Abstract:
A protected feeder is provided for squirrels which comprises a feeder having a self supporting enclosure for predator protection from hawks or foxes to be positioned adjacent a tree for providing a protected perch with access openings in the cover and a selected portion of ground therein is covered with food. The enclosure member is substantially impervious and protects the squirrels while feeding and protects the squirrel from weather. This invention provides various designs for the protected squirrel feeder adapted to protect the food, one using a tray which is smaller than the self supporting enclosure and a second feeder uses small high-calcium loaded rocks as a ground layer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field) 
         [0002]    A protected feeder is provided for squirrels which comprises a feeder having a self supporting enclosure. The enclosure member acts as a cover providing for predator protection from hawks or foxes, is provided with a plurality of openings in it and includes a selected portion of ground under the enclosure covered with food for squirrels. The enclosure member is substantially impervious and protects the squirrel while feeding from predators as well as protects the squirrel from weather as well as provides a means of escape. This invention provides various designs for the protected squirrel feeder adapted to cover the food; in one case using a tray which is smaller than the self supporting enclosure and in a second case a second feeder uses small high calcium loaded rocks as a ground layer. 
         [0003]    2. Background Prior Art 
         [0004]    Applicant is aware of prior art squirrel feeders. For example the following four U.S. Patents relate to squirrel feeders; U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,736 to Reynolds relates to a wild animal feed dispensing machine; U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,407 to Schneider relates to an enclosed indoor feeding compartment which allows indoor viewing; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,522 to Keller relates to a a squirrel or small feeding apparatus comprising a mounting post, an angular member and a pivot arm. 
         [0005]    It is noted though that these patents are primarily directed to feeding squirrels, none of them take into account the need to provide predator protection for the squirrels who are attracted to these feeders. In particular, though these patents are directed to feeding squirrels, none of them take into account the need of a one piece molded plastic enclosure that; (1) acts as a cover providing for predator protection; (2) protects the squirrel food from the bad weather; (3) hides a feeding squirrel from predators; (4) allows for quick exiting when necessary; (5) allows for locating the enclosure near (adjacent) trees, brushes, and/or tall grasses; and/or (6) allows for “color blending into the environment” by including coloring of the outer enclosure surface such as camouflaging wherein patterns including figures or shapes; and/or color modifying for aesthetics are employed ; because while on the ground squirrels are vulnerable to more types of predators than in the trees, but since much of their food supply is on the ground they find it necessary to search the ground. Accordingly it is important to provide additional protection for the feeder in the form of color blending into the environment and under special situations allowing for the use of one-way mirror in the form of “windows and/or one-way windows and/or exits to watch for exterior threats. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. (a mirror that is reflective on one side and transparent on the other, often used in surveillance. 
         [0006]    Applicant is also aware of prior art bird feeders and in particular to U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,686, to Geis; et. al directed to a multipurpose species discriminating bird feeder for controlling ingress and egress of birds into interior of a bird feeder. However having reviewed Geis; et al. applicant&#39;s view is the Geis; et al. claims do not read on applicant&#39;s for the reason that Geis is directed to arranging a bird feeder on a tree with little openings limiting access for little birds. Unlike Geis applicant&#39;s squirrel feeder is directed to providing a protective barrier on the ground having means for quick escape in addition to controlled access for squirrels adjacent a protective roost in a tree. 
