Abstract:
A hanging tray bird feeder including a self-aligning supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism includes a pair of hangers pivotally attached to opposite sides of the bird feeder and a hook slidably mounted to each of the hangers. When the hook is pulled upwardly and away from the bird feeder, the hook pulls each of the hangers outwardly from within the bird feeder into continuously aligned, extended positions above the feeder that allow the feeder to always be positioned in a level configuration when the bird feeder is attached to a tree limb by the hook.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bird feeders, and more specifically to a bird feeder having a pair of pivotable hangers which are used to support and automatically level the bird feeder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bird feeders of various sizes and configurations are widely used to provide wild birds with a ready supply of seeds. The feeders usually comprise a tray or other supporting surface on which the seeds are placed upon and which the birds may perch to get at the seeds. To make birds more apt to use the feeders, a large number of bird feeders are designed to be hung from tree limbs or other elevated structures. For feeders of this type, the support structure normally used to support or retain the feeder on the tree limb takes the form of one or more hooks which are attachable to the tree limb. These hooks are connected to the bird feeder tray by one or more pieces of string, rope, cable or other suitable material. In most cases, a piece of rope is secured to each corner of the bird feeder tray and connected opposite the bird feeder to a single hook in order to provide equal support to all corners of the bird feeder tray. 
     While the pieces of rope, string, cable, etc. provide adequate support to retain the bird feeder on the limb, in many situations the use of these materials to support the bird feeder in this manner results in the bird feeder being supported on the tree limb such that the bird feeder is not level. For example, one or more of the ropes attaching the feeder tray to the hook can be longer or shorter than the remaining ropes. Also, even if the bird feeder is secured to the tray in a level configuration, the particular method of attachment of the ropes to the supporting hook may allow the ropes to become lengthened or stretched over time, or to slide with respect to the hook, resulting in a situation where the bird feeder tray is no longer positioned in a level configuration. This results in a situation where bird seed placed on the bird feeder may spill over one or more sides of the feeder. Furthermore, the weight of birds landing on the sides of the feeder tray can exacerbate the uneven tray and cause even more seeds to spill out of the tray. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to develop a supporting mechanism for a bird feeder which automatically levels the bird feeder tray upon attachment of the mechanism to a tree limb, and which incorporates support structures which will maintain the bird feeder tray in a level, horizontal position while the feeder tray is in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a supporting mechanism for a bird feeder which automatically levels the bird feeder tray upon attachment of the mechanism to a tree limb or other supporting structure. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a supporting mechanism for a bird feeder which incorporates a number of support members which are capable of maintaining the bird feeder tray in a level position while the bird feeder is in use. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a supporting mechanism for a bird feeder which has a simple construction that is easily assembled and employed in conjunction with conventional bird feeders. 
     It is still a further object of the invention to provide a supporting mechanism for a bird feeder that can be stored within the feeder when not in use, e.g., during shipment of the bird feeder. 
     The present invention is a supporting mechanism for use with a bird feeder including a generally flat seed tray. The mechanism incorporates a pair of pivotable hangers connected to the bird feeder and operably connected to one another. The hangers are attached at opposite ends to opposed sides of the bird feeder tray, such that when the bird feeder is not in use, the hangers can be positioned in a nested configuration within the bird feeder tray. 
     The mechanism also includes a single hook attached to the hangers opposite the tray. The hook includes a limb attaching loop that is releasably engaged with a tree limb and a hanger securing loop that is slidably mounted to both of the hangers. 
     When the bird feeder is to be mounted to a support structure, the limb engaging portion of the hook is grasped and pulled outwardly from within the bird feeder to withdraw the hangers from within the bird feeder. The hook is pulled outwardly until the hangers are fully extended out of the feeder tray. When the hangers are fully extended, the hangers are automatically aligned with respect to one another to support the feeder tray in a level configuration. The limb attaching loop of the hook is then attached to the tree limb or other supporting structure, so that when the hook is secured to the tree limb, the hook functions to maintain the hangers in alignment with respect to one another and to the feeder tray such that the bird feeder is constantly maintained in a level, horizontal position. 
