Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional patent applications Ser. No. (to be assigned), filed Jan. 28, 2004 and Ser. No. 60/470,892 filed May 16, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates generally to the field of bird feeders, more particularly to disposable, recyclable, sanitary hummingbird feeders that prevent the contamination of hummingbird feeding solution, prevent the spread of disease, and do not require cleaning through mechanisms designed to prevent re-use.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Hummingbird feeding is an increasingly popular hobby among adults and children alike. Indeed, it has become a popular pastime to feed and watch hummingbirds at a feeder at one&#39;s residence, and commercial establishments. The feeding of hummingbirds is not only interesting and enjoyable, but further serves the purpose of providing necessary food for the birds during time of diminished natural food supply. In fact, hummingbird feeding has allowed a variety of hummingbird species to extend their historic range into areas where they could not survive without human assistance and to winter north or in a more severe climate. Of all birds, hummingbirds are of particular interest owing to their bright, vibrant colors, their tiny size and their unusual flight patterns. Hummingbirds, however, are not drawn to the conventional bird feeder serving solid food. In the wild, hummingbirds feed on the nectar of a variety of plants and small insects. To feed hummingbirds, therefore, man is limited to providing nectar or a nectar substitute.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, conventional hummingbird feeders are designed to store and dispense liquids, typically mixtures of sugar and water. Unfortunately, however, there are many problems and attendant frustration attributable to conventional hummingbird feeders, as those who have tried their hand at feeding hummingbirds are well aware.  
           [0007]    In warm climates, in particular, mixtures of sugar and water exhibit a tendency to ferment and provide a media for the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. The results of the chemical reaction and contamination of the feeding solution endangers the health of the birds being fed. One such disease known as candidiasis causes swelling of the bird&#39;s tongue. A major frustration commonly encountered by owners of conventional feeders, therefore, is the requirement that, in order to maintain a healthy and attractive feeder, the feeder must be cleaned on a regular basis—in most instances, three times per week or more depending on location and temperature.  
           [0008]    The cleaning process is a multi-step process that inevitably entails steps of a) removing the feeder from its outdoor location, b) disassembling the feeder, c) cleaning and disinfecting its components—many of which have spaces in tight tolerances that are hard to clean, d) safely disposing of the bio-contaminated solution, e) mixing new solution, f) refilling the feeder with fresh solution, g) reassembling the feeder, and h) replacing the feeder at its outdoor location. The process of cleaning hummingbird feeders, therefore, is a time consuming, messy, and unsanitary process that detracts from the enjoyment of feeding hummingbirds and quickly deters many from continuing to use their feeders.  
           [0009]    Because of the difficulties and inconveniences associated with cleaning hummingbird feeders, users often simply refill the hummingbird feeders with fresh solution, while foregoing the cleaning process. This leads to accumulation of harmful bacteria, mold, and mildew in the feeder which, if digested by the hummingbird, is often fatal.  
           [0010]    Similar risks are present even to those who clean their hummingbird feeders, as the bacteria and mold that accumulates in hummingbird feeders can also present health risks to humans. Unless the prerequisite precautions are taken in cleaning the feeders, there is a significant risk of infection. For this reason, conventional hummingbird feeders are particularly unsuitable for children who are likely incapable of safely cleaning the feeders absent adult supervision. Yet, children are some of the world&#39;s most avid hummingbird enthusiasts.  
           [0011]    There is a need, therefore, for a non-reusable hummingbird feeder made of inexpensive disposable or recyclable materials that can be safely discarded or recycled once the feeding solution is fermented, contaminated, depleted, or otherwise rendered ill-suited and unsafe for consumption by hummingbirds or exposure to humans.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0012]    In view of the above, it is a general purpose of this invention and its various embodiments, which will be described in greater detail, to provide a one-time use hummingbird feeder.  
           [0013]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder that does not require cleaning.  
           [0014]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder that is not suitable for re-use.  
           [0015]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and economical hummingbird feeder that can be cheaply, safely, and easily disposed in an environmentally-safe manner.  
           [0016]    A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a sanitary hummingbird feeder that reduces the instances of disease among hummingbirds.  
           [0017]    Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder having a tamper-resistant solution reservoir.  
           [0018]    A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder with a means for preventing the contamination of the feeding solution.  
           [0019]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hummingbird feeder kit comprising a reservoir with pre-made solution or nourishment and a feeding assembly adapted to render the feeder ready for use when unreleasably engaged to the reservoir.  
