Abstract:
A bird feeder which comprises a seed container, a cover, a seed tray below the seed container to receive seeds therefrom, and a shield which is secured to the seed container, the shield being spaced above said seed tray a distance sized to restrict access of certain sized birds to the seed tray.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bird feeders and more particularly, relates to bird feeders with the ability to deter certain size birds from feeding thereat. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The practise of feeding birds, particularly during winter months, is well established and practised in many different countries. Typically, bird feeders are utilized to entice birds to feed thereat. Many people enjoy the sight of birds feeding and try to attract different types of birds. Some birds, particularly song birds, are considered very desirable. 
     However, there are certain other birds, typically some of the larger birds, which are not considered desirable. These birds will typically consume a lot of feed and many are not considered attractive. Typical of such birds would be pigeons, starlings, grackles, etc. However, the problem of excluding such birds remains. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a bird feeder which has a member to control the size of birds which can feed thereat. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bird feeder comprising a seed container, a cover for the seed container, a seed tray below the seed container to receive seeds therefrom, and a shield secured to the seed container, the shield being spaced above the seed tray a distance sized to restrict access of certain sized birds to the seed tray. 
     The seed container may be any suitable. Typically, such seed containers are formed of a plastic material and are usually transparent so as to permit one to see how much seed remains. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to use any suitable seed container. As used herein, the term “seed” will include all types of feed whether they are actually seeds or not. 
     As is conventional in the art, there is provided a cover for the seed container. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover is secured to the seed container through the use of outwardly projecting members which engage with a lip on the seed container to lock the cover and seed container together. 
     Preferably, the cover will include a bail to permit hanging of the bird feeder. 
     The seed tray is situated below the seed container and is generally sized to be somewhat larger than the seed container so as to permit access thereto. 
     In the present invention, a shield is provided which limits the distance between the seed tray and the shield. Since the arrangement is one in which the bird has to perch on the seed tray in order to feed, the distance between the seed tray and the shield will determine what size of bird is permitted to use the bird feeder. If one wishes to only feed a certain size of bird, then the shield can be attached at a predetermined location. Alternatively, a moveable shield may be utilized. 
     The bird feeder of the present invention may use a moveable shield which is secured to the seed container. The moveable shield is spaced from the seed tray and may be secured to the seed container in different positions. The moveable shield has an outwardly extending flange which controls the size of birds which can access the seed tray. As aforementioned, the moveable shield may be secured in a number of different positions thus providing the consumer with the ability to control the size of birds feeding from that particular bird feeder. 
     The moveable shield may come in different sizes depending upon the results desired. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the moveable shield is secured by means of a retaining pin which enters apertures/recesses in the moveable shield and seed container. A plurality of apertures/recesses in the seed container will allow the adjustability to be achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a bird feeder according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view from the rear of the bird feeder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the bird feeder; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 5 , but with the moveable shield in a raised position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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 . 
     Bird feeder  10  includes a feed container generally designated by reference numeral  12  and which has an upper wall section  14 , a downwardly and inwardly tapering wall section  16 , and a lower wall section  18 . Below lower wall section  18 , there is provided an arcuate inwardly extending wall section  20 . A rim member  19  extends around the top of seed container  12 . 
     A plurality of flexible legs  22  extend downwardly from arcuate wall section  20 . Two of the legs are longer than the others and have an enlarged bottom portion  24  which provides an abutment wall  26 . 
     Within upper wall section  14 , there are a first set of diagonal apertures  28  and a second set of diagonal apertures  30  on a diametrically opposed side thereof. The use of a diagonal line permits closer spacing of the apertures. 
     A cover member generally is designated by reference numeral  34 . Cover  34  includes a top wall  36  and a downwardly extending side wall  38 . Mounted on the inner side of side wall  38  are a plurality (three) tabs  40 . 
     Extending downwardly from the interior side of top wall  36  are downwardly extending tabs  42 . A bail  44  is provided. Bail  44  includes a hoop portion  46  for purposes of hanging the bird feeder  10 . Bail  44  also includes a downwardly extending leg  48  having an enlarged bottom portion  50  which is arranged to engage with downwardly extending tabs  42  to maintain bail  44  in a desired position. 
     Bird feeder  10  also includes a base or seed tray  56 . Seed tray  56  has an upper side wall  58  and a lower side wall  60 . A sloping bottom wall  62  is designed to support the seeds within the seed container  12  and direct the seeds outwardly. Seed tray  56  includes a center structure  64 . At the lowest point of sloping bottom wall  62  there are provided drainage apertures  66 . 
     Also formed in sloping bottom wall  62  are slots  68  which are designed to receive enlarged portions  24  of legs  22  of seed container  12 . As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , the enlarged portions  24  engage with a portion of center structure  64  and seed tray  56 . 
     Seed tray  56  also has an inner post  70  and an outer wall  72 . These define a central recess  74  and an outer recess  76  which is capable of receiving poles of two different sizes. Thus, in a first size, the pole will engage the inner surface of wall  72  and in another embodiment, will engage the outer surface of inner post  70 . In order to accommodate a third size, one may use an insert  71  to adjust the size. 
     Seed container  12 , at its upper end, has a plurality of recesses formed therein. These recesses are designed to receive tabs  40  of cover  34  such that cover  34  may be placed in position and rotated to engage rim  19  and to engage with seed container  12 . Bird feeder  10  also includes a shield  82 . Shield  82  has a circular wall portion  84  designed to fit around upper wall section  14  of feed container  12 . There is also provided a downwardly and outwardly extending flange portion  86 . As may be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , circular wall  84  may have apertures  88  and  90  formed therein. Apertures  88  and  90  are designed to align with apertures  28 ,  30  such that a pin may be inserted to lock the shield  82  in a desired position on seed container  12 . It will be noted that each line of apertures  28 ,  30  extend upwardly in a diagonal configuration. 
     The distance between flange portion  86  and the seed tray will determine how large a bird can utilize the feeder. Thus, the only place for the bird to perch is on the wall of the seed tray and accordingly, only birds of a certain size would be able to access the seed due to flange portion  86 . 
     It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.