Rotatable Perch Feed Port Assembly for Dual-Orientation Bird Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird feeders lack the ability to adjust access to feed ports, making it difficult to attract specific bird species like finches while preventing other birds from consuming expensive thistle seed, and do not accommodate birds that prefer to feed in either an upright or upside-down position.
Innovation Solution
A bird feeder with a reservoir and a feed port assembly that includes a rotatable insert with a perch, allowing birds to access seed in either an upright or upside-down position by adjusting the insert's orientation, and an adjustable port element that blocks access to either the upper or lower feed port to accommodate different feeding preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tube feeder with fixed feed port orientation is used, then birds can feed in one position (upright or upside-down), but the feeder cannot accommodate different bird species with different feeding preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The feed port assembly is made rotatable about the perch, allowing it to be adjusted between an upright position (perch below feed port) and an upside-down position (perch above feed port). This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same feeder to accommodate different bird species with different feeding preferences without requiring multiple fixed feeders.
2Adaptability or versatility
If thistle seed is used to attract finches, then finches are attracted to the feeder, but other birds also consume the expensive seed
Solution Approach 1:
The feed port assembly can be selectively oriented to create different feeding geometries that are species-specific. By adjusting the orientation, the feeder can present the feed port at heights and angles that are accessible only to target species (e.g., finches), while being inaccessible to other birds, thus preventing waste of expensive thistle seed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple feeders are used to accommodate different bird species, then various species can be attracted, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single tube feeder is designed with a rotatable feed port assembly that can be configured for multiple feeding orientations. This multi-functional design allows one feeder to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate feeders, reducing overall system complexity and space requirements while maintaining the ability to attract different bird species.
Data Source
AI summary
A bird feeder is provided having adjustable port access. The feeder includes a seed reservoir with a side wall that has at least one seed access opening and an adjustable feed port element. According to one embodiment, the adjustable feed port element is a feed port assembly. The feed port assembly includes a base with a rotatable insert having a perch coupled thereto in fixed relationship so that the perch and insert rotate as a unit. According to another embodiment, the adjustable feed port element rotates around the perch between a first position in which the perch is below a feed port being accessed, enabling birds to feed while standing on the perch, and a second position in which the perch is above a feed port being accessed, requiring birds to hang upside down from the perch to feed.