Abstract:
A hummingbird feeder having a disposable, single-use feed pod containing a liquid hummingbird food and a feeder assembly including a feed pod support for positioning the feed pod in a desired orientation. The feed pod is supported and oriented in the feed pod support and keeps liquid food for touching the hummingbird feeder other that the feed pod. The hummingbird feeder can include an access cover with a port located generally in the center thereof through which the hummingbird can access the hummingbird food. The access cover engages the feed pod and includes a projection that can pierce the top of the feed pod where access can be had to the food by a hummingbird through the port. The feeder can also have no access cover, in which case a port is provided in the top of the feed pod. Multiple feeder assemblies and feed pods can be configured together.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES 
       [0001]    The present patent application is based upon and hereby claims priority to provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 62/022,872, filed Jul. 10, 2014, and entitled “Hummingbird Feeder” and provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 62/077,937, filed Nov. 11, 2014, and entitled “Hummingbird Feeder and Feed Pod” and the entire specifications of both of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to bird feeders, and specifically, to a hummingbird feeder for providing a food substance, such as a solution of sugar and water, for hummingbirds. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hummingbird feeders are typically constructed to contain and supply a liquid solution comprising sugar and water intended to simulate flower nectar, one of the hummingbird&#39;s natural foods. Over time, this sugar solution coats the internal passageways and compartments of the hummingbird feeder, resulting in the accumulation of bacteria, mold, and other contaminants. Accordingly, proper care of hummingbird feeders requires regular flushing and cleaning, which can require special tools to access the narrow passageways and compartments. In addition, the solution of sugar-water must also be regularly replaced, which requires the need to prepare or purchase new food. Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide a feeder for hummingbirds which does not require flushing or cleaning, and which facilitates the easy care and feeding of hummingbirds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is a novel and useful hummingbird feed pod, as well as an attractive hummingbird feeder having the structure to support as well as provide access to the contents of the tied pod. As such, with the present invention, the hummingbird feeder is constructed such that no part of the hummingbird feeder comes in contact with the sugar-water solution with the exception of the feed pod that has a reservoir containing the sugar-water solution, and can be readily inserted into and removed from the hummingbird feeder, that is, there are no passageways or areas of the hummingbird feeder of the present invention that need to be cleaned as a result of having the sugar-water solution contained therewith. 
         [0005]    The use of the feed pod, that may be disposable or reusable, allows that the sugar-water solution within the hummingbird feeder is retained solely within the feed pod and access to the sugar-water solution is by the hummingbird only. The reservoir of the sugar-water solution is constructed such that the teed pod is upright and there is no gravity feed within the hummingbird feeder so as to eliminate the contact of the sugar-water solution with any passageways or reservoirs that would require cleaning. 
         [0006]    Upon the emptying of a feed pod, it is easily removed and replaced by a new feed pod still without the sugar-water solution passing through any passageways such that the replacement of a feed pod is easy and yet still isolates the sugar-water solution from contacting other components of the hummingbird feeder. 
         [0007]    As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is a specially designed feed pod that has a reservoir that contains the sugar-water solution. The feed pod may be a disposable plastic feed pod that has an upper opening with a cover sealing the opening and which can be penetrable by some means to access the sugar-water solution. Alternatively, the feed pod may be a reusable or disposable feed pod that has an inner cover that covers the upper opening and which has a hole sized to accommodate the beak and tongue of a hummingbird but also has an outer cover that is removable by a user to uncover the inner cover to allow access by a hummingbird to the sugar-water solution through the specially sized hole. 
         [0008]    Other features of the present hummingbird feeder will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an arrangement of hummingbird feeders according to an embodiment of the invention: 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the hummingbird feeder shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the hummingbird feeder; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a feed pod and pod support used with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side cross sectional view, partially cutaway, illustrating the feed pod and pod support of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of a plurality of hummingbird feeders of the present invention with a hanging support; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a plurality of hummingbird feeders of the present invention with a single feeder stem; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of an alternative embodiment shown, respectively, in the open and closed positions: 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a an exploded view of a hummingbird feeder and illustrating an alternative embodiment of the feed pod for the hummingbird feeder of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the assembled hummingbird feeder of the  FIG. 10  embodiment; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a partially exploded view of the feed pod of  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  in a multi-hummingbird feeder arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Turning initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown a perspective view of a plurality of hummingbird feeders  10  and an exploded view of a single hummingbird feeder  10 . In  FIG. 1 , therefore, each hummingbird feeder  10  comprises a pod support  12  that provides support for a feed pod  14 . The details of the feed pod  14  will be later explained; however it contains a quantity of a sugar-water solution  16 . The sugar-water solution  16  preferably contains no flavoring or preservatives such that it closely approximates the nectar of flowers that is one of the hummingbird&#39;s natural foods. The sugar-water solution  16  may, however, contain inhibitors to prevent the growth of mold and other contaminants present during packaging. 
