Recirculating Birdbath

• US 20090277392A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Dale Potter
• Original Assignee: Stephen Dale Potter
• Inventors: Potter, Stephen Dale
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/69.500
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/002 Bird baths or showers

Abstract

A birdbath is disclosed that recirculates water and includes a substantially hollow pedestal that supports a basin. The pedestal forms a water reservoir therein and has an open top end and a sealed bottom end. The basin has an inner wall and an outer wall, both of which are joined at least at a peripheral edge of the basin and separated by a distance sufficient to allow the water to flow therebetween. The outer wall is open at a central portion and is adapted for engaging the open top end of the pedestal for attaching the basin thereto. The inner wall has an aperture formed therethrough at a center portion thereof, and at least one drainage aperture formed proximate the peripheral edge of the basin. A water pump is disposed within the reservoir of the pedestal for pumping water from the reservoir through a basin supply conduit, through the aperture of the inner wall, and into the basin. Once the water reaches the at least one drainage aperture, it drains between the inner and outer walls, and flows through the central portion of the outer wall and back into the reservoir.

Claims

1. A birdbath comprising:

a substantially hollow pedestal forming a water reservoir therein and having an open top end and a sealed bottom end;

a basin having an inner wall and an outer wall, the walls meeting at a peripheral edge of the basin, the outer wall open at a central portion thereof and adapted for engaging the open top end of the pedestal for fixing the basin to the pedestal, the inner wall having an aperture formed through a central portion thereof, at least one drainage aperture being formed in the inner wall proximate the peripheral edge of the basin;

a water pump disposed within the reservoir of the pedestal for pumping water from an input port thereof to an output port thereof, a basin supply conduit being fixed at a bottom end thereof to the output port of the water pump, a top end of the basin supply conduit projecting through the aperture of the inner wall of the basin, the water pump further including an energy source;

whereby water contained in the reservoir of the pedestal is moved by the water pump through the basin supply conduit and into the basin, whereupon reaching the at least one drainage aperture the water drains between the inner and outer walls back into the reservoir.

2. The birdbath of claim 1 wherein the energy source of the water pump is an electrical cable traversing the pedestal through a water-tight seal.

3. The birdbath of claim 1 wherein the energy source of the water pump is a solar energy source.

4. The birdbath of claim 1 wherein the top end of the basin supply conduit is substantially flush with the inner wall of the basin, and wherein the basin supply conduit further includes a check valve for preventing water from flowing from the basin to the reservoir down through the basin supply conduit.

5. The birdbath of claim 1 wherein the top end of the basin supply conduit terminates vertically between the aperture of the inner wall of the basin and the at least one drainage aperture.

6. The birdbath of claim 1 wherein the central portion of the outer wall includes a downwardly-projecting flange adapted to fit within the open top end of the pedestal, whereby water flowing between the inner wall and the outer wall is prevented from flowing between the basin and the pedestal by the flange.

7. The birdbath of claim 1 wherein the top end of the basin supply conduit is substantially flush with the inner wall of the basin, whereby when the energy source is withdrawn from the water pump, water in the basin travels down the basin supply conduit and water pump to empty the basin into the reservoir.

8. The birdbath of claim 7 wherein the top end of the basin supply conduit and each drainage aperture each include a mosquito screen thereacross, such that water may pass therethrough but small insects cannot.

9. The birdbath of claim 7 wherein the pedestal is formed from an insulating material, whereby water within the reservoir is inhibited from freezing when the ambient temperature drops below freezing.

10. The birdbath of claim 9 wherein the basin is formed from the insulating material.

11. The birdbath of claim 6 wherein the basin is fixed to the pedestal with at least one mechanical fastener.