Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02589621 2007-06-01
BIItD FEEDER
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a bird feeder and, more
particularly, to a bird feeder having a food selector.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Commonly available bird feeders can be used with only one type of seed.
For example, some bird feeders are used to store and dispense larger seeds
(e.g.,
sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, or a mixed seeds blend), while other bird
feeders are designed for smaller seeds (e.g., thistle seeds, finch seeds, and
niger
seeds).
[0003] Few bird feeders are designed to selectively feed one of larger and
smaller
seeds. These bird feeders are equipped with feeding ports that are externally
removable or a swinging selector. A larger feeding port is attached to these
bird
feeders to allow larger seed size use. The larger feeding port can then be
removed
extemally and replaced with a smaller feeding port to feed smaller seeds.
Disadvantages of these conventional bird feeders include frequent loss of the
feeding ports by the user. Another disadvantage is that a swinging selector of
a
conventional bird feeder can be broken off easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is a bird feeder and a method for making the bird
feeder. An embodiment of the bird feeder includes a container, a base attached
to
the container, and a selector that is detachably housed within the base. The
selector includes a large opening and a small opening. Preferably, the
container
includes a cavity configured to store a bird food. Preferably, the base
includes a
reservoir configured to receive the bird food from the container. Preferably,
one
of the large opening and the small opening is configured to align with a
feeding
port on the base to expose the bird food. Preferably, when one of the openings
is
aligned with the feeding port, the other opening is covered by a perimeter
wall of
the base. Preferably, the bird feeder further includes a hanging device
attached to
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the container. Preferably, the bird feeder further includes a blind hole on a
bottom
surface of the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0005] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exploded view of a bird
feeder
of the invention.
[0006] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of the bird
feeder fully assembled.
[0007] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an exploded view of a container
of the bird feeder.
[0008] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a
selector
of the bird feeder.
[0009] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a top view of the selector.
[0010] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing a side view of the selector.
[0011] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a base of
the bird feeder.
[0012] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a bottom view of the base.
[0013] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing an alternative method for using
the bird feeder.
[0014] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing an alternative design of the
container.
[0015] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing an alternative design of the
base
having a dome-shape rain guard with ribs.
[0016] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an exemplary process involved in
making a container of the bird feeder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] As shown in Figure 1, feeder 100 of the invention includes container
110,
selector 120, and base 130. These three members of feeder 100 can be
completely
separated from each other as depicted in Figure 1. When fully assembled as
shown in Figures 2 and 9, selector 120 is wholly captured by base 130, and
large
openings 122 (see Figure 2) or small openings 121 (see Figure 9) are visible.
In
this configuration, large openings 122 and small openings 121 cannot both be
seen
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at the same time. Since selector 120 is completely housed within base 130, it
is
very difficult for a user to misplace or damage it.
[0018] Container 110 is configured to hold bird food (not shown) in cavity
112.
Preferably, cavity 112 is configured to store about five pounds of the bird
food.
Container 110 may have a dome shape as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively,
container 110 may be configured to have a more conventional cylindrical shape
as
shown in Figure 10. Container 1110 shown in Figure 10 includes container
thread
1111 and cap 1113. Container thread 1111 is configured to mate with base
thread
131 of base 130. Other shapes may be configured for container 110.
[0019] Container 110 includes cap 113 and hanging device 114. Hanging device
114 can be used to attach feeder 100 to an external support. For example, as
shown in Figure 2, hanging device 114 can be used to hang feeder 100 on beam
220 using chain 222. Beam 220 may be attached to another structure (not shown)
such as, for example, a roof, a wall, a pole, and the like. Although hanging
device
114 is depicted in the drawings as an "S" hook, hanging device 114 can be a
clip,
j-hook, snap hook, rope, wire or the like. Container 110 further includes
container
thread 111. Container thread 111 is configured to mate with base thread 131 of
base 130.
[0020] Preferably, container 110 is of a one-piece design without any opening
other than the hole defmed by container thread 111. The hole provides access
to
cavity 112. Preferably, container 110 includes body 119 as shown in Figure 3.
Preferably, body 119 has a dome shape. Preferably, body 119 has ribs 118. Ribs
118 serve at least two functions. First, ribs 118 can add strength to body
119. In
addition, if body 119 is made of a material having a translucent appearance,
ribs
118 can refract light from body 119 to make it more visible and attractive.
[0021] Preferably, body 119 is made of a blow-molded plastic. Preferably, body
119 has no opening other than the hole defined by container thread I 11.
Preferably, body 119 includes blind plug 117. Preferably, blind plug 117 has a
disk shape as shown in Figure 3 and external thread 1172.