         [0021]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the feed pod  14  rests in the pod support  12  and may be snapped into the pod support  12 . The feed pod  14  is preferably translucent or clear so that the amount of sugar-water solution in the feed pod  14  can be readily ascertained visually from its exterior; however, the feed pod  14  may be colored or uncolored. Likewise, the sugar-water solution  16  in the feed pod  14  can also be clear or colored to be able to better assess the condition of the sugar-water solution  16  and the amount of sugar-water solution  16  that remains in the feed pod  14 . 
         [0022]    The feed pod  14  is preferably sized to hold a limited volume of sugar-water solution  16  such that it can provide enough food to feed several birds for a period of several days. The feed pod  14  is also preferably sized so that an average adult hummingbird can reach or nearly reach the bottom of the feed pod  14  with its long beak and tongue through a port in the hummingbird feeder  10 . After a period of several days, it is expected that the sugar-water solution will need to be replaced due to spoilage since the sugar-water solution normally sits outside, usually in sunlight and/or high temperature conditions. The limited volume in the feed pod  14  is intended to provide sufficient food over the several day periods, while limiting the amount of food that needs to be discarded due to spoilage. 
         [0023]    The pod support  12  defines a cavity  18  configured to match and receive the bottom  20  of the feed pod  14 . According to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bottom  20  of feed pod  14  is generally flat and the feed pod  14  can be designed so as to snap into the pod support  12 , however, other ways of attaching the feed pod  14  to the pod support  12  can be used. 
         [0024]    At the bottom  22  of the pod support  12 , there may be a socket  24  that is dimensioned to receive a feeder stem  26  so that the hummingbird feeder  10  can be positioned in a relatively stationary location atop of a feeder stem  26  in a location preferred by hummingbirds. 
         [0025]    The hummingbird feeder  10  includes an access cover  28  that is configured to resemble a flower. The center of access cover  28  defines an access port  30 , through which a hummingbird may access the sugar-water solution  16  within the feed pod  14  using its long beak and tongue. The underside of access cover  28  is configured to removably snap or otherwise attach to the feed pod  14 . 
         [0026]    According to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the underside of access cover  28  has a generally annular flange  32  that may be configured to resemble the underside of a flower and which is adapted to fit around the upper perimeter rim  29  of the feed pod  14 . Each of the access cover  28 , feed pod  14 , pod support  12  and the feeder stem  26  are preferably made of plastic, and are configured so that the assembled hummingbird feeder  10  generally resembles a flower at the end of a flower stem but can also resemble any shape and color found to be pleasing to hummingbirds. 
         [0027]    Turning then specifically to  FIG. 2 , taken along with  FIG. 1 , the feed pod  14  has an outer, thin plastic shell  34  and is preferably provided with a top cover  36  comprising an airtight foil or other material to seal the upper perimeter rim  29  of the feed pod  14 . In accordance with the present invention, the feed pod  14  can be quickly and easily replaced. When in place, the feed pod  14  allows access to the sugar-water solution  16  within the feed pod  14  by hummingbirds, but inhibits or prevents access by other creatures. 
         [0028]    The top cover  36  of the feed pod  14  preferably is a thin material that is sealed around the upper perimeter rim  29  of the feed pod  14  and provides a hermetic seal to allow long-term storage of the sugar-water solution in the feed pod  14 . The top cover  36  might be in the form of a thin, plastic-coated foil or other similar materials. 
         [0029]    As also can be seen in  FIG. 2 , there is a projection  40  that extends downwardly from the access cover  28  and which has a distal end  42 . The act of placing the access cover  28  over and on top of the feed pod  14  causes the distal ent of the projection  42  to penetrate through the top access cover  36  providing access to the hummingbird food  16 . 
