Patent Publication Number: US-8522717-B2

Title: Top-fill hummingbird feeder

Description:
This is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/785,905, filed Apr. 20, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,671 and hereby claims the priority thereof to which it is entitled. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to liquid bird feeders, particularly hummingbird feeders, and mechanisms for shutting off the flow of liquid food from a reservoir to a feeding basin to allow for more facile filling and cleaning of the feeder. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     People who live in an area inhabited by hummingbirds frequently try to promote their presence by the use of hummingbird feeders. Hummingbird feeders differ from ordinary bird feeders because hummingbirds feed on nectar or simulated nectar, which are liquid, instead of the dry food consumed by most birds. Simulated nectar is typically formed from water sweetened with sugar or honey. In many hummingbird feeders, the nectar (or simulated nectar) is stored in a reservoir and conveyed to simulated flowers where a perch may be provided so that the hummingbird can land and, having a long, slender beak, insert it into the access apertures in the simulated flower and feed. 
     Most hummingbird feeders have one of two basic designs. One includes an inverted top container which empties into a lower reservoir or feeding basin from which the birds feed. The vacuum at the top of the container (or put another way, the outside air pressure) keeps the liquid in the top container from draining out too rapidly. The other common feeder design consists of a container with holes in its cover through which the hummingbirds reach to feed. This latter style of feeder suffers from the problem that it must be refilled very often, because the level of food is constantly being reduced by the feeding. 
     The so-called “vacuum-type” feeders also have problems. For example, they can only be filled by dismantling the feeder and removing the top container from its feeding position. Ordinarily, the consumer must invert the feeder in order to refill it, with the attendant risks of spillage, and requires a certain amount of manual dexterity to create the necessary vacuum. Moreover, because a vacuum is required, these designs are limited to a single opening for filling and cleaning. This opening is typically small, which restricts access to the interior of the container and makes it more difficult to effectively clean the container. Additionally, vacuum feeders can corrode or be inefficient, permitting the nectar to leak and creating an increased risk of insect contamination. 
     One product which has been available in the market is the Garden Song Top Fill Hummingbird Feeder from Opus Incorporated. The Opus feeder includes an upstanding liquid container with a large top opening and a small cylindrical lower opening which is screw-threaded into an upstanding cylindrical collar positioned in the center of a feeding basin or liquid tray. The top opening is closed with a cover that seals the container to create a vacuum as the liquid level recedes downwardly in the container. An internal, rotatable ring or valve mechanism has an upstanding cylindrical wall which surrounds the cylindrical collar inside the feeding basin. 
     The wall of the cylindrical collar has a plurality of ports, and the cylindrical wall of the rotatable ring has a plurality of corresponding openings. When the openings in the rotatable ring are aligned with the ports of the collar using an externally accessible lever, nectar can flow out of the container lower opening, through the aligned ports and openings, and into the feeding basin or liquid tray. When the rotatable ring is rotated using the externally accessible lever, so that its openings are not aligned with the ports of the collar, the nectar flow from the container to the feeding base is cut off. In this condition, the cover can be removed from the container top opening for (re)filling the container without nectar in the container flowing out through the collar to flood and overflow the feeding base or liquid tray. This design also permits the top opening to be large enough to facilitate easy cleaning of the bottle. 
     There have also been modular designs for hummingbird feeders in which a common functional feeding module is utilized in conjunction with changeable decorative outer claddings. However, such prior art hummingbird modular feeders suffer the same drawbacks as discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable, consumer-friendly hummingbird feeder having a liquid-holding container or bottle with a large open top for easy top filling and cleaning of the container. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder in which the liquid-holding container or bottle does not have to be inverted after filling in order to create a vacuum to control flow of the liquid nectar to the feeding basin or liquid tray. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder with a liquid-holding container or bottle having a lower bottleneck opening and with a stopper or sealing mechanism for the bottleneck opening which is connected to an actuator rod operated by the screwing and unscrewing of the cap covering the bottle large top opening. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder in accordance with the preceding objects, which includes a top-fill liquid holding container or bottle in combination with a feeding basin which together serve as a common functional feeding module that can be fitted into different decorative claddings so that it is no longer necessary to retool all of the components in order to produce a hummingbird feeder with a different decorative look. 
     A final object to be recited herein is to provide a hummingbird feeder in accordance with the preceding objects, which has components that can be easily manufactured from readily available and known materials and that can be easily assembled for ease and economy of manufacture and easily disassembled and reassembled for easy cleaning and which will be sturdy and long lasting in operation and use. 