           [0020]    These and other objects and advantages are achieved by providing a hummingbird feeder comprising a solution reservoir, a feeding assembly, and a coupler for unreleasably coupling said feeding assembly to said solution reservoir, thereby preventing the subsequent re-use of the hummingbird feeders and minimizing the user&#39;s contact with bacteria-infested feeding solution.  
           [0021]    Further, the means for unreleasably coupling the feeding assembly to the solution reservoir is destroyed if the feeding assembly is subsequently disengaged from the solution reservoir, thereby preventing the subsequent re-use of the hummingbird feeders and minimizing the user&#39;s contact with bacteria-infested feeding solution.  
           [0022]    In a yet another embodiment, the feeding assembly has single feed and multiple feed capability.  
           [0023]    The invention will be better understood and aspects of the inventions other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a feeder of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1B is a bottom perspective view of the feeder in FIG. 1A.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2A is an exploded view of a neck of a reservoir and a one-way screw cap embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2B is a cross-section view along line  2 B in FIG. 1B illustrating a one-way feeding assembly screw cap of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4A illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4B illustrates a magnified view of a feeding assembly in a locking position with a reservoir of FIG. 4A.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5A is yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5B illustrates the feeding assembly of FIG. 5A in a coupled position of the reservoir.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0034]    Throughout this specification and the drawing figures associated with this specification, numerical labels of previously shown or discussed features may be reused in another drawing figure to indicate similar features.  
         [0035]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, a feeder  10  comprises a hanger tab  22 , a solution reservoir  30  preferably with built in crawling insect barrier  20 , and the feeding tube assembly  40  with a feeding tube  50 . The feeding tube assembly  40  is easily unreleasably coupled to the feeding reservoir  30 . The assembly is manufactured to incorporate ease of use and a one-time use feature that is explained in detail hereafter in reference to various exemplary embodiments.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 1, hanging tab  22  is provided to allow feeder  10  to be hung and used at a desired location. The crawling insect fluid barrier reservoir  20 , which may merely be open on its topside, or an optional attachment to reservoir  30 , so when filled with a liquid such as water or cooking oil, will prevent crawling insects from reaching the feeding tube  50  and accessing feeding solution.  
         [0037]    Feeding solution reservoir  30 , as exemplified in FIG. 1, is an elongated cylindrically shaped container for housing hummingbird feed solution. Other geometric shapes and sizes, as well as shapes in form of animals and flowers, of different colors for the solution reservoir are possible. The volume in the solution reservoir, or course, can vary depending on size of the solution reservoir and the amount of feeding solution to be distributed. In addition, this feeder could be incorporated for feeding other types of birds and animals.  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 2A, the bottom side of solution reservoir  30  has neck  200 . On the outside wall of neck  200  is a raised helical thread  201  defining a helical path  210 . The neck  200  further has a locking member comprising a ramped surface  204  and a blocking surface  203 , which are positioned in the helical path  210 . The neck  200  also has an opening  202  for a feed solution to flow out into feeding tube assembly  40 .  
         [0039]    As further shown in FIG. 2A, feeding assembly  40 , which couples with neck  200  when the feeder is in a final state of assembly for use, comprises a cap portion having a wall  207 . Within the wall  207  of the cap, there is provided a raised helical thread member  206  engaging with the helical path  210  on the neck  200  in a coupled position. In addition to the helical thread member  206  on the inside of wall  207  of the feeding tube assembly, there is a complementary locking member having a ramped surface  206  and a blocking surface  205 , which cooperate with the ramped surface  204  and blocking surface  203  on the neck  200  to allow a one-way coupling of the feeding tube assembly  40  and the neck  200  of the feed reservoir  30 . There is also provided inside the feeding tube assembly  40  an optional gasket  208  which compresses against an opening rim  202  of the neck  200  to provide a tight seal between the feeding tube assembly  40  and the neck when the feeding tube assembly is completely screwed onto and interlocked with the neck  200 .  
         [0040]    While assembling the reservoir  30  and the feeding tube assembly  40  together to form a complete feeder  10 , the threaded feeding tube assembly is screwed onto the neck  200  of the reservoir  30  in a clockwise closing direction. During the clockwise closing motion, and as the blocking surface  203  on the neck  200  reaches the blocking member of the feeding tube assembly  40 , additional torque is applied to cause the ramped surfaces  204  and  206  to slide over each other reaching a blocking and locking position where the blocking surfaces  205  and  203  directly face each other in an abutting position thus preventing any counter-clockwise or reverse movement of the feeding tube assembly relative to the neck  200 . An illustration of the locking and blocking members in an engaged and locked position is shown in FIG. 2B.  
