Bird feeder

The present disclosure provides a bird feeder moveable from a first position to a second position. The bird feeder is preferably comprised of a seed tube for holding a substance, a seed tray having openings to receive and provide access to the substance, a shroud surrounding and protecting both the seed tube and seed tray and a cover secured to an upper end of the shroud. The bird feeder is also preferably comprised of a positioning mechanism to move the bird feeder from the first position, where access to the substance is provided, and the second position, where access to the substance is prevented.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to the field of bird feeding accessories, and more specifically to an improved bird feeder.

BACKGROUND

Bird feeders have been around for quite some time for bird watchers and animal lovers. However, many problems exist with current bird feeders, including but not limited to water or other moisture accumulating into the feeder and poor ventilation unable to properly dry the feed.

Further, many bird feeders are comprised of bulky singular elements that are difficult to take apart for cleaning, which is necessary to provide clean feed for birds.

Devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,731 have attempted to overcome some of the problems by providing shrouds to reduce wear on the feed tubes, the shrouds moveable from a position to another to allow or prevent access to feed. However, such devices are more difficult to take apart and clean, and do not provide the requisite ventilation necessary for the seeds to remain fresh.

As such, there is a need for a novel type of bird feeder that can overcome the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, the present disclosures provides a bird feeder comprising: a seed tube for holding bird feed; a seed tray connected to the seed tube, the seed tray for receiving and dispensing the bird feed, the seed tray further comprising at least one feed opening to dispense the bird feed; a shroud surrounding the seed tube to protect the seed tube; and, a cover releasably secured to an upper end of the shroud, the cover to prevent objects from entering the seed tube, wherein the shroud is moveable from a first position providing access to the at least one feed opening to a second position preventing access to the at least one feed opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and/or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any modifications and/or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated disclosure.

With reference toFIGS.1and2and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved bird feeder is shown, preferably comprised of a seed tube15for receiving and containing bird feed, a seed tray25connected to the seed tube15for receiving and dispensing bird feed, a shroud30surrounding the seed tube15, the shroud30to allow and prevent access to both the seed tray25and seed tube15, and a cover20releasably secured to the shroud30for preventing water and other particles from entering the seed tube15and further into the seed tray25.

With reference toFIGS.3,4,5and6and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover20is shown in greater detail. The cover20serves to deflect rain and other debris from entering the seed tube (not shown) of the bird feeder. The cover20also prevents squirrels from entering the seed tube (not shown) and gain access to the seed tray (not shown). Although the cover20is preferably cylindrical in shape, other shapes are possible provided that the cover20generally deflects rain and prevents debris and squirrels from entering both the seed tube (not shown) and seed tray (not shown). The cover20is further comprised of a wire35preferably having a first loop at a first end to secure the bird feeder to a structure, such as a column having an arm (not shown). The wire35also has a second loop (not shown) at a second opposed end (not shown) to secure the wire35to a hook shaft (not shown) of the bird feeder. As shown, the wire35is fed through a small hole45of the cover20. As such, a cable seal40is provided, the cable seal40wrapped around the wire35and positioned over the hole45of the cover20. The cable seal40is preferably made of a rubber material and serves to prevent rain and other debris from entering the hole45. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that the cable seal40could be made of other materials and be of various shapes and sizes, provided that the cable seal40generally prevents rain and other debris from entering the hole45. The cover20is further comprised of indentations50positioned on an inside surface of the cover20. Although the present bird feeder provides for four indentations50, a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that only two indentations50are required. Such indentations50serve to releasably secure the cover20to an upper ring55of the shroud (not shown). Indeed, the upper ring55, which is specifically shown inFIG.5, is further comprised of guides60, each of the guides60terminating in a wall65. At least one of the guides60is further comprised of a locking tab70. To secure the cover20to the upper ring55, the indentations50are aligned with gaps72created in between adjacent guides60. The cover20is then rotated such that the indentations50slide along the guides60and over the locking tab70. The indentations50are then trapped in the area in between the locking tabs70and the walls65, at which point the cover20is secured to the upper ring55. In turn, the upper ring55is itself attached to and therefore part of the shroud (not shown). To unlock the cover20from the upper ring55, the cover20is rotated in the opposite direction.

