GB2466636A

GB2466636A - Bird feeder with overspill trays

Info

Publication number: GB2466636A
Application number: GB0823619A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Phillips; Sandra Yvonne Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-30
Filing date: 2008-12-30
Publication date: 2010-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-30
Also published as: GB2466636B; GB0823619D0

Abstract

A bird feeder 1 comprises a container 10 for bird feed having an upper end and a bird feed outlet aperture 10B at a bottom end. A first feed plate 20 is spaced from and opposing bird feed outlet aperture. A bird perch 21 is provided to the side of the first feed plate. In use birds can rest on the perch and eat feed from the plate which is gravity dispensed onto the plate from the container bird feed outlet aperture as it is consumed. Preferably a second feed plate 50 is positioned below the first feed plate which catches feed spilt from the first feed plate. A funnel 40 is provided to funnel the over spilt seed to the second tray. A squirrel baffle 90 and a rain cover 70 may be provided.

Description

Title: Bird Feeder The present invention relates to a bird feeder.

There a many different types of known bird feeders for use in gardens. A problem with many of these is that they allow waste bird feed, such as seeds and chaff to fall, on the ground, and this encourages vermin such as rats. Also many of these allow bird feed to become damp due to being exposed to the weather.

The invention seeks to provide a novel bird feeder which avoids the above problems and which can attract a wide variety of birds.

According to the present invention there is provided a bird feeder comprising: a) a container for bird feed having an upper end and a bird feed outlet aperture at a bottom end, b) a first feed plate spaced from and opposing bird feed outlet aperture, c) a bird perch to the side of the first feed plate, in use birds can rest on the perch and eat feed from the plate which is gravity dispensed onto the plate from the container bird feed outlet aperture as it is consumed.

Preferably the first feed plate is of a larger area than the bird feed outlet whereby the bird feed spreads radially outward from the outlet aperture onto the plate.

Preferably the perch is in the form of a frame around the perimeter of the first feed plate.

Preferably a funnel is provided below the first feed plate and the perch to catch waste feed and funnel it downwards through a funnel bird feed outlet onto a second feed plate and second perch to the side of the second feed plate.

Preferably the first and/or second feed plate is perforated to allow flow of air therethrough to keep seeds dry.

Preferably variable spacing means are provided to adjust the distance the first and/or second feed plate is spaced from the bird feed outlet aperture and/or funnel bird feed outlet.

Preferably an anti squirrel shield is provided below the first or first and second feed plate. The shield may be designed to wobble under the weight of a large bird to prevent large birds from landing on the shield.

Preferably a rain cover is provided to prevent rain falling on the first or first and second feed plate. The cover may be supported on top of the bird feed container.

Preferably the bird feeder comprises a pole to space the bird feeder above the ground. The pole may include an air intake aperture at a lower end and an air outlet aperture, in use when the pole is warmed by the sun, warm air exits from the air outlet to help keep feed on the feed plate dry.

Preferably a spike extends from the top of the bird feeder to deter large birds from landing on the bird feeder.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an enlarged perspective view of the feeder, and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the feeder on a pole with a base.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a bird feeder 1.

Feeder I has a transparent container 10 for bird feed "X" having an upper end with a filling aperture 1OA and a bird feed outlet aperture lOB at a bottom end.

A first circular feed plate 20 is spaced from and opposes bird feed outlet aperture lOB and is of a larger area than the bird feed outlet whereby the bird feed gravity dispenses from aperture 1 OB and spreads radially outward from the outlet aperture lOB onto the plate 20. First feed plate 20 is perforated with numerous perforations 20A to allow flow of air therethrough to keep feed on the plate dry.

A circular bird perch 21 is provided to the side of the first feed plate and extends around the periphery of the first feed plate.

A first frame 30 connects the perch 21 to the first feed plate 20, and connects the perch 21 and first feed plate 20 to the feed container 10 through variable spacing means in the form of adjusters 30A,30B to adjust the distance the first feed plate 20 is spaced from the bird feed outlet aperture I OB.

A funnel 40 is provided below the first feed plate 20 and the perch 21. Funnel 40 has a wide diameter top 40A to catch waste feed and funnel it downwards through a narrower funnel bird feed outlet 40B onto a second feed plate 50 and second perch 51 to the side of the second feed plate 50.

Second circular feed plate 50 is spaced from and opposes bird feed outlet aperture 40B and is of a larger area than the bird feed outlet whereby the bird feed gravity dispenses from aperture 40B and spreads radially outward from the outlet aperture 40B onto the plate 50. Second feed plate 50 is perforated with numerous perforations 50A to allow flow of air therethrough to keep feed on the plate dry.

