Abstract:
A dispenser guard for use in a bird feeder including a seed storage and a seed dispenser having a seed reservoir connected from the seed storage for receiving seed from the seed storage and allowing access to the seed. An upper guard plate extends across the seed reservoir and includes a first plurality of upper access openings and a lower guard plate is located between the upper guard plate and the seed reservoir and extends across the seed reservoir and includes a second plurality of lower access openings. The dimensions of the upper access openings and of the lower access openings and the distance between the upper guard plate and the lower guard plate are selected to prevent a squirrel from removing seed from the reservoir.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to bird feeders and, in particular, to a bird feeder including protection for limiting or frustrating the theft of bird food by squirrels.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The feeding of birds is a widespread and popular practice for many reasons, including the conservation, management and encouragement of wildlife and the pleasure of observing the birds. As a result, a variety of bird feeder designs have been developed for these purposes, many of which are designed for specific purposes or to achieve particular objects and goals. For example, it is common for bird feeders to be designed to dispense a specific type of food in order to attract specific species of birds, or to be designed in such a way that only certain species of birds or birds having certain characteristics may obtain food from the feeder. In some feeders, for example, birds that can not easily cling are discouraged by designs without perches, larger birds are discouraged by limiting the dimensions of the access openings to accommodate only smaller species of birds. Some feeders, such as finch feeders, employ multiple methods for selecting preferred species of birds. For example, thistle seed is very attractive to finches and related or similar species of bird and both the seed and the birds are relatively small. In finch or thistle feeders, therefore, the feeding access holes in the seed container are corresponding small, thereby selecting for finches and related species of birds by both food preference and the size of the desired birds.  
           [0003]    A common problem with bird feeders, however, is in preventing various forms of wildlife from eating the food, typically seed or suet mixtures, that is intended for the birds. Squirrels are widely recognized as a particularly severe problem in this respect and there are many bird feeder designs intended to foil squirrels by one method or another. For example, one of the most common methods is to provide some form of “unclimbable” barrier to prevent squirrels from reaching the feeder, such as a wide, smooth collar or dome around the pole or line supporting the feeder. A more complex method is feed opening shutter mechanism that closes off access to the food access openings under the greater weight of a squirrel while allowing access to the openings under the lesser weight of a bird. Still other methods involve sizing the food access openings or paths to exclude squirrels, which are typically larger than the desired birds.  
           [0004]    All of these methods, however, are to at least a certain degree ineffective in one aspect or another. For example, squirrels are very adept and agile climbers and acrobats, have very dexterous paws, particularly the front paws, and are relatively intelligent for at least their own purposes. Because of this, squirrels are often able to bypass protective barriers by climbing over or around the barriers or by leaping from adjacent perches, are often able to reach the food openings without actuating shutter mechanisms, and can often reach through or around restricted openings to grasp the food. Another problem of the more complex forms of bird feeders is the mechanical complexity of, for example, protective barriers and shutter mechanisms. Such mechanisms significantly increase the manufacturing complexity and costs of the feeders, and often either fail in use or require significantly greater maintenance efforts.  
           [0005]    The present invention provides a solution to these and other problems of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is directed to a dispenser guard for use in a bird feeder that includes a seed storage and a seed dispenser having a seed reservoir connected from the seed storage for receiving seed from the seed storage and allowing access to the seed. A guard includes an upper guard plate extending across the seed reservoir and including a first plurality of upper access openings and a lower guard plate located between the upper guard plate and the seed reservoir and extending across the seed reservoir and including a second plurality of lower access openings. The dimensions of the lower access openings are less than the dimensions of the upper access openings and the dimensions of the lower access openings and the distance between the upper guard plate and the lower guard plate and are selected to prevent a squirrel from removing seed from the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, however, the dimensions of the upper and lower access openings and the distance between the upper guard plate and the lower guard plate are selected to allow a desired species of bird access to the seed in the seed reservoir.  
           [0007]    The dimensions of the upper access openings are selected to be less than the shoulder width of an average squirrel while the dimensions of the lower access openings are less than the dimensions of the upper access openings. The dimensions of the lower access openings and the distance between the upper guard plate and the lower guard plate and are selected according to the forearm length of an average squirrel to prevent an average squirrel either from separating its paws to grasp a seed when thrust through an upper access opening and a lower access opening or from avoiding enclosing a section of the guard between the squirrel&#39;s arms.  
           [0008]    In a present embodiment, the lower access openings are arranged into at least one third plurality of lower access openings, each third plurality of lower access openings corresponding to an upper access opening and the dimensions of each third plurality of lower access openings corresponds to the dimensions of the corresponding upper access opening. Each third plurality of lower access openings is located vertically below the corresponding upper access opening and the upper access openings are arranged as one or more groups of upper access openings while the third pluralities of lower access openings are arranged as one or more corresponding groups of third pluralities of lower access openings.  
           [0009]    A squirrel guard includes an upper guard plate and a lower guard plate. The upper guard plate includes a first upper guard plate panel extending across the seed reservoir and including a first plurality of upper access openings and a second upper guard plate panel extending at an upward angle from the first guard plate panel and forming a side wall of the seed container. The lower guard plate includes a first lower guard plate panel and a second lower guard plate panel. The first lower guard plate panel is located between the first upper guard plate panel and the seed reservoir, extends across the seed reservoir, and includes a second plurality of lower access openings. The second lower guard plate panel extends upwards from the first lower guard plate panel and forms a side wall extension wherein a top edge of the side wall extension is attached to a bottom edge of the side wall, and a gap between a bottom edge of the side wall extension and the reservoir floor plate forms a seed flow path from the seed container into the reservoir.  
           [0010]    In the present embodiment, each side wall of the seed container has at least one window opening each end wall of the seed container has a window bracket for engagingly retaining a transparent panel against an inner surface of the side wall and a sidewall bracket for engagingly retaining an upper edge of the side wall and the transparent panel against the window bracket. Each guard is fabricated as a single unit with a container side wall and the upper guard plate includes a first upper guard plate panel that extends across the seed reservoir and the second upper guard plate panel forms a side wall of the seed container. The lower guard plate includes a first lower guard plate panel that extends across the seed reservoir between the first upper guard plate panel and the seed reservoir and has an outer edge removably engaging with an upper edge of the outer wall of the seed reservoir. A second lower guard plate panel extends downwards from the outer edge of the first lower guard plate panel to the reservoir floor plate and a third lower guard plate panel forms a side wall extension, a top edge of the side wall extension and is attached to a bottom edge of the side wall and formed into a bracket for engagingly retaining a lower edge of the transparent panel while a gap between a bottom edge of the side wall extension and the reservoir floor plate forms a seed flow path from the seed container into the reservoir.  
