US 5,699,752 A · Gelatin-plastic foam bird feeding station and process

Abstract

A bird feeder station including a clear plastic canopy provided with a hanging line for suspension thereof from an overhead structure and three depending chain supports for wire baskets containing bird seed suspended under the protection of the canopy. Each wire basket contains a porous plastic foam core saturated with a gelatin and multiple bird seed embedded within at least one gelatin surface coating on the plastic core. The process involves placing the plastic core in an open mold, spooning a quantity of hot gelatin containing multiple bird seed over the exposed surface of the plastic, refrigerating the gelatin coated plastic core to solidify the gelatin-bird seed coating thereon; turning the plastic over to expose a different side and repeating the spooning of the hot gelatin and refrigeration thereof for all sides and top (if desired) of the plastic core.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A bird feeder adapted to be suspended from an overhead support comprising:

a substantially funnel shaped canopy having a tubular protuberance terminating at a small opening at one end thereof;
a first washer means sealed to a first end of said tubular protuberance of said canopy;
a second washer means spaced from said first washer means and sealed to a second end of said tubular protuberance of said canopy;
support means extending the length of said tubular protuberance of said canopy and through said first and said second washer means;
said support means including
(1) a first attachment structure leading from said first washer and extending exteriorly from said first end of said tubular protuberance of said canopy and,
(2) a second attachment structure leading from said second washer and extending interiorly within said funnel shaped canopy;
and,
means releasably secured to said second attachment structure for supporting at least one container of bird seed.

6 more elements

A method of making a hanging bird feeder comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an open mold having a cavity in the shape of that desired for a bird feeder;
(b) mixing a one part, by weight, of gelatin with four parts, by weight, of water;
(c) adding four parts, by weight, of bird seed to this mixture with stirring;
(d) heating the combined mixture to boiling temperature;
(e) stirring the hot mixture;
(f) boiling the stirred mixture for at least one additional minute to provide a hot seed slurry;
(g) providing a foam plastic core having a suspension wire embedded therein and extending from one end thereof;
(h) placing this plastic core in an open mold;
(i) spooning the hot seed slurry evenly over the top exposed side of the foam plastic core;
(j) refrigerating the mold and contents until the gelatin is gelled to provide a solidified gel coating on the top surface of the foam plastic core;
(k) turning the top coated foam plastic core over and repeating steps (l) and (j);
and,
(l) drying the gel coated foam plastic core for approximately 24 hours at room temperature to recover a bird feeder that may be suspended from any suitable support.

10 more elements

A method of making a hanging bird feeder comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substantially funnel shaped canopy having a tubular protuberance terminating at a small opening at a first end thereof and having a frusto-conical baffle integral with and extending from an enlarged second open end thereof;
(b) securing a first washer sealed to a first end of the tubular protuberance;
(c) securing a second washer spaced from the first washer and secured to a second end of the tubular protuberance;
(d) providing a first attachment structure leading from the first washer and extending exteriorly from the first end of the tubular protuberance;
(e) providing a second attachment structure leading the second washer and extending interiorly within the funnel shaped canopy;
and
(f) releasably securing at least one elongated line to the second attachment structure for supporting at least one container of bird seed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gelatin-plastic foam bird feeding station and process

Life of this patent

Gelatin-plastic foam bird feeding station and process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19