Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BIRD FEEDER
SPECIFICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Bird feeders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bird feeders with a supply of seed held in a hopper are wonderful amusement
and we
believe are bird savers in bitter weather. However birds that become too
accustomed to
unlimited free 'fast' food, reduces their scrounging for wild food for a
balanced diet.
Further, in the sudden absence of the human feed host, on holiday for example,
such birds
are left to suddenly fend for themselves. Better if we fed birds on a regular
but non-
continuous basis.
Additionally, hopper-style bird feeders are visited by birds continually until
all the seed
is eaten. We then have to trek to the feeder, in cold and rainy weather, undo
whatever
covers, latches and the like to add another super abundant supply of seed, and
bear the
cost.
The instant improvement provides a seed metering valve in the hopper which can
be
operated or rotated from outside the hopper. Located low in the hopper, the
seed metering
valve separates the hopper into two parts: a longer upper portion that then
becomes a seed
storage reservoir, and a shorter lower portion that includes the bird feeding
openings.
In this way seed can be made available at the openings when we want to, such
when
we are available to watch bird activity or, according to some daily schedule.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A bird feeder having a seed hopper, has a seed metering valve inside the
hopper that is
connected to a device to operate the valve that is exterior to the hopper. In
this way the
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,
owner can easily control seed consumption. The seed metering valve may be
manually or
electrically operated and may have provision for remote signal operation, and
even pre-
set autonomous operation. A two piece design is also contemplated that can
accommodate
upgrading to the more sophisticated version.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a typical tubular hopper-style bird feeder with upper reservoir
portion to
hold a supply of seed separated from a lower feeding portion by a seed
metering
valve;
Figure 2 shows an end view of a seed metering valve with resilient paddles
that, when
rotated, meters the seed flow in batches into the lower feeding portion, but
seals
off the seed flow when at rest;
Figure 2b shows an arrangement of four paddles so that the hopper may be
metered or not
depending on where the paddles are positioned;
Figure 3 shows top view of a disc style seed metering valve;
Figure 4 shows a side view of an elastomeric pinch style seed metering valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig 1, bird feeder 1 has a rain/snow cap 2 covering seeds 3. Seed
hopper
4, 5 has upper hopper portion 4 filled with seed 3 and lower hopper portion 5
with feed
openings 6 for birds to access the seed therein. A rotary seed metering valve
10 has
radially spaced paddles 7 that are shaped, arranged and combined so as to form
a
spherical shape within the cylindrical wall of hopper 4, 5. The outer edges of
opposing
horizontal paddles seal against the inner circumference of the hopper wall.
The up-facing
spaces between paddles 7 fill with seed 3 from the upper hopper portion 4.
When seed
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metering valve 10 is rotated, the seed is carried around and falls into the
lower hopper
portion 5. Fig 2 shows an end view of the control valve 10 with radially
spaced disc-like
paddles 7 made of a relatively soft and flexible material to prevent jamming
if seeds 3 get
trapped between the paddle edges and the hopper wall.
Eight paddles are shown in Figs 1,2 but any number may be used. Four paddles
are
shown in Fig 2b so as to offer the instant option of disabling the seed
metering by
allowing free passage of seed around the non-sealing paddles 7.
Seed metering valve 10 is secured to drive shaft 8 that extends through the
hopper with
at least one end secured to knob 9 located outside of the hopper. Knob 9 may
be a tee
handle, a lever, a star wheel or any suitable actuator that can rotate drive
shaft 8. Knob 9
also represents a location for solar cell 12. Knob 9 may also serve as an
enclosure for an
electric drive and signal receiving mechanism, all contained therein (not
shown).
Other types of solids-control valves can be used such as those shown in Figs 3
and 4.
Fig 3 shows a disc valve where two overlaying discs 20 have openings 22,23
that can be
aligned or not by a vertical shaft 23 connected to cap 2 (not shown), or
extending below
bird feeder 1 as shown in Fig 3. One rotatable disc may be used whose seed
hole is
blocked by a hopper-mounted fitting such as a ledge. One stationary disc may
be used
where the seed hole is blocked by a flat vane that is rotated by shaft 23. The
disc(s)
effectively separate the upper and lower hopper portions whereby seed can only
reach the
lower portion through a hole which can be covered or uncovered from outside
the hopper.
Fig 4 shows an elastomeric pinch valve that is a rubbery tube that fits within
hopper 4
that can be pinched closed my various means such as rods 32,33. The pinch
valve open
position is shown in solid lines 31 while the pinch valve closed position is
shown in
dashed lines 30. Other forms and types of solids-flow-control valves are known
to those
skilled in the art and may be used without detracting from the spirit of the
invention.
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Of course if the hopper is other than tubular, say, for example, rectangular
in cross
section, then the seed metering valve 10 and paddles 7 would be cylindrical
rather than
spherical.
A mechanism to operate the seed metering valve 10 may include a solar
collector 12
located, for example, on cap 2 or on knob 9, to charge an internal battery
(not shown)
which can operate the seed metering valve 10 by means of an electric actuator
or motor.
The solar cell, battery and motor may all be contained within knob 9 (and/or
drive shaft 8
and/or meter valve 10) for convenient assembly without visible wires or
connections.
A control signal sent from a remote control device in the home may be received
by an
antenna structure also on knob 9, so as to control bird feeding remotely. Of
course
standard electric power may be provided from a plug-in source in a building.
In Fig 1 a
sound 40 for calling local birds at feed time as the seed metering valve 10 is
operated,
may also be incorporated in knob 9 as a buzzer or speaker (not shown).
Using the powered version of the instant improved bird feeder 1 makes it
possible to
program bird feeder 1 to operate in the absence of humans and to provide daily
seed at
timed intervals when home occupants are ready for a bird show, such as at
breakfast.
In Fig 1 is also shown joint 13 whereby the upper hopper portion 4 and lower
hopper
portion 5 of bird feeder 1 may be made (and sold) separately. The joint may be
a threaded
or a turn-to-lock bayonet connection, or clips, clamps, screws, magnets and
like fasteners
may be used. In this way, a purchaser can upgrade to a more expensive remote
control
bird feeder 1 after initial purchase of the less expensive model. Hopper 4 may
also be
equipped with necessary holes to allow installation of a seed metering valve
10.
Lower hopper portion 5 may include mechanisms for squirrel and other rodent or
large
bird control that operate independent of the upper hopper portion 4.
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