           [0011]    A guard and container side wall unit are slidably and rotatingly engaged with the bird feeder by engagement of the upper edge of the side wall between a window bracket and a sidewall bracket, engagement of the outer edge of the first lower guard plate panel with the upper edge of the outer wall of the seed reservoir, and location of the transparent panel between the inner surface of the side wall and the window bracket and in contact with the window bracket to urge the top edge of the side wall into contact with the sidewall bracket, to urge the outer edge of the first lower guard plate into contact with the upper edge of the outer wall of the seed reservoir. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0012]    The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a generalized bird feeder;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an isometric representation of a bird feeder incorporating the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a squirrel guard of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 4 and 5 are isometric views of the upper and lower guard plates of a squirrel guard of the present invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 6A, 6B,  6 C and  6 D are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the present invention for various approaches by squirrels to obtain seeds. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    A. General Description of a Typical Feeder  10   
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, therein is shown a generalized, diagrammatic view of a typical bird Feeder  10 . As illustrated therein, a typical Feeder  10  includes a Seed Container  12  for holding a bulk quantity of Seed  14  and one or more Dispensers  16  connecting with Seed Container  12  for holding smaller quantities of Seed  14  and providing access to the Seed  14  in Dispensers  16  by birds in a manner to facilitate feeding by the birds. For this purpose, Dispensers  16  are typically dimensioned and shaped to provide a secure perch for the birds while feeding and the connection between Dispensers  16  and Seed Container  12  is such as to allow Seed  14  to flow steadily and constantly from Seed Container  12  to the Dispensers  16  in a controlled manner as the birds consume Seed  14 . In this regard, Seed Container  12 , Dispensers  16  and Flow Paths  22  must be dimensioned and shaped so that the approximate volume of Seed  14  in Dispensers  16  is relatively constant as the birds consume the Seed  14  from Dispenser  16 , and so long as there is Seed  14  in Seed Container  12 , while controlling the flow of Seed  14  into Dispensers  16  so that the Seed  14  does not, for example, overflow Dispensers  16  to be lost.  
         [0020]    Dispensers  16  also commonly include other elements, dependent upon design choice and upon the specific features desired in the Feeder  10 . For example, Dispensers  16  often include perches or perch areas designed to provide comfortable and secure perches for specific species or types of birds. Dispensers  16  may also include Access Covers  18  having Feeding Openings  20  similarly sized and positioned to facilitate feeding by the desired species or types of birds. The Seed Container  12 , Dispensers  16 , Flow Paths  22  and Feeding Openings  20  may also be sized and shaped according to a specific Seed  14  or type of Seed  14  that is to be dispensed from the Feeder  10 .  
         [0021]    As discussed, more complex Feeders  10  may include shutter mechanisms to exclude squirrels and birds above a desired size, while in simpler Feeders  10  the Dispensers  16  may be comprised of Feeding Openings  20  opening directly into the Seed Container  12  and having associated perches wherein the Feeding Openings  20  are sized to the desired species of birds and the Seed  14  to be dispensed.  
         [0022]    B. General Structure of a Feeder  10   
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated an isometric view of a Feeder  10  incorporating the present invention. As generally represented therein, the Feeder  10  includes a Seed Container  12  having two End Walls  24  and two Side Walls  26 . In the exemplary embodiment, each End Wall  24  is of a generally keystone shape with a Top Edge  24 T rising from the tops of Side Edges  24 S to a central peak and each Side Edge  24 S sloping generally inwards and downwards from the intersection of the Side Edge  24 S with Top Edge  24 T. The Lower Edges  24 L of End Walls  24  are similar in shape to the Top Edges  24 T, extending downwards and outwards at a slant from a central peak vertically below the peak of the Top Edge  24 T, thereby providing a slope along which Seed  14  flows from Seed Container  12  to Dispensers  16 . As shown, End Walls  24  and the Lower Edges  24 L of End Walls  24  extend outwards beyond the lower edges of Side Walls  26  to form End Walls  16 E at each end of Dispensers  16 , which are located along the lower portions of Side Walls  26  on each side of Seed Container  12 .  
         [0024]    Side Walls  26  of Seed Container  12  are of a generally horizontally elongated rectangular shape, each having a Top Edge  26 T extending between the intersection of the Side Edge  24 S with Top Edge  24 T of one End Wall  24  and the corresponding side edge/top edge intersection of the other End Wall  24 . The Lower Edge  26 L of each Side Wall  26  extends between End Walls  24  and along the top of a Dispenser  16 , so that the height of each Side Wall  26  is less than the height of End Walls  24 . Seed Container  12  is thereby generally of an elongated rectangular shape, but having a cross section wherein the side walls extend inwards as well as downwards from the intersection of each side wall with the longitudinal top edge of the Seed Container  12  and wherein the end walls of the Seed Container  12  are generally vertical.  
         [0025]    In the present embodiment, Feeder  10  includes a Dispenser  16  located along and extending outwards from the lower edge of each Side Wall  26  and extending the length of Seed Container  12 , that is, the length of Side Walls  26 . As will be discussed in further detail in a following detailed description, Seeds  14  are accessible to birds through Feeding Openings  20  formed in the top of each Dispenser  16 . As will also be discussed further, a Flow Path  22  is provided between Seed Container  12  and Dispensers  16  and along the lower side portion of Seed Container  12  so that Seed  14  may slide along the downward slope formed by the Bottom Panel  28 P extending along the bottom of Seed Container  12  and the sloping Lower Edges  24 L of End Walls  24  as the Seed  14  is consumed from Dispensers  16 .  
