GB2410669A

GB2410669A - Bird feeder with seed recycler

Info

Publication number: GB2410669A
Application number: GB0402461A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Guy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-04
Filing date: 2004-02-04
Publication date: 2005-08-10
Also published as: GB2410884A; GB0502031D0; GB0402461D0

Abstract

A wild bird feeder suitable for thistle/niger seed, essentially having two seed compartments 1,2 situated one above the other, including perches 6 convenient to feeding apertures 5. There may exist 2 or more seed compartments. Uneaten seeds dislodged from the upper compartment 1 feeding apertures, fall into the lower compartment 2 by way of an integral gutter 4. These seeds may then be recycled back into the upper compartment. Preferably the seed compartments would be separate interchangeable units, whereby the lower unit would simply be disconnected and repositioned at the top when full. A removable lid (Fig 1,7) may include a hanging point. The seed compartments, or hopper units, are coupled by joint connection 8 which may be a bayonet, screw, or other suitable union. The lid is provided with the same joint connection.

Description

24 1 0669 THISTLE/NIGER SEED WILD BIRD FEEDER This invention relates to a

wild bird seed feeder of the type used to feed goldfinches and other species that eat thistle/niger seeds.

Wild bird seed feeders of this type typically have a hopper constructed from a vertical length of clear plastic tube, closed at the ends with a base and lid of moulded plastic or metal. Birds alight on perches attached to the base and take seeds from adjacent ports in the tube. Such wild bird feeders suffer from the disadvantage that, when seeds are removed by feeding birds, contiguous seeds are dislodged and fall to the ground. A tray may be positioned under the feeder, but notwithstanding, over 50 O of seed can go to waste.

The object of this invention is to provide a feeder that can freely dispense thistle/niger seeds and other seeds to wild birds, without the excessive wastage of seed.

Accordingly, this invention provides a wild bird feeder for use with thistle/niger or other seeds, having two seed compartments, one above the other, including feeding apertures, perches and an outward gutter arrangement to convey seeds dislodged from the feeding apertures above, into the lower compartment, from where they may be removed and used again.

The feeder may be of one or a combination of suitable materials, preferably weather resistant, W stable and capable of being thoroughly cleaned.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the whole assembled feeder: Figure 2 is a section at the interconnection between hopper units - shown separated.

As shown in Fig. 1, the feeder comprises three seed hopper units 1,2,3, interconnected one above the other.

The seed hopper units are identical and by definition interchangeable.

A removable lid 7, which may include a hanging point (not shown), is provided to close the opening at the upper end of the top hopper unit 1.

Referring to Fig. 2, at their upper end, the hopper units have a peripheral outward gutter 4, a number of perches 6, and a joint connection 8, such as a bayonet fixing, screw or other suitable union.

At their lower end, a number of feeding apertures 5, are located above the base, which also incorporates the same means of joint connection 8.

In use, the assembled feeder will initially be charged with seed through the opening at the upper end of unit 1, and the lid 7, being provided with the same joint connection 8, fastened in place.

Contiguous seeds dislodged by birds feeding from the apertures 5, will fall into unit 2, by way of the gutter 4. When sufficient seed has entered unit 2, birds are able to feed from the apertures in this unit also.

It will be seen that dislodged seeds will gradually migrate down the feeder to the bottom hopper unit 3, which when appropriate, can be disconnected, replenished with fresh seed as required and reconnected at the top of the feeder, whereby the cycle starts again.

The whole assembled feeder may be fixed at a suitable site by means of a hanging arrangement (not shown), or a dowel may be inserted in the lower joint connection 8.

Claims

1. A wild bird feeder for use with thistle/niger or other seeds, having two seed compartments, one above the other, including feeding apertures, perches and an outward gutter arrangement to convey seeds dislodged from the feeding apertures above, into the lower compartment, from where they may be removed and used again.

2. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in Claim 1 where the hopper units are individually detachable.

3. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the hopper units are interchangeable.

4. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 where the hopper units have a peripheral perimeter gutter.

5. A device for dispensing food to birds substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

5. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 where the hopper units have gutters locally below feeding apertures.

6. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in any preceding claim where a removable lid is provided.

7. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in Claim 6 where the removable lid includes a hanging point.

8 A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 where the removable lid includes the same means of joint connection as the hopper units.

9. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in any preceding claim where the number of seed compartments or hopper units is more than two.

10. A wild bird seed feeder as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastic materials or wood or from a combination of these materials.

11. A wild bird seed feeder substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to We claims halve beet; .; as follovs:

1. A device for dispensing food to birds comprising an assemblage of containers and a base and a top for each container; (a) said base being of cellular form, and characterised in that a centrally disposed downwardly directed socket is included in the underside; said socket having a diameter of approximately a third of the external diameter of said base; said socket having an internal spiral screw threaded portion finished level with the underside of the base; (b) said base is further characterised in that no rim, plinth or nib extends outwards therefrom and no perches are attached thereto or are adjacent thereof; (c) said top is characterised in that an upward and outward flared brim is provided, having an appropriately inclined internal shedding face to facilitate funnelling food into the container; (d) said top is further characterized in that an upwardly projecting plug is included; said plug having an external spiral screw threaded portion compatible with the socket in the base; said plug being supported centrally within the brim so as to leave an opening into the container; (e) said top is further characterized in that a perching arrangement is provided below the outwardly flared brim.

2. A device for dispensing food to birds as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base downwardly directed socket and said top upwardly projecting plug both incorporate the same bayonet type fixing instead of a screw threaded portion.

3. A device for dispensing food to birds as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein the container comprises a transparent plastic tube with feeding holes spaced around.

4. A device for dispensing food to birds as claimed in claim 1, 2 and 3, wherein a removable lid with a hanging point is provided; said lid includes a centrally disposed downwardly directed socket in the underside; said socket may have an internal spiral screw threaded portion foished level with the underside or a bayonet type fixing, either of which being compatible with the upwardly projecting plug provided in a container top.