Bird feeder
OwnerRichard Edwin Woodsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bird feeder has a main body including a food hopper, and a removable tray. The tray may be removed from the main body, and when the tray is removed apertures at the bottom of the main body are automatically closed, sealing the main body and preventing food from falling out. When the tray is attached, the apertures are automatically opened. The tray of the bird feeder can therefore be removed very easily for cleaning. Another tray may be provided for installation on the main body while the first tray is being cleaned. Cleaning may be for example by soaking in disinfectant for a few days, or drying out over a similar period. These treatments are effective to kill Trichomonas gallinae, thus limiting the spread of trichomonosis among garden birds, especially greenfinches.
Claims16
A bird feeder comprising:
- a main body including a bulk hopper for storing food,
- a feeding tray removably attached to a bottom end of the main body, the tray including a retaining lip for retaining food within the tray and a vertical wall being provided inward of an outer periphery of the tray, and
- a perch spaced away from the tray,
- wherein an opening is provided in the bottom end of the main body to allow stored food to pass from the bulk hopper into the tray allowing birds to feed from the tray when the tray is attached to the bottom end of the main body, and a closure is provided for closing the opening and retaining food in the bulk hopper,
- and wherein a locking mechanism is provided for locking the feeding tray and main body together, preventing removal of the feeding tray from the main body when the locking mechanism is engaged,
- and wherein opening the closure causes engagement of the locking mechanism, and closing the closure causes disengagement of the locking mechanism, the feeding tray being detachable from the main body only when the closure is closed,
- and wherein a secondary retainer is provided for retaining the feeding tray to the main body when the locking mechanism is disengaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.