US 8,522,717 B2 · Top-fill hummingbird feeder

Abstract

A liquid birdfeeder includes a generally upstanding container having a large opening at its top end and a bottleneck opening at its lower end. A quarter-turn removable cap is screw-threaded onto the top end to seal the top end opening. The lower bottleneck opening is screw-threaded into a central collar of a feeding basin having a plurality of feeding ports. An actuator rod extends longitudinally through the container and is operatively connected to a biased sealing mechanism which selectively seals or opens the bottleneck opening. When the removable cap is screw-threaded onto the top end opening, the cap depresses the actuator rod causing the biased sealing mechanism to move to an open position which allows liquid to flow out from the container into the feeding basin. When the removable cap is removed, the actuator rod can move upwardly under the force of the biased sealing mechanism, which moves the sealing mechanism to a closed position and prevents liquid in the container from flowing into the feeding basin. The container can then be filled through the top opening without flooding the feeding basin. In one preferred embodiment, the bird feeder includes a common functional feeding module connected within an outer decorative cladding by an interference fit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A top-fill liquid hummingbird feeder comprising:

(a) a reservoir bottle having a top end with an opening and a bottom end opening;
(b) a removable cap for sealing the top end opening;
(c) a feeding basin connected to the bottom end opening and having at least one feeding port;
(d) a sealing mechanism associated with said bottom end opening to move between a closed position closing said bottom end opening and an open position opening said bottom end;
and
(e) a removable decorative cladding into which said reservoir bottle is inserted so that said cladding fits over and encloses said reservoir bottle including said bottle top end when the feeder is assembled for use, said cladding being positioned so that said feeding port is unobstructed by said cladding when said cladding is in place.

3 more elements

A method of filling a top-fill liquid hummingbird feeder comprising:

(1) providing a top-fill hummingbird feeder including a reservoir bottle having a top end with an opening and a bottom end with an opening, a removable cap for sealing said top end opening, a feeding basin connected to the bottom end opening and having at least one feeding port, and a sealing mechanism associated with said bottom end opening and movable between a closed position and an open position, said reservoir bottle, cap, feeding basin and sealing mechanism when assembled forming a common functional feeding module, and a decorative cladding having an outer shell and a base, said outer shell configured to surround said reservoir bottle and said base having an upper surface with at least one opening therein to align with the at least one feeding port of said feeding basin when the feeder is assembled;
(2) removing the common functional feeding module as assembled with the reservoir bottle, cap, feeding basin and sealing mechanism from within the decorative cladding to expose the removable cap on the reservoir bottle;
(3) removing the removable cap and moving said sealing mechanism to said closed position;
(4) pouring hummingbird liquid feed into the reservoir bottle through said top end opening;
(5) replacing the removable top to a sealed condition and moving said sealing mechanism to said open position;
(6) inserting the common functional feeding module as assembled with the reservoir bottle, cap, feeding basin and sealing mechanism back into the decorative cladding with the reservoir bottle top end and the cap being inserted into the cladding first, said step of inserting including moving the functional feeding module into said decorative cladding until an upper surface of said feeding basin is adjacent a lower surface of said cladding base;
(7) rotationally aligning said at least one opening in said cladding base with said at least one feeding port in the feeding basin so that a hummingbird can access nectar in the basin by inserting its beak through the aligned base opening and feeding port;
and
(8) securing said module to said cladding.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Top-fill hummingbird feeder

Life of this patent

Top-fill hummingbird feeder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20