         [0041]    As the ramped surfaces  204  and  206  slide over each reaching a locking and blocking position described above, a positive audible feedback, such as a clicking noise, may be created, which indicates that the unreleasable one-way coupling between the reservoir  30  and the feeding tube assembly  40  is completed.  
         [0042]    The blocking member  203  and the ramped surface  204  of the neck  200 , as well as the blocking member  205  and the ramped surface  206  of the feeding tube assembly  40  are preferably positioned such that a positive blocking and locking affect is accomplished immediately when the feeding tube assembly  40  is screwed onto the neck  200 .  
         [0043]    The above-described unreleasably one-way coupling is possible with the selection of the material constituting the neck  200  and feeding tube assembly  40  such that some deformation of one or both parts takes place during the engagement of the ramped surfaces. It is noted that proper tolerance, as well as proper material selection, between the coupling parts is essential to ensure that the ramped surfaces are able to slide over one another into place the locking and blocking members in a cooperative relationship, and to ensure that the blocking surfaces  205  and  203  maintain an abutting position against each other thus preventing the unscrewing or disassembling of the reservoir  30  and the feeding tube assembly  40 . In such an interlocking position, the feeding tube assembly  40  is unreleasably coupled to the reservoir  30  in such a manner that renders the feeder  10  as a one-time use only feeder in which refilling the reservoir with a feeding solution would not be readily possible and thus reusing the feeder would be discouraged.  
         [0044]    One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the above-described embodiment is only an example of the one-way unreleasable coupling between the reservoir and the feeding tube assembly of the present invention. Variations of the embodiment are possible without departing from the spirit of the above-described one-way unreleasable coupling of the feeding tube assembly and the reservoir. For example, the locking and blocking member on the neck may be positioned at another location in the helical path on the neck; two helical paths may be disposed on the neck or on the feeding tube assembly; and, more than one of locking and blocking member may be disposed on the neck and on the feeding tube assembly.  
         [0045]    As another embodiment of the locking and blocking members on the neck and on the feeding tube assembly, one of the locking and blocking member can be an ramped indentation of a sufficient depth to provide an abutment surface, while the other locking and blocking member is a raised or protruding member that fits into the indentation and resting against the abutment surface. The protruding member has a higher profile than the helical rib co-locating on the same side with the protruding member. This embodiment is also effective in allowing the neck and the feeding tube assembly to be rotated in a clockwise closing direction while in the process of being assembled but restricting them from being rotated in a counter-clockwise opening rotational direction in relation to each other once the members are in a locked position.  
         [0046]    Another embodiment of the feeder of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. The feeder  300  includes a feed reservoir  301  having a neck  302 , a barrier  309  against crawling insect, and a hanging tab  310 . The neck  302  includes an unreleasable coupler  303  which surround the outside of neck  302  with triangular-shaped flanges. Each triangular-shaped flange of the neck  302  comprises an abutment surface  312  and a ramped sliding surface  313 . As shown in FIG. 3, there are three triangular-shaped flanges disposed around the neck  302 . There can be any number of the triangular-shaped flange, however, at least two such triangular-shaped flanges are preferred.  
         [0047]    The feeder  300  further includes a feeding tube assembly  304  connected to a feeding tube  305 . The feeding tube assembly  304  comprises a cylindrical wall  311  with an interior surrounded by triangular-shaped indentations or flanges that unreleasably receive the triangular-shaped flanges on the unreleasable coupler  303  of the neck  302 . Each triangular-shaped receiving flange or indentation on the feeding tube assembly  40  is comprised of an abutment surface  314  and a ramped sliding surface  315 .  
         [0048]    As an alternative to having triangular-shaped receiving flanges disposed annularly on the inside cylindrical wall  311 , there may be a plurality of triangular-shaped notches or claws disposed at an equal distance from each other on the inside of the cylindrical wall  311 . These notches or claws would interlock with the triangular-shaped flanges on the neck  302  when the feeding tube assembly is fitted over the neck  302 .  