         [0026]    In this regard, it must be noted that the slope of Flow Path  22  along Bottom Panel  28  in FIGS. 1 and 3 is exaggerated for illustrative purposes. As discussed previously, however, Seed Container  12 , Dispensers  16  and Seed Flow Paths  22  are intended to facilitate feeding by the birds and thereby to permit a steady and constant flow of Seed  14  from Seed Container  12  to Dispensers  16  as the Seed  14  is consumed by the birds. The slope of Flow Paths  22  are also shaped and sloped so as to control the flow of Seed  14  into Dispensers  16  so that the Seed  14  does not, for example, overflow Dispensers  16  to be lost. In addition, the related structural elements of a Feeder  1   0 , such as Dispensers  16 , Access Covers  18  and Feeding Openings  20  are to provide a comfortable and secure perch for the birds while feeding, which may effect the slope of Flow Paths  22 . In a present embodiment, for example, the slope of Bottom Plates  28 P and thus of Flow Paths  22  is approximately  150  from horizontal. It will be appreciated and understood, however, that this angle may be greater or lesser, depending for example on other dimensions of Flow Paths  22 , Seed Container  12  and Dispensers  16 , the type and dimensions of Seed  14 , and so on.  
         [0027]    As shown, End Walls  16 E of Dispensers  16  are formed by the outward extensions of the lower portions of End Walls  24 , thereby forming a continuous edge across the bottom of Seed Container  12  and Dispensers  16 . Bottom Panel  28 P extends longitudinally between End Walls  24  of Seed Container  12  and across the contiguous lower edges of End Walls  24  of Seed Container  12  and End Walls  16 E of Dispensers  16 , thereby forming the bottom of Feeder  10  and of Flow Paths  22 . It will be noted that in the present embodiment of a Feeder  10 , and as shown, the outer portions of Bottom Panel  28 P may bend upwards to form the outer Dispenser Sidewallsl 6 S. In other embodiments, Dispenser Sidewalls  16 S may be formed of separate panels, or of a downward extending outer portion of the top plate of each Dispenser  16 .  
         [0028]    The Feeder  10  is further provided with a Roof  30  which, in the present embodiment, is formed of a single, continuous panel. As shown, Roof  30  extends from End Wall  24  to End Wall  24  of Seed Container  12  and is bent along the longitudinal axis of Seed Container  12  to conform to the Top Edges  24 T of End Walls  24  and to extend beyond the outer top corners of End Walls  24 . Roof  30  thereby forms a peaked roof with eaves extending over both Side Walls  26 S and at least portions of Dispensers  16 . In addition, the ends of Roof  30  are preferably bent downwards along the outer side of the top edges of End Walls  24 , thereby further protecting Seed  14  from the elements.  
         [0029]    In the present embodiment, the Roof  30  panel is hinged or pivoted to the top of Seed Container  12  in any of a number of different ways. For example, and as illustrated, the downward extensions of the ends of the Roof  30  panel, that overlap the top edges of End Walls  24 , are mounted onto End Walls  24  by means of a Rod  30 R extending through both the downwards extensions of the Roof  30  panel at each end of Seed Container  12  and the top outer corners of End Walls  24 . In this regard, it should be noted that Rod  30 R functions as a structural support member for the Feeder  10 , as well as a hinge for Root  30 , and that for this purpose the Feeder  10  will preferably include a Rod  30 R also joining the opposite top outer corners of End Walls  24 . It will be appreciated and understood, moreover, that a Roof  30  may be constructed and mounted to the Feeder  10  in any of a number of ways which will be well known to and well understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, and that the structural functions of Rods  30 R may be fulfilled in a number of ways.  
         [0030]    The basic structure of a presently preferred embodiment of a Feeder  10  further includes a Hanger  32  by which the Feeder  10  may be suspended from a support, such as a tree, pole, building element, and so on. In the illustrated embodiment, Hanger  32  is comprised of a generally U-shaped wire element with the open side facing downward and a loop formed in the middle of the horizontal upper portion of the U for attachment from a support or suspension means. As shown, the two downward extending arms of Hanger  32  are shaped to lock or snap into appropriately shaped and located Suspension Mounts  32 S in the Feeder  10 , which may, and for example, be formed by keyed openings in End Walls  24  of Seed Container  12 . In will be understood, however, that a Hanger  32  and Suspension Mounts  32 S may be implemented in a number of forms well known to those of ordinary skill in the arts. It will also be understood that a Feeder  10  may be mounted or attached to a support attaching to or mating with the bottom of the Feeder  10 , such as by a pole socket mounted in the center of Bottom Panel  28 P.  
         [0031]    Lastly with regard to the basic structure of a Feeder  10 , it is shown that the present embodiment of Seed Container  12  include a plurality of Windows  34  comprised of one or more Window Openings  34 O covered by one or more Transparent Plates  34 P through which the Seed  14  in Seed Container  12  may be observed. Transparent Plates  34 P are typically made of glass and are mounted in Brackets  34 B wherein Brackets  34 B, which will be discussed further, typically extend along three sides of the Transparent Plate  34 P or Transparent Plates  34 P of one or more Windows  34 , that is, the bottom and two sides, so that each Transparent Plate  34 P is removable for such purposes as cleaning or replacement. In a present preferred embodiment of a Feeder  10 , Windows  34  are formed by ports or openings in a plate forming the walls of Seed Container  12  and a single Transparent Plate  34 P extends along each side of Seed Container  12  to form the Windows  34  in each side of Seed Container  12 . In this implementation, Brackets  34 B will extend along the bottom and two ends of each of the Transparent Plates  34 P. It will also be noted that Transparent Plates  34 P may be made of other transparent or generally transparent materials, such as plexiglass, plastic, etc.  
