Bird and animal feeder arrangement and article hanging method

A method of providing feed for an animal, comprising:

• providing a reservoir including an opening through which feed contained therein is transferable to at least one feeding station for access thereto by the animal, said reservoir comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, at least one engagement surface being located at a transition region between said upper and lower portions;
• mounting a mounting structure to supporting structure, said mounting structure including a hanger portion comprising at least one receiving surface configured to restably support said at least one engagement surface, said hanger portion including structure defining an interior region, said hanger portion further including a receiving opening to said interior region, said receiving opening being of a width sufficient to allow lateral passage of said lower portion of said reservoir while blocking lateral passage of said upper portion;
• lifting the reservoir to a sufficient height at which a top of the receiving opening coincides positionally with a portion of the reservoir located below said transition region;
• laterally inserting the reservoir into said interior region through said receiving opening;
• and
• lowering the reservoir to bring the at least one engagement surface into resting contact with the at least one receiving surface with said opening of the reservoir being positioned below said at least one receiving surface of said mounting structure.

An article hanging apparatus, comprising:

• a receiving portion attachable to supporting structure;
• and
• a replacement portion removably receivable to said receiving portion, said receiving portion and said replacement portion respectively including first and second cooperative portions, a one of said first or second cooperative portions including a female engagement portion having an opening of a non-circular shape and at least one peripheral engagement surface radially outward of said opening and a remaining one of said first or second cooperative portions including a male engagement portion having an outer shape which is suitably shaped and sized for clearance through said opening, in an insertion direction, when respective shapes defined by said opening and said outer shape are rotationally positioned in a first relative orientation, said opening and said outer shape being positionable in a second relative orientation by relative rotation of said receiving portion and said replacement portion, said male engagement portion including at least one male engagement surface which is contactable with said at least one peripheral engagement surface when said receiving portion and said replacement portion are brought into said second relative orientation by said relative rotation, such that separation of said replacement portion from said receiving portion in a removal direction opposite to said insertion direction is prevented when in said second relative orientation, said at least one male engagement surface being liftable from contact with said at least one peripheral engagement surface when said replacement portion is urged in said insertion direction while in said second relative orientation.

A method of facilitating removable hanging of an article, comprising:

• mounting a receiving portion to supporting structure;
• providing a replacement portion including the article, a one of said receiving portion or said replacement portion including a female engagement portion having an opening of non-circular shape and a remaining one of said receiving portion or said replacement portion including a male engagement portion having an outer shape which is suitably configured for clearance through said opening when respective shapes defined by said opening and said outer shape are rotationally positioned in a first relative orientation;
• inserting the male engagement portion, in an insertion direction, through the female engagement portion while in said first relative orientation, such that a side of the male engagement portion opposite an insertion side clears an exit side of the female engagement portion adjacent the opening;
• and
• rotating said replacement portion relative to said receiving portion to take corresponding shapes of said female and male engagement portions thereof out of a clearance positioning in said first relative orientation and to place the corresponding shapes into a second relative orientation in which at least one portion of the male engagement portion engages at least one respective portion of a structure of the female engagement portion surrounding the opening, thereby preventing removal of the male portion from the female portion in a direction opposite to said insertion direction, said at least one male engagement surface being relievable from engagement with said at least one respective portion surrounding the opening in said insertion direction while in said second relative orientation.