Abstract:
Disclosed herein are rotatable bird feeders. The bird feeders are composed of a generally planar surface having one or more containers positioned about the perimeter of the generally planar surface. In one embodiment, the containers have a first well coupled to a second well. The bird feeder also includes an axle having a first and second end where the first end of the axle is pivotally coupled to the generally planar surface and the second end is coupled to an adapter. The adapter may be coupled to a post or rod or the like to mount the bird feeder in a desired location.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Various types of bird feeders have been developed in prior art to attract a variety of birds to a particular location where individuals can observe the birds as they feed. Traditionally, bird feeders are receptacles that may be mounted on a pole or the like to protect the feeding birds from predators such as cats or dogs. In other types of bird feeders, the bird feeders may be hung from tree branches or the like. These prior bird feeders are generally stationary items that do not move. However, there have been a variety of rotatable feeders that have been developed that allow for the simultaneous feeding of a plurality of birds. While these prior art bird feeders have been useful, there still remains a need for a rotatable bird feeder.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a rotatable bird feeder. According to one embodiment, the bird feeder is composed of a generally planar surface having one or more containers positioned about the perimeter of the generally planar surface. In one embodiment, the containers have a first well coupled to a second well. The bird feeder also includes an axle having a first and second end where the first end of the axle is pivotally coupled to the generally planar surface and the second end is coupled to an adapter. The adapter may be coupled to a post or rod or the like to mount the bird feeder in a desired location.  
         [0003]     According to the other embodiments described herein, the bird feeder may have a generally planar surface that is circular, star shaped, or other fanciful shape. The containers may be rotatably coupled to the planar surface by a shaft or other means. Additionally, the axle may be coupled to the adapter such that the axle is generally perpendicular to the bore of the adapter. In another embodiment, the axle may be coupled to the end of the adapter wherein the longitudinal axis of the axle and the longitudinal axis of the adapter are generally planar. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the containers may comprise a ridge coupled to the perimeter of the first and second well. Additionally, the first well and the second well of the container may be attached together via a coupling member. In another embodiment, the first well and second well may be directly coupled together. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rotatable bird feeder;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional plan view of one embodiment of a rotatable bird feeder; and  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional plan view of another embodiment of a rotatable bird feeder. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the specification.  
         [0009]     Turning now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows one exemplary embodiment of a bird feeder  10 . The bird feeder  10  is composed of a generally planar surface  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the generally planar surface  11  is star-shaped. In another embodiment, the generally planar surface  11  may have a circular shape or any other fanciful shape. For instance, the generally planar surface  11  may be a triangle, square, pentagon, or other polygonal shape. The generally planar surface  11  also can include one or more openings  24  that are spaced about throughout the generally planar surface  11 . In other embodiments, the generally planar surface  11  may be a generally solid structure without any openings  24 .  
         [0010]     The generally planar surface  11  has a plurality of positions  20  wherein one or more containers  12  may be coupled thereto. These positions  20  are usually openings that allow a shaft  13  to be fixed to the generally planar surface  11 . According to one embodiment, the shaft  13  is generally perpendicular to the generally planar surface  11 . In other embodiments, the shaft  13  may be mounted at an angle. As shown in  FIG. 1 , shaft  13  is a generally elongate and straight member. In an alternate embodiment, the shaft  13  may be L-shaped or have other fanciful shapes. As shown in the  FIG. 1 , a single container  12  is coupled to the generally planar surface  11 . In other embodiments, one or more containers  12  may be coupled to the generally planar surface  11 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the bird feeder  10  may contain 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 containers.  
         [0011]     The container  12  may have one or more wells  14 . The wells  14  are sized to hold an amount of bird feed or other types of food for an animal. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  12  includes two wells  14 . In one embodiment, the wells  14  may be directly coupled to each other. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the wells  14  are coupled together by a coupling member  15 . The coupling member  15  may be a generally inverted V-shaped member that connects wells  14  together. In other embodiments, the coupling member  15  may be a generally U-shaped member or other types of shapes known or contemplated in the art. The container  12  is rotatably coupled to the generally planar surface  11  via the shaft  13 . That is, the container  12  may pivot or swing about the shaft  13 . In one embodiment the container  12  may include a ridge  16  that extends around the well  14 . The ridge  16  provides a place for birds to stand and feed from the well  14 .  
         [0012]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bird feeder  10  includes an axle  17  that is coupled to an adapter  22  at one end and then coupled to the generally planar face  11  at another end. The bird feeder  10  may also include a cap structure  21  to cover the coupling point between the axle  17  and the generally planar surface  11 . In another embodiment, the bird feeder  10  may not include the cap  21 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the bird feeder  10  is coupled to a shaft  18  which is coupled to a base  19 . As such, the bird feeder  10  may be positioned at an elevated position desired by the individual user.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of one embodiment of the adapter  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the adapter  22  is a generally cylindrical structure. In other embodiments, the adapter  22  may be a structure having a cross section that is rectangular, square, triangular, or any other polygonal shape. Turning to  FIG. 3 , the adapter  22  may include a bore  25  that extends along the longitudinal axis. The adapter  22  may also include a cap  23 . The adapter  22  also includes at least one through-hole that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore  25 . The through-holes are sized to engage the axle  17 . In other embodiments, the axle  17  may have a cross section that is rectangular, square, triangular, or any other polygonal shape that is known or developed in the art. The corresponding rod  18  may be then inserted into the adapter  22 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the adapter  40 . The adapter  40  shown in  FIG. 4  is similar to the adapter  22  shown in  FIG. 3  with the exception of the orientation of the axle  17  with respect to the adapter  40 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the longitudinal axis of the axle  17  is substantially planar or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore  42  of the adapter  40 . The end of the axle  17  may include an enlarged protuberance  41  or disk that is sized to engage the inner walls of the bore  42  of the adapter  40 . As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the angle or orientation between the axle  17  and the adapter  40  may be varied approximately 1°-180°. In yet another embodiment, the axle  17  may be coupled to the adapter  40  that includes a portion (not shown) that is pivotable between ranges of varying angles.  
         [0015]     In use, the bird feeder  10  may be provided with one or more container  12  that are coupled to the generally planar surface  11 . Bird feed or other types of animal food are contained within the wells  14  of the container  12 . Bird lands  16 , other portions of the container  12 , or the weight of the bird will cause the generally planar surface  11  to rotate about the axis  17 . Furthermore, the containers  12  being rotatably coupled to the planar surface  11  will also rock or when a bird lands upon thereon. Accordingly, by providing one or more containers  12 , one or more birds may feed at the same time thereby increasing the enjoyment of an individual watching the birds feed and interact with one another. Depending on the type of adapter  22  utilized with the bird feeder  10 , the bird feeder  10  may be mounted in a plurality of locations and on a plurality of devices. In one embodiment, the adapter  22  may be mounted to a plate which has a plurality of openings thereby allowing the bird feeder to be coupled to a wall or other flat surface. The base  19  may be weighted or otherwise fixed to a surface such that in order to support the weight of the bird feeder  10 . As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the length of the rod  18  may be varied depending upon the intended or desired application or use.  
         [0016]     In closing, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein are illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other modifications that may be employed are within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.