         [0032]    C. Structure of a Squirrel Guard of a Feeder  
         [0033]    Referring again to Dispensers  16 , FIG. 2 provides general, isometric views of the Guards  16 G of the Dispensers  16  of a Feeder  10  while FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a Dispenser  16  and related portions of Seed Container  12 . FIGS. 4 and 5, in turn, are isometric views of exemplary embodiments of Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and Lower Guard Plate  16 GL of a Guard  16 G. The following descriptions will include dimensions for an exemplary embodiment of a Feeder  10  incorporating the present invention. It should be understood, however, that any stated dimensions are approximate and reasonable tolerances or modifications in the dimensions may be expected. That is, and for example, a stated dimension of one inch or one half inch may be approximate to within one quarter or one eighth inch, respectively. Also, the dimensions and shapes of a given implementation of a Feeder  10  incorporating the present invention may vary according to the choice and desire of the designer as the present invention does not in general depend upon specific dimensions, but on structural relationships and functions. For example, it will be described in the following that a squirrel guard of the present invention may have an upper guard and a lower guard separated by a height or space of one half inch; this dimension may vary from one half inch in other implementations, so long as the structural relationship and functions of the upper and lower guards are preserved.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each Dispenser  16  includes a Guard  16 G to prevent the removal of Seed  14  from the Feeder  10  by undesired creatures, such as squirrels. A Guard  16 G includes an Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and a Lower Guard Plate  16 GL that are spaced apart vertically. A Seed Supply  14 S is located in Seed Reservoir  14 R in the lower part of the Dispenser  16 , between Lower Guard Plate  16 GL and a Bottom Plate  16 B of the Dispenser  16 , which in the present implementation is formed by Bottom Panel  28 P of Feeder  10 . Seed Supply  14 S is formed and replenished from Seed Container  12  by Seed  14  sliding downwards from Seed Container  12  and along a Flow Path  22  into the Dispenser  16 , that is, along the sloping Bottom Plate  28 P of Seed Container  12  and Bottom Plate  16 B of the Dispenser  16 . As discussed previously, in the exemplary implementation the slope of Bottom Plate  28 P and Bottom Plate  16 B is approximately  150  from horizontal, but this angle may vary within the functional requirements of providing a continuing flow of Seed  14  as Seed Supply  14 S is depleted while preventing Seed Supply  14 S from overflowing the Dispenser  16 .  
         [0035]    As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , the Seed Supply  14 S in Seed Reservoir  14 R is accessible through Upper Access Openings  36 U and Lower Access Openings  36 L in Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and Lower Guard Plate  16 GL, respectively, which form Feeding Openings  20 . Upper Guard Plate  16 GU includes a plurality of Upper Access Openings  36 U which, in the presently preferred embodiment, are arranged into a plurality of Upper Opening Groups  36 GU. In the exemplary embodiment shown, there are three Upper Opening Groups  36 GU spaced along Upper Guard Plate  16 GU, that is, along the longitudinal axis of the Dispenser  16 . The two endmost Upper Opening Groups  36 GU each include six Upper Access Openings  36 U arranged as a two wide by three long grid and the middle Upper Opening Group  36 GU includes eight Upper Access Openings  36 U arranged as a two wide by four long grid. It will be noted, in this regard, that the terms “wide” and “width” refer to the dimension or direction running between the outer edge of a Dispenser  16  to the inner edge of the Dispenser  16 , that is, from the outer side of Dispenser Sidewall  16 S to the Side Wall  26  of the Seed Container  12 . In a like manner, the term “long”, “along” or “length” refer to the distance or direction running between End Walls  16 E of the Dispenser  16 .  
         [0036]    In the presently preferred embodiment of a Guard  16 G, the Upper Access Openings  36 U are generally square with rounded corners and are, for example, approximately 1 inch long, that is, as measured along the length of the Dispenser  16 , by approximately 1 inch wide, as measured across the width of the Dispenser  16 . Within each Upper Opening Group  36 GU, the distance between an edge of one Upper Access Opening  36 U and the same edge of an adjacent Upper Access Opening  36 U as measured along the length of the Dispenser  16  is, for example, approximately 1 inch, and adjacent Upper Access Openings  36 U within an Upper Opening Group  36 GU are separated, in the direction along the Dispenser  16 , by a Upper Separator Bar  36 BU having a width of approximately 0.1 inch. In the direction measured across a Dispenser  16 , that is, from Dispenser Sidewall  16 S of the Dispenser  16  to the adjacent Side Wall  26  of the Seed Container  12 , the distance between an edge of an Upper Access Opening  36 U and the same edge of the adjacent Upper Access Opening  36 U is approximately 1 inch, and adjacent Upper Access Openings  36 U within an Upper Opening Group  36 GU are separated, in the direction across the Dispenser  16 , by a Upper Separator Bar  36 BU having a width of approximately 0.1 inches. It should be noted, in this regard, that Upper Separator Bars  36 U are comprised of the material of Upper Guard Plate  36 GU remaining between the Upper Access Openings  36 U after the Upper Access Openings  36 U are cut out of the Upper Guard Plate  36 GT, and effectively form a grid. Lastly, adjacent Upper Opening Groups  36 GU are spaced apart along the length of the Dispenser  16  by approximately 0.5 inch, leaving a space of approximately 0.5 inch between each Upper Opening Group  36 GU and the corresponding End Wall  16 E.  
         [0037]    Next referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and  5 , a Lower Guard Plate  16 GL extends along Dispenser  16  above Seed Reservoir  14 R and includes a plurality of Lower Access Openings  36 L which, in the presently preferred embodiment, are arranged into a plurality of Lower Opening Groups  36 GL. In the exemplary embodiment shown, there are three Lower Opening Groups  36 GL spaced along Lower Guard Plate  16 GL, that is, along the longitudinal axis of the Dispenser  16 . The two endmost Lower Opening Groups  36 GL each include  24  Lower Access Openings  36 L arranged as a four wide by six long grid and the middle Lower Opening Group  36 GL includes  32  Lower Access Openings  36 L arranged as a four wide by eight long grid. It will be noted in this regard, and again, that the terms “wide” and “width” refer to the dimension or direction running between the outer edge of a Dispenser  16  to the inner edge of the Dispenser  16 , that is, from the outer Side Wall  16 S of a Dispensers  16  to the Side Wall  26  of the Seed Container  12 . In a like manner, the term “long”, “along” or “length” refer to the distance or direction running between End Walls  16 E of the Dispenser  16 .  
