Abstract:
A multiple compartment bird feeder comprising a seed tube having a side wall with a plurality of side wall openings therein, a plurality of seed ports with one of the seed ports being located at each of the side wall openings, and a plurality of seed support members spaced from each other within the seed tube, at least one of the seed support members being retained in position by at least one of the seed ports.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a bird feeder and more particularly, relates to a multi compartment bird feeder. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of feeders for feeding birds is well known in the art and widely practised. There are any number of different types of bird feeders. For example, some bird feeders are designed to be squirrel resistant—i.e. to prevent squirrels and other marauders from accessing the seed within the bird feeder. Some bird feeders are designed to attract a particular type of bird and to do so different perch arrangements may be utilized. One of the most popular types of bird feeders is what is known as a tube bird feeder. This type of bird feeder consists of a tube (usually cylindrical) which has a number of seed ports for permitting birds&#39; access to the feed. However, one problem with this type of bird feeder is that the seed ports are distributed over the total height of the container. As the bird seed is consumed, access to the seed from the upper feed ports cannot be had. Accordingly, the number of birds allowed access to the bird seed becomes limited as the tube bird feeder empties. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi compartment bird feeder wherein the above problem is obviated. 
         [0004]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bird feeder wherein the seed ports are utilized to secure seed support members in position. 
         [0005]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bird feeder comprising a seed tube having a side wall, the side wall having a plurality of side wall openings therein, a plurality of seed ports, one of the seed ports being located at each of the side wall openings, a plurality of seed support members, the seed support members being spaced from each other within the seed tube, at least one of the seed support members being retained by at least one of the seed ports. 
         [0006]    The bird feeder has, as above stated, a seed tube with a side wall. The seed tube may be of any configuration, although a cylindrical configuration is conventional. Preferably, the body is formed of a suitable plastic material and is preferably somewhat transparent. 
         [0007]    The seed tube has a plurality of side wall openings therein. The side wall openings are again preferably circular in nature. Each side wall opening has a structure which will permit a seed port to be retained thereat. 
         [0008]    Conventionally, the side wall openings are diametrically opposed with two side wall openings being located at any particular height. The arrangement is such that at least one of the seed ports interacts with a seed support member to retain the same in position. Preferably, both diametrically opposed seed ports are utilized to secure the seed support member in position. 
         [0009]    Each seed support member is designed to permit seed to flow therethrough to a lower level. Each seed support member has a structure wherein a centrally located aperture is provided at a certain height. The opening is preferably situated at a level above the side wall opening and therefore the feed, when placed in the seed tube will fill up to a certain level and subsequently seed will pass through to a lower level. Each seed support member also preferably has a sloped surface so as to divert the seed towards the side wall opening. 
         [0010]    As used herein, the term “seed port” defines a member which has a seed control element and a perch. In some bird feeders, the seed control portion or member will comprise a baffle. In the instant arrangement, a side wall having apertures is used to control the seed. In one particular arrangement, the side wall has a plurality of apertures to permit the birds to access the seeds. Typically, in this instance, the seeds would be relatively small such as niger seeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a bird feeder according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a vertical sectional view thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged vertical sectional of the central portion of the bird feeder; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the bird feeder; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded detailed view of the one of the seed ports and inner seed support members; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a seed support member utilized in either the intermediate or upper positions; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the rear face of a seed port utilized in the bird feeder of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a horizontal sectional view of the bird feeder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a bird feeder which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0021]    Bird feeder  10  includes a seed tube  12  which comprises a side wall  14  arranged in a circular configuration. It will be understood that the term “seed tube” is used for convenience as most bird feeders use seeds. However, other suitable loose material could also be utilized and are within the scope of the term “seed tube”. Similarly, other configurations of the bird feeder may be utilized although a circular configuration is the most widely used as the material used for the volume created is minimized. 
         [0022]    As may be best seen in  FIG. 4 , side wall  14  has a plurality of side wall openings  16 . Each feed opening  16  is defined by a marginal edge  18  and as will be noted, there are two recesses  20  provided in marginal edge  18 . These recesses  20  are diametrically opposed although this is not an essential feature of the invention. 
         [0023]    Side wall  14  of seed tube  12  also includes a plurality of top apertures  22  as may be seen in  FIG. 2  for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow. As seen in  FIG. 4 , there are also provided lower or bottom apertures  24 . An indicator  26  is utilized to mark the location of apertures  24 . 
         [0024]    An upper ring  25  is secured to seed tube  12 . To this end, there are provided a plurality of protrusions  34  which engage within top apertures  22 . 
         [0025]    A cover is generally designated by reference numeral  28  and includes a top wall  30  extending substantially horizontally and a side wall  32  extending downwardly from the periphery of top wall  30 . Top wall  30  has, on its interior, a plurality of protrusions (as known in the art) which are designed to mate with top ring  25  to retain cover  28  in position. A hanger  36  extends through an aperture in the top wall  30  of cover  28  as may be best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    Bird feeder  10  also includes a base generally designated by reference numeral  40 . Base  40 , as may be seen in  FIG. 2 , includes a side wall  42  having an indicator  44  thereon. The arrangement is such that protrusions (not shown) on the interfacing surface of side wall  42  will mate and seat within apertures  24  in seed tube  12  similar to the arrangement for top ring  25 . This is achieved when indicators  26  on side wall  14  and indicator  44  on side wall  42  of base  40  are aligned. 
         [0027]    Base  40  also includes a bottom wall  46 . A recess  50  is provided to receive a post when it is desired to mount the bird feeder thereon. The arrangement is such that recess  50  can receive either the swaged end of a post or the normal end as disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/986,805. 
         [0028]    Base  40  also supports a bottom seed support member generally designated by reference numeral  52 . Seed support member  52  has a pair of seed support surfaces  54  which are angled downwardly to divert seed outwardly towards side wall openings  16 . Seed support member  52  also has an inner circular wall  56  which is designed to seat on base  40 . There is also an outer circular wall  58 . 
         [0029]    The bird feeder includes an upper seed support member generally designated by reference numeral  62 . Upper seed support member  62  includes a seed support surface  64  which is sloped downwardly and as well, has an oval center structure  66 . A pair of diametrically opposed prongs  68  are provided. Oval center structure  66  includes a central opening generally designated by reference numeral  70 . 
         [0030]    Bird feeder  10  includes an intermediate seed support member generally designated by reference numeral  72 . Intermediate seed support member  72  is placed between upper seed support member  62  and lower seed support member  52 . Intermediate seed support member  72  is similar in structure to upper seed support member  62 . Thus, it has an oval center structure  74  with an opening  76  therein. It will be noted that oval center structure  66  of upper seed support member  62  and oval center structure  74  of intermediate seed support member  72  have their longitudinal axis perpendicular to each other. This will aid in proper distribution of the seed when poured in from the top. Thus, as may be seen from  FIG. 8 , some of the seed which will flow through opening  70  of upper seed support member  62  will pass through opening  76  of intermediate seed support member  72  and some will be distributed onto the seed support surface thereof. In other words, once the upper seed support member  62  is filled to the top of oval center structure  66 , excess seed will pass through opening  70  with some passing through opening  76 . This is continued until the seed tube  12  is completely filled. Upon the lowering of the levels with the birds eating from seed support members  52  and  62 , the excess capacity at the top of the feed tube  12  will allow refilling of these lower seed support members. 
         [0031]    For each feed opening  16 , there is provided a seed port  80  the details of which may be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . Thus, each seed port  80  has a side wall  82  and a perch  84 . It will be noted that side wall  82  effectively covers each feed opening  16  while longitudinal slots or apertures  86  permit access to the seed by the bird. 
         [0032]    On the rear face of side wall  82 , there is provided a pair of partial walls  90  each having a protrusion  92  extending therefrom. Protrusions  92  define a channel  94  between itself and the rear face of side wall  82 . Thus, as partially indicated in  FIG. 5 , a seed port  80  may be inserted into seed tube  12  through feed opening  16  and then rotated such that the side wall  14  is held between protrusion  92  and side wall  82 . A center protrusion  98  will act to retain the perch structure  80  in position. A circular wall  100  defines a recess  102  which receives a prong  68  to retain upper seed support member  62 . A similar arrangement is used to retain seed support member  72 . 
         [0033]    It will be understood that the description shows an embodiment of the invention and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the arrangement of the prongs  68  and recesses  102  may be reversed—in other words, the seed port may have the prong with the seed support members having the recess.