Birdcage feeder

A birdcage feeder assembly is configured with a feeding unit, which includes a cup and a transparent shield shaped and dimensioned to minimize the distribution of food debris from the cup, and a holder operative to removably couple the feeding unit to the birdcage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to birdcage feeders, of the type known as cup feeders, for use in connection with the task of feeding birds for personal breeders and owners.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In a hurried modern world, pets bring relief and joy to countless millions of peoples. Among the more popular pet companions are birds. To keep their cherished family members safe and secure, bird owners use birdcages.

One of the most common problems in bird-keeping today is not providing pet birds with the birdcages and their accessories which are designed to closely imitate the birds' natural environment. A cage is a home and comfort zone, similar to the way people view their own homes. This is where the food is kept and where the familiar waterer hangs. When a bird is under stress, many owners may probably notice that the bird is most relieved when returned to its cage.

The reasons birds need a cage are many. Even if the pet birds are placed in a cage having a proper size, it still may not be entirely comfortable. Where are the birds getting their water? How is a feeder configured? Accordingly, it is impossible to provide pet birds with a proper, safe, and comfortable living environment without paying attention to numerous structural details.

One of the factors that often may be overlooked is that feeders are not configured to provide the pet birds with the necessary habitual attributes found in the birds' natural environment.

A good example is hookbills. These birds may refuse to feed unless they can observe the site in search for a predator. As long as hookbills are sure that there is no imminent danger, they will eat. For these reasons, any feeder, which is made from opaque material, and obscures their vision will not be used by these species. Also, opaque material would prevent owners from learning to observe birds, learning their body language and finding out if the birds eat well. Thus, having a shield preventing the owner from observing the birds, while they are feeding, not only may deprive the owner of a great pleasure, but also may endanger the health of the birds.

Some known feeders comprise a shield configured to prevent the distribution of food wastes from a cage. However, the shield either completely obstructs the owner from viewing the feeding birds or may not be effective for the purposes it is designed.

The vast majority of commercial feeders may be attached only to horizontal bars of a birdcage, but not to vertical bars, and conversely. Also, it is not unusual to see the bird feeder, which may not have a means for its attaching to the birdcage at all. Among those feeders that can be attached to the birdcage, many have a complicated structure.

Still another element of the bird feeder, which may be often not considered during the design stage, is an entrance to the feeder and particularly, the shape of the entrance. The birds may refuse to enter the feeder, if its shape and dimensions are not properly selected.

A need, therefore, exists for bird feeders, which provide the pet birds with a comfortable environment.

Another need exists for bird feeders, which have a structure easily attachable to and detachable from a variety of birdcages.

Still another need exists for bird feeders preventing contamination of an area surrounding birdcages with debris, which may be tossed out from the birdcage.

A further need exists for bird feeders, which can be easily cleaned and refilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a feeder assembly that satisfies these needs. The inventive assembly includes a feeder unit and a holder unit, which supports the feeder unit and is removably attached to a birdcage.

The feeder unit includes a cup, which is configured to receive and store food or water, and a shield coupled to the cup. Manufactured either as a one-piece structure or a two-piece structure, in which the cup and shield are detachably coupled to one another, the feeder unit is bird-friendly and designed to resemble a natural environment of a great variety of birds. For example, as mentioned before, numerous species of birds, such as billhooks, must have a clear view of a site, while these birds are feeding. Accordingly, the shield is made from transparent material providing the pet birds with such a possibility. The transparent shield also provides people with a clear view of feeding birds.

The shield has an opening that serves as the entrance to the feeder's interior. Preferably, the opening is configured to have a frustoconical cross-section. The peripheral wall of the shield is configured to surround about 65-75% of the cup's peripheral edge and, thus, effectively prevents the splatter or distribution of food waste from flying outside the birdcage.

If the cup and shield are manufactured as two separate components, the inner wall of the cup is structured to provide a support for the bottom flange of the shield. The support includes a plurality of spaced-apart inner wall segments tapering downwards from the cup's top portion. Each of the tapered wall segments has a broad top region supporting the bottom flange of the shield. To insure that the cup and shield are not movable relative to one another in the assembled state of the feeder, the top region of each tapered wall segment has a respective recess, which is configured to receive a projection or tongue extending from the bottom flange of the shield. Additionally, the top flange of the cup is provided with spaced notches, which are dimensioned to receive lugs extending radially from the bottom rim of the shield. Accordingly, in the assembled state, the tongues and lugs, which are formed on the shield, tightly fit in the recesses and notches, respectively, of the cup.

The holder unit of the inventive assembly includes a post, which extends transversely to and through either horizontal or vertical bars of the peripheral wall of the cage. A further component of the holder is a washer displaceably mounted on the post and operative to be oriented to abut the inner-side segments of either horizontal or vertical bars. Completing the holder unit is a nut couplable to the free outer end of the post and abutting the outer side segments of the bars. Depending on the size of the feeder, the outer side of the washer may be serrated to have a plurality of troughs each dimensioned to reliably receive a respective bar. Tightening the nut on the post leads to a quick and reliable mounting of the holder unit to the cage.

To mount the feeder inside the cage, the user initially attaches the holder unit to the wall of the cage and then, mounts and locks the feeder unit to the holder unit. Conversely, removing the nut from the post allows the user to quickly dismount the feeder assembly from the cage.

Preferably, the holder and feeder units of the inventive assembly are attached to one another by means of a bayonet connection, which includes a pin formed, for example, on the outer side of the cup's peripheral wall, and a recess provided on the holder. The configuration of the pin and recess allows these components to rotate relative to one another between an engaging position in which the holder and feeder units are rotatably fixed to one another and an unlocked position, in which these two components may be separated.

These and other features and aspects of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following description, figures, and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “attach,” “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices

Referring toFIGS. 1-5,8and9, a feeder assembly10(FIGS. 1,2) is configured for medium size birds including, but not limited to, cockatiels, lovebirds and similar size parrots. Assembly10includes a feeder unit, which has a cup12for storing food or water and a shield or guard14for minimizing the splatter, and a holder unit15(FIGS. 1,5and8), which is configured to support the feeder unit and couple it to a birdcage.

To mount assembly10to the birdcage, the user places a cup holder16of holder unit15(FIGS. 1,5,8and9) inside the cage so that a post50, which is better seen inFIG. 9, has its free end extending outwards between and beyond horizontal or vertical bars of the cage's wall. Then, the user screws a nut52on the threaded free end such that the bars of the cage are located between an inner surface54of nut52(FIG. 9) and an outer side56of a washer58(FIG. 8), which is mounted slidably and rotatably on rod50. Bringing washer58in close contact with the bars and tightening the nut continue until the inner side of washer58urges against a support60, whereas the bars of the cage are sandwiched between inner surface54of nut52and outer side56of washer58.

To provide positive engagement between washer58and the bars, outer side56of washer58may be serrated with alternating troughs and ribs. The inner surface of each trough is dimensioned and shaped to receive and extend complementary to the inner segment of a respective bar, when holder unit15is fixed to the cage. Whether the bars of the birdcage's walls extend in a horizontal or vertical plane is not important, because washer58may be oriented in either one of these planes before holder unit15is fixed to the cage.

Birdcages are typically manufactured with vertically or horizontally extending bars, which play an important role in supporting the entire feeder assembly. To provide a reliable contact between the bars and holder unit15, the outer side of washer58is configured with troughs or serrations57(FIG. 9D) adapted to abut the bars upon tightening nut52.

In accordance with one of the inventive aspects, holder unit15is configured with a means for selectively adjusting washer58so that it can assume a plurality of predetermined positions, in which troughs57extend parallel to the bars regardless of the bars' orientation. As a result, when nut52is tightened, the contact between the bars and serrations is sufficiently reliable to firmly hold the mounted feeder assembly in place.

In particular, as shown inFIGS. 9A,9B and9C, support60of holder unit15has a protrusion61provided on the support's outer face and configured to receive washer58in a plurality of predetermined selected positions. The protrusion61has a rectangular cross-section and is adapted to engage a rectangularly shaped recess59, which is formed in washer58. Accordingly, depending on the plane in which the bars of the cage extend, the pet owner mounts the washer so that the troughs extend parallel to the bars. Dimensions of the protrusion and recess are selected so as to provide reliable engagement between these components preventing rotational displacement of the washer relative to the rest of holder unit15. Establishing the desire position of washer58relative to the bars of the cage facilitates the installation of the feeder assembly since the pet owner does not have to hold the washer while coupling holder unit15to the bars.

As mentioned above and illustrated inFIGS. 9A through 9C, the cross-section of recess59and protrusion61is rectangular, and therein preferably square. However, other polygonal cross-sections can be implemented as well. Furthermore, the cross-section may include all regular or irregular shapes subject only to two requirements: a) opposing surfaces of the recess and protrusion must engage one another in a non-rotational manner, and b) engagement is possible only in preselected positions, in which troughs57extend generally parallel to the bars of the cage. Accordingly, the pet owner mounts washer58to support60so that its troughs57extend in a vertical or horizontal plane and, then, displaces the holder unit so that the troughs abut opposing bars of the cage. Finally, the pet owner tightens nut52so as to squeeze the bars between the outer side of washer58and the inner side of nut52.

Recess59may be formed as a hole opening into the opposite sides of the washer. Alternatively, recess59may be formed as a nest or depression in the inner side of the washer. In either case, the depth of the recess is, preferably, substantially identical to the length of the protrusion61.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of forming protrusion61on the outer face of support60, post50may have a polygonal cross-section except for the pole's free end, which is configured to threadedly receive nut52. Since the washer58has to slide along the pole, the pole's proximal area, which is located next to the outer face of support60, may be slightly enlarged so that when washer58is pressed onto this area, the pole and washer are displaceably fixed relative to one another. Obviously, the inner side of washer58is abutted by the outer face of support60once the washer is fixed to the pole.

In still a further embodiment, the inner side of washer58may be provided with a formation extending inwardly towards the outer surface of support60, which, in turn, may be provided with a nest, depression or seat (not shown). Similarly to the above-discussed embodiments, the peripheral surface of the depression and opposing outer peripheral surface of the protrusion must be shaped and dimensioned so that the washer is non-rotationally engaged in the depression. In this embodiment, like in the previously discussed ones, engagement between the depression and protrusion can be realized only when troughs57(FIG. 9D) extend parallel to horizontal or vertical bars of the birdcage.

In any of the above-disclosed modifications, the outer, serrated side of washer58is juxtaposed with inner face54of nut52having the bars of the cage sandwiched between these surfaces upon tightening nut52. Support60is shown to have a frustoconical cross-section having the larger outer face support the inner side of washer58. However, other cross-sections of support60are readily adaptable for the intended purposes.

To provide the user with the possibility of controlling a distance, at which cup holder16is spaced from the wall of the cage, post50of mounting assembly150(FIGS. 5,8and9) can have a telescopic structure, which has multiple components125and130, as shown inFIG. 10.

Note thatFIGS. 8 and 9illustrate the holder unit primarily associated with the feeders for small birds shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. However, the above discussed cup holder16, support60, post50, washer58and nut52, which constitute mounting assembly150(FIGS. 5,8and9), remain structurally unchanged for the inventive feeders regardless of their size. Also note thatFIG. 13illustrates the holder unit primarily associated with the feeders for large birds shown inFIGS. 11 and 12wherein mounting assembly150is the same as for feeders of other sizes.

Having attached holder unit15to the cage at the desirable location, the user may insert cup12into cup holder16(FIGS. 1 and 2). The top of cup12is provided with a top flange24(FIGS. 2 and 3) extending radially outwards from the outer side of the cup's peripheral wall. Accordingly, insertion of the feeder unit into cup holder16is stopped, when the bottom surface of flange24will land on a top surface17(FIG. 8) of cup holder16. The width of cup holder16is selected so that an outer side26(FIG. 2) of flange24lies substantially flush with the outer side of cup holder16, thereby minimizing the overall space occupied by assembly10in the birdcage. The inner surface of cup holder16extends complementary to the outer side of the cup's peripheral wall, which may have a frustoconical, cylindrical or polygonal cross-section. For larger size feeders, cup holder16may have an arm28(FIG. 2) extending from the bottom of the cup holder and providing an additional element for proper positioning of cup12in cup holder16.

To positively lock cup12against voluntary rotation in cup holder16, assembly10is provided with a lock unit. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 5, the lock unit is configured as a bayonet connection including a pin20, which is formed on the outer side of the cup's peripheral wall, and an L-shaped recess30(FIG. 5), which is provided on cup holder16. Initially, the user rotates cup12and cup holder16relative to one another to align pin20with the vertical stretch of recess30. After pin20is received in the vertical stretch, the user further may apply a torque to cup12sufficient to force pin20to slide along the horizontal stretch of recess30between the opposite sides of this stretch. One of the opposite sides, preferably topside32(FIG. 5), has an arcuate shape configured so that pin20, upon reaching the bottom of the horizontal stretch of recess30, is frictionally engaged between the opposite sides of the horizontal stretch and cannot voluntary move back towards the vertical stretch. Accordingly, positioning pin20at the bottom of the horizontal stretch defines a locking position of the feeder and holder unit, as illustrated inFIG. 1.

Even if, during the use of assembly10, cup12accidentally rotates out of the locking position, free end34of topside32(FIG. 5) of the horizontal stretch will block pin20from penetrating into the vertical stretch of recess30, since this free end extends below the top segment of pin20, when the latter is received in the horizontal stretch.

To unlock cup holder16and cup12, the user has to apply such a torque that pin20will press against and flex free end34upwards to allow pin20to move to the vertical stretch of recess30. Finally, upon pulling cup12and cup holder16from one another, the user will be able to separate these components. Note that the bottom side of the horizontal stretch of recess30may be formed with raised opposite ends in the vicinity of the bottom of and mouth, respectively, of the horizontal stretch. The raised portion of the bottom side would lock pin20at the bottom of the horizontal stretch and prevent pin20from uncontrollable penetration into the vertical stretch, respectively. Such a modification of recess30would not require that topside32of the horizontal stretch have a curved surface.

As mentioned before, cup12and shield14of the feeder unit may be manufactured either as a one-piece or two-piece component. In case of the two-piece component structure of the feeder unit, as illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, shield14has its bottom portion inserted within and surrounded by the top portion of cup12in a manner, in which these components are prevented from accidental decoupling, as disclosed below.

Coupling cup12and shield14to one another includes a centering stage and a subsequent locking stage. During the centering stage, bottom rim40of shield14(FIG. 4) is mounted within the top portion of cup12, as will be explained below. Formed on bottom rim40of shield14is a bottom flange41(FIG. 3), which peripherally coextends with the rim and extends downwards therefrom. Bottom flange41is so configured that its outer side is spaced inwards from the outer side of rim40. In other words, as shown inFIG. 4, an outer diameter d1of flange41is smaller than an outer diameter d2of bottom rim40. As a result, flange41and rim40form therebetween a narrow flat horizontal surface43, which, upon inserting shield14in cup12, lands on an annular ledge45(FIG. 3) provided within the top portion of cup12under its top flange24. Bottom flange41of shield14, in turn, is supported by an annular seat47(FIG. 3), which is defined by the top surface of alternating wall segments49and segments42all formed on the inner side of the cup's peripheral wall. Accordingly, annular seat47includes relatively broad or thick top portions44(FIG. 3) of segments42and relatively narrow top portions51(FIG. 3) of segments49. Placing shield14on annular seat47centers the shied and cup along a common longitudinal center axis A-A, which is shown inFIG. 1.

To prevent accidental displacement of shield14and cup12relative to one another, these parts are further engaged the following manner. As surface43of shield12lands on seat47of cup12, tongues62(FIG. 4), which are formed on and extend downwards from flange41, tightly fit in respective blind holes48(FIG. 4) formed in top portions44of segments42. In addition, shield's bottom rim40is provided with lugs38(FIG. 4) extending laterally outwards from the bottom rim and received in respective notches36(FIG. 4), which are formed in top flange24of cup12. Notches36and blind holes48are shaped complementary to and dimensioned to receive lugs38and tongues62, respectively, in a manner preventing voluntary disengagement between thee formations. As an additional precautionary measure against displacement, tongues62may be slightly glued to the bottoms of blind holes48.

While wall segments49of the cup's peripheral wall are formed with a uniform thickness, segments42taper towards the bottom of cup12and merge with the inner side of the peripheral wall at a distance from the cup's bottom. Thus, although segments42has broad top surfaces44(FIG. 3), which are necessary for receiving tongues62of shield14, they do not substantially minimize the inner volume of cup12.

Note that the position of lugs38and notches36can be reversed by providing the lugs on cup12and notches36on shield14. Similarly, tongues62(FIG. 4) can be formed on top portions44of cup's wall segments42, whereas blind holes48can be provided within shield's bottom flange14. The above disclosed engagement arrangement between cup12and shield14is preferable, but not exclusive. For example, the inner side of top flange24of cup12and the outer side of shield's bottom rim40may be screwed to one another, thereby eliminating the need for the projections and indentations, as disclosed above.

As shown inFIGS. 1,2,4-6,7,11, and12, shield14comprises the surface area of a frustroconical body. The shield includes an opening64that has an arcuate upper region66and a bottom region68. The top of the shield comprises an angled surface.

As mentioned before, shield14is made from transparent material to help both the pet birds feel as if they were in their natural environment and people observe the birds. To maximize the similarities between the natural and home environment, an opening64(FIGS. 2 and 3), which is formed in shield14, has a specific cross-section and dimensions. Preferably, opening64has a substantially frustoconicaly-shaped cross-section defined by an arcuate upper region66(FIG. 2) and a bottom region68. The dimensions of opening64are believed to be as important as its shape for providing the birds with a comfortable environment. Preferably, a width W (FIG. 5) of the bottom of opening64is about 50-75% of opening's length L. Also, the configuration of opening64allows the peripheral wall of shield14to surround about 65-75% of the cup's top, thereby effectively minimizing the distribution of food waste from flying outside the birdcage. Finally, the length of the opening's upper region66is substantially the same as the length of opening's bottom region68.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate another embodiment of feeder assembly75primarily configured for rather small birds, such as parakeets, canaries, finches and similar size birds. In many aspects, feeder assemblies10and75shown inFIGS. 1-5and7-9, respectively, are structured identically. For example, cups10and72, shields14and74, cup holders16and mounting assemblies150of assemblies10and75, respectively, differ from one another only in terms of their dimensions.

Like the feeder unit illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, cup72and shield74of assembly75are provided with a combination of engaging formations shaped and sized to match one another for easy and reliable coupling of the shield and cup. In particular, cup72has a top flange84provided with multiple notches86(FIG. 7), each of which receives a respective lug88(FIG. 8) formed on the bottom of shield74. Also, cup72has an inner wall provided with downwardly tapering segments90and uniformly sized segments91(FIG. 7), all of which are configured to support the bottom flange of shield74, as is explained in reference to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-5. Wall segments90each has a respective blind hole, which receives a tongue projecting from the bottom edge of shield74.

A bayonet connection78(FIG. 7), which is provided for mounting the feeder unit to a holder unit116, includes a pin80formed on cup72and an L-shaped recess82formed on cup holder16of holder unit116. Accordingly, the user initially places cup72in cup holder16and then rotates the former so that pin80engages recess82and locks the feeder unit against accidental rotation relative to holder unit116.

In addition to mounting assembly150, which includes post50, support60, washer58and nut52, all shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, holder unit116also has spaced arms110, which extend downwards from cup holder16, and a perch98coupled to these arms. Peripheral wall102of perch98is larger than cup holder16and centered on an axis B, which extends parallel to, but radially spaced from, an axis C of cup holder96(FIG. 9).

Preferably, when cup72and shield74of the feeder unit are locked in holder unit116, the cup's bottom terminates in the same plane as the bottom of perch98. Accordingly, the entire feeder assembly75ofFIGS. 7-9may be accessed by bird in flight and landing on perch98.

Of course, nothing prevents holder unit15for larger birds, which is shown inFIG. 5, from being configured identically to holder unit116ofFIGS. 8-9, and conversely.

FIGS. 11-13illustrate another embodiment of a feeder assembly. Therein, feeder assembly275is primarily configured for large birds. Like the feeder unit illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, cup272and shield274of assembly275are provided with a combination of engaging formations shaped and sized to match one another for easy and reliable coupling of the shield and cup.

A bayonet connection278is provided for mounting the feeder unit to a holder unit216. A pin280is formed slightly off-center on a perpendicular axis on cup272. A recess281and a keyway282formed in post250of holder unit216. A protrusion251is disposed on the top area of post250to aid in retaining pin280.

Accordingly, the user initially places cup272in cup holder16and then rotates the former so that pin280engages recess281, travels in keyway282and passes protrusion251to lock the feeder unit against accidental rotation relative to holder unit116.

This document describes the inventive birdcage assembly for illustration purposes only. Neither the specific embodiments of the invention as a whole, nor those of its features limit the general principles underlying the invention. The specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth. The inventive assembly may be enlarged to accommodate large size birds, such African Grays, Amazons and the like. Also, the bayonet connection for locking the feeder unit in the holder unit is formed at the outer side of the assembly, which faces the wall of the cage; however, the number and position of such connections may vary. All of the disclosed components are made from plastic. However, at least some of these components, such as the shield, may be made from glass and other materials. Many additional modifications are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed in the absence of a corresponding use of other features. The illustrative examples therefore do not define the metes and bounds of the invention and the legal protection afforded the invention, which function is served by the claims and their equivalents.