Abstract:
A tube bird feeder comprising a seed container having a side wall and an opening at the top thereof to fill the seed container, at least one feed access opening in the side wall, a seed port structure removably connected to the side wall proximate the feed access opening, the seed port structure having a seed baffle, and at least one perch member, said perch member being removably secured to the side wall such that the perch member locks the seed port structure in position. The assembly may be easily dismantled for cleaning and there are also provided a plurality of vents for the interior of the seed container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bird feeders and more particularly, relates to improvements in tube bird feeders. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The practice of feeding birds both during winter and year around is growing as people derive pleasure in having birds visit the feeder which is usually located close to the house of the user. Over the years, many different types of feeders have been developed, ranging from straight tray feeders on which the bird feed is placed to various types of containers having feed access openings therein. 
     The most basic bird feeders and the most inexpensive usually comprise a cylindrical tube, closed at the bottom and having feed access openings in the side wall and equipped with a removable cover. Perches usually extend through diametrically opposed apertures in the side wall of the feeder and are retained by nuts or caps or by means of a press fit. 
     More complex feeders have squirrel proof features and these feeders, due to the mechanisms required, are substantially more expensive. 
     One problem which has begun to receive increasing attention is the question of wild bird health. In particular, it has been found that many bird feeders are a source of contamination and the resulting spread of disease among the wild bird population. This is frequently due to the fact that the bird feeders are dirty, both from bird droppings and other sources. Rancid seed from exposure to the elements is also a major problem. Naturally, this could be overcome by regular cleaning of the bird feeder, but most commercially available bird feeders are not designed to be readily cleaned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive bird feeder which can be easily assembled and disassembled for cleaning purposes. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a bird feeder comprising a seed container having a side wall and an opening at the top thereof, at least one feed access opening in the side wall, a seed port structure having a seed baffle removably connected to the side wall proximate the feed access opening, and at least one perch member, the perch member being removably secured to the side wall such that the perch member locks the seed port structure in position. 
     The feed container may be of any desirable configuration, although conventionally, a cylindrical configuration is utilized. However, it will be understood that it is well within the skill of one knowledgeable in the art to fabricate the container in various configurations including rectangular, square, oval, etc. The feed container is preferably formed of a transparent material such that visual access may be had to the contents of the container. Various suitable transparent plastics are known in the art. 
     The cover structure is sized to fit over the open upper end of the feed container and again, many conventional types of covers may be utilized. The cover may be locked to the container by different means including using a screw threaded engagement or alternatively a hanging member may be utilized on which the cover will slide. Needless to say, it is desirable that access can be gained to the container from the top in order to replenish the feed within the feed container. 
     The bottom of the feed container is closed in order to maintain the bird feed within the container. Again, while many different bottoms may be utilized, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a base sized to fit within the container and which base may be designed to receive a seed catching tray/baffle as will be described herein with respect to the preferred embodiment. 
     As aforementioned, feeders provide feed access openings in the side wall of the feed container. Typically, these feed access openings are provided with a seed port structure having a baffle located above the feed access opening and extending downwardly inside the tube to prevent the seed from falling out. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a seed port structure for each feed access opening. The seed port structures are removably secured to the side wall such that they may be removed for cleaning purposes. While it will be understood that different means of securing the seed port structure to the side wall may be utilized, in a preferred embodiment each seed port structure is held in place by means of a perch member. 
     The perch members, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are adjustable in length. By using adjustable length perches, the bird feeder can be adjusted to either accept or not accept larger birds. 
     The perch member preferably extends through the seed port structure and is screw threadedly engageable with the side wall of the bird feeder. The perch member will thus act as the element which secures the seed port structure to the feed container side wall. 
     Preferably, in one embodiment, the side wall of the feed container has an aperture to receive the screw threaded end of the perch member and which aperture is sized to act as a mating screw threaded portion. In other words, at least a portion of the aperture is sized to have a diameter less than the diameter of the screw threads of the perch member and equal to or slightly larger than the root diameter of the screw threaded portion. The screw threads are designed to have a pitch which will assure proper engagement of the screw threads with the side wall. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the screw threaded end of the perch member engages a perch guide portion of the seed port structure in a screw threaded manner and merely extends through the side wall of the feed container. 
     The bird feeder of the present invention is designed to be easily assembled and disassembled to facilitate and encourage regular cleaning of the same. The parts can be placed in an ordinary dishwasher and then reassembled. 
     The bird feeder of the present invention also provides vent openings located at both the top and bottom. This will permit and encourage passage of air through the seed container which will help to dry out any moisture and thereby prevent spoilage of the food. The vent openings will also permit cooling of the inside of the container to prevent the build-up heat from solar energy and which heat would again increase the spoilage of the feed. Thus, by providing vent openings located at both the top and the bottom, convection currents will occur upon the heating of the interior of the feed container. The hotter air will escape through the top vent openings permitting cooler air to enter from the bottom vent openings and also the feed access openings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective cut away view of a bird feeder according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the upper portion of the bird feeder; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the lower portion of the bird feeder according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4A is a cross sectional view taken along the lines A—A of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base member used in the bird feeder according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the seed port structure; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a perch member used in the bird feeder of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7A systematically illustrates the shape of the opening to receive the perch member in the side wall of the feed container; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating assembly of the perch and seed port structure; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the combined baffle and seed tray; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded partial cross sectional view of a modified form of a seed port structure; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the seed port structure of FIG. 10 and a partially assembled configuration; 
     FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing securement of a first type of baffle to the seed port structure; and 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view illustrating the securement of a different type of baffle to the seed port structure. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a bird feeder generally designated by reference numeral  10 . Bird feeder  10  has a generally cylindrical seed container  12  with a plurality of feed access openings  16  formed therein. 
