FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to birdfeeders including nectar feeders, e.g., for hummingbirds, and seed birdfeeders for other birds. In particular, the present invention relates to birdfeeders that attract a large number of birds in a small spatial footprint, are visually attractive to birdwatchers or other users, are convenient to use, and discourage squirrels and other nuisance animals from attempting to access the feed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Birdfeeders are used to improve the health of bird populations and to attract birds for the enjoyment of people. Such birdfeeders include nectar birdfeeders that are filled with sugar water or nectar to attract nectar feeders such as hummingbirds, and seed birdfeeders that attract a wide variety of birds. Seed birdfeeders can be filled with a variety of seed types or combinations thereof to attract different species.

Nectar birdfeeders are generally filled by pouring the nectar into a nectar receptacle via an opening or fill port, with feed ports, dimensioned to allow penetration by a hummingbird beak or tongue, provided at or above the surface level of the nectar. Similarly, seed birdfeeders are filled by pouring seed into a seed receptacle via a fill port or opening at the top of the receptacle. The seed may then be accessed via a tray at the bottom of the birdfeeder or ports distributed around the receptacle. The ports may be at the same height on the receptacle or different heights. In the case of seed birdfeeders, the fill opening may be accessed by removing a cover at the top of the birdfeeder. In addition, roosts may be provided adjacent the feed ports to encourage birds to perch. Such nectar and seeds, or seed mixes, are flowable bird feed such that the feed can be added at the fill port and then flow to the feed ports, e.g., under the influence of gravity.

Designers of birdfeeders struggle to meet a number of desired objectives. First, birdfeeders should ideally attract a large number of birds in a relatively small area. Purchasers of birdfeeders often have a limited space for the birdfeeders, e.g., suspended near a chosen window or other convenient vantage point. Ideally, a large number of birds should be attracted to the birdfeeder at that location and be able to simultaneously use the birdfeeder. In addition, such birdfeeders should ideally be attractive or visually interesting. As noted above, the birdfeeders are generally positioned at prominent vantage points. Accordingly, the birdfeeders themselves should be appealing, even when not occupied by birds.

It is also important that the birdfeeders be easy to use. In many cases, birdfeeders are positioned for optimal viewing and not necessarily for ease of access for filling, refilling, or servicing. They may be hung from tree branches or outside of high windows such that a stool or ladder is needed to access the birdfeeders. It is therefore desirable that filling, refilling, and other servicing be convenient. It can be difficult to reconcile the dual objectives of providing many feeding ports with enabling ease of filling and refilling. Finally, the scourge of many birdfeeder owners is squirrels or other undesired animals who are attracted to birdfeeders. They can spill seed, make a mess, and damage birdfeeders. Yet they are ingenious in accessing birdfeeders despite efforts to discourage them. Again, design efforts to guard against squirrels are often confounded by the competing objective of providing multiple feed ports to attract birds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to birdfeeders for flowable bird feed such as seeds or nectar. The invention encompasses a variety of designs for attracting a large number of birds in a small spatial footprint. In addition, the invention provides a convenient way to fill the birdfeeders, including birdfeeders that have many feed ports. These designs are attractive and interesting to users. Moreover, the invention provides functionality in several iterations for discouraging squirrels or other nuisance animals from accessing the feed, thereby avoiding spillage, waste, and damage to the birdfeeders.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a birdfeeder with multiple feed chambers is provided. The birdfeeder includes a housing with at least one receptacle for receiving a flowable bird feed such as seeds or nectar. The receptacle defines a feed flow path from a top portion to a bottom portion of the receptacle. For example, the feed flow path may be helical, spiral, stair steps or other possible configurations. A number of partitions are disposed in the feed flow path to define a number of feed chambers. Each of the partitions extends across a lower portion of the feed flow path and defines an opening so as to determine a feed level of the feed chamber. For example, the partition may extend only across a lower portion of the feed flow path or it may extend across the feed flow path with an opening formed in the partition above the lower portion of the feed flow path.

The birdfeeder further includes a number of feed ports, each associated with a different one of the feed chambers. The feed ports are positioned to provide access to the flowable bird feed relative to the feed level of a respective one of the chambers. In this regard, for nectar birdfeeders, the feed port may be positioned above the feed level such that a hummingbird can access nectar in the chamber via the feed ports. In the case of seed birdfeeders, the feed ports may be positioned at or below the feed level. A fill port is provided adjacent a top end of the receptacle for adding flowable bird feed such that the flowable bird feed is supplied to each of the feed chambers by cascading flow of the flowable bird feed along the flow path across the partitions. In accordance with associated functionality of the present invention, flowable bird feed can be added via the fill port such that a first chamber fills to the opening in the partition, then the flowable bird feed cascades via gravity to a succeeding feed chamber, and so on.

As noted above, a variety of configurations are possible for the feed flow path. In this regard, the housing may be provided in the form of a helix, a staircase, a pyramid, or other designs. In one such design, first and second receptacles are provided in the form of a double helix reminiscent of a DNA strand. Other possible designs include a cloverleaf and a lozenge.