     These and other objects are achieved by a hummingbird feeder which includes a generally upstanding reservoir bottle or liquid container having a large opening at its top end. A removable top or cap is screw-threaded onto the top end to close and seal the top end opening. The bottom of the bottle or container has a lower bottom opening, preferably in the form of a threaded bottleneck, which can be screw-threaded into a central collar of a feeding basin that has a plurality of feeding ports in a known arrangement. An upwardly biased sealing mechanism is connected to the bottom end of an actuator rod positioned longitudinally down the center of the reservoir bottle. 
     The sealing mechanism and actuator rod are operatively movable between a first or down position and a second or up position by screw-threading the removable top onto and off of, respectively, the reservoir bottle top open end. When the actuator rod and the sealing mechanism move to the down position by closing the top cap, the sealing mechanism opens the bottle lower opening and allows the flow of liquid nectar out of the reservoir bottle into the feeding basin. When the actuator rod and sealing mechanism move to the up biased closed position by removing the top cap, the sealing mechanism seals off the bottle lower opening and prevents liquid nectar from flowing out of the bottle into the feeding basin. 
     The removable cap is threaded onto the top opening of the reservoir bottle to create a vacuum-generating seal between the removable cap and the reservoir bottle, such as by a conventional ring seal between the cap and an upper surface of the bottle as known by those skilled in the art. When the removable cap is not in a sealed position it is in an unsealed position. When the removable cap is in the sealed position (and the vacuum seal in place), the actuator rod is held in its first or down position. When the removable cap is in the unsealed position (breaking the vacuum seal), the actuator rod moves up into its second or up position. When the actuator rod is in its first or down position the sealing mechanism is in an open position, and permits the reservoir bottle to be in fluidic communication with the feeding basin. When the removable top is moved into the unsealed position and/or removed, the bias of the sealing mechanism moves the actuator rod up into its second or up position and the sealing mechanism moves into its closed position, thus blocking the passage of liquid out of the bottom opening of the reservoir bottle into the feeding basin. 
     The mating threads of the removable cap and upstanding neck around the large opening at the top of the reservoir bottle are preferably of a “quarter turn” design. That is, only a quarter turn of the cap is required for it to go from a sealed position to an unsealed position, and vice versa. The quarter turn thread design quickens the motion of the actuator rod between its up and down positions, and correspondingly the open and closed positions of the biased sealing mechanism, thus reducing the time during which liquid nectar in the reservoir bottle can freely flow into the feeding basin before the sealing mechanism stops the flow, in the sealed position, or the vacuum at the top of the sealed reservoir restrains the flow when the sealing mechanism is in the open position. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the top fill hummingbird feeder of the present invention includes a common functional feeding module which can be fitted into different decorative claddings so as to change the appearance of the feeder without having to re-tool all of the feeder components. The common functional feeding module includes a top fill liquid holding container or reservoir bottle with a bottleneck bottom opening which is fitted into a central collar of the feeding basin. The bottleneck opening is opened and closed by a sealing mechanism and actuator rod as previously described. The feeding basin has a plurality of protruding tabs around its periphery which are rotationally received in an interference fit within tab receptacles in the base of the decorative cladding. 
     The foregoing together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. The drawings are not intended to be to scale. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The combination of elements, arrangement of parts and features of construction that lead to the top-fill hummingbird feeder of the instant invention will be pointed out in more detail hereinafter with respect to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views of the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention, with the feeder in the feeding position. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view similar to  FIG. 1  of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 1 , with the cap removed and the feeder in the filling position. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 1 , showing the bottleneck lower opening, the central portion of the feeding basin, and the bottom end of the actuator rod connected to the sealing mechanism. 
