Abstract:
A feeder assembly has a collapsible shade to selectively shield a feed container. The shade is operable from an extended position to a collapsed position and positioned such that, when extended, the shade substantially covers the feed container thereby limiting the impingement of direct sunlight or rain on the feed container. By limiting the amount of direct sunlight or rain impinged on the feed container, the freshness of the feed can be more efficiently maintained.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 29/185,780, filed Jul. 2, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to animal feeders, and more particularly, to a retractable shade for use with such feeders. The present invention is particularly useful with suspended feeders for providing shade and protection from inclement weather. Dry feeds, such as nuts and seeds, which are preferable to certain birds and squirrels, can prematurely spoil if exposed to adverse weather such as rain. Likewise, a nectar solution, preferable for attracting hummingbirds and generally contained in a reservoir, can become diluted if exposed to rain or can prematurely spoil if exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. 
   Many individuals enjoy feeding and observing wildlife such as birds, hummingbirds, and squirrels. The animals are often observed in relative proximity to a 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. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the quality of feed contained in the dry-feed feeders, other dry-feed feeders have included a cover component. These cover components are not without their drawbacks. Some of the cover components hide the feed from the sight of birds that may be passing overhead or interfere with an animal&#39;s access to the feed. In an effort to increase the attractiveness of such feeders, other feeders include a cover that has some degree of transparency that allows birds to see the feed contained thereunder. Regardless of whether the cover component is opaque or has some degree of transparency, these cover structures reduce the accessibility of the animals to the feed contained within the feeder. 
   Conventional dry-feed feeders generally include some type of container constructed to be refilled with a feed such as nuts and seeds or any mixture thereof. Exposure of these feeds to moisture, such as rain, can prematurely spoil the feed and detract from the attraction of the animals thereto. Although these dry-feed containers are often constructed of a grated material to prevent the retention of water therein, cycles of wetting and drying of the feed can result in germination and/or premature degradation of the feed quality. Poor feed quality results in less animals being attracted to the feeder and reduces the duration of stay of animals that are attracted to the feeders. 
   Unlike dry-feed consuming animals, hummingbirds utilize a fluid “feed” material, or nectar. Hummingbird feeders generally include a reservoir with a base that is refillable and a top that is structured to accommodate the slender beak of a hummingbird. Hummingbird feeders are also adapted to prevent insects from infiltrating 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 hummingbird feeder, hummingbird 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 a sugar solution disposed therein. In contrast, hummingbirds are attracted to ultraviolet colors. As such, use of ultraviolet colors other than yellow is preferred to attract hummingbirds without attracting nuisance bees and wasps. 
   Other hummingbird 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. 
   Referring further to hummingbird feeders, the nectar of hummingbird feeders is usually sugar water and can vary in concentration from a ratio of approximately 1:1 to 1:5 parts sugar to water. If the proper amount of sugar is placed in the feeder, it 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 higher the concentration of sugar to water placed in the feeder, the more attractive the feeder will be to hummingbirds. 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 particularly 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 can also add to the life of the fluid. However, it has been suggested that distilled water may lack the minerals that hummingbirds need. 
   A significant accelerant to the spoilage of the hummingbird feed fluid is warm weather and direct sunlight. Some ornithologists have speculated that a hummingbird would starve rather than consume spoiled nectar. Certain nectar mixtures can spoil in as little as a few hours when exposed to direct sunlight in warm weather. Not only would the nectar require near-immediate replacement in order to maintain hummingbird feeding, the feeder itself should be thoroughly cleaned to avoid cross-contamination with the fresh nectar. 
   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. 
   Regardless of which animal is to be attracted to, and fed at, the feeder apparatus, it would be desirable to have a system and method of protecting the integrity of feed provided in a feeder by operatively providing shade/protection to a feed container/reservoir. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a system and method of providing an operable, collapsible shade for a feeder assembly that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a feeder assembly is disclosed that includes a feed container  and a post having first and second ends, wherein the first end extends upwardly from the feed container. The feeder assembly also includes a shade pivotably attached about the second end of the post and movable between an open position and a closed position. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a bird feeding apparatus is disclosed that includes a hummingbird feeder having a liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir has a plurality of openings to only accommodate feeding by a hummingbird. The apparatus also includes a collapsible hood positioned over the liquid reservoir and constructed to shade the liquid reservoir from direct sunlight. Additionally, the bird feeding apparatus includes a post connecting the liquid reservoir to the collapsible hood and a slider connected to the collapsible hood. The slider is movably connected to the center post and operable to open and close the collapsible hood. 
