Pest resistant birdfeeder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11533892-B2
Application number	US-201916565012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2019
Priority date	Sep 11, 2018
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

The present technology provides systems and methods for resisting intrusion of a pest into a supply of bird seed held in a birdfeeder. In one implementation, a base has a surface extending to a base edge. A perch has a body extending from a perch first end to a perch second end. The perch body is disposed relative to a slot. A collapsible member is mounted to the base at a first attachment point. The first attachment point is disposed inward relative to the base edge. The collapsible member is mounted to the perch at a second attachment point. The collapsible member has a pivot point defined between the first attachment point and the second attachment point. The collapsible member moves the perch from a feeding position to a non-feeding position by pivoting at the pivot point upon an application of a force above a threshold on the perch body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A birdfeeder comprising:
a base having a base surface extending to a base edge;
a slot defined in the base;
a perch having a perch body extending from a perch first end to a perch second end, the perch body disposed relative to the slot; and
a collapsible member mounted to the base at a first attachment point, the first attachment point disposed inward relative to the base edge, the collapsible member being mounted to the perch at a second attachment point, the collapsible member having a pivot point defined between the first attachment point and the second attachment point, the pivot point being disposed relative to a stop, the collapsible member moving the perch from a feeding position to a non-feeding position by pivoting at the pivot point upon an application of a force above a threshold on the perch body of the perch, the collapsible member pivoting from the feeding position in a direction towards the non-feeding position until a surface of the collapsible member contacts the stop.

2. The birdfeeder of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment point is disposed at a center of the base.

3. The birdfeeder of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment point is disposed inward relative to the base edge.

4. The birdfeeder of claim 1 , wherein the slot is defined in at least one of the base surface or a base wall.

5. The birdfeeder of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible member is mounted to a second perch at a third attachment point, the collapsible member having a second pivot point defined between the first attachment point and the third attachment point, the collapsible member moving the second perch by pivoting at the second pivot point upon application of force on the second perch.

6. The birdfeeder of claim 5 , wherein the perch is disposed opposite the second perch.

7. The birdfeeder of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible member includes at least one of a strip of metal or a spring.

8. The birdfeeder of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment point is disposed at the perch second end.

9. A bird feeder comprising:
a housing having a reservoir connected to a base, the reservoir having a sidewall defining an interior, the interior configured to hold a supply of bird seed, the base having a base surface;
a feeder opening defined in the housing, the supply of bird seed accessible from the interior through the feeder opening;
a perch having a perch body extending from a perch first end to a perch second end, the perch body disposed relative to the feeder opening;
a collapsible member mounted to the housing at a first attachment point, the first attachment point disposed inward relative to the sidewall and the base surface, the collapsible member being mounted to the perch at a second attachment point, the collapsible member having a pivot point defined between the first attachment point and the second attachment point, the collapsible member moving the perch from a feeding position to a non-feeding position by pivoting at the pivot point upon an application of a force above a threshold on the perch body of the perch.

10. The birdfeeder of claim 9 , wherein the pivot point is defined relative to a center column of the base.

11. The birdfeeder of claim 9 , wherein collapsible member includes a bendable member coupled to an inner rod at the pivot point, the bendable member including a first opening and a second opening, the inner rod extending into the first opening at the pivot point, the perch extending into the second opening at the pivot point, the inner rod mounted to the base at the first attachment point.

12. The birdfeeder of claim 9 , wherein the collapsible member includes an elastic cord mounted at the first attachment point to an elongated member extending from the base, the elastic cord extending through a bore of the perch body to the second attachment point, the second attachment point being disposed at the perch second end.

13. The birdfeeder of claim 9 , wherein the first attachment point is disposed on a central axis extending longitudinally through a center of the housing.

14. The birdfeeder of claim 9 , wherein the collapsible member is mounted to the base at the first attachment point.

15. The birdfeeder of claim 9 , wherein the collapsible member is mounted to a central column.

16. The birdfeeder of claim 15 , wherein the central column extends upwardly within the interior.

Assignees

• Classic Brands Llc

Inventors

• Combs Stephen
• Nifong Lindsey

Classifications

• A01K39/0113 Primary

  with means to prevent other animals or insects, e.g. squirrels or ants, from eating also · CPC title

• A01K39/012

  filling automatically {, e.g. by gravity from a reserve} · CPC title