Nectar feeder incorporating fluid transport

• US 20040103851A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lynn L. Hunter
• Original Assignee: Lynn L. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Lynn L.
• Application Number:
  US10/446,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/72
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/02 Drinking appliances A01K39/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/0206 Drinkers especially adapted for feeding hummingbirds
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/04 Combined feeding and drinking appliances , e.g. also for batteries

Abstract

A bird feeder to be suspended from a support structure is provided, including a hanger member and a feeder member. The hanger member includes a bracket piece that engages the support structure and a frame piece connected thereto that forms an opening for receiving the feeder member. The feeder member has a body with an interior defining a reservoir and a mouth communicating with the interior. The feeder member also includes an outwardly extending flange structure operative to engage the frame piece, which may be shaped as four lobes configured as petals of a flower. The bird feeder may include a tube member with a hollow portion extending into the reservoir, which may be shaped to resemble the pistil of a flower. In addition, a fluid transport device, such as a wick, may be received by the hollow portion to facilitate the bird'"'"'s access to the fluid in the reservoir.

Claims

1. A bird feeder adapted to be suspended from a support structure against the force of gravity, comprising:

(A) a hanger member adapted to engage the support structure including

(1) a bracket piece adapted to secure said hanger member to the support structure and

(2) a frame piece connected to said bracket piece and forming an opening; and

(B) a feeder member adapted to be received by said hanger member in a mounted state and including

(1) a body having an interior defining a reservoir with a mouth communicating with the interior such that food for a bird may be placed in the interior through the mouth and

(2) an outwardly extending flange structure operative to engage said frame piece when in the mounted state such that said feeder member is supported by said frame piece.

2. A bird feeder according to claim 1 including a tube member having an elongated hollow tubular portion sized and adapted to be matably received through the mouth so as to extend into the reservoir in a received state and a radially outwardly extending lip operative to engage an upper portion of said body in the received state whereby said tube member is supported thereby relative to said feeder member.

3. A bird feeder according to claim 2 including a fluid transport device adapted to be received in said hollow tubular portion and extend into the reservoir.

4. A bird feeder according to claim 3 wherein said fluid transport device is a wick.

5. A bird feeder according to claim 1 wherein said frame piece is formed as an annulus.

6. A bird feeder according to claim 1 wherein said bracket piece includes a J-shaped portion connected to said frame piece, said J-shaped portion having a first leg section of a first length and second leg section of a second length that is shorter than said first length, said first and second leg section being joined by an intermediate section.

7. A bird feeder according to claim 6 wherein said first leg section terminates in a hook structure.

8. A bird feeder according to claim 6 wherein said frame piece is connected to a terminal end of said second leg section.

9. A bird feeder according to claim 8 wherein said frame piece is in a plane that is generally perpendicular to said first and second leg sections and is located between the end of said second leg section and said first leg section yet is unconnected to said first leg section.

10. A bird feeder according to claim 6 wherein said intermediate section is arcuate.

11. A bird feeder according to claim 1 wherein said flange structure is shaped to have a plurality of lobes configured as petals of a flower.

12. A bird feeder according to claim 11 wherein there are four said lobes.

13. A bird feeder adapted to be suspended from a support structure against the force of gravity, comprising:

(A) a hanger member including

(1) a J-shaped bracket adapted to suspend said hanger member from the support structure and

(2) an annular frame connected to said J-shaped bracket and forming an opening;

(B) a feeder member adapted to be received in said hanger member in a mounted state and including

(1) a body having an interior defining a reservoir with a mouth communicating with the interior such that food for a bird may be placed in the interior through the mouth and

(2) an outwardly extending flange structure operative to engage said frame when in the mounted state such that said feeder member is supported by said frame; and

(C) a tube member having an elongated hollow tubular portion sized and adapted to be matably received through the mouth and extend into the reservoir in a received state and a radially outwardly extending lip operative to engage an upper portion of said body in the received state whereby said tube member is supported thereby relative to said feeder member.

14. A bird feeder according to claim 13 wherein said J-shaped bracket includes a first leg section of a first length and second leg section of a second length that is shorter than said first length, said first and second leg section being joined by an intermediate section.

15. A bird feeder according to claim 14 wherein said intermediate section is arcuate.

16. A bird feeder according to claim 14 wherein said first leg section terminates in a hook structure.

17. A bird feeder according to claim 14 wherein said frame is connected to an end of said second leg section.

18. A bird feeder according to claim 17 wherein said frame is in a plane that is generally perpendicular to said first and second leg sections and is located between the end of said second leg section and said first leg section yet is unconnected to said first leg section.

19. A bird feeder according to claim 13 wherein said flange structure is shaped to have a plurality of lobes configured as petals of a flower.

20. A bird feeder according to claim 13 wherein said lip is shaped to resemble the pistil of a flower.

21. A bird feeder according to claim 13 wherein said annular frame is enclosed.

22. A bird feeder according to claim 13 including a fluid transport device adapted to be received in the body of said feeder member.

23. A bird feeder according to claim 22 wherein said fluid transport device is a wick.