Abstract:
For use in bird enclosures or the like, a perch holder that serves to mount a perch on or within the enclosure. The holder consists of a base unit with attached mounting devices to secure the holder to a bird enclosure. The holder has a longitudinal hole therein that accommodates one or more hollow inserts that serve to decrease the diameter of the hole to allow using perches of various diameters.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Provisional Application for U.S. Pat. No. 60/161,748, filed Oct. 27, 1999, titled “Twig Perch Fastener”. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to perches as found in bird enclosures such as bird cages. In particular, the invention is directed to a holder for a perch in which various sizes or diameter perches may be interchangeably used with the holder or fastener. Also, the perch may be changed or replaced in the holder or fastener at will and is made from commonly found materials such as twigs or various diameter dowel rods. 
     Birds maintained in the house or in other areas are of course of different sizes. Thus, different size perches are needed to accommodate these different sized birds and the respective claws thereof. Moreover, perches of natural materials and of varying diameters are needed that are inexpensive and easy to obtain. Further, perches of more natural shapes and materials are deemed beneficial to the birds and ascetically more appealing for the bird owner. Also, there is a need for perches that are easily and conveniently changed when needed. The perch should be securely held within the bird enclosure or cage. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to holders for perches used in bird cages. The holder is adaptable to securely mount perches of different diameters and lengths as may be desired. The holder also is easy to mount in the cage and perches held thereby are easily changed. The perch may be comprised of commonly found twigs or sticks as well as commercially available dowel rods or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Several bird perch patents appear in the patent literature. 
     Johnakin, III (U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,397) shows a bird perch intended for beak conditioning. The perch is of one size and has materials added thereto for the bird to use in conditioning his beak. The perch is not at all “natural” and the perch is not easily replaced when needed. 
     Goldman, et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,480) shows a decorative perch or fish tank ornament composed of material shaped to look like a tree branch. The perch is attached to a support device which is attached to the bird cage. The perch is of one size and is attached to the support is driven into the perch. 
     Sladowski (U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,542) shows a bird food holder consisting of a tree branch and a spiral wire attached thereto to hold the food. The perch holder is permanently attached to a screw and nut arrangement to attach the food holder to the bard cage. 
     Peterson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,126) shows a bird perch consisting of a large tree branch suspended from the top of a large bird enclosure. 
     Hollaway, et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,305) shows a bird feeding perch that includes a dowel rod upon which the bird is to stand. 
     Wemple (U.S. Pat. No. 385,650) shows a clamp holder for use in supporting hard materials in a bird cage. The material, cuttle bone, is clamped between two toothed jaws which are spring-tensioned together. 
     European Patent 5247 A2 shows in FIG. 3 a cage for parrots which has an upstanding perch  100  held within a support  104 . The perch is held within the support using a screw  103 . 
     None of the patents listed above provides a perch which can accommodate different diameter perches to accommodate birds of different sizes. Moreover, they do not permit adaptation to using natural materials such as twigs or sticks of various diameters easily found in the yard or a park. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a holder or fastener for a perch for use in a bird enclosure such as a bird cage common to many homes. The invention consists of a holder or fastener that is attachable to the sides of the bird enclosure and has a hole extending lengthwise into the holder along the centerline thereof. The hole receives the perch for the bird to stand on. The perch is mounted within the hole in the holder whereby the bird owner can easily replace the perch when needed. The invention further includes inserts that may be placed within the hole in the holder to decrease the diameter thereof thus allowing different size or diameter perches for use with one holder. The holder includes a screw-type clamping member for securely maintaining the perch within the holder. 
     It is contemplated that the inventive holder will be available as a kit for supporting a perch comprising a base part and inserts for installation in a hole in the base part whereby different diameter perches can be mounted within the holder. As will become clear, the holder or fastener of the instant invention permits the bird owner to easily and conveniently provide a perch consisting of materials such as twigs that are more natural for a bird to stand on. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of the perch holder; 
     FIGS. 2A through 2C are views looking in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 showing the different inserts in place; 
     FIG. 3 is a view in the direction arrow B in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the invention; 
     FIGS. 5 through 7 show the holder with various size perches therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, the perch holder or fastener of this invention consists of a main holder body or base  2  having a front face  4  and a back  6 . While the main body  2  is shown to be conical it may be of any suitable geometric configuration including cylindrical or rectangular or the like. Extending into main body  2  from front face  4  is hole  11  into which the actual perch ( 50 ,  60  or  70 , see FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 , respectively) is placed and secured for use in the bird cage  8 . Screw  9 , such as a thumb screw or set screw, extends through threaded hole  7  into contact with the perch thus mounting the perch within main body  2 . 
