Abstract:
An apparatus for mounting a bird perch to a bird cage wherein first and second sides of a mounting means clamps to the cage and holds a perch holding means onto which a perch is attached and which enables the user to compression clamp a ball joint component at a predetermined angle to position the bird perch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing a bird perch to the side of a structure as found in bird enclosures such as bird cages or similar structures. 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 apparatus. The perch may be changed or replaced in the apparatus at will. The invention relates to holders for perches of different diameters and lengths as may be desired as well as varying the angle the perch has relative to the ground.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Owners of pet birds, such as parrots, should ideally provide the bird with one or more perches of varying diameter and texture to prevent the development of foot abnormalities. Although perches may be fabricated from nontoxic natural and artificial materials, natural tree branches make the best perches because, besides foot health and exercise, they also provide a source for chewing. Parrots enjoy peeling the bark and chewing the wood of safe woods such as birch, willow, pine, apple, crab apple, dogwood, and manzanita. Eventually, the bird will destroy the perch and a new perch is required. Despite numerous advantages, natural tree branch perches are difficult to attach in a secure manner within an enclosure or cage.  
         [0005]     Perching birds better utilize surfaces which are more horizontal on which to stand, walk and climb. A tree placed vertically for use for a bird has a trunk and major branches which are more vertical than horizontal. Perching birds better utilize surfaces which are more horizontal on which to stand, walk and climb. A tree placed vertically for use for a bird has a trunk and major branches which are more vertical than horizontal. A tree placed in a conventional position with the trunk being vertical and having horizontal branches of sufficient size to satisfy the needs of a perching bird is usually too large to fit inside a bird enclosure.  
         [0006]     Because pet birds are of different sizes, different size perches are needed. There is a need for a bird perch holder which securely holds natural branch perches, as well as other perches, within the enclosure or cage and allows easy and convenient changing of the perch as required.  
         [0007]     Conventional apparatuses for placement of perches generally attach to the cage and provide for horizontal placement of a perch substantially vertical to the side of a bird cage. Typical perches have a plurality of diameter dimensions to provide a bird with means to exercise its leg muscles with elongated perch members being wood of having diameters up to 2 inches or more. Wood perches are preferable to provide domestic bird species with chewing and clawing opportunities. Conventionally, a perch must be of sufficient size to be wedged tightly between two walls of the enclosure which fails to provide an apparatus for causing the perch to be mounted at a desired angle while accommodating various diameters of perches.  
         [0008]     There is a need for an apparatus for securing a bird perch of different diameters at various angles for use by a bird.  
         [0009]     Brandt (U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,772 B1) discloses a bird perch holder consisting of a means for securing such 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 secured perpendicular to the side of the bird enclosure.  
         [0010]     Johnakin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,397) discloses a bird perch apparatus wherein an elongated perch rod has a disk attached to one end and has a threaded stabilizing rod extending there through which is forcibly mated to the side of a cage by a wing nut and disk which are external to the cage for engaging the threaded rod.  
         [0011]     Yau (U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,360) discloses a perching rod which has ends with a cruciform slot dimensioned to mate with a rod of the bird cage and a nut for mating with the end of such rod to forcibly engage the rod of the opposite of a bird cage.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     For the foregoing reasons, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that may be attached to a surface and provide an adjustable perch holding means that may be adjusted at any desired angle.  
         [0013]     Other objects of the present invention are a method and apparatus comprising unique hardware for mounting a perch in a cage.  
         [0014]     Briefly described, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provide a perch holding or securing device which may be attached to the side of a cage or similar surface wherein the device is adapted for securing different size perches thereto at various angles.  
         [0015]     The foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by a perch holding apparatus which comprises a means for selective engagement with a side of a cage or similar surface and a tightening mechanism for forceful engagement of a holder for a perch of a desired diameter and size, whereby the perch is selectively placed in a predetermined posture to provide placement of a perch for optimum effective use by its beneficiary, a bird.  
         [0016]     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading and understanding this specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bird perch holder of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is further perspective view of a bird perch holder of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a front side view of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6 a  section view of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is sectional view of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective sectional view of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the present invention disclosing the means for securing the bird perch in a plurality of positions.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side view showing two birch perch holders holding a bird perch. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components throughout the several view,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bird perch holder  2  which is the present invention. Mounting means  4  has a first side  6  and a second side  8  forcibly jointed together by two mounting bolts, a first mounting bolt is shown as mounting bolt  10   a  in  FIG. 1  and a second mounting bolt  10   b  is shown in  FIGS. 2, 4  and  7 . First side  6  and second side  8  are adapted to receive there between the side of a cage  12  ( FIG. 8 ) or a portion of a wall to which the bird perch holder  2  is to be joined.  
