Haven for use with a bird feeder

• US 8,904,959 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
• Original Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
• Inventors: Lush, Raymon W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Yvonne
• Application Number:
  US13/896,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.01, 119/57.8, 119/57.9, 119/52.2, 119/52.3, 119/469, 119/461, 119/462, D30/160, D30/124
• US Class Current: 119/51.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/0113 with means to prevent other animals or insects, e.g. squirrels or ants, from eating also

Abstract

A haven for use with a bird feeder is provided that includes a collapsible spiral rod assembly having an upper end and a lower end. The spiral rod haven has a plurality of spiral convolutions and is selectively movable between a collapsed position and an extended position. The spiral rod haven defines an interior compartment when in its extended position. A bird feeder is positioned within the interior of the compartment. The bird feeder may be either a collapsible bird feeder, a tube-type bird feeder or any other type of bird feeder that may be positioned within the interior compartment of the haven. Small birds may gain access to the bird feeder by moving through adjacent convolutions while the convolutions prevent large birds or squirrels from entering the interior of the haven.

Claims

1. In combination:

a haven having an upper end and a lower end, the haven including a collapsible spiral rod having a plurality of spiral convolutions, said spiral rod haven being selectively movable between a collapsed position and an extended position, said haven, when in said extended position, defining an interior compartment, and a connecting element for preventing further separation, of adjacent convolutions of the spiral rod haven when the haven is in said extended position; and

a bird feeder positioned within said interior compartment of said spiral rod haven.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bird feeder includes a tube feeder.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bird feeder includes a collapsible bird feeder.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spiral rod haven is made of metal.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lower end of said spiral rod haven has an opening formed therein to enable the bird feeder to be inserted into said interior compartment and removed therefrom through said opening, said opening being selectively closable by a removable door.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper end of said spiral rod haven has a hook provided thereon to enable said spiral rod haven to be suspended from a support.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spiral rod haven has a middle portion between said upper and lower ends, said middle portion having a greater diameter than a diameter of said upper and lower ends.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the convolutions of said spiral rod haven, which extend upwardly from said middle portion, have a progressively reduced diameter and wherein the convolutions of said spiral rod haven, which extend downwardly from said middle portion, have a progressively reduced diameter.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the connecting element includes at least one connector which is secured to a plurality of said convolutions.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said connector is removably secured to said convolutions.

11. A haven for use with a bird feeder, the haven comprising a collapsible spiral rod having a plurality of spiral convolutions, said spiral rod having an upper end and a lower end and being selectively movable between a collapsed position and an extended position, said haven, when in said extended position, defining an interior compartment in which a bird feeder may be positioned, the haven preventing large birds and squirrels from accessing the interior compartment, and a connecting element for preventing further separation of adjacent convolutions of the spiral rod haven when the haven is in said extended position.

12. The haven as set forth in claim 11 wherein said spiral rod is made of metal.

13. The haven as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lower end of said spiral rod haven has an opening formed therein to enable a bird feeder to be inserted into said interior compartment and removed therefrom through said opening, said opening being selectively closable by a removable door attached to the haven with fastening elements.

14. The haven as set forth in claim 11 wherein said upper end of said spiral rod haven has a hook provided thereon to enable said spiral rod haven to be suspended from a support.

15. The haven as set forth in claim 11 wherein said spiral rod haven has a middle portion between said upper and lower ends, said middle portion having a greater diameter than a diameter of said upper and lower ends.

16. The haven as set forth in claim 15 wherein the convolutions of said spiral rod haven, which extend upwardly from said middle portion, have a progressively reduced diameter and wherein the convolutions of said spiral rod haven, which extend downwardly from said middle portion, have a progressively reduced diameter.

17. The haven as set forth in claim 11 wherein the connecting element includes at least one connector which is secured to a plurality of said convolutions.

18. The haven as set forth in claim 17 wherein said connector is removably secured to said convolutions.

19. A haven for use with a bird feeder, the haven comprising a collapsible spiral rod having a plurality of spiral convolutions, said spiral rod having an upper end, a lower end and a middle portion between said upper and lower ends, said spiral rod being selectively movable between a collapsed position and an extended position, said haven, when in said extended position, defining an interior compartment in which a bird feeder may be positioned, the haven preventing large birds and squirrels from accessing the interior compartment, the convolutions of said spiral rod haven, which extend upwardly from said middle portion, having a progressively reduced diameter and the convolutions of said spiral rod haven, which extend downwardly from said middle portion, having a progressively reduced diameter, the progressively reduced diameters of said convolutions of said upper end and said lower end being substantially mirror images of one another, and said lower end of said spiral rod haven having an opening formed therein to enable a bird feeder to be inserted into said interior compartment and removed therefrom through said opening, said opening being selectively closable by a removable door attached to the lower end of the haven with fastening elements.