GB2468415A

GB2468415A - Wild bird feeder

Info

Publication number: GB2468415A
Application number: GB201003974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bertram Mindell
Original assignee: MERIPAC Ltd
Current assignee: MERIPAC Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-31
Filing date: 2010-03-10
Publication date: 2010-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-10
Also published as: GB2464173A; GB201003974D0; GB0913292D0; GB2468415B; GB2464173B

Abstract

A wild bird feeder arrangement comprising a protective enclosure 1 and a bird feeder 3 hanging within the interior of the enclosure from a support 4. The protective enclosure has sidewalls with mesh openings shaped and dimensioned to obstruct predators but allow selective access of wild birds into its interior. A semi-cylindrical door 2 is provided which allows easy access to the bird feeder. Opposed spacer elements 12a, 12b are mounted on the door and the sidewall of the enclosure which release the bird feeder on opening the door. The bird feeder can not be swung by predators against the sidewall when the door is shut but can easily be removed through the door aperture for replenishment or cleaning.

Description

Wild bird feeder The present invention relates to a bird feeder arrangement for feeding wild birds.

Known wild bird feeder arrangements comprise an outer protective cage, normally of domed cylindrical form, having mesh openings shaped and dimensioned to obstruct predators (such as squirrels and larger birds such as pigeons. magpies, rooks and seagulls for example) but to allow selective access by small birds (such as blue tits and robins for example), and a bird feeder food supported in the interior of the protective cage. The bird feeder is normally a vertical tubular container provided with apertures in its cylindrical wall to allow wild birds access to bird feed such as nuts in the container. Such containers are commonly known as tube feeders and are often suspended within the outer protective cage, which is itself normally suspended from eg a tree branch.

A problem which can arise with such known arrangements is that it may be possible for a squirrel or other potential intruder to swing the cage (while the feeder remains upright) so that the feeder or its contents can come within the intruder's reach.

WO 93/12649A (Smallbone) discloses a wild bird feeder arrangement comprising an outer protective enclosure cage in the form of upper and lower hemispheres hinged together and supporting a bird feeder which is centrally located within the cage by means of a wire frame supporting the base of the feeder.

Other wild bird feeder arrangements in which measures are taken to keep the bird feeder spaced apart from the interior of the protective enclosure include: GB 2236468A (Lipton) which shows resilient arms extending upwardly from the base of a cylindrical cage to support a removable cylindrical bird feeder therein, and US 4434745 (Perkins) which discloses an 0-ring supporting a removable cylindrical bird feeder in a cylindrical cage.

However a major problem with these known arrangements is that the locating arrangements make it difficult to insert or remove the bird feeder, an operation that must be performed frequently in order to replenish it with bird feed. In some of the prior art arrangements noted above, almost complete disassembly of the cage and supporting arrangement is required. Since a significant proportion of users are elderly and many of these have impaired eyesight or dexterity, this requirement is a challenging one.

GB 0913292.9, from which the present application claims priority, discloses a bird feeder arrangement in which a spacer is mounted on a bird feeder hung within a protective enclosure and engages the sidewall and a side door of the protective enclosure. The door aperture is shaped and dimensioned to allow insertion and removal of the bird feeder on opening the door and without disassembly of the protective enclosure.

It is noted that side access is regularly used for cages for domestic birds such as budgerigars. However these are different products with different specifications and different objectives. The purpose of cages for domestic birds is to keep the relevant birds permanently enclosed. Therefore the mesh gaps for such cages need to be narrow and the cages need to be big enough to suit permanent habitation. Caged birds, as permanent residents, need food and water supplied in containers but these do not need to be protected from predators. Such cages can be any shape but need to be big enough to allow permanent living space for the captive birds.

US 4216742 (Kirchhofer) also discloses a tiered feeder (for eg chickens rather than wild birds) inside a rectangular partitioned cage, the cage optionally having hinged sidewalls. The hinged sidewalls are not used for removing the feeder however.

Thus the relevant technical problems arising in wild bird feeders do not arise in arrangements for keeping chickens or domestic birds.

The present invention provides a wild bird feeder arrangement comprising a protective enclosure for protecting wild birds when feeding, a bird feeder hanging within the interior of the enclosure from a support, the protective enclosure having a sidewall with mesh openings shaped and dimensioned to obstruct predators but to allow selective access of wild birds into its interior, the enclosure having a spacer arranged to maintain a spacing between the exterior of the bird feeder and the sidewall of said enclosure, said sidewall including a door with a door aperture formed in a portion of said sidewall, said spacer being mounted on said sidewall or said bird feeder whereby said bird feeder can be removed through said door aperture without dismounting said spacer.

n a preferred embodiment the spacer is in two parts, one part being mounted on the door and another part being mounted on another portion of the sidewall. Hence opening of the door separates the parts of the spacer and releases the bird feeder for removal through the door aperture.

In another embodiment said door aperture is shaped and dimensioned to allow, on opening the door, insertion and removal of the bird feeder with the spacer mounted thereon.

