Patent ID: 8006946

Claim:
A support apparatus for a bird feeder for supporting the bird feeder above a ground surface, said support apparatus comprising: an upright member that is comprised of a hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post having an open top with an inner diameter and a bottom base, and constructed and arranged to extend vertically along a longitudinal axis thereof; a plurality of tubular support legs that are each secured at the base of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post, that are each spaced radially from the base of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post, and that each have an outer diameter; all of said tubular support legs fixedly extending from the base of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post and arranged in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post; a ground engagement element secured to and extending downwardly from the base of said hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post and for engagement with the ground surface for support of said hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post; said ground engagement element comprising a helical screw element having an axis that coincides with the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post; a plurality of elongated hollow tubular support arms; said plurality of elongated hollow tubular support arms being constructed and arranged so as to extend radially and separately, and each including a distal end; each of said elongated hollow tubular support arms being respectively and matingly telescopically engaged with a corresponding support leg so as to be arranged in a symmetric radial pattern; each of said elongated tubular support arms being longer than its mated respective tubular support leg, and having an inner diameter; said plurality of tubular support legs being equal in number to the number of elongated hollow tubular support arms, and of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the elongated hollow tubular support arms to provide a relatively tight fit therebetween, so that the respective elongated hollow tubular support arms slide over the tubular support legs so that, when the helical element is fully engaged with the ground surface, only the elongated tubular support arms engage the ground surface and the tubular support legs are spacedly disposed over the ground surface; a tubular feeder post engaged with the open top of the upright member and for support of the bird feeder; said feeder post having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post so that the feeder post can fit within the open top of the hollow cylindrical tubular upright support post; and a thumb screw for securing the feeder post in a selected vertical position within the upright support post; the top of the feeder post being externally threaded; the bottom of the bird feeder having an internally threaded aperture for engagement with the threaded feeder post.