The birdfeeder may further include a cover, extending across the fill port, to protect the receptacle against the elements. As noted above, birdfeeders are sometimes positioned in locations selected for their vantage point rather than for convenience of refilling. Conventional birdfeeders often include a cover that can be difficult to remove for refilling. Accordingly, the inventive birdfeeder may include a cover that is hingedly connected to the housing so that it can be moved to an open position for adding flowable bird feed and a closed position to protect receptacle against the elements. This may involve a living hinge or another hinge element. An associated functionality in accordance with the present invention involves pivoting the cover to the open position, pouring the flowable bird feed into the receptacle via the fill port to supply the flowable bird feed to the feed ports, and pivoting the cover to the closed position. Optionally, in implementations that include multiple receptacles for flowable bird feed, a central repository may be provided for feeding the flowable bird feed to first and second receptacles so as to facilitate refilling. Associated functionality involves pouring the flowable bird feed into the central repository such that the flowable bird feed is provided to each of the receptacles and continuing to add the flowable bird feed to the central repository until each of the receptacles is filled to a desired level. The central repository feeds at least two receptacles. More than two receptacles may be employed. For example, three or more receptacles may yield a design that is intrinsically stable when placed on a surface for filling.

In certain implementations, such as a single helix birdfeeder, where the birdfeeder may be unstable when placed on the ground or another surface, a support element may be provided to facilitate refilling when the birdfeeder is removed from its display position. In many cases, birdfeeders are removed from their display location for refilling or servicing. For example, if the birdfeeder is refilled from a heavy feed container, it may be convenient to place the birdfeeder on the ground while refilling. In such cases, it is convenient if the birdfeeder can stand on its own while being refilled or at least can be leaned against a wall. In this regard, the inventive birdfeeder may include support elements that can be deployed to stabilize the birdfeeder while being refilled and can be stowed when the birdfeeder is displayed. In some implementations, separate support elements may be provided that can be removably attached to the birdfeeder while it is being refilled. In another implementation, a movable support element may be connected to a housing of the birdfeeder. The movable support element is movable between a first position to support the birdfeeder during refilling and a second position where the support element is stowed so as to reduce or substantially eliminate any visual impact of the support element in the display configuration. The movable support element can thereby function like a kickstand to provide support when necessary.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a nectar birdfeeder is provided with feed ports at different heights. Conventional nectar birdfeeders sometimes include multiple ports distributed at a single height around the bottom of the birdfeeder. In other cases, conventional nectar birdfeeders have included feed ports at different heights that are fed by different feed receptacles. The inventive nectar birdfeeder includes multiple feed ports at different heights fed by a single feed receptacle. In this manner, a large number of feed ports can be provided by taking advantage of the height dimension while still affording the convenience of a single fill port. Specifically, the inventive birdfeeder includes a housing having a first receptacle for receiving a liquid nectar bird feed where the receptacle defines a feed flow path from a top portion of the receptacle to a bottom portion thereof. A number of feed ports are disposed along the feed flow path at different elevations relative to an axis extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the receptacle. The birdfeeder further includes a fill port adjacent to the top portion of the receptacle for adding the liquid nectar bird feed so that it is supplied to each of the feed ports. For example, the multiple feed ports may be fed liquid nectar bird feed by employing partitions disposed along the feed flow path to define a number of chambers to supply a reservoir of the liquid nectar bird feed at each of the feed ports.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a birdfeeder is provided with multiple feed ports and a squirrel shield assembly. The birdfeeder generally includes a housing, a plurality of feed ports, and a squirrel shield assembly for shielding each of the feed ports from access by squirrels or other nuisance animals. For example, the squirrel shield assembly may include shield portions adjacent to each of the feed ports. The shield portions may be integrated into a single shield structure that extends over the birdfeeder. The shield assembly may be movable between an open configuration where the feed ports are exposed for access by birds and a closed configuration where the feed ports are blocked. The shield assembly can be movably supported in relation to the housing via a resilient element, e.g., a spring, such that the shield assembly moves to a closed configuration in response to weight placed on either the shield assembly or a roost associated with one of the feed ports. The shield assembly is preferably formed from a material, such as metal, that resists damage from nuisance animals. Alternatively, the shield assembly may be configured such that it does not include any edges that a squirrel can get its mouth around. In certain implementations, the housing and the squirrel shield are mounted on a central support, such as a pole, and the resilient element is disposed on the central support between a portion of the housing and a portion of the shield assembly.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a birdfeeder is provided with multiple feed receptacles that overlap relative to a vertically extending axis. The birdfeeder includes a housing having first and second receptacles for receiving a flowable bird feed. The first and second receptacles defining respective first and second feed flow paths each extending from a top portion of the housing to a bottom portion. A first portion of the first receptacle and a second portion of the second receptacle are disposed in a vertically stacked relation such that the first portion and the second portion are aligned but spatially separated relative to an axis extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the housing. The birdfeeder further includes one or more feed ports and at least one fill port for adding flowable bird feed so that the flowable bird feed is supplied to the feed ports. For example, each of the receptacles may have a helical, spiral or serpentine configuration. In one implementation, the first and second receptacles are formed using a helical partition within a cylindrical housing. An associated functionality in accordance with the present invention involves adding different bird seeds to the first and second receptacles to create an interesting appearance as well as attracting different bird species.