         FIG. 4  is a partially cut-away cross-sectional side view, similar to  FIG. 1 , of a second embodiment of a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 4 , showing the bottleneck lower opening, the center portion of the feeding basin, and the bottom end of the actuator rod connected to the sealing mechanism. 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a third embodiment of a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 7 , showing the feeding basin and the lower end of the actuator rod attached at the center of the base of the feeding basin, with the sealing mechanism in the closed position. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 7 , similar to  FIG. 10 , but with the sealing mechanism in the open position. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective side view of a fourth embodiment of a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the components of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 12 , with the feeder in the feeding position. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective side view of a fifth embodiment of a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention, including a common functional feeding module surrounded by a decorative cladding. 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the decorative cladding separated from the common functional feeding module of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the common functional feeding module of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of the hummingbird feeder of  FIG. 15 , with the feeder in the feeding position. 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of the base of the decorative cladding and its associated locking ring and the upper and lower basin components which make up the feeding basin of the feeding module shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom view of the feeding basin for the feeding module of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the decorative cladding, with the locking ring in place, shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the common functional feeding module fitted into the decorative cladding of  FIG. 16 , before rotational locking therein. 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom view of the common functional feeding module fitted into the decorative cladding of  FIG. 16 , after rotational locking therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a hummingbird feeder generally designated by reference numeral  10 . The feeder  10  consists of three basic components: a reservoir bottle or liquid container  12 ; a feeding basin or liquid tray generally designated by reference numeral  14 ; and a biased sealing mechanism generally designated by reference numeral  18 . In accordance with the invention, the biased sealing mechanism  18  includes an actuator rod  16  extending generally vertically down the center of the reservoir bottle  12  and into the feeding basin  14  and a biasing element which provides counter forces to the actuator rod. 
     In the  FIG. 1-3  embodiment, the biased sealing mechanism is in the form of a sealing ring or stopper  20  mounted on the lower end of actuator rod  16  and biased upwardly by compression spring  22 . The reservoir bottle  12  can be in any desired shape, although it is preferably longer in height than width so as to provide the requisite partial vacuum above the liquid nectar contained therein. Examples are an elliptical shape as shown for reservoir bottle  12  and a cylindrical shape, such as shown for reservoir bottles  312  (see  FIGS. 12-14 ) and  412  (see  FIGS. 16-18 ). 
     The reservoir bottle  12  has an upstanding neck  24  forming a large opening  26  at its upper end for easy filling and cleaning of the reservoir bottle. The bottom of the reservoir bottle  12  has a smaller lower opening  28 , preferably in the form of a bottleneck  30  with screw threads  32 , so that it can be screw-threaded into a generally vertical collar  34  located centrally in the cover  42  of feeding basin  14 . When screw-threaded in place, the lower edge  31  of bottleneck  30  extends adjacent the lower end  35  of collar  34  into the interior of feeding basin  14 . 
     A removable top or cap  36  closes off the large opening  26  at the top of the reservoir bottle  12  in a sealed condition, as by a conventional ring seal  38 , see  FIG. 5 . The cap  36  preferably has internal threads  40  which mate with external threads  44  on upstanding neck  24 . The mating threads of the removable cap  36  and upstanding neck  24  are preferably of the “quarter turn” design in which a quarter turn of the cap  36  allows it to go from a sealed position to an unsealed position, and vice versa. 
     The removable cap  36  is preferably made of two pieces for ease of manufacture, a lower shell  46  and an upper shell or cover  48  (see  FIG. 5 ). The top shell or cover  48  is shaped to complete the elliptical design of the outer surface of the reservoir bottle  12 . The lower shell  46  is molded to provide the internal threads  40  and a central notch  50 , which operatively engages the top  52  of the actuator rod  16 . The top  52  of the actuator rod  16  is preferably rounded and notch  50  is preferably tapered and round at its apex to facilitate their operative interaction, as will be described hereinafter. 
     The feeding basin  14  is generally circular in plan view with a cover  42  and a base  56  molded of suitable polymer material. The base  56  includes a vertical rim  57  extending around its periphery to define nectar holding chambers  60  and is received in a mating vertical flange  58  depending around the periphery of the cover  42 . The base  56  is attached to the cover  42  by any suitable plastic parts attaching mechanism, such as protruding flanges  82  at the top of rim  57  which extend into corresponding slots  84  in flange  58 , as well known to those skilled in the art. The base  56  is preferably molded with upstanding protrusions  59  which help define nectar chambers  60  adjacent feeding ports  61  and reduce the volume of nectar required to fill the base  56 . 
     The cover  42  is molded to include the threaded collar depending centrally therein and openings  63  to receive feeding ports  61 . The cover  42  is also molded with legs  65  extending downwardly from collar  34  which terminate in a platform  67 . The platform  67  supports the base of compression spring  22  and the legs  65  surround the sides of the compression spring during its expansion and compression. The platform  67  preferably has upstanding protrusions  71  on its upper surface which center the base of spring  22  on the platform. The base  56  is also preferably formed with perches  69  to support the hummingbirds when feeding. The spring  22  extends upwardly so that it engages the underneath side  64  of sealing plug or stopper  20 . 