         [0038]    In the presently preferred embodiment of a Guard  16 G, the Lower Access Openings  36 L are again generally square with rounded corners and are, for example, approximately 0.5 inch long, as measured along the length of the Dispenser  16 , by approximately inches wide, as measured across the width of the Dispenser  16 . Within each Lower Opening Group  36 GL, the distance between an edge of one Lower Access Opening  36 L and the same edge of an adjacent Lower Access Opening  36 L as measured along the length of the Dispenser  16  is, for example, approximately 0.5 inch, and adjacent LowerAccess Openings  36 L within an Lower Opening Group  36 GL are separated, in the direction along the Dispenser  16 , by a Lower Separator Bar  36 BL having a width of approximately 0.1 inch. In the direction measured across a Dispenser  16 , that is, from Dispenser Sidewall  16 S to the adjacent Side Wall  26  of the Seed Container  12 , the distance between an edge of a Lower Access Opening  36 L and the same edge of the adjacent Lower Access Opening  36 L is approximately 0.5 inch, and adjacent Lower Access Openings  36 L within a Lower Opening Group  36 GL are separated, in the direction across the Dispenser  16 , by a Lower Separator Bar  36 BL having a width of approximately 0.1 inch. Lastly, adjacent Lower Opening Groups  36 GL are spaced apart along the length of the Dispenser  16  by approximately 0.5 inches, leaving a space of approximately 0.50 inch between each Upper Opening Group  36 GL and the corresponding End Wall  16 E. Again, Lower Separator Bars  36 BL are, in the present embodiment, formed of the Lower Guard Plate  36 GM material remaining after Lower Access Openings  36 L have been cut into the Lower Guard Plate  16 GL and form a grid.  
         [0039]    Next considering Upper Guard Plate  16 U and Lower Guard Plate  16 L in conjunction, and referring to FIGS.  2 ,  3 , 4  and  5 , each Upper Opening Group  36 GU is located vertically above the corresponding Lower Opening Group  36 GL, or, stated in the reverse, each Lower Opening Group  36 GL is located vertically below the corresponding Upper Opening Group  36 GU. The dimensions, that is, the length and width, of each Lower Opening Group  36 GL and of the corresponding Upper Opening Group  36 GU are equal, or approximately so. In addition, the dimensions and inter-opening dimensions of each Lower Access Opening  36 L are approximately one half of those of an Upper Access Opening  36 U, so that there is a group of four Lower Access Openings  36 L corresponding to each Upper Access Opening  36 U. Also, the location and dimensions each group of four Lower Access Openings  36 L correspond with those of the corresponding Upper Access Opening  36 U.  
         [0040]    For purposes of simplicity of fabrication and assembly, the top of each Dispenser  16  is formed of and by the corresponding Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and each Upper Guard Plate  16 GU is formed together with the corresponding Side Wall  26  as a single plate, which is then bent to the appropriate angle along the junction between Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and the Side Wall  26 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , Upper Guard Plate  16 GU is approximately 2¼ or 2½ inches wide from Side Wall  26  of Seed Container  12  to Dispenser Sidewall  16 S, and the Side Wall  26  portion of the plate is approximately four inches high. The Dispenser Sidewall  16 S is approximately 1½ to 2 inches high, so that Upper Guard Plate  16 GU is thereby located approximately 1½ to 2 inches above the bottom plate of the Dispenser  16 . As shown, the outer edge of Upper Guard Plate  16 GU is formed into a downwardly offset Guard Interlock Lip  16 GI that extends along at least part of the length of Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and that engages with a horizontally extending Sidewall Interlock Lip  26 SI formed at the top edge of Sidewall  6  and that extends along at least part of the length of Sidewall  26 . As shown, when Guard  16 G is in the finally assembled position the top of Guard Interlock Lip  16 GI engages against the lower surface of Sidewall Interlock Lip  26 SI so that Guard Interlock Lip  16 GI is trapped under Sidewall Interlock Lip  26 SI, thereby locking the assembly that includes Guard  16 G and Sidewall  26  into the desired structural relationship with Dispenser  16  and Dispenser Sidewall  16 S.  
         [0041]    Although not necessary to the present discussion, it may be noted that the Feeder  10 , and Seed Container  12 , the Dispensers  16  and Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and Lower Guard Plate  16 GL, are about  12  inches long. It will be recognized, however, that these and other stated dimensions for the exemplary embodiment of a Feeder  10  are intended to be solely illustrative and exemplary, and that other dimensions may be employed according to the choice and desire of the designer.  
         [0042]    As discussed previously, the Side Wall  26  portion of the plate that includes Upper Guard Plate  16 GU also includes a plurality of Window Openings  340  and associated Brackets  34 B for retaining one or more Transparent Plates  34 P forming Windows  34 . In the present embodiment, the Windows  34  on each side of Seed Container  12  are formed by a single, common Transparent Plate  34 P extending approximately the length of the side of Seed Container  12 . A single Bracket  34 B is located at each end of each Side Wall  26  to retain the corresponding end of the Transparent Plate  34 P against the Side Wall  26  and is formed, for example, by rolling or bending the corresponding vertical edge of End Wall  24  to form the Bracket  34 B. As will be described below, the lower edge of each Transparent Plate  34 P is supported and retained by a Bracket  34 B formed in and along an upper horizontal edge of Side Wall Extension  26 E and is also formed, for example, by rolling or bending the edge of the portion of Lower Guard  16 GL forming the Side Wall Extension  26 E to form the Bracket  34 B.  
         [0043]    In addition, and as will also be discussed below, a Sidewall Bracket  26 B is formed in the upper portion of the vertical edge of each End Wall  24  to retain each Side Wall  26  in the desired position with respect to the End Wall  24 . In summary, therefore, each side of Seed Container  12  is formed of a “sandwich” of a single Transparent Plate  34 P and a Side Wall  26 , each vertical end of the “sandwich” being trapped and retained between the corresponding vertical Bracket  34 B on the inside and the corresponding Sidewall Bracket  26 B on the outside. As described, the Transparent Plate  34 P on each side of Seed Container  12  is supported vertically by the Bracket  34 B running along the top edge of the corresponding Lower Guard  16 GL.  
         [0044]    Lastly, and as shown, the top corners of the Side Wall  26  are formed to receive and retain the corresponding Rod  30 R. Also, and as will be discussed in a following discussion of the assembly and disassembly of a Feeder  10 , in the present embodiment the length of Side Wall  26  and Guard  16 G are slightly less than the distance between End Walls  24 , the gap between Side Walls  26  and End Walls  24  being effectively closed by Brackets  34 B and Transparent Plate  34 P.  
