Abstract:
A saving device for bird houses, feeders and feed is provided that includes a vertical member secured in an anchor medium topped by a pulley supporting a line able to be fastened by a cleat. The line attached to a sleeve traveling up and down the vertical member, by the action of an operator, is fitted with hooks to support feeders and houses for target species, protected by a guard and hanger clamp assembly, a means to hinder non-target animals from accessing and destroying feeders and houses for target species.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. (Provisional) Application No. 61/731,271 filed on Nov. 29, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present application relates to saving devices for bird houses, feeders and feed, in particular to saving devices for use in domestic and commercial situations, for example, devices to be used at homes, residences for the elderly or disabled, outside businesses, at refuges or any place where target species are fed. 
         [0003]    Feeding targeted species such as birds is recreational, therapeutic and of ecological importance. Often time, targeted species, such as birds, go without food because of the invasion of non-target animals such as squirrels, deer and bear. 
         [0004]    In addition to the lost feed eaten by unwanted critters, many bird houses and feeders are destroyed by non target species. For example; squirrels, deer, bear and other predators will chew through or tear apart feeders in an effort to access the food and invade houses to eat eggs or the young. 
         [0005]    Various attempts have been made at producing feeders that will hinder non-target animals from accessing or destroying them. Most designs are not reasonably effective in keeping non-target animals out, primarily because they are designed and placed at a level to be accessed by a person needing to fill them. Thus, most feeder designs are also easily accessed by non-target animals. 
         [0006]    Accordingly there is a need for a saving device for bird houses, feeders and feed which overcomes the limitations of feeders noted above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect, a device is provided that includes: a vertical member having a length between a bottom end and a top end opposite the bottom end; a carrier sleeve slidingly coupled to the vertical member such that the carrier is operable to slide along the length of the vertical member between at least a first position and a second position vertically lower than the first position, the carrier sleeve comprising a plurality of hooks extending outward from the carrier sleeve; and a guard coupled to the carrier sleeve vertically below the carrier sleeve that prevents non-targeted species from climbing vertically along the vertical member. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the device includes a pulley attached to the top end of the vertical member and a line, the line coupled to the carrier sleeve and the pulley so as to allow the carrier sleeve&#39;s vertical position to be adjusted by pulling the line through the pulley. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the device includes an anchor for securing the line to the vertical member and therewith the carrier sleeve in the first position. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the carrier sleeve is a tubular section through which the vertical member passes. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the guard is located vertically below the hooks. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the vertical member has a circular cross section with a diameter of about 2 inches and wherein the guard has a circular opening therein through which the vertical member passes, the opening having a diameter less than about 2.5 inches. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the guard has a diameter of at least 15 inches. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the device includes a hanger clamp coupled to the carrier sleeve, wherein the guard is coupled to the carrier sleeve in a non-fixed arrangement via the hanger clamp. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the hanger clamp comprises a plurality of contact points and wherein the guard rests on the plurality of contact points such that the weight of non-targeted species on the guard causes the guard to tip and the non-targeted species to fall off of the guard. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the plurality of contact points each comprise a rod bent at an angle so as to terminate at an end that points vertically upward, protruding outward from the hanger clamp, and wherein the guard rests on the ends of the rods. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the rod is bent at about a 90 degree angle. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the rod end extends outward from the hanger carrier at least 1 inch. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the plurality of rods are affixed in an equidistant fashion about the circumference of the hanger clamp. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the hanger clamp is suspended from the carrier sleeve with a plurality of connecters. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the carrier sleeve has a plurality of equidistant vertical notches within an inner surface of the carrier sleeve. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, each notch has a width of about 10.09 degrees of arc, a radius of about 0.18 inches and a length of about 7 inches. 
         [0023]    Additional aspects of the present invention will be apparent in view of the description which follows. A saving device for bird houses, feeders and feed as described herewith. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the saving device for bird houses, feeders and feed, in use. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a back elevation view. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevation view. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a top view. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the sleeve, hooks and guard. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a vertical center section view of the sleeve taken from  FIG. 8 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a horizontal mid-section view of the sleeve taken from  FIG. 8 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the guard and hanger clamp. 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the saving device for bird houses, feeders and feed, in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7  of the feed saving device  12 . The feed saving device  12  is a device designed to preserve feed for target species  14  and to prevent non-target species  16  from access to bird feeders  15  and houses  18  at the same time providing easy access to the operator for filling and maintenance. The feed saving device  12  consists of a vertical member  20  of sufficient height to keep bird feeders  15  and houses  18  out of the reach of non-target species  16  such as deer and bear. Feeders and houses  18  are suspended from the vertical member  20  by a sliding carrier sleeve  30  with hooks  32 . The vertical member  20  passes through the middle of the sleeve  30  and the sleeve  30  is held in position by a line  26  such as a rope or cable so as to allow the carrier sleeve  30  to slide vertically along the vertical member  20  when the rope or cable is released. The hooks  32  are space equally and extend a sufficient distance from the vertical member  20  to provide space for multiple feeders  15  and houses  18 . The sleeve  30  is designed to slide freely on the vertical member  20  despite largely variable sizes and weights of feeders  15  and houses  18 . The sleeve&#39;s  30  vertical position can be adjusted by pulling the line  26  through a pulley  24  at the top of the vertical member  20 . The line  26  is quickly and easily attached to the sleeve  30  through a connection means  40  mounted on the side of sleeve  30 . Connection means  40  contains a slot  50 . The connection means  40  is designed to prevent non-target species  16  from access to the attachment of the line  26  by a mass of material at the end of line  26 . The sleeve  30  is held in position by securing the line  26  to the vertical member using a cleat  28  or other anchoring device. 
