Birdfeeder and seed dispenser therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9277736-B2
Application number	US-201514635795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2015
Priority date	Dec 12, 2003
Publication date	Mar 8, 2016
Grant date	Mar 8, 2016

Abstract

A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base assembly mounted to a first opening formed in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir, including a front plate having a second opening formed therein, a flange extending around the second opening and projecting away from the front plate, and an end wall supported by the flange such that the flange and end wall together define a chamber. The dispenser also includes an apertured piece received in the chamber having a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a different configuration. The apertured piece is moveable between a first orientation, which places the first seed aperture in a seed accessible state permitting birds access to the seed, and a second orientation to place the second seed aperture in the seed accessible state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A birdfeeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, comprising:
a birdseed reservoir with a surrounding sidewall for receiving birdseed therein, said sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface and an opening formed therethrough;
a seed dispenser having an access opening formed therethrough in communication with said reservoir opening, said dispenser including first and second pieces cooperating with one another through movement of at least one of said first and second pieces relative to the other to present, in a first orientation, a first seed aperture of a first size in a seed accessible state, and in a second orientation, to bring a second seed aperture of a second size that is smaller than the first size into a seed accessible state; and
said first and second seed apertures being on a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said sidewall in both said first and second orientations.

2. The birdfeeder according to claim 1 , wherein said first seed aperture is unobstructed in said first orientation while said second seed aperture is blocked, and said first seed aperture being at least partly obstructed in said second orientation while said second seed aperture provides access to birdseed.

3. The birdfeeder according to claim 1 , wherein said second seed aperture is in fluid communication with said access opening in said second orientation.

4. The birdfeeder according to claim 1 , wherein said second piece is rotatably moveable relative to said first piece.

5. The birdfeeder according to claim 4 , wherein said rotational movement of the second piece relative to said first piece is in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said first piece.

6. The birdfeeder according to claim 5 , further comprising a cup-shaped trough for holding seed from said seed dispenser, said trough projecting outwardly and generally perpendicular to said sidewall and adjacent said access opening.

7. A birdfeeder adapted to dispense birdseed to birds comprising:
a housing with a top, a bottom, and a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a seed reservoir, said sidewall having at least one opening into said seed reservoir;
a seed dispenser fitted in said sidewall opening and having an access opening formed therethrough passing from said reservoir outer surface to said reservoir inner surface and in fluid communication with said seed reservoir, said seed dispenser including a movable piece having a seed aperture formed therethrough which is smaller than said seed reservoir opening, said movable piece being moveable in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said reservoir sidewall between a first orientation in which at least a portion of said seed reservoir opening is unobstructed to provide birds with access to birdseed in said seed reservoir while said movable piece seed aperture is blocked, and a second orientation in which said movable piece seed aperture is in fluid communication with said seed reservoir opening to provide birds with access to birdseed in said reservoir through said movable piece seed aperture.

8. The birdfeeder according to claim 7 , wherein said movable piece is rotatably moveable.

9. The birdfeeder according to claim 7 , wherein said sidewall opening has an axis that is generally perpendicular to said sidewall, said sidewall being generally vertical in use of said birdfeeder.

10. The birdfeeder according to claim 7 , wherein said dispenser includes a base piece having at least one retaining member adapted to retain said movable piece in engagement with said base piece while allowing said movement thereof between said first and second orientations.

11. The birdfeeder according to claim 7 , wherein said dispenser includes a cup-shaped trough associated with said sidewall opening that collects seeds therein from said reservoir and which is accessible to birds.

12. The birdfeeder according to claim 7 , further comprising a perch positioned adjacent said sidewall opening to support a bird.

13. The birdfeeder according to claim 12 , wherein said dispenser includes a cup-shaped trough for holding seed from said seed dispenser, said trough projecting outwardly and generally perpendicular to said sidewall and positioned between said sidewall opening and said perch.

14. A birdfeeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, comprising:
a birdseed reservoir with a surrounding sidewall for receiving birdseed therein, said sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface and an opening formed therethrough;
a seed dispenser having an access opening formed therethrough in communication with said reservoir opening, said dispenser including first and second pieces cooperating with one another through movement of at least one of said first and second pieces relative to the other to present, in a first orientation, a first seed aperture of a first size in a seed accessible state, and in a second orientation, to bring a second seed aperture of a second size that is smaller than the first size into a seed accessible state; and
said first seed aperture being in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said sidewall in said first orientation and second seed aperture being in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said sidewall in said second orientation.

15. The birdfeeder according to claim 14 , wherein said sidewall is generally vertical in use and said opening has an axis that is generally perpendicular to said sidewall.

16. The birdfeeder according to claim 14 , wherein said second piece is rotatably moveable relative to said first piece.

17. The birdfeeder according to claim 16 , wherein said rotational movement of the second piece relative to said first piece is in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said first piece.

18. The birdfeeder according to claim 16 , wherein said second piece is rotatably moveable around said sidewall opening axis.

19. The birdfeeder according to claim 16 , wherein said dispenser includes a cup-shaped trough located adjacent said sidewall opening for holding seed, said trough projecting outwardly and generally parallel with said sidewall opening axis.

20. The birdfeeder according to claim 19 , wherein said cup-shaped trough is integral with said seed dispenser.

Assignees

• Woodstream Corp

Inventors

• Hunter Lynn
• Carter James
• O'Dell Furman
• Krueger Brian

Classifications

• A01K39/012 Primary

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