Squirrel resistant bird feeder
US5826540A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K39/0113
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A squirrel-resistant bird feeder includes an inner seed-containing cylinder having a central upwardly-extending rod for mounting on a support and side openings for providing bird access to the seed. A hollow cylinder having a top surface with a central opening from about which a central hollow baffle depends controls seed levels while passing seed to lower dispensers. A relatively-movable outer cylinder guards the inner seed-containing cylinder and has side openings which align with the inner cylinder side openings when in its normal or home position to which it is urged by a tension spring. A squirrel alighting on the bird feeder moves the outer cylinder relative to the inner one against the tension of a spring to where their side openings are nonaligned to preclude squirrel access to the inner cylinder seed. A pin and slot arrangement insures opening aligment in the home position. The outer cylinder is formed of gnaw resistant materials. A small hole in an outer cylinder end cap passes the rod to limit swinging action of the bird feeder and help guide relative movement between the cylinders. Aligned magnets on the inner and outer cylinders help hold the outer cylinder in the norm…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.