     FIG. 1 further shows two inserts  10  and  12  placed within opening or hole  11  in the main body  2 . Inserts  10  and  12  are individual items as seen best in FIG.  4  and are used to decrease the internal diameter of opening  11  in main body  2  to accommodate different size (diameter) perches. In use the inserts are nested in hole  11  and with each other as desired. The inserts are sized in diameter such that one insert has an external diameter to fit firmly within hole  11 . The second insert has a diameter to fit snugly within the first insert. The invention is not limited to only two inserts noting that more than two inserts could be provided, if desired. The holder may support different diameter perches by using the holder with or without the inserts. 
     Alternatively, the inserts may each have the same outer diameter to snugly within hole  11  but respectively different wall thickness. This embodiment would result in using only one insert at a time, each having a different diameter opening to receive different diameter perches. 
     Inserts  10  and  12  have slits  10   a  and  11   a , respectively, along the longitudinal lengths thereof. The slits are to permit screw  9  to extend through threaded hole  7  in body  2  and into contact with the perch to securely hold it in place within the holder. While two inserts  10  and  12  are shown in the drawing the invention contemplates using more than two if desired. Also, no insert need be used if the chosen perch has a diameter only slightly smaller than hole  11 . One or both (or all) of the inserts are used to the extent necessary to firmly hold the perch of any diameter within opening  11 . 
     Main body  2 , as best seen in FIG. 3, may include an opening or hole  14  extending from the back  6  into hole  11  to permit a tool or stiff wire to be used to push out any inserts that are in the hole when necessary. 
     The holder body  2  may be attached to the bird cage  8  in any convenient manner such as with bolt  20 , attached to body  2 , and washer  22  and nut  24  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Alternately, if the perch holder is to used for attachment to the exterior of a bird house or the like, bolt  20  may be replaced with a screw  21 . Like bolt  20 , screw  21  extends from the back of main body  2  affording easy attachment to the exterior wall of a bird house. 
     FIG. 4A shows the parts of the perch holder prior to assembly. It must be realized that none or one or two of the inserts  10  and  12  would be used at any given time depending on the diameter of the perch FIG. 4B shows the perch holder assembled and using two inserts. 
     FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  show the holder being used for different size perches. FIG. 5 is the holder without an insert holding a relatively thick perch  50 . FIG. 6 is shown having one insert therein for holding a somewhat smaller diameter perch  60  and FIG. 7 shows two inserts for holding an even thinner perch  70 . 
     In use the bird owner selects or finds a perch such as a twig or stick of suitable diameter for the bird within the cage and of a length to fit within the cage. The owner then determines if the perch fits within the hole in the main body without resort to using the inserts. If the perch is smaller in diameter than the hole in the holder then one or more of the inserts are used such that the perch is securely held within the holder opening. Conversely, the owner can take the insert with him while looking for a twig or stick for use as a perch. When a twig to fit the insert opening is found it is then easily installed within the perch holder main body. 
     It is contemplated that the perch holder or fastener will be supplied as a kit consisting of a main body as described above and one and/or more inserts for use with the main body. Thus the bird owner would use the parts of the kit as needed for the particular bird and bird cage he or she owns. 
     While the invention has been described for use with random or various sizes of twigs for the perch it is also within the scope of this invention to use various diameter commercially available dowel rods or the like. The bird owner can select a dowel rod suitable for a particular bird and us inserts if necessary to reduce the internal diameter of the holder main body opening for that particular dowel and maintain a tight fit for the dowel rod. 
     The body and inserts may be constructed of any suitable material such as wood, plastic, fiber glass, metal or the like.