Abstract:
A tube type bird feeder comprising a seed tube having a side wall with at least one feed opening therein, a cover removably engaged with the seed tube proximate a top marginal edge of the seed tube, at least one perch mounted on the seed tube proximate the feed opening, and a base member removably secured to the seed tube adjacent the bottom marginal edge of the side wall.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to bird feeders and more particularly, relates to improvements in a tube type bird feeder. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Tube type bird feeders are well known in the art. They basically comprise a seed retaining container of a tubular configuration which is usually transparent in nature. A base seals the bottom while a cover is provided. The cover can be removed so as to provide access to the seed container for filling of the same. Normally, one or more perches are provided proximate the one or more seed access openings in the seed container. 
         [0003]    Most tube bird feeders are designed to be as inexpensive as possible. They are conventionally manufactured in a manner so as to not encourage disassembly of the same. However, in so doing, this can cause problems. One of the problems associated with all types of bird feeders is cleanliness. Unless a proper design is provided, the seed will, over a period of time, become mouldy. It is also subject to contamination by bird droppings. Without proper care, this can lead to illness among the bird population using the feeder. 
         [0004]    A further problem associated with tube bird feeders pertains to ventilation of the seed retaining container. Due to the nature of bird feeders, most are exposed to weather and as a consequence, moisture frequently reaches the inside of the seed retaining container. This can cause problems for the seeds which remain therein as mold is a persistent problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tube type bird feeder wherein the components of the bird feeder can easily be disassembled and assembled. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide for ventilation of the tube type bird feeder. 
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, there is a provided a bird feeder comprising a seed tube having a side wall, at least one feed opening in the side wall, the side wall having a top marginal edge and a bottom marginal edge, a cover removably engaged with the seed tube proximate the top marginal edge, at least one perch mounted on the seed tube proximate the feed opening, and a base member removably secured to the seed tube adjacent the bottom marginal edge. 
         [0008]    A traditional tube bird feeder comprises a hollow tube having feed access openings therein. Perches are usually at least one rod which passes through the tube and extends outwardly. They are secured in position by mechanical means. A base prevents the seed from exiting and it is also usually secured in place by mechanical fasteners. The cover arrangement will again usually comprise a wire member which will engage with the hollow tube either directly or indirectly. The cover slides on the wire member and access to the tube is gained by tilting the wire member to the side while the cover is elevated. 
         [0009]    The conventional tube bird feeder is not easily disassembled and tools are usually required. The bird feeder of the instant invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of the known tube bird feeder and can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools. 
         [0010]    In greater detail, the bird feeder of the present invention may utilize a conventional seed tube with an open top and an open bottom. Conventionally, the seed tubes are formed of a plastic material and are transparent although other materials can be utilized. 
         [0011]    The seed tube is provided with at least one feed access opening and in a preferred embodiment, has two seed access openings which are diametrically opposed. Each seed access opening preferably has a perch mounted proximate thereto to enable a bird to perch while feeding. 
         [0012]    The bird feeder will also have a cover which is designed to seal the open top end. The cover is preferably removable and retained such that access may be had to the interior of the tube for filling of the same. Most covers utilized for tube feeders are held in a non rotatable manner. In a preferred embodiment, the bail holding the bird feeder through the cover is mounted such that the bird feeder can rotate about the bail. 
         [0013]    The base member is removably secured to the seed tube adjacent a bottom marginal edge of the tube. In a preferred embodiment, the base member has a protrusion which will engage with an aperture formed in the seed tube proximate the aforementioned bottom marginal edge. 
         [0014]    The base member is preferably formed of an upper base portion and a lower base portion. They are retained together in a non rotatable manner. The upper base portion will include a pair of half walls defining the top thereof and upon which the seed in the seed tube will be supported. Preferably the two half walls have apertures therein to permit drainage and ventilation. 
         [0015]    The locking of the base member to the seed tube by the protrusion can rely on the flexibility of the seed tube or alternatively, the base member may be designed to have a certain flexibility. The protrusion is such that the seed tube can fit within and be slidable thereover due to the shape of the front or face wall of the protrusion as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow. 
         [0016]    The cover is releasably secured directly to the tube. The cover will include at least one protrusion which will engage with an aperture formed in the seed tube proximate an upper marginal edge of the seed tube. Due to the shape of the protrusion, as will be described hereinbelow, removal of the cover is easily achieved while it is securely attached to the seed tube during normal use. 
         [0017]    The cover will include ventilation apertures formed therein, the ventilation apertures being formed in a manner that rain and the like cannot easily access the ventilation apertures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bird feeder according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view with the bird feeder rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the upper portion of the bird feeder; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the bottom portion of the bird feeder; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the cover and bail; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the cover with the bail connected thereto; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the tube container and bottom portion; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view from the bottom of the exploded view of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a detailed cross-sectional view of the bottom or base portion of the bird feeder; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating insertion of a perch and associated structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a bird feeder which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0031]    Bird feeder  10  comprises four different components—a cover generally designated by reference numeral  12 , a seed container generally designated by reference numeral  14 , a base structure generally designated by reference numeral  16 , and a perch structure generally designated by reference numeral  18 . 
         [0032]    Cover  12  is formed with a domed top wall  22  and a downwardly extending cylindrical side wall  24 . It will be noted that cylindrical side wall  24  is spaced inwardly of domed top wall  22 . Domed top wall  22  terminates with an outer downwardly extending flange  26 . 
         [0033]    Domed top wall  22  is also provided with upwardly extending protrusions  28  which have spaces  34  therebetween. Located centrally of domed top wall  22  is a central aperture  30 . Venting apertures  32  are provided proximate central aperture  30 . On the inner surface of domed top wall  22 , there is provided a plurality of downwardly extending tabs  31 . 
         [0034]    A bail generally designated by reference numeral  36  includes an inverted U-shaped portion  38  for hanging from a hook or the like. A leg  40  extends downwardly; leg  40  has an expanded end  42  which provides a seating wall or ledge  44 . The arrangement is such that leg  40  passes through central aperture  30  and seating wall  44  engages with tabs  31  to retain the bail secured to the cover. Bail  36  also includes a horizontal wall  37  which engages with upwardly extending protrusions  28  such that spaces  34  provide air communication with venting apertures  32  to thereby permit air exchange between seed container  14  and the exterior 
         [0035]    The inner surface of cylindrical side wall  24  includes a pair of protrusions  46  each having a front face  48  which tapers upwardly and outwardly from the point where it merges with the surface of side wall  24 . At its upper portion, there is provided a top wall  50  for engaging seed container  14  as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
         [0036]    Seed container  14  is defined by a tubular side wall  54  which is preferably formed of a transparent flexible plastic material. A pair of seed access openings  56  and  58  are provided and preferably they are diametrically opposed for aesthetic reasons. A first set of upper apertures  60 ,  62  are provided near the top marginal edge of tubular side wall  54  while a second pair of upper apertures  64 ,  66  are spaced therefrom and a little bit lower. Proximate the lower marginal edge, there are provided diametrically opposed lower apertures  68 ,  70 . 
         [0037]    Base structure  16  includes a seed support wall  74  upon which the seed rests and is directed outwardly proximate seed openings  56 ,  58 . Drainage apertures  76  are provided in wall  74 . 
         [0038]    Base structure  16  also includes an upper side wall  78  and a lower side wall  80 . Extending between the top of lower side wall  80  and the base of upper side wall  78  is a horizontal wall section  81 . It will be noted that upper side wall  78  includes a pair of tab members  82 ,  84  which provide some flexibility to that portion of upper side wall  78 . Mounted on the inner surface of tabs  82 ,  84  are protrusions  86 . Each protrusion  86  has a tapering front wall  88  for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. Tapering front wall  88  terminates in a bottom wall  89  which forms a stop for engaging with seed container  14  as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
         [0039]    As may be seen in  FIG. 9 , base structure  16  also includes a plurality of ribs  96  extending between center wall  90  and lower side wall  80 . Mounted at the outer end of ribs  96  are stoppers  100  which support seed tube  14 . 
         [0040]    At its lower end, base structure  16  is provided with a center wall  90  which defines a recess  92  for receiving a post which supports the bird feeder. Located within recess  92  is a circular structure  94 . This arrangement is such that recess  92  can accommodate either of the commonly sized poles. Thus, a larger post will be retained by center wall  90 . Alternatively, a smaller post may have a size such that it will fit about circular structure  94 . 
         [0041]    The bird feeder preferably includes a perch structure as shown. As may be best seen in  FIG. 11 , seed access openings  56  and  58  are similar and thus, only one will be described herein. Formed at the top and bottom portions of seed access opening  56  are a pair of smaller recesses  104 . Perch structure  18  includes a baffle  106  which has a pair of protrusions  108  extending outwardly therefrom. Perch structure  18  also includes an upper plate  110  which fits about feed access opening  56  and a lower U-shaped perch  112 . 
         [0042]    For assembly, perch structure  18  is initially set in place by inserting the baffle portion to the interior whereby protrusions  108  will fit through recesses  104 . The perch structure  18  is then rotated to its proper position. 
         [0043]    To assemble the structure, base structure  16  and the bottom of seed tube  14  may be assembled such that the bottom of side wall  54  is inserted interiorly of upper side wall  78 . The tapering front wall  88  permits the side wall to enter and seat on stoppers  100 . A rotational movement can be given until protrusions  86  seat in lower apertures  68 ,  70 . The base  16  is retained on seed tube  14  due to engagement with bottom wall  89 . 
         [0044]    It will be noted that the bottom of plate portion  110  is sized such that upper side wall  78  seats thereagainst. 
         [0045]    Cover  12  may then be placed in position with protrusions  46  on cylindrical side wall  24  seating within upper apertures  60 ,  62 . 
         [0046]    The bird feeder  10  is provided with ventilation extending from the bottom up through the seed container with the upper ventilation being accomplished with apertures  64 ,  66  and the venting through venting apertures  32 . 
         [0047]    It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.