GB2484686A

GB2484686A - A birdhouse with a remote controlled moveable feeding tray

Info

Publication number: GB2484686A
Application number: GB1017651.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Olson; Suzanne Bullivant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-20
Filing date: 2010-10-20
Publication date: 2012-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-20
Also published as: GB201017651D0; GB2484686B

Abstract

A high post 5 with a bird house 6 attached to the top of it, the birdhouse 6 having a feeding tray 4 and a nesting area 2 wherein the feeding tray 4 is not attached to the rest of the birdhouse 6, means are provided to raise or lower the feeding tray 4 up or down the post 5, a separate remote control 17 is provided to control the movement and a solar power arrangement 1 is used to charge the movement means. A battery 11 may be charged by the solar power arrangement 1 and the feeding tray 4 may be moved by a worm gear mechanism 12 inside the pole 5 using a motor 9. Alternatively a chain and cog or a rope and pulley may be used. The pole 5 may be arranged to be free standing and of a height so that unwanted animals can t reach it.

Description

I

Description.

Remote control Birdhouse.

This invention is a device in which is decorative, nature friendly and useful. It is a high birdhouse, which is run off a remote control and solar power. This device enables a high bird tray to be moved up and down a high pole from the birdhouse at the top so that food can be placed onto it.

The birdhouse is also high enough off the ground so that no other animals can get up on to it to frighten the birds away, and so it is a safe distance away from the ground so that birds can safely nest in it.

The bird house is placed onto a high pole so that it can be placed away from fences and can be free standing anywhere it is put, so that it can not be reached by any unwanted animals, for example, cats and squirrels.

There is also a small section at the top of the birdhousefor bjrds to nest in. Because the birdhouse is so high from the ground.. the birds will feel safe to nest there.

A section of the floor from the birdhouse is loose from the rest of the * birdhouse; this is so that it can move up and down, which is done by remote control. This part of the floor is the food tray; it is attached to a metal strut that runs through the middle of the pole. The strut is also * attached to a mount on a worm gear mechanism; this is what makes the * food tray be ablç to move up and down when the remote control is used.

The worm gear is attached to a motor, which makes the whole thing run.

The remote control unit and motor are hidden inside the pole and are attached to a battery, which is also hidden inside the pole. The battery is charged up by a solar panel on the roof of the birdhouse, so no electricity is needed.

The idea is that the birdhouse is high enough off the ground so that cats and other unwanted animals can not get to it, but so that it can be easily accessed by people wishing to put food for the birds onto it.

Because the birdhouse is far away from fences and high enough off the * ground, it is encouraging for the birds to nest in it.

The birdhouse is also energy efficient, as the battery that runs it is * charged by solar power.

The birdhouse can come ready assembled or as a self-assemble product.

The birdhouse can come with or without lights. The lights would be inside the birdhouse at the top, so they would be shinning downwards onto the feeding area. These would be able to be switched on and off by the remote control.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: Shows the complete birdhouse with the food tray up.

Figure 2: Shows the complete birdhouse with the food tray down.

Figure 3 Shows the birdhouse with an inside view of the pole to show how it is made and how it works.

Figures 4,5 and 6: Shows the worm gear and pieces that make it.

Figures 7,8,9 and 10: Show alternative ways to make the mechanism that makes the food tray move up and down.

In figure 1, it shows the birdhouse 6, as it would look when assembled and ready to use.

Figure 2, shows the birdhouse 6 in its assembled position when the food fray 4 has been brought down to a reachable position to place food onto It.

Figure 3, The birdhouse 6 is attached to a high metal pole 5 by a metal plate 7 which is bolted to the top inside of the birdhouse 6. There is a nesting area 2 in the top. of the birdhouse 6 and a feeding area 3 underneath the nesting area 2. A section of the floor in the feeding area 3, which is the food tray, is loose from the rest of the birdhouse 6 so that it can move up and down the pole 5 The food fray 4 is attached to a metal strut 13 that runs through the middle of the pole 5 and through slits 16 on each side of the pole 5. The strut 13 is attached to the worm gear 12 by a ball bearing thbe 14. The worm gear 12 is slotted into a hole in a metal plate 15 and attached to a motor 9 which enables it to spin, in turn this makes the food tray 4 move up and down the pole 5. The motor 9 is run by a remote control 17. You push the button on. the remote control 17 to make the food fray 4 come down and then push the button again to make it go back up. There is a trigger switch 8 at the top and bottom of the worm gear 12 to cut off the power at the top or bottom to hold the food * fray 4 in place until the next time you push the button on the remote confrol 17. The motor 9 and remote confrol unit 10 are attached to a battery 11 that enables the whole thing to work. The battery 11 is charged by a solar panel 1 on the roof of the birdhouse 6. The cables from the solar panel 1 to the battery 11 run through a small tube 18 down the back, inside the pole 5.

Figures 4,5.nd 6, show a close up look at the worm gear 12, the ball bearings 19 and the tube 20 which the ball bearings 19 sit inside, it also shows the motor 9.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative method for making the mechanism that makes the food tray move up and down. It works the same way as figure 3, but uses a chain 21 that is attached to a cog 22 at the top and bottom.

Figure 9, shows a further alternative method for making the mechanism that makes the food tray move up and down. It works in the same way as figure 3, but instead of a worm gear unit, it uses a rope 23 that is attached to pulley wheels 24 at the top and bottom.

Figure 10, Shows a further alternative method for making the worm gear mechanism in figure 3. This works in the same way as figure 3, but instead of using ball bearings inside the tube 20, it will use a solid plastic bearing 25. And instead of using a square tube for the high pole that the birdhouse sits on, it is made with a round tube 26 for the high pole.

Claims

Claims 1. A high post with a birdhouse attached to the top, which has a feeding area and a nesting area. tlhe birdhouse is designed to be high enough off the ground and free standing on its own post so that no unwanted animals can get onto it. The birdhouse is remote controlled and charged by solar power. A food fray in the floor of the birdhouse which is loose from the rest of the birdhouse can be moved up and down the high pole so that food can be easily placed onto it and put back into the birdhouse.
2. The remote controlled food tray is attached to a battery, which is charged up by a solar panel on the roof of the birdhouse.
3. The food tray is able to move up and down by a worm gear mechanism unit inside the high pole, which is attached to a motor, which is powered up by a battery inside the pole. The battery is charged up by a solar panel, which is attached to the roof of the * birdhouse.
4. The birdhouse can come ready assembled or as a self-assemble product.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: 1. A birdhouse arrangement comprising a high pole with a birdhouse attached to an end of it wherein the birdhouse has a feeding tray which is not attached to the rest of the birdhouse, a movement mechanism to move the feeding tray up and down the post, a separate remote control device to control movement of the feeding tray and a solar power arrangement to charge a battery that powers the movement mechanism.2. The birdhouse arrangement of claim 1 wherein the movement mechanism comprises a worm gear mechanism, a chain attached to a cog or a rope attached to pulley wheels.3. The birdhouse arrangement of claim I wherein the birdhouse has lights which can be operated by the remote control.S * *O tees. * S ** Cs * t**. **-C V. S* C * *. * *