GB2127266A - Bird feeders - Google Patents

Abstract

A bird-feeder comprises a rotary hub assembly (1) which, in use, is set horizontally. Spokes (3) radiate from the hub assembly and at their free outer ends they support suspended feed baskets 5, which are free to rotate, relative to the spokes about horizontal axes parallel with the axis of the hub. The whole assembly is unbalanced by the weight of birds alighting on the baskets and rotates like a windmill. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bird-feeders This invention relates to bird-feeders and provides a bird-feeder comprising a rotary hub assembly intended for mounting with the axis of rotation horizontal, a plurality of generally radially extending spokes secured to the hub assem-bly and a corresponding plurality of feed holders each suspended at the outer end of a respective spoke for relative rotation about an axis parallel with the hub axis.

With this arrangement it is found that the weight of birds alighting on the feed holders causes the device to rotate about the hub axis since the birds unbalance the device. Birds appear to be attracted to the device and in the case of small birds, such as tits, it is common for a dozen or so birds to feed simultaneously from the feed holders and set the device in motion at fairly high speed, creating an attractive and entertaining windmill effect.

One particular form of bird-feeder in accordance with the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic front elevation of the feeder; Figure 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of the hub, one spoke and one feed holder; and Figure 3 is a cross-section, on a still larger scale, of the hub assembly.

The bird-feeder illustrated comprises a central hub assembly 1 including a rotatable hub 2 carrying a plurality, in this case four, of spokes 3 of metal rod set equidistantly about the periphery of the hub. At their free, outer ends, the spokes have support members secured to them, each member taking the form of a disc 4 with a part-circular peripheral groove.

A feed holder 5 is freely suspended from each spoke by a support wire 6 secured to the holder and simply looped over the respective disc 4, so that the holder can rotate, relative to the spoke, about an axis parallel with that of the hub.

Each feed holder conveniently takes the form of a basket with a foraminous side wall of expanded metal or the like and a solid bottom. The top can be opened to permit the basket to be filled with fodder, such as nuts.

As seen in Figure 2, each spoke is double-cranked to place the centre of gravity of the basket over the hub, so as to avoid offset loading to the hub assembly.

The assembly, as shown in Figure 3, comprises the hub 2 in which are secured two ball bearings 7 and a distance piece 8. The spokes are conveniently secured in screw threaded holes in the hub.

Referring back to Figure 2, the hub is mounted on a fixed axle 9 secured to a mounting plate 10 by which the feeder can be mounted on a vertical post or the like, so as to set the hub axis horizontal.

In use, the baskets are each charged with a quantity of fodder and the rotary assembly finds a position of balance about the hub axis. The baskets should be filled with roughly equal quantities of fodder but this is not critical.

When birds alight on the baskets, they unbalance the rotary assembly which starts rotating to produce a windmill effect. The baskets, of course, tend to remain generally vertical as the assembly rotates.

In tests, the device has proved very popular with small garden birds such as great-tits and blue-tits and has frequently attracted more than a dozen or so at the same time, causing the assembly to rotate at surprisingly high speeds and producing an attractive effect.

CLAIMS (FILED ON 8.9.83.) 1. A bird-feeder comprising a rotary hub assembly intended for mounting with its axis of rotation horizontal, a plurality of generally radially extending spokes secured to the hub assembly and a corresponding plurality of feed holders each suspended at the outer end of a respective spoke for relative rotation about an axis parallel with the hub axis.

2. A bird-feeder according to claim 1, wherein each spoke is double-cranked and the centre of gravity of each holder is over the hub when each holder is in its topmost position.

3. A bird-feeder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each feed holder takes the form of basket having a foraminous side wall.

4. A bird-feeder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bird-feeders This invention relates to bird-feeders and provides a bird-feeder comprising a rotary hub assembly intended for mounting with the axis of rotation horizontal, a plurality of generally radially extending spokes secured to the hub assem-bly and a corresponding plurality of feed holders each suspended at the outer end of a respective spoke for relative rotation about an axis parallel with the hub axis. With this arrangement it is found that the weight of birds alighting on the feed holders causes the device to rotate about the hub axis since the birds unbalance the device. Birds appear to be attracted to the device and in the case of small birds, such as tits, it is common for a dozen or so birds to feed simultaneously from the feed holders and set the device in motion at fairly high speed, creating an attractive and entertaining windmill effect. One particular form of bird-feeder in accordance with the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic front elevation of the feeder; Figure 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of the hub, one spoke and one feed holder; and Figure 3 is a cross-section, on a still larger scale, of the hub assembly. The bird-feeder illustrated comprises a central hub assembly 1 including a rotatable hub 2 carrying a plurality, in this case four, of spokes 3 of metal rod set equidistantly about the periphery of the hub. At their free, outer ends, the spokes have support members secured to them, each member taking the form of a disc 4 with a part-circular peripheral groove. A feed holder 5 is freely suspended from each spoke by a support wire 6 secured to the holder and simply looped over the respective disc 4, so that the holder can rotate, relative to the spoke, about an axis parallel with that of the hub. Each feed holder conveniently takes the form of a basket with a foraminous side wall of expanded metal or the like and a solid bottom. The top can be opened to permit the basket to be filled with fodder, such as nuts. As seen in Figure 2, each spoke is double-cranked to place the centre of gravity of the basket over the hub, so as to avoid offset loading to the hub assembly. The assembly, as shown in Figure 3, comprises the hub 2 in which are secured two ball bearings 7 and a distance piece 8. The spokes are conveniently secured in screw threaded holes in the hub. Referring back to Figure 2, the hub is mounted on a fixed axle 9 secured to a mounting plate 10 by which the feeder can be mounted on a vertical post or the like, so as to set the hub axis horizontal. In use, the baskets are each charged with a quantity of fodder and the rotary assembly finds a position of balance about the hub axis. The baskets should be filled with roughly equal quantities of fodder but this is not critical. When birds alight on the baskets, they unbalance the rotary assembly which starts rotating to produce a windmill effect. The baskets, of course, tend to remain generally vertical as the assembly rotates. In tests, the device has proved very popular with small garden birds such as great-tits and blue-tits and has frequently attracted more than a dozen or so at the same time, causing the assembly to rotate at surprisingly high speeds and producing an attractive effect. CLAIMS (FILED ON 8.9.83.)

1. A bird-feeder comprising a rotary hub assembly intended for mounting with its axis of rotation horizontal, a plurality of generally radially extending spokes secured to the hub assembly and a corresponding plurality of feed holders each suspended at the outer end of a respective spoke for relative rotation about an axis parallel with the hub axis.

2. A bird-feeder according to claim 1, wherein each spoke is double-cranked and the centre of gravity of each holder is over the hub when each holder is in its topmost position.

3. A bird-feeder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each feed holder takes the form of basket having a foraminous side wall.

4. A bird-feeder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.