Abstract:
Birdcage attachments are mountable to a birdcage and present a bird with a variety of interesting and challenging activities. The toy attachments encourage birds to learn by experimenting. As a bird manipulates some parts of the toy attachments, the bird will discover that the parts may be put into different positions and remain there until deciding to move them again. In most cases, the parts will not automatically return to their original state or position if the bird stops playing, challenging a bird even more to return the toy to its original state.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. application Ser. No. 60/370,200 filed Apr. 5, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to birdcage attachments, and more particularly to birdcage toy attachments that challenge a bird&#39;s natural curiosity. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Most of the birds kept as pets and sold in the pet trade as companion birds belong to the Psittacine family of birds. The family includes the most popular bird, the parakeet, also called budgerigar or simply budgie, as well as lovebirds, cockatiels and parrots. These birds are highly inquisitive, agile, manipulative and easily trained. Being confined in cages, they are often perceived as suffering from boredom unless provided with some objects that arouse their interest. 
   Many so-called toys are being sold to keep these birds busy, but few of the toys seem to really challenge the bird&#39;s natural curiosity. Most toys are made for either chewing or climbing—certainly activities which these birds should engage in—but are not necessarily challenging to the bird&#39;s inquisitive mind. Other toys can merely be set swinging or turning if the bird simply pecks at them and will return to their original state or position once the bird loses interest. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The birdcage attachments of the present invention encourage birds to learn by experimenting. As the bird manipulates some parts of the toys, the bird will discover that the parts may be put into different positions and remain there until deciding to move them again. In most cases, the toys of the present invention will not automatically return to their original state or position if the bird stops playing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross section taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the birdcage attachment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the activating mechanism of the birdcage attachment of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the inner and outer ring of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  displaced with respect to each other. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are top views illustrating the inner and outer ring of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  displaced with respect to each other. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the birdcage attachment of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a partial side view of the birdcage attachment of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  is a front view of the birdcage attachment of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 15  is a partial top view of the birdcage attachment of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a front view of the attachment of  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of the attachment of  FIG. 16  shown attached to a birdcage wall. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 20  is a front view of the attachment of  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 21  is a side view of the attachment of  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 23  is a front view of the attachment of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 24  is a side view of the attachment of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 25  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 26  is a side view of the attachment of  FIG. 25 . 
       FIG. 27  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 28  is a top view of the attachment of  FIG. 27 . 
       FIG. 29  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional view of the attachment of  FIG. 29 . 
       FIG. 31  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a birdcage attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 32  is a cross-sectional view of the attachment of  FIG. 31 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts. 
     FIGS. 1–3  illustrate one embodiment of a birdcage attachment  50  of the present invention. For purposes of explanation, certain birdcage attachments of the invention will be described as educational “toys,” although it will be understood that the use of the term “toy” is not to be interpreted in any limiting sense. 
   The toys of the present invention are all preferably mounted on small variously shaped, plates  62  which will be attached to the inside of a birdcage. The plates are preferably non-opaque (i.e., transparent or translucent) and may be colored so that the view of a bird through the cage wall and through the plate is not obstructed by the plate. An example of such an attaching mechanism  60  is shown in connection with the toy of  FIGS. 1–3 . The majority of inexpensive prior art bird items use a graduated, snap-on pressure fit and tends to bend the bars of the cage and also disturb the bird when put into place. It is also less secure than the screw attachment means  60  illustrated in the appended drawings. Prior art accessories with “snap-on” mechanisms are always difficult to manipulate. With one hand one must hold the cage steady and with the other push on or pull off the accessory. This process always frightens birds since the cage shakes and rattles excessively, putting especially newly acquired birds under serious stress. This is most troublesome with feeders and waterers which must be removed and re-mounted regularly for cleaning and refilling. The present attachments (toys, waterers, feeders, etc.) utilize screw and nut assemblies  60 , and can be cleaned and refilled without having to remove the entire unit from the cage. 
   The attachment means  60  of  FIGS. 1–3 , for example, comprises a plate  62  with a screw fastener  64  integrally formed or embedded therein, and a threaded cap  66  that engages the fastener  64 . The fastener  64  is preferably integrally formed into said plate  62  either by co-molding said fastener  64  with said plate  62 , or by embedding the fastener  64  into said plate  62 . Alternatively, the fastener and plate could be produced in a single mold. Alternatively, the fastener could be snapped into engagement with the plate. Other attachment means are clearly contemplated. In either case, the fastener  64  becomes effectively irremovable from or through the plate  62 . Alternatively, the fastener may be press-fit through the plate. Other means of attaching the fastener to the plate are contemplated. The nut or cap  66  is engageable with the fastener  64  to secure the toy  50  to a birdcage wall (not shown). The fastener  64  is dimensioned to extend through an opening in the bars of a birdcage wall such that the plate  62  lies adjacent an inner side of the birdcage wall and is preferably wide enough to bridge the bars surrounding the opening, while the cap  66  is adapted to engage said fastener  64  on an outer side of the birdcage wall for securely clamping said toy  50  to said birdcage wall, the width of the cap face also preferably bridging the bars surrounding the opening. 
   The toy  50  of  FIGS. 1–3  is rotatable around a central axis  55  and further comprises a series of discs  52  provided at spaced-apart intervals and secured between first and second lower housings  51 ,  53  respectively. Each of the discs  52  may be colored, clear or comprise mirrors embedded inside the openings  54 , which presents a unique visual stimulus for a bird. Some or all of the openings  54  may also be empty, which may be further intriguing for a bird. An expandable pin  56  provided on the second housing  53  is press-inserted into an opening  65  in the plate  62  for attachment thereto. The housings  51 ,  53  are rotatable around axis  55  relative to the mounting plate  62 . Knobs or protrusions  58  provided on one of the housings  51  may be provided for gripping by a bird to assist a bird in rotating the toy  50 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an alternative attachment  100  incorporating a bell  110 . Practically every toy on the market has a small bell incorporated in it. In order to make the prior art bell ring, the bird simply pecks at it. The bell toy  100  of the present invention comprises a bell  110  hanging from a bar  120  which is attached to a mounting plate  130 . A means  132  for attaching the mounting plate to a birdcage can be incorporated into the attachment  100  as discussed above. The bell  110  is slidable along the bar  120 . The toy  100  is placed inside a cage high enough above a perch (not shown) so that a bird cannot simply peck at the bell  110 . Instead, a bird must pull on one of two chains  112 ,  114  attached between a bar  111  and through which is attached a striker  116  to cause the striker  116  to strike the inside of the bell  110 . The striker  116  is suspended from the top  117  of the bell  110  and acts as a pivot point for the bar  111 , which pivots in response to a pull on one of the chains  112 ,  114 . Gripping members or balls  113 ,  115  provided on the ends of the chains  112 ,  114  assist a bird in tugging the chains  112 ,  114 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the chains  112 ,  114  are arranged relative to the bar  111  and striker  116  such that a downward force upon chain  112  results in the bar  111  pivoting in a counterclockwise direction, the chain  114  moving in an upward motion and the striker  116  moving to the right and striking the inside of the bell  110 . Similarly, a downward force upon chain  114  results in the bar  111  pivoting in a clockwise direction, the chain  112  moving in an upward motion and the striker  116  moving to the left and striking the inside of the bell  110 . The counter-movement of one of the chains in response to a tug on the other chain and a resultant ringing of the bell presents a unique visual and audible arrangement for a bird. 
     FIGS. 6–9  illustrate a double ring toy  150  having a mirrored inner circle ring  160  and an open outer ring  170 . The rings  160 ,  170  rotate with respect to each other about a central axis  180 . The rings  160 ,  170  are secured to a mounting plate  152  by a pair of support arms  153 ,  154 , and each ring is capable of rotating 360° around said axis  180  either in unison with the other ring or separate therefrom. A fastener  156  is secured to the mounting plate  152  as discussed above and is engageable with a cap  157  as discussed above for securing the mounting plate to a birdcage (not shown). The motion of the rings  160 ,  170  relative to each other and to the mounting plate  152  presents a unique visual experience for a bird. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a revolving drum toy  200  comprising a mounting plate  205 , a pair of support arms  210 ,  215 , a fastener  220 , a cap  225  and a drum  230  rotatable between the support arms  210 ,  215 . The drum  230  comprises a hollow cylinder bounded by a plurality of spaced apart bars  235  (bounded by the end plates  231 ,  232 ) of the drum  230  that retain a sounding means  240  inside the drum  230 . The bars  235  may be clear, the same color or multi-colored. The sounding means  240  may be a bell or some other object that creates a sound when moved, which sounding means may rotate and slide within the interior of the drum  230 . The drum  230  is rotatable about a central axis  245 . The motion of the drum  230  and bars  235  and the sound created by the sounding means  240  presents a unique visual and aural experience for a bird. 
     FIGS. 12–15  illustrate a tilt a wheel device  250  having a plurality of heads  260 ,  270  that are each individually rotatable around its own central axis  262 ,  272  and are connected to each other by an arm  265  that is also rotatable about a central axis  267 . Each of the heads  260 ,  270  can have mirrored sides to increase the enjoyment to the animal. The heads  260 ,  270  can be decorated with something other than mirrors as desired. The arm  265  is attached between a pair of support members  252 ,  254 , which are attached to a mounting plate  255  having a fastener  256  that is engageable with a cap  257  as described above. The arm  265  and the heads  260 ,  270  are rotatable individually or in unison relative to the mounting plate  255 . The rotating motion of the arm  265  about its central axis  267  and the heads  260 ,  270  about their axes  262 ,  272  and relative to each other and to the mounting plate  255  presents a unique visual experience for a bird. 
     FIGS. 16–18  illustrate a star ring toss toy  300  birdcage attachment of the present invention. In front of a star-shaped (other shapes are contemplated) mounting plate  305 , a ring (other shapes are contemplated)  310  hangs suspended on a chain  315  from a support arm  320 . A fastener  325  extends outwardly from the mounting plate  305  and is engageable with a cap  330  as discussed above for clamping the mounting plate  305  to a birdcage wall  340 . A locator post  345  may be provided on the rear of the mounting plate  305  for locating the mounting plate  305  relative to the bars  342  in the birdcage wall  340 . While illustrated initially in the embodiment of  FIGS. 16–18 , such locator post may be on any of the embodiments described herein. On the outer periphery of the ring  310 , there are preferably six equally spaced short “spokes”  312  which help a bird hold the ring  310  in different positions. A bird can manipulate the ring  310  and has a choice of placing it on either one of two pegs  307 ,  308  (other number of pegs are contemplated) positioned on the right and left of the back plate  305  relative to the support arm  320 , or on the support arm  320  if desired. The pegs  307 ,  308  may be placed anywhere on the mounting plate  305  relative to the support arm  320  and present a unique interactive experience to a bird wishing to attach and remove the ring  310  from the pegs  307 ,  308 . 
     FIGS. 19–21  illustrate a leap frog toy  350  of the present invention. A mounting plate  355  is provided with a support ledge  360  to which is attached an arcuate rod  365 . A fastener  357  is attached to the plate  355  and is engageable with a cap  359  as discussed above, and a locator pin  356  may be provided on the rear of the mounting plate  355  for locating the toy  350  relative to a birdcage wall. The plate  355  and rod  365  may have the same arcuate shape as illustrated, or the shapes may be different as desired. A plurality of preferably colorful rings  370 ,  372 ,  374  are placed on the rod  365  which a bird can move, either one at a time or in groups, from one side, up over the top of the rod  365  to the other side, and back. While such rings are illustrated as annular in design, other shapes may be used. Also, other shapes for the rod  365  are contemplated. 
     FIGS. 22–24  illustrate a swinging batons toy  400  of the present invention. A mounting plate  405  is provided with an arcuate support  410  and a fastener  407  that is engageable with a cap  409  as discussed above. While the plate  405  may be triangular as illustrated, other shapes are contemplated. Three batons or rods  412 ,  414 ,  416  are suspended and hang vertically from the support  410 . Such rods may be the same color, or multi-colored, or may comprise a different shape from that illustrated in  FIGS. 22–24 . A shelf or platform  420 ,  422  is provided on each side of the support  410  for receiving one or more rods thereon. A bird can move each rod along the support and place it horizontally on either shelf  420 ,  422 . While a pair of shelves  420 ,  422  are illustrated, only one or more than two shelves may be provided as desired. 
     FIGS. 25–26  illustrate a sliding peg toy  450  of the present invention. A mounting plate  455  is provided with a fastener  460  that is engageable with a cap (not shown) as discussed above. While the plate  455  may be triangular as illustrated, other shapes are contemplated. A plurality of rods  465 ,  470 ,  475  are mounted in openings  467 ,  472 ,  477  near the corners of the plate  455 . While three rods are shown, at least one and more than two or three rods are contemplated. A bird can manipulate the rods  465 ,  470 ,  475  by pushing or pulling them back and forth relative to the mounting plate  455 , with stops  464 ,  466 ,  469 ,  471 ,  474 ,  476  provided on the ends of the rods to prevent the rods from being separated from the mounting plate  455 . The rods are dimensioned so that they are rotatable within the openings  467 ,  472 ,  477  and extend through openings (spaces between bars) in a birdcage wall. 
     FIGS. 27–28  illustrate a rotatable barrel device  500  of the present invention comprising a mounting plate  505  having a fastener  507  and cap  509  as discussed above. A pair of support arms  510 ,  515  are attached to the mounting plate  505  for connecting a rotatable barrel  520  therebetween along a support axle  521 . The barrel  520  is rotatable along an axis  522  and is provided with a series of spikes  525  arranged around the outer periphery. The spikes  525  may be multi-colored and/or colored the same as the barrel  520  and may be disposed around the outer periphery of the barrel  520  in a variety of different arrangements. 
     FIGS. 29 and 30  illustrate a watering device birdcage attachment  550  for caged birds, specifically a watering device that allows for an easy, non-spill application of water and minimal disturbance of a bird inside a birdcage. The attachment  550  utilizes a valve  560  so that water cannot leak when the device  550  is refilled with water. Prior art external waterers where the water is held in a container outside a cage are known. However, what is one of the unique features about the waterer  550  of the present invention is the non-leak valve  560  and the means  582 ,  584  of attaching the waterer  550  to a cage (not shown). 
   In the prior art, water is stored for the bird in a number of ways. First, water can be put in a cup that attaches to the inside of the cage bars. The problem with this method is that water often spills when filling the cup and placing it in the cage, water spills in the cage and the bird often splashes the water around the cage. Another method utilizes an external water chamber that rests on a holder having a small trough which extends into the cage and gives the bird access to the water. The water chamber is filled and the holder with trough is placed in inverted position onto the water chamber. The unit is then turned upside down and mounted on the cage. The entire unit must be removed from the cage for refilling of the water chamber. 
   With the device  550  of the present invention, a lid  570  is placed onto the water reservoir  572 . The lid  570  has a small hole  574  which can be covered by a flat, round disk  562 , serving as a valve  560 . A short rod  564  projects from the center of the disk  562  and extends roughly one half inch through the hole  574  in the lid. Another disk at the end of the rod prevents the valve assembly from slipping out of the hole in the lid. The valve assembly can freely move up and down. A holder  580  for the water reservoir is attached to the outside of the cage via a fastener  582  and cap  584  as discussed above, and a narrow trough  590  extends through the bars into the inside of the cage. Contrary to prior art devices, the holder  580  never has to be detached from the cage when refilling the reservoir. 
   After the water reservoir is filled with water, the lid with valve is placed on the top to cover the reservoir. The reservoir can now be turned upside down. The valve, by its own gravity, will close the hole in the lid so that no water can leak out. The reservoir is then placed into the holder upside down. Before the reservoir comes to rest in its final position in the holder, the extended rod of the valve will reach the bottom of the holder, and as the reservoir reaches its lowest position, the valve will be pushed up and held in an open position to allow water to fill the holder and trough. 
     FIGS. 31 and 32  illustrate a feeder birdcage attachment  600  for parakeets and other small birds, which is an external gravity fed feeder. The unique aspect of the feeder  600  of the present invention is that the feeder  600  is outside the cage and relies on a chute  610  which feeds an internal cup  615  attached to the chute. As the reservoir  620  of this feeder  600  is open on top and mounted on the outside of the cage, it can be refilled most easily. The reservoir  620  is attached to a holder  630 , which is provided with a fastener  635  that is engageable with a cap  640  for securing the feeder  600  to a cage as discussed above. The seed cup  615  is attached inside a cage and as the bird feeds, seeds are replenished via a chute  610  which connects the reservoir  620  and the seed cup  615  through the bars of the cage. The cup  615  is preferably very shallow, holding only 3 to 4 layers of seed. This ensures that seeds do not get buried under layers of empty seed shells and husks which accumulate as the bird feeds. This often happens in ordinary seed cups which tend to be deep. Bird keepers often discard large amounts of good seeds since it appears that the cups are filled with empty shells only. 
   The seed cup  615  has high rear and sidewalls acting as seed guards. Fewer seeds are scattered outside the cage by the birds feeding activity. The shape and downward curved side walls discourages birds to sit and rest on the edge of the cup, where they sometimes defecate into the cup, spoiling the seeds. The feeder also has an “on/off” mechanism which can shut off seed delivery to the cup, so that the cup can be removed for cleaning without having to remove the entire feeder from the cage. 
   While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.