         [0007]    Squirrels are at home not only in trees but spend much of their time searching for food on the ground; such as pine cones, nuts, acorns, corn, berries, seeds, bulbs, etc., while at the same time they bury much of the food in the ground. While on the ground squirrels are vulnerable to more types of predators, particularly hawks or foxes, than in the trees, but since much of their food supply is on the ground they find it necessary to search the ground. Food source areas are so searched out by squirrels, that when they discover an area they often develop pathways to it. These pathways aid young squirrels in traveling to and from the food supply 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide for a new and improved feeder for squirrels and in particular to a feeder that provides for protection from predator hawks and foxes. More particularly to a feeder housing comprising a self supporting enclosure, having multiple openings for ingress and egress, the enclosure in the form of a molded dome being operable in connection with the ground to be positioned on the ground within six feet from a tree, wherein the molded dome employs the ground as a floor for use with the food; which overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to providing a shielded squirrel feeder. More specifically the present invention is directed to a shielded squirrel feeder comprising a one piece molded plastic enclosure that protects the squirrel food from the bad weather; hides a feeding squirrel from predators; allows for quick exiting when necessary; allows for locating the enclosure near trees providing a protective roost; color blending into the environment; and under special situations allowing for the use of one way windows and/or exits to watch for exterior threats 
         [0010]    In particular this invention provides a feeder for a squirrel having a self supporting enclosure comprising a molded dome that aids in the protection from predators such as hawks or foxes. Protection is in the form of a protective cover for food to be positioned on the ground spaced six feet from a protective roost comprising a tree. More specifically it relates to an arrangement of a feeder for a squirrel with an enclosure, having multiple openings providing ease of access and exit for a squirrel, the feeder being operable on the ground, wherein the molded dome employs the ground as a bottom for use with food placed on it. The feeder is attached to the ground with stakes. To control the food area within the molded enclosure, a tray may be used. The protective cover member can include a marginal portion which extends substantially beyond the edges of the food area and under special situations allowing for the use of one way windows and/or exits to watch for exterior threats. One Way windows are particularly effective for blocking view of a within contained squirrel. 
         [0011]    The squirrel feeder is easily filled or replenished with a scoop The squirrel feeder has a substantially impervious enclosure member; which is economical to manufacture, efficient in use, capable of a long operating life, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use thereof. To control the food area within the molded enclosure, a tray may be used. A second way of VT 05764). These stones tend to keep the adjacent ground more neutral if it was acidic, protecting the food supply in the feeder from fungus is that of using a layer of small high calcium loaded rocks such as ⅝ inch minus Marble Stone (Western State, Inc. of Poultney, reducing the chance for fungus growth and may supply calcium needs for the squirrel. To fix the molded enclosure to the ground, stakes may be used. 
         [0012]    A specialized design of the invention employs a plastic dome with an opening on one end which is used by a squirrel for ingress or egress. Part of this specialized design involves a second opening on the upper surface near the opposite end which is covered by an attached flexible cover and can be used by the internal squirrel to escape when necessary. In using this design, the ingress/or egress opening is often used close to a tree to allow the squirrel to escape on the tree and to minimize the entrance of the feeder by birds. When the feeder is used near a tree, the ingress/or egress opening is often less than 12 inches from the tree and a preferred positions less than 6 inches. The flexible cover over the egress opening on the top protects the internal food from the weather, reduces the ease by which any external animal can enter the feeder and allows light into the feeder for the benefit of the internal squirrel. 
         [0013]    More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a self supporting enclosure comprising a molded dome providing protection for squirrels from predators such as hawks or foxes while feeding by hiding a feeding squirrel from predators; allows for quick exiting when necessary; and allows for locating the enclosure near trees providing a protective roost. 
