GB2465023A

GB2465023A - Bird feeder with variable aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2465023A
Application number: GB0820455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Stanley Morse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-08
Filing date: 2008-11-08
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Also published as: GB0820455D0

Abstract

A birdfeeder 1 has an adjustable central studding 2 that allows adjustment of the aperture to control the amount of bird food being gravity fed in a controlled manner into a holding tray or trough 5. The seeds pass through a narrow aperture above the feeding tray and the flow of seeds stop, if they are not being removed from the tray, the aperture is adjustable to suit the size of seed being controlled. The the aperture may be flared or parallel with an annular bead. The feeder can be easily taken apart for cleaning purposes. The feeder is also provided with a rain guard 9 which keeps the food dry and at the same time provides a small reservoir 10 of rainwater for the birds to drink. The term birds refers only to small birds, but a larger free standing version would cope with larger birds.

Description

BIRD FEEDER WITH VARIABLE APERTURE.

This present invention has been designed to overcome the inherent problems associated with the majority of bird feeders, that is a simple method to dismantle them to facilitate cleaning, also a variety of feeders are necessary for the range of food available, these feeders are designed to hold a large quantity of food which the birds pull through a mesh or grill of set dimensions, this type of feeder suffers from wastage as some food falls to the ground and some may rot as the container is not weatherproof.

This invention provides a waterproof store, a convenient feeding tray to minimize food falling to the ground and most importantly a novel means of dispensing different size bird food in a controlled manner.

This feeder can be dismantled by undoing a simple threaded ring at the top it then comes apart to enable cleaning to take place.

The invention relates to a device, which when assembled uses gravity to dispense dry feed in a controlled manner into a feeding tray or trough, the feed passes through a narrow aperture above the feeding tray, the flow of feed is halted when it reaches the upstand on the tray, the aperture is adjustable to suit the different sizes of feed.

A further novel item is the rainguard exterior item which keeps the feeding area dry and which also provides a small drinking reservoir and hopefully will deter squirrels.

The means of controlling the feed is achieved by a cone (or possibly in some cases a shape to suit the container) , the aperture is controlled by turning the feeding tray from left to right or right to left, when the desired aperture is achieved it is locked in position by a wingnut or other means at its base.

The washers and ringnut at the top of the feeder serves two purposes one to allow it to be hung vertically and two to prevent ingress of water.

The bird food in question would be the various types normally favoured by a variety of small birds.

A freestanding larger version is also envisaged to the same design.

INTRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS

The Bird Feeder as shown in the accompanying drawings, constitutes - 1. A container which may be transparent or coloured, round or shaped, made of plastic or any other suitable material.

2. Metal or plastic studding centrally located to hold the assembly together and allow adjustment of feed flow 3. Threaded ringed nut which provides a hanging facility and also compresses washers on to the internal nut 4. Nuts and washers which when compressed prevents water ingress.

5. Feeding tray with upstand and cone, which when turned right or left provides adjustment of the aperture to regulate the feed flow, the tray outside the upstand slopes slightly downwards, this allows any water that might be on it to drain to the outside rim where there are drainage holes,rim also provides a perch. . The tray and cone may be made from any man made or natural material.

6. Butterfly or locknut which when tightened locks the base in position thereby ensuring the aperture is set as required., and maintained when re assembled.

7. Centralisation of the cone may be achieved by pegs which locate around the exterior of the container (1) or- 8. A cross shaped member with a central hole which locates on the studding and on the interior of the container (1) 9. Exterior annular rainguard which shelters the feeding area from the rain thereby keeping the food dry, any rain landing on it will form a small reservoir which birds can drink and the rim also forms a perch, it is held in position by a annular crimp or a series of annular blisters formed on the container (1).

10. Small reservoir for birds to drink.

The essential difference between drawing 1 of 2 and 2of 2 is that the container in 1o12 has a flared end to it and drawing 2of2 is parallel with an annular bead, it is possible that both types may be used. p.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An adjustable weatherproof Bird Feeder for the controlled dispensing of dry granular bird food under the influence of gravity by means of a moveable closure device which provides a variable annular gap at the bottom opening of the container. thus permitting the gaps adjustment to control the release of a variable range of uniform sized particles and having a suitable feeding tray and rainguard, also a simple method to dismantle and clean for hygenic reasons.
2. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder which is as far as possible weatherproof.
3. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder which has a circular trough immediately below the container opening thus trapping a certain amount of released food and preventing the release of further particles until some of the released food is removed from the trough.
4. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder which has an adjustable aperture to release various sized food operated by turning the base right or left to achieve the desired aperture and then locking in position by means of a wing nut or other device, this aperture may be flared or parallel with a annular bead.
5. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder that can easily be taken apart and cleaned to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria.
6. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder, which after reassembly allows the base and aperture setting to return to it's preset position.
7. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder which also has an annular rainguard and is situated on its exterior above the feeder tray so that it extends outwards beyond the feeder tray providing protection from the rain.
8. According to claim 1 a birdfeeder fitted with an annular rainguard which may according to its design be angled down to an outer rim to collect a small reservoir of rainwater on which birds may perch and drink.