GB2398719A

GB2398719A - Bird Feeder Perch Assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2398719A
Application number: GB0304226A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Kenneth Nock
Original assignee: CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
Current assignee: CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-25
Filing date: 2003-02-25
Publication date: 2004-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-25
Also published as: CA2458483A1; EP1452092A3; EP1452092B1; US20040231606A1; DE602004000985D1; DE602004000985T2; GB0304226D0; GB2398719B; ATE327669T1; DK1452092T3; US7021241B2; EP1452092A2

Abstract

A bird feeder perch assembly 10 comprising a locating member 12, a perch 14 and pivoting means which allow the perch to pivot relative to the locating means. The locating member can engage a bird feeder body, and the perch may pivot from a point where it is flush with the feeder body to a point where the perch projects outwardly from the body. Preferably, the pivoting means comprises at least one recess (30, fig 3e) in the locating member, which may be u-shaped, and pivot rods (42, fig 5a) attached to or integral with the perch. The perch may comprise a restraining portion (46, fig 5a) which, when the perch projects outwardly, abuts against a stop member (34, fig 3e) that is integral with or attached to the locating member. Preferably, the perch is ring-shaped, u-shaped or comprises at least two elongate members that extend in mutually orthogonal directions.

Description

23987 1 9 Pivoting Perch Bird feeders having perches attached thereto are

well known. I;requently, the perch comprises an elongate rod or the like fixed to a base member of the feeder or to individual feeding ports.

Such l'eeding ports typically comprise a locating member with a central aperture; the member being configured to locate within a wall portion of the feeder. In use a bird resting on the perch normally has to turn its head 9() so that it faces a port aperture where food is dispensed.

While there are some birt] feeders that avoid this problem, they generally involve a complex perch mechanism. Further bird feeders tend to be packaged for sale in a fully assembled state; consequently, feeders with protruding perch rods require a packing box considerably larger in cross section than the cross section of the feeder body. This is wasteful, and ultimately results in an environmental penalty; in that the packaging has to be disposed of.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird feeder perch and in particular a perch that pivots. A further object is to provide a perch that provides improved access to dispensed food for birds resting on the perch.

In a first aspect the bird feeder perch assembly comprisies a locating member, a perch and pivoting means that allows the perch to pivot relative to the locating means such that in use the locating member may engage a bird feeder body, and when so engaged the perch may pivot from a retracted position in which the perch is proximal the feeder body to an extended position in which the perch projects outwardly from the body, such that a bird may rest upon the perch Preferably, in moving the perch from a fully retracted position to a fiully extended position the perch pivots through angle of at least 80 . 'I'he perch may pivot through an angle of 120 to 160 in order to more easily accommodate larger birds.

lthe pivoting means may comprise a Unshaped recess in the locating member and an engaging shaft attached to or integral with the perch.

i'refcrably the perch comprises a portion that in use is substantially horizontal and parallel to the plane ol'an exterior face of the feeder body surface at the region of engagement of the ating member, and displaced some distance from that region of the feeder body. This has the advantage that it allows a bird to rest on the perch and t'eed without bending its neck.

The perch may comprise at least two elongate members that extend in mutually orthogonal directions. Optionally the perch may be ring-shaped with a pivot at the periphery of the ring.

Preferably, the perch is Unshaped and the pivoting means comprises a pivot at each free end of the perch.

Preferably the perch comprises a stop bar that in use abuts a stop member on the locating member. Alternatively, the perch may comprise a stop member that abuts a stop bar on the locating member The locating member may comprise a bird feeding port. This provides an improved perch that may advantageously be retracted so that it lies against or close to the outer wall of a hirdDeeder. Preferably, in use the pivoting means is located below the port aperture and/or a stop bar on the perch abuts against a stop member located below the port aperture.

A preferred embodiment ol' the invention will now be described by reference to the following diagramatic figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a perch assembly according to the invention in an extended position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a perch assembly of Figure I in a retracted position: Figure 3a to 3d show various views ot a locating member of the perch assembly; Figure 4 shows a sectioned side view of the locating member of the perch assembly of Figure 3; Figures 5a to Se show various views of a second part of the perch assembly; Figure 6 shows a sectioned side view of the second part of the perch assembly of Figure 5; Figures 7 and 8 show the perch assembly of Figure I attached to a bird feeder; Figures 9 and 1() show a further embodiment according to the invention attached to a cage, and to a bird feeder with offset feeding holes respectively: 1; igures 11 a to 11 e show various views of the locating member of the perch assembly shown in Figures 9 and 10; and Figure 12 shows a sectioned side view of the second part of the perch assembly shown inligures 11.

With reference to Figures I to 8. Figure I shows a perspective view of a perch assembly 10 according to the invention; the assembly being in a fully opened position. 'I'he assembly comprises a first part (locating member) 12 and a second part 14.

The lrst part 12 may be a bird feeder port with certain modifications as shown in Figures 3 and 4 (see latter). In this case, the port 12 may be located in a suitable sized aperture of a bird feeder body. 'lithe port 12 comprises a teed distributor 16 and a flange 18. Feed distributor 16 comprises a truncated cylindrical portion 20 and a truncated frustroconical portion 22.

Portions 20 and 22 are truncated below their lower half so that, in use, seed may enter the port 12 via the orifice 24 formed by these truncations.