     Stopper  20  is preferably disk-shaped with an annular upper surface  66  to engage the bottom edge′  31  of the bottleneck and close off the lower opening  28 , thus preventing liquid flow from bottle  12 . A flange  70  depending from the periphery of stopper  20  surrounds the top of spring  22  to keep the spring and stopper aligned. A conical projection  72  extends upwardly from the center of the stopper  20  for connection to the lower end  74  of the actuator rod  16 , as by threaded engagement  76  as shown. The stopper  20  is preferably coated with or formed of a silicone, rubber or other elastomeric material to aid in sealing. Alternatively, a washer or O-ring of such material could be positioned on the top of the stopper  20  to perform the sealing function. 
     The operation of the feeder  10  can be described as follows. When the removable cap  36  is threaded onto threads  44  of the reservoir bottle  12  into the sealed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the notch  50  presses downwardly on the top  52  of the actuator rod  16 , forcing the rod and the stopper  20  to move downwardly against the upward bias of the spring  22  and away from the lower opening  28  of the bottle  12 . with the cap  36  in the sealed position and the sealing plug  20  away from the opening  28 , liquid nectar in bottle  12  can flow out of the bottle, thus immersing the bottleneck opening  28 , and into the holding chambers  60  of the feeding basin or liquid tray  14 . The nectar in the holding chambers can then be accessed by hummingbirds through feeding ports  61 . With the cap  36  sealed over opening  26 , as the liquid nectar in bottle  12  flows out of the bottle, a partial vacuum is created in the top of the bottle above the liquid nectar remaining therein. Outside air pressure pressing down on the nectar in holding chambers  60  through the feeding ports  61  keeps the nectar from flowing out of the feeding basin  14  while still immersing the bottleneck opening  28 , in the conventional manner. 
     When the removable cap  36  is removed from threads  44  at the top of the reservoir bottle  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , notch  50  no longer pushes down on the top  52  of the actuator rod, and thus the biased stopper  20 . The stopper  20  is then free to be pushed upwardly by compression spring  22 , causing the upper surface  66  to close off the bottleneck opening  28  and the liquid flow from bottle  12  into holding chambers  60 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when cap  36  has been removed, the user can easily pour additional nectar into the reservoir bottle  12  through the large opening  26  without causing the liquid nectar to flood out of the feeding basin through the feeding ports  61 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4-6  of the drawings, there is shown another embodiment of a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention generally designated by reference numeral  110 . Most of the components of feeder  110  are the same as the corresponding components of feeder  10 , except for the lower portion of the actuator rod and the biased sealing mechanism for the reservoir bottle lower opening. Accordingly, like numerals from feeder  10  are used in conjunction with feeder  110  in drawing  FIGS. 4-6 , and the corresponding structure will not be repeated, except the feeder basis  14  is elliptical in shape and the reservoir bottle  12  is elliptical in cross-section (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The biased sealing mechanism in this embodiment is in the form of an inverted rubber or rubber-like button, generally designated by reference numeral  112 , having a generally flat bell shape, connected to the bottom of actuator rod  116 . The button  112  includes a peripheral flange  124  to support the button on the top surface of the base  156 . Interior of the flange  124  is an annular section  115  which is connected to a central disk-like stopper  118 , thus defining “collapsing points”  117  to collapse the button under prescribed forces. The stopper  118  has an annular upper surface  120  and a cylindrical projection  122  which extends upwardly from the center of the stopper  118  for connection to the lower end  174  of the actuator rod  116 , as by threaded engagement  176  as shown. The actuator rod lower end  174  has laterally extending fins  178 , preferably four in number, to assist in centralizing and aligning the rod lower end  174  in the bottleneck  30 . 
     The button  112 , as previously stated, is preferably made of rubber or other elastomeric material and is engineered so that when no pressure is applied to it by actuator rod  116 , stopper upper surface  120  presses against the bottom edge  31  of the bottleneck opening  28  to seal this lower opening. Liquid nectar in bottle  12  is thus unable to flow into the feeding basin  114 . When the actuator rod  116  is depressed by threading the removable cap  36  into the sealed position, the stopper  118  of the button  112  is depressed, thus unsealing bottle opening  28  and permitting liquid nectar to flow from the bottleneck  30  into holding chambers  60 . 
