Angled Bird Feeder Lid With Threaded Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bird feeders are complex and costly to manufacture, and their top-down feed system often results in compacted feed that fails to reach the opening, preventing birds from accessing the food.
Innovation Solution
A bird feeder design featuring a container with a neck and lid that engages via threaded surfaces, an attachment member for suspension, and a perch on the lid that allows birds to access the feed through a semicircular opening, reducing manufacturing complexity and ensuring feed accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parts are assembled together to manufacture bird feeders, then the bird feeder can be hung from structures and function properly, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the container body and lid into a single unitary structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly of multiple parts. This merging approach maintains the functional requirements for hanging and feeding while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The bird feeder is designed with multiple functions integrated into a single structure: the container holds feed, the angled opening provides access, the perch supports birds, and the hanging mechanism enables suspension. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If feed is supplied to a bottom opening using gravity in a top-down feed system, then the feed delivery mechanism is simple, but the feed becomes compacted and cannot reach the opening
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the conventional top-down feed system where feed is supplied from above to a bottom opening, this patent inverts the approach by providing feed access through an angled opening in the container wall. This allows birds to access feed from the side at a convenient angle, preventing compaction issues while maintaining simple feed delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical top-down feed delivery system to a lateral angled opening system. By changing the dimension of feed access from vertical to angled/side access, birds can reach feed more easily without the compaction problems inherent in vertical gravity-fed systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the container is suspended horizontally, then the feed system is stable, but birds have difficulty accessing the feed due to compacted feed and improper angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric design by angling the feed opening relative to the container body rather than positioning it symmetrically. This asymmetric angled opening, combined with the specifically positioned perch, creates an optimal configuration for bird access while maintaining container stability during suspension.
Solution Approach 2:
The bird feeder is designed to be suspended at an angle rather than held in a fixed horizontal position. This dynamic suspension angle allows the container to naturally orient itself for optimal bird access while maintaining stability, adapting to the hanging configuration rather than resisting it.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design simplifies assembly, reduces costs, and allows easy access to the feed by suspending the container at an angle, enabling birds to access the feed without compacting it.
Implementation Method 1
The outer surface of the neck may include a first thread. The lid includes a top wall and a side wall bounding a peripheral edge of the top wall. An inner surface of the side wall may include a second thread that is configured to engage the first thread of the neck so as to close the lid onto the container.
Implementation Method 2
the feed is supplied to a bottom opening using gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A bird feeder includes a container and a lid. The container includes a body and a neck. The neck includes an opening and the outer surface of the neck includes a first thread. The lid is configured to engage the neck. The lid includes a top wall and a side wall bounding a peripheral edge of the top wall. An inner surface of the side wall includes a second thread that is configured to engage the first thread of the neck so as to close the lid onto the container. The top wall includes an opening and a perch is disposed on the lid. An attachment member is formed on an outer surface of the lid.