     Also provided in side wall  14  of seed container  12  are a plurality of upper vent apertures  18  and a pair of hanger apertures  20 . 
     A cover generally designated by reference numeral  24  has an inverted conical configuration with a sloping upper wall  26  and a downwardly extending lower side wall  28 . Formed on the interior of cover  24  (FIG. 3) are a plurality of ribs  30 , each of the ribs  30  having a recess  32  formed therein adapted to accommodate and receive the upper portion of side wall  14  of seed container  12  while providing ventilation between cover  24  and side wall  14 . 
     Cover  24  includes a plurality of cover vent openings  34  formed therein. In this respect, as may be seen in FIG. 3, each vent opening is designed to be substantially waterproof from rain and the like. 
     A hanger  38  is provided for hanging the bird feeder  10  from a suitable mount and to this end, hanger  38  has a pair of inwardly extending end portions which extend through hanger apertures  20  in side wall  14 . 
     Bird feeder  10  also includes a base member generally designated by reference numeral  44 . Base member  44  has a dome shaped upper wall  46  and a downwardly extending side wall  47 . A skirt  50  extends outwardly from side wall  47 ; there are provided a plurality of vertically extending drainage channels  48  on side wall  47 . As may be seen in FIG. 4, formed within skirt  50  are a plurality of skirt drainage apertures  54  for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. 
     Base member  44  also includes an inner threaded wall  52  which is designed to receive a mounting post P. Also provided between skirt  50  and inner threaded wall  52  are cylindrical structures  56  which also have drainage apertures  58  therein to permit drainage which occurs through drainage channels  48  and to also permit the flow of air upwardly into seed container  12 . Centrally located drainage apertures  49  are also provided. 
     The bird feeder also includes a baffle/seed tray  64  which has a plurality of drainage grooves  66  formed in the upper surface thereof. A downwardly extending wall  68  is located at the periphery of baffle/seed tray  64 . 
     Baffle/seed tray  64  performs the dual function of collecting seeds and/or seed portions on the upper surface thereof which may have fallen from feed access opening  16 . It also acts as a squirrel baffle to prevent squirrels from accessing the seeds when the bird feeder  10  is mounted on a pole P. Thus, baffle/seed tray  64  has a bottom surface which does not have any openings near the exterior wall  68  and which is smooth to prevent a squirrel gaining any grip thereon. Base member  44  is preferably of a metallic material and as it provides drainage with apertures which extend beyond tray  64 , it cannot easily be chewed by the squirrels. 
     Bird feeder  10  includes a plurality of seed port structures  72 , each seed port structure  72  being associated with a respective feed access opening  16  in side wall  14  of seed container  12 . As may be seen in FIG. 6, each seed port structure  72  has a side wall  74  having an opening  76  formed therein and which opening  76  is designed to be in registry with seed access opening  16  in side wall  14 . Seed port structure  72  includes a conventional baffle structure  78  to prevent seeds from falling out through seed access opening  76 . A retaining tab  80  is formed on baffle  78  adjacent side wall  74  and being spaced from side wall  74  a distance approximately equal to the thickness of side wall  14  of seed container  12 . At the lower end of side wall  74 , there is provided a cylindrical perch guide  82  for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. 
     A perch member  86  is associated with each seed port structure  72  and as may be seen in FIG. 7, each perch member  86  has a plurality of screw threads  88  at one end thereof extending spirally from root  85 . There are provided openings  87  in side wall  14  of seed container  12  to receive perch members  86 . Reference may initially be had to FIG. 7A which shows the configuration of openings  87 —as noted, there are provided a pair of side marginal edges  91  and  93  which are spaced apart a distance approximately equal or slightly greater than the diameter of root  85 . They are smaller than flites or screw threads  88 . 
     In assembling the device, seed port structure  72  is placed such that side wall  14  fits between retaining tab  80  and side wall  74  of seed port structure  72  with their respective openings being in registry. A perch member  86  is inserted through perch guide  82  and screw threads  88  are sized such that they will grip the side wall  14  of seed container  12 . In other words, the shape of openings  87  forms the structure necessary to receive threads  88  and thereby ensure that seed port structure  72  is retained in position. It will also be appreciated that perch members  86  are adjustable inwardly and outwardly such that the effective length of the perch may be adjusted. 
     A modified seed port structure is illustrated in FIGS. 10 to  13  and reference will now be had thereto. A detachable seed port structure  102  has a side wall  104  similar to the previously described seed port structure. A first retaining tab  106  extends upwardly and together with side wall  104  is designed to receive side wall  14  of the seed container. On the other side of tab  106  a second tab member  112  is formed for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. Situated at the lower end of seed port structure  102  is a perch guide  108  which has internal screw threads  110  designed to receive screw threads  88  on perch  86 . 
     As may be seen in FIG. 11, there are provided first and second baffle members generally designated by reference numerals  114  and  116  respectively. Baffle member  114  is similar to that described in the previous embodiments and includes an upper inverted U-shaped portion  118  designed to seat between tab members  106  and  112  on seed port structure  102 . Second baffle member  116  also includes an inverted U-shaped portion  126  designed to seat in a similar manner between tabs  106  and  112 . However, it will be noted that baffle  116  only provides a relatively small opening  124  in a wall  122 . This baffle is designed for use with smaller seed such as thistle seed. 
     As may be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, either baffle member  114  and  116  may be used depending upon the contents of the feeder. In this embodiment, it will be noted that perch member  86  is screw threadedly engaged with perch guide  108  rather than with side wall  14 . 
     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.