     Preferably, the button  112  is engineered (e.g. thickness, geometry, materials used, etc.) so that when it is not being flexed by the actuator rod  116 , the annular upper surface  120  fits snugly against the edge  31  of mouth  30  for complete sealing and without leakage of liquid nectar even when the bottle  12  is completely full, such as during filling and refilling. Similarly, the pressure required to flex the button  112  downwardly by applying downward pressure on the actuator rod  116  should not be too great so as to minimize the amount of resistance the user would encounter when putting the removable cap  36  into the sealed position to force the actuator  116  downwardly. 
     Another hummingbird feeder in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 7-11  and generally designated by reference numeral  210 . The feeder  210  includes a generally elliptical reservoir bottle or container  212  mounted on top of an elliptical feeding basin or liquid tray generally designated by reference numeral  214 , similar in shape to feeder  110 . The mounting is also similar to the prior embodiments in that the bottom of the container  212  is in the form of a bottleneck  230  with screw threads  232  which is screw-threaded into threads (not shown) of a generally vertical depending collar  234  located centrally in the cover  242  of feeding basin  214 . 
     The generally elliptical container  212  has a large threaded opening  226  at its top end, which is closed by a removable threaded top or cap  236  into a sealed position, such as by a conventional ring seal  238 . The cap  236  is preferably formed in two pieces with the central notch  250  opening downwardly in its lower surface. The mating threads of the removable cap  236  and opening  226  are also preferably configured of the “quarter turn” design. 
     In this embodiment the feeding basin  214  has a rigid cover  242  and a flexible, biased base  256 . As in the earlier embodiments, the base has an upwardly extending flange  257  extending around it periphery and the cover has a depending flange  255  extending around its periphery which surrounds the upwardly extending flange  257 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . These overlapping flanges  255  and  257  are similarly friction-fitted or otherwise snapped together so that they may be disengaged for cleaning. 
     The lower end of the actuator rod  216  preferably includes fins  278  for centralizing and aligning the actuator rod in the bottleneck mouth  230 . The bottom of the actuator rod  216  is connected directly to a thickened central portion  263  of the flexible base  256 . Any suitable connection can be used, such as mating threads or a projecting threaded portion at the end of the actuator rod which is held in place by a suitable locknut. 
     To provide the desired biased flexing of the flexible base  256 , the base is molded with an annular spider  267  which allows the central portion of the base to move downwardly under the downward action of the actuator rod  216 . When the central portion of the flexible base  256  is forced downwardly by the actuator rod  216 , the base upper surface at  269  moves away from the lower edge  271  of the bottleneck opening  230  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) thus allowing nectar to flow out of reservoir bottle  212  and into holding chambers  260 . When the cap  236  is unsealed and rod  216  is free to move up, the memory in the base central portion  263  causes it to move up and base surface  269  to re-engage edge  271 , thus closing off fluid communication from bottle  212  into chambers  260 . In the event the feeder  210  is resting on a solid surface, flexible base  256  has a depending support flange  273  which provides the necessary clearance so that the central portion  263  of the base can flex downwardly without contacting the supporting surface. 
     Yet another embodiment of a hummingbird feeder in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 12-14  and is generally designated by reference numeral  310 . Feeder  310  includes an actuator rod  316  and spring-biased stopper  320  similar to rod  16  and stopper  20  included in feeder  10 . Feeder  310  differs from feeder  10 , however, in its general overall shape and feeding openings. In particular, feeder  310  includes a generally cylindrical reservoir bottle  312  and a semi-spherical cap  336  representing the top half of a sphere, which is screw-threaded onto the large opening  326  at the upper end of the reservoir bottle. The smaller lower opening  328  is also in the form of a bottleneck  330  screw-threaded into a central collar  334  in the upper basin component or cover  354  of the feeding basin  314 . The lower basin component or base  356  of the feeding basin  314  also has a semi-spherical shape, but representing the bottom half of a sphere and thus complimentary to the semi-spherical shape of the cap  336 . The bottom of the base  356  includes a raised platform  362  at its center for seating of the spring  322  thereon. The actuator rod  316  and stopper  320  operate in the same manner as previously described for actuator rod  16  and stopper  20  of feeder  10 . 
     The feeding basin  314  includes a liquid nectar holding chamber  360  which is in fluid communication with a plurality of arms  362  having feeding ports  364  at the ends thereof. 
