Patent Document

[0001]    This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 11/434,369 filed May 15, 2006, the priority of which is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to liquid bird feeders, and in particular to such bird feeders which provide for inverted filling while minimizing residual liquid spillage. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Liquid nectar bird feeders are used for specifically attracting hummingbirds in the same manner as seed feeders are used to attract other birds. Some may consider liquid nectar feeders to be less convenient however, because of the liquid auto-feed structure. Filling liquid feeders commonly requires inversion of the feeder and certain liquid spillage from this action. 
         [0006]    It is therefore desirable to have a liquid nectar feeder which minimizes liquid spillage during filling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid bird feeder, comprising a liquid container having a bottom opening, a liquid tray adapted to attach to the liquid container and adapted to immerse the bottom opening in liquid, wherein the liquid tray includes a bottom port passing through the liquid tray and vertically aligned with the bottom opening, and a valve mechanism adapted to selectively couple the bottom port of the liquid tray to the bottom opening for filling purposes, or to close the bottom port and couple the bottom opening to the liquid tray for supplying liquid from the liquid container to the liquid tray. 
         [0008]    The liquid tray may include a concave bottom surface located adjacent to the bottom port and adapted to act as a funnel or collector for filling the liquid container through the bottom port. The bird feeder may further comprise a valve actuator handle extending through the bottom port. The valve actuator handle may be located within the concave bottom surface of the liquid tray. The concave bottom surface may surround the bottom port. 
         [0009]    The liquid tray may include a top cover enclosing the liquid tray and adapted to avoid liquid spillage from the liquid tray during inversion of the bird feeder. The liquid tray top cover may include one or more feeding ports which extend below the bottom opening when the bird feeder is in an upright position, and thus below a normal liquid level in the liquid tray. The top cover may enclose sufficient volume to keep the bird feeder ports above a normal liquid level when the bird feeder is inverted. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a liquid bird feeder, comprising a liquid container having a bottom opening, a liquid tray adapted to attach to the liquid container and adapted to immerse the bottom opening in liquid, a cylindrical collar forming a bottom port of the liquid tray and extending through the liquid tray and the bottom opening, and a stopper adapted for closing the cylindrical collar from beneath the liquid tray. The cylindrical collar is adapted to allow filling of the liquid container through the bottom port by removal of the stopper and locating the feeder in an inverted position, and further adapted to allow liquid flow from the liquid container into the liquid tray with the stopper closing the cylindrical collar and the feeder located in an upright position. 
         [0011]    The bottom opening may be larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical collar. The liquid container may include a cylindrical extension forming the bottom opening and extending downwardly around a top end of the cylindrical collar. 
         [0012]    The liquid tray may include a concave bottom surface located adjacent to the bottom port and adapted to act as a funnel or collector for filling the liquid container through the bottom port. The bird feeder may further comprise a stopper grip extending through the bottom port. The stopper grip may be located within the concave bottom surface of the liquid tray. The concave bottom surface may surround the bottom port. 
         [0013]    The liquid tray may include a top cover enclosing the liquid tray and adapted to avoid spillage from the liquid tray during inversion of the bird feeder. The liquid tray top cover may include one or more feeding ports which extend below the bottom opening of the liquid container when the bird feeder is in an upright position, and thus below a normal liquid level in the liquid tray. The top cover may enclose sufficient volume to keep the bird feeder ports above a normal liquid level when the bird feeder is inverted. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention is illustratively shown and described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a liquid bird feeder constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a central cross sectional view of the bird feeder of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the bird feeder of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the bird feeder of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a similar bottom view of the bird feeder of  FIGS. 1-3  with a component being located in another operative position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a liquid bird feeder  10 , which generally includes a liquid container  12  and a liquid tray  14 . Tray  14  further includes a multiplicity of flower-like bird feeding ports  16 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a centrally located, cross section of bird feeder  10  including the same liquid container  12 , liquid tray  14 , and feeding ports  16 .  FIG. 2  further shows liquid container  12  to have a bottom opening  18  formed by a cylindrical extension  20 . Container  12  is also shown to be otherwise closed. It should be noted that bottom opening  18  extends below an upper edge  22  of liquid tray  14 . This allows the gradual feeding of liquid from liquid container  12  into tray  14  when the liquid level within tray  14  is below the bottom opening  18 . Whenever the liquid level in tray  14  is above bottom opening  18 , a vacuum created above the liquid located within liquid container  12  prevents further flow into tray  14 . This is a normal liquid level for enabling bird feeding. 
