GB2373703A

GB2373703A - Bird feeder with adjustable access

Info

Publication number: GB2373703A
Application number: GB0107426A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Kenneth Nock
Original assignee: CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
Current assignee: CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-24
Filing date: 2001-03-24
Publication date: 2002-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-24
Also published as: GB0107426D0; GB2373703B

Abstract

The feeder comprises a tray 12 adapted to contain bird food with an opening to allow access by birds, and a canopy 16 wherein adjustment means 20 are provided that link the tray and the canopy such that the vertical distance between them may be set to provide an aperture through which small birds may enter the feeder to gain access to the food but larger birds are be excluded. The feeder may also comprise a cage 14 located between the tray and canopy.

Description

Selective Bird Feeder This invention relates to bird feeders and in particular a bird feeder that denies birds access to food if the birds are larger than a predetermined size.

Bird feeding apparatus are well known, often comprising a cylindrical container for storing seed or the like with a perch for a bird to rest on and an aperture through which the bird can remove food with its beak. Thus, the bird generally rests outside of the feed container while feeding.

Purchasers of bird feeders may wish to feed only small birds such as tits or robins.

While conventional bird feeders work well, in general they are not easily adapted to deny larger birds access to food. In addition cylindrical bird feeders, while being well suited for dry foods such as seed are not suitable for dispensing live bird food such as worms.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved bird feeding apparatus.

Another object is to provide a bird feeder that denies birds larger than a predetermined size access to bird feed. A further object is to provide an apparatus that can be used with live bird food such as worms.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a bird feeder having a first member adapted to contain bird food with an opening to allow access by birds, and a second member wherein adjustment means are provided that link the first and second member such that the opening of the first member co-operates with the second member to provide an aperture through which birds may enter the first member to gain access to the food, the size of the aperture being adjustable so as to permit or exclude entry of various sizes of bird.

Preferably, the first member comprises a tray. The first member may have a threaded portion to engage the adjustment means and may have a floor portion from which the threaded portion upwardly extends.

Qt, t-nnti rnq-, l hqklp q re con, ll, LCLUI. yl Lil 3-illemu -I. -. - I- Preferably, the second member comprises a canopy. The second member may have J.

C) ~Iustment inea collar to engage the adjustment means. The adjustment means may comprise a rod which threadingly engages the first member.

The second member may have a collar and threaded cap with a resilient portion. attached to or integral with the second member. The collar may engage a rod.

Preferably, a cage member locates within the aperture. The cage member may be polygonal or cylindrical in shape. Preferable the cage member comprises a rectangular matrix presenting generally rectangular shaped orifices. Preferably, the rectangular orifices have a width of between 20mm and 60mm and/or a depth of between 20 and 80mm.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following schematic figures, in which : FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a bird feeder in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the bird feeder of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of another bird feeder according to the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the bird feeder of Figure 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the canopy of the bird feeder of Figure 3, FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectioned view of the collar shown in figure 5, FIGURES 7 shows three views of a cap that engages the collar shown in Figure 6.

FIGURE 8 is an underside view of the tray of the bird feeder of Figure 3, FIGURE 9 is a side sectioned view along the lines X to X'of the tray shown in Figure 8, FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the cage of the bird feeder of Figure 3, and FIGURE 11 is a side view of the cage of Figure 10.

Referring to Figure I a bird feeder 10 comprises a feed tray 12, cage 14, and canopy 16.

Feed tray 12, is generally square in plan view and has an integrally formed upstanding connector member 18 with a threaded hole (not shown) that accepts a rod 20 with a

threaded end (not shown). A lock nut 22, that engages the threaded end of rod 20 is provided to lock rod 20 in place once it has been screwed into connector 18. Canopy 16 has a centrally located collar with a threaded cap 24 through which rod 20 passes and which may be locked to rod 20 by tightening of the threaded cap. Cage 14 is generally rectangular in plan view so that it may locate in a rim portion 26 located at the open end of feed tray 12 and also around a sleeve portion 28 of canopy 16 and a flared flange portion 30 of canopy 16. Thus, cage 14 may be retained between the feed tray 12 and the canopy 16 and locked therewithin by rod 20.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another bird feeder 40 according to the invention.

