Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Having a perch
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-08-07
Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Having a perch
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bird feeders and more particularly to a multi-station bird feeder having a squirrel guard to protect the bird food from squirrels or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Bird enthusiasts often set up feeding stations for feeding birds and also for being able to watch the birds when they are eating. Larger birds often eat the food first and prevent smaller birds from using a feeder. However, squirrels have been notorious for eating bird seed before any birds have an opportunity to eat the seed. Many devices have been designed to try to prevent squirrels from getting at the food which includes the following:
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,104 issued Sep. 19, 1989 to Vandiver, a bird feeder is disclosed with a squirrel guard and a peaked roof. The squirrel guard is mounted on the base platform of the feeder
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and includes roller elements which extend completely around its perimeter. The elements rotate to prevent the animal from climbing past the guard onto the feeder.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,460 issued Mar. 23, 1993 to Loken, a tube-shaped bird feeder is disclosed with a tiltable perch on the bottom of individual bird feeders which allows a person to control the maximum weight of a bird that can feed on the feeder. The feeders can be gang mounted on a post stand to permit multiple birds to eat at the feeders. A domed shape saucer with an annular trough collects spilled seed.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,239 issued Apr. 27, 1993 to Stolwein, a bird feeding device with a squirrel guard is disclosed. The bird feeder comprises a plurality of cylindrical bird seed containers disposed side-by side and parallel to each other and open at the top to provide longitudinally slots. A plurality of trough means having slanted sidewalls extend along the length of the slots. A feedbox is provided with a lid and mounted on four posts which extend from the bottom of base tray. The width of slots are wide enough for birds to get the bird seed but too narrow to permit a squirrel,s mouth or jaws to enter slots to access the seed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,835 issued Oct. 18, 1994 to Freed, a marauder-deterrent bird feeder and platform slide assembly is disclosed including a hollow upright pole adapted at a top end to support the bird feeder and platform subassembly mounted about the pole for undergoing reciprocal movement between the bottom and top ends of the pole. There are lower and upper pluralities of guide rollers respectively mounted to the lower and upper ends of the platform subassembly and rollably engaging the pole below and above the platform subassembly so as to movably support the platform subassembly on the pole, and means mounted to the pole and connected to the platform subassembly for biasing the platform subassembly to move upward toward a raised home position below the top end of the pole when there is no animal weight on the platform, the biasing means being yieldable away from the raised home position to permit the platform subassembly to move downward in response to the weight of a marauding animal on the platform.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,687 issued Jul. 1, 1997 to Nylen et al. a squirrel baffler is disclosed which is generally conical in shape and mounted on a bird feeder pole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a multi-station bird feeder having means for protection from squirrels.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a three level system to protect, feed and separate birds wherein a platform with a removable screen provides feeding for large birds, four horizontal arms provide for changeable feeding stations for smaller birds, a squirrel guard prevents squirrels access to the feeder, and seed spilled from the feeders provides feed for ground feeding birds.
It is another object of the invention to provide a platform feeder station on top of the multi-station bird feeder and having other bird feeder stations under the platform feeder station.
It is another object of this invention to provide a weather resistant multi-station bird feeder.
It is another object of the invention to provide a platform feeding station on top of a multi-station bird feeder, wherein the platform feeder includes crossmembers for water drainage, air circulation, and support for the removable screen.
It is a further object of this invention to enable separation between larger birds and smaller birds feeding on the multi-station feeder.
It is yet another object of the invention to facilitate changeable feeding stations on the bird feeder to attract multiple species of birds during all seasons.
These and other objects are accomplished by a bird feeder comprising means installed in the ground for supporting a feeder station, the feeder station positioned on top of the supporting means, the feeder station comprises a screen assembly means disposed within the platform station for holding bird seed, and means positioned around a portion of the supporting means at a predetermined distance above the ground for preventing squirrels and other predators from climbing-up the supporting means, the preventing means comprises a polished surface. The bird feeder comprises means for providing a plurality of feeder stations on the upper portion of the supporting means. The bird feeder comprises the feeder station on top of the supporting means and the plurality of feeder stations a predetermined distance below the top feeder station. The removable screen assembly means comprises a fine screen disposed on top of a course screen both secured within a frame with bird seed placed thereon. The supporting means comprises a plurality of extended arms perpendicular to the supporting means for hanging feeder stations.
The objects are further accomplished by a multi-station bird feeder comprising means installed in the ground for supporting a feed platform, the feed platform positioned on top of the supporting means, means positioned around a portion of the supporting means at a predetermined distance above the ground for preventing squirrels and other predators from climbing-up the supporting means, means, extending in a plurality of directions around the supporting means under the feed platform for hanging a plurality of feeder stations. The feed platform comprises a removable screen assembly means for holding bird seed. The removable screen assembly comprises a fine screen positioned on top of a course screen both secured by a frame, the course screen having the bird seed placed thereon, and a cross-support means attached under the screens for preventing the fine screen and the course screen from sagging. The preventing means around a portion of the supporting means comprises a material having a polished surface. The material having a polished surface includes aluminum, copper, ceramic or plastic.
The objects are further accomplished by a multi-station bird feeder having a squirrel guard for preventing squirrels and other predators from reaching the feeder comprising a pole having a predetermined length, a first portion being inserted into the ground and a second portion extending above the ground, a feeder station attached to the top of the pole comprising a removable screen assembly, the screen assembly comprises a fine screen disposed on top of a course screen, and a plurality of arms extending from the pole a predetermined distance below the feeder station for hanging a plurality of feeder stations, the squirrel guard includes a material having a polished surface surrounding the pole starting a first predetermined distance above the ground and extending up the pole a second predetermined distance. The material of the squirrel guard comprises one of a plurality of materials including aluminum, copper, ceramic or plastic. The pole comprises 4 sides. The fine screen disposed on top of the course screen includes an upper frame and a lower frame for securing the fine screen and the course screen, and a cross-support means attached under the course screen for preventing
Pearson & Pearson LLP
Swiatek Robert P.
LandOfFree
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