Identical Interlocking Ports for Bird Feeder Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird feeders with interlocking feeder ports that can be disassembled for cleaning are costly to manufacture due to the need for two different port constructions, and user reassembly is complicated by the requirement to correctly match distinct port pairs.
Innovation Solution
A bird feeder design featuring interlocking feeder ports of identical construction, held in place by a restraining pin, allowing for easy disassembly and reassembly, with each port comprising a shield, horizontal perch, and shoulder section with semi-circular slots to accept the pin, ensuring secure positioning without rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two different port constructions are used for interlocking, then the ports can be held together securely, but the manufacturing cost increases and reassembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The port design uses asymmetric interlocking features where each port has a unique combination of protrusions and recesses that create a non-symmetric fit. This asymmetric design ensures secure interlocking while allowing identical ports to be used in both positions, resolving the contradiction between security and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes both ports identical and interchangeable, allowing either port to function in either position. This universality simplifies manufacturing by using a single port design instead of two different constructions, while the interlocking mechanism maintains secure connection through the pin and slot system.
2Reliability
If two different port constructions are used for interlocking, then the ports can be held together securely, but user reassembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric interlocking features create a unique fit that guides proper alignment during assembly. The non-symmetric protrusions and recesses naturally orient the ports correctly, making reassembly intuitive and difficult to get wrong, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking mechanism is designed to self-align and self-secure through the pin fitting into the slot system. The geometry of the interlocking features automatically ensures correct positioning without requiring user intervention or complex assembly procedures, making the system self-servicing and easy to operate.
3Ease of manufacture
If identical ports are used for both positions, then manufacturing cost decreases and reassembly is simplified, but the interlocking mechanism must be more precise
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking mechanism is segmented into distinct features: protrusions on one port, corresponding recesses on the other, and a pin with slots. This segmentation allows each feature to be manufactured independently with standard tolerances, while the assembly of these segmented features achieves the required overall precision without demanding extreme manufacturing accuracy on individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin acts as an intermediary element that bridges the two identical ports. Instead of requiring the ports themselves to achieve precise interlocking, the pin mediates the connection by fitting into slots defined by the port features. This intermediary approach reduces the precision requirements on the ports while maintaining secure interlocking.
Data Source
AI summary
An elongated, tubular bird feeder comprising one or more pairs of interlocking feeder ports, where the feeder ports are of identical constructions, such that each feeder port mates with an identical feeder port. Each port defines an external perch and an external shield that is curved to fit the contour of the tube, a neck which fits tightly into an opening in the tube, and a reduced diameter portion that defines an end face, from which projects two interlocking features: a horizontally-oriented blade member; and a vertically-oriented generally sector-shaped member. When two ports are pushed together into diametrically-opposed side openings in the tube, with end faces located proximate one another, the two sector members will be located adjacent one another to define an essentially semi-circular upper region, and the two blades will be located next to one another to define an essentially horizontal blade member.