Patent Abstract:
The removable seed tray is quickly and easily removable from a removable bird feeder base that is attached to the main tubular body of a bird feeder. The seed tray effectively serves the function of a seed tray while also permitting access to the portions of the removable base to permit the removable base to be detached from the tubular bird feeder body while the seed tray remains attached thereto.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/006,582, filed Jun. 2, 2014 the entire contents thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to bird feeders, namely, tubular bird feeders. More specifically, the present invention relates to bases for such tubular bird feeders. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     In the bird feeder industry, tubular bird feeders are very well known. These feeders include a tubular main feed body, which is commonly transparent or translucent so the amount of feed remaining therein can be easily seen. Feed ports in the tubular body permit birds to gain access to the feed therein. A tubular bird feeder also typically includes a number of perches routed through or attached to the tubular body to support a bird during feeding through one of the feed ports. 
     A tubular bird feeder typically has an open top and bottom end. The top end is covered by a removable cap so feed may be introduced into the tubular body. Bail wires are also provided so the feeder can be hung from a support. The bottom of the main tubular body is also closed, typically permanently, by a bottom base or cap. This base is usually screwed on or riveted to the bottom of the tubular main body to keep it closed. A post mount can be provided in the bottom of the bottom cap. The bases of prior art tubular bird feeders usually extend up into the tubular body. The top surface of the base of the feeder is commonly tapered or angled in some fashion to direct feed toward one or more of the feed ports at the lowermost portion of the tubular main body. This ensures that birds can gain access to all of the feed within the tubular feeder. 
     These known tubular feeders suffer from various problems that make them difficult to maintain. Remaining amounts of feed typically accumulate at the bottom of the feeder. When this feed mixes with rain, and the like, the feed at the lower portion of the feeder becomes packed and dirty making it difficult, if not impossible, for birds to access it. Moreover, once the feed is wet and/or dirty, birds may not even wish to consume it. Since the bases of these known tubular feeders are secured to the bottom of the feeder, they are difficult to remove. If a base is permanently secured to the bottom of the feeder, it will not be able to be removed. More likely, threaded fasteners are used to secure the base to bottom of the tubular main body. These fasteners require tools, such as a screwdriver or wrench, to remove the base for cleaning the feeder. The requirement of tools increases the burden of cleaning a feeder and further makes a bird feeder owner less likely to clean their feeder. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a bird feeder to be able to be quickly and easily cleaned. There is a specific need for an easily removable base for easy access to the bottom of the feeder. A bird feeder with a removable base that meets these needs is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,232, which is commonly owned with the present application. This bird feeder with such an easily removable base without tools provides a solution to the problems associated with prior art tubular bird feeders. This prior art bird feeder includes a base that is quickly and easily removable from the bottom of the main tubular body of the feeder. In general, the prior art feeder provides a new base that is releasably secured to the bottom of the feeder. 
     More specifically, the prior art feeder includes a tubular body member having an open bottom end where the base member is interfittingly engaged with the bottom end of the tubular body member. The base member is releasably secured to the tubular body member by the engagement of a spring-biased pin that communicates with an aperture through the wall of the tubular body member. Preferably, there are two spring-biased locking pins on opposing sides of the feeder with corresponding lock eye apertures. User manipulatable buttons are linked to the locking pins to cause them to retract to permit releasable attachment of the tubular body member of the feeder thereon. 
     Further, there is also a well-known desire to provide a seed tray proximal to a bird feeder to catch any seeds, shells or other debris that might fall from the feeder. This helps avoid such material from accumulated below the feeder to keep the area near the feeder neat and clean. Such a seed tray is typically fixedly secured to the bottom of the base of a bird feeder, for example, by a threaded interconnection. However, if such a seed tray is fixed secured directly to the bottom of the removable base of the prior art feeder discussed above, it would be difficult for the user to gain access to the squeeze buttons to release the base of the feeder for cleaning. Further, it would be difficult to clean the base of the feeder and the surrounding parts of the feeder if a seed tray is fixed secured to the base of a feeder. 
     Therefore, there is a need for seed tray that can be easily installed and removed from the base of a bird feeder while also providing an easily removable base for the feeder. 
