Abstract:
A system and method for a bird feeder is disclosed. The feeder includes a feed reservoir positioned under a shade. The shade has a diameter that is at least twice as large as the diameter of the feed reservoir and located above the feed reservoir such that the shade substantially covers the reservoir thereby limiting the impingement of direct sunlight on the reservoir. By limiting the amount of direct sunlight received by the reservoir the freshness of the feed can be more efficiently maintained.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to bird feeders, and more particularly, to a hummingbird feeder having a shade of sufficient size to prevent the premature spoiling of the liquid used to feed the hummingbirds due to both temperature and evaporation caused by exposure of the feed reservoir to sunlight. 
   Many individuals enjoy feeding and observing birds, particularly hummingbirds. The birds are often observed in relative proximity to a hummingbird feeder which is typically somewhere within view of a person&#39;s residence. As such, the feeders are often located in front of windows or located within garden areas. Conventional feeders for hummingbirds utilize a reservoir with a base that is refillable and a top that is structured to accommodate the slender beak of a hummingbird. Feeders are also adapted to prevent insects from feeding at the feeder. Insects of particular concern include bees and wasps as well as ants as these insects are especially attracted to the sugar based fluid typically disposed in hummingbird feeders. 
   In an effort to prevent bees and wasps and other insects from feeding at the feeder, feeders have been adapted to prevent the insects from accessing the nectar placed in the reservoir by having specially adapted openings in the feeder that accommodate only the long slender beak of a hummingbird. Additionally, bees and wasps are particularly attracted to the color yellow, therefore, avoiding incorporation of yellow parts with a feeder helps to prevent bees and wasps from noticing the feeder despite having sugar water disposed therein. In contrast, hummingbirds are attracted to ultraviolet colors. As such, use of ultraviolet colors other than yellow is preferred to attract to a hummingbirds without attracting nuisance bees and wasps. 
   Other feeders incorporate a moat in an effort to prevent crawling insects from feeding at the feeder. These moats are designed as a fluid reservoir such that crawling insects are required to cross the fluid filled reservoir in order to feed at the feeder. Other moat-based feeders implement a sticky substance that the insects must traverse in order to feed at the feeder. The purpose of this design is to cause the insects to stick in the sticky substance in the moat thereby preventing their feeding at the feeder. It would therefore be desirable to have a bird feeder constructed so to only accommodate the feeding of hummingbirds. 
   Hummingbird feeders typically include a fluid reservoir for containing nectar. This nectar is usually sugar water and can vary in concentration from a ratio of 1:1 to 1:5 parts sugar to parts water. The higher the concentration of sugar to water placed in the feeder, the more attractive the feeder will be to hummingbirds. Additionally, the feeder will not require the addition of additives such as honey, brown sugar, fruit, or red food coloring to the fluid in order to attract hummingbirds. The affects of these additives on the hummingbirds is also uncertain, therefore their use is not preferred. 
   However, the higher the concentration, the less frequently those birds that are attracted to the feeder will need to feed. It has been suggested that once hummingbirds have been attracted to a feeder&#39;s position, the concentration of the liquid placed in the feeder reservoir can be reduced to more diluted concentrations in order to entice those hummingbirds that have been attracted to the feeder to feed more often. 
   In addition to the hummingbirds sensitivity to the concentration of the liquid placed in the feeder, hummingbirds are also sensitive to the quality of the fluid in the feeder and may abandon a feeder that contains liquid that has spoiled. Spoilage can result from mold within the liquid reservoir, fermentation of the solution, or contaminants within the solution. A number of methods have been developed to extend the life of the fluid. For example, boiling the water to be used in the solution before measuring can retard spoilage of the liquid in the feeder by a day or two. Others suggest that using distilled water instead of boiled water can also add to the life of the fluid. However, it has been suggested that distilled water may lack minerals that hummingbirds need; therefore its use should be limited. 
   A significant accelerant to the spoilage of the fluid is warm weather and direct sunlight. Certain mixtures can spoil in as little as a few hours when exposed to direct sunlight in warm weather and would then require near-immediate replacement in order to maintain hummingbird feeding. Some ornithologists have speculated that a hummingbird would starve rather than consume spoiled nectar. 
   Additionally, it is generally accepted that the feeder should be cleaned and inspected at every filling. The preferred method for cleaning a hummingbird feeder is with hot tap water and a brush. Sometimes a black mold will appear within the feeder. This mold can be removed by soaking the entire feeder in a diluted bleach bath. Additionally, if the solution appears cloudy it has spoiled and will therefore no longer be consumed by hummingbirds. This process of cleaning the hummingbird feeder is time consuming. By extending the life of the nectar between filling and spoilage, the feeder will, as a result, require less cleanings. 