         [0030]    The top cover  36 , seal and materials of construction of the feed pod  14  are selected to limit the ingress of air and other contaminants that can spoil the sugar-water solution contained therein. The top cover  36  of the feed pod  14  is designed such that it can be easily opened by tearing or puncturing and may also have a seal that can be pulled off by the user before or after loading the feed pod  14  into the hummingbird feeder  10 . The feed pod  14  can have a variety of shapes, and according to various embodiments it may have a generally cylindrical shape/circular cross section, which may slightly widen or flare from bottom to top. However, the feed pod  14  may take any shape that is adapted to fit into a hummingbird feeder or, for that matter, into a recess of prior art hummingbird feeders that art configured to hold the sugar-water hummingbird food solution. 
         [0031]    The access port  30  located at, or near, the center of the access cover  28  allows a hummingbird to access the sugar-water solution  16  in the feed pod  14  with its long beak and tongue through the projection  40 . The feed pod  14  is dimensioned along with the access cover  28  so as to allow the distal end  42  of the projection  40  to extend downwardly into feed pod  14  to a location proximate to but not touching the sugar-water solution  16  within the feed pod  14  so that a hummingbird can reach or nearly reach the bottom of the feed pod  14  with its long beak and tongue, through the access port  30  in the access cover  28  and the projection  40 . 
         [0032]    Turning then to  FIG. 3 , there is an exploded view of the present invention showing an alternative embodiment of a hummingbird feeder  10 . In this embodiment, the feed pod  44  may be snapped directly into the underside of access cover  46  having an annular flange  48  that covers the upper surface of the feed pod  44  formed by the upper perimeter rim  50  when the feed pod  44  is snap-fitted to the access cover  46 . In this embodiment, the feed pod  44  may have a bottom  52  that is rounded or other configuration. 
         [0033]    As also can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the upper surface of the feed pod  44  formed by the upper perimeter rim  50  may have a thin toil that is penetrable or manually removable. Again, the access cover  46  may be in the shape of a flower so as to be attractive to hummingbirds and has an access port  54  that passes therethrough. On the underside of the access cover  46  there is a sharp projection  56  that is in alignment with the access port  54  and extends downwardly toward the feed pod  44 . As the feed pod  44  and the access cover  46  are snapped together, the sharp projection  56  will penetrate the upper surface foil material within the upper perimeter rim  50  and the projection  56  will enter the feed pod  44 , creating access for a hummingbird. 
         [0034]    It is noted that in this, and the other exemplary embodiments, the distal end  58  of the projection  56  enters into the upper area of the teed pod  44  so that the hummingbird can access the sugar-water solution continued therein, however, the projection  56  is dimensioned along with the other relevant components such that the distal end  58  of the projection  56  does not actually touch the sugar-water solution but remains slightly above the level of the sugar-water solution so that only the feed pod  44  itself contacts the sugar-water solution. 
         [0035]    There is also a socket  60  provided in access cover  46  that is dimensioned to receive a feeder stem  62  so that the hummingbird feeder  10  can be positioned in a relatively stationary location atop of a feeder stem  62  in a location preferred by hummingbirds. The free end of the feeder stem  62  can then be placed in the soil of a garden or flower pot, or attached to a deck rail or other structure via a mounting base. 
         [0036]    In the  FIG. 3  approach, as can be seen, the feed pod  44  can be loaded from the bottom of the access cover  46  in forming the hummingbird feeder  10 . The process of placing the feed pod  44  up into the access cover  46  can be used to break the upper surface  50  of the feed pod  44  by means of the projection  56 , to give the hummingbirds access to the food. A simple snap feature on the access cover  46  can be used to hold the feed pod  44  in place once loaded up into the access cover  46 . Alternatively, of course, the feed pod  44  may be pre-opened by means such as peeling off a protective cover so that the upper area of the feed pod  44  is already open when the feed pod  44  is attached to the access cover  46 . 
         [0037]    Turning then to  FIG. 4 , there is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present hummingbird feeder  10  illustrating a feed pod  64  in position for installation. The feed pod  64  is supported in a pod support  66  which includes a generally ring shaped bracket  68  forming a circular shaped opening  70  configured to receive and support the feed pod  64 . In this embodiment, the feed pod  64  fits into the ring shaped bracket  68  and an access cover  72  is affixed to the feed pod support  66  by means of a hinge  74 . 
