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Squirrel feeders

a feeder and squirrel technology, applied in the field of hanging feeders, can solve the problems of hard and slow consumption of corn cobs, the feeder designed for corn cobs must be maintained, and the major purpose of destroying wild animal feeders, etc., to achieve the effect of simple and reliabl

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-04-20
TIPPETTS MARK W
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The feeder ensures minimal corn waste, automatic replenishment of fresh corn ears, and protection from weather, providing extended viewing pleasure without mechanical components, making it ideal for squirrel feeding.

Problems solved by technology

This defeats one of the major purposes of maintaining a wild animal feeder.
On the other hand, corn cobs are harder and slower to consume.
However, feeders designed for corn cobs must be maintenanced often as corn is depleted.
While this results in a longer viewing period between restocking efforts, corn that is exposed to the weather in this fashion can rot or deteriorate from the combined effects of rain and time.
On the other hand, if corn cobs are stored in a hopper, there is a difficulty in periodically conveying or ejecting them for access by feeding animals.
There is no hopper for sheltering the corn, and no means for serially feeding spent cobs as corn is eaten.
No prior art animal feeder known to me is ideally adapted for slowly feeding squirrels with husked ears of corn.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0044] With initial reference now directed to FIGS. 1-9 of the appended drawings, a squirrel feeder constructed in accordance with the best mode of the invention has been generally designated by the reference numeral 20. FIGS. 10-18 show an alternative embodiment of a squirrel feeder to be discussed later that shares most of the prominent features of feeder 20. Importantly, both embodiments store at least one, and hopefully plurality of husked ears of corn for slowly and deliberately feeding squirrels. Both embodiments eject spent corn cobs automatically, and allow a fresh ear of corn to drop into position for subsequent feeding.

[0045] The preferred feeder 20 comprises a vertically upright hopper, generally designated by the reference numeral 22. Preferably the hopper is elongated and tubular, with a round cross section like an ear of corn. The internal diameter of the hopper is substantially equal to that of a husked ear of corn, and one or more ears of corn that are temporarily s...

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PUM

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Abstract

An animal feeder primarily for squirrels comprises an elongated, tubular hopper that sequentially discharges husked ears of corn, and a lower, aligned cob discharge orifice that drops depleted corn cobs from the feeder. The vertically oriented hopper is sized to slidably contain one or more husked ears of corn which drop through it in response to gravity. A feeding tray suspended beneath the hopper initially contacts ears of corn when they drop from the hopper. An animal access region is formed between the hopper and the tray. Portions of ears temporarily occupying this region are exposed to squirrels for eating. A cob discharge orifice formed in the tray beneath the hopper bottom is sized to automatically discharge empty corn cobs from the feeder after the ears are reduced in diameter by corn depletion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] I. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to animal feeders. More particularly, the present invention relates to hanging feeders particularly adapted for squirrel. Known prior art pertaining to the invention is classified in United States Patent Class 119, Subclass 51.01, 51.03, 53,55 and 57. [0003] II. Description of the Prior Art [0004] A variety of feeders for wild animals are known in the art. Many hours of pleasure may be derived by feeding wildlife. Typical feeders include some form of hopper for storing feed, that is suspended from a tree or other supporting object, hopefully within view of the owner. Usually a perch or support platform is disposed adjacent the hopper for allowing an animal convenient access while feeding. After a well-stocked feeder has been installed for a short period of time, numerous target animals will periodically visit it for feeding. The presence of various wild birds, for example, wit...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A01K5/00
CPCA01K5/0114A01K39/012
Inventor TIPPETTS, MARK W.
Owner TIPPETTS MARK W