A second frame 60 connects the perch 51 to the second feed plate 50, and connects the perch 51 and first feed plate 50 to the top 40A of funnel 40 through variable spacing means in the form of adjusters 60A,60B to adjust the distance the second feed plate 50 is spaced from the bird feed outlet aperture 40B. Second frame 60 also supports a collar 61 below second feed plate 50.

A conical (or other shape) rain cover 70 is provided to prevent rain falling on the first or first and second feed plate. The cover 70 may be supported on top of the bird feed container 10. A spike 71 extends from the top of the bird feeder cover 70 to deter large birds from landing on the bird feeder.

The bird feeder 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical pole 80 to space the bird feeder above the ground. Pole 80 has one top end inserted into collar 61. Pole 80 also has a bottom end 80B inserted into a base 81. The pole 80 has an air intake aperture 82 at a lower end, and an air outlet aperture 83 (not visible) at the very top of the hollow pole. In use when the pole is warmed by the sun, warm air exits from the air outlet to help keep feed on the feed plates 50 and 20 dry.

An anti squirrel shield in the form of an annular plate 90 is provided below the first and second feed plate, and has a central aperture 91 through which pole 90 passes. Annular plate 90 sits on a ring 92 which is secured around the pole 90. The annular plate 90 may be designed to wobble under the weight of a large bird to prevent large birds from landing on the plate 90.

A plastic mat 100 may be provided around base 81 to collect any waste feed falling from the feeder 1. This waste can be swept up easily to prevent attraction of vermin, or ground feeding birds can spot waste on the mat 100 easily and eat it before it attracts vermin.

In use birds can rest on perch 21 and eat feed from the plate 20 which is gravity dispensed onto the plate from the container bird feed outlet aperture lOB as it is consumed. Any waste feed, such as seeds or chaff, falling off plate 20 or from a bird's mouth will fall into funnel 40 and exit through funnel outlet aperture 40B onto the plate 50. Birds can rest on perch 51 and feed from plate 50. Any waste feed, such as seeds or chaff, falling off plate 50 or from a bird's mouth will fall onto annular plate 90,and birds can rest and feed from plate 90.

Adjustment of the adjusters 60A,60B and 30A,30B controls the flow rate of feed onto plates 20 and 50 and this can be used attract different types of birds onto perches 21 and 51.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the funnel 40 and second feed plate 40 could be omitted. Also instead of first and second frames 30,60, the perch and feed plate 51,50, funnel 40, perch and feed plate 21,20, container 10 and cover 70 could be mounted on and slide relative to each other on a common shaft extending from pole 80, thereby adjusting the spacing between these components. The common shaft would thus provide variable spacing means to adjust the distance the first and/or second feed plate is spaced from the bird feed outlet aperture and/or funnel bird feed outlet.

The bird feeder of the invention could be made in any suitable material/s and colours.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bird feeder comprising: a) a container for bird feed having an upper end and a bird feed outlet aperture at a bottom end, b) a first feed plate spaced from and opposing the bird feed outlet aperture, c) a bird perch to the side of the first feed plate, in use birds can rest on the perch and eat feed from the plate which is gravity dispensed onto the plate from the container bird feed outlet aperture as it is consumed.
2. A bird feeder according to claim 1, wherein the first feed plate is of a larger area than the bird feed outlet whereby the bird feed spreads radially outward from the outlet aperture onto the plate.
3. A bird feeder according to claim I or 2, wherein the perch is in the form of a frame around the perimeter of the first feed plate.
4. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein a funnel is provided below the first feed plate and the perch to catch waste feed and funnel it downwards through a funnel bird feed outlet onto a second feed plate and second perch to the side of the second feed plate.
5. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second feed plate is perforated to allow flow of air therethrough to keep seeds dry.
6. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein variable spacing means are provided to adjust the distance the first and/or second feed plate is spaced from the bird feed outlet aperture and/or funnel bird feed outlet.
7. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein an anti squirrel shield is provided below the first or first and second feed plate.
8. A bird feeder according to claim 7, wherein the shield is designed to wobble under the weight of a large bird to prevent large birds from landing on the shield.
9. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein a rain cover is provided to prevent rain falling on the first or first and second feed plate.
10. A bird feeder according to claim 9, wherein the cover is supported on top of the bird feed container.
11. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein the bird feeder comprises a pole to space the bird feeder above the ground.
12. A bird feeder according to claim 11, wherein the pole includes an air intake aperture at a lower end and an air outlet aperture, in use when the pole is warmed by the sun, warm air exits from the air outlet to help keep feed on the feed plate dry.
13. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim, wherein a spike extends from the top of the bird feeder to deter large birds from landing on the bird feeder.
14. A bird feeder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.