# US 2018/0020644 A1 · Birdfeeder and seed dispenser therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020644 A1 - Document ID: US20180020644A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/619,113 - Filed: 2017-06-09 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-12 - Assignees: Woodstream Corporation - Applicants: Woodstream Corporation - Inventors: Lynn Hunter; James Carter; Furman O'Dell; Brian Krueger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020644A1 ## CPC - A01K 39/012: filling automatically {, e.g. by gravity from a reserve} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base assembly mounted to a first opening formed in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir, including a front plate having a second opening formed therein, a flange extending around the second opening and projecting away from the front plate, and an end wall supported by the flange such that the flange and end wall together define a chamber. The dispenser also includes an apertured piece received in the chamber having a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a different configuration. The apertured piece is moveable between a first orientation, which places the first seed aperture in a seed accessible state permitting birds access to the seed, and a second orientation to place the second seed aperture in the seed accessible state. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-12. (canceled) ### Claim 13 A birdfeeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, comprising: a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall for receiving birdseed therein, said sidewall having an opening formed therein; a seed dispenser having an access opening formed therethrough in communication with said reservoir sidewall opening, said dispenser including an outer piece that is moveable between a first orientation in which a first seed aperture of a first size is presented in a seed accessible state, and a second orientation in which a second seed aperture of a second size that is smaller than the first size is presented in a seed accessible state, said second seed aperture being obstructed when said outer piece is in said first orientation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 13, wherein said outer piece is rotatably movable relative to said sidewall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 14, wherein said rotational movement of the outer piece is in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said sidewall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first seed aperture is unobstructed in said first orientation and is at least partly obstructed in said second orientation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first seed aperture is formed in said outer piece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second seed aperture is formed in said outer piece. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 13, wherein said outer piece has a substantially flat portion that is substantially parallel with said reservoir sidewall in both said first and said second orientations. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 19, wherein said substantially flat portion remains substantially parallel with said reservoir sidewall while moving between said first and said second orientations. ### Claim 21 A birdfeeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, comprising: a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall for receiving birdseed therein, said sidewall having an opening formed therein; a seed dispenser having an access opening formed therethrough in communication with said reservoir sidewall opening, said dispenser including an outer piece having a substantially flat plate portion that is moveable between a first orientation in which a first seed aperture of a first size is presented in a seed accessible state, and a second orientation in which a second seed aperture of a second size that is smaller than the first size is presented in a seed accessible state, said substantially flat plate portion being substantially parallel with said reservoir sidewall in both said first and said second orientations. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 21, wherein said second seed aperture is obstructed when said outer piece is in said first orientation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 21, wherein at least part of said outer piece remains outside said reservoir sidewall in both said first and second orientations. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 21, wherein said substantially flat portion remains substantially parallel with said reservoir sidewall while moving between said first and said second orientations. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 24, wherein said outer piece is rotatably movable relative to said sidewall. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 21, further comprising a cup-shaped trough that projects outwardly from said sidewall in both said first and second orientations. ### Claim 27 A birdfeeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, comprising: a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall for receiving birdseed therein, said sidewall having an opening formed therein; a seed dispenser associated with said reservoir sidewall opening and having a movable piece that is movable relative to the sidewall opening to present, in a first orientation, a first seed aperture of a first size in a seed accessible state, and in a second orientation, to bring a second seed aperture of a second size that is smaller than the first size into a seed accessible state; and said first seed aperture being in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said sidewall in both said first orientation and said second orientation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 27, wherein at least part of said movable piece is outside said reservoir sidewall in both said first and second orientations. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 27, wherein said second seed aperture is in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said sidewall in both said first orientation and said second orientation. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 21, wherein said first seed aperture is formed in said movable piece. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 30, wherein said movable piece includes a substantially flat portion that remains substantially parallel with said reservoir sidewall during movement between said first and said second orientations. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The birdfeeder as set forth in claim 31, wherein said movable piece is rotatably movable relative to said sidewall.