Abstract:
According to the invention there is provided a system for supporting fixtures such as birdhouses, lanterns and feeders from differentiated supports. The apparatus includes a mounting board having front and back major surfaces. At least a first and preferably first and second horizontal rows of a plurality of slots pass through the backplane member from the back to the front major surfaces. A retainer strap is fitted through a pair of slots in each row and is closable to form a circuit, which may be sized to fit around a post, branch or trunk abutting the back major surface of the backplane. A support is pivotally attached to the front major surface and is positionable to provide a ledge.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application claims priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/216,566 filed Jul. 7, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to positionable outdoor supports for birdhouses, bird feeders, lanterns and similar articles, and particularly to an outdoor support temporarily mountable on posts or trees of diverse shapes without penetration of or damage to the post or tree. 
     2. Description of the Problem 
     It is often convenient to use an existing tree or pole as a support for a fixture such as camp lantern, a birdhouse, a feeding station, or similar object. All too often, such fixtures have been mounted to a tree or wooden post by hammering a nail into the tree to provide a hook or support point. A nail can penetrate the bark of a tree and damage the tree by providing a point of attack against the tree for insects. Additionally, where used as a temporary support for items such as lanterns, they can pose a dangerous protrusion on which people can be injured. Temporarily mounted birdfeeders have proven a particular problem in campgrounds. A single tree may have nails hammered into it several times a season as different campers hang feeders and either ignore or miss previously installed nails. 
     The art has proposed mounting methods for lanterns and other objects which include belts wrapped around objects such as trees thereby avoiding the use of nails. The prior art illustrates positioning of a support against a substantially vertical section of a tree. The favorable positioning of a birdhouse or feeder for viewing of the animals attracted by the structure, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing regular orientation of the supported fixtures would be aided by the ability to use branches which may grow in any one of many directions from a tree trunk. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting fixtures from limbs, poles, tree trunks and the like. The apparatus includes a backplane member having front and back major surfaces. At least a first and preferably first and second horizontal rows of a plurality of slots pass through the backplane member from the back to the front major surfaces. A retainer strap is fitted through a pair of slots in each row and is closable to form a circuit, which may be sized to fit around a post, branch or trunk abutting the back major surface of the backplane. 
     Positionable backplane braces may extend from the back major surface of the backplane to provide horizontal bracing for the system on the post, branch or tree. A fixture support element depends from the front major surface of the backplane member. The fixture support element may include a stationary member, having a major, upward oriented support surface. Alternatively, a support member may be provided which is positionable about a horizontally oriented pivot, such as a hinge. The rotational position of the support member on the hinge may then be fixed by adjustment of a positioning element, such as a strap, a positionable brace, a press in clip holder, adjustable angle brackets, and the like. 
     Additional effects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description that follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIGS. 1A-1B are perspective views of the mounting board base of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the support. 
     FIGS. 3A-B are cross-sectional views of the support illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 including optional bracing. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the support system. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the support system. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation of yet another embodiment of the support system. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of the support system. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the support system. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mounting board portion of the support system mounted on an angled tree branch. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the mounting board of the invention wherein slots for fitting supporting belts are provided by c-shaped hooks affixed to the rear major surface of a mounting board. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the mounting board of the invention wherein slots for fitting supporting belts are provided by rows of slots cut through the mounting board. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1B, an apparatus for supporting a birdhouse, birdfeeder, lantern or other fixture is illustrated. The apparatus includes a backplane or mounting board  10 . Mounting board  10  is formed from a flat plank and has two major opposed surfaces, including a front major surface  12  and a back major surface  14  (shown in FIG.  2 ). Mounting board  10  is intended to be positioned along its back major surface against a tree, post, pole, or branch. Mounting board  10  is retained against a generally upright member by belts (shown in FIG. 1B) which are fitted around notches  30 A-D or through pairs of slots  22  and  26  in horizontal rows of slots  24  and  28 , respectively. The orientation of rows  24  and  28  define a preferred upright orientation of mounting board  10  perpendicular to the rows and, usually, parallel to the mounting board and allow selection of two out the four or more slots in each row to best fit the diameter of the support. However, as discussed below, mounting board  10  may be positioned on an upright, but incompletely vertical member and still support a fixture in a generally level state on shelf  16 . Slots  22  and  26  pass through mounting board  10  from the front major surface  12  to the back major surface  14  allowing a retaining belt to be threaded through the board. Alternatively, a belt may be wound around the board using pairs of notches  30 C-D or  30 A-B which are cut into the border edge  38  and which serve as an alternative form of slot for retaining a belt in position. 
     Shelf  16  extends forward from front major surface  12 . Shelf  16  may be attached to and supported from mounting board  10  in a number of different ways to bring the upper surface  18  thereof level. As illustrated in the instant figure shelf  16  is supported along its edge  40  by side supports  11  which are also attached to edge  38  of mounting board  10 . Shelf  16  is also supported from below by a brace  20 , which may take a number of different forms, preferred embodiments of which are discussed below. The upper major surface  18  of the shelf  16  is intended to lie horizontally in use and may provide a place of support for a fixture such as a birdhouse or feeder (not shown). 
