Abstract:
A bird perch, feeder, and bath having a base, a pole, a feeder, a perch bar, and a catch pan. The catch pan is centrally positioned below the feeder and perch bar in order to minimize the amount of bird feed, bird waste and other materials dropping from the feeder or the perch bar to the area underneath the bird perch, feeder, and bath. The feeder and the perch bar may be selected in various sizes to accommodate different-sized birds. The catch pan is adjusted to a distance from the feeder and perch bar to ensure that the catch pan collects the maximum amount of bird feed, waste, or other materials. The feeder can be sized so that it can be used as a bath for a bird rather than a feeder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to bird perches feeders, and baths and in particular, to a combination bird perch, feeder, and bath which reduces the mess that results from birds feeding and bathing by using a reusable and/or replaceable pan. 
     It is known that birds have a tendency to play in their food when feeding. As a result, bird feed that is held in a container is pushed out of the container by the bird and drops to the floor below. 
     Birds also tend to eliminate waste while sitting on a perch. This results in bird waste dropping to the floor below. In addition, if the bird is wet for whatever reason, water will drip from the bird to the floor below. 
     In either of the three cases, the bird feed, the bird waste, or water is deposited on the floor below the perch. This results in a mess that must be cleaned up. 
     There is no known combination bird perch feeder, and bath available that can be used to minimize the amount of bird feed, the amount of bird waste, or the amount of water deposited below a bird perch. While there are some existing patents relating to bird perches and feeders, none of these patents address the problems solved by the present invention. In addition, none of these patents discuss the concept of using a container as a feeder and/or a bath. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,927, issued to Addams on Jun. 15, 1993, describes a portable and collapsible bird perch. This bird perch comprises a base, a pole supported by said base, and a perch supported by said pole. The perch does not include a catch pan for catching any bird feed, bird waste, or any other substance that may drop from the perch. 
     Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5.632,230, issued to Dornetta, describes an animal perch and method of construction. This animal perch consists of a camera tripod, a litter tray, a support post, a horizontal perch bar, and cups. The cups are attached to either end of a horizontal perch bar. The support post supports the perch bar. The camera tripod supports the support post. The litter tray passes over the support post and rests on top of the camera tripod. While this animal perch includes a litter tray, the positioning of the cups at either end of the horizontal perch bar results in the cups being placed at the edge of the litter tray. By placing the cups at the edge of the litter tray, some of the bird feed spilling out of the cup does not land on the litter tray and falls to the ground below. 
     Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,247, issued to Henshaw, on Jan. 27, 1998, described a bird feed recycler. This patent teaches an apparatus which can be used to separate bird feed and bird feces so that the bird feed can be reused. This invention cannot be used as a birdbath. In addition, this invention does not provide a reusable litter tray. 
     What is needed then, is a combination bird perch, feeder, and bath that allows a variety of different size birds to feed and bathe while resting or sitting on a perch bar and minimizes the mess resulting from such activity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a bird perch, feeder, and bath comprising a base; a pole supported by the base; a feeder mounted on top of the pole; a perch bar attached to the pole below the feeder; and a catch pan attached to the pole below the perch bar. 
     In light of the need for a bird perch which allows birds to feed and bathe while at the same time minimizing or eliminating the mess resulting from the bird feeding and bathing, objects of this invention are to provide a bird perch that: 
     allows a bird to feed while resting or sitting on a perch bar; 
     allows a bird to bathe while sitting or resting on the perch bar; 
     prevents bird feed and bird feces from dropping to the ground immediately below and surrounding the invention: and 
     has different-sized perch bars and feeders for different-sized birds. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention having a small feeder, large perch bar, and a catch pan connected to a lower portion of a pole. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention having a large feeder, small perch bar, and a catch pan connected in the middle of a pole. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention having a bird bathtub, medium perch bar, and a pan connected to an upper portion of a pole. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-section view showing the manner of connection of the pole to the base. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the present invention having a large feeder, large perch bar, and a catch pan connected to an upper portion of a pole. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the present invention having a bird bathtub, large perch bar, and a catch pan connected to an upper portion of a pole. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the present invention having a small feeder, small perch bar, and a catch pan connected to a lower portion of a pole. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention depicting how the parts of the present invention are interconnected. 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the base of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the present invention having a cap connected to a pole and a bird toy hanging from a set screw. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the bird perch, feeder, and bath  10  is comprised of a base  12 , a pole  14  supported by the base  12 , a feeder  16  mounted on top of the pole  14 , a perch bar  18  attached to the pole  14  below the feeder  16 , and a catch pan  20  attached to the pole  14  below the perch bar  18 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the feeder  16  is centrally located on top of the pole  14  and includes a lower portion  22  and an upper portion  24 . The upper portion  24  is a circular-shaped open-topped cup and is used for holding bird feed and water. Although the upper portion  24  of the feeder  16  is described as circular, other shapes may be used as well. The lower portion  22  is used to connect the feeder  16  to the pole  14 . The feeder  16  is connected to the pole  14  by sliding the lower portion  22  of the feeder  16  over the pole  14 . The lower portion  22  and the upper portion  24  are made out of PVC piping; however, other materials could be used as well. The diameter of the PVC piping used to make the lower portion  22  may be smaller than the diameter of the PVC piping used to make the upper portion  24 . 
