Patent Application
20070034162
The present invention relates to collapsible structures and, specifically, to collapsible structures having panels that are foldable and can be reduced in size when the structure is collapsed. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a collapsible birdhouse.
Collapsible structures are known in the art. However, these prior art structures generally have been focused on structures designed for use as tents, play structures, containers, and laundry hampers. Recent structures have been designed for use as portable carriers and kennels for dogs and cats.
Bird watching is a popular past time. Many people set up bird feeders and birdhouses to attract birds near a house or in a designated area so that viewing of the birds is more accessible. Currently available birdhouses tend to be made of heavy materials, such as wood or plastic, and bird feeders also tend to be made of heavy materials, such as wood, glass, and/or Plexiglas®. Likewise, once the birdhouses are assembled, it normally requires removal of screws, nails, bolts, or other connectors to disassemble the birdhouse for cleaning or storage in a more compact state. This can also make transport of the currently available structures difficult.
Current birdhouses do not typically allow visual access to the birds once they have established a home inside of a birdhouse. An observer or birdwatcher generally will not be able to watch what takes place inside of the birdhouse. Because birds generally prefer to build nests in private, birdhouses have not been made of clear or translucent materials. A birdhouse and/or bird feeder is desirable that can be easily constructed, arranged, cleaned, or stored and will be more accessible to viewing the birds than prior art designs.
The present invention comprises a collapsible structure having a bottom panel, a back panel having a foldable frame member, a front panel having a foldable frame member, and a top panel. A connecting mechanism, such as a strap or suction cups are used to secure the collapsible structure to a tree or window. The front panel has an opening for ingress and egress of birds that will allow the structure to serve as a birdhouse or bird feeder.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention that may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
The front panel 16 and back panel 14 are coupled or connected to each other at the first edges 14a, 16a and also at the second edges 14b, 16b. Top panel 22 is connected along its periphery 25 to panels 14 and 16 while bottom panel 22 is connected in a similar manner to the panels 14 and 16 to define an interior space 31, which provides an area for a bird or birds to build a nest or feed. While stitching 27 forms the preferable connection, it is to be understood that other connection means such as gluing, welding, utilizing hook and loop fasteners and the like could be utilized.
Referring again to
The continuous frame members 18 and 20 of each panel 16, 14 may be provided as one continuous loop, or may be a strip of material connected at both ends to form a continuous loop. The frame members 18 and 20 are preferably formed of flexible coilable steel, although other materials such as plastics may also be used. The frame members 18 and 20 should be made of a material which is relatively strong and yet is flexible to a sufficient degree to allow it to be coiled. Thus, each of the frame members 18,20 is capable of assuming two positions, an open or expanded position such as shown in
As previously stated, webs of material 15 and 17 extend across each panel 14, 16, respectively, and are held taut by the respective frame members 18, 20 when each panel is in its open position. The term fabric is to be given its broadest meaning and should be made from strong, lightweight materials and may include meshed materials, woven fabrics, sheet fabrics or even films. The fabric should be water-resistant and durable to withstand the wear and tear associated with rugged outdoor use or rough treatment associated with birds and that wish to build nests and similar structures.
As illustrated best in
Thus, the flexible and coilable nature of the frame member 18 allows the front panel 16 to be flexed so that its end edges 16a and 16b can be positioned adjacent the end edges 14a and 14b of the back panel 14. In this regard, the flexing of the front panel 16 obviates the need to otherwise provide a plurality (e.g., at least three) of separate panels to enclose the interior space 31. The base panel 12 and/or the top panel 22 function to hold the front panel 16 in its flexed configuration.
The birdhouse 10 further includes an entrance or opening 26 that allows a bird access to the interior 31 of the birdhouse 10. In a preferred embodiment, an edging material 29 is secured about the opening 26 by stitching or the like. The entrance 26 may be of any size, but is preferably the size of an opening of a typical birdhouse, approximately 1¼″. It should also be understood that the entrance 26 may be arranged in a wide variety of areas and shapes. For instance, the entrance could be a narrow elongated slot near the bottom panel 12, which would allow the birdhouse 10 to be used as a bird feeder instead of a birdhouse.
However, as shown in
As previously noted, birds generally will not build a nest where they do not have privacy and where the nest is viewable, especially by humans. However, birds will also generally not move away from a nest or relocate the nest once the nest is built. Thus, the present invention provides a structure for a bird to build a nest in the privacy of the interior 31 of the birdhouse 10, while allowing the removal of wall 38 when the nest is completed thereby allowing people to watch the nest up close. The clear or translucent panels 14 and 36 allow viewing of the nest with the chance of the birds leaving the nest minimized. Because the bird nest is separated from human contact by a window, which will prevent most sounds from disturbing the birds, the present invention further provides a unique birdhouse 10 and viewing experience. The birdhouse 10 could be built without the inner panel 36, but placement of the inner panel 36 as described minimizes any disturbance of the bird nest when removing the wall 38, and further holds the inner panel 36 in position.
The frame members 18 and 20 may be attached to the panels 14 and 16 in several ways. For example, the frame members 18 and 20 may be sewn to the panels 14 and 16, or pockets may be located on the panels 14 and 16 to allow removal of the frames 18 and 20, if necessary. Likewise, the area of the frames 18 and 20 that defines the edges 14a, 16a and 14b, 16b, may be connected to the panels 14 and 16 within the same pocket or area. That is, the edge 14a and the edge 16a may form a single area where the corresponding section of the both frames 18 and 20 are housed, and the edge 14b and 16b may form another single area for housing a corresponding section of the frames 18 and 20. The sleeves 19 and 21 may overlap and, in fact, be the same structure at the edges 14a, 16a and 14b, 16b, with or without having a dividing structure located within these areas. Provided that a birdhouse will collapse and expand as discussed, any arrangement and connection of the frames 18 and 20 to the panels 14 and 16 will fall within the scope of the present invention.
The panels of the birdhouse are preferably made of a PVC nylon material or tarp material, or other flexible material that will be durable enough to prevent birds from making holes in the birdhouse 10, or prevent squirrels and other animals from chewing through the material.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