     A final embodiment of a hummingbird feeder in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 15-23  and is generally designated by reference numeral  410 . Feeder  410  includes a common functional feeding module, generally designated by reference numeral  411 , which can be fit into different decorative claddings, such as cladding  413 . The feeding module  411  includes a liquid holding container or reservoir bottle  412 , preferably having a cylindrical shape, which is fitted above a feeding basin  414 , preferably circular. Other shapes for the feeding module can be adopted for complimentarily shaped claddings. By utilizing a common functional feeding module, such as module  411 , which can be fitted into different decorative claddings, it is no longer necessary to re-tool all of the components in order to produce a hummingbird feeder with a different decorative look. Further, the consumer may purchase alternate claddings in order to change the look of the hummingbird feeder in his/her garden without having to purchase a whole new feeder. Previously, the consumer who wanted to change the appearance of the hummingbird feeder needed to purchase a new feeder in order to achieve an alternate look. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the common functional feeding module  411 , as shown, the generally cylindrical container  412  has a large threaded opening  426  at its top end, which is closed by a removable threaded top or cap  436  into a sealed position, such as by a conventional ring seal  438 . The cap  436  is preferably molded in one piece with a central notch  450  opening downwardly in its lower surface. The mating threads of the removable cap  436  and opening  426  are also preferably configured of the “quarter turn” design. 
     The feeding basin  414  of the feeding module  411  includes a rigid upper basin component or cover  442  and a rigid lower basin component or base  456 . The lower basin component  456  has an upwardly extending flange  457  extending around its periphery, and the upper basin component  442  has a depending flange  455  extending around its periphery which surrounds the upwardly extending flange  457 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . A plurality of slightly upwardly tapered circular tabs  465 , which extend outwardly from flange  457 , are configured to fit into complimentary tapered tab receptacles  467  formed by inwardly projecting flanges  469  on the inside surface of depending flange  455 , when the lower basin component  456  is properly aligned within the upper basin component  442  and rotated with respect thereto. The fit is preferably an interference fit. When the tabs  465  are properly seated within tapered tab receptacles  467 , the top edge of the lower basin component flange  457  presses against the inner wall of the upper basin component  442  to form interconnected sealed chambers  460  within the feeding basin  414 . 
     As in earlier embodiments, the lower basin component  456  is preferably molded with upstanding protrusions  459  which help define the chambers  460  adjacent feeding ports  461 . The complimentary notches  471  formed in the lower surface of the lower basin component by the protrusions  459  can be easily grasped in order to rotate the lower basin component  456  with respect to the upper basin component  455  when seating the tabs  465  in the tapered tab receptacles  467 . 
     The feeding module  411  includes an actuator rod  416  and spring-biased stopper  420  similar to rod  16  and stopper  20  included in feeder  10 . The lower bottle opening  428  of the reservoir bottle  412  is also in the form of a bottleneck  430  which is screw-threaded into a central collar  434  in the upper basin component  442  of the feeding basin  414 . If desired to lower the “effective” edge of opening  428  of bottleneck  430  in order to reduce the nectar height in the basis  414 , the lower edge  480  of the collar  434  could extend below the adjacent lower edge of the bottleneck  430 . The bottom of the lower basin component  456  includes a plurality of raised projections  462  in a circular pattern at its center for seating of the spring  422  therearound. The actuator rod  416  and stopper  420  operate in the same manner as previously described for actuator rod  16  and stopper  20  of feeder  10 . 
     Turning now to the decorative cladding  413 , it is shaped to compliment the feeding module  411  and can take on any decorative appearance, such as cladding  413 , as described previously. In a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the drawings, the cladding  413  includes a decorative outer shell  502  and a locking ring  504  assembled into the base  506  of the outer shell  504 . The locking ring  504  is preferably made from a low cost polymeric material which can form a high precision interface to receive an innerlock with the feeding module  411 . The locking ring  504  can be attached into the base  506  of the shell  502  by any conventional mechanism, such as by tabs  508  engaging around the circumference of opening  510  and rivets  512  associated with flower feeding ports  514  engaging in holes  516 . The outer shell  502  can then be made of any durable material typical for decorative bird feeders. While the shutoff mechanism for the feeder  410  is the spring-biased stopper  420  and associated spring  422 , the shutoff mechanism for feeder  410  could be any of the previously described embodiments of the spring, rubber button, or annular spider. 
