Many bird feeders configured to dispense seeds are difficult to clean and fill. Such bird feeders often have openings for receiving seed that are small and/or obstructed by components of the bird feeder, significantly increasing the challenge of filling the bird feeder without spilling the seed. Additionally, many bird feeders fail to adapt to a user's desire to attract different types of birds. For example, many bird feeders are only able to accommodate large seed or accommodate small seed. Accordingly, if the user purchases a large seed bird feeder and later wishes to attract birds that eat small seeds, the user must generally purchase another bird feeder entirely that is configured to dispense small seeds. Conventional bird feeders attempting to address these challenges often sacrifice appearance and quality of design, which is an important feature to users.
It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.
Implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems by providing apparatuses and methods for facilitating filling and cleaning of bird feeders that are aesthetically pleasing and adaptable for attracting different types of birds. In one implementation, a bird feeder includes a port having a surface extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end has a connecting portion configured to connect to a reservoir. The surface has one or more openings defined therein. A small seed converter is insertable into the port, and the small seed converter includes a plurality of teeth extending from an edge. The plurality of teeth are configured to narrow the one or more openings for dispensing small sized seed.
In another implementation, a bird feeder includes a cap engaging portion, a mouth, and an elongated body. The cap engaging portion has a proximal opening defined by a proximal edge. The cap engaging portion has a proximal surface extending distally from the proximal edge with one or more proximal engagers disposed on the proximal surface. The one or more proximal engagers are configured to engage a hanger assembly. The mouth has a distal opening defined by a distal edge. The mouth has a distal surface extending proximally from the distal edge with one or more distal engagers disposed on the distal surface. The one or more distal engagers configured to engage a basin assembly. The elongated body extends between the cap engaging portion and the mouth.
Other implementations are also described and recited herein. Further, while multiple implementations are disclosed, still other implementations of the presently disclosed technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative implementations of the presently disclosed technology. As will be realized, the presently disclosed technology is capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not limiting.
Aspects of the present disclosure involve apparatuses and methods for facilitating filling and cleaning of bird feeders that are aesthetically pleasing and adaptable for attracting different types of birds. In one aspect, a bird feeder adapted to hold and dispense seed is provided. The seed bird feeder includes a bottle, a hanger assembly, and a basin assembly. To facilitate filling and cleaning, the bottle includes a wide mouth opening at a first end of the bottle and an opening at the opposing end of the bottle through which to dispense the seed into the basin assembly for access by one or more birds. The hanger assembly includes a removable cap that engages the wide mouth opening of the bottle. The cap may be removed to access an interior of the bottle for cleaning or filling. The basin assembly includes a small seed converter that may be optionally used to dispense small seeds, such that the user may choose which birds to attract.
In some aspects, the bird feeders have a decorative, antique appearance with a glass bottle and metal accent finishing to provide an attractive, upscale appearance that is appealing to users. The bottles may be a variety of colors with different engravings or other decorative features. For example, the bird feeders may have features similar to those shown in U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/438,289, entitled “Bottle for a Wild Bird Feeder” and filed on Nov. 28, 2012, which is incorporated herein in their entirety. Furthermore, the bird feeders may include other decorative features such as a cage and/or roof assembly or have a decorative, lantern-like appearance.
For a detailed description of an example seed bird feeder 200, reference is made to
The reservoir 202 is a bottle that may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramics, plastics, or the like, and include one or more decorative features. To increase aesthetic appeal, the reservoir 202 may be made from glass that includes different decorative features, such as color, engraving, or other designs.
In one implementation, the reservoir 202 includes an elongated portion 208, a cap engaging portion 210, and a mouth 212 that may be tapered to dispense seed into the basin assembly 206. The reservoir 202 may be a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, the reservoir 202 may be an elongated tube with a generally cylindrical shape. However, other shapes are contemplated, including, without limitation, generally cylindrical, conical, cubical, contoured, angular, or the like. Further, the reservoir 202 may be adapted to hold various capacities of seed. For example, the reservoir 202 may be adapted to hold approximately 1.5 pounds of seed. However, other sizes are contemplated that maximize the capacity of seed without sacrificing the ability to hang the seed bird feeder 200 in various locations.
As can be understood from
The cap 214 may be sized and shaped to mirror the size and shape of the cap engaging portion 210 of the reservoir 202, and the hanger 220 may be sized and shaped to adequately hold the seed bird feeder 200 when suspended. In one implementation, the cap 214 includes an engaging member 216 adapted to receive an engaging member 218 of the hanger 220. In one implementation, the hanger 220 includes a hanging portion 222 that permits the hanger 220 to securely attach and suspend the seed feeder 200 from an item, such as a tree limb, hook, or the like.
The basin assembly 206 is adapted to permit one or more birds to access the seed. The basin assembly 206 may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to metal, glass, ceramics, plastics, or the like, and include one or more decorative features. To increase aesthetic appeal, the basin assembly 206 may be made from a metal having decorative features, such as color (e.g., pewter), engravings, designs, or the like.
