US 4,541,362 A · Squirrel-proof selective bird feeder

Abstract

A squirrel-proof selective bird feeder includes a metallic hopper having integral side walls and a back wall defining an open front face, an open top, and a feed portal, a translucent window fastened in water-resistant sealing engagement to the open front face, a top having a sandwiched metallic plate slidably mounted in and frictionally retained by the confronting walls of the open top of the hopper, and a spring-loaded perch having an adjustable tension pivotally mounted to the bottom of the hopper and adjacent the feed portal. In the case of a light bird alighting on the perch having a weight less than that needed to overcome the spring force, the perch remains in at least a partially open state allowing access to the feed portal. In the case of a squirrel or heavy bird having a weight that overcomes the spring force, the perch pivots to a closed state that prevents access to the feed portal. An adjustable feed baffle is provided inside the hopper for regulating the flow of feed into the feed portal, and for providing a preselected opening size selected to accommodate any one of plural feed types. A seed deflector is provided inside the hopper to prevent the jamming engagement of the seed with the motion of the perch. A sloping awning is provided exteriorly of the hopper adjacent to the feed portal to help prevent rain damage to the seed, and to help prevent access thereto by undesirable creatures, particularly squirrels. A member is fastened to the back of the hopper for mounting the hopper to a tree or the like.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A squirrel-proof selective bird feeder comprising:

an integral gnaw-proof hopper having a rectangular cross section, an open top, an open bottom, a window receiving aperture, and an internal volume for containing a large quantity of bird feed;
a gnaw-proof top member;
first means for removably mounting said top member to the open top of the hopper in a water-resistant sealing engagement therewith;
a bottom wall;
second means for fastening said bottom wall to said open bottom of said hopper;
a window;
third means for fastening said window to said aperture in water-resistant sealing engagement with said hopper, and for providing a feed portal defining a plane proximate said bottom wall of said hopper in internal communication with said internal volume;
a perch having a gate;
fourth means for pivotally mounted said perch at said bottom of said hopper with said gate extending from said perch through said feed portal and into said internal volume of said hopper for rotation between a first position where said gate is inside said hopper and in an open state providing access to said feed portal, and a second position where said gate is substantially coincident with the plane of said feed portal and in a closed state denying access to said feed portal;
and
fifth means coupled to said perch for biasing said gate to said open condition.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Squirrel-proof selective bird feeder

Life of this patent

Squirrel-proof selective bird feeder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24