Patent Publication Number: US-2023148570-A1

Title: Birdhouse

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 20 2021 106 477.3, filed Nov. 16, 2021, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to birdhouses or birdfeeders. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Birdhouses, also called birdfeeders, are roofed feeding places for free-living birds, which are stocked with bird food or birdseed. They come in a variety of designs. 
     Often, a site suitable for feeding and attracting birds is not the same as an optimal site for observation. Also, bird watching at night-time is difficult. 
     SUMMARY 
     The objective of the disclosure is to provide a remedy in this respect and to specify a birdhouse which can be manufactured simply and inexpensively, and which allows for convenient observation and documentation of fed birds at any time of the day or night. 
     This objective is met by a birdhouse a claimed. 
     Accordingly, a birdhouse is provided having an outer housing, a birdseed container insertable into the outer housing for mounting therein, and a camera unit insertable into the birdseed container, the camera unit comprising a digital camera and a motion sensor, wherein the camera unit comprises a control unit that triggers the digital camera when the motion sensor senses or detects the approach or presence of a bird. 
     The birdhouse therefore enables photographic or cinematic documentation of birds at feeding places with simple means. Due to the modular design, production, assembly, and operation are kept particularly simple. 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a birdhouse in front view, 
         FIG.  2    shows the birdhouse in rear view, 
         FIG.  3    shows a birdseed container of the bird house in front view, 
         FIG.  4    shows the birdseed container in rear view, 
         FIG.  5    shows a front view of a camera unit for insertion into the bird house, 
         FIG.  6    shows an internal view of the camera unit with open cover, 
         FIG.  7    shows a sequence of operations in assembling the birdhouse, 
         FIG.  8    shows a sequence of operations during insertion of the camera unit into the birdhouse, 
         FIG.  9    is an exploded view of a mounting bracket for the birdhouse, 
         FIG.  10    is a detailed illustration of the assembled bracket for a floor or wall mounting, and 
         FIG.  11    shows a top view of an alternative bracket for a railing assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The birdhouse  2  shown fully assembled in  FIG.  1    has an outer housing  4  with a base or bottom  6 , two side walls  8 , and a roof  10 . The front and rear walls of the outer housing  4  are missing. At the front, only a flat enclosure  12  projects upward from the bottom  6 . A trough-shaped drinking container  14  can be fixed there. The fixing is preferably designed to be detachable by means of clamping elements. This means that the drinking container  14  can be removed and replaced if necessary. The trough provided for holding the drinking water is arranged inside the enclosure  12  in the final assembled state; connected to the trough by webs or bars is a rod (branch-imitation) arranged outside the enclosure  12 , aligned horizontally and parallel to the edge of the enclosure  12 , as an approach and perching aid for the approaching birds. A birdseed container  16 , also called bird feeder, is insertable into the outer enclosure or housing  4  from the rear side, up to a stop position which is formed here in the example by inwardly facing projections  18  on the front edge of the side walls  8  which act as a stop. The process of insertion during assembly is shown schematically in  FIG.  7   . 
     The birdseed container  16  is shown in front view in  FIG.  3   . The birdseed container  16  is in principle a box enclosed by a housing, the outer contour of which is matched to the contour of the rear insertion opening in the outer housing  4 . A rearwardly projecting handle  20  attached to the birdseed container  16  simplifies handling during assembly and disassembly (see  FIGS.  2  and  4   ). At the top of the birdseed container  16  is an inherently unsealed filling or feed opening  22  for birdfeed. In the final inserted state, the filling or feed opening  22  is closed by the roof  10  of the outer housing  4 . On the underside of the birdseed container  16 , there is at least one removal or discharge opening  24  which is arranged in an elevated position with respect to the bottom  6  and through which, during operation, a metered removal of the filled birdfeed takes place. The respective discharge opening  24  can be closed by a pivotable closure flap  26  attached to the underside of the birdseed container  16 . In the upwardly pivoted closure state, the closure flap  26  is locked to the housing of the birdseed container  16  by means of a clamping element  28  acting as a closure. In the downwardly pivoted opening state, the closure flap  26  forms a slide-off slope for the birdseed emerging from the birdseed container  16  through the discharge opening  24 , which birdseed collects in a feeding space  30  or feeding area on the bottom plate of the outer housing  4 . Said feeding space  30  is delimited by the enclosure  12 , the side walls  8 , the rear wall of the birdseed container  16  and, if applicable, the inserted drinking container  14  (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     The birdseed slides down automatically due to gravity when the removal or discharge opening  24  is opened. More precisely, the birdseed slides according to the set inclined plane or slope after discharge as a result of gravity to the level at which the quantity of birdseed inside the birdseed container  16  and the pushed-out birdseed are in equilibrium. The equilibrium is set in such a way that the feeding place  30 , which is limited in its height by the enclosure  12 , does not overflow. 