         [0029]     In a typical use, the wires  12  comprising the structure of a bird cage (see  FIG. 8 ) may be caused to be between said first side  6  and said second side  8 . As bolt  10   a  and bolt  10   b  are secured to join first side  6  and second side  8  juxtaposed, bird perch holder  2  is positioned for further use in mounting bird perch  74 .  FIG. 8  shows a side view of the present invention with cage  12  positioned between first side  6  and second side  8 .  
         [0030]     Perch holding means  14  is mating secured to mounting means  4  as will be disclosed in greater detail herein after. As handle  16  is tightened, perch holding means  14  may be secured at various positions as determined by the user and as disclosed further in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the present invention is disclosed with greater specificity in an exploded view. Handle  16  has an adjustment bolt  18  permanently affixed as a part thereof. Exposed end  20  of adjustment bolt  18  has a recessed spherical cut  22  at exposed end  20 . Spherical cut  22  is conformed to mate with ball  24 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , adjustment bolt  18  is of sufficient length to pass through first side  6  and matingly thread into side  8 . As further appreciated from the disclosure hereinafter set forth, adjustment bolt  18  has male threads  18   a  about the periphery of adjustment bolt  18  which matingly conform and mate with the female threads  46  of linear bore  40  of side  8 . As adjustment bolt  18  is screwed into linear bore  40  of side  8 , spherical concave end  22  of adjustment bolt  18  forcibly and rotatably compresses ball  24  into spherical collar  32 . As adjustment bolt  18  is tightened (screwed) into female threads  46  of linear bore  40  of second side  8 , ball  24  is pressed into spherical collar  32  such that ball  24  is rigidly and securely positioned into spherical collar  32 .  
         [0033]     Ball  24  has a linear member  26  attached thereto or as an integral portion thereof and may be referred to as ball joint component  28 . In a preferred embodiment, linear member  26  of ball joint component  28  is of sufficient length to mate with perch holding means  14 . Ball joint component  28  may be formed from a unitary piece of material, preferably metal or may be two separate components jointed together. The materials of the present invention may also be formed of nylon, steel or aluminum or combinations thereof. It is desired that the components be of sufficient density to defray wear when exposed to the pecking or scratching activities of the bird for the present inventions&#39;s use. In a preferred embodiment, mounting means  14  is made from high density nylon for flexibility when mating with perch securing means  30 . Ball joint component  28  is disclosed as having a linear member  26  which is threaded at the end opposite ball  24 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 8 , side  8  of mounting means  4  comprises a spherical collar  32  for adjustable mating with ball  24 . Spherical collar  32  is dimensioned such that ball  24  will fit there into. Spherical collar  32  extends from second side  8  and has a diameter at outwardly extending end  34  which is has a dimension which is less than the diameter of ball  24 . By this configuration ball  24  may be inserted into second side  8  yet not pass through side  8 .  
         [0035]     Second side  8  has a planar surface  36 . First end  6  has a planar surface  38 . Second side  8  has a linear bore  40  which extends from and through spherical collar  32  and through second end  8  and planar surface  36  of second side  8 . Linear bore  40  has female threads  46  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ).  
         [0036]     Linear bore  40  has a diameter  42  at the outwardly extending end  34  of spherical collar  32  which is less than the diameter of ball  24  to restrain ball  24  from passing through spherical collar  32 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the particular configuration disclosed permits ball joint component  28  to be inserted from planar side  36  of second side  8 , through linear bore  40  of side  8  and to rotably conform (seat) into spherical collar  32 . Diameter  42  of ball  24  is less than diameter  48  of linear bore  40  to enable ball joint component  28  to be inserted into second side  8  from planar surface  36  of side  8  and to be seated in spherical collar  32 .  
         [0038]     As disclosed in cross sectional view of  FIG. 9 , adjustment bolt  18  of handle  16  enables the user of the present invention to cause the linear member of ball joint component  28  to be fixedly disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to planar surface  36  of side  8 . Linear member  26  of boil joint component  28  may be permanently attached to perch holding means  14 . In such an embodiment, linear member  26  of ball joint component  28  may be permanently secured to perch holding means  14 .  