In a preferred embodiment said spacer comprises at least one elongate resilient element (such as a length of coated steel wire for example) which is shaped and dimensioned to be fitted around a tubular bird feeder.

Preferably one or both ends of the elongate resilient element fit within mounting sockets provided on the protective enclosure or the bird feeder.

Preferably the spacer is mountable at different elevations within the enclosure at the option of the user.

Preferably the elevation of the bird feeder within the enclosure is adjustable, by means of a double hook for example.

These last two features enable the spacer to avoid fouling perches or feeding ports of different bird feeders.

The advantage of side access, as compared with top or base access, is that it makes it easier to remove and reposition the bird feeder on a hook or through a slit in the roof of the enclosure. This is because of the relatively short distance between where the feeder is held while positioning and the hook or slit to which it needs to be connected. Both hands can be left free to do whatever is required. It is also a relatively short distance to the base of the enclosure to place bird food or to clean it.

The hanging bird feeder, which is not present in the Smallbone, Perkins and Lipton specifications noted above, enables one or more spacer elements to be inserted without unhanging the bird feeder, in order to stop squirrels and other intruders from swinging the enclosure towards the bird feeder. Because the bird feeder does not need to be unhung, and therefore held, both hands are free, In certain embodiments, the spacer can be mounted on the bird feeder after removing the latter from the protective enclosure, and the combination of bird feeder and spacer inserted into the protective enclosure through the door aperture.

In order to exclude intruders from access to bird food resting on the floor of the protective enclosure, the bars of the enclosure (eg horizontal bars) can be more closely spaced at the base.

Preferably the bird feeder is provided with a hook attached to the underside of the roof of said protective enclosure. A hanger of said bird feeder can be suspended from the hook, either directly or from a further hook (eg a double hook) which allows the elevation of the bird feeder within the enclosure to be adjusted.

Alternatively or additionally the bird feeder arrangement can include an aperture (eg a slit) in the roof of said protective enclosure through which a hanger of said bird feeder can pass upwardly to an external support, typically the external support for the protective enclosure.

Further preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a wild bird feeder in accordance with the invention showing the door of the enclosure open; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic transverse cross-section of the bird feeder of Figure 1 with the door of the enclosure open, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic transverse cross-section similar to that of Figure 2 but with the door of the enclosure shut.

Referring to Figure 1, a protective enclosure 1 is shown and is in the form of a tube sanctuary with a domed roof and a ring 11 for supporting it from an external support such as a tree branch (not shown). The domed portion is shown partially cut away to show a double hook 4 which is hung on a hooked extension of the ring 11 and supports the hanger 18 of a tubular bird feeder 3 within the protective enclosure. Tn a variant (not shown) the double hook 4 could be dispensed with and the ring 11 could be replaced by a slit in the roof of the enclosure to enable the hanger 18 to pass upwardly through the slit to the external support.

The protective enclosure is suitably constructed from wire mesh, the wire being 2 to 3 mm (preferably 2.5 mm) diameter powder-coated steel to resist corrosion and provide sufficient toughness to resist attacks by predators such as squirrels. The mesh openings in the cylindrical sidewall of the the enclosure suitably have a width in the range 25 mm to 55 mm and a height in the range 36 mm to 90 mm.

The wire mesh comprises arcuate horizontal bars 13 and upright wire bars 14.

Additional closely spaced horizontal wire bars are provided near the base of the enclosure 1 in order to prevent access by squirrels and other pests to food on the base 16 of the enclosure.

In a variant (not shown) the protective enclosure could have mesh openings of adjustable dimensions. For example it could be constructed from an outer mesh section overlying an inner mesh section, the mesh sections being loosely mutually connected by one or more link members extending into a space between the mesh sections and allowing relative lateral displacement of the inner and outer mesh sections to vary the effective size of the mesh openings.

A semi-cylindrical door 2 supported on tubular hinges 7 is provided, and has a similar wire mesh construction to the remainder of the sidewall of the protective enclosure. In a variant, wire rings could be substituted for the tubular hinges. Door 2 subtends an angle of 180 degrees in order to maximise access to the interior of the enclosure without compromising structural integrity but part-cylindrical doors subtending a lesser angle of eg 90 degrees could be used in variants of this embodiment.

An apertured steel tab 9 on the outer vertical edge of the door 2 registers, when the door 2 is closed, with a similar apertured tab 8 provided at the corresponding edge of the door aperture formed in the enclosure. The door can then be secured in the closed position by a wingbolt 10 which extends through the registering apertures in the tabs 8 and 9 and screws into a nut 17 welded to the inside surface of tab 8. Other fastening means such as clips could be used in variants of this embodiment.

The tubular bird feeder 3 is suitably filled with nuts or other bird feed (not shown) and access to this feed for wild birds which have entered the protective enclosure 1 is provided by feed ports 11. A perch 15 extends radially outwardly from the bird feeder 3 below port 11.

In order to prevent intruders (such as squirrels for example) from reaching in through the mesh openings of the enclosure 1 to the feed ports 11, and to prevent the enclosure from being swung relative to the bird feeder 3, two wire spacer elements 12a and 12b are removably attached to the enclosure 1 and the door 2 respectively.