         [0045]    Next considering Lower Guard Plate  16 GL, and FIGS. 2 and 5, the Lower Guard Plate  16 GL is approximately the same length and width of Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and extends along Dispenser  16  above Seed Reservoir  14 R and, again for simplicity of fabrication and assembly, is formed from a single plate that includes the Lower Guard Plate  16 GL, a Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SL and a Side Wall Extension  26 E. As shown, the single plate is bent upward along the line of intersection between the plane of the Lower Guard Plate  16 GL and the plane of the Side Wall  26  to form the Side Wall Extension  26 E and is bent downwards along the line of intersection between the plane of the Lower Guard Plate  16 GL and the plane of the outer Dispenser Sidewall  16 S of the Dispenser  16  to form the Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SL. The width of the Lower Guard Plate  16 GL is approximately the same as that of the Upper Guard Plate  16 GU, approximately 2¼ or 2½ inches wide from Side Wall  26  of Seed Container  12  to Dispenser Sidewall  16 S. Side Wall Extension  26 E has a height of approximately 1.5 inches, and Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SL has a height of approximately 0.5 to 0.75 inch; that is, the height necessary to extend from Lower Guard Plate  16 GL approximately to Bottom Plate  16 B.  
         [0046]    As shown, the upper edge of Side Wall Extension  26 E is attached to the lower edge of the Side Wall  26  by a Side Wall Fastening  26 F, which may be, for example, rivets, spot welding, nuts and bolts, or appropriate screws, so that Lower Guard Plate  16 GL extends horizontally approximately 1 inch below Upper Guard Plate  16 GU and about 0.5 to 0.75 inch above the Bottom Plate  16 B of the Dispenser  16  and Bottom Panel  28 B of the Seed Container  12 . The gap extending between the bottom edge of Side Wall Extension  26 E and the bottom plate of Seed Container  12  and the Dispenser  16  and extending the length of Seed Container  12  and the Dispenser  16  thereby forms a Flow Path  22  having a height of between approximately 0.4-0.5 inch to about 1.0 inch, and preferably of about 0.66 to 0.70 inches high.  
         [0047]    The Flow Path  22  between the Seed Container  12  and the Dispenser  16  thereby allows Seed  14  to slide downwards from Seed Container  12  and along the sloping bottom plate of Seed Container  12  and the Dispenser  16  and into the Seed Reservoir  14 R of Dispenser  16 . As Seed Reservoir  14 R is preferably formed entirely below the level of Lower Guard Plate  16 GL, Seed Reservoir will have a depth, for example, of approximately 0.5 inch or less. In this regard, it should be noted that the bottom plates of Seed Container  12  and of Dispensers  16  may be comprised of separate plates. For simplicity of fabrication and assembly, however, and to provide a smooth path for the flow of Seed  14 , the bottom plates of the Dispensers  16  and the bottom plate of the Seed Container  12  are formed of a single Bottom Plate  12 B bent to the appropriate contour to accommodate the shape and dimensions of the lower edges of End Walls  24 .  
         [0048]    D. Operation of a Squirrel Guard  
         [0049]    Next considering the operation of a Guard  16 G in further detail, as has been described, the function and purpose of a Guard  16 G is to limit or frustrate the theft of Seed  14  from a Feeder  10  by undesired wildlife, and in particular by squirrels, while permitting desired wildlife, such as birds or certain species of birds, to access the Seed  14 . For this reason, the dimensions and spacings of Upper and Lower Access Openings  36 U and  36 L are designed to permit at least desired species of birds to reach through an Upper and Lower Access Openings  36 U and  36 L to seize and withdraw Seed  14 .  
         [0050]    With regard to protecting the Seed  14  from, for example, squirrels, the present invention recognizes that while squirrel&#39;s paws, and in particular their front paws, are relatively dexterous, squirrels do not have opposable thumbs and thus have difficulty grasping smaller objects, such as seeds, with only one paw. As such, squirrels are generally forced to grasp seeds with both paws in order to remove the seeds from a bird feeder. According to the present invention, the preferred arrangement, dimensions and spacing of the guard plates and access openings in the dispenser guard described herein above therein are selected according to the average shoulder width and forearm length of common squirrels to interfere with their grasping of seeds with both fore-paws.  
         [0051]    Referring to FIGS.  2  and FIGS. 6A, 6B,  6 C and  6 D, each of FIGS. 6A, 6B,  6 C and  6 D is a diagrammatic representation of sectional view along a part of the length of a Dispenser  16  as viewed, for example, looking outwards from the Seed Container  12 . FIGS. 6A, 6B,  6 C and  6 D therefore diagrammatically illustrate the relationship between Upper and Lower Guard Plates  16 GU and  16 LU, Upper and Lower Access Openings  36 U and  36 L, and Upper and Lower Separator Bars  36 BU and  36 BL, and illustrate possible ways in which a Squirrel  38  may attempt to grasp a Seed  40  through the Guard  16 G.  
         [0052]    As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a Squirrel  38  may attempt to insert its Paws  40 A and  40 B through a single Upper Access Opening  36 U, that is, between adjacent Upper Separator Bars  36 BU. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the Squirrel  38  may then attempt to pass its Paws  40 A and  40 B through a single Lower Access Opening  36 L, between adjacent Lower Separator Bars  36 BL, and into Seed Reservoir  14 R in the attempt to grasp a Seed  40 . In the alternative, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the Squirrel  38  may attempt to pass its Paws  40 A and  40 B through separate but adjacent Lower Access Openings  36 L, on either side of a Lower Separator Bar  36 BL, in the attempt to grasp a Seed  40  in Seed Reservoir  14 R.  
         [0053]    It may be seen in the approach illustrated in FIG. 6A that the width of the Upper Access Opening  36 U, which is based upon the shoulder width of an average squirrel, will tend to force the Squirrel  38 &#39;s fore-paws together, thus limiting the mobility of the fore-paws. The lesser width of the Lower Access Opening  36 U will then tend to prevent the Squirrel  38  from separating its fore-paws by a distance sufficient to allow the Squirrel to grasp the Seed  40  and, in effect, will tend to “handcuff” the Squirrel.  
