Bird feeder with electronic squirrel deterrence
US6158385A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2018 |
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 bottom, a top, a swivelling hanger, a reservoir for storing bird feed and at least one feeding opening disposed in the reservoir. Feeding roosts having a perch are received in the feeding openings 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. In one embodiment, the bird feeder includes correction circuit for administering an electrostatic shock to a squirrel. The roost, the bottom, and the top include conductive surfaces which form 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. Another embodiment, includes a correction circuit configured to generate a loud, ultrasonic sound when an animal closes an open circuit by either contacting two surfaces having differing voltage potentials or by having sufficient weight to close a switch biased by a spring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.