     The feeding module  411  fits into the decorative cladding  413  via a mechanical connection between upwardly tapered tab receptors  518  on the inside surface of the locking ring  504  and outwardly projecting tapered tabs  520  on the periphery of the feeding basin  414 . Projecting tapered tabs  520  are preferably mounted on the outer surface of the upper basin component  455  opposite the tapered tab receptors  467  on the upper basin component inner surface. The feeding module  411  is inserted into the cladding  413  so that the feeding basin  414  fits into the locking ring  504  with the tapered tabs  520  located in spaces  522  between the tapered tab receptors  518 , as shown in  FIG. 22 . The entire feeding module  411  is then rotated in the same direction as assembling the lower basin component  456  within the upper basin component  442 , such as by using notches  471 , until the tabs  520  are snugly received within tab receptors  518 , as shown in  FIG. 23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the height of the feeding module and the interior spacing of the cladding  413  are sized so that the top of cap  436  rests underneath spacer  524  of the cladding  413  when tabs  512  are frictionally received in tab receptors  518 . The spacer can be a lock nut to hold the wire connector  526 , as shown. The leading end of both tab receptors  467  and  518  include a raised portion  526  which acts against the trailing edge of tapered tabs  465  and  520 , respectively, to prevent inadvertent rotational movement of the tabs in their respective tab receptors. 
     When the feeding module  411  is positioned into the decorative cladding  413  with the tabs  520  properly fitted into the tab receptors  518  by the requisite interference fit, the flower feeding ports formed by rivets  512  are properly aligned with the openings  461  in the feeding basin upper component  455 . A hummingbird can then access nectar in chambers  460  through the flower feeding ports  514 . 
     A user can refill the a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention using a simple three-step process: (1) unseal and remove the removable cap from the top opening of the container or bottle; (2) refill the container or bottle through the top opening; and (3) replace and reseal the removable cap on the top opening. This simplified process is extremely efficient and essentially foolproof, making it almost impossible for the consumer to make a mistake when filling or refilling a hummingbird feeder according to the present invention. 
     The hummingbird feeders according to the present invention also consist of simple mechanisms, which when activated, prohibit the free flow of nectar from the reservoir bottle to the feeding basin. All embodiments allow for incorporation of a large top-fill bottle opening which facilitates easier, reduced step filling procedures and greater cleaning accessibility when compared to traditional hummingbird feeders. The embodiments preferably utilize the “quarter turn” top-fill bottle caps and threads to achieve the desired effectiveness of the feeders. Since the vacuum within the reservoir bottle is eliminated the instant that the top-fill cap seal is broken, the minimum time possible to stop free flow of nectar from the bottle to the feeding basin and out through the ports is desired. Stopping the free flow of nectar to the feeding basin is accomplished by sealing off the lower bottleneck side of the bottle. The mechanism designed to accomplish this function is directly reliant on release of pressure on the actuator rod, which occurs when the top-fill quarter turn cap is removed. The quarter turn threads utilized on the top-fill caps significantly reduce the time required for the cap to be removed. This in turn minimizes the length of time needed for the actuator rod to move up and position the various sealing mechanism into their sealing position. 
     The quarter turn threads are also helpful when replacing the top-fill caps. The instant that the actuator rod begins its downward movement, the sealing mechanism in each embodiment is separated from the lower bottle opening, allowing free flow of nectar from the bottle into the feeding basin. Free flow of nectar from the bottle to the feeding basin and out through the ports will continue until the bottle is empty or a vacuum is achieved within the bottle. Therefore, the shortest time possible from initiation of actuator rod depression to complete top cap sealing is desirable. 
     The hummingbird feeders of the present invention can be made of a variety of materials. Commonly, the reservoir bottle and feeding basin will be made of suitable plastic materials, including polyolefins such a polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonates and acrylics, because of the advantageous properties of these materials, such a strength, weight, impermeability to liquids, ease of manufacture and coloration. The parts can be made by conventional means, such as injection molding. Some of the parts could also be made of metal or wood, if desired. The sealing mechanism is preferably made of an elastomeric, deformable material, such as silicone, rubber, or a hard core material coated with an elastomer or the like. The elastomeric material allows the sealing mechanism to form a more effective seal when placed in the sealing position. Silicone is a preferred material due to its durability, conformability, resilience and availability. The actuator rod can be formed as one piece with the sealing mechanism, or the actuator rod and the sealing mechanism can be separate parts which are assembled together, such as by interference fit or threaded engagement. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes may readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation described and shown. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.