SUPPORT POUR MANGEOIRE ET ACCESSOIRES POUR OISEAUX

DEVICE WHICH PROVIDES FOOD AND ACCESSORIES TO BIRDS

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a device which provides food and accessories to birds, it is known to
comprise the combination of a body of which a portion of said body forms
a bearing surface for a receptacle to which is connected one of a
species of food or accessory modules. The body of the device has a
portion which forms at least one means such as a hinge to connect said
body to a bird cage, bird feeder or bird home or at least one means such
as a bearing surface formed by a portion of said body from which said
body may be suspended to an overhead object such as a tree.

Revendications

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE
DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A device which provides food and accessories for birds, comprising the combination of:
a body having portions defining at least one receptacle into which is connected a species of
module and a mount formed by a portion of said body connected to a post fixed to the ground.
2. A device which provides food and accessories for birds, comprising the combination of:
a receptacle formed by a portion of a plastic body distending outward radially to form a frame
which is not round and which narrows as it approaches its extremities;, and
a species of plastic module able to connect to said receptacle by friction and a removable
plastic perch resting on a bearing surface formed by a portion of the body, and below the
receptacle, and at least one means such as a wire cable to hang said body to an overhead object.
3. A device which provides food and accessories for birds, comprising the combination of:
a rectangular plastic body of which a portion forms at least one cylindrical receptacle and a
means such as a hinge to connect said body to a bird cage, and
at least one species of module containing bird food and having a conical shaped exterior to
?acilitate entry and connection to said receptacle, and
a sliding door positioned to cover the receptacle opening when lowered on guides formed by a
portion of said body outer face relative to said bird cage, and
a removable plastic perch connected to said body by a bearing surface formed by said body and
located between the base of the body and the receptacle, and
a means to secure said body to the bird cage such as, combination handle and latch installed

in said body through an opening formed by said body and a stop pin formed by a portion of said
body.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, whereby a species of module has at least one means
for connecting accessories to said module such as a tongue and groove bracket.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein a species of module is machine filled with
bird food.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said module has at least one removable seal connected
to a distal end.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a species of module is constructed to
dispense hand filled bird food.
8.A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said module is made from bio-degradable material.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a flange is located on a distal end of at
least one module.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one tab is located on a distal end
of a species of module.
11. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a species of module is manufactured from bird
food which is moulded to form.
12. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a module does not require a taper on its
outer surface.
13. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a module is not cylindrical on the inside
and conical on the outside.
14. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the module is disposable.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a module is open throughout between its
distal ends.
16. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the device is constructed from a plastic
material.
17. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the device is constructed with magnetizable
material.
18. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the receptacle is made of metal.
19. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the receptacle is not cylindrical.
20. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the receptacle is closed at one end.
21. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the rectangular body, standing with its long
tangents vertical and the receptacle opening facing the viewer for reference, said body can
rotate about the receptacles vertical axis by means such as bearings attached to said body.
22. A device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said body can rotate about the receptacles
horizontal axis with means attached to the body such as bearings.
23. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a swing gate can be substituted for said sliding
door.
24. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a portion of the said body forms a perch.
25. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the device can be attached to a structure
with a support which embodies a tongue and groove.
26. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the device can be attached to a structure with
clips.

27. A device as claimed in 2 or 3, wherein the device is attached to a structure with pins.

Description

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This invention relates to a device which provides food and accessories to birds.
It is common to provide food and liquids to birds, in containers oP various shapes and
sizes, ranging from open trays or fonts to an assortment of semi-closed dispensers.
Some food such as suet with seed mixes are moulded into blocks and placed in suet
cages, some are moulded into ballsi and hung in cloth bags or suspended by pins or wire
wrapped around them. Still others are moulded in trays and placed in cradles. Food
of the sweet or honey moulded variety are suspended or supported with a variety of
restraints. Bird accessories, for instance Cuttlebone, aid in providing cage birds
with a source of lime and salts, bird toys such as bells, ladders and figures of birds
can be added to the accessory list. It is evident that a multitude of supports are
required to accommodate all of the above mentioned foods and devices. Many of the
aforementioned dispensers fit poorly to the cage, feeder or home and much food can be
wasted. Plastic sliding trays often bind when food particles get caught between the
tray and its slides. Suet in cages for wild birds can sometime be difficult for the
bird who is on the outside of the suet cage to reach, eventually the suet is reduced
to pieces which in so-e cases fall to the ground to be eaten by predators, likewise
suet hung in cloth bags can have similar problems.
I have found that by using a receptacle which individually receives a number of
removiable, reusable or disposable food modules and said receptacle being built into or
onto, or by means of an adaptor or adaptors be attached to bird cages, bird feeders or
bird homes, the modules all being inherent components to the receptacle will provide
a devlce havlng the capability of supplying a wide variety of food to birds in a
convenlent and ePficient manner. Acce~80rle8 built onto modules can be po8itioned into