         [0049]    In the feeding tube assembly  304 , a gasket, not shown, that is similar to gasket  208  in FIG. 2A may be employed to provide an additional sealing to prevent liquid leakage between the feeding tube assembly  304  and rim  307  of the neck  302 .  
         [0050]    In use, once the reservoir  301  is determined to be filled with a feeding solution, the feeding assembly  304  is pushed onto the neck  302  to complete the assembling of the feeder  300 . Some force will be necessary to overcome frictional forces between the unreleasable coupler of the neck  302  and the feeding tube assembly  304 . By pushing the feeding tube assembly onto the neck  302 , the ramped sliding surfaces  313  and  315  glide over one another in one direction. Once at least one triangular-shaped flanges on the neck  302  interlock with one of the triangular-shaped flanges or indentations on the feeding tube assembly  304 , the abutment surfaces  312  and  314  abutting against each other thus preventing the feeding tube assembly from separating from the neck  302 . In such a cooperative position, the feeding tube assembly  304  is unreleasably coupled to the reservoir in such a manner that renders the feeder  300  as a one-time use only feeder in which refilling the reservoir with a feeding solution would not be readily possible and thus reusing the feeder would be discouraged  
         [0051]    It is noted that by the above-discussed embodiment, as well as in other embodiments of the present invention discussed herein, the feeding tube assembly  304  is unreleasably coupled the reservoir  301 . As used herein, the term unreleasably means that it would take undue forces to disassemble the feeding tube assembly from the reservoir. Such undue forces, if used in the disassembly, would damage the feeder beyond its designed mode of use.  
         [0052]    Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. A feeder  400  shown in FIG. 4A comprises a reservoir  401  and a feeding tube assembly  414 . The reservoir  401  comprises a cylindrical wall  412 , a closed top end  409  having a trough and surrounding an integral hanging tab  410 , a bottom end  413  having a neck  402  with an opening  408  through which a feeding solution flows, and a skirt  404 , which is an extension of the cylindrical wall, at the bottom end of the reservoir wall  412 . Disposed around the inner circumference of the skirt  404  is an upwardly-angled lower annular flange  403 , and optionally a downwardly-angle top annular flange  405 , which is positioned between the lower annular flange  403  and the bottom end  413  of the reservoir.  
         [0053]    The feeding tube assembly  414  comprises a bottom face having a shoulder  407 , a top face  416  having a downwardly angled outer lip  412  around the perimeter of the top face  416 , a conduit  415  with a receiving opening  406  which tightly fits over the neck  402  of the reservoir when the feeding tube assembly is coupled to the reservoir  401 .  
         [0054]    In assembling the feeder  400 , the feeding tube assembly  414  is pushed onto the bottom  413  of the reservoir  401  with the opening  406  of the feeding tube assembly  414  mating with neck  402  and its opening  408  on the reservoir  401 . With a slight force the downwardly-angled outer lip  412  of the feeding tube assembly  401  glides over the upwardly-angled lower flange  403  of the skirt  404  and into a secured position between the lower flange  403  and the bottom end  413  of the reservoir  401 . The cooperatively angled lower flange  403  and outer lip  412  facilitate the insertion of the feeding tube assembly  414  into the skirt  404 , as well as provide an interlocking mechanism preventing the feeding tube assembly from being released from the reservoir  401 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4B illustrates the position of the outer lip  412  in relation to the lower flange  403  in an interlocking position. In such a cooperatively interlocking position, the feeding tube assembly  414  is unreleasably coupled to the reservoir  401  in such a manner that renders the feeder  400  as a one-time use only feeder in which refilling the reservoir  401  with a feeding solution would not be readily possible and thus reusing the feeder  400  would be discouraged. If the assembled feeding tube assembly  414  is separated from the reservoir  401 , the outer lip  412  and/or the lower flange  403  would be destroyed thus rendering the feeder  400  non-reusable.  
         [0056]    The optional downwardly-angled top flange  405  can serve as a stopper or a bias to prevent the feeding tube assembly  414  from sliding further toward the bottom end  413  of the reservoir. An alternative means for biasing the outer lip  412  to rest on the lower flange  403  to keep the feeding tube assembly from moving may include a spring disposed around the neck  402 . A yet another alternative is not to have any stopper or biasing means at all. Instead, the frictional force between the neck  402  and the opening  406  may be advantageously used to keep the feeding tube assembly  414  in a fixed position.  