The indentations50will slide along the guides60and a stronger rotational force will force the indentations50over the locking tabs70. Once the indentations50are positioned in between gaps72, the cover20can be removed from the upper ring55. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that although the present bird feeder uses guides60having a wall65and some of the guides60having locking tabs70, other locking mechanisms are possible. Specifically, the cover20may be removably secured to the top ring55by threaded engagement, or even by replacing the wall65and locking tab70with a cavity to receive the indentations50.

With specific reference toFIGS.5and6and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the top ring55is shown secured to the upper end74of the shroud30. Indeed, the top ring55is further comprised of tabs75positioned on an outer rim78of the top ring55. Although four tabs75are present, a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that only two tabs75are required. At least one catch80is positioned on the underside of each tab75. Each catch80is constructed to slide over and hook into one of the rings82of the shroud30. As the tabs75are separated by a pair of slits85, they have the requisite flexibility to pivot and allow the catches82to slide over and lock into the ring82. As shown, the spaces in between the number of adjacent rings82decreases at the upper end74of the shroud30. In other words, adjacent rings82are spaced apart closer together at the upper end74of the shroud30as opposed to the mid-section87of the shroud30to protect the top ring55. Such closely spaced apart rings82are also provided at a lower end of the shroud30to protect the seed tray (not shown). Indeed, it was shown through testing that squirrels often cause damage to upper and lower ends of the shroud to gain access to the seed tray (not shown). As such, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provides closely spaced apart rings on the upper and lower ends of the shroud30to reduce or otherwise eliminate this damage.

With reference toFIGS.7,8and9, the seed tray25is shown in greater detail. The seed tray25is preferably bowl-shaped to contain a number of seeds that have been deposited therein through the seed tube15. As the seed tray25is secured to the seed tube15, seeds accumulate in both of the seed tray25and seed tube15. Water holes95are positioned on an underside of the seed tray25, such water holes95having an optimal size to allow water but prevent seeds from passing through. It is an object of the present disclosure that the seeds remain dry and therefore proper aeration and drainage within the bird feeder is required. The seed tray25is further comprised of at least one feed opening100to allow access to the feed within the seed tray25. Although four feed openings100are provided, a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that a single feed opening100is possible, and that such single feed opening100could take other shapes and sizes, including a singular circumferential opening, provided that it provides access to the seeds in the seed tray25. Each feed opening100has a protruding frame105, the protruding frame105to repel and otherwise redirect water around the feed opening100. Indeed, as water may cascade down on the face of the seed tray25, the protruding frame105of the feed openings100reduces the likelihood that water goes into the feed openings100and come into contact with the seeds, which is undesirable. To even further reduce the likelihood of water going into the feed openings100, troughs110are located on the front face of the seed tray25, above the feed openings100. As shown, these troughs110redirect water that cascades down from the seed tube15away from the feed openings100, towards the side of such feed openings100. The seed tray25is further comprised of a connector to connect to the seed tube15. In this particular embodiment, the connector is a pair of outwardly tapered fingers120, the fingers120terminating in undercut tabs122that lock into corresponding apertures (not shown) in the seed tube15. The pair of fingers120project outwardly from the seed tray25to better mate with the apertures (not shown) of the seed tube15. The tapering of the fingers120also increase the latching strength of the seed tray25to the seed tube15as the fingers120are biased outwardly and into the corresponding apertures (not shown) of the seed tube15. As shown, the undercut tabs122have a tapered portion, which is preferably but not necessarily 15 degrees. Such tapering increases the force necessary to separate the seed tube15from the seed tray25. In other words, the tapered portion strengthens the connection between the fingers120and the apertures (not shown) of the seed tube15so that the seed tray25is better retained within the seed tube15. Each of the fingers120is also further comprised of a reinforcing rib125to structurally reinforce the fingers120. The combination of fingers120and corresponding apertures (not shown) of the seed tube15provides an advantageous snap-fit solution to quickly and easily separate the seed tube15from the seed tray25for quick and easy cleaning. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that although the connector in this embodiment is a pair of fingers120connected to apertures (not shown) of the seed tube15, other connectors are possible provided that the seed tray25is releasably secured to the seed tube15. The seed tray25is also further comprised of recessed axial openings130adapted to receive baffle tabs (not shown) of the baffle (not shown). The seed tray25is also comprised of a hollow post135, the hollow post135housing a spring positioning mechanism (not shown) to be further described below.