Flange 18 presents a circular orifice 26 via which, in use, a bird may access seed with its beak from the birdfeeder. The upper portion of flange 18 has a hood 28 that is positioned so that in use it shields the aperture against rainfall and thus helps keep birdseed dry. The lower portion of flange 18 has a IJ-shaped recess 30 in each side. These recesses provide pivot pearls for the second part 14 of the perch assembly 10 (see latter). Between the recesses 3() there is an integral central portion 32 that has a raised front face 34 that acts as a stop member such that when the perch assembly is in a fully extended position (see Figure 1) the second part 14 abuts against this stop member (see below). The first part 12 also has a protruding notch 36 that, in use, locates a hole in the main body of the bird feeder.

The second part 14 is a perch (see Figures 5 and 6), comprising side rails 40 formed integrally with an end rail 42; the two side rails in combination t'orrning a perch that is predominantly U-shaped. The free ends of the side rails each have a pivot rod 44 having a common axis; this axis being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ot' the end rail 42. Rods 42 are configured so as to engage the U-shaped recesses 30 in port 12.

use port flange 18 is fixed against the outer wall (W) of a birdfeeder body. Thus, pivot rods 42 are retained within the Unshaped recesses 30 by this wall. In use, the perch 14 may pivot about axis X-X' (see Figure l) allowing it to be moved from a fully extended position (Figure 1) to a fully retracted position (Figure 2). Perch 14 has an integral cross bar member 46 in the form of an elongate rod fixed to each side rail 40 near the free end of the rails. This bar 46 abuts against stop member 34 when the perch assembly is in a fully extended position (see Figure 1). By adjusting the position or size of bar 46 or stop member 34 the fully extended position may be varied. In the example illustrated in 1 igure l the fully extended position corresponds to the perch pivoting through an angle a, in movement from the fully retracted to the fully open position, of approximately 90 . It has been found that in use providing a stop member 34 as part of port 12 avoids the perch abutting against the feeder body and thereby acting as a lever when a bird is supported on the perch; the leverage tending to dislodge the port from the bird feeder body.

In use birds will often rest upon the end rail 42 of the perch. In this position the bird may feed in a relaxed manner without having to bend its neck as required by most conventional perches where in contrast the bird is facing in a direction perpendicular to the feeding orifice 26. If the perch is designed for relatively large birds it may be preferable to position the bar 34 such that a is approximately l 50 . This increases the separation of the end rail 30 from the port aperture 2().

The pivoting means shown in this embodiment comprises two U-shaped recesses 30 and two pivot rods 44. However, a single pivot rod may be formed to connect the "l'ree" ends of the perch side rails 40.

In another embodiment (see Figures 9 to 12) the first part 50 excludes the port flange and distributor shown in the embodhnent of Figures 3 and 4. Hence, first part 50 is essentially a locating member comprising a pair of U-shapcd recesses 52, separated by a forward facing stop member 54, and a rearward facing engaging lug 56. In use, lug 56 locates a hole in the outer wall (W) of a birdi'eeder body. for example, engaging lug 56 may push fit into cage grid Car (see Figure 9) or a small aperture (not shown) located in the body wall of a birdfeeder (see Figure 10) preferably located below a feeding hole H. Preferably, the lug 56 has resilience; this being provided by one or more slots 58 and/or by selection of a suitably resilient material s or the lug. This resilience combined with a frustroconically tapered outer profile 60 assists location and engagement of lug 56 in use.

The perch ol'the invention advantageously provides a portion of the perch that, when tidally retracted, is substantially parallel to the outer surt:ace of a feeder to which it is attached. It is not essential that the perch be generally TJ-shaped lo achieve this effect. For example, the perch may be generally ring-shaped, T-shaped or L-shaped. Further, the perch may have a single rail and a single pivot, rather than the two side rails and two pivots shown in Figure 1.

Claims

AIMS

1. A bird feeder perch assembly comprising a locating member, a perch and pivoting means wherein the pivoting means allows the perch to pivot relative to the locating means such that in use the locating member may engage a bird feeder body and when so engaged the perch may pivot from a retracted position in which the perch is substantially flush with feeder body to an extended position in which the perch projects outwardly from the body such that a bird may rest upon the perch.

2. A bird feeder perch according to Claim I wherein the perch pivots about an axis that, in use, is either substantially parallel to or tangential to the outer surface of a bird feeder body.

3. A bird feeder perch assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the pivoting means comprises a recess in the locating member and an engaging shaft attached to or integral with the perch.

4. A bird feeder perch according to Claim 3 wherein the recess is Ushaped.

5. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any preceding claim wherein in moving from retracted position to extended position the perch pivots through aridly (a) of at least 80 .

6. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the perch comprises a restraining portion that is displaced some distance outward *om the pivot axis such that when the perch is in the fully extended position the restraining portion abuts against a slop member that is integral with or attached to the locating member.

7. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the perch comprises at least two elongate members that are extend in mutually orthogonal directions.

8. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any of claims I to 6 wherein the perch is ring-shaped Wit]1 a pivot at the periphery of the ring.

9. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any of Claims I to 6 wherein the perch is U-shaped and the pivoting means comprises a pivot at each free end of the perch.

10. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the pivoting means comprises a plurality of recesses in the locating means.

11. A bird feeder perch assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the locating member is a bird feeding port.

12. A bird feeder perch assembly according to Claim 11 wherein in use the pivoting means is located below port aperture.

] 3. A bird feeder perch assembly substantially as described above by reference to Figures I to 8 or Figures 9 to 12.