Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Birdhouse
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-01-09
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Birdhouse
C119S431000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170437
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bird houses or bird nesting boxes. More particularly, the present invention relates to bird houses that may be changed in form by the user for use by specific bird species. Known prior art is found in United States Class 119, Subclasses 428 and 431.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous wild birds will nest in artificial structures if such bird boxes or bird houses are designed properly. It has long been recognized by those skilled in the art that variations in the size, appearance, dimensions or form of a bird house or nesting box greatly affects the type of bird it attracts. There are several hundred species of birds common to North America, and the nesting habits of various species differ markedly. For a given bird house to be maximally attractive to a particular species, it must have an internal volume in a specific range, and the entrance hole through which birds obtain ingress and egress must be appropriately designed. For optimum attractiveness, the entrance orifice, for example, should be spaced at an attractive height above the bird house floor. Of course the orifice must be sized correctly. It is also important to place birdhouses at an appropriate height above ground that is desired by the target species. By properly configuring a bird house for a given species, it will be much more attractive to members of that species. At the same time, it will be much more unattractive to unwanted species.
I have observed that common North American birds such as wrens, chickadees, downey woodpeckers, nuthatches and titmice prefer a relatively small internal enclosure, usually less than one-hundred cubic inches. Bluebirds, swallows, and many warblers prefer a medium sized nesting volume, of approximately one hundred and fifty cubic inches. Birds such as Ash-throated flycatchers of Great crested flycatchers prefer larger nesting volumes of approximately two-hundred cubic inches or greater. Different species of birds prefer the entrance hole to be at different heights. The optimum entrance hole diameter may vary from one and one-eight inches with chickadees, to one and three-quarters inches with larger flycatchers. With each species the ideal placement height will be different as well.
Thus for a birdwatcher to reliably attract many diverse bird species to his or her yard, numerous bird houses with different dimensions and placements are necessary. For the vendor, who stocks and sells bird houses and bird boxes, the many different required sizes that must be kept in stock makes inventory difficult. For the buyer, the diverse size requirements negatively limit the species of bird that his yard may attract.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,255 shows a variable volume bird house. Internal volume may be adjusted by moving a floor panel upwardly or downwardly. Various slots or braces call be used to position the floor at a selected height to make the birdhouse comfortable for specific bird species. However, the wall spacing remains fixed, so that the resultant internal volume may not be shaped like a cube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,917 includes various sliding and removable panels that can vary the entry-hole size for different species of birds,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,156 shows the selective sizing of the entry/exit hole by a movable panel.
Other references such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,493,997 and 4,442,793 show various common construction details such as folding and sliding panels.
Regardless of size or configuration, bird nesting structures must periodically be maintained and inspected. Old nests should be discarded. The structure must be cleansed of insects or other parasites that may accumulate in tile decomposing organic matter forming the nest. Debris and bird droppings must be removed.
Thus an ideal bird house should be easily broken down or partially disassembled by the user. Additionally, an ideal bird house should have an entrance hole that is optimized In size and location. Floor dimensions and height must also be appropriate for a target species. The structure should exhibit adequate ventilation and drainage characteristics. The roof should be overhanging. Tile enclosure panels should be at least three quarters of an inch thick. Finally, it is best if a perch is omitted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention comprises a bird house that provides an internal nesting area of variable dimensions and volume. The internal nesting area can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally to maintain a desired, generally cubicle interior of appropriate dimenisions.
A plurality of orthogonally-oriented, intersecting panels form the enclosure. A rectangular base panel extends between a pair of spaced-apart, vertical side panels that support a removable, inclined roof on the top. The enclosure is completed by a back panel extending between the side panels, and a hinged, front panel provided with a variable-diameter hole for letting birds into the internally defined nesting volume. The front panel is preferably hinged to the enclosure to allow easy user access for cleaning. Suitable hooks projecting from edges of panels are received within suitable mounting slits to lock the panels together.
An internal, vertical partition is slidably fitted within grooves defined in the base and rear panels. A selected floor shelf is fitted between the partition and the inner surface of the right side panel. The rear of the nesting volume is further bounded by a selected rear wall that is also constrained within suitable, registered grooves. By adjusting internal dimensions during assembly, a user can form a desired internal nesting volume preferred by a selected species of bird. A plurality of storage volumes contain substitute floor shelves and rear walls that are deployed when different nesting volumes are selected.
The hole in the front door panel can be varied in volume to suit a selected bird species. Preferably the front door panel is hinged to the enclosure. It includes a relatively large-diameter orifice bounded by an annular reinforcement. A sliding magazine is fitted within a chamber defined in the door panel. It includes an adjustable orifice that aligns with the larger front panel orifice during assembly. The magazine stores a plurality of annular restrictors having different hole diameters. A selected restrictor is snap fitted within an annular recess coaxially surrounding the magazine orifice to select a proper entrance diameter. Suitable recesses defined in the magazine conveniently store the other restrictors.
Since all of the panels conveniently latch together, the unit may be easily broken down for cleaning or storage. The entire assembly can be shipped or stored in an unassembled state, with the generally planar panels lying flatly on top of one another.
Thus a basic object is to provide a bird house or nesting box that can be tailored to optimally attract a specific species of bird.
A related object is to provide a bird box with an internal nesting area that can be radically varied in volume as desired by the user to target a selected bird species.
A related object is to provide a bird nesting box of the character described that can easily be cleaned.
Another object is to provide a bird nesting box of the character described that can be rapidly and easily assembled.
Another important object is to provide a nesting box of the character described providing a variable volume nesting region that can be adjusted simply by sliding desired pieces into place.
It is also an important object to provide a bird nesting box of the character described that, once assembled, provides a sturdy and reliable nesting enclosure.
Another basic object is to provide a bird nesting box of the character described that is transformable for use with diverse bird species.
A further object is to provide a transformable bird house that includes and stores a plurality of self contained pieces that slidably interfit with one another within the enclosure to rapidly and conveniently vary enclosure volume.
Another important object is to provide
Bergin James S.
Carone Michael J.
Carver Stephen D.
Cornerstone Financial Management
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