GB2146221A - Bird feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

A bird feeder has large diameter holes in the side wall opening through cups 24 which provide perches, and with the base 14 of the container made of perforated material. Hence a mixture of food particles of different sizes can be loaded into the container, and the smaller particles which settle to the bottom will be accessible to birds with fine bills feeding through the perforations in the base, and the large food components will be accessible to birds with larger bills feeding through the large holes in said cups. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bird feeders It is known to make a bird feeder with a cylindrical container for the bird food, the container being regularly apertured with holes of the order of 8mm diameter, and the cylinder having a conical top intended to deflect rain and a base which may be removable to allow the cylinder to be refilled. This container may be located at the top of a pole or hung from the branches of a tree for example in a garden for the purpose of feeding and hence attracting wild birds.

According to the invention, a bird feeder comprises a container having at least one large hole, and a plurality of smaller holes located below the large hole.

This may enable birds of several different species to feed from a mixture of different kinds of feed seeds and nuts.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a bird feeder according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary underneath plan of the same.

The feeder shown in the drawings comprises a cylinder which may be of transparent or translucent plastics material, so that it is possible to see at a glance when the feeder is empty and needs replenishing. The cylinder 10 is closed at its upper end by a shallowly conical cap 1 2 and at its lower end a perforated base 14 of shallow conicity is held in place by a ring 16. The cylindrical part 10 is apertured at a number of positions around its periphery and each aperture locates a corresponding component 18. The feeder is to be suspended for example from a branch by a hook 20 which in this instance is made of a length of wire passed through diametrically aligned holes towards the top of the body part 10.

Each of the components 1 8 consists of a shallow cylindrical skirt 24 integral with a base 26 and with an eccentric aperture 28 opening into a short tube 30 having a bev elled end 32 remote from the said base 26.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, three, four or more of such components 18 may be provided with said tube 30 disposed about one third of the way up the height of the body 10 from the base.

It will be noted that the tubes 30 are of a much larger bore diameter than the apertures 36 in the base cone 14. For example, and without limitation, the tube 30 may have an internal bore of about 2 cms whereas the holes 36 may be 3 mm diameter. It will be appreciated that the whole of the cone 14 is perforated at regular intervals and only a few such holes are shown in the figures.

In use, the body is substantially filled with bird food which may comprise a mixture of peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat and much smaller seeds, which typically will vary in maximum dimension from 1 cm to 1 mm. At rest, the natural packing effect of the random mixture of sizes and shapes and the natural friction of the (dry) particles on one another prevents the smaller ones falling out through the holes 36.

Birds may perch on the feeder grasping any convenient protrusion for the purpose with their claws, in particular the components 1 8 and the rim 1 6. Birds with relatively large bills can gain access through the tube 30 to the food, and birds with relatively slender bills can gain access through the apertures 36.

Moreover, the design illustrated has further advantages as well as providing convenient access to birds with widely varying bill sizes.

One is that any moisture which does gain access to the interior of the body 10, for example in driving rain, can drain through the apertures 36, although the design of the components 1 8 is such as to have a shielding or cowl-like effect to minimise the possibility of this. Further, in the case of birds gaining access through the tube 30 but biting off fragments of food, for example splitting a relatively large nut, the fragments or crumbs which fall in the container, rather than being taken out by the bird, will become accessible through the apertures 36 to different birds.

The bevelling 32 on the tube 30 is to prevent food falling out of the feeder through the tubes as the contents settle when food is taken out by the birds.

1. A bird feeder comprising a container having at least one hole substantially larger than 8 mm, and a plurality of holes substantially smaller than 8 mm located below the large hole.

2. A bird feeder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein means are provided for supporting or suspending the container, and when so supported or suspended in a normal position said larger holes being located in the side wall of the container and said smaller holes in the base of the container.

3. A bird feeder as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said larger holes are provided in components each comprising a shallow cylindrical skirt integral with the base and with an eccentric aperture in the base opening into a short tube having a bevelled end remote from the base, said short tube extending through the side wall of the container.

