Bird Feeder Movable Rod Mechanism for Easy Food Block Refilling

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bird feeders with food blocks are cumbersome to refill, requiring disassembly of the feeder to align the axially extending rod with the passageway, making it difficult to replace the food block without disengaging the roof or base from the rest of the unit.

Innovation Solution

A bird feeder design featuring a food block engaging member that can move between a food block engaging position and a release position, allowing for easy insertion and removal of food blocks without disassembling the feeder, using a rod coupler with a locking mechanism that prevents rotation and ensures secure placement of the food block.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the feeder uses a fixed rod configuration, then the structure is simple, but the food block cannot be easily replaced without disassembling the feeder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of food block replacementVSAvoidcomplexity of rod coupling mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is designed to be movable between a first position for engaging the food block and a second position for releasing it. The rod can be moved axially along the passageway and rotated to different angular positions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that enables easy food block replacement without disassembling the feeder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rod coupling mechanism is divided into separate functional segments: the rod itself, the passageway in the housing, and the engagement interface with the food block. This segmentation allows the rod to be independently positioned and manipulated to engage or disengage from the food block at convenient locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the rod is made movable to enable easy refilling, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of food block refillingVSAvoidcomplexity of movable rod mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is designed to be movable between a first position for engaging the food block and a second position for releasing it. The rod can be moved axially along the passageway and rotated to different angular positions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that enables easy food block replacement without disassembling the feeder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rod mechanism is designed to be manually operated by the user without requiring disassembly of the feeder housing. The user can simply move the rod axially and rotate it to engage or disengage the food block, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for complex disassembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the rod is positioned to engage the food block securely, then the reliability of food block placement improves, but the ease of removal decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of food block placementVSAvoidease of food block removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is designed to be movable between a first position for engaging the food block and a second position for releasing it. The rod can be moved axially along the passageway and rotated to different angular positions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that enables easy food block replacement without disassembling the feeder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Before removing the food block, the user first moves the rod to the release position and rotates it to disengage from the food block. This preliminary action of positioning the rod correctly before removal ensures that the food block can be easily taken out without forcing or damage, maintaining both security during placement and ease during removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9161513B2Bird feeder

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 HOLSCHER PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

A wild animal feeder is provided for holding a food block having a passageway therein. The feeder comprises a base member and a roof member. The base and roof members define a food receiving space there between for receiving a food block. A food block engaging member has a proximal end and a distal end. A food block engaging member coupler is provided that is attached to one of the base member and roof member for coupling the food block engaging member to one of the base member and roof member for permitting the food block engaging member to move between a food block engaging position and a food block release position. In the food block engaging position, the food block engaging member is positioned in the food receiving space between the roof and base member to engage the food block for maintaining the food block on the feeder on the food receiving space. In the food block released position, the food engaging member is positioned to permit the food block to be inserted into the food receiving space.