     There is a further need for a seed tray that is compatible with a removable base where the removable based can be removed while the seed tray is still attached thereto. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a solution to the problems associated with prior art tubular bird feeders. The bird feeder of the present invention includes a new and novel removable seed tray that is quickly and easily removable from the base that is attached to the main tubular body of the feeder. In general, the present invention provides a new removable seed tray that is releasably secured to a removable base of the feeder. 
     More specifically, the present invention includes a substantially planar member with a, for example, pair of button receiving members to receive the squeeze buttons of the removable base of a bird feeder. The button-receiving members include a dome-like structure to ensure collection of bird feeder debris even in the regions of where the button-receiving members are located. A seat is provided to receive a removable base of a feeder. Each of the button receiving members preferably include a chamfered or beveled surface to facilitate insertion of the base into its seat and to permit the squeeze buttons to ride into their respective button receiving housing so that the seed tray may be removably attached to the removable bird feeder base. 
     An object of the present in invention is to provide a seed tray that can be easily installed onto and removed from a bird feeder base, such as a removable bird feeder base. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable seed tray that permits removal of a removable base from the bottom of a bird feeder while the seed tray is still installed thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the seed tray of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the seed tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the seed tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the seek tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the seed tray of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a prior art bird feeder with a removable base: 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective of the bird feeder of  FIG. 6  with the removable base in the process of being removed; 
         FIG. 8  shows the seed tray of  FIG. 1  being installed onto the removable base of the feeder of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows the seed tray receiving the base of the bird feeder; 
         FIG. 10  shows the seed tray fully installed onto the base of the feeder: 
         FIG. 11  shows removable of the removable base from the bird feeder tubular body while the seed tray is still attached to the removable base; and 
         FIG. 12  shows the removable base and seed tray being detached from the bird feeder tubular body. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the seed tray  10  of the present invention is shown in detail. The seed tray  10  is of a general construction of a typical seed tray in that it includes a floor  12  and a wall  14  upstanding from the periphery thereof. In the figures herein, the upstanding wall  14  is shown as curved but it should be understood that any type of peripheral wall can be used. 
     A center base-receiving seat  16  is provided in the middle of the seed tray  10  of the present invention. Structures may be provided in the seat  16  to grip onto the periphery of a removable base, as will be discussed in detail below. At least one, preferably two, dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  are provided on, namely integrated into, the seed tray  10 . The dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  are preferably projections up from the floor  12  of the seed tray  10 . Preferably the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  are integrally formed with the entire seed tray  10  from a unitary mold (not show). 
     Referring briefly to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a feeder  100  equipped with the easily removable base  126  of the prior art feeder of U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,232 is shown in detail. The feeder  100  includes a main tubular member  112  with a number of feed ports  120  and perches  122  where bird feed  114  is stored therein. The feeder  100  also includes a top cap  116  and a bail wire  118  for hanging thereof. The base  126  of the feeder includes a pair spring biased pins  146 , preferably on opposing sides of the feeder  100  (only one side is visible in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ), that releasably connect and pass through holes  124  in the tubular member  112 . The pins  146  are spring-biased outwardly and are mechanically linked to buttons  144 . In  FIG. 6 , the pins  146  are spring-biased outwardly an in engagement with the main tubular member to secure the removable base  126  in place. When the buttons  144  are depressed, as in  FIG. 7 , the pins  146  retract thereby clearing the respective holes  124  to permit the base  126  to be separated from tubular member  112  for cleaning. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the lateral apertures  20   a  and  20   b  receive the portions, namely, the spring-biased buttons  144 , of the removable base  126  that need to be depressed inwardly so that the removable base  126  can be removed from the main tubular body  112  of the feeder. Details of the communication of the seed tray with the tubular feeder will be shown in detail below. The domes  18   a  and  18   b  maintain the integrity and structure of the seed tray  10  so that falling debris, such a feed, will still be directed to the floor  12  of the seed tray  10 . A top portion of each of the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  respectively includes an inwardly directed solid chamfered edge surface  22   a  and  22   b  to help direct the buttons of the removable base into their respective lateral apertures  20   a  and  20   b , which will be discussed in detail below. Open bottom ends of the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  enable the fingers of a user  156  to access the buttons  144  of the removable base  126  to manipulate them through the lateral apertures  20   a  and  20   b , namely, depress them so the base  10  can be removed while the base  126  of the feeder  100  is still connected. 