         [0024]    Liquid tray  14  includes bottom port  30  which passes through liquid tray  14  and is vertically aligned with bottom opening  18 . Port  30  is closed by a valve  32 , which is constructed to either allow the filling of liquid container  12  when feeder  10  is in an inverted position or to allow the normal flow of liquid into tray  14  when feeder is in an upright position. Valve  32  closes port  30  by means of a seal  34 . 
         [0025]    Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a cover  38  for liquid tray  14  that is located between liquid container  12  and tray  14 . Feeding ports  16  are mounted in cover  38  and are shown to have lower ends  16   a  which extend below bottom opening  18  and thus below the normal liquid level which would be maintained at or about bottom opening  18 . When feeder  10  is inverted for filling, cover  38  has sufficient volume to contain the liquid from tray  14  and thus spillage is prevented. In this inverted position, the ends  16   a  normally extend above the normal liquid level to be expected. Optionally, the top  38   a  of cover  38  may include a seal of any suitable nature with which container  12  or top  38   a  may be sealed during construction of feeder  10  to prevent any seepage. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of bird feeder  10 . Liquid tray  14  also includes a cylindrical collar  40 , which forms the bottom port  30  ( FIG. 2 ). Cylindrical collar  40  includes female thread  42  adapted to mate with a male thread  44  located on cylindrical extension  20 . When tray  14  is attached to container  12  in this manner, tray cover  38  is squeezed therebetween. Cylindrical collar  40  also includes a port  46  located in its side wall. Valve  32  is also shown in  FIG. 3  with a cylindrical construction  47  having lateral port  49 . In reference to  FIG. 2 , when valve  32  closes port  30 , the alignment of ports  46  and  49  allows liquid to flow from liquid container  12  into liquid tray  14 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show bottom views of liquid tray  14  which differ in that valve  32  is located in respective opened and closed positions. Tray  14  is shown to include a concave depression  52  which is adapted to work as a funnel for liquid being poured into feeder  10 . Concave depression  52  is shown to fully contain a grip or handle  53  for valve  32 . In the open position of  FIG. 4 , a space  54  is provided between seal  34  and tray  14 . This allows liquid poured into depression  52  to flow into liquid container  12 . In  FIG. 5 , valve  32  is shown in a closed position with no similar space shown adjacent to seal  34 . The variation in the vertical position between tray  14  and valve  32  with the rotation of valve  32  can be caused by any suitable thread arrangement, such as thread follower  51  ( FIG. 3 ) on valve  32  and a corresponding thread or channel (not shown) on the inside surface of cylindrical extension  40 . Any suitable valve design may be used. Functionally, container  12  is connected to tray  14  when valve  32  is closed, and container  12  is connected to port  30  and not tray  14  when valve  32  is open. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional view of an alternate valve or stopper  60 , being used to close the bottom of port  30   a.  Liquid tray  14   a  is shown to include an additional cylindrical collar  62 , which is aligned with and extends into bottom opening  18   a  of cylindrical extension  20   a.  The outer diameter  62   a  of cylindrical collar  62  is smaller than the inner diameter  20   b  of cylindrical extension  20   a  and bottom opening  18   a.    
         [0029]    Stopper  60  is intended for complete removal from tray  14   a  when liquid feed is poured through bottom port  30   a  of tray  14   a.  Thus, liquid feed flows directly through cylindrical extension  20   a  and it does not enter liquid tray  14   a.  Tray  14   a  includes a concave depression  64  to act as a funnel. Thus, when stopper  60  closes port  30   a,  as shown in  FIG. 6 , and the feeder is turned upright, liquid is allowed to flow through extension  20   a,  around the outside of cylindrical collar  62  and through port  46   a  into tray  14   a.  Any suitable means may be used to secure stopper  60  in port  30   a  against a washer  34   a,  including a threaded engagement sufficient to maintain a liquid seal. 
         [0030]    Thus, the present invention provides a liquid bird feeder which is well adapted for refilling, while minimizing spillage of residual liquid feed. 
         [0031]    It is now apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details, and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.

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