         [0057]    The neck  402  shown in FIG. 4A as substantially cylindrical. However, the neck  402  may be tapered toward opening  408  such that a tighter seal can be achieved as the opening  406  of the feeding tube assembly  414  is pushed further onto the neck  402 . A tapered neck  402  would also serve as a stopper to prevent the feeding tube assembly from being pushed completely into the skirt  404 .  
         [0058]    Another embodiment of the feeder of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. A feeder  500  comprises a reservoir  501  and a feeding tube assembly  506 . The reservoir  501  includes a closed top end  505  and an open bottom end. As shown in FIG. 5A, instead of being open, the bottom end can optionally be covered with an end face  503  having a spout  504 , as an extra precaution against leakage. The bottom end of the reservoir comprises a brim  502 . The feeding tube assembly  506  is cylindrical member with a side wall  509  defining a open end and a closed end  510  equipped with and spout or neck  508 . The open end of the feeding tube assembly  506  communicates with the open end of the reservoir  501 , if the reservoir does not have an end face  503  and a spout  504 .  
         [0059]    The interior of the side wall  509  comprises at least one tapered flange  507 . The flange is preferably thinner at one edge and is thicker at the other edge, i.e., the base edge attached to the interior wall  509  so as to make it flexible at the thinner edge. The flange  507  is also angled such that during the insertion of the feeding tube assembly  506  over the reservoir, the brim  502  can easily glide over the angled flange in one direction, thus allowing the feeding tube assembly  506  to interlock with the brim  502  of the reservoir. Because of the angled flange and of the thick and structurally strong base edge, the feeding tube assembly  506  cannot be separated from the reservoir  501  without using undue forces. Moreover, as the flange  507  is flexible, it is bendable, as shown by flange  511  in FIG. 5B, to create a liquid-tight coupling between the feeding tube assembly  506  and the reservoir  501 .  
         [0060]    As previously mentioned, using undue forces to disassemble the feeder of the present invention would damage the feeder. In this particular embodiment, either the flange  507  or the brim  502  would be damaged. Therefore, the feeding tube assembly  506  is unreleasably coupled to the reservoir  501  in such a manner that renders the feeder  500  as a one-time use only feeder in which refilling the reservoir with a feeding solution would not be readily possible and thus reusing the feeder would be discouraged.  
         [0061]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, a feeder  600  comprises a reservoir  601  and a feeding tube  602 . The reservoir  601  has an opening  605  at a bottom end and a hanging tab  604  at the other end. The opening  605  is preferably covered with a frangible membrane (not shown) and is re-enforced with a flexible ring  603 . A purpose of the flexible ring  603  is to retain the feeding tube  602  in place once it is inserted into the reservoir by pinching the wall of the feeding tube and providing a frictional grip thereon.  
         [0062]    The reservoir  601  shown in FIG. 6 is can be a rectangular box made of cardboard treated with a liquid impermeable layer. However, any type of container may be employed and any shape, size, color, or composition may be used.  
         [0063]    Further provided is a hummingbird feeder kit comprised of a solution reservoir, and a feeding assembly, as exemplified herein. In a preferred embodiment, the solution reservoir is packaged with pre-made “ready-to-use” solution, or a dissolvable nutrient powder to which water can be added to form solution when the feeder is ready for use. The opening of the reservoir from which the solution is dispensed is covered by a removable cap or, more preferably, a piercable film to maintain the solution in the reservoir and maintain its composition and freshness until ready for use. In a preferred embodiment, the feeding assembly includes a piercing member which, when the user is prepared to assemble the feeder, can be used to easily puncture the piercable film so as to release the solution and make it accessible. Thus, where the solution reservoir is pre-packaged with a predetermined amount of “ready to serve” solution, one need only to remove a cap or film, and attach the feeding tube assembly, and hang the feeder. If, on the other hand, the solution reservoir is prepackaged with dissolvable, nutrient powder, one simply removes the film or cap and adds the predetermined amount of water to the solution reservoir containing the powder to form a feeding solution. The kit therefore provides a hummingbird feeder that is simple to assemble and easy to use.  
         [0064]    The foregoing specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein are for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of this invention, without departing from the main theme thereof. This includes, but is not limited to, the design of the feeding tube assembly, the number of feeding tubes incorporated into the feeder, the incorporation of other embodiments, such as a resting perch, the size and shape of the feeder, and the material from which the feeder is composed. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above.

Technology Category: 1