         [0039]     In a preferred embodiment, ball joint component  28  has male threads about the periphery of linear member  26  of ball joint component  28  which matingly secure ball joint component  28  into a female threaded linear bore  60  at a first end of perch holding means  14 .  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , perch holding means  14  is disclosed as having a first end  50  and a second end  52 . Perch holding means  14  is disclosed as being a cylindrical sleeve or slender cup  62  which is open at second end  52  and closed at first end  50 . First end  50  has a linear threaded bore  60  with female threads  58  disposed about the internal periphery of linear bore  60  for mating engagement with male threads  56  about the periphery of linear member  26  of ball joint component  28 .  
         [0041]     Referring to exploded view of the present invention disclosed in  FIG. 4  and further disclosed in the cross sectional perspective view disclosed in  FIG. 9  and cross sectional view disclosed in  FIG. 8 , perch securing means  30  is removably inserted to the interior chamber  64  of perch holding means  14 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the perch securing means  30  is slidable insertable into the interior chamber  64  and slidable removable from interior chamber  64  of perch securing means  14 .  
         [0042]     Referring primarily to the exploded view disclosed in  FIG. 4 , perch securing means  30  has a linear circular bore  66  along the linear axis  68  of perch securing means  30  through which a wood screw  70  may be inserted. (Linear axis  68  is actually the linear axis of the present invention.) Linear circular bore  66  has a countersunk portion  72  at first end of  76  of perch securing means  30  for receiving the head of wood screw  70 . While a crown wood screw is disclosed in the preferred embodiment, a metal screw or any similar structure for securing perch securing means  30  to perch  74  may be utilized. Perch  74  may be of wood or any other material to form perch  74  which is thusly disposed for use by a bird for standing, walking or chewing or otherwise exercising. It is intended that perch  74  which not part of the present invention will have a hole drilled into the end thereof for receiving wood screw  70 . A wood screw is disclosed since in most instances the perch is composed of wood.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 , and  7  disclose a perch alignment means comprising a first needle point alignment pin  86  and a second needle point alignment pin  88 , each separately mounted into second end  90  of perch securing means  30 . When perch  74  is positioned by screw  70  to forcibly contact second end  90  of perch securing means  30 , first needle point alignment pin  86  and second needle point alignment pin  86  are compressed against and/or into perch  74  to positionally stabilize perch  74  to avoid rotation or movement of perch  74  relative to perch alignment means  30 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , it may be appreciated that perch securing means  14  may be selectively positioned into an array of positions  80 ,  82  or  84  as desired. Typically, a tree branch may be chosen for perch  74  ( FIG. 8 ) and may be substantially straight or be of a varied configuration. Bird perch holder  2  may be used in combination with a second bird perch holder  2  secured to perch  74  at a second end thereof such that perch  74  is fixedly mounted to a bird cage at a first end of perch  74  and fixedly mounted to a bird cage at a second end of perch  74  to accommodate the weight of heavy birds as a stationary secure perch.  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , ball joint component  28  is further disclosed to have a collar  92  disposed around linear member  26  of ball joint component  28  between ball  24  and the male threaded portion  56  of linear member  26 . As can be appreciated, collar  92  has a first flat portion  94  and a second flat portion  96  on the periphery of collar  92  to accommodate a securing apparatus, such as an open end wrench or pliers to cause ball joint component  28  to be securely mated into linear bore  60  of perch holding means  14  when collar  92  is tightened against end first end  50  of perch holding means  14 .  
         [0046]     In many applications of affixing bird perch  74  ( FIG. 8 ) into an environment of a bird, it may be desirable to have both ends of a bird perch  74  secured to the housing structure for the bird. While some perches span from one side to the other side of a cage, the present invention may be utilized on both ends of perch  74  to thus secure both ends of a bird perch at accommodating angles.  FIG. 11  discloses a first bird holder  100  secured to a first end  104  of bird perch  74  and a second bird perch holder  102  secured to a second end  106  of bird perch  74 .  
         [0047]     While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the intention, but rather as exemplifications of one or another preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible, which would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, and not just by the embodiments.  
         [0048]     It is, therefore, understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.