of the third and fourth walls  13 ,  14  adjacent to the floor  16  which provides a passage from the interior of the seed containment area  17  to an exterior feeding area. 
     The roof  15  comprises a first portion  21  which is secured by nails, screws, adhesive, or other suitable fastening means, to the upper surface of the first and second walls,  11 ,  12 . The roof  15  further has a second portion  22  which is hinged to the fixed first portion  21 . The hinged portion  22  of the roof is capable of being raised to an open position for depositing bird seed and other feed material into the hopper  17 , and a closed position for covering the hopper  17 . When the hinged portion  22  of the roof is open, at least one clear pane (for example, the third wall  13 ) is selectively and slideably removable from the grooves in the first and second walls,  11 ,  12 . 
     The floor  16  comprises an apertured floor member (discussed in more detail below) which rests on the bottom of the bin  17 . Attached to the opposite lower edges of walls  11 ,  12  are two confining ribs  30 ,  32 , and attached to the bottoms of support ribs  30 ,  32  are two support members  34 ,  36 . The floor  16  rests on edge support surfaces  30 ,  32  on the inner periphery of the lower portion of the bin  17 . Preferably, the floor edge support members  34 ,  36  include first and second support surfaces  23 ,  24 , adjacent the lower edges of first and second walls  11 ,  12 , respectively. Ordinarily, only two edge support surfaces  23 ,  24  for supporting the floor  16  are needed, although others may be added if desired. The apertured floor  16  rests upon edge support surfaces  23 ,  24  and is contained within the first wall  11 , second wall  12 , the two support ribs  30 ,  32 . Confining walls  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  are attached around the bottom of the feeder  10  to create a tray  46 . 
     As mentioned, the floor  16  is generally comprised of a clear apertured plastic member and is substantially planar in configuration with no upturned edges. This makes this floor  16  unlike the tray-like flooring member used in the Bloedorn, U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,087 and is much cheaper to manufacture and use in various designs without additional machining or forming. The floor  16  itself has a pattern of holes  28  which permit moisture to be drained through the floor of the bird feeder, and yet has sufficient strength to support the weight of the bird feed and seed contained in the hopper without the need of additional structural members. The floor is preferably made of a perforated plastic material having generally round holes. However, the holes may have almost any shape for purposes of the present invention. Other decorative designs and patterns are possible. Suitable perforated plastic sheets are available from Erdle Perforating Company, located at 100 Pixley Industrial Parkway, Rochester, N.Y. 14603-1568. Perforation size, shape, spacing, and arrangement are variable. Presently the perforations used are circular, having a diameter of {fraction (3/32)} inches, are staggered offset {fraction (5/32)} inches from center. The sheet has an open area of 33%. Further, the floor itself may be colored, such as green or black, or can be clear or opaque allowing a user from underneath the feeder to view the bottom most layer of seed in order to access both the level of seed required as well as the cleanliness and degree of decay of the seed contained in the seed containment area. 
     For larger feeders it is sometimes necessary for an independently removable central raised portion  27  to be inserted into the seed containment area  17  in order to force the bird seed outwardly towards the undercut feed dispensing portions  20  in the third and fourth walls so that the birds may reach it and feed upon it. Raised portion  27  may be attached to the floor member  16  to add to the structural rigidity of the floor member, but is preferably removable to aid for cleaning when the hinged portion of the roof is open. A ridge or pyramid shape may be used as this raised portion  27  to force the seed into the dispensing area  20 . Other shapes and configurations may be used for the raised portion  27 . If independently removable, it may be cleaned and constructed separately from the floor member  16 . 
     FIGS. 3,  4  and  4 A show a modified form of the bird feeder designated by the numeral  48 . Feeder  48  includes at its bottom a rectangular frame  50  formed from a first frame member  52 , a second frame member  54 , a third frame member  56 , and a fourth frame member  58 . Cross supports  60 ,  62  extend across the bottom of the frame  50 . An interior groove  64  is provided around the inwardly facing surfaces of the frame members  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  of the rectangular frame  50 . Fitted within this interior groove  64  is a perforated plate  66  which is flat in configuration and which does not have upwardly turned edges at its perimeter. Plate  66  includes a plurality of perforations  68 . The perforated plate may be stapled (staples not shown) to one or both of the cross supports  60 ,  62 . Four corner posts  70  have their lower ends attached to the cross supports  60 ,  62 . This attachment may be done by screws, staples, or other convenient securing means. Furthermore, the perforated plate  66  may include openings for the corner posts to fit through so that the corner posts directly engage the cross supports  60 ,  62 . Alternatively, the corner posts may be attached to the cross supports  60 ,  62  through the perforated plate  66 . Perforated plate  66  is made of plastic and is perforated rather than molded as described for the perforated plate forming the floor  16  of FIG.  1 . 
     Four plastic panels  72  are fitted within vertical grooves  74  in the upstanding posts  70  so as to provide walls for an interior compartment  75 . Plastic panels  72  are preferably transparent so that the level of the bird feed within the compartment  75  can be seen. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A, a plastic pyramid  76  has its base fitted within the four corner posts  70 , and provides the function of diverting the bird seed outwardly beneath the lower edges of plastic panels  72 . Lower edges of the plastic panel  72  are spaced above the perforated plate  66  so as to provide an opening  77 . 
     The upper ends of the four corner posts  70  are joined by an upper rectangular frame  78  formed by two gable-shaped ends  80  and two cross frame members  82 . Attached to the top of the gable-shaped ends  80  is a fixed roof member  84  which is hinged to a hinge roof member  86  by means of hinge  88 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a feeder tray designated by the numeral  90 . Feeder tray  90  includes a rectangular frame  92  formed from first, second, third, and fourth frame members  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100 . An interior groove  102  extends around the inner perimeter of the rectangular frame  92 . One of the frame members  98  includes a through slot  104  which registers with the interior groove  102 . This permits a perforated plate  106  to be inserted through the slot  104  and fitted within the groove  102  so as to provide a floor for the tray  90 . The perforated plate  106  is provided with perforations  108 . The groove  102  is spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the rectangular frame  92  so as to permit moisture to drain through the aperture  108  in perforated plate  106 . Perforated plate  106  is made of plastic similar to that described for the previous embodiments. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modified form of a feeder tray designated generally by the numeral  110 . Feeder tray  110  includes a rectangular frame  112  having four legs  114  extending downwardly therefrom. An interior parametric groove  116  is provided in the rectangular frame. Groove  116  includes a tapered upper edge  118  that permits a perforated plate  120  to be inserted from the top of the rectangular frame  112 . The plastic perforated plate  120  has sufficient flexibility to deform during insertion and then to expand outwardly to fit within the groove  116 . A cross frame member  122  extends between two opposite sides of the rectangular frame  112 , and a screw  124  attaches the plastic perforated plate  120  to this cross frame member. Perforated plate is made of plastic in the same manner described for pervious embodiments. 
     FIG. 10 shows a modified form of a tray feeder which comprises a rectangular frame  128  having an interior groove  130  extending around the inner perimeter thereof. A perforated plate  132  has its margins inserted into the groove  130 , and provides a floor for the tray feeder  126 . The plastic perforated plate  132  is of the same construction described for the previous embodiments. 
     Specific structure details disclosed above are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely as a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in any appropriately detailed structure. Changes may be made in the specific structural details of that particular embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.