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or on said bird cages, feeders and homes using the same receptacle. Food modules may
in some cases be machine packed, and in some cases be hand packed. The reusable type
module can be modified to dispense liquid and most types of bird food. Receptacles can
be built into new bird cages, feeders and homes very inexpensively or adapted to
existing ones if required. More than one receptacle can be used for convenience. Bird
cage doors for example would be a convenient place to mount or install this device.
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation
view of one embodiment, which is preferred for bird cages. Figure 2 is a top view of
this embodiment, Figure 3 i8 a side view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1,
Figure 4 is an elevation view of another embodiment and Figure 5 is a plan view of this
embodiment.
The device illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a cylindrical receptacle 8 open throughout
its length, around which is constructed the receptacle body 1, moulded in plastic to
form a bearing surface for the modules 11 or 12. The outer perimeter of the receptacle
body forms a rectangular gate which is attached to a bird cage wall 9 in a fashion that
the longer sides of the gate lie in the vertical plane. A plastic
removable, reusable Module 11 is utilized in connecting the manually packed food
supply, and the bird accessory supply 13 to the receptacle. A plastic disposable
odule 12 is utilized in connecting a machine packed food supply to the receptacle.
The receptacle body 1 is secured to the cage with an attachment such as a hinge 4, and
a stop pin 5, and combination handle and latch 6. When unlatched, the gate and
receptacle body 1 can swing out and ~way from the cage to allow the desired module to
be in8erted lnto the receptacle who8e openlng faces the inside of the cage when the
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2101221
door is closed. With the door in the closed position and latched, an appropriate
module can be inserted into the exposed receptacle from outside the cage. A sliding
door 2, resting in vertical guides 3, which are moulded to the receptacle bodies,
outside face
relat$ve to a closed gate will when lowered cover the receptacle opening. This door
prevents small birds from escaping when modules are removed. A removable plastic peg
10, i8 inserted through the smaller cpening 7, provided in the receptacle body 1 and
acts as a resting place for birds. A variety of pegs may be utilized in this
arrangement to facilitate the birds access to food or accessories. The module 11 is
cylindrical in shape internally and is designed with a slight taper externally to
facilitate insertion into the receptacle 8, and tighten the module in position. A
flange is moulded around the large diameter end to facilitate insertion and retraction
of the module and in some embodiments can act as a bearing between the module and the
receptacle. The opposing end of the module, because of the taper, has a smaller
outside diameter than that of the receptacle and does not have a flange. The basic
module 11 is open and unrestricted throughout between the flanged end and the end
having the smaller outside diameter, to accommodate feeding from either end of the
module as required in some embodiments. The same basic module 11 is used to
accommodate a wide variety of food, liquid and accessories, by modifying the module to
suit. Some modifications to the basic module 11, are illustrated in Figure 3, namely
the large capacity loose seed bin 15, the toy bird accessory 13, and the small capacity
loose seed feeder built entirely inside the module 11, as illustrated in Figure 4 of
another embodiment. Module 12 is designed to fit the receptacle 8 in the same way
module 11 does, however the smaller diameter end i8 closed and rounded as illustrated
in Flgure 3, to accept food being dispensed by a machine. The flanged end of module

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12 can be any reasonable size to accommodate a seal for the purpose of keeping food
clean and fresh. Module 12 is made from thin deposable plastic and because it is
considerably thinner than module 11 it can be expected to become slightly enlarged if
packed too tightly by machine, however this is compensated for by the modules external
taper.
The device as illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5 is in the embodiment of a birdfeeder
designed as a plastic representation of a bird. The receptacle body 1, is moulded into
the wing and body structure of this embodiment. The removable Peg 10, is inserted into
opening 7 located on the receptacle body and below the receptacle 8. A modified module
11 is shown as illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5 which can dispense loose seed from
either end of the module. A filler slot, NOT SHOWN, is located on the upper surface
of the module a~ related to Figure 4. The filler slot lies parallel to the flange face
and is narrower than the thickness of the receptacle body thus when the module is
properly positioned in the receptacle the slot is effectively closed. In this
embodiment an unmodified module 11 can dispense suet and suet seed mixes from either
end of the module. Machine packed food modules may also be used in this embodiment.
This small device can hang inside bird cages and hang in any convenient position to
service wild birds outdoors. It can utilize both food and accessory modules.
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