         [0038]    The top of the feed pod  64  has an integral flange  76  that prevents the feed pod  64  from falling through the circular opening  70  when installed therein, or the shape of the feed pod may simply be wide or flared enough to prevent it from falling through the circular opening  70 . Peed pod  64  has an upper surface  78  that may be made up of a thin foil or similar material to seal the feed pod  64  from the environment. 
         [0039]    Accordingly, again, the access cover  72  of the  FIG. 4  embodiment may take the shape of a flower to attract the hummingbirds and includes a sharp projection  80  having a distal end  82 . A through hole in the access cover  72  is concentric with the sharp projection  80 . Due to the pivotal motion of the access cover  72  about hinge  74 , the access cover  72  may be moved between a first position as shown in  FIG. 4  where the access cover  72  is displaced away from the feed pod  64  and a second position (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) where the access cover  72  has been pivoted into contact with the feed pod  64  and the projection  80  and distal end  82  enter into the feed pod  64 . When the access cover  72  is pivotally moved in this manner, the projection  80  and the distal end  82  are used to break or tear the upper surface  78  of feed pod  64 . Note, again, that the projection  80  extends into the interior of the feed pod  64  with its distal end  82  located proximate to but not touching the sugar-water solution contained within the feed pod  64 . 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 4 , there can also be seen, an annular flange  84  depending downwardly from the access cover  72  that may be configured to resemble the underside of a flower and which is adapted to fit around the outside top surface of the pod support  66  to limit physical access by bees and other insects. 
         [0041]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , taken along with  FIG. 4 , there is shown a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  wherein the access cover  72  has been moved to its second position where the projection  80  has entered into the interior of the feed pod  64  such that the distal end  82  of the projection  80  is positioned proximate to but just above the highest level  86  of the sugar-water solution  88  and the hummingbird can access the sugar-water solution  88  contained within the feed pod  64  through the access port  89  in the access cover  72 . As also can be seen in  FIG. 5 , there is a feeder stem socket  90  for receiving a feeder stem (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) for supporting the hummingbird feeder  10 .  FIG. 5  also shows the upper surface  78  of the feed pod  64 , that may be a foil, that is punctured by the projection  80  when the access cover  72  is moved to its second position where the access cover  72  is closed over the pod support  66  and feed pod  64 . 
         [0042]    Accordingly, the pod support in each of the embodiments described herein is dimensioned and oriented so that the feed pod is held upright, with the top of the feed pod facing upward. According to various embodiments, therefore, longitudinal axis A (see  FIG. 5 ) of the feed pod  64  is maintained at a 0° to 45° angle relative to the vertical (where vertical is 0°), and, preferably, no projection or other element of the hummingbird feeder  10  penetrates into the sugar-water solution during use. When a feed pod is empty or otherwise requires replacement, the access cover is lifted off or away from the feed pod so that the used feed pod can be readily removed and replaced with a new feed pod. The access cover is then repositioned over the new feed pod, and the projection pierces the top cover of the feed pod, making its contents available to the hummingbird by means of the access part and the concentric projection and through passageway in the access cover. 
         [0043]    The hummingbird feeder  10  also includes several options to hang or mount the hummingbird feeder outside the house. 
         [0044]    As such, in  FIG. 6 , there is shown a perspective view of a plurality of hummingbird feeders  10  mounted on a single hanger  92  having a hook  94  at the top in order to attach the hanger  92  to some stable element, such as a hook bracket mounted to a house, tree branch etc. The hummingbird feeders  10  can be the same as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and like numbers have been used for common components of the hummingbird feeders  10 , however, as will become apparent, any other embodiment of the present hummingbird feeder can be used with the mounting arrangement shown in  FIG. 6 . At some location along the hanger  92 , there is an ant dam  96  to prevent ants from progressing down the hanger  92  to access the sugar-water solution in one or more of the hummingbird feeders  10 . At the lower end of the hanger  92 , there is a hanger splitter  98  that is attached to the hanger  92  and provides a plurality of individual prongs  100  that extend at an angle upwardly and which attach to sockets  102  in each of the hummingbird feeders  10 . 
         [0045]    As shown, the sockets  102  are a part of the pod supports  66 ; however, the sockets  102  could be mounted to any portion of the hummingbird feeders  10  so as to position the hummingbird feeder  10  in a stable position. Also, as shown, there are three hummingbird feeders  10  that are supported by the hanger  92 , it being seen that a greater or lesser number of hummingbird feeders  10  could be attached to the hanger  92 . 