         [0037]    The feed saver device  12  is a feed conservation device, containing a guard  34 , and can be lowered for easy access to the feeders  15  and houses  18  by the operator. By doing so any individual, even individuals confined to a wheel chair can easily access anything attached to the sleeve  30  and hooks  32 . In addition, the operator can elevate the feeders  15  and houses  18  above the reach of non-target species  18 . So that target species  14  can feed from and use the elevated and guarded feeders  15  and houses  18 . 
         [0038]    The vertical member  20  can be made of one or more sections and is about 2 inches in diameter and about 9 foot in length, above an anchor medium  22 . The anchor medium  22  can be material such as soil, concrete or rock. The anchor medium  22  can be below grade or above grade in a container. Vertical member  20  can be made of steel, aluminum, wood or any other material known in the arts. In one embodiment the cross section of vertical member  20  is circular. In other embodiments the cross section could be of any shape. The top end of vertical member  20  is fitted with a pulley  24 . The pulley  24  contains at least one wheel that is able to support a line  26 . The line  26  can be a rope, cord or wire that has a length sufficient to form a loop from the pulley  24  to a distance below the cleat  28 . One end of the line  26  is affixed to the sleeve  30 . The cleat  28  is affixed to the vertical member  20  about 4 feet above the anchor medium  22 . The cleat can be made of steel, aluminum, wood or any other material known in the arts. 
         [0039]    Referring in more detail to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 11 . The guard  34  is a shielding device that prevents non-target species  16  from accessing the feeders  15  and houses  18  by climbing the vertical member  20 . The guard  34  is comprised of one or more pieces. In one embodiment the guard  34  is comprised of two pieces that connect in a central lap joint and can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic or any other ridged material. The guard  34  is about 0.024 inches thick and a minimum of about 15 inches, or greater, in diameter and contains a center hole of about 2.38 inches in diameter. The guard  34  is held in position by a hanger clamp  36  that has at least three contact points on the end of a vertical rod or wire over which the guard  34  rests. The connection between the three contact points and the guard  34  is not fixed. When a non-target species  16  contacts the guard  34  the non-target species body weight causes the guard  34  to tip and throw the non-target species  16  out of balance and causes non-target species  16  to fall to the ground. 
         [0040]    The hanger clamp  36  can be made from steel, aluminum, plastic or any other material well known in the arts. The hanger clamp  36  is made from a bar about 0.02 inches thick and about 0.5 inches wide. Hanger clamp  36  has at least three protruding rods about 0.13 inches in diameter bent into a 90 degree angle with a length of about 1.06 inches and a height of about 1.06 inches. The protruding rods are positioned and affixed in an equidistant fashion about the circumference of the bar so that one leg of the rods is horizontal and the other leg vertical. In one embodiment hanger clamp  36  has a diameter of about 2.38 inches and is suspended from sleeve  30  by at least three connectors  52  and moves in accord with sleeve  30  as it is raised and lowered by an operator. Hanger clamp  36  has a set of tabs about 0.43 in length, at its ends, that contain a hole for fixing the tabs together by a fastener to form a circle. Referring to  FIG. 12 . In another embodiment hanger clamp  36  has a diameter of about 2.04 inches and is affixed to vertical member  20  in a permanent location below cleat  28 . 
         [0041]    The sleeve  30  can be made from plastic or any other material well known in the arts. The sleeve  30  is about 7 inches in length and has an outside diameter of about 2.63. The outside diameter is measured along outside wall  44  about 3.75 inches from sleeve&#39;s  30  bottom edge or about 3.25 inches from sleeve&#39;s  30  top edge. Sleeve  30  has an outside diameter of about 2.45 inches at each end. The inside diameter  48  of sleeve  30  is about 2.04 inches and is cylindrical from top to bottom along inside wall  42 , in one embodiment. In another embodiment there can be one or more notches  46  placed vertically about the inside diameter  48  in an equidistant fashion. In one embodiment there are three notches  46 . The width of the notches  46  is about 10.09 degrees of arc, the radius of the notch  46  is about 0.18 inches and its length is about 7 inches. The purpose of the notches  46  is to reduce points of friction between sleeve  30  and vertical member  20 . The purpose of the notches  46  is also to facilitate the exodus of moisture to prevent build up of moisture between the sleeve  30  and vertical member  20  in cold temperatures. Should trapped moisture freeze the sleeve  30  may become frozen to the vertical member  20  and not slide properly. In other embodiments notches  46  could be of other sizes and dimensions. Sleeve  30  has one or more protrusions  38  placed about its largest outside diameter. The protrusions  38  have a cylindrical inside diameter with about a ⅜-16 machine thread that serves as a point of connection for hooks  32 . The connection means  40  is attached to the outside wall  44  about at the largest point of outside diameter and is shaped as an enclosed arc with an open bottom. A slot  50  is contained within the top of connection means  40  and serves as an anchor point for the end of line  26  tied in a knot or fitted with a mass of extra material. 
         [0042]    Hooks  32  can be made from steel, aluminum, plastic or any other material well know in the arts. In one embodiment hook  32  is made of about a 0.38 inch rod and measures about 14 inches over all in length. The end of the hook  32  that mounts into protrusion  38  is about 1.22 inches in length, is horizontal to the ground and has a machine thread about ⅜-16 in size. The rod, at this point, is bent down at about 150 degrees and extends a length of about 9.78 inches before it is formed to about a 0.69 upward radius at its outward end to form a secure point to hang feeders  15  and houses  18 . 
         [0043]    While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.