4. A bird feeder as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the base is conical and perforated at regular intervals with said smaller holes.

5. A bird feeder as claimed in any preced

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bird feeders It is known to make a bird feeder with a cylindrical container for the bird food, the container being regularly apertured with holes of the order of 8mm diameter, and the cylinder having a conical top intended to deflect rain and a base which may be removable to allow the cylinder to be refilled. This container may be located at the top of a pole or hung from the branches of a tree for example in a garden for the purpose of feeding and hence attracting wild birds. According to the invention, a bird feeder comprises a container having at least one large hole, and a plurality of smaller holes located below the large hole. This may enable birds of several different species to feed from a mixture of different kinds of feed seeds and nuts. One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a bird feeder according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary underneath plan of the same. The feeder shown in the drawings comprises a cylinder which may be of transparent or translucent plastics material, so that it is possible to see at a glance when the feeder is empty and needs replenishing. The cylinder 10 is closed at its upper end by a shallowly conical cap 1 2 and at its lower end a perforated base 14 of shallow conicity is held in place by a ring 16. The cylindrical part 10 is apertured at a number of positions around its periphery and each aperture locates a corresponding component 18. The feeder is to be suspended for example from a branch by a hook 20 which in this instance is made of a length of wire passed through diametrically aligned holes towards the top of the body part 10. Each of the components 1 8 consists of a shallow cylindrical skirt 24 integral with a base 26 and with an eccentric aperture 28 opening into a short tube 30 having a bev elled end 32 remote from the said base 26. In a typical embodiment of the invention, three, four or more of such components 18 may be provided with said tube 30 disposed about one third of the way up the height of the body 10 from the base. It will be noted that the tubes 30 are of a much larger bore diameter than the apertures 36 in the base cone 14. For example, and without limitation, the tube 30 may have an internal bore of about 2 cms whereas the holes 36 may be 3 mm diameter. It will be appreciated that the whole of the cone 14 is perforated at regular intervals and only a few such holes are shown in the figures. In use, the body is substantially filled with bird food which may comprise a mixture of peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat and much smaller seeds, which typically will vary in maximum dimension from 1 cm to 1 mm. At rest, the natural packing effect of the random mixture of sizes and shapes and the natural friction of the (dry) particles on one another prevents the smaller ones falling out through the holes 36. Birds may perch on the feeder grasping any convenient protrusion for the purpose with their claws, in particular the components 1 8 and the rim 1 6. Birds with relatively large bills can gain access through the tube 30 to the food, and birds with relatively slender bills can gain access through the apertures 36. Moreover, the design illustrated has further advantages as well as providing convenient access to birds with widely varying bill sizes. One is that any moisture which does gain access to the interior of the body 10, for example in driving rain, can drain through the apertures 36, although the design of the components 1 8 is such as to have a shielding or cowl-like effect to minimise the possibility of this. Further, in the case of birds gaining access through the tube 30 but biting off fragments of food, for example splitting a relatively large nut, the fragments or crumbs which fall in the container, rather than being taken out by the bird, will become accessible through the apertures 36 to different birds. The bevelling 32 on the tube 30 is to prevent food falling out of the feeder through the tubes as the contents settle when food is taken out by the birds. CLAIMS

1. A bird feeder comprising a container having at least one hole substantially larger than 8 mm, and a plurality of holes substantially smaller than 8 mm located below the large hole.

2. A bird feeder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein means are provided for supporting or suspending the container, and when so supported or suspended in a normal position said larger holes being located in the side wall of the container and said smaller holes in the base of the container.

3. A bird feeder as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said larger holes are provided in components each comprising a shallow cylindrical skirt integral with the base and with an eccentric aperture in the base opening into a short tube having a bevelled end remote from the base, said short tube extending through the side wall of the container.

4. A bird feeder as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the base is conical and perforated at regular intervals with said smaller holes.

5. A bird feeder as claimed in any preced ing claim wherein the body is made of transparent material.

6. A bird feeder substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.