Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to bird feeders and more particularly, relates to selective bird feeders.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Selective bird feeders are well known in the art and they are designed to limit the maximum size of a bird or animal which can access the seeds in the feeder. There are many reasons for excluding certain birds and animals including the fact that for many people, certain bird species may be regarded as undesirable. Many people only wish to have smaller birds present at the feeder and not many of the larger birds. Thus, some of the larger birds such as crows, grackles, blue jays, and the like are considered by a segment of the population to be undesirable.  
         [0003]     A further problem associated with bird feeders is that some of the larger birds and animals which gain access to the seeds can devour a large quantity thereof in a relatively short period of time. Again, for many people, this is considered to be undesirable as the cost of maintaining the feeder full exceeds the capability of the person to purchase the seeds. Furthermore, many of these larger birds and animals can create quite a mess as they often tend to merely throw the seeds on the ground.  
         [0004]     One animal in particular which many people consider undesirable is the squirrel. However, the squirrels are well known for their ability to overcome most of the devices designed to prevent them from reaching the seeds.  
         [0005]     In order to overcome these problems, many feeders have a mechanism which renders them more or less squirrel proof. Generally, these arrangements utilize a movable shroud which moves into and out of a position whereby the seed can be accessed. Typically, such bird feeders utilize an arrangement wherein one of the shroud or seed tube is biased by a spring such that when a larger weight lands on the shroud, the shroud moves relative to the seed tube.  
         [0006]     An important component of such squirrel proof bird feeders is the cover member which must be designed to cooperate with the moveable shroud while also permitting ready access to the seed tube for filling of the same.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover arrangement suitable for use with a squirrel proof bird feeder and which cover arrangement provides for secure locking of the same while permitting easy removal thereof.  
         [0008]     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a squirrel proof bird feeder having a feed tube and a shroud surrounding at least a portion of the feed tube, and a cover, the improvement comprising an arrangement wherein the cover has at least one downwardly extending wall, a protrusion formed on an inwardly facing surface of the downwardly extending wall, a side wall of at least one of the feed tube and shroud having a key way to permit entry of the protrusion, the key way having a vertical entry way, a horizontal portion, and an upper recessed portion and the bird feeder having biasing means to bias the cover upwardly.  
         [0009]     According to the present invention, the cover may be attached to either the feed tube or the shroud or alternatively, to a member seated on top of one of the seed tube or shroud. A locking arrangement between the cover and the seed tube/shroud is provided which biases the cover into a locking arrangement.  
         [0010]     As previously discussed, the key way includes an entry, a lead in portion, and an upper recessed portion. The lead in permits the protrusion on the cover to pass downwardly as the cover is placed in position. Thus, the entry is preferably vertical or in a generally vertical position though a diagonally extending entry could also be employed.  
         [0011]     The recessed portion maintains the protrusion in position to effectively lock the cover to a body portion of the bird feeder.  
         [0012]     Extending between the entry and the recessed portion is a lead in portion. This lead in portion may be generally horizontal though, as will be understood by those knowledgeable in the art, the lead in portion may extend somewhat diagonally. Indeed, the entry and the lead in portions may be combined into a single entity extending diagonally within the wall and this arrangement is considered equivalent to the disclosed embodiment.  
         [0013]     The key way may be formed in the feed tube, in the shroud, or in a separate member which is attached to either the shroud or feed tube. A preferred embodiment comprises a collar sitting on top of the shroud and secured thereto. The collar can have an inner and outer wall, with the outer wall having a pair of key ways formed therein as will be described in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings.  
         [0014]     The biasing means are effective to exert an upward pressure on the cover when it is in the locked position. Conveniently, a plurality of biasing members may be employed with each biasing member having a shaft enclosed in a recess with a coil spring extending thereabout. The coil spring will exert an upward pressure on a head portion of the biasing member.  
         [0015]     In an alternative embodiment, the biasing member may exert a biasing force on the bird feeders which have a centrally located post interiorly of the feed container.  
         [0016]     In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement wherein the cover is secured by means of biasing members extending outwardly and which have a protrusion designed to engage with a recess formed in a side wall of the cover. In this arrangement, a simple inward pressure on one or more of the members permits the removal of the cover. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:  
         [0018]     Figure is a sectional view of a cover arrangement for a bird feeder according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of collar portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the cover and collar illustrating the biassing of the cover;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a cover and collar according to a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is view similar to  FIG. 2  with a portion of the collar being cut away;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is cross sectional view through the upper portion of a bird feeder having the cover and collar of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a further variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 ; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a still further variation thereof.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  3  a first embodiment of the present invention which will now be described.  
         [0029]     As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , there is provided a cover generally designated by reference numeral  10  along with a ring or collar generally designated by reference numeral  12 .  
