Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02541918 2006-04-05
COVER FOR BIRD FEEDER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to bird feeders and more particularly, relates
to
selective bird feeders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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.
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.
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.
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
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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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.
The recessed portion maintains the protrusion in position to effectively lock
the
cover to a body portion of the bird feeder.
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.
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.
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.
In an alternative embodiment, the biasing member may exert a biasing force on
the
underside of a central portion of the cover. This arrangement is particularly
suitable for
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bird feeders which have a centrally located post interiorly of the feed
container.
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
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:
Figure is a sectional view of a cover arrangement for a bird feeder according
to one
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of collar portion of the embodiment of Figure
1;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the cover and collar illustrating the
biassing of
the cover;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of a cover and collar according to a further
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is view similar to Figure 2 with a portion of the collar being cut
away;
Figure 6 is cross sectional view through the upper portion of a bird feeder
having
the cover and collar of Figures 4 and 5;
Figure 7 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is an exploded view of a variation of the embodiment of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a further variation of the embodiment of Figure 7; and
Figure 10 is an exploded view of a still further variation thereof.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, there
is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 a first embodiment of the present invention
which will now
be described.
As may be seen in Figure 1, there is provided a cover generally designated by
reference numeral 10 along with a ring or collar generally designated by
reference
numeral 12.
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.
Collar 12 is best illustrated in Figures 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 US patent application 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,
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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.
As best seen in Figure 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.
A plurality of attaching hooks 64 are provided for securing collar 12 to a
shroud.
Turning to the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, there is illustrated therein a
cover 68
and a collar generally designated by reference numeral 80.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
The bird feeder will include a shroud as is shown in co-pending US patent
applicationfiled 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.
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.
An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7 wherein reference
numerals in
the hundreds are employed. In this arrangement, there is provided a cover I 10
which seats
within a key way 142 formed in collar 112. However, in this instance, cover
112 is placed
on a feed tube I 11. A biasing arrangement 115 which will be described in
greater detail
hereinbelow is provided.
In the embodiment of Figure 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.
In the embodiment of Figure 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.
In Figure 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.
Biasing means 415 includes a lower housing having a base 417 which is designed
to
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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
wa11421, there is provided a biasing spring 427 which will push the upper
housing 425
upwardly to seat against the upper portion of cover 410.
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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