The bird feeder has a dome shaped canopy 42, generally rectangular in plan view (see Figure 4) comprising four quadrant portions 44 and has a collar 46 integrally formed at the apex (shown in enlarged form in Figure 6). The collar 46 has a pair of longitudinal slots 48 and a tapered upper rim 50. Collar 46 is provided with a cylindrically shaped cap 52 comprising a main body portion 54 with an axial upper hole 56 adjoining a frustro-conical tapered section 58 leading to inner tapered thread 60 of cap 52. Thread 60 is dimensioned to engage collar thread 62 and tapered section 58 is dimensioned to abut against tapered upper rim 50 of collar 46. Hence, in use cap 52 is screwed on to collar 46 and when tapered section 58 abuts upper rim 50 the main body of collar 46 is forced radially inwards to grip a rod inserted therethrough. Longitudinal slots 48 provide the resilience necessary to allow the upper portion of the collar to move radially inwardly and grip the rod. The feed tray 70 of the bird feeder is a container, generally square shaped in plan view (see Figure 8), comprising a base portion 72, side walls 74 with rims 76, quadrant feet 78 and a connector member 80. Feet 78 provide rigidity to the tray as well as a support for the feeder when placed on paving stones and the like. Connector member 80 is formed integrally with base portion 72 and comprises an upper threaded bore 82 and a lower threaded bore 84. Upper threaded bore 82 is dimensioned to engage a threaded end of rod 66. Lower threaded bore 84 is provided to allow the bird feeder to be supported on top of a pole (not shown) with a corresponding female thread at its upper end. Tray 70 has a series of peripheral holes 86 in base portion 72 providing drainage in the event of rainwater entering the tray. Each comer of the tray rim 76 has a cage locating hole 88 provided to locate with a comer rod of a cage (see latter). A cage 100 (see Figure 10) is dimensioned to locate between canopy 42 and tray 70 and comprises a matrix of horizontal and vertical rods 102,104 bounded by four vertical comer rods 106. Lower portions 106a of corner rods 106 are dimensioned and spaced to

engage within cage locating holes 88 of tray 70. The spacing of the horizontal and vertical rods 102,104 is important as it determines the maximum size bird that may gain access to the feeder and hence the food stored within tray 70. The vertical spacing (Y) is typically

within the range 20 to 80mm and preferably about 50mm. The horizontal spacing (X) is tn' typically within the range 20mm to 60mm and preferably about 40mm.

In use tray 70 with rod 66 locked within connector member 80 is first filled with bird food, cage 100 is then fitted onto base 70 and canopy 42 is slid over rod 66 and sits upon the upper horizontal rods of the cage 100 as described for the first embodiment. Canopy 42 may then be locked in this seated position by tightening cap 52 using grip 64 so that collar 42 grips the rod. The use of a tray to contain foods allows live foods such as worms to be used without encountering problems of blockage and entangelment often associated with cylindrical type bird feeders.

While ii is preferable to use the bird feeders of the invention with a cage 14, 100 it is not essential. Thus, if canopy 16, 42 is suspended above feed tray 12, 70 by means such as a rod 20, 66 then by adjusting the vertical distance between the canopy and the feed tray an aperture of variable size may be formed. If the aperture size is appropriately selected, for example within the range 20-30mm it will prevent large birds entering the feed tray but still allow small birds such as tits and robins entry.

A variety of cages may be used interchangeably with the feeder, for example cages with different matrix sizes to suit various ranges of bird size. The collar 24, 46 and connector member 18,80 may be connected to rather than be an integral part of the canopy and feed tray respectively. Means other than a rod and collar may be employed to vary the vertical spacing between the feed tray and the canopy, for example adjustable pillars located within cage locating holes 88 and engaging suitable means within the lower flange 30 of the canopy 16. Such an arrangement would allow use of the feed tray and canopy without a cage 14,100.

The feed tray and canopy are preferably made of plastics material and the cage is preferably formed from metal rods. The bird feeder may be suspended from a branch of a

tree using a hook 68, may be rested on feet 78 or may be supported on a threaded pole using lower threaded bore 84.

Claims

9 Claims

1. A bird feeder comprising a first member adapted to contain bird food with an opening to allow. access by birds, and a second member wherein adjustment means are provided that link the first and second member such that the opening of the first member co-operates with the second member to provide an aperture through which birds may enter the first member to gain access to the food, the size of the aperture being adjustable so as to permit or exclude entry of various sizes of bird.

2. A bird feeder according to Claim I wherein the first member comprises a tray.

A bird feeder accord'ii I

3. A bird feeder according to Claim I or 2 wherein the first member has a threaded I has a threaded portion to engage the adjustment means

4. A bird feeder according to Claim 3 wherein the first member has a floor portion from which the threaded portion upwardly extends.

A bird feeder according to any preceding Claim wherein the second member comprises a canopy.

6. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the second member has a collar

to engage the adjustment means. zn

7. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the adjustment means comprises a rod.

8. A bird feeder according to Claim 7 wherein a first end of the rod threadingly engages the first member.

9. A bird feeder according to Claim 8 wherein a second end of the rod engages a collar and threaded cap having a resilient portion, wherein the collar is attached to or integral with the second member.

10. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein a cage member locates within the aperture.

11. A bird feeder according to Claim 10 wherein the cage member locates between a feed tray and a canopy.

12. A bird feeder according to Claim 10 or 11 wherein the cage is polygonar or cylindrical in shape.

13. A bird feeder according to any of Claim 10 to 12 wherein the cage comprises a matrix presenting generally rectangular shaped orifices.

14. A bird feeder according to Claim 12 wherein the rectangular orifices have a width of between 20mm and 60mm and/or a depth of between 20 and 80mm.

15. A bird feeder comprising a tray adapted to contain bird food and a canopy wherein adjustment means are provided that link the tray and the canopy such that the distance between them may be set to provide an aperture through which small birds may enter the feeder to gain access to the food but larger birds are be excluded.

16. A bird feeder substantially as described above by reference to Figures 1 to 11.