     The upper portion  24  of the feeder  16  may come in various sizes. Generally, the upper portion  24  may have a diameter ranging from 1 inch to 4 inches. In some embodiments, the upper portion  24  may have a diameter greater than 4 inches. The size of the upper portion  24  is determined by the size of the bird expected to use the invention. For example, large birds would require large upper portions for holding more bird feed while small birds would require small upper portions for holding less bird feed. The size of the lower portion  22  may not vary with the size of the bird expected to use the invention. 
     Additionally, a smaller bird may use a large upper portion  24  as a birdbath. Generally, an upper portion  24  having a diameter of more than 4 inches should be sufficient. To accomplish this, one simply fills the upper portion  24  of the feeder  16  with water rather than bird feed. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the feeder  16  is available in three sizes: small, large, and bird bathtub size. The small feeder  16  (FIG. 7) includes a lower portion  22  and upper portion  24  that are unconnected. The large feeder  16  (FIG. 5) and bird bathtub  16  (FIG. 6) include a lower portion  22  and upper portion  24  that are connected together. 
     The small feeder  16  is made using a commercially available 1-inch diameter PVC cap (upper portion  24 ) and a 1¼ inch PVC coupling (lower portion  22 ). The small feeder  16  is connected to the pole  14  by placing the lower portion  22  onto the pole and placing the upper portion  24  into the lower portion  22 . 
     The large feeder  16  is made by using PVC cement to connect a commercially available 2 inch diameter PVC cap (upper portion  24 ) and a 1¼ inch PVC cap (lower portion  22 ). The large feeder  16  is connected to the pole  14  by sliding the lower portion  22  over the pole  14 . 
     The bird bathtub  16  is made by using PVC cement to connect a commercially available 4 inch diameter PVC cap (upper portion  24 ) and a 1¼ inch PVC cap (lower portion  22 ). The bird bathtub  16  is connected to the pole  14  by sliding the lower portion  22  over the pole  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the pole  14  has an opening  26  and is generally cylindrical in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the pole  14  is made out of Schedule  40 , 1¼ inch PVC piping. The pole  14  may be made out of other materials as well. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, a cap  44  is slide over the top of the pole  14  and secured to the pole  14  by a set screw  46  when the feeder  16  is disconnected from the pole  14 . A bird toy  48  may be connected to the set screw  46  for birds using the invention. The cap  44  prevents birds from damaging the top of the pole  14  when the feeder  16  is disconnected from the pole  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the cap is a Schedule  40 , 1¼ inch PVC cap. Both the 1¼ inch PVC cap and the set screw are commercially available parts. The bird toy  48  may be any suitable type of bird toy commercially available at pet stores. 
     The perch bar  18  is connected to the pole  14  by sliding the perch bar  18  through the opening  26  until the perch bar  18  is centered over the pole  14 , and then tightening a set screw  28  until the set screw  28  engages the perch bar  18 . The perch bar  18  is generally a cylindrical rod but other shapes may be used. The perch bar  18  may have different diameters and lengths. The diameter and length is determined by the size of the bird expected to use the perch bar  18 . Common diameters for the perch bar would be in the range from 0.5 inches to 2 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the perch bar  18  is made out wood; however, the perch bar  18  may be made out of other materials as well. The set screw  28  is of the conventional type found at a local hardware store. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 8, the catch pan  20  is detachably attached to the pole  14  using a first katchit clip  30  positioned below the catch pan  20  and a second katchit clip  32  positioned above the catch pan  20 . The katchit clips are connected to the pole  14  by pressing each katchip clip against the pole  14  until the katchit clip snaps into place. In a preferred embodiment, katchip clip  30  and katchit clip  32  are made out of Schedule  40 , 1½ inch PVC piping that has been cut into two separate pieces. A piece of PVC piping having a length of three and one-half (3½) inches is cut into two pieces; one piece forming katchit clip  30  and the second piece forming katchit clip  32 . The PVC piping is cut along a line extending from one side of one end of the PVC piping to the opposite side of the other end of the PVC piping. Although the katchit clips  30  and  32  are used to support the catch pan  20  in a preferred embodiment, any adjustable support means may be used for holding the catch pan  20  at a fixed position on the pole  14 . 