With reference toFIGS.10,11and12and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a baffle140is shown releasably secured to seed tray25. As shown, the baffle140is designed having a shape to only allow a specific orientation of the baffle140relative to the seed tray25. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that the baffle140can be a symmetrical or non-symmetrical shape, provided that such shape only allows a specific, desired configuration of the baffle140within the seed tray25. The baffle140is comprised of two inner axial guides145that generally correspond to the shape and size of the pair of fingers120and the reinforcing ribs125of the seed tray25. The guides145, which are recessed, will slide along the length of the fingers120of the seed tray25to properly position the baffle140therein. The baffle140is further comprised of baffle locking tabs150, which align with the recessed axial openings130of the seed tray25and lock therein as specifically shown by the dotted line inFIG.10. The baffle140is further comprised of cavities155, such cavities155to be aligned with feed openings100of the seed tray25when the baffle140is secured to the seed tray25. The cavities155are dome-shaped to prevent all of the bird seed from flowing out of the feed openings100by only allowing bird seed to accumulate at the bottom of the seed tray25, directly above the water holes95. The removeable baffle140is advantageous over the prior art as it allows for easy cleaning of the seed tray25, which is necessary to remove older seeds or clear the seed tray25of unwanted debris or dirt. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that the baffle140is preferably designed with cavities155corresponding to the feed openings100of the seed tray25.

With reference toFIG.13and according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a seed tray1025is shown connected to a baffle1140. In this alternate embodiment, a singular, circumferential feed opening1100is shown. As was earlier described, a multitude of shapes and sizes of the feed openings1100are captured by the present disclosure, as long as they provide access to the bird feed.

With reference toFIGS.14,15,16,17,17A and18and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the positioning mechanism is shown in greater detail. As will be described further below, the positioning mechanism allows for the bird feeder to move from a first position as specifically shown inFIG.14, to a second position as specifically shown inFIG.15, and back again. The first position provides access to the feed openings100and the second position prevents access to the feed openings100. Preferably, the positioning mechanism is comprised of a spring160, a spring cap165and a central rod170fitted through a shroud rotation lock175and in threaded engagement with a nut180. The spring160is shown trapped in between the upper edge181of the spring cap165and a lip185of the rod170. The spring cap165is attached to the seed tray25by screws, although a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that the seed tray25can be attached to the spring cap165by other means, provided that seed tray25cannot move independently from the spring cap165. The spring cap165is further comprised of at least one drainage and ventilation hole182to allow water to drain out of the positioning mechanism or for air to circulate the positioning mechanism and keep it dry. The rod170is preferably of a non-circular shape to ensure that the rod170does not rotate independently from the spring cap165and the shroud rotation lock175and is only positioned in a particular, desired orientation relative to the spring cap165and the shroud rotation lock175. Specifically, the upper end of the rod170is fitted through a corresponding non-circular opening (not shown) of the spring cap165, while the lower end of the rod170is fitted through a corresponding non-circular index slot190of both the shroud rotation lock175and the shroud base195. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that although the index slot190is shown as a separate part, the index slot190could be prefabricated as a singular piece that forms part of the shroud30. As aforementioned, the corresponding non-circular shape of the rod170, the opening (not shown) of the spring cap165and the index slot190ensures that the rod170can only be positioned in one or more specific orientations relative to the shroud30and the seed tray25. Such a specific orientation provides for the alignment between the feed openings100of the seed tray25and corresponding shroud openings200, which shall be further described below. The central rod170is fitted through the spring cap165and the central rod170acts as a piston within the spring cap165. In other words, when a downward force is applied to the rod170, the lip185of the rod170actuates and compresses the spring160in between the lip185and the upper edge181of the spring cap165as specifically shown inFIG.16. When the bird feeder is in a first position at rest as shown inFIG.14, the feed openings100are aligned with shroud openings200to provide access to the feed. In this first position, the spring160is in a generally elongated position generally at rest. Although birds may sit on the perches205, such light weight of the birds will not be sufficient to overcome the compression strength of the spring160and therefore the bird feeder will remain in its first position. However, unwanted squirrels or other heavier animals may also grab onto the shroud30, shroud base195or perches205to access the feed. In such instances, the weight of these heavier animals will overcome the compression strength of the spring160and force the shroud30toward the ground as specifically shown inFIG.15. In doing so, the shroud30, attached to the rod170via nut180as described above, will pull downwardly on the rod170. In turn, the rod170will compress spring160until the upper edge181of the spring cap165comes into contact with a flange207of the rod170as best shown inFIGS.17and17A. Such contact between the upper edge181of the spring cap165and the flange207of the rod170acts as a stop to prevent further compression of the spring160. Upon such contact, the feed openings100of the seed tray25are no longer aligned with shroud openings200of the shroud30, as specifically shown inFIG.15. This is described herein as the second position of the bird feeder, whereby access to feed openings100is prevented. As the shroud openings200are no longer aligned with the feed openings100, the squirrels will no longer have access to the feed within the seed tray25.