   It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method of supplying a feed solution only to hummingbirds while preventing premature spoilage of the feed solution due to sunlight exposure. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a system and method of providing a shade for a hummingbird feeder reservoir overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks. 
   In the present invention, a hummingbird feeder is constructed from a center post, a shade, and a reservoir. The shade is constructed to prevent direct sunlight from impinging on the reservoir. The amount of sunlight exposure of the reservoir is determined by the distance thee reservoir suspends below the hood, the size of the hood, and the size of the reservoir. Preferably, the feeder is constructed to provide unfettered access to hummingbirds but limit the amount of direct sunlight received by the reservoir to delay, if not prevent, spoilage of the feed. By employing the sufficiently sized shade, spoilage can be delayed thereby resulting in better feeding exposure for the bird as well as more pleasurable viewing for the birdwatcher. An ornamental shade is also contemplated. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a hummingbird feeder is constructed from a fluid reservoir, a shade having a diameter that is at least twice as large as the diameter of the fluid reservoir, and a center post with ends connecting the shade to the fluid reservoir such that the shade substantially covers the fluid reservoir. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a hummingbird feeder includes a liquid reservoir that has a plurality of openings that only accommodate feeding by hummingbirds. A hood is positioned over the liquid reservoir and constructed to shade the liquid reservoir from direct sunlight by having a profile that is larger than the profile of the liquid reservoir. A center post connects the liquid reservoir to the hood. 
   According to yet another aspect of the invention, a feeder has a reservoir that is constructed to feed hummingbirds. A center post is connected to the reservoir and extends from the reservoir. A hood is positioned above the reservoir and connected to the extending center post. A combination of the ratio of the outer perimeter of the hood to the outer perimeter of the reservoir and a ratio of a distance the reservoir extends below the hood to a diameter of the hood dictate an arrangement such that the hood casts a shadow over the reservoir for a majority of the distance a light source travels when the light source travels over the feeder from a first horizon to a second horizon 180° from the first horizon. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the presenting invention, a bird feeder provides a means for providing sugar solution to a hummingbird, a means for providing shade to the means for providing sugar solution, and a means for attaching the means for providing shade to the means for providing sugar solution to form a single feeder capable of preventing heating of the means for providing sugar solution due to sunlight exposure. 
   Various other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrate one preferred embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the hummingbird feeder. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the hood shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention will be described with respect to a hummingbird feeder, but may be incorporated in other types of bird feeders where it is desirable to delay spoilage of the bird feed typically attributed to extended exposure to direct sunlight. 
     FIG. 1  shows a hummingbird feeder  10  including a reservoir  14 , a hood or shade  12 , and a center post  16  shown in phantom connecting the hood to the reservoir. The feeder includes a hanging loop  20  located above the hood  12 . The hanging loop  20  is used to suspend the feeder from hook  22 . Hook  22 , shown in phantom, can be any means of hanging the feeder in a desired location such as from a tree limb, yard stake, or the eave of a home. The fluid reservoir  14  is constructed to suspend from the center post below the hood. Only a portion of the reservoir  14  is visible from this top perspective view. As shown, a majority of the reservoir  14  is shaded by the hood  12 . Preferably, the hood is fabricated from an opaque material and therefore does not allow the passage of light therethrough. While construction of the hood from an opaque material is preferred, it is not necessary for implementation in areas prone to some shade as the advantage of the present invention can be achieved without a completely opaque hood. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the profile of the feeder shows the inverted bowl shape of the shade  12  positioned above the liquid reservoir  14 . The liquid reservoir  14  includes a lid  26  and a base  24 . As is readily apparent and will be discussed in greater detail below, the size of the hood  12  is much greater than the size of the reservoir  14 . Preferably, hood  12  is at least twice as large as reservoir  14 . The lid includes a plurality of openings  28  constructed of sufficient size to only accommodate feeding of a hummingbird. That is, the openings are designed to only receive a long slender beak. The feeder is shown suspended from a hook  22 , shown in phantom, inserted through loop  20  of center post  16  that extends from the feeder  10  above the hood  12 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the fluid reservoir  14  is shown as being concentric to the hood. This view shows the footprint of the hood as well as the footprint of the fluid reservoir. The area of the footprint of the hood in the illustrated embodiment is shown to be at least six times greater than the area of the footprint of the fluid reservoir. However, it is understood that multiple variations of this configuration are within the scope of the present invention. Additionally,  FIG. 3  shows the perimeter  32  of the hood  12  as an outer concentric circle to the perimeter  36  of the liquid reservoir  14 . As shown, the fluid reservoir  14  is concentrically positioned under the hood  12  and has a diameter  34  that is no less than one half the diameter  30  of the hood  12 . 