         [0054]    In the alternative approach illustrated in FIG. 6B, the width of the Upper Access Opening  36 U will again tend to force the Squirrel  38 &#39;s fore-paws together, again limiting the mobility of its fore-paws. When the Squirrel  38  passes its fore-paws through two, adjacent Lower Access Openings  36 L, however, its fore-paws will not be “handcuffed” by the lesser width of the Lower Access Openings  36 L to the same degree as in FIG. 6A. Instead, however, the Lower Separator Bar  36 BL will pass between its fore-paws so that while the Squirrel  28  may be able to grasp a Seed  40  between its fore-paws, it will not be able to withdraw its fore-paws with the Seed  40 . That is, the Lower Separator Bar  36 BL is in effect caught in the loop formed by the fore-paws and the Seed  40  and will block the removal of the Seed  40  so that the Squirrel  38  can withdraw its paws only by letting go of the Seed  40 .  
         [0055]    In other approaches illustrated in FIGS. 6C and 6D, a Squirrel  38  may attempt to insert its Paws  40 A and  40 B through adjacent Upper Access Openings  36 U, that is, on either side of an Upper Separator Bars  36 BU. As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the Squirrel  38  may then attempt to pass its Paws  40 A and  40 B through a single Lower Access Opening  36 L, between adjacent Lower Separator Bars  36 BL, and into Seed Reservoir  14 R in the attempt to grasp a Seed  40 . In the alternative, and as illustrated in FIG. 6D, the Squirrel  38  may attempt to pass its Paws  40 A and  40 B through adjacent Lower Access Openings  36 L, on either side of a Lower Separator Bar  36 BL, in the attempt to grasp a Seed  40  in Seed Reservoir  14 R.  
         [0056]    The approach illustrated in FIG. 6C, however, comes to the same result as the approach illustrated in FIG. 6A. That is, the lesser width of the Lower Access Opening  36 U will tend to prevent the Squirrel  38  from separating its fore-paws by a distance sufficient to allow the Squirrel to grasp the Seed  40  and, in effect, will tend to “handcuff” the Squirrel. It should also be noted, however, that even if the Squirrel  38  should succeed in grasping a Seed  40 , and maneuvering it through the Lower Access Opening  36 L, there will be an additional obstacle in that the Squirrel  38  will also have to maneuver the Seed  40  past the Upper Separator Bar  36 BU.  
         [0057]    The approach illustrated in FIG. 6D, in turn, comes to a result similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6B. That is, its fore-paws will not be “handcuffed” by the lesser width of the Lower Access Openings  36 L to the same degree as in FIG. 6A, but the Lower Separator Bar  36 BL will block the removal of the Seed  40  so that the Squirrel  38  can withdraw its paws only by letting go of the Seed  40 . It should also be noted that the Squirrel  38  again faces an additional obstacle even if it should maneuver a Seed  40  past the Lower Separator Bar  36 BL in that it will also have to maneuver the Seed  40  past the Upper Separator Bar  36 BU, although this may be easier than bypassing the Lower Separator Bar  36 BL.  
         [0058]    Lastly, it must be noted with respect to all of the above situations that the distance between Upper Access Openings  36 U and Lower Access Openings  36 L, that is, between Upper Guard Plate  36 GU and Lower Guard Plate  36 GL, is such compared to the forearm length of an average Squirrel  38  as to at least handicap the Squirrel  38 &#39;s reach in the lateral direction. In addition, this distance may be sufficient to prevent at least some Squirrels  38  from reaching the Seed Supply  14 S in Seed Reservoir  14 R.  
         [0059]    E. Assembly, Disassembly and Cleaning of a Feeder and Squirrel Guard  
         [0060]    It will be noted from the above discussions that with the exception of Side Wall Fastenings  26 F and Rods  30 R the presently preferred embodiments of a Feeder  10  with a Guard  16 G do not employ fasteners, such as bolts or screws in either the original fabrication and assembly of the Feeder  10  or in subsequent disassembly and reassembly of the Feeder  10  for cleaning purposes.  
         [0061]    More specifically, and as discussed herein above, each Side Wall  26  and corresponding Guard  16 G are fabricated as a single unit, which is identified in FIGS. 2 and 3 as Wall/Guard Assembly  42 . As described and shown, a Wall/Guard Assembly  42  is comprised of a Side Wall  26  with an Upper Guard Plate  16 GU that is formed as a part of the Side Wall  26  and a Lower Guard Plate  16 GL that is permanently attached to Side Wall  26  by means of the Side Wall Extension  26 E, which is formed as a part of Lower Guard Plate  16 GL. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each Side Wall  26  is in turn a part of a Wall Sandwich  44  having two layers wherein the outer layer is comprised of the Side Wall  26  and the inner layer is comprised of a corresponding Transparent Plate  34 P located against the inside face of the Side Wall  26 .  
         [0062]    A Bracket  34 B is formed from or attached to the End Wall  24  at each end of the Side Wall  26  and extends along the inside surface of the Transparent Plate  34 P to both retain the Transparent Plate  34 P against the Side Wall  26  and to determine an inner limit of the location of the inner side of the Wall Sandwich  44 , that is, an inner limit for the location of the inner surface of the Transparent Plate  34 P. The lower edge of the Transparent Plate  34 P is likewise supported and retained by a Bracket  34 B formed in or attached to the upper horizontal edge of Side Wall Extension  26 E, thereby similarly determining an inner limit for the location of the inner side of the Wall Sandwich  44 , that is, an inner limit for the location of the inner surface of the Transparent Plate  34 P.  
         [0063]    As shown and described, a Sidewall Bracket  26 B is formed in the upper portion of the vertical edge of each End Wall  24  to bear against and retain the outer surface of the Side Wall  26 , that is, the outer surface of the Wall Sandwich  44 , thereby determining an outer limit for the location of the upper portion of the Wall Sandwich  44  with respect to the End Wall  24 .  
         [0064]    The spacing between the Bracket  34 B and the corresponding Sidewall Bracket  26 B at each end of each Side Wall  26  is determined by and is slightly larger than the thickness of the Wall Sandwich  44 , which the combined thickness of the Transparent Plate  34 P and the Side Wall  26 . As a consequence, the Wall Sandwich  44  is removably but securely retained by the Brackets  34 B and the Sidewall Brackets  26 B when the Wall Sandwich  44  of the Transparent Plate  34 P and Side Wall . 26  are assembled and inserted into the gap or slot formed by the Brackets  34 B and the Sidewall Brackets  26 B. Brackets  34 B and Sidewall Brackets  26 B thereby also determine the location of the upper portion of the Wall Sandwich  44 , that is, the upper portion of Wall/Guard Assembly  42 , with respect to each End Wall  24 , and secure the upper portion of Wall/Guard Assembly  42  in this position.  
