Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Birdhouse
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-08-07
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Birdhouse
C119S472000, C119S459000, C119S484000, C119S452000, C047S065500, C047S041010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269774
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to decorative containers especially of the type that are used exterior to a living environment. Particularly, the present invention is directed to the combination of a manmade habitat for wildlife as well as a receptacle for living and artificial plants. This invention specifically concerns a hanging basket that is both a planter and a birdhouse.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is a common desire among many people to commune with nature by having contact with flora and fauna. In times past, such contact occurred frequently as a result of the rural condition of the population. However, increased urbanization saw masses of humanity moving from the rural environment into concentrated communities.
Urban development places high demands on land space, and it is not unusual for urban real estate to be extremely expensive on a surface square foot basis. Due to the value of land in urban communities, a relatively low percentage of land is devoted to parks and other open spaces wherein plants, such as trees, shrubbery, grassy areas as well as wildlife and other animals may live in harmony with the city dwellers.
Even where a park or other open space is available, many people desire to more closely associate themselves with plants and animals. This is especially true, in many instances, for apartment dwellers due to the paucity of green spaces appurtenant to apartment complexes. Accordingly, urban dwellers often place plants in their dwelling space, patios and yards as well as on balconies, window ledges, etc. This is true also even in suburban environments since outdoor furniture, cooking grills, storage units and the like compete for available space.
In addition to enjoying plants in their environment, many urban dwellers enjoy pets, wild birds and the like. In the case of wild birds, such people may desire to provide artificial nesting spaces, such as birdhouses, in order to attract the birds to viewing areas. For many people, the space devoted to birdhouses may also be the space devoted to planters, hanging baskets or other foliage receptacles. Even in those living quarters where more exterior space is available, there can be a competition between plant receiving receptacles and birdhouses for the available space.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide new and improved items that conserve space while providing the benefits of flora and fauna in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The present invention is directed to meeting these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful combination receptacle adapted to receive a plant and to provide a sheltered habitat for living creatures.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a combination receptacle that is both rugged in construction yet relatively easy and inexpensive to produce.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combination receptacle for plants, birds and/or other living creatures, wherein the space for the living creature may be easily cleaned without disturbing the planted material.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination receptacle that receives plants and provides shelter for birds and/or other living creatures that is space-saving in construction so that it may be used in urban patios, on porches, balconies and the like.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a combination receptacle that is aesthetically pleasing, easily used and readily maintained.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a combination receptacle that can be suspended from a support so as to save floor space.
According to the present invention, then, a receptacle is provided that is adapted to receive a plant and to provide a sheltered habitat for a living creature. Broadly, the present invention includes a housing that has a bottom portion and a surrounding sidewall that extends upwardly to define a housing interior that is separated from the exterior environment. A divider is disposed in the housing interior and is oriented so as to separate the housing interior into a first region and a second region. The housing has an aperture that communicates between the first region and the exterior environment with this aperture being sized and adapted to permit a selected living creature entry into the first region from the exterior environment. Also, the housing has an opening, such as the mouth of the receptacle, which communicates between the second region and the exterior environment whereby a plant can be visibly disposed in the second region.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing is frustoconical in shape so that the bottom portion is flat. The divider is formed as a flat panel that is mounted transversely to the central axis of the housing, preferably parallel to the planar bottom. This separates the housing into an upper region that may receive a plant and a lower region that provides a habitat for the living creature. Where a living plant is to be placed in the upper region, it is desirable that the flat panel have an outer peripheral edge that is seated and sealed against the surrounding sidewall to prevent passage of moisture therearound. Here, it is also preferred that a drain hole be provided through the sidewall and adjacent to the dividing panel so that water may drain from the second region to the exterior environment.
Moreover, it is anticipated that the present invention be used as a combination planter/birdhouse. Here, a perch is disposed on the housing at a location proximate to the aperture so it may provide a landing area for birds. The perch is formed as an elongated rod that projects exteriorly of the housing. Here, also, it is desired that a separate passageway that is distinct from the aperture be provided to communicate between the exterior environment and the first region so that the user may evacuate materials from the first region after abandonment by the living creature without disturbing the planted material. This passageway is preferably an opening through the bottom wall, and a removable door may be used to selectively close this passageway or open it to allow access to the interior of the first region. This door may be a removable door that is latched in the position by a portion of the perch that extends through the sidewall of the housing and engages a latching structure on the door. A gable structure may also be disposed on the exterior portion of the sidewall at a location above and proximate to the aperture that provides an entryway for the living creature.
The combination receptacle according to the present invention may be simply placed on a ledge or other support structure. Preferably, though, the receptacle is adapted for suspension from a support member such as a beam, eve, tree limb, etc. Here, suspension elements are provided and are secured to the housing so that it may be suspended from the support member. Preferably the receptacle is an inverted frustoconical structure having a circular upper rim or mouth, and the suspension elements are then secured to and positioned equiangularly around the opening.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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Abbott Yvonne R.
Henson Michael R.
Jordan Charles T.
Martin Timothy J.
Weygandt Mark H.
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