With reference toFIGS.19,20,21and22and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a seed tube15is shown having an upper band210fitted thereon. The upper band210is further comprised of a protruding circumferential upper rim215having a plurality of protrusions220. A recessed circumferential portion225is also provided, positioned below the upper rim215, the recessed portion225having locking extensions230. These locking extensions230have a sloped front surface to facilitate locking into corresponding slots of the seed tube15. The recessed circumferential portion225is fitted flushly within the seed tube15and the locking extensions230are aligned with the slots in the seed tube15. Once the upper band210is locked within the seed tube15, the upper rim215sits flush on the upper peripheral portion of the seed tube15. The protrusions220project outwardly from the seed tube15and are positioned proximate an inner wall of the top ring55when the bird feeder is assembled. Advantageously, the protrusions220provide additional strength to the upper portion of the seed tube15, and the proximity of the protrusions220to the inner wall of the top ring55as best shown inFIG.22serves to center the seed tube15within the shroud (not shown) and reduces or prevents the seed tube15from pivoting or otherwise swaying in the shroud (not shown). The protrusions220, sitting flushly against the inner wall of the top ring55, further create spaces237for excess seeds to fall therein, rather than be stuck if the seed tube15was in close contact with the top ring55. As shown, the seed tube15is also comprised of a pair of apertures235to engage with a pair of fingers (not shown) of the seed tray (not shown). An alignment notch240is also provided at the base of the seed tube15to properly align the seed tube15to the seed tray (not shown). The combination of apertures235with the notch240provide for each installation of the seed tube15to the seed tray (not shown), which in turn makes for easy assembly and disassembly and therefore provides for easy cleaning.

With reference toFIGS.23,23A and23B, a hook shaft250is shown connected to the hollow post135of the seed tray25and to the wire35. It is an object of the present disclosure that the hook shaft250rotate independently relative to the bird feeder, and specifically to the hollow post135. Indeed, wind and other elements may cause the bird feeder to rotate, which will in turn cause the wire35to rotate on itself. As the wire35is secured to the hook shaft250as specifically shown inFIG.23B, it is desirable for the wire35and the hook shaft250to rotate independently of the bird feeder so as to not stress the wire35or hook shaft250. As best shown inFIG.23A, the hook shaft250has an arrow-shaped lower end255that snap fits into a retention member260of the hollow shaft135. This structural relationship allows for rotation of the hollow post135independently from the hook shaft250. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that there are other ways to secure the hollow post135to the hook shaft250while allowing independent rotational movement, including but without limitation to ball bearings.

Many modifications of the embodiments described herein as well as other embodiments may be evident to a person skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is understood that these modifications and additional embodiments are captured within the scope of the contemplated disclosure which is not to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed.