Patent Publication Number: US-2011067637-A1

Title: Squirrel guard for a bird feeder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a squirrel guard in combination with a bird feeder. As is well-known, bird feeders store and dispense bird seed for birds. A problem with most bird feeders is encroachment by small animals, especially squirrels. 
     There have been numerous attempts to build bird feeders to include apparatus to prevent access to the seed by these animals, especially squirrels. 
     Attempts to provide squirrel guards are shown in applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,373,901 B2 and 7,409,992 B1 
     It was found that squirrels could bypass these guards because they were mounted in stable positions. 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a collection tray for collecting spilled seed which also functions as a squirrel guard which blocks squirrel access to the bird feeder. 
     Another object of the invention is the provision of a squirrel guard movable between a horizontal collection position and a diagonal or tilted discharge position in dependence upon the weight applied to its upper surface. 
     Another object of the invention is the provision of various mounting structures which will accommodate such a squirrel guard between these positions and yet support it in position relative to the feeder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is directed to a squirrel guard for use with a bird feeder. The bird feeder acts to store and dispense the feed comprising an upstanding housing formed along a vertical axis and includes side walls, a roof and a floor adjacent to its lower side. A support is provided for positioning the feeder in an elevated position. The squirrel guard comprises a generally round and planar tray, with a circular opening about its central axis and is mounted beneath the lower side. The tray acts to prevent squirrel access to the bird seeds and as a collection tray for spilled bird seed. 
     A connector is arranged beneath the lower side and is engaged with and supports the tray in a generally horizontal position perpendicular to the vertical axis when only a minimal weight, such as bird seed and small birds, is carried by said tray and allowing the tray to tilt relative to the vertical axis to a generally diagonal discharge position when it is engaged with a relatively heavy weight, such as a squirrel. Therefore, in use, the tray normally remains in the horizontal position collecting spilled bird seed but moves to the discharge position when engaged by a squirrel causing the squirrel to fall from the tray. 
     The connector may comprise a rod located beneath the lower side and extending downwardly through the opening. A flat washer, which supports a cone-shaped washer, is secured with the rod in spaced position beneath the lower side. The flat washer supports the tray in the generally horizontal position while the cone-shaped washer maintains the tray centered about the vertical axis, allowing the tray to pivot to the discharge position when the tray is engaged by a squirrel and guides the tray back to the horizontal position upon departure of the squirrel. 
     An extension may be engaged with the upper end of the rod and the lower side of the feeder. The extension acts to support the feeder in an elevated position and to position the feeder in fixed position relative to the upper end of the rod. 
     The connector may comprise a plurality of flexible extensions extending parallel of the vertical axis and perpendicular of the lower side and the tray. The extensions are engaged with the tray generally adjacent and about the circular opening and with the feeder. 
     The extensions may be engaged with a ring located beneath the lower portion of the feeder. There may be a circular guard positioned about the flexible extensions and restriction on the tray. 
     The connector may comprise a rod pivotally secured with at least one of the lower side and the tray along the vertical axis. The pivotal engagement allows the tray to move between the discharge position and the horizontal position. 
     The connector may comprise a rod fixed at one end with the lower side along the vertical axis. The opposite end of the rod carries a flat washer supporting on its upper side a cone-shaped washer. The tray is supported and positioned by the flat washer and the cone-shaped washer. 
     The connector may comprise a pole extending vertically from the ground and having at its upper end an extension passing through the circular opening. The extension carries a flat washer and a cone-shaped washer. The cone-shaped washer extends through the circular opening allowing the tray to be separated on the flat washer centrally of the axis of the pole. A C-shaped rod, which engages at one end with the extension and at an opposite end with the roof, holds the feeder in position above the tray. 
     The tray opening is about 1 3/16″ in diameter; the diameter of the flat washer is 1¾″; and, the diameter of the cone-shaped washer is 1 5/16″. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. 
       The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bird feeder and a squirrel guard in accordance with the instant invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional plane view of the feeder openings; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the pole connection and support for the flat and oval washers along with the tray; 
         FIG. 4  is a cutaway sectional view of the interconnected pole supporting the tray in a diagonal position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the same tray support with a C-shaped feeder support; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a chain and hook tray support; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the hook and tray support; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another tray supporting arrangement; 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8  showing the cover cam in broken lines; 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 9  showing the tray in its diagonal position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. 
     A typical bird feeder, according to the invention, is shown in  FIG. 1 . Feeder  10  is preferably made of metal and consists of a circular housing  12  having a vertical wall, a roof  14 , a lower side  16 , including a floor. Various arrangements, including a ring  18  attached with roof  14  or a receptor or connector  20  associated with the floor and lower side  16 , may be employed to assist in supporting feeder  10  in an elevated position. 
     Arranged about the housing of feeder  10  are openings  22  which are in the general shape of an inverted T. A collar  24  is positioned adjacent and below each opening forming a feed channel. A perch  26  extends outwardly from the feed channel in known manner. The outer edges of collar  24  forming the feeder also function to receive the outer ends of door  30 . Door  30  is adjustable vertically to adjust the size of opening  22  which controls the delivery of the bird seed to the feeder  22 . Perches  26  may also be adjusted longitudinally. 
     The squirrel guard comprises a planar tray  36  having a circular opening  38  formed about its center axis. The size of the opening may vary as desired. The outer edge of tray  36  may be circular or may include a plurality of upturned edges as desired. The inner edges of the opening may be reinforced or they may contain a plurality of openings  54  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The planar upper surface is desired when the tray is intended for its primary function, i.e., use as a squirrel guard. The upper surface, having upturned edges, is desired when the tray functions primarily as a seed saver. 
     Numerous mechanisms may be employed to position the feeder in an elevated position. A first of these may include a flexible member, such as C-shaped rod  50  or chain  60 , engaged with ring  18  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Another and more usual mechanism would include pole  32  secured in the ground to extend vertically with feeder  10  supported at its lower side  16  by the upper end of the pole as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A first of several arrangements of the latter mounting arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . Here pole  32  is shown in the vertical position. Formed on its upper end is extension  34  which is of less diameter than the pole and forms a shoulder  35  with the pole where they intersect. 
     This arrangement may be expanded to include a second pole extension pole  40  of selected length secured over extension  34  and engaging with the lower side  16  of feeder  10 , in known manner, supporting the feeder in a fixed vertical position. 
     Tray  36  is positioned with pole  32  extending through opening  38  and preferably with its planar surface on the upper side, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     It is desirable that tray  36  be located about 12″ below lower side  16  of feeder  10  to allow sufficient space for birds to feed and space for the tray to tilt to a diagonal or discharge position. Also, this distance requires a squirrel to climb the pole or other support in order to reach the feeder. 
     A first arrangement for mounting tray  36  beneath feeder  10  comprises positioning a flat washer  46  over extension  34  to rest on shoulder  35  and a cone-shaped washer  48  over extension  34  to rest on the flat washer. Flat washer  46  has a diameter greater than the diameter of circular opening  38  while cone-shaped washer  48  has a maximum diameter slightly less than that of opening  38 . Preferably, the diameter of the cone-shaped washer is 1 5/16″ and flat washer is 1¾″. 
     Tray  36  is supported in its elevated horizontal position by flat washer  46  and shown in  FIG. 1 . Cone-shaped washer  48 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , acts to keep tray  36  centered along the vertical axis by passing through opening  38  when the tray is in its horizontal position but allows tray  36  to tilt to a diagonal or discharge position when engaged by a heavy object such as a squirrel, as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     This arrangement may be slightly altered when supporting tray  36 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . A pole and/or chain  62  is secured with underside  16  of the feeder and may include a hook extension  64  on its lower end. Flat and cone-shaped washers  46 ,  48  may be secured with the lower end of hook extension  64  to support tray  36  in the manner as above described. A collar  66  may be provided to center cone-shaped washer  48 . See  FIG. 7 . 
     Another arrangement, as shown in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , would be to position the flat and cone-shaped washers  46 ,  48  to rest on shoulder  35  of pole  32 , as above described, to position tray  36  on the washers as described. 
     C-shaped rod  50  having a connector  52  arranged at one end is provided. Connector  52  is engaged over extension  34  of pole  32  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to position the C-shaped rod in a generally vertical position. Feeder  10  is supported by ring  18  which is engaged within the C-shaped rod with its lower end spaced above tray  36  by about 15″. A connector  68 , comprising a rod with opposed hooks, may or may not be provided. 
     Another embodiment is to provide additional openings  54 , preferably three, about opening  38 . Providing a plurality of flexible extensions  44  and securing lower ends with the additional openings  54  and securing the upper ends of flexible extensions  44  with lower side of feeder  10  or with a ring  42  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Tray  36  extends downwardly generally perpendicular with the vertical axis of pole  22 . The flexible extensions  44  support tray  36  at a desired distance from lower side  16  in a generally horizontal position. The application of weight to one edge causes the tray to tilt to a generally diagonal position. 
     Another arrangement would be to have a ring  42  position over extension  34  to rest on shoulder  35 . Providing ring  42  with openings  43  to receive the upper ends of flexible extensions  44 . Tray  36 , through openings  54 , is connected with lower ends of flexible extensions  44 . The feeder in both arrangements may be supported in an elevated position from either its roof  14  or its lower side  16  using these alternative arrangements. See  FIGS. 8-10 . It is desired to limit the flexible extensions to three. 
     When employing flexible extensions  44 , it may be desirable to cover the extensions. Hollow tube  56  may be positioned to extend over flexible extensions  44  and rest on tray  36 . When ring  42  is used, tube  56  covers the ring also. Tube  56  does not interfere with the tilting action of tray  36  as it is not attached. See  FIG. 10 . The tube merely covers the flexible extensions to prevent these being engaged by a squirrel. 
     The cone-shaped washer may be formed with two flat sides. In this arrangement, the larger flat side would be connected in fixed position with the tray and the smaller flat side positioned in engagement with the flat washer. The opening through the cone-shaped washer would be enlarged so that a tilting action would occur between the cone-shaped washer and the flat washer when a weight engages the tray. The degree of tilt is determined by the size of the opening through the flat washer and tray. 
     The degree of tilt may also be adjusted when using the cone-shaped and flat washer by inserting collar  66  over the extension pole, increasing its diameter, and, thereby, reducing the open space between the extension pole and the opening in the tray. See  FIG. 7 . It may be desirable to provide a weight atop tray  36  and about extension  64  stabilize the tray. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.