     The catch pan  20  is generally bowl-shaped and has a central opening  34  that is sized to pass over the pole  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the catch pan  20  is made out of a plastic material. The catch pan  20  may be made out of other materials as well. The catch pan  20  has a radius  21  and a catch pan wall  36 . The radius  21  should be substantially greater than the largest diameter of the feeder  16  to ensure that the catch pan  20  collects substantially all of the bird feed, waste and water falling from the perch bar  18 . Generally, a radius  21  of approximately 9 and one-half inches (9½) inches should be sufficient. The catch pan wall  36  is sized so that bird feed, waste, and water falling down from the perch bar  18  cannot bounce or splash out of the catch pan  20 . Generally the catch pan wall  36  may have a height of two and three-fourths (2¾) inches or more. 
     The location of the catch pan  20  on the pole  14  is determined by the size of the bird using the bird perch, feeder, and bath. For example, for larger birds, the catch pan  20  would be adjusted to a lower position on the pole  14 ; for smaller birds, the catch pan  20  would be located higher on the pole  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8 the base  12  is generally circular and has a base opening  42  that is sized to receive the pole  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the base  12  is made out of a plastic material; however, other materials may be used as well. 
     Referring again to FIG. 8, the pole  14  is detachably connected to the base  12  using a first spacer  37 , a second spacer  38 , and a set screw  40 . The spacers,  37  and  38 , are connected to the pole  14  using PVC cement. In a preferred embodiment, spacer  37  and spacer  38  are made out of Schedule  40 , 1½ inch PVC piping that has been cut into two separate pieces. A piece of PVC piping having a length of three and one-half (3½) inches is cut into two pieces; one piece forming spacer  37  and the second piece forming spacer  38 . The PVC piping is cut along a line extending from the middle of one end of the PVC piping to the middle of the other end of the PVC piping. The pole  14  and spacers  37  and  38  are slid into the base opening  42  and secured in place by tightening the set screw  40 . In another preferred embodiment, the pole  14  is permanently connected to the base  12 . 
     The present invention provides a method by which a person may enjoy the company of their pet bird, or a wild bird for that matter, without having the mess that usually accompanies such activity. The present invention is used in the following manner. 
     A person connects spacer  37  and spacer  38  to the pole  14  using PVC cement. The pole  14 , and the spacers  37  and  38 , are inserted into the base opening  42  and secured into place by tightening the set screw  40 . Next, the katchit clip  30  is snapped onto the pole  14  at a desired position. The catch pan  20  is lowered down onto the pole until the catch pan  20  rests against the katchit clip  30 . The katchit clip  32  is snapped onto pole  14  immediately above the catch pan  20  so that the katchit clip  32  contacts the catch pan  20 . The catch pan  20  is effectively held in place on the pole  14  by the two katchit clips  30  and  32 . The position of the catch pan  20  may be adjusted by moving the katchit clips  30  and  32 . 
     The perch bar  18  is inserted into the opening  26  until the perch bar  18  is centered over the pole  14 . The perch bar  18  is prevented from rolling or sliding out of the opening  26  by the set screw  28 , which is tightened against the perch bar  18 . The feeder  16  is connected to the pole  14  by sliding the lower portion  22  of the feeder  16  onto the pole  14 . Bird feed or water may be placed into the feeder. 
     At this point, the invention is ready to be used by a bird. After a bird arrives and begins using the present invention, bird feed and bird waste are deposited in the catch pan  20 . At some point in time, determined by the subjective desires of the person using the invention, a sufficient amount of bird feed and waste is collected in the catch pan  20  and must be removed. The catch pan  20  is removed in the following manner. 
     The feeder  16  is removed from the pole  14  by sliding the lower portion  22  of the feeder  16  off of the pole. The perch bar  18  is removed by loosening and removing the set screw  28  and sliding the perch bar  18  out of the opening  26 . The katchit clip  32  is removed from the pole  14  by pulling the katchit clip  32  away from the pole  14  until the katchit clip  32  snaps off of the pole  14 . Finally, the catch pan  20  is slid up and off the pole  14 . 
     At this time, the catch pan  20  can be replaced with a new catch pan  20 . Alternatively, the person using the present invention may decide to clean the catch pan  20  using a conventional cleaning method. Regardless of which alternative a person uses, the invention can be reassembled in the following manner. 
     The catch pan  20  is slid over the pole  14  until it rests against the katchit clip  30 . The katchit clip  32  is snapped onto the pole  14  immediately above the catch pan  20  so that the katchit clip  32  contacts the catch pan  20 . The perch bar  18  is slid through the opening  26  until it is centered over the pole  14 . The perch bar  18  is fixed in this position by replacing and tightening set screw  28 . The feeder  16  is reconnected to the pole  14  by sliding the lower portion  22  of the feeder  16  onto the pole. 
     The present invention provides a unique combination perch, feeder, and bath. The present invention is easy to use and made out of inexpensive conventional readily available parts. The invention provides an apparatus and a method of use that allows a person to enjoy the company of birds while eliminating the mess that usually accompanies such an activity. 
     Thus, it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present invention readily achieve those ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.