초록 ▼

A bird feeder wherein a housing includes a plurality of modular hopper elements with a floor underlying and supporting the hopper elements and a roof overlying the hopper elements, the hopper elements including impermeable side walls juxtaposed to form a hopper assembly of maximum capacity and minim

A bird feeder wherein a housing includes a plurality of modular hopper elements with a floor underlying and supporting the hopper elements and a roof overlying the hopper elements, the hopper elements including impermeable side walls juxtaposed to form a hopper assembly of maximum capacity and minimum footprint and a front wall with feed apertures to enable birds to access bird food within the hopper element. Each hopper may be selectively removed and replaced without disturbing the other elements. In one embodiment, the hopper elements form segments of an inverted frustoconical hopper assembly which may be selectively and individually removed from the bird feeder without disassembling the housing. In another embodiment, each of the hopper elements is rectangular in transverse cross-section, and comprises a pair of spaced, generally triangular, parallel impermeable side walls interconnected by a pair of spaced, generally rectangular, front walls angled from the upper portion of the hopper element to the lower portion thereof, with the parallel impermeable side walls of adjacent hopper elements being juxtaposed in the housing and a plurality of feed apertures defined in each of the angled front walls adjacent the lower end thereof. A seed catcher may be provided underlying each hopper element with a depression formed in the floor of the housing to position the seed catchers.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bird feeder comprising a housing and a plurality of modular hopper elements, said housing including a base underlying and supporting said hopper elements and a roof overlying said hopper elements, each hopper element including a floor and upstanding walls together defining an internal cavity fo

1. A bird feeder comprising a housing and a plurality of modular hopper elements, said housing including a base underlying and supporting said hopper elements and a roof overlying said hopper elements, each hopper element including a floor and upstanding walls together defining an internal cavity for receiving a quantity of bird food, said walls including at least one impermeable side wall and at least one front wall including at least one feed aperture through which birds may access bird food within said cavity, an impermeable side wall of each hopper element being juxtaposed to an impermeable side wall of at least one other hopper element in an assembled relationship of said hopper elements, said housing further including a central post interconnecting said base and said roof, a support ring being carried by said post and having an upstanding finger for each of said plurality of hopper elements, each hopper element including a shoulder portion defining an aperture slidably receivable over one of said fingers, and each hopper element being removable from said housing to be cleaned, refilled and/or replaced when empty without removing any other hopper element from said housing.2. The bird feeder of claim 1, wherein each of said hopper elements is tapered from an enlarged upper portion to a smaller lower portion.3. The bird feeder of claim 1 wherein said hopper assembly is generally frustoconical and each of said hopper elements defines a segment of said hopper assembly.4. The bird feeder of claim 3 wherein each hopper element includes a pair of impermeable side walls interconnected by said front wall, said impermeable side walls of each hopper element being juxtaposed to an impermeable side wall of two adjacent hopper elements in said hopper assembly.5. The bird feeder of claim 4 wherein said hopper assembly includes three hopper elements, each hopper element including two impermeable side walls extending at about 120 degrees to each other, and a curved front wall.6. The bird feeder of claim 5 further including a plurality of feed apertures in said curved front wall defining feed ports.7. The bird feeder of claim 1, wherein each hopper element further includes tapered lower portions defining a terminal foot portion, said base including upstanding portions defining complementary-shaped wells to slidably receive said foot portion of said hopper element.8. The bird feeder of claim 1, further including portions of said roof extending beyond the upper portions of said hopper elements and overhanging said base to protect said hopper elements and said base from weather.9. A bird feeder comprising a central post, carrying a support ring near an upper end of said post, and a plurality of modular hopper elements, each hopper element including a floor and upstanding walls together defining an internal cavity for receiving a quantity of bird food, said walls including at least one side wall and at least one front wall having at least one feed aperture through which birds may access bird food within said cavity, a side wall of each hopper element being juxtaposed against a side wall of at least one other hopper element in an assembled relationship of said hopper elements, and each hopper element having a structure adjacent its upper end for securing said hopper elements to said support ring.10. The bird feeder of claim 9, wherein said front walls are curved such that said plurality of hopper elements in said assembled relationship form a frustoconical shape tapering downwardly, with each of said hopper elements defining a segment of said hopper assembly.11. The bird feeder of claim 10, wherein said hopper assembly includes three hopper elements, each hopper element including two side walls extending at about 120 degrees to each other.12. The bird feeder of claim 9, wherein said structure for securing said hopper elements includes a shoulder portion defining an aperture that is slidably receivable over one of a plurality of fingers projecting upwardly from said support ring.13. The bird feeder of claim 12, wherein each hopper element has two side walls, inner edges of said side walls being connected by an arcuate wall that faces said central post, the upper end of said arcuate wall being terminated in said shoulder portion.14. The bird feeder of claim 9, further comprising a base underlying and supporting said hopper elements and a roof overlying said hopper elements.15. The bird feeder of claim 9, wherein each hopper element is removable from said assembly to be cleaned, refilled and/or replaced when empty without removing any other hopper element from said assembly.