As can be understood from
As can be understood from
Turning to
To facilitate cleaning and filling of the seed bird feeder 200, in one implementation, the reservoir 202 includes an opening at each end of the elongated portion 208. Stated differently, the cap engaging portion 210 includes the opening 254 and the mouth 212 includes an opening 248. As such, the reservoir 202 may be cleaned by running water from a hose or facet through one of the openings 254 and 248 into the reservoir 202 and out the other opening 254 and 248. Alternatively or additionally, the reservoir 202 may be cleaned using a dishwasher.
To fill the seed bird feeder 200, the cap 214 may be removed from the cap engaging portion 210 of the reservoir 202. The selected seed is then poured into the reservoir 202 through the opening 254, which may be relatively wide to prevent spillage. The cap 214 is then secured to the cap engaging portion 210 of the reservoir 202, and the seed bird feeder 200 is suspended using the hanger 220. Gravity forces the seed through the opening 248 of the mouth 212 to dispense seed into the basin assembly 206.
As shown in
As can be understood from
In one implementation, the reservoir 400 is configured to receive, hold, and dispense different sizes and types of bird seed depending on the preferences of the user. As can be understood from
As can be understood from
The reservoir 102 is a bottle that may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramics, plastics, or the like, and include one or more decorative features. To increase aesthetic appeal, the reservoir 102 may be made from glass that includes different decorative features, such as color, engraving, or other designs.
In one implementation, the reservoir 102 includes an elongated portion 108, a lip 110, a substantially planar surface 112, and a mouth 114 that may be tapered to accept nectar with minimum spillage. The reservoir 102 may be a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, the elongated portion 108 may be longer along a longitudinal length of the reservoir 102 between the planar surface 112 and the mouth 114 relative a width and depth of the elongated portion 108. Further, the width of the elongated portion 108 may be longer relative to the depth of the elongated portion 108. These example features of the elongated portion 108, together with features of the mouth 114 and the planar surface 112, may create an overall flask-shaped appearance of the reservoir 102. However, other shapes are contemplated, including, without limitation, generally cylindrical, conical, cubical, contoured, angular, or the like. Further, the reservoir 102 may be adapted to hold various capacities of nectar. For example, the reservoir 102 may be adapted to hold approximately 10-25 oz. of nectar. However, other sizes are contemplated that maximize the capacity of nectar without sacrificing the ability to hang the nectar bird feeder 100 in various locations.
In one implementation, the hanger assembly 104 includes a reservoir engaging portion 116 and a hanger 122. The hanger assembly 104 may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to metal, glass, ceramics, plastics, or the like, and include one or more decorative features. To increase aesthetic appeal, the hanger assembly 104 may be made from a metal having decorative features, such as color (e.g., pewter), engravings, designs, or the like.
The reservoir engaging portion 116 may be sized and shaped to mirror the size and shape of the reservoir 102, and the hanger 122 may be sized and shaped to adequately hold the nectar bird feeder 100 when suspended. In one implementation, the reservoir engaging portion 116 has a hook 118 adapted to receive a hook 120 of the hanger 122. The hooks 118 and 120 may be any engaging feature that permits the reservoir engaging portion 116 to attach to the hanger 122 in a manner that allows the hanger 122 to pivot relative to the reservoir engaging portion 116. In one implementation, the hanger 122 includes a bulge 124 that permits the hanger 122 to securely attach to an item, such as a tree limb, hook, or the like.
The basin assembly 106 is adapted to permit one or more birds to access the nectar. The basin assembly 106 may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to metal, glass, ceramics, plastics, or the like, and include one or more decorative features. To increase aesthetic appeal, the basin assembly 106 may be made from a metal having decorative features, such as color (e.g., pewter), engravings, designs, or the like. In one implementation, the basin assembly 106 includes one or more perches 126, made from a durable integral metal or similar material, corresponding to one or more ports 128 through which a bird may access the nectar. The ports 128 may be removable to replaceable to attract different birds. For example, the ports 128 may be shaped like a flower to attract birds, such as hummingbirds, orioles, or the like, and may include an opening sized to accommodate the beak of the desired bird and prevent insects, such as bees, or animals from accessing the nectar. Orioles have bigger beaks than hummingbirds, so the opening may be larger to accommodate the oriole beak when attracting orioles. Similarly, the number of perches 126 and corresponding ports 128 included in the basin assembly 106 may vary depending on the type of bird attracted. For example, because orioles are larger birds, there may be fewer perches 126 and ports 128 includes when attracting orioles than when attracting hummingbirds.
As can be understood from
To engage the hanger assembly 104, the mouth 114 may be inserted or threaded through an opening formed by the reservoir engaging portion 116 and the hanger 122 when placed in a folded position. The hanger assembly 104 is then slid longitudinally along the length of the elongated portion 108 until the reservoir engaging portion 116 engages the lip 110 of the reservoir 102, as shown in
Turning to
As can be understood from
Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of example implementations of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary implementations discussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology. For example, while the implementations described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes implementations having different combinations of features and implementations that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the presently disclosed technology is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations together with all equivalents thereof.
The present application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 111 and 120 to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 16/818,911 filed on Mar. 13, 2020, which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 111 and 120 to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/531,755 entitled filed on Nov. 3, 2014, which claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/899,044, filed on Nov. 1, 2013. Each of these applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61899044 | Nov 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16818911 | Mar 2020 | US |
Child | 18650425 | US | |
Parent | 14531755 | Nov 2014 | US |
Child | 16818911 | US |