         [0014]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
         [0015]    The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in connection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized that those persons skilled in the art may make various changes, modifications, improvements and additions on the illustrated embodiments all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which feeders for squirrels having a self supporting enclosure comprising a molded dome providing protection from predators such as hawks. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a detached squirrel feeder employing a plastic protective dome providing an enclosure for an enclosed portion of squirrel food incorporating at least two side openings for quick escape wherein at least one of these holes can be used for access into the feeder; the feeder shown positioned adjacent a tree. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the detached squirrel feeder of  FIG. 1  positioned adjacent a tree where an opening employed for quick escape is located at the top of the feeder is shown employing a flexible cover. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the detached squirrel feeder of  FIG. 1  employing a plastic protective dome fastened to the ground by stakes, incorporating at least two side openings for quick escape wherein at least one of these holes can be used for access into the feeder and a pile of feed that is deposited on the ground, shown in dashed lines, providing for access and escape for a squirrel also shown in dashed lines. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  a side view of an alternative embodiment of the detached squirrel feeder of  FIG. 3  employing a plastic protective dome fastened to the ground by stakes, incorporating at least two side openings with protective collars for quick escape with an exterior pattern of coloring agents employing leaves in with an in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the squirrel feeder of  FIG. 3  with an alternate exterior pattern of coloring agents employing flowers; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the squirrel feeder of  FIG. 3  shown with a squirrel shown entering a side opening with a second alternate exterior pattern of coloring agents employing ivy vines. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an alternate view of the squirrel feeder of  FIG. 2  showing the flexible cover over the top escape with a protective flap over the top escape opening including a cushion wherein the flexible cover is fastened by multiple staples over the top escape. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the squirrel feeder of  FIG. 1  shown in combination with a floor supporting a layer of high calcium load small rocks that are deposited on the floor  FIG. 9  is a side view of squirrel feeder having additional protection under special situations allowing for the use of one way windows and/or exits to watch for exterior threats with an in accordance alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an end view of squirrel feeder showing use of partial light blocking coating on film strips covering an opening that allows the squirrel to see an exterior predator and not to be seen by the predator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0027]    Referring to the drawings in more detail: in the first, preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  &amp;  3  the reference numeral  10  generally designates a protected feeder for one or more a squirrels shown as  11  which employs a molded plastic enclosure  12 . In particular, referring now to the  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a squirrel feeder  10  located adjacent a tree  21  with a squirrel  11  in the tree in accordance with the present invention. The juxtaposition of these three elements is to emphasize that for the squirrel feeder  10  to operate most effectively it needs to be located adjacent a tree  21  to provide protection for the squirrel  11 . The molded plastic enclosure  12  as is shown in  FIG. 3  provides a one piece molded plastic enclosure including a front wall  26  having side access opening  18 , a back wall  27  having a side access opening  19 , and a rim  28  that cooperates with stakes  32 . The stakes  32  are employed to fix the enclosure  12  to the ground  13 . Additional structural members comprises a first side wall  34  and a second side wall  35 , of thin-wall construction, having a bottom opening  29  to the ground shown in  FIG. 8  that defines the bottom of the said squirrel feeder  10 . An optional additional member comprises a tray  30  employed as a floor that extends horizontally between said front wall  26  and back wall  27  arranged in orthogonal relationship thereto wherein the tray  30  is employed for holding squirrel feed  14  distributed on top of a layer of calcium loaded small rocks  31 . 
         [0028]    As is shown in  FIG. 1 , feeder  10  includes at least two access openings including at least two uniquely identified and separately located access openings  18  and  19 , either of which permit quick exiting by a squirrel  1   1 . The one piece molded plastic enclosure  12  is designed to (a) protect the feed  14 , shown spread on the ground shown with dotted lines under feeder  10 , from scavenging birds as well as bad weather; (b) hide the squirrel  11  from predators such as hawks  23  (c) allow for quick and safe exiting from the feeder  10  when necessary; and (d) allow for locating the feeder  10  near trees  21 . Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown is a side view of squirrel feeder  10  that is shown positioned adjacent a tree  21  in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  7  &amp;  8 , there is shown the top escape opening  16  which includes an upper protective flexible cover  17  positioned over a top escape opening  16  as is shown in  FIG. 7  that allows a within-contained feeding squirrel  11  to escape, and if necessary also keeps out the rain. As is shown in  FIG. 7  a flexible cover  17  is shown acting as a protective flap  41  positioned over the top opening  16 . The protective flap  41  is fastened by means of multiple staples  42  to the plastic dome  12 . 