         [0046]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a perspective view of a plurality of hummingbird feeders  10  mounted on a single vertical feeder stem  106 . The hummingbird feeders  10  can be the same as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and like numbers have been used for components of the hummingbird feeders  10 , however, as will become apparent, any other embodiment of the present hummingbird feeder can be used with the mounting arrangement of  FIG. 7 . According to this embodiment, stem splitter  116  may be provided with a plurality of prongs  118 , each adapted to fit into a socket  120  in the bottom surface of a pod support  66 . Stem splitter  116  may be provided with a central stem receiving socket  122  at one or both ends, which can also be configured to provide a perch for the hummingbirds. Again, an ant dam  123  is provided to keep ants from accessing the sugar-water solution in the feed pods  64 . 
         [0047]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of a saucer type of hummingbird feeder  10  having a pod support  124  and access cover  126 . The pod support  124  contains a plurality of circular rings  128  for supporting the individual feed pods  130 . To load the hummingbird feeder  10 , the access cover  126  is lifted off the pod support  124  and the feed pods  130  are placed into the circular rings  128 , and then the access cover  126  is lowered onto the pod support  124  to prevent access to the sugar water solution contained within the feed pods  130  by ants, bees and other pests. 
         [0048]    The upper surface  132  of the lied pods  130  may, again, be foil or paper covering the tops of the feed pods  130  and may be removed or pierced prior to lowering the access cover  126  onto the pod support  124 , or the access cover  126  may have projections corresponding to each feed pod  130  so that the foil or paper top upper surface  132  is pierced by the access cover  126  as the access cover  126  is lowered onto the pod support  124 . The access cover  126  has ports  134  corresponding to the locations of each feed pod  130  so that the hummingbirds can access the sugar-water solution with their long beaks and tongues. 
         [0049]    In addition, the access cover  126  may have a central hole  136  to allow the passage of a hanger  138  which is attached to the center of the pod support  124  in order to facilitate the hanging of the hummingbird feeder  10 . A central reservoir  139  can also be present surrounding the hanger  138  that is filled with water to act as an ant dam. As can be seen, the access cover  126  may also have a perch  140  to allow the hummingbirds to stand on the perch  140  while feeding, instead of hovering. The perch  140  can, alternatively be a part of the pod support  124 . 
         [0050]    Turning then to  FIG. 10 , there is an exploded view of a hummingbird feeder  10  of the present invention and having an alternative teed pod  142 . As can be seen, the feed pod  142  is in position to be fitted into a pod support  144 , and, again, the feed pod  142  can be snapped into the pod support  144  or may simply rest in the pod support  144 . The pod support  144  is configured to resemble a flower, but can take any shape and color that might be pleasing to a hummingbird. 
         [0051]    Accordingly, the teed pod  142  can have a thin plastic bottom  146  and a generally cylindrical side  148  and may curve outwardly in the upward direction ending in an upper perimeter rim  150 . Covering the space inwardly of the upper perimeter rim  150  is an inner top cover  152  and which is sealed entirely around the upper perimeter rim  150  so as to protect the sugar-water solution contained within the feed pod  142  from the external environment. 
         [0052]    The inner top cover  152  has a center access hole  153  that is sized to provide the hummingbird access to the liquid hummingbird food contained in the tied pod  142 . The inner top cover  152  may be comprised of a material that can be readily pierced, such as a foil or paper, for use as described in the embodiments of a hummingbird feeder previously described in the present specification. An outer top cover  154  can overlie, partially or fully, the inner top cover  152 , covering and sealing the access hole  153  and further protecting the inner top cover  152  from the environment, a premature piercing or other breaching of the inner top cover  152  during shipping and handling. 
         [0053]    The outer top cover  154  may be secured to the exterior of the inner top cover  152  by an adhesive that securely retains the outer top cover  154  to the inner top cover  152 , covering and sealing the access hole  153 , and yet is easily peeled off. There may be a tab  156  formed on the outer top cover  154  to facilitate that removal. Once the outer top cover  154  is removed, the hummingbirds are given free access to the hummingbird food through access hole  153 . The inner top cover  152  can be colored red or other color that might attract hummingbirds as well as being aesthetically pleasing. 
         [0054]    In the event the feed pod  142  is of the reusable type, the inner top cover  152  may be a reusable top rubber cover. In such case, the top rubber cover can be used in place of the foil top and will provide a seal around the outside of the feed pod  142 . The top rubber cover can be removed and replaced during cleaning and refilling of the re-usable teed pod  142 . The top cover will also have an access hole to provide access to the sugar-water food. 
         [0055]    Turning, then to  FIG. 11 , taken along with  FIG. 10 , there is a perspective view of the completed hummingbird feeder  10  of  FIG. 10  and, as can be seen, the feed pod  142  fits inside the pod support  144  leaving only the upper perimeter rim  150  visible as well as the inner top cover  152  and the outer top cover  154  and illustrating the ready access to the tab  156  for removal of the outer top cover  154 . Again, once the outer top cover  154  is removed, the hummingbirds are given free access to the hummingbird food, through access hole  153 . The important distinction versus previous described embodiment is that this embodiment requires no access cover. The hummingbird is provided access to the food simply by removing the outer top cover  154 . The small access hole  153  limits ingress from bees and other insects by the size of the access hole. 
         [0056]    Turning, finally, to  FIG. 12 , there is shown a partially exploded view illustrating a plurality of hummingbird feeders  10  as described in  FIGS. 10 and 11  mounted on a single hanger  160  having a hook  162  at the top in order to attach the hanger  160  to some stable element, such as a hook mounted to a house or trellis. At the lower end of the hanger  160 , there is a hanger splitter  164  that is attached to the hanger  160  and provides a plurality of individual stems  166  that extend at an angle upwardly and which attach to sockets  168  in each of the hummingbird feeders  10 . 
         [0057]    As can be seen, one of the feed pods  142  is illustrated so as to be mounted onto a pod support  144 , and, again, that mounting arrangement can be by means of a snap fit of the feed pod  142  into the pod support  144  or the feed pod  142  may simply rest in the pod support  144 . In  FIG. 12 , the feed pod  142  is the same as the feed pods  142  of  FIGS. 10 and 11  and can be simply inserted into the pod supports  144 . As previously illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the feed pod  142  may have an inner top cover  152  and which is sealed entirely around the upper perimeter rim  150  so as to protect the sugar-water solution contained within the feed pod  142  from the external environment. 
         [0058]    Again, the inner top cover  152  has an access hole  153 , approximately at the center of the inner top cover  152 , and may be comprised of a material that can be readily pierced, such as a foil or paper, for use as described in the prior embodiments of a hummingbird feeder in the present specification. An outer top cover  154  can overlie, partially or fully, the inner top cover  152  covering and sealing the access hole  153  and further protecting the inner top cover  152  from the environment, a premature piercing or other breaching of the inner top cover  152  during shipping and handling. 
         [0059]    The outer top cover  154  may be secured to the exterior of the inner top cover  152  by an adhesive or other means that securely retains and seals the outer top cover  154  to the inner top cover  152  and yet is easily peeled off and there may be a tab  156  formed on the outer top cover  154  to facilitate that removal. Once the outer top cover  154  is removed, the hummingbirds are given free access to the hummingbird food through access hole  153 . 
         [0060]    Again, as shown, there are three hummingbird feeders  10  that are supported by the hanger  160 , it being seen that a greater or lesser number of hummingbird feeders  10  could be attached to the hanger  160 . 
         [0061]    As is common to the aforedescribed embodiments, the upper opening of a feed pod has an outer perimeter rim forming that upper opening that is sealed by a top cover that requires some deliberate action by a user to provide access to the sugar-water solution contained therein. In one embodiment, the top cover may be breached by closing an access cover on the feeder that has been designed with a feature to pierce the top cover of the feed pod. The access may also be deliberately accomplished by having a inner top cover on the feed pod and an outer top cover such that the inner top cover has a hole therein and the upper top cover is deliberately removed from its position covering the inner top cover to make the hole, and sugar-water solution, available for use in accordance with the invention described herein. 
         [0062]    In any event, the feed pod of this invention is initially sealed to protect the contents and keep the contents fresh until desired by the user and there is some deliberate action needed to access those contents to make the sugar-water solution ultimately available to a hummingbird. 
         [0063]    While the present invention has been set forth in terms of a specific embodiment of embodiments, it will be understood that the present hummingbird feeder and feed pod for use therewith, may be modified or altered by those skilled in the art to other configurations. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.