Bird feeder with electronic squirrel deterrence
US5937788A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K39/0113
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bird feeder with electronic squirrel deterrence that includes a base, a top, a swivelling hanger, a reservoir for storing bird feed and a plurality of feeding holes disposed in the reservoir. Conductive feeding roosts are received in the feeding holes and inserts, having selectively sized beak openings and selectively sized feed baffles are received by the feeding roosts in order to accommodate birds of various species. Further, the base and the top include conductive surfaces. The feeding roosts and the conductive surfaces on the top and the base are in an electronic network that forms an open circuit. The circuit is closed when an animal such as a squirrel makes contact with the conductive surfaces and one of the feeding roosts and delivers a mild electrical shock to the animal. In the preferred embodiment, the top has a plurality of conductive surfaces that form an open circuit that are selectively spaced such that a squirrel at rest on the top closes the circuit and is subsequently shocked while at rest on the top.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.