         [0030]    As is previously indicated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown employing the plastic enclosure  12  having multiple openings  18  &amp;  19  being directed to providing for access and/or alternatively exit means for a squirrel  11  using the squirrel feeder  10 . As is shown in  FIG. 3  there is shown a side view of squirrel feeder  10  the feeder  10  includes three openings including at least two uniquely identified and separately located access and exit openings  18  and  19 , either of which permit quick exiting by a squirrel  11  entering the squirrel feeder  10  shown in dashed lines.  FIG. 2  shows the of squirrel feeder design is one that helps to keep out birds seeking feed as well as other animals and consists of (a) a plastic dome  12  forming an enclosure with an entrance opening  19 , spaced 5 inches from the base of a tree  21 ; (b) a top opening  17  located on the upper surface of the dome  12  and (c) a top flexible cover  16  that allows the within-contained feeding squirrel  11  to escape when necessary and also keeps out the rain. As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment employs a top flexible cover  17  that includes a flap  41  that over laps the escape opening  16  which is located in the dome  12  adjacent tree  21 . As is shown in  FIG. 7  there are staples  42  to keep plastic film  44  to keep it held down. Escape through the back opening  19  is 3″ to 5″ in diameter. The top of the dome  12  includes the front opening  18  positioned at the opposite end of the dome having a hole of similar size. The flap  41  is  5  mil thickness, and comprises a flexible mylar sheet 4″ to 7″ as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0031]    As is shown in  FIG. 8  to control the food area  24  within the molded enclosure  12 , a tray  30  may be used. Also to fix the plastic dome to the ground, stakes  32  may be used as is shown in  FIG. 3 . Also as is shown in  FIG. 8  tray  30  extends horizontally between said front wall  26  and back wall  27  arranged in orthogonal relationship thereto. 
         [0032]    Squirrels  11  are at home not only in trees as shown in  FIG. 1 , but spend much of their time searching for food on the ground; such as acorns, pine cones, corn, berries, seeds, bulbs, etc., while at the same time they bury much of the food in the ground. While on the ground squirrels are vulnerable to more types of predators than in the trees, but since much of their food supply is on the ground they find it necessary to search the ground. Accordingly it is important to provide additional protection for the feeder  10  in the form of color blending into the environment shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6   
         [0033]    The  FIGS. 4 ,  5  &amp;  6  generally represents additional embodiments of the invention employing additional protection for the feeder  10  in the form of color blending into the environment. The color blending is accomplished by creating selected exterior patterns of coloring agents, such as leaves, blossoms or vines such as ivy, applied by stenciling, spraying, transfer printing, labeling, brushing, stamping or a combination thereof Referring to  FIG. 4  there is shown a first alternate embodiment of color blending of the plastic enclosure  25  into the environment which employing exterior patterns of leaves  36 . An additional feature of this embodiment is that sleeves  52  provided on openings  18  and  19  for added protection. 
         [0034]    Turning to  FIG. 5  there is shown a side view of squirrel feeder  10  and squirrel  11  entering the squirrel feeder  10  shown in dashed lines and with an exterior pattern of coloring agents  37  in the form of exterior patterns of multiple flowers shown on the exterior of dome  10  with an in accordance with a second alternate embodiment of the invention Referring to  FIG. 6  there is shown a third alternate embodiment of color blending which employs exterior patterns of ivy vines plastic enclosure  25  into the environment which employs ivy vines  38 . 
         [0035]    Also as seen in  FIG. 9 and 10  additional protection is provided under special situations allowing for the use of one way windows  48  and/or exits to watch for exterior threats, and under special situations allowing for the use of a partial light blocking coating on film strips  60  covering an opening that allows the squirrel to see an exterior predator and not to be seen by the predator. 
         [0036]    Yet another (fourth) variation to protect the food and/or in some cases protect the squirrel involves coating containing an insect repellent and or anti microbial agents. The preferred rock sizes are minus ⅝ inch in one direction. 
         [0037]    It is foreseen that although various cover members have been disclosed herein, other shapes such as rectangular or square receptacles and/or covers could be utilized according to the present invention. A variety of configurations of the present invention may thereby be employed to satisfy the needs of squirrels under different feeding conditions. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown.