BIRDBATH

Abstract: The birdbath comprises a body (1) adapted to float on water, for example in a pond. The birdbath is designed to become unstable if a heavy bird or other animal attempts to stand on it thereby protecting small birds bathing in the birdbath. The body (1) has holes (6) through which water can flow from the pond to maintain the level of water in the birdbath, and a heater (9) operable to prevent water in the birdbath and also water in the pond beneath the birdbath from freezing. The invention is also applicable to articles designed to provide drinking or/and feeding facilities or/and shelter or protection for birds or amphibians.

Description: BIRDBATH This invention relates to birdbaths. Conventional birdbaths are usually designed to stand on the ground and as a result have a number of disadvantages. Other animals have easy access to them and can drink the birds' water. Predators can attack birds when they are bathing and drinking. Birdbaths generally have the disadvantage that they need to be constantly replenished with water and the water in them freezes in winter so that birds lose what may be their only source of drinking water in the locality. The object of the present invention is to provide a new or improved form of birdbath. A particular aim of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages referred to above. According to the invention there is provided a birdbath which is adapted to float on water. , The idea of the invention is that the birdbath may be floated on a garden pond (or other body of water) and provided it remains at a distance from the side of the pond the surrounding water in the pond will prevent animals gaining direct access to the birdbath and taking water from it and attacking birds bathing or drinking in the birdbath. Preferably the birdbath is designed so that it remains in a stable position when small birds land on it but it becomes unstable and as a result tilts if a heavier bird or other animal tries to stand on the birdbath, for example by stepping or jumping on to it from the pond side or landing on it, the birdbath being designed automatically to return to its stable position when the weight of a heavier bird or other animal is removed from it. Heavier birds and other animals are therefore prevented from standing on the birdbath and drinking the water or attacking smaller birds using the birdbath. The birdbath is preferably formed with at least one hole through which water can flow from the pond (or other body of water) into the birdbath so as to maintain the level of water in the birdbath. It is therefore not necessary to top up the water in the birdbath as the water level falls. The birdbath may advantageously incorporate heating means arranged and operable to heat water in the birdbath. When operative, therefore, the heating means prevents water in the birdbath freezing so that it is available for bathing and drinking. In addition, the arrangement is preferably such that the birdbath also acts as a de-icer, preventing the water in the pond (or other body of water) beneath the birdbath from freezing and thereby preventing the formation of a solid mass of ice over the whole surface of the pond which could kill fish or amphibians in the pond due to an accumulation of toxic methane gas beneath the ice. The invention also provides in combination with the birdbath a support adapted to hold an open reservoir of water in which the birdbath may be floated. This combination may be used by people without ponds as it in effect provides its own pond. The support may be in the form of a stand or it may be formed to rest directly on the ground. It may have an open-topped container for holding the reservoir of water. This container is preferably larger than the birdbath and may be of any appropriate shape, for example circular or rectangular. In this case it may be necessary to replenish the reservoir, particularly in times of drought, but this will not have to be done as frequently as it is necessary to top up conventional birdbaths. Otherwise the combination has all the advantages of a birdbath according to the invention which is floated on a pond. The birdbath may be designed to provide a feeding facility for birds or/and amphibians or/and shelter or protection for birds or/and amphibians. For example, it may carry a wire mesh container for nuts which birds can peck or/and a cover under which birds can shelter or an enclosure in which birds and amphibians such as frogs can shelter. Indeed, the concept of the invention may also be applied to articles which are designed to provide drinking or/and feeding facilities or/and shelter or protection for birds or amphibians. According to a further aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided such an article which is adapted to float on water. Accordingly, instead of a bathing facility for birds, the article may have a wire mesh container for nuts or/and a cover or enclosure as disclosed above. An article according to this further aspect of the invention may incorporate any one or more of the features described above in relation to the birdbath according to the invention. In particular, the article may be provided with the de-icing means referred to. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of birdbath embodying the invention, FIGURE 2 is a diametral section through the birdbath, and FIGURE 3 shows the birdbath floating on a pond. The birdbath illustrated in the drawings comprises a body 1 which is formed in one piece. The body may be vacuum formed of a plastics material. The body is generally dish-shaped comprising a concave portion 2 having a flat central portion 3 surrounded by an annular channel-shaped portion 4, the concave portion having a depending lip 5 around its perimeter. The body is formed of a lightweight material and the shape of the body, particularly the annular channel-shaped portion 4 and the lip 5, give it strength and rigidity. The body 1 may be floated on the surface of a pond or another body of water, for example a reservoir of water held by a support as described above. In Figure 3 of the drawings the body 1 is shown floating on the surface of a pool of water W contained in a hollow in the ground G. The channel-shaped portion 4 of the body is formed with an annular series of spaced holes 6 so that water flows into the central part of the body until it reaches the same level as the water W, thereby forming a shallow body of water in which birds may bathe and from which they may drink. Water flows through the holes 6 to maintain the level of the water in the birdbath as water is taken from it. The annular recess formed beneath the part of the body 1 where the concave portion 2 joins the lip 2 is filled with a buoyant material such as foam plastics 7 to assist the buoyancy of the body 1 , the foam plastics providing a downwardly facing annular surface which contacts the water in the pond. The foam plastics may be an annular moulding glued or cemented to the body. The birdbath is designed to remain in a stable floating position when smaller birds land on it. However, if the birdbath is subjected to the weight of a larger bird or other animal, it tilts and becomes unstable. Larger birds and other animals cannot therefore stand on the birdbath and attack birds using the bath. When the heavier weight is removed the birdbath rights itself and resumes its stable floating position. The recess formed beneath the body 1 by the central portion 3 and the surrounding channel 4 is filled with a water resistant epoxy resin 8 capable of conducting heat. Encapsulated in this resin is an electric heating foil 9 connected by a flexible electric cable 10 and an electricity connection box 11 to an appropriate source of electricity, for example a 230 volt/21 watt supply, which may be the supply otherwise used for an existing pond pump, filter or fountain. The foil comprises a heat resistant sheet coated with an ink of a high electrical resistance. The supply of electricity to the heating foil is controlled by a manual switch and/or a thermostat, the intention being that the foil will be switched on when the ambient temperature or the temperature of the water in the pond falls to a value near freezing point, or the heater may be left on for the whole of the winter. As a result, the water in the birdbath is prevented from freezing by the heat emitted by the heating foil and also the water in the pond beneath the birdbath is prevented from freezing. Therefore the birdbath not only serves as a birdbath but also acts as a pond de-icer.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A birdbath which is adapted to float on water. 2. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 1 which is designed so that it remains in a stable position when small birds land on it but it becomes unstable and as a result tilts if a heavier bird or other animal tries to stand on the birdbath, the birdbath being designed automatically to return to its stable position when the weight of a heavier bird or other animal is removed from it. 3. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 which is formed with at least one hole through which water can flow from the pond or other body of water on which the birdbath is floated, into the birdbath so as to maintain the level of water in the birdbath. 4. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 which incorporates heating means arranged and operable to heat water within the birdbath. 5. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the arrangement is such that in use when the heating means is operative, the water beneath the birdbath in the pond or other body of water on which the birdbath is floated, is also prevented from freezing. 6. A birdbath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is combined with a support adapted to hold an open reservoir of water in which the birdbath may be floated. 7. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the support is in the form of a stand or formed to rest directly on the ground and has an open-topped container for holding the reservoir of water. 8. A birdbath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which comprises a body of a material such that it will float on water, the body comprising a generally dish-shaped portion having a depending lip around its perimeter and a central portion surrounded by an annular channel-shaped portion. 9. A birdbath as claimed in Claims 3 and 8 wherein the said hole or holes is or are formed in the said channel-shaped portion. 10. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 4 or 5 and Claim 8 or 9 wherein the said heating means are disposed in the recess formed beneath the body by the central portion and the surrounding channel-shaped portion. 11. A birdbath as claimed in Claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the recess formed beneath the body by the generally dish-shaped portion and the lip is filled with a buoyant material. 12. An article designed to provide drinking or/and feeding facilities or/and shelter or protection for birds or amphibians, the article comprising a body adapted to float on water. 13. An article as claimed in Claim 12 which incorporates any one or more of the features of Claims 2 to 1 1.

Inventors: WRIGHT ALAN THOMAS, WRIGHT, ALAN, THOMAS
Applicants: CARVER PLC, WRIGHT ALAN THOMAS, WRIGHT, ALAN, THOMAS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K45
IPC codes: A01K45