Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02592677 2013-10-03
LIQUID BIRD FEEDER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid nectar bird feeders are used for specifically attracting humming birds
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.
It is therefore desirable to have a liquid nectar feeder which minimizes
liquid
spillage during filling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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.
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.
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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.
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, wherein 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.
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.
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.
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 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
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sufficient volume to keep the bird feeder ports above a normal liquid level
when the
bird feeder is inverted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustratively shown and described in reference to
the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid bird feeder constructed in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a central cross sectional view of the bird feeder of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the bird feeder of Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the bird feeder of Figs. 1 to 3;
Fig. 5 is a similar bottom view of the bird feeder of Figs. 1 to 3 with a
component being located in another operative position;
Fig. 6 is a partial cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the
present invention; and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the stopper of Fig. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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.
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.
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Liquid tray 14 further 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
10 is in an upright position. Valve 32 closes port 30 by means of a seal 34.
Also shown in Fig. 2 is a cover 38 for liquid tray 14, which cover 38 is
located
between liquid container 12 and tray 14. Feeding ports 16 are mounted in cover
38
and are shown to have lower ends 16a 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 16a normally extend above the level normal liquid level to be
expected.
Optionally, the top 38a of cover 38 may include a seal of any suitable nature
with
container 12 or top 38a may be sealed thereto during construction of feeder 10
to
prevent any seepage.
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 there between. 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.
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
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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 with valve 32 closed, and
container
12 is connected to, port 30 and not tray 14 when valve 32 is open.
Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional view of an alternate valve or stopper 60, being
used to close the bottom of port 30a. Liquid tray 14a is shown to include an
additional
cylindrical collar 62, which is aligned with and extends into bottom opening
18a of
cylindrical extension 20a. The outer diameter 62a of cylindrical collar 62 is
smaller
than the inner diameter 20b of cylindrical extension 20a and bottom opening
18a.
Stopper 60 is intended for complete removal from tray 14a while liquid feed is
poured through bottom port 30a of tray 14a. Thus, liquid feed flows directly
through
cylindrical extension 20a and it does not enter liquid tray 14a. Tray 14a
includes a
concave depression 64 to act as a funnel. Thus, when stopper 60 closes port
30a,
as shown in Fig. 6, and the feeder is turned upright, liquid is allowed to
flow through
extension 20a, around the outside of cylindrical collar 62 and through port
46a into
tray 14a. Any suitable means may be used to secure stopper 60 in port 30a
against
a washer 34a, including a threaded engagement sufficient to maintain a liquid
seal.
A perspective view of the stopper is provided in Fig. 7.
Thus, the present invention provides a liquid bird feeder, which is well
adapted
for refilling, while minimizing spillage of residual liquid feed.
It will now be 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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