     A notch or cutout formed in the roof  10  of the bird house  2  forms a suspension hook  32  for a titmouse dumpling (fat ball) or the like as an additional food supply. The incision is located at the front edge of the roof  10 , outside the fully covered feeding area or space  30 . 
     The forward projection of the roof  10  beyond the bird feeding space  30  is of such a size that normally (except in extreme weather conditions) the feeding space  30  is protected from rain and is thus kept dry. Also, at the rear of the birdhouse  2 , the roof  10  has an overhang, preferably of a few millimeters to centimeters, with respect to the rear of the birdseed container  16 , so that rainwater running off the roof  10  cannot run into the birdseed container  16  through the feed opening  22 . As a result, the birdseed in the birdseed container  16  is securely kept dry. 
     A recess  34  for a camera unit  36  is provided in a central area of the birdseed container  16 , which is inserted from the front into a corresponding insertion opening for mounting. The insertion is limited by rear stop surfaces in the rear wall  38  of the birdseed container  16 . The interior space remaining to receive the birdseed surrounds the recess  34  for the camera unit  36  in a substantially toroidal manner. The process of inserting the camera unit  36  during assembly is shown schematically in  FIG.  8   . 
     In the example, the bird feeder is divided by the recess  34  into two separate chambers (a right-hand chamber and a left-hand chamber), each of which has its own discharge opening  24  at the lower end. The two chambers can be filled with different types of birdseed. 
     The camera unit  36  shown in a front view in  FIG.  5    comprises a camera housing  40  which is substantially cuboidal in shape in this example, the outer contour of which is matched to the contour of the recess  34  in the birdseed container  16 . On the rear side of the camera housing  40  are protrusions or projections  42  which, in the inserted state, engage through a recess  44  in the rear wall  38  of the birdseed container  16  and serve, on the one hand, for centering and, on the other hand, for fixing the camera unit  36  in the desired position (see  FIGS.  1  and  4   ). For the purpose of fixation, in this example two of the projections are formed as arcuate receptacles or retaining arches  46  for associated detents. The respective detent comprises a detent or clamping lever  48  rotatably mounted externally on the rear wall  38  of the birdseed container  16 , which lever is slidably rotatable about an axis of rotation  50  on the rear wall  38  and can thereby be brought into clamping engagement with the associated retaining arc  46  of the camera unit  36  at its inner end  52 . This is indicated in  FIG.  2   , wherein the right clamping lever  48  is just about to engage the associated retaining arc  46 , while the left clamping lever  48  is already fully engaged. 
     The respective clamping lever  48  not only fixes the camera unit  36  in the birdseed container  16 , but at the same time fixes the birdseed container  16  in the outer housing  4 , in that the outer end  54  of the clamping lever  48  can be brought into engagement with an associated slot-like clamping or retaining recess  56  (see  FIG.  1   ) in the side wall  8  of the outer housing  4  when pivoted into the fixing position. During assembly, the camera unit  36  is first inserted into the birdseed container  16  and the respective clamping lever  48  is pivoted until it engages the associated retaining arc  46  of the camera unit  36 , thereby fixing it in place. With this intermediate position shown in  FIG.  2    for the right-hand clamping lever  48 , the birdseed container  16  is inserted into the outer housing  4 . The clamping lever  48  is then pivoted even further until the birdfeed container  16  is also fixed in the outer housing  4 , as is the case, for example, for the clamping lever  48  on the left in  FIG.  2   . Preferably, the clamping levers  48  are mounted in such a way that they fall automatically into the locked position as a result of gravity when the birdseed container  16  is aligned as intended for normal operation, which facilitates single-handed assembly. 
     The described embodiment allows the birdseed container  16  together with the inserted camera unit  36  to be removed from the outer housing  4  and filled with birdseed when the bottom closure flap  26  is closed. If the camera unit  36  is not to be removed in the process, the respective clamping lever  48  remains in the intermediate position described above, otherwise it is opened completely. After the camera unit  36  and the birdseed container  16  have been reinserted and locked, the locking or closure flap  26  on the birdseed container  16  is opened, such that bird feeding and observation can begin. If only the camera unit  36  is to be removed, the birdseed container  16  can also remain in the outer housing  4 . 
     The birdhouse  2  can simply be placed on a flat surface. Alternatively, suspension is possible by means of a suspension eye  58  formed on the roof, into which a suspension strap or fastening belt or the like is hooked. As a further possibility, an installation with the aid of an associated floor stand  60  or a wall installation with the aid of a wall holder, which is shown schematically in  FIG.  9    in an exploded view during assembly from individual parts, can be considered. For this purpose, the floor stand  60  or the wall bracket has a screw thread  62  formed at the end on a rod, which interacts with an associated threaded receptacle  64  (see  FIG.  2   ) on the underside of the birdhouse  2 . 
     Particularly advantageous is the holder shown in  FIG.  9   , which can be used both as a floor stand and as a wall mount. For this purpose, the holder has a disk or plate  102  which serves as a support or holding element and into which a support or holding rod  104  can be screwed centrally. A ball head sleeve  108  can be clamped to the upper end of the support or holding rod  104  by means of a clamping screw  106 . A pivotably mounted ball head  110  is seated in the ball head sleeve  108 , to which ball head  110  a connecting piece is integrally formed or fixedly connected, which carries the screw thread  62  for mounting the birdhouse  2 . The ball head  110  is also locked in position when the clamping screw  106  is tightened. Thus, an adjustable ball head joint is realized by means of which the axis of the screw thread  62  can be bent or pivoted by up to 90° or more with respect to the axis of the support or holding rod  104 , if required. As a result, the mount can also be used as a wall mount with the plate  102  resting against a wall, the support or holding rod  104  extending horizontally or at an angle from the wall, and the screw thread  62  pointing upward. This is illustrated in  FIG.  10   . The term ‘wall’ is to be understood in a broad sense and includes any horizontal, vertical, or inclined support surface for the plate  102 . The plate  102  may be secured to the wall by means of wall plugs and associated cap screws which are passed through dedicated openings, in particular drilled holes or slots  112 , around the periphery of the plate  102 . Alternatively, fastening to a tree trunk without screws is also possible by passing a fastening strap through two opposing strap holes or slots  112  and looping it around the tree trunk. Fixation of the fastening strap can be effected in the tensioned state by means of suitable clamps or the like. 
     A railing attachment can also be provided in a similar manner. For this purpose, a separate clamping element with a ball joint  114  may be provided, which is shown in  FIG.  11   . The clamping jaws  118  of the railing bracket  120 , which can be released and fixed by means of clamping screws or nuts  116 , are shaped in such a way that it can be attached to any railing post which is, e.g., approximately round in cross-section and has a common diameter, for example between 17 and 32 mm. The ball joint  114 , which can be locked by means of a clamping nut  122 , permits horizontal alignment of the birdhouse  2  to be mounted on the screw thread  62 . 
     The outer housing  4 , the birdseed container  16  and the camera housing  40  are each preferably made of a plastic, for example as deep-drawn or injection-molded parts. The birdseed container  16  preferably consists at least partially of a transparent material or has a corresponding viewing window to allow a view into the interior and thus easy detection of the filling level of birdseed. 
     The birdhouse  2  is prepared for automated recording of its animal visitors by photo or video recording. For this purpose, a digital camera  66  designed for outdoor use is inserted into the camera housing  40 . The camera lens  68 , formed with a short objective focus, is guided through an opening in the camera housing  40  as shown in  FIG.  5   , facing forward toward the feeding place  30 . With the aid of a motion sensor  70 , in particular of the pyroelectric sensor (PIR sensor) type, which is also arranged at the front of the camera housing  40  and is directed towards the feeding place  30 , the approach/presence of a bird at the feeding place  30  or even somewhat further away is detected and a photo or a photo sequence or a video is triggered by means of the digital camera  66 . For this purpose, according to  FIG.  6   , a suitable control or control unit  72  is integrated into the camera unit  36 , which couples the motion sensor  70  in a corresponding manner to the trigger of the digital camera  66 . Further, a microphone  74  may be provided to record audio and add an audio track (bird chirping) to a video sequence. An array of light emitting diodes, particularly infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs)  76 , may be provided on the front of the camera housing  40  to illuminate the scene during photographic or cinematic capture. The control unit  72  integrated into the camera unit  36  synchronizes the illumination with the recording. A user can configure the camera and sensor system, such as setting the number of photos per trigger, the length of the video sequence, the image resolution, the sensor sensitivity, and more, via a display  78  arranged on the outside of the front of the camera housing  40  and via key-shaped controls or operating elements  80  as part of an operating unit  82 , which may additionally or alternatively be virtually integrated into a touch display. 
     During night, the infrared LEDs  76  are preferably switched on automatically to provide the necessary light for capturing images/videos. The camera control system detects night either by means of a separate brightness sensor located on the outside of the camera housing  40  or by evaluating the signals from the image sensor integrated in the digital camera  66 . In night mode, the image sensor is sensitive to IR light emitted by the infrared LEDs  76 . Alternatively, the camera lens  68  has an infrared filter that can preferably be activated automatically. 
     The images taken by the digital camera  66  are stored on a removable and replaceable storage medium, in particular a Secure Digital Memory Card (SD card). The corresponding insertion slot  84  is preferably located within the camera housing  40  and is only accessible when the rear cover flap  86  is open as shown in  FIG.  6   . Furthermore, a speaker  88  for acoustic feedback during operation, a USB port  90 , preferably of the micro-USB or USB-C type, and/or an on/off switch  92  may be arranged there. As a result, these sensitive components are particularly well protected from the weather. The apertures or recesses in the front of the camera housing  40  for the components led out, in particular motion sensor  70 , camera lens  68 , and display  78 , are sealed to be at least splash-proof. The same applies to any operating elements  80  that may be present. The cover flap  86  is also sealed with respect to the housing base body. Penetration of moisture into the sensitive digital camera  66 , the motion sensor  70 , the insertion slot  84 , or the control electronics is consistently prevented. The interior of the camera body  40 , which is accessible when the cover shell or flap  86  is open, also includes a battery compartment  94  for the batteries  96  or rechargeable batteries required for operation. Alternatively, the electronic components can also be supplied with operating voltage via a (low voltage) DC connection  100  by means of a connectable power cable. The DC connection  100  is led out of the camera housing  40  and, when not in use, can be closed by a sealing plug, preferably made of rubber-elastic material. An associated power cable feedthrough  98  through the rear wall  38  of the birdseed container  16  can be seen in  FIGS.  3  and  4   . 
     To read the photographic data saved or stored on the storage medium, in particular memory card, into an external computer, the camera unit  36  is removed from the birdhouse  2  as described above and the cover flap  86  is opened. Then either the memory card is removed and inserted into an external card reader adapter, or a data connection is established using a USB cable which is inserted into the USB port  90 . 
     Preferably, the digital camera  66  also has a loop mode in which a video or series of photos (preferably with a selectable pause interval between two photos) is continuously recorded. When the storage medium is full, the beginning of the series of photos or video is continuously overwritten. The triggering of the digital camera  66  controlled by the motion sensor  70  is then suitably disabled. In such a loop mode, the birdhouse  2  can also be used for unobtrusive surveillance of a property or estate. 
     Finally, some preferred technical specifications of the birdhouse  2  and its electronic components are listed summarily:
         Battery operated for indoor and outdoor use   Optimized for recording and observing birds (short lens focus 6-15 cm; wide viewing angle of 100°.   Lens with Auto IR Filter   FullHD video resolution 1080 p   Slow motion videos with up to 25 FPS playback   2″ (5 cm) TFT LCD display (528×220)    1/3.2″ CMOS sensor with 8 MP   Functions: Video, Photo, Video &amp; Photo or Slow Motion.   PIR sensor (˜20 cm) with 60° viewing angle   IR range (˜50 cm) with 940 nm LEDs for night photography   Automatic switching: Color images by day/black and white images by night   Triggering time 0.3 s   Integrated microphone &amp; speaker   Removable birdfeed container for approx. 150 g bird food   Tit dumpling (fat ball) hook   Removable water trough   Micro SD card up to 512 GB   Camera protection class IP56 (dustproof &amp; strong splashproof)       

     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed or illustrated embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover numerous other modifications, substitutions, variations and broad equivalent arrangements that are included within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       2  birdhouse 
       4  outer housing 
       6  floor/bottom 
       8  side wall 
       10  roof 
       12  enclosure 
       14  drinking container 
       16  birdseed container 
       18  projection/protrusion 
       20  handle 
       22  feed opening 
       24  discharge opening 
       26  closure flap 
       28  clamping element 
       30  feeding place 
       32  suspension hook 
       34  recess 
       36  camera unit 
       38  rear wall 
       40  camera housing 
       42  projection/protrusion 
       44  recess 
       46  retaining arch 
       48  clamping lever 
       50  rotational axis 
       52  inner end 
       54  outer end 
       56  recess 
       58  suspension eye 
       60  floor stand 
       62  screw thread 
       64  thread mount 
       66  digital camera 
       68  camera lens 
       70  motion sensor 
       72  control unit 
       74  microphone 
       76  infrared light emitting diodes 
       78  display 
       80  operating element 
       82  operating unit 
       84  insertion slot 
       86  cover flap 
       88  speaker 
       90  USB port 
       92  on/off switch 
       94  battery compartment 
       96  battery 
       98  power cable feedthrough 
       100  DC connection 
       102  plate 
       104  support or holding rod 
       106  clamping screw 
       108  ball head sleeve 
       110  ball head 
       112  slot 
       114  ball joint 
       116  clamping screw or nut 
       118  clamping jaw 
       120  rail bracket 
       122  clamping nut