   The perimeter  32  of the hood  12  and the perimeter  36  of the reservoir  14  form a first ratio. This ratio is used to determine the construction of the feeder. The ratio relates to both the amount of protection the hood  12  provides the reservoir  14  from direct sunlight and the amount of clearance between the fluid reservoir  14  and the shade  12  afforded hummingbirds that utilize the feeder. Preferably, the diameter  30  of the hood  12  is at least twice the diameter  34  of the reservoir  14 . Additionally, the top  26  of the reservoir  14  is preferably constructed to suspend between 2–3 inches below the base  40  of the hood  12 . This allows sufficient clearance for the hummingbird to access the feed. 
     FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 . The diameter  30  of the hood  12  represents the diameter of the lower-most plane, or base  40  of the hood  12 . This diameter in combination with the distance  50  that the liquid reservoir  14  extends below the hood  12  forms a second ratio to be considered in the construction of the feeder. The ratios define a construction that can be established to accommodate feeding of a hovering hummingbird by not having the hood  12  interfere with the wing strokes of the hummingbird. While limiting the impingement of direct sunlight on the reservoir, hook  46  is disposed underneath hood  12  and enables a threaded stud or screw  44  that extends through an opening  58  and washer  18  of the hood  12  and attaches to ring  20 . With this construction, reservoir  14  may be removed by dislodging post  16  from hook  46  without detaching the hood  12  from hook  22 . 
   Angle α represents the minimum angle, preferably approximately forty degrees, that can be achieved between a line  42  tangent to a lower most portion of the hood  12  and tangent to a lower most portion of the liquid reservoir  14  and intersecting the axis  48  of the center post  16 . This angle is also used to define the exposure of the reservoir to direct sunlight as well as the distance between the fluid reservoir  14  and the hood  12 . This distance defines the amount of access hummingbirds have between the feeder and the hood. The angle β, preferably about five degrees, indicates the angle formed between the base  40  of the hood  12  and line  38 . Line  38  is tangent to a lower-most portion of the hood  12  and an upper-most portion of the liquid reservoir  14 . A light source located at an angle greater than β above the base  40  of the hood  12  will provide shade to the fluid reservoir  14 . Providing shade to the reservoir  14  reduces heating of fluid in the reservoir by direct sunlight. Angle  0  represents a minimum angle a light source can be above the horizon in order for the entire liquid reservoir  14  to be shaded from direct sunlight by the hood  12 . The angle is formed between line  42  and the base  40  of the hood  12 . 
   As a light source travels from a horizon to angle β, the fluid reservoir  14  is not directly protected from the light source by the shade  12 . Once the light source achieves an angle of at least β, the fluid reservoir  14  is afforded some shading by the hood  12 . As the light source travels from angle β to θ, the fluid reservoir is afforded more protection by the shade  12  from the direct impingement of the light sources rays. Once the light source reaches an angle of at least θ above a horizon, the fluid reservoir is afforded complete protection by the shade  12  from the direct impingement of rays from the light source. As long as the light source is located more than θ degrees above the horizon, the fluid reservoir  14  will be entirely protected by the shade  12  from the direct impingement of light rays from the light source. Angle θ is selected to be as close to the value of β as possible without preventing bird access to the feed. The closer θ is to β, the less direct sunlight that is received. Preferably, θ has a value no greater than about fifty degrees. 
     FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention which provides that the hood  12  has a frusto-conical shape and includes a plurality of scallops  52  around the perimeter of the lower end  54 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the center post  16  is also shown in phantom and is connected to a reservoir  14  such that the reservoir  14  can be removed from the hood  12  to allow a person to refill and/or clean the reservoir  14  without the reservoir being attached to the feeder  10 . It is to be understood that the same ratios and angles discussed with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4  are also applicable to this embodiment and as such would be used in determining the amount of direct sunlight exposure of the reservoir  14  and appropriate distances between the reservoir  14  and the hood  12  such that the hood  12  does not interfere with the feeding by hummingbirds. 
   Although it is not shown in the figures, it is to be understood that both the hood and the reservoir can be decorated in such a manner as to increase the feeder&#39;s ability to attract hummingbirds. Through the application of both bright colors and flower patterns, the feeder can be constructed to more efficiently attract hummingbirds or visually appeal to the feeder&#39;s owner. 
   The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.