   According to yet another aspect of the invention, a bird feeder device is disclosed that includes a feeder having a reservoir constructed to feed hummingbirds. The device includes an umbrella connected to the feeder and extendable between a closed position and an open position generally above the reservoir. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the presenting invention, a bird feeder is disclosed that includes means for retaining a sugar solution, means for providing shade to the means for retaining sugar solution, and means for operatively extending and retracting the shade providing means. 

   
     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 perspective view of a feeder assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the feeder assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the feeder assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the feeder assembly shown in  FIG. 2  with the hood shown in cross-section and in an extended position. 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the feeder assembly shown in  FIG. 4  with the hood partially collapsed. 
       FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the feeder assembly shown in  FIG. 4  with the hood fully collapsed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention will be described with respect to a hummingbird feeder, but may be incorporated in other types of feeders where it is desirable to delay spoilage of the feed typically attributed to extended exposure to direct sunlight or exposure to inclement weather conditions such as rain. 
     FIG. 1  shows a feeder assembly  10  including a shade or hood  12 , a reservoir  14 , and a center post  16  connecting the hood to the reservoir. The feeder assembly includes a hanging loop  20  located above the hood  12 . The hanging loop  20  is used to suspend feeder assembly  10  from a hook, a branch, or other suspension means. Hanging loop  20  can be attached to any means of hanging the feeder assembly 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 center post  16  below hood  12 . As shown, a majority of reservoir  14  is protected by hood  12 . Preferably, hood  12  is fabricated from an opaque, flexible 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 feeder assembly  10  shows the inverted bowl shape of hood  12  positioned above reservoir  14 . The reservoir  14  includes a base  24  and a lid  26 . Reservoir  14  is shown as a reservoir constructed to facilitate feeding of hummingbirds. It is understood that reservoir  14  could also be a feed container constructed to contain a dry feed preferable to other animals such as dry feed consuming birds or squirrels. 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, openings  28  are designed to only receive the needle-like beak of a hummingbird. The feeder assembly is shown suspended from a hook  30 , shown in phantom, inserted through loop  20  of center post  16  that extends from feeder assembly  10  above hood  12 . Reservoir  14  includes a hook  32  extending therefrom and engaged with a loop  34  suspended from center post  16 . Such a construction allows reservoir  14 , or any feed container, to be expeditiously removed from hood  12  for convenient cleaning and refilling. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , reservoir  14  is shown as being generally concentric to hood  12 . This view shows the footprint of the hood as well as the footprint of the reservoir. The area of the footprint of the hood in the illustrated embodiment is shown to be approximately six times greater than the area of the footprint of the 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  36  of hood  12  as having an octagonal shape positioned about a perimeter  38  of reservoir  14 . It is understood, and within the scope of the claims, that the hood and/or a reservoir may have other shapes than that shown. 
   The perimeter  36  of the hood  12  and the perimeter  38  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 or rain and the amount of clearance between the reservoir  14  and the hood  12  afforded animals that utilize the feeder. Preferably, a diameter  40  of hood  12  is at least twice a diameter  42  of the reservoir  14 . Additionally, reservoir  14  is constructed to suspend a distance  43 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 , below a lowermost edge  45  of hood  12 . This allows sufficient clearance for the animals to access the feed and allows hood  12  to be collapsed about center post  16  with reservoir  14  attached thereto. 
     FIG. 4  shows feed assembly  10  with hood  12  in cross-section. Hood  12  is connected to center post  16  by a linkage assembly  44 . Linkage assembly  44  includes a plurality of sets links  46  interconnecting hood  12  to center post  16  of feed assembly  10 . For brevity, only one set of links will be discussed hereafter. Each set of links  46  includes a first link  48  having a first end  50  connected to hood  12  proximate base  45 . A second end  52  of first link  48  is pivotably connected to a first end  54  of a first folding member  56 . A second end  58  of first folding member  56  is pivotably connected to a second folding member  60 . A first end  62  of second folding member  60  is pivotably connected to an upper end  64  of center post  16 . A second end  66  of second folding member  60  is pivotably connected to an extension member  68  of linkage assembly  44 . Extension member  68  has a first end  70  pivotably connected to first link  48  and a second end  72  pivotably connected to an actuator  74  slidably connected to center post  16 . The umbrella-like hood forms a collapsible shade for protection of reservoir  14  against weather conditions. 