         [0065]    The location of the lower portion of Wall/Guard  42  is in turn determined by the interlocking structural relationship between Guard  16 G and Dispenser  16 . That is, and in particular, Guard Interlock Lip  16 GI formed into Upper Guard Plate  16 GU engages and interlocks with Sidewall Interlock Lip  26 SI formed in Dispenser Sidewall  16 S, thereby determining outer and upper limits for the position of the lower portion of Wall/Guard  42 , while Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SLbearing against Bottom Plate  16 B of the Dispenser  16  determines a lower limit on the position of Wall/Guard  42 .  
         [0066]    In the assembly of a Wall/Guard  42  with Feeder  10 , therefore, the upper portion of Side Wall  26  is fitted or slid into the gap or slot between the Brackets  34 B on each End Wall  24  and the Sidewall Bracket  26 B on each End Wall  24  and the Side Wall  26  is rotated into approximately its final position, that is, with the upper portion of Side Wall  26 . generally resting against Sidewall Bracket  26 B and Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SL resting on Bottom Plate  16 B and in general proximity to Dispenser Sidewall  16 S. The Transparent Plate  34 P is then slid into the slot or gap between the Brackets  34 B and Sidewall Brackets  26 B and the inner surface of Side Wall  26 . The Transparent Plate  34 P will thereby urge the upper portion of the Side Wall  26  outwards to contact the Sidewall Brackets  26 B, and thus into its final position, while the ends and lower edge of the inner surface of the Transparent Plate  34 P will rest against Brackets  34 B. The insertion of Transparent Plate  34 P into Brackets  34 P will also result in the lower portion of the Wall/Guard Assembly  42 , that is, Sidewall Extension  26 E and Guard  16 G, being urged or pushed outwards until Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SL is in contact with or close proximity to Dispenser Sidewall  16 S and until Guard Interlock Lip  16 GI engages with Sidewall Interlock Lip  26 SI. At this point the Wall/Guard Assembly  42  is positioned and retained in its final assembled location and the Roof  30  may be attached to End Walls  24 , or closed, as necessary.  
         [0067]    It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts that the above assembly procedure may be reversed to disassemble one or both Wall/Guard Assemblies  42  from the Feeder  10 , such as for cleaning purposes. That is, to disassemble a Wall/Guard Assembly  42  the Roof  30  is opened or removed and the Transparent Plate  34 P is removed from the gap or slot between the Brackets  34 B and Sidewall Brackets  26 B and the inner surface of Side Wall  26 . The lower portion of the Wall/Guard Assembly  42  is then moved inwards sufficiently to disengage Guard Interlock Lip  16 GI from Sidewall Interlock Lip  26 SI and Wall/Guard Assembly  42  is moved upwards sufficiently so that Guard  16 G, including Lower Guard Plate Support  16 SL, is free of Dispenser  16 . Wall/Guard Assembly  42  may then be rotated as necessary to allow the upper portion of Wall/Guard Assembly  42  to be withdrawn from the space between the upper end of the Brackets  34 B on End Walls  24  and Sidewall Brackets  26 B, whereupon Wall/Guard Assembly  42  is disassembled from the Feeder  10 . The Wall/Guard Assembly  42  may then be again reassembled to the Feeder  10  by the assembly steps described above.  
         [0068]    Lastly, it should be noted with regard to the above described assembly and disassembly of Wall/Guard Assemblies  42  that in the exemplary embodiment the length of Side Walls  26  and Guards  16 G are slightly less than the distance between End Walls  24 , thereby allowing Wall/Guard Assembly  42  to be rotated and slid into and out of engagement with the remaining elements of the Feeder  10 , such as End Walls  24  and the walls and sides of Dispensers  16 . In these implementations, the resulting gaps between Side Walls  26  and End Walls  24  at the corners of Seed Container  12  are effectively closed by Brackets  34 B and Transparent Plate  34 P, so that Seed  14  is not lost by leakage from Seed Container  12  through these gaps.  
         [0069]    F. Conclusion  
         [0070]    It will be recognized and understood, in particular after the above discussions, that the dimensions and design of a Feeder  10 , including one or more Dispensers  16  and of a Guard  16 G may vary significantly, depending upon the detail design and dimensions of a given Feeder  10 . For example, the number, arrangement and spacings of Upper Access Openings  36 U and Lower Access Openings  36 L and the dimensions and spacings of Upper Guard Plates  16 U and Lower Guard Plate  16 L may vary significantly. For example, in the present embodiment adjacent Upper and Lower Access Openings  36 U or  36 L are spaced apart by Upper and Lower Separator Bars  36 BU or  36 BL that are relatively narrow compared to the width of the access openings and the access openings are cut out of the material of the Upper and Lower Guard Plates  16 U and  16 L. In other embodiments, for example, the spacing between the access openings, that is, the widths of the separator bars, may be greater, the number of access openings reduced or increased, the upper and lower access openings may be arranged in different patterns, and the dimensions of the guard and dispenser and number of dispensers may be varied. In yet other embodiments, Upper and/or LowerAccess Openings  36 U/ 36 L may be fabricated as single, larger openings and Upper and/Lower Separator Bars  36 BU/ 36 BL fabricated of wire or rod of a suitable diameter, so that the organization, dimensions and separations between the access openings are defined by the separator bars. In general, however, the dimensions and relative locations of the upper and lower access openings and the spacing between the upper and lower guard plates should preferably be in the approximate ranges described in the exemplary embodiment described herein. It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the arts, however, that these dimensions may vary according to the needs or requirements of a specific design. For example, the exemplary embodiment of a Guard  16 G described herein is designed according to the average dimensions of an average grey squirrel, but may be reduced, for example, for red squirrels as red squirrels tend to be smaller than grey squirrels, or to accommodate larger or smaller species of birds. The design of a Feeder  10  and a Guard  16 G should, however, preferably be dimensioned according to the principles discussed herein.  
         [0071]    Since certain changes may be made in the above described invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.