Abstract:
An apparatus includes a bird feeder having a base and a cover. A plurality of wind chime tubes are hung from the base of the bird feeder as is a transparent striker. The transparent striker is hung in such a manner to hit the plurality of wind chimes responsive to a blowing wind. A light is suspended within the transparent striker that is powered by a rechargeable battery. A solar power conversion system provides electricity to the rechargeable battery responsive to sunlight.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to birdfeeders and windchimes, and more particularly, to a combination birdfeeder and windchime including solar powered lighting. 
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    None. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The use of birdfeeders and wind chimes are widely known for use as decorative items for an individual&#39;s patio or garden. The wind chimes provide a pleasing sound to individual&#39;s relaxing within their patio or garden, and the birdfeeder attracts local birds to the area for viewing and enjoyment. To date, these items have been separately constructed requiring an individual to purchase each item if they wish to enjoy the benefits of the birdfeeder and the wind chime. Additionally, outdoor lighting products must be additionally purchased for patio or garden enjoyment to assist in enjoyment of the patio or garden in the night-time hours. Thus, some device for combining the advantages for all of these pleasing patio or garden accessories would be greatly desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention, as disclosed and described herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises an apparatus including a birdfeeder having a base and a cover. A plurality of wind chime tubes are hung from the base of the birdfeeder. Additionally, a transparent striker is suspended from the base of the bird feeder in such a manner to hit the plurality of wind chime tubes responsive to a blowing wind. A light suspended within the transparent striker is powered by a rechargeable battery. A solar powered conversion system provides electricity to the rechargeable battery responsive to sunlight. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a first embodiment of a combined birdfeeder and wind chime including solar powered lighting; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an alternative embodiment of a combination birdfeeder and wind chime including solar powered lighting; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating the electrical circuitry associated with the combination birdfeeder and wind chime including solar powered lighting. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout the various views, embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments of the present invention are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present invention based on the following examples of possible embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0010]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a first embodiment of the combination birdfeeder and wind chime including a solar powered lighting functionality. The birdfeeder  11  consists of a hanging mechanism  12  which may comprise a hook, rope or loop for suspending the birdfeeder and wind chimes from the eave of a roof or a stand within a patio or garden. A food container  15  includes a container for holding the bird seed that is provided to feeding holes  16  of the bird feeder. A bird may stand upon a base or perch  17  upon which the food container  15  rests. While standing upon the base or perch  17  the birds are able to eat birdseed contained within the food container  15  through the feeding holes  16 . A top cover  14  covers the food container  15  and may be removed to enable the addition of bird seed within the food container  15 . 
         [0011]    A solar power conversion device  13 , for example a solar cell, is located on top of the top cover  14  in a position to allow easy access to light provided by the sun. The solar power conversion device  13  may be located at any position on the top cover  14  or alternatively, in any position upon the combination birdfeeder and wind chimes. While the present disclosure envisions the solar power conversion device  13  being located on the bird feeder  11 , in alternative embodiments, the solar power conversion device  13  may be located separately from the bird feeder  11  such that the solar power conversion device  13  could be placed in a sunny area while the bird feeder was placed within the shade. The electrical circuitry and rechargeable battery, which will be discussed more fully herein below, would then be interconnected with the solar power conversion device  13  via a wire. 
         [0012]    Hanging from the base  17  of the bird feeder  11  is the wind chime consisting of a number of wind chime tubes  19  and a striker  113 . The wind chime tubes  19  are suspended from the base  17  via string  18 . Chains or other items may be used for suspending the wind chime tubes  19  from the base  17 . The striker  113  is suspended from the base  17  via a chain  110 . In addition, a chain, rope, twine, plastic, tubing or other item may be used to suspend the striker  113 . As is well known, the wind will cause the striker  113  to strike the chime tubes  19  causing the chiming sound to be provided from the wind chime. 
         [0013]    The striker  113  comprises a transparent globe or other transparent, geometrically shaped element enabling a light  112  to be placed therein. The light  112  in a preferred embodiment comprises an LED but other forms of light emitting components may be utilized. The light is connected to a rechargeable battery via a connecting wire  111 . Referring now also to  FIG. 3 , there is more fully illustrated a block diagram of the electrical components of the combination birdfeeder and wind chime including a lighting functionality. The electrical circuitry may be located at any position within the birdfeeder  11 . For example, it could be placed on the bottom side of the cover  14  or on the top or bottom of the base  17 . The electrical circuitry consists of the solar power conversion device  302  consisting of some type of solar cell and associated circuitry necessary to convert solar energy into electrical power. The electrical power is provided to charging circuitry  303  that charges a rechargeable battery  304  using the electrical power from the power conversion device  302 . The rechargeable battery  304  is used to power a light  306  or other type of electrical device. 
         [0014]    In the preferred embodiment the light  306  is located within the transparent striker  113 . In one embodiment, the light or other electrical device  306  is turned on and off by a photosensor  308 . Thus, when it became dark, the light  306  will automatically turn on responsive to a signal generated by the photosensor  308 . In alternative embodiments, rather than utilizing a photosensor  308 , a manual on/off switch could be used such that the globe may be turned on and off as desired. Additionally, the manual on/off switch could be used in conjunction with the photosensor  308  to enable the light to be turned off at night time when it was not desired. The striker  113  is suspended in such a manner to enable the light  112  to illuminate the chime tubes  19 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the combination birdfeeder and wind chime. In this configuration, the birdfeeder  21  includes a food container  25  including a lantern shape rather than the square shape illustrated earlier. The hanging mechanism  22  comprises a single chain and hook connected to the cover  24 . Multiple solar power conversion devices  23  are placed on the top cover  24 . Birdfeeder holes  26  at the base of the food container  25  enable birds perched upon the base or perch  27  to take food from the food container  25 . As before, chime tubes  29  are suspended from the base  27  and a transparent striker  213  having a light  212  therein is suspended by a chain  210  and powered by a wire  211  connecting to the rechargeable battery. 
         [0016]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention provides a combined birdfeeder and wind chime including a solar powered light. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, the invention includes any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.