   Center post  16  includes an extended locking tab  76  and an optional collapsed locking tab  78 . Locking tabs  76 ,  78  are constructed to engage actuator  74  and retain shade  12  in an extended position, shown in  FIG. 4 , and in a collapsed position, shown in  FIG. 6 , respectively. Referring to  FIG. 5 , when actuator  74  is disengaged from extended locking tab  76 , a spring  80  biases shade  12  toward the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 6 . Still referring to  FIG. 5 , as actuator  74  is moved along center post  16  from extended locking tab  76  to collapsed locking tab  78 , each link of linkage assembly  44  generally aligns with center post  16 . Additionally, the cooperation of folding members  56 ,  60  reduces the overall collapsed length of linkage assembly. It is understood that rather than including the multiple link linkage assembly as shown, a collapsible hood could be provided with a different linkage assembly such as one link connecting the hood to the center post and a second link connecting the actuator to the first link. Such modifications are within the scope of claims. Furthermore, when actuator  74  is released from extended locking tab  76  and axially displaced along center post  16 , first link  48  is allowed to deflect to a generally straight orientation, as shown in  FIG. 5 , as compared to the fully extended orientation of first link  48  shown in  FIG. 4 . Simply stated, in the extended position, shown in  FIG. 4 , first link  48  deflects in response to the forces exerted thereon by hood  12  and the linkage assembly attached thereto. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the fully retracted position, hood  12  is collapsed about center post  16 . A strap  82  extends around hood  12  and provides a relatively compact collapsed orientation of hood  12 . Such a construction provides a collapsible shade assembly moveable between an open and a closed position that occupies relatively minimal space when closed as during transportation or storage. Although the collapsible hood assembly of the present invention is shown to have an actuator that is slidably connected about center post  16 , it is understood and within the scope of the claims to have an actuator assembly that is internal to center post  16  and operable by loop  34 . Accordingly, a feeder assembly according to the present invention provides a user with a selectively operable means for protecting the feed contained therein. Should the hood be connected to a feed container constructed to hold dry-feed, the hood can be extended during periods of inclement weather, such as rain, to maintain the integrity of the feed contained therein and retracted or collapsed during sunny or overcast days to maximize the visibility of the feed container to desired animals or birds. Should the feed container be constructed to attract and feed hummingbirds, the collapsible hood can be extended during both rainy weather and periods of feeder exposure to direct sunlight. Such operation of the collapsible hood maintains the concentration of the feed solution and reduces the exposure of the feed solution to spoilage causing sunlight. 
   It is 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 a desired audience of hungry animals. 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. Similarly, the feeder could be decorated with a pattern to resemble dry-feed to attract other dry-feed feeding animals or birds. 
   Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention has a feeder assembly that includes a feed container and a post having first and second ends, wherein the first end extends upwardly from the feed container. The feeder assembly includes a shade pivotably attached about the second end of the post and movable between an open position and a closed position. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention has a bird feeding apparatus that includes a hummingbird feeder having a liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir has a plurality of openings to only accommodate feeding by a hummingbird. The apparatus includes a collapsible hood positioned over the liquid reservoir and constructed to shade the liquid reservoir from direct sunlight. The bird feeding apparatus has a post connecting the liquid reservoir to the collapsible hood and a slider connected to the collapsible hood. The slider is movably connected to the center post and operable to open and close the collapsible hood. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, a bird feeder device includes a feeder having a reservoir constructed to feed hummingbirds. The device includes an umbrella connected to the feeder and extendable between a closed position and an open position generally above the reservoir. 
   A further embodiment to of the present invention has bird feeder that includes means for retaining a sugar solution, means for providing shade to the means for retaining sugar solution, and means for operatively extending and retracting the shade providing means. 
   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.