    
    
     Various alternative embodiments and variations of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based on the following detailed description taken together with the drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bird feeder including a supporting mechanism constructed according to the present invention in a storage position; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the feeder and mechanism of FIG. 1 with the mechanism in an extended, use position; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of the supporting mechanism of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a bird feeder is shown generally at  10  in FIG.  1 . The feeder  10  has a generally rectangular shape and is formed of a first transverse brace  12  connected at each end to a second transverse brace  14  by a pair of end braces  16  and  18 . The first brace  12  and second brace  14  are secured to opposite ends of the end braces  16  and  18  by a number of screws  20  inserted through openings  21  in the first and second braces  12  and  14 , respectively, and engaged with the end braces  16  and  18 . The first brace  12 , second brace  14  and end braces  16  and  18  are preferably made of wood, but may also be formed of any other suitable generally rigid material. Furthermore, instead of screws  20 , the respective braces may be secured to one another to form the feeder  10  by any other suitable securing means, such as an adhesive, or a number of nails driven between the respective braces. 
     Each of the respective braces also includes a generally rectangular groove  22  disposed adjacent a lower end of each brace. When the braces are secured to one another to form the feeder  10 , the grooves  22  on each brace  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  are positioned in alignment with each other to form a continuous groove which extends around the periphery of the interior of the feeder  10 . The aligned grooves  22  engage and retain the edges of a floor or tray  24  that is disposed within the interior of the feeder  10  between the braces. The tray  24  includes a number of apertures or holes  26  which permit moisture to be drained through the tray  24  of the bird feeder  10 , while enabling the tray  24  to have sufficient strength to support the weight of the bird feed and seed contained within feeder  10  without the need of additional support members. The tray  24  is preferably made of a perforated steel sheet, or an expanded steel sheet. Perforated steel sheets are sheets of steel having a pattern of holes which have been punched, pierced or bored into the material. Round holes are the most common, although other decorative design patterns are possible. Expanded metal sheets are sheets of metal which have a pattern of regular diamond-shaped openings joined by continuous uniform strands of material. The material is made by simultaneously slitting and stretching the material to expand it. The apertured floor preferably has holes in the range of {fraction (1/16)} to ⅛ inches, and bars (i.e. the solid portion of the material between the holes) in the range of about {fraction (1/16)} to ⅛ inches. Consequently, the apertures comprise about 25%-75% of the surface area of the tray  24  of the bird feeder  10 . Suitable perforated or expanded steel sheets are available from, for example, McNichols Company, Tampa, Fla. and Metalex, Libertyville, Ill. 
     In this context, ordinary window screening and other wire cloth materials are considered not to be within the definition of, and not equivalent to, the apertured tray  24 , and in particular the perforated metal and expanded metal sheets described herein. Wire screens, mesh or cloth are basically made of interwoven wires. It is simply impractical to make wire screen, mesh or cloth in which the wires are thick enough for the strength requirements, and also make the spaces (i.e., holes  26 ) between the wires small enough to hold the bird seed. Ordinary window screening is too light to have enough strength to serve the function required herein, at least without the use of additional framing or other structural support. 