         [0030]     Cover  10  includes an upper dome portion  14  which has a centrally located aperture  16  therein through which a cable or other hanging means may extend. Dome portion  14  merges, at its lower end, with a concave arcuate transition portion  18  which in turn merges with a horizontal portion  20 . At its outer extremity, horizontal portion  20  merges with a convex arcuate transition portion  22  which leads to a substantially vertical side wall  24 . From side wall  24 , there is provided a further concave arcuate transition portion  36  and which terminates in a drip edge  28 . As will be noted, there are provided a plurality of dimples or projections  30  on side wall  24 .  
         [0031]     Collar  12  is best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and reference will now be had thereto. Collar  12  includes an inner side wall  32 , an outer side wall  34 , and a top wall  35  extending between inner side wall  32  and outer side wall  34 . On the interiorly facing surface of inner side wall  32 , there are provided a pair of vertical recesses  36  for reasons which are best set forth in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. filed in the name of Paul Cote contemporaneously with the present application. Similarly, there are provided a plurality of centering ribs  38  for a feed tube (not shown). In outer side wall  34 , there is provided a key way generally designated by reference numeral  40  and which includes an entry way  42 , a first ramped portion  44  formed on the lower marginal edge of inner side wall  32 , a horizontal edge  46 , and a recess portion  48 . Thus, key way  40  is designed to receive a dimple or protrusion  30  and as the cover is placed in position, dimple or protrusion  30  will slide along ramped portion  44  and horizontal portion  46  of the lower marginal edge of inner side wall  32  to seat within recess portion  48 .  
         [0032]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , in intermediate inner side wall  32  and outer side wall  34  there are provided solid portions or sections  50  which have an interior recess  52 . A biasing member  54  fits within recess  52  and includes a stem  56 , an enlarged head  58 , and a lower stop portion  60 . Extending about stem  56  is a coil spring  62 . Thus, the biasing member  54  is urged upwardly to seat against horizontal section  20  of cover  10  and urge the same to maintain a locked position wherein dimple  30  is seated within recess portion  48 .  
         [0033]     A plurality of attaching hooks  64  are provided for securing collar  12  to a shroud.  
         [0034]     Turning to the embodiment of FIGS.  4  to  6 , there is illustrated therein a cover  68  and a collar generally designated by reference numeral  80 .  
         [0035]     Collar  68  includes a plurality of sloped panels  70  each having a concave arcuate transition portion  72  which merges with a substantially vertical side wall  74 . At the end of side wall  74 , there is provided a drip edge  76 .  
         [0036]     Located centrally of sloped panels  70  is an aperture  77  through which a cable or hanging member may pass. As will be seen in the drawings, there are provided apertures  78  in two of the side wall panels  74 .  
         [0037]     Collar  80  includes an inner wall  82 , an outer wall  84  and a top wall  86  extending between inner wall  82  and outer wall  84 . Also mounted between inner wall  82  and outer wall  84  is a biasing means generally designated by reference numeral  88 .  
         [0038]     Biasing means  88  comprises a U-shaped resilient member  90  having first and second legs  92 ,  94  joined together by a bight  96 . On second leg  94 , at one end thereof, there is provided a button  98  which is sized to fit within an aperture  78  in side wall  74  of cover  68 .  
         [0039]     The bird feeder will include a shroud as is shown in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. filed in the name of Paul Cote contemporaneously with the present application. A cable  102  is provided for hanging the feeder which is attached to an inner post  104 .  
         [0040]     Thus, as may be seen, by depressing the button  98 , the cover is free to be removed and access may be had to an interior feed tube.  
         [0041]     An alternative embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 7  wherein reference numerals in the hundreds. are employed. In this arrangement, there is provided a cover  110  which seats within a key way  142  formed in collar  112 . However, in this instance, cover  112  is placed on a feed tube  111 . A biasing arrangement  115  which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow is provided.  
         [0042]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a cover  210  is designed to fit directly on a seed tube  211  which has a key way  242  formed therein. Again, a central biasing means  215  is provided.  
         [0043]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , a cover  310  is designed to seat directly on a shroud  317  having key way  342  therein. Again, a central biasing means  315  is provided.  
         [0044]     In  FIG. 10 , a cover  410  is designed to seat directly on a shroud  417 . In this embodiment, shroud  417  has a solid upper portion  403  which has a key way  442  formed therein.  
         [0045]     Biasing means  415  includes a lower housing having a base  417  which is designed to sit on cover  419  which covers a central tube in the bird feeder. Extending upwardly from base  417  is a wall  421  which has an enlarged portion  423  at a distal end thereof. An upper housing  425  also has, at its lower end, inwardly extending flanges  429  while interiorly of wall  421 , there is provided a biasing spring  427  which will push the upper housing  425  upwardly to seat against the upper portion of cover  410 .  
         [0046]     It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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