[0022] Cap 113 has an inner dimension that is slightly larger than the outer
dimension of blind plug 117. For example, if each of cap 113 and blind plug
117
has a circular cross-section, then the inner diameter of cap 113 is slightly
larger
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than the outer diameter of blind plug 117. Cap 113 has intemal thread 1132
that is
configured to mate with external thread 1172.
[0023] Cap 113 is preferably attached or secured to blind plug 117 by mating
internal thread 1132 with extetnal thread 1172. In another embodiment, one or
more fasteners 116 can be used to attach cap 113 to blind plug 117. Fasteners
116
can be, for example, screws, bolts, nails, rivets, and the like.
Alternatively, cap
113 can be attached to blind plug 117 using an adhesive.
[0024] Cap 113 includes loop 115. Loop 115 is configured to receive one end of
hanging device 114. Preferably, loop 115 and cap 113 are an integrated unit.
[0025] As disclosed, cap 113 and blind plug 117 allow feeder 100 to be hung as
shown in Figure 2. External thread 1172 and internal thread 1132 provide a
method for hanging feeder 100 without using a pass-through bolt or other
attachment that must penetrate into the interior of container 119, and without
adhesive. As known in the art, pass-through attachments are subject to leakage
and glues can come apart. Figure 12 discloses a method for making container
110.
[0026] As depicted in Figures 4-6, selector 120 includes at least one small
opening 121 and at least one large opening 122. Preferably, there are multiple
small openings 121 and large openings 122. As depicted in Figures 4-6,
selector
120 includes 12 small openings 121 organized in four groups of three and four
large openings 122. Small openings 121 are holes on perimeter wall 151. Each
of
large openings 122 is defined by curved wall 123 and bottom surface 139 of
base
130 (see Figure 7).
[0027] Small openings 121 are preferably roughly a rectangle in shape as
depicted
in the drawings. Small openings 121, however, may be elliptical, triangular,
circular, or another shape. Small openings 121 are configured to allow passage
of
a bird food of a small granular size. For example, small openings 121 should
be
large enough to allow passage of small seeds such as thistle, finch, and niger
seeds. Accordingly, it is preferable that small openings 121 have a shorter
dimension of about one-sixteenth of an inch and a longer dimension of about
one-
quarter of an inch. As shown in Figure 9, small openings 121 are aligned with
feeding ports 133 when small seeds are stored in container 110.
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[0028] If large seeds are stored in container 110, then large openings 112 are
aligned with feeding ports 133 as shown in Figure 2. Each of large openings
122
is defined by curved wall 123 of selector 120 and bottom surface 139 of base
130.
Large openings 122 are configured to allow passage of a bird food of a larger
granular size. For example, large openings 122 should be large enough to allow
passage of sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, or a mixed seeds blend.
Accordingly, it is preferable that large openings 122 have a shorter dimension
of
about one-half inch and a longer dimension of about one and one-half inches.
[0029] Base 130 includes base thread 131 (see Figure 1), reservoir 132 (see
Figure 7), feeding ports 133, and perch ring 134. Perch ring 134, as depicted
in
Figure 2, is configured to support bird 230 to obtain the bird food through
feeding
port 133. Perch ring 134 is connected to base 130 via spokes 136. Reservoir
132
is defined by bottom surface 139 and perimeter wall 141.
[0030] Preferably, spokes 136 are located directly in front of feeding ports
133.
This enables smaller birds to sit on spokes 136 and feed, while larger birds
utilize
perch ring 134 to feed. This configuration of perch ring 134 and spokes 136
allows birds of all sizes to use feeder 100 comfortably.
[0031] Preferably, there are four feeding ports 133. As depicted in Figure 2,
feeding ports 133 are aligned with large openings 122 while small openings 121
are covered by perimeter wall 141. As depicted in Figure 9, each of feeding
ports
133 is aligned with a group of three small openings 121 while large openings
122
are covered by perimeter wall 141.
[0032] Base 130 can be further configured to include an integral rain guard
135.
Rain guard 135 as depicted in Figure 2, is configured to keep rain from
running
into feeding port 133, yet does not obstruct bird 230's view.
[0033] Preferably, rain guard 135 is located about one and one-half inches
above
the bottom of feeding port 133. Alternatively, rain guard 135 can be located
about
three inches above perch ring 134. The unique placement of rain guard 135
allows larger birds such as a cardinal to sit upright on perch ring 134, yet
easily
duck under to feed. Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, rain guard 135 is flat.
Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, rain guard 135 has a dome shape. A dome-
shape rain guard 135 can be equipped with ribs 1352. Ribs 1352 adds strength
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rain guard 135. In addition, if rain guard 135 is configured to have a
translucent
color, ribs 1352 can refract light from the translucent color to make rain
guard 135
more visible and attractive. In one embodiment, rain guard 135 is an integral
member of base 130. In an alternative embodiment, rain guard 135 can be a
secondary snap on attachment.
[0034] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, base 130 includes blind hole 138. Blind
hole
138 is configured to receive pole 240 as shown in Figure 9. Preferably, blind
hole
138 includes internal ridges 137. Inteinal ridges 137 are preferably sloping
ridges
having a smaller dimension on one end and a larger dimension on the other end.
For example, in an exemplary embodiment, internaI ridges 137 are one-thirty-
second of an inch thick on one end (e.g., near bottom surface 139) and one-
sixteenth of an inch thick on the other (e.g., about three-quarters of an inch
from
bottom surface 139). Sloping internal ridges 137 provide a better attachment
to
pole 240.
[0035] As depicted in Figure 8, there are preferably three internal ridges
137.
Internal ridges 137 secures base 130 on pole 240. Pole 240 can be, for
example, a
standard EMT (electrical metal tubing) conduit or another vertical structure.
Preferably, blind hole 138 is about one inch in diameter. Preferably, blind
hole
138 is about three-quarters of an inch deep. Preferably, each of internal
ridges
137 is about one-sixteenth of an inch thick on one end and sloping to one
thirty-
second of an inch think on the other end.
[0036] Feeder 100 can be utilized by a user as follows. First, base 130 is
separated from container 110. This can be accomplished by rotating base 130
relative to container 110 so that container thread 1 I 1 and base thread 131
can be
separated. Next, container 110 is turned upside down and a bird food is placed
within cavity 112 of container 110.
[0037] Next, selector 120 is removed from base 130. If the size of the bird
food is
small, selector 120 is reinserted into base 130 so that small openings 121 are
aligned with feeding ports 133. On the other hand, if the size of the bird
food is
larger, selector 120 is reinserted into base 130 so that larger openings 122
are
aligned with feeding ports 133.
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[0038] Next, container 110 and base 130 are reunited. This is accomplished by
matching container thread 111 with base thread 131 while continuing to hold
base
130 in inverted position to avoid seeds from spilling out, and then rotating
one or
both of container I 10 and base 130 to secure them together. Selector 120 can
be
held securely in base 130 by press fit so it does not fall when base 130 is
inverted.
[0039] Next, feeder 100 is supported at a location where birds are present.
This
can be done in several ways. For example, as shown in Figure 2, feeder 100 can
be hung from chain 222 to an external support such as beam 220. Alternatively,
as shown in Figure 9, feeder 100 can be mounted on a vertical support such as
pole 240.
[0040] To refill or clean bird feeder 100, container 110 is separated from
base
130, and each of container I 10, selector 120, and base 130 can be cleaned
separately.
[0041] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an exemplary process involved in
making a container of the bird feeder.
[0042] In step 1202, body 119 of container 110 is made. Preferably, container
110 is made of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic. Typically, a PET
container can be created in a two-step process in which a pre-form is made
first
with an injection molded threaded opening, and this piece is next heated and
blown into the shape of the container. Preferably, container 110 is made using
a
special high volume blow molding machine. Container 110 may have any color.
Container 110 may also be made of a translucent material. Moreover, container
110 may be configured to have a transparent appearance.
[0043] Preferably, blind plug 117, rib 118, and container thread 111 is
integrally
formed with body 119 to define cavity 112. Preferably, container thread 111 is
formed at one end and blind plug 117 is created at the other end of body 119.
Preferably, as shown in Figure 3, blind plug 117 is configured to include
external
thread 1172. External thread 1172 is configured to mate with internal thread
1132
of cap 113.
[0044] In step 1204, cap 113 is attached onto blind plug 117 by mating
internal
thread 1132 with external thread 1172. The attachment can also be made using
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fasteners 116. Fastener 116 can be screws, nails, rivets, and the like. Loop
115 is
configured to receive hanging device 114 for hanging feeder 100.
[0045] As disclosed, the present invention provides a method for PET blow
molding that produces a one-piece, integral container that has no chance of
leakage, either in or out.
[0046] The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It
is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed.
Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure.
The
scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto,
and by
their equivalents.
[0047] Further, in describing representative embodiments of the present
invention,
the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the present
invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the
method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth
herein,
the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of
steps
described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other
sequences of
steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth
in the
specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In
addition, the
claims directed to the method and/or process of the present invention should
not
be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one
skilled in
the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still
remain
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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