     Certain plastics or fiberglass materials might be suitable for use in fabricating an apertured tray  24 , but the disadvantage in using such materials is that a special mold must be made in order to fabricate the part, which substantially adds to the cost. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the bird feeder  10  also includes a supporting mechanism  28  secured between the end braces  16  and  18 . The mechanism  28  includes a pair of hangers  29  that are pivotally mounted between each of the end braces  16  and  18 . The hangers  29  are preferably formed of a generally rigid, but flexible material, such as a metal, which has the strength to support the bird feeder  10  on a tree limb. While each of the hangers  29  is illustrated as being formed by a unitary piece of the generally rigid material, the hangers  29  can also be constructed of separate sections which are attached to one another to form the hangers  29 . Each hanger  29  includes a central U-shaped catch  30  and a pair of legs  32  extending outwardly from each end of the catch  30 . The legs  32  each extend outwardly at an angle with respect to the catch  30  and terminate in a pair of feet  34  that extend outwardly at an angle with respect to the legs  32 . The feet  34  for each hanger  29  are each pivotally engaged within one of an aligned, opposed pair of holes  36  disposed in the end braces  16  and  18 . The holes  36  extend completely through the respective end braces  16  and  18  and have a diameter slightly larger than that of the feet  34  so that the feet  34  can freely pivot within the holes  36 . The width of each hanger  29  between the feet  34  is slightly wider than the width between the respective end braces  16  and  18 . Therefore, to attach each hanger  29  to the end braces  16  and  18  of the bird feeder  10 , the legs  32  must be deflected inwardly such that the feet  34  can be positioned between the end braces  16  and  18  in alignment with the holes  36 . Once the feet  34  are positioned adjacent the opposed holes  36 , the legs  32  are released such that the feet  34  are inserted into the holes  36  to retain the feet  34  within the holes  36 . 
     The hangers  29  are connected to one another by a hook  38 . The hook  38  is formed of a single piece of a rigid material, such as a hard, inflexible metal, and includes a securing loop  40  at one end and an attaching loop  42  at the opposite end. Preferably, the loops  40  and  42  are formed integrally with one another on the hook  38  as opposed portions of a generally S-shaped hook as shown in the drawing figures. Securing loop  40  has a diameter slightly larger than the attaching loop  42  and is disposed around each hanger  29 . When the mechanism  28  is withdrawn from within the bird feeder  10 , initially the securing loop  40  of the hook  38  is disposed around one leg  32  of each hanger  29 . The hook  38  is then grasped and pulled upwardly such that the loop  40  slides along the pair of adjacent legs  32  to urge the hangers  29  upwardly and out of the bird feeder  10 . The hook  38  continues to slide along each of the hangers  29  until the hook  38  reaches the central U-shaped catches  30 . The loop  40  then enters the catch  30  on each hanger  29  and stops at the apex for each catch  30 , thereby fully extending the hanger  29  from the feeder  10  and aligning the hangers  29  with one another. 
     After the hangers  29  are fully extended, the attaching loop  42  can be secured to the tree limb or other supporting structure, either directly or by utilizing any suitable attachment means, such as a piece of rope, or another hook which is secured directly to the tree limb. The sliding engagement of the securing loop  40  with the catches  30  on the hangers  29  enables the hangers  29  to extend downwardly from the hook  38  in a manner which continuously levels the bird feeder  10  by allowing the hangers  29  to adjust with respect to one another until the bird feeder  10  is level. 
     When taking down the bird feeder  10 , once the attaching loop  42  of the hook  38  is disengaged from the tree limb, the hook  38  can be released and slid downwardly along each hanger  29 , enabling the respective hangers  29  to pivot downwardly into the interior of the bird feeder  10 . This allows the hangers  29  to be positioned within the feeder  10  in a nested storage configuration above the tray  24  with one hanger  29  being disposed in a nested configuration directly above the opposite hanger  29 . Hook  38  remains attached to one leg  32  on each hanger  29  such that the hook  38  can again be used to extend and align the hangers  29  for reattachment of the bird feeder  10  to a tree limb. 
     Looking now at FIGS. 4-5, a second embodiment of the hangers  29  is illustrated. In this embodiment, each hanger  29  is shaped similarly to the hangers  29  disclosed with respect to the first embodiment in FIGS. 1-3, with the added feature that the feet  34  on each hanger  29  include an upwardly curving tip  44  located opposite each of the legs  32  of the hangers  29 . The tips  44  are disposed against the exterior of the end braces  16  and  18  opposite the hangers  29  and tray  24  when the hangers  29  are attached to the bird feeder  10 . In this configuration, the tips  44  ensure that the hangers  29  are maintained in engagement with the end braces  16  and  18  of the bird feeder  10  regardless of any deflection of the legs  32  of each hanger  29 . In short, this configuration results in a construction for the bird feeder  10  which retains the hangers  29  in permanent attachment to the bird feeder  10 . 
     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.