Bird feeder with reinforcing ring

Abstract

The invention provides a bird feeder. The bird feeder is provided with a seed container, a seed tray, an inhabiting piece, a base and a cover. The seed container is used for containing seeds, the seed container is provided with at least one opening, and the at least one opening is used for providing a channel for obtaining the seeds; a seed tray connected to the seed container and adapted to receive seed; the inhabiting piece is used for facilitating access to the at least one opening; the base is releasably secured to the seed container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of bird feeders, and more particularly, to a bird feeder having a reinforced snap-fit ring and improved air circulation. Background Art

[0002] Bird feeders have been a long-standing favorite for birdwatchers and animal lovers. However, current bird feeders suffer from numerous issues, including, but not limited to, poor air circulation and fragile seed containers. Existing seed containers are often poorly designed to provide good air flow, and their lower ends can easily break when connecting and disconnecting the container from its base for cleaning.

[0003] Therefore, a new type of bird feeder that can overcome the problems of the prior art is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a bird feeder comprising: a seed container for holding seeds, a seed tray, a perch, a base, and a lid; the seed container having at least one opening for providing access to the seeds; the seed tray connected to the seed container and adapted to receive the seeds; the perch for facilitating access to the at least one opening; and the base releasably secured to the seed container.

[0005] On the other hand, the present disclosure provides a bird feeder comprising: a seed container, a seed tray, a perch, and a lid; the seed container is for holding seeds, the seed container further comprising: at least one opening, a base, and an upper end, the at least one opening being for providing access to the seeds, the upper end terminating in an upper ring; the seed tray is connected to the seed container and is adapted to receive the seeds; the perch is for facilitating access to the at least one opening; and the lid has a plurality of fins for mating with the upper end of the seed container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following figures are used to illustrate various embodiments of the features of the present disclosure. These figures are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bird feeder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present disclosure. Figure 1 a first enlarged exploded view of a lower end portion of a bird feeder;

[0009] Figure 2B According to an embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 1 a second enlarged exploded view of the lower end of the bird feeder;

[0010] FIG3 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present disclosure. Figure 1 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the base and lower ring of a bird feeder;

[0011] Figure 4 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 1 A perspective view of an upper ring of a bird feeder, the upper ring being mounted to a seed container;

[0012] Figure 5 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 1 a perspective cross-sectional view of a bird feeder cover resting on a seed container and an upper ring and showing an air gap;

[0013] Figure 6 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 1 Another perspective cross-sectional view of the cover of the bird feeder, the cover resting on the seed container and the upper ring; and

[0014] Figure 7 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 1 A perspective view of the inner bottom surface of a bird feeder lid. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the present disclosure, and any modifications and / or changes are within the scope of the foreseen disclosure.

[0016] Reference Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a bird feeder 10 is shown. The bird feeder 10 preferably includes a seed container 15 for holding seeds, the seed container 15 having at least one opening 17 for providing access to the seeds. The bird feeder 10 also includes a seed tray 20 connected to the seed container 15 and adapted to receive the seeds, and a perch 25 for facilitating access to the opening 17. A lid 30 and a base 35 are also provided, the base 35 being releasably secured to the seed container 15. In another embodiment, the seed container 15 and the lid 30 are integral.

[0017] Reference Figure 2A 、 Figure 2B 、 Figure 3A and Figure 3BAccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the interconnection between the seed container 15 and the base 35 is shown. More specifically, the seed container 15 also includes a lower ring 40 that surrounds the lower end of the seed container 15 to reinforce it. Indeed, it has been determined that without the lower ring 40, the lower portion of the seed container 15 would be more susceptible to breakage and would be difficult to connect and disconnect from the base. Therefore, the lower ring 40 helps reinforce the lower end of the seed container 15 and makes it easier to handle. In a preferred embodiment, the lower ring 40 is attached to the seed container 15 via a pin 45 that fits through an opening 47, but other attachment methods are also possible. The lower ring 40 includes a pivotable or flexible tab 50 to releasably secure the lower ring 40, and thereby the container 15, to the base 35. As shown, the seed container 15 includes an aperture 55 adapted to receive the tab 50 when the tab 50 is pivoted or bent. More specifically, if Figure 2A As shown, with the container 15 secured to the lower ring 40, the tab 50 is aligned with the hole 55. Such a hole 55 is preferred because the tab 50 is pivotable about its base and therefore requires an area in which the tab 50 can pivot, which is the area formed by the hole 55. To connect the lower ring 40 to the base 35, the indicator 65 on the container 15 is aligned with the corresponding indicator 67 on the base 35. The base 35 is then pushed onto the lower ring 40. As best shown in FIG. 3 , with the indicators 65, 67 properly aligned, the tab 50 pivots into position and abuts the corresponding lip 60 of the base 35. The base 35 is now secured to the lower ring 40, and in turn, to the seed container 15. To release the base 35 from the lower ring 40, the operator can rotate the base 35 independently of the container 15. In doing so, the tab 50 having the semicircular upper end 68 abuts the inner side wall 69 of the base 35, causing the tab 50 to pivot about its lower end. Continued rotation of the base 35 relative to the container 15 forces the tab 50 to be positioned against the inner peripheral wall 71 of the base 35, at which point the tab 50 is no longer locked in place and the base 35 can be removed from the container 15.

[0018] Reference Figure 4 And according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bird feeder 10 also includes an upper ring 70 that surrounds the upper portion of the seed container 15. As shown, the upper ring 70 has a funnel-shaped inner wall 75. The purpose of the funnel shape of the inner wall 75 is to guide seeds that fall into the bird feeder 10 into the seed container 15. In fact, providing a slope to the inner wall 75 helps the seed flow and reduces the loss of seeds that may otherwise fall out of the seed container 15 if they are not properly placed in the seed container 15.

[0019] Reference Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 And according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover 30 includes a plurality of fins 80 extending from an inner bottom surface 85 of the cover 30. Figure 6 As best shown in FIG, fins 80 are adapted to receive upper ring 70 of seed container 15. In practice, upper ring 70 rests against seats 90 of fins 80 to seal upper ring 70 and fins 80 to one another. However, each fin 80 is separated from the other by openings 95. With lid 30 positioned over upper seed container 15, these openings 95 allow a gap 105 to be formed between the inner bottom surface 85 of lid 30 and upper ring 70. Gaps 105, in turn, allow air to circulate and moisture to escape from seed container 15. Such air circulation is advantageous because it helps keep the seeds fresh and prevents them from spoiling.

[0020] Many modifications and other embodiments of the embodiments described herein may be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. It is understood that such modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the foreseen disclosure, which is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed.

Claims

1. A bird feeder, comprising: A seed container, the seed container is used to contain seeds, the seed container has at least one opening, and the at least one opening is used to provide a channel for obtaining the seeds; a seed tray connected to the seed container and adapted to receive the seeds; a perch for facilitating access to the at least one opening; a base releasably secured to the seed container; as well as, build.

2. The bird feeder of claim 1, further comprising a lower ring surrounding a lower end of the seed container to reinforce the lower end of the seed container.

3. The bird feeder according to claim 2, wherein: The ring includes at least one pivotable tab for clipping into the base, and wherein the base is rotatable relative to the seed container, the rotation of the base being operable to disengage the at least one pivotable tab from the base when the bird feeder is assembled.

4. The bird feeder according to claim 3, wherein: The at least one pivotable tab includes a rounded top end configured to mate with an inner sidewall of the base.

5. The bird feeder according to claim 3, wherein: The seed container includes at least one aperture through which the at least one pivotable tab can be pivoted.

6. The bird feeder of claim 1, further comprising an upper ring surrounding an upper end of the seed container, the upper ring having a funnel-shaped inner wall to reduce seed loss in the bird feeder.

7. The bird feeder according to claim 1, wherein: The cover further includes a plurality of fins protruding from an inner bottom surface of the cover.

8. The bird feeder according to claim 8, wherein: The plurality of fins are separated by openings and are configured to receive an upper ring of the seed container, and wherein the openings form a gap between the upper ring and the inner bottom surface of the lid that allows air to circulate and moisture to escape from the seed container.

9. The bird feeder according to claim 7, wherein: The plurality of fins also includes a seat.

10. The bird feeder according to claim 9, wherein: The plurality of fins are separated by openings and the seat is configured to receive an upper ring of the seed container, and wherein the openings form a gap between the upper ring and the inner bottom surface of the lid that allows air to circulate and moisture to escape from the seed container.

11. The bird feeder according to claim 1, wherein The seed container and the base each include opposing indicators to identify proper alignment of the base relative to the seed container.

12. A bird feeder, comprising: A seed container, wherein the seed container is used to hold seeds, and the seed container further comprises: at least one opening, the at least one opening being configured to provide access to the seed; base; and, an upper end portion terminating in an upper ring; a seed tray connected to the seed container and adapted to receive the seeds; a perch for facilitating access to the at least one opening; and A cover having a plurality of fins that mate with the upper end of the seed container.

13. The bird feeder according to claim 12, wherein: The plurality of fins are separated by openings, and wherein the openings form a gap between the upper ring and the inner bottom surface of the cover that allows air to circulate and moisture to escape from the seed container.

14. The bird feeder according to claim 12, wherein: The plurality of fins further comprise seats, and wherein the plurality of fins are separated by openings, and the seats are configured to receive an upper ring of the seed container.

15. The bird feeder according to claim 14, wherein: The opening forms a gap between the upper ring and the inner bottom surface of the lid that allows air to circulate and moisture to escape from the seed container.

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