     FIG. 1B illustrates use of the apparatus  13  of the present invention on a tree trunk  32 . The back major surface  14  (shown in FIG. 2) of the mounting board  10  abuts the tree trunk and belts  34  and  36 , which have been threaded through pairs of slots in the upper and lower rows of slots,  24  and  28 , respectively, are wrapped around the trunk. The belts include cooperating hook and loop fastening sections on opposed ends and surfaces of the belts which may be pressed together to temporarily hold the mounting board against the tree trunk. Belts  34  and  36  are fabricated from nylon, or another suitably weather resistant, flexible material. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the back major surface  14  of mounting board  10 , which is intended to be brought into contact with an external, generally upright member for support. Depending upon the application of the apparatus of the invention, additional bracketing extending from mounting board  10  and partially embracing the upright member may be desired. Accordingly, the back major surface  14  may be prepared to receive bracing. Among these features are an alignment slot  42  running horizontally across the surface  14 . A plurality of starter holes  44  are disposed in two spaced, horizontal rows parallel to the alignment slots. Alignment slot  42  and holes  44  are between rows  24  and  28  of slots  22  and  26 . A brace block  46  may be attached to the back major surface  14  by introduction of screws through holes  48  which pass from edge to opposed edge of the block. Block  46  is placed against back major face  14 , with the top edge  47  aligned with alignment notch  42 , and centered over a vertically aligned pair of starter holes  44 . Screws  50  may then be introduced through the block  46  to fix its position. With two belts weights of up to 35 kilograms (about 75 lbs.) may be supported. Mounting board  10  is preferably made of a durable wood such as red cedar or of plastic. If board  10  is plastic, plastic may also be used for screws  50 . 
     FIGS. 3A and B are cross sectional views taken from below, and illustrate positioning of the apparatus of the present invention onto a tree trunk  32  or a post  56 . Brace blocks  54  may be conformed to the member being used as a support, or the simple rectangular blocks provided by brace block  46  may be used. Brace blocks of either type may be particularly useful where the apparatus is used to support a fixture subject to substantial horizontal loading, such as a flag on a windy day. Vertically oriented braces  54  and  46  are disposed against the rear major surface  14  of the mounting board  10  and are spaced to abut sides of the member to which the apparatus is mounted. The braces  54  or  46  are fixed to the mounting board  10  by screws which pass through the braces into the mounting board. Braces  46  has inner surfaces facing the tree trunk  32  which are curved to conform partially to the shape of the tree trunk. Plane inner surfaces of brace blocks  46  will snugly fit against a post which has flat exterior surfaces. Retaining belt  34  is fitted around the post  56 , illustrating closure around the post. Vertical support of the apparatus is effected by the friction between the post, the belt  34 , the brace blocks  46  and the back major surface  14 . 
     FIGS. 4-8 illustrate several embodiments of positionable support for shelf  16 . Shelf  16  extends forward from the front major face  12  of mounting board  10 . Each embodiment permits positioning shelf  16  at diverse angles relative front face  12  to provide an horizontal surface. Alternatively, the shelf  16  may positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the ground if being used to support a flag or if a lantern is being hung from the shelf. In FIG. 4 shelf  16  is attached to front major surface  12  by a hinge  64  which is mounted between the front major surface and the lower major surface  52  of the shelf  16 . Hinge  64  is oriented to have its axis of rotation parallel to the front major surface  12  and perpendicular to the preferred upright orientation of the mounting board  10 . Shelf  16  is positionable by rotating the shelf on hinge  64  and the selected position fixed by an adjustable strut/turn buckle  58 . Adjustable strut/turn buckle  58  is attached at its respective ends to the front major surface  12  and the lower major surface  52  by pivots joints  60  and  62  respectively. A hook, from which items such as lanterns may be suspended extends downwardly from shelf  16 . 
     In FIG. 5 suspension of the shelf  16  is provided by a strap  68  extending from behind mounting board  10 , through a slot  74  in the mounting board and forward to the upper surface  18  of shelf  16 . Strap  68  extends through shelf  16  via a slot  72 , turns back on itself under shelf  16  and returns to the upper surface  18  of the shelf through slot  76 . Strap  68  then extends from slot  76  to a slot  174  through mounting board  10  to the back major surface  14  of the board. The ends of strap  68  have opposed cooperating hook and loop surfaces  70  and  170 , allowing the strap to be closed on itself securing shelf  16 &#39;s position. 
     In FIG. 6 shelf  16  is pivotable on a hinge  64  and is positionally locked by a pair of C shaped braces  78  which may be inserted into holes  80  drilled into the edges of the mounting board  10  and the shelf  16 . 
     In FIG. 7 shelf  16  has a grooved plate  82  adhering the lower major surface  52 . A second grooved plate  83  is positioned on the front major surface  12  below shelf  16  and aligned with grooved plate  82 . A press in rectangular clip  84  may be inserted between plates  82  and  83  to lock the position of shelf  16 . Press in clip  84  may be supplied in different sizes to support different angles of support for the support member. 
     In FIG. 8 shelf  16  is supported by a linked chain  92  which is attached at one end to a hook  88  positioned on the mounting board  10  above shelf  16  and extending forward from front major surface  12 . The chain  92  extends from hook  88  to an open hook  90  mounted in shelf  16  at the end distal to hinge  64  and extending upwardly from upper major surface  18 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a mounting board  10  positioned on an incompletely vertical branch. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates installation of a mounting board  110  as a back wall of a birdhouse  98 . Brackets  94  attached to the back of the birdhouse substitute for notches or slots to allow attachment of retaining belts  34  and  36 , which here loop the tree and the brackets, rather than the whole backplane. A hook  120  attached to the birdhouse floor allows items such as thermometers to be hung from the object. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a mounting board  140  of the preferred embodiment of the invention employed as the backwall to a birdhouse  98 . Adjustable braces (not shown) may be added to the backplane. A side of the birdhouse may be hinged to allow access to the interior of the house easing threading of the belts through pairs of slots  122  or  126  in each row  124  and  128  of slots through the board  140 . 
     While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.