Birdfeeder and seed dispenser therefor

• US 7,921,809 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
• Original Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
• Inventors: Carter, James, Hunter, Lynn, O'Dell, Furman, Krueger, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott; Yvonne R.
• Application Number:
  US12/292,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20090223456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 119/57.8, 119/52.2, 119/57.9, 119/51.01, 119/52.1, 119/52.4, 119/61, D30/124
• US Class Current: 119/57.8
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/012 filling automatically , e.g. by gravity from a reserve

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.

Claims

1. 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 having a base piece and a movable piece, said base piece 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 movable piece supported by said base piece at a location adjacent said base piece access opening and having a seed aperture formed therethrough which is smaller than said base piece access opening, said movable piece being moveable relative to said base piece in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said base piece between a first orientation in which at least a portion of said base piece access 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 base piece access opening to provide birds with access to birdseed in said reservoir through said movable piece seed aperture.

2. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, wherein said movable piece is rotatably moveable relative to said base piece in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said base piece.

3. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, wherein said sidewall opening has an axis that is generally perpendicular to said sidewall, said sidewall being generally vertical in use of said birdfeeder.

4. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, wherein said base piece includes 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.

5. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, wherein said base piece includes a plurality of spaced retaining members spaced around said access opening and adapted to retain said movable piece in engagement with said base piece while allowing said movement thereof between said first and second orientations.

6. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, 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.

7. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, further comprising a perch positioned adjacent said sidewall opening to support a bird.

8. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, wherein said base piece is elongated as between the top and the bottom of the seed reservoir.

9. The birdfeeder according to claim 1, wherein said top has a lid with a hanger member from which the birdfeeder may be suspended for use.

10. 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, said sidewall being generally vertical in use and said opening having an axis that is generally perpendicular to said sidewall;

a seed dispenser fitted within the sidewall opening to dispense the birdseed to the birds, said seed dispenser having a base piece and a movable piece cooperating therewith both oriented to be generally parallel with said sidewall, said base piece having an access opening in fluid communication with said seed reservoir, said movable piece including a seed aperture that is smaller than said base piece access opening, said movable piece being moveable relative to said base piece in a plane substantially parallel therewith such that said movable piece always remains substantially parallel with said base piece, said movable piece being movable between a first orientation in which said movable piece seed aperture is blocked and said base piece access opening is totally or mostly unobstructed to provide birds with access to seed in said reservoir, and a second orientation in which said movable piece seed aperture is in fluid communication with said base piece access opening to provide birds with access to birdseed in said reservoir through said movable piece seed aperture.

11. The birdfeeder according to claim 10, wherein said movable piece is rotatably moveable around said sidewall opening axis.

12. The birdfeeder according to claim 11, wherein said dispenser includes a cup-shaped trough located adjacent said access opening for holding seed, said trough projecting outwardly and generally parallel with said sidewall opening axis.

13. 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 passing from said reservoir outer surface to said reservoir inner surface and fitted into the sidewall 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;

said movement of at least one of said first and second pieces relative to the other piece being in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said other piece and with a plane of said sidewall; and

a perch projecting outwardly from said sidewall and positioned below said seed dispenser to support a bird feeding from said seed dispenser.

14. The birdfeeder according to claim 13, 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.

15. The birdfeeder according to claim 13, wherein said second seed aperture is in fluid communication with said access opening in said second orientation.

16. The birdfeeder according to claim 13, wherein said second piece is rotatably moveable relative to said first piece.

17. The birdfeeder according to claim 13, wherein said sidewall opening has an axis that is generally perpendicular to said sidewall, said sidewall being generally vertical in use of said birdfeeder.

18. The birdfeeder according to claim 17, 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.

19. The birdfeeder according to claim 13, 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 access opening and said perch.

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