     A central aperture  24  is provided in the seed tray  10  to enable accessories to be mounting to the removable base  126  of the bird feeder  100 . For example, the removable base  126  may include a female threaded aperture to receive a male threaded post for post mounting of the feeder with the seed tray  10  of the present invention installed. Details of a construction for post mounting a bird feeder to a post are so well known in the art they need not be discussed in further detail. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side elevational view of the seed tray  10  of the present invention where it can be seen that the dome-like members  18   a  and  18  include their respective chamfered surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  for receipt and engagement of buttons  144  of the removable base  126  of the feeder  100 .  FIG. 3  is a top view of the seed tray  10  of the present invention where the layout of the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  with the receiving seat  16  for the removably base  126 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  show a bottom view and a bottom perspective view of the seed tray  10  of the present invention. The structure of the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  can be clearly seen to define a cavity or opening from below that is large enough for a user to  156  to insert their fingers therein and be able to manipulate the buttons  144  for removal of the removable base  126 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a first step of installation of the seed tray  10  of the present invention to the feeder  100 , namely, to the removable base  126 . The removable base  126  is already installed to the bottom of the feeder  100 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . The feeder  100  is held by the user  156  and is brought closer to the seed tray  10  where the buttons  144   a  and  144   b  on the removable base  126  are aligned with the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  respectively. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the spring-loaded buttons  144   a  and  144   b  are pushed down into communication with the chamfered edge surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  at the top of each dome-like member  18   a  and  18   b . Pushing further down causes the buttons  144   a  and  144   b  to retract against the spring-biasing forces discussed above and then release when they clear into their respective lateral apertures  20   a  and  20   b , which can be seen in  FIG. 10 . Now, the seed tray  10  of the present invention is installed to the removable base  126  and can be used normally. The outwardly extended buttons  144  within the lateral apertures  20   a  and  20   b  prevent easy separation of the seed tray  10  from the removable base  126 . The seat  16  of the seed tray  10  can be equipped with additional structures such as inwardly facing tabs from the edges of the seat  16  to further releasable secure the removable base  126  from the seed tray  10 . For example, the inner diameter of the seat  16  can be configured to a close tolerance fit with the outer diameter of the removable base  126  for a loose friction fit to further assist with securing the seed tray  10  to the removable base  126 . With the seed tray  10  installed, the feeder  100  can be hung from a bail wire  118  or be post-mounted to the female threads  160  in  FIG. 11  and through aperture  24  in the seed tray  10  without affecting the operation or effectiveness of the seed tray  10 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show removal of the removable base  126  and seed tray  10  attached thereto for cleaning and the like. In  FIG. 11 , the user  156  reaches with their fingers into the opposing bottom recesses of the dome-like members  18   a  and  18   b  to access the spring-biased buttons  144  residing therein. The user can freely depress the buttons  144  to release the corresponding locking pins  146 , as in  FIG. 7 . When the locking pins  146  are clear of their respective apertures  124  in tubular body  112  of the feeder  100 , the removable base  126  and the tubular body  112  can be separated form each other while the seed tray  10  of the present invention remains attached to the removable base  126  of the feeder  100 . With the seed tray  10  of the present invention, the removable base  126  can be freely attached and removed from the tubular body  112  of the feeder  100 . 
     The seed tray  10  of the present invention can also be removed from the removable base  126  of the feeder, if needed. Once the seed tray  10  and removable base  126  are separated from the tubular body  112 , as in  FIG. 12 , the buttons  144   a  and  144   b  can remain depressed to permit the buttons  144   a  and  144   b  to clear from their respective lateral apertures  20   a  and  20   b  and permit the removable base  126  to be lifted out of its seat  16  on the top surface of the floor  12  of the seed tray  10  of the present invention. This is, essentially, the reverse of the process shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The seed tray of the present invention is preferably made of plastic but could be made out of other materials, such as metal. 
     Therefore, while there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 2