Each spacer element 12a, 12b is of the same shape in the form of a spring loop of steel wire having a somewhat complex shape comprising an arcuate mid-portion and radial ends as best seen in Figures 2 and 3. However as best seen in Figure 1, the radial ends are bent downwardly and are orthogonal to the common plane of the arcuate and radial portions. The spacing between the resulting downwardly turned ends corresponds to the spacing between a pair of tubular supports 6a welded to the upright wire bars 14 of the enclosure above one of the horizontal wire bars 13.

Further pairs of tubular supports 6 are similarly provided at different levels to enable the height of the spacer element 12a to be varied.

A similar spacer element 12b is shown mounted at the same elevation as spacer element 12a on tubular supports Sa welded to the door 2. The opposed arcuate portions of the respective spacer elements cooperate to locate the bird feeder 3 centrally within the enclosure. Alternatively the spacer elements 12a and 12b could be vertically offset from each other (ie mounted at different levels) in order to avoid any possibility of a bird trapping its feet between the radial ends of the spacer elements. In a variant, the spacer could comprise a single element fitting around the feeder 3, or it could comprise three or more spacer elements circumferentially distributed around the periphery of the feeder.

Similar pairs of supports 5 are welded to the door at different heights matching the heights of supports 6 to enable the spacer element 12b to be mounted at different heights, eg to avoid interfering with perch 15 or port 11 on a different feeder 3.

Referring now to Figure 2, the pair of spacer elements 12a, 12b have arcuate mid-portions of radius R, matching the radius of the cylindrical bird feeder 3, typically mm or 80 mm. When the door 2 is open as shown, the bird feeder 3 can easily be unhooked from hook 4 (Figure 1) in order to replenish it with feed or for cleaning, for example. The spacer elements 12a, 12b do not need to be removed when the feeder 3 is refilled.

Referring to Figure 3, when the door 2 is shut (and secured by wingbolt 10) the spacer elements 12a, 12b bear against the cylindrical wall of the bird feeder 3, ensuring that the bird feeder is centrally located in the enclosure 1. Opening the door 2 following unscrewing of the wingbolt 10 releases the feeder 3 from between the opposed arcuate portions of the spacer elements 1 2a, 1 2b and enables it to be removed through the door aperture eg for cleaning or refilling.

In a variant, the tubular supports 5, 6 could be dispensed with and spacer elements 12a, 12b could be mounted on feeder 3, with eg their downturned ends engaging eg the horizontal bars 13 of the enclosure. The resulting assembly of feeder and spacers could be removed bodily through the door aperture and secured in position by closing the door 2 and securing it with wingbolt 10.

Pairs of spacers having arcuate portions of different radius R can be provided in order to accommodate bird feeders 3 of different radii. Accordingly, the enclosure 1 can be supplied with eg a double hook 4 and two or more such pairs of spacer elements 12a, 12b to enable feeders 3 of different diameter to be accommodated. Tt is desirable but not essential for the spacers to contact the bird feeder 3 when the latter is in the upright position.

In a variant, the tubular hinges 7 could be dispensed with and the door 2 could be attached by releasable fastening means such as clips for example to the door aperture. This would enable the door to be detachable from the remainder of the sidewall of the enclosure.

Claims

Claims 1. A wild bird feeder arrangement comprising a protective enclosure for protecting wild birds when feeding, a bird feeder hanging within the interior of the enclosure from a support, the protective enclosure having a sidewall with mesh openings shaped and dimensioned to obstruct predators but to allow selective access of wild birds into its interior, the enclosure having a spacer arranged to maintain a spacing between the exterior of the bird feeder and the sidewall of said enclosure, said sidewall including a door with a door aperture formed in a portion of said sidewall, said spacer being mounted on said sidewall or said bird feeder whereby said bird feeder can be removed through said door aperture without dismounting said spacer.
2. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the spacer is in two parts, one part being mounted on the door and another part being mounted on another portion of the sidewall.
3. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said door aperture is shaped and dimensioned to allow, on opening the door, insertion and removal of the bird feeder with the spacer mounted thereon.
4. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein said spacer comprises at least one elongate resilient element which is shaped and dimensioned to be fitted around a tubular bird feeder.
5. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to claim 4 wherein one or both ends of the elongate resilient element fit within mounting sockets provided on the protective enclosure or the bird feeder.
6. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the spacer is mountable at different elevations within the enclosure at the option of the user.
7. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the elevation of the bird feeder within the enclosure is adjustable.
8. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the bird feeder is hung from said enclosure on a hook element having a plurality of hook portions at different elevations.
9. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein said spacer resiliently engages the interior of said sidewall and the facing surface of said bird feeder and locates said bird feeder centrally within said enclosure.
10. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein said enclosure is generally in form of an upright tube and wherein said door subtends an angle of at least 90 degrees about the longitudinal tube axis.
11. A wild bird feeder arrangement according to claim 10 wherein said door subtends an angle of 180 degrees about the longitudinal tube axis.
12. A wild bird feeder arrangement substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.