초록 ▼

A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base assembly mounted to a first opening formed in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir, including a front plate having a second opening formed therein, a flange extending around the second opening and pro

A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base assembly mounted to a first opening formed in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir, including a front plate having a second opening formed therein, a flange extending around the second opening and projecting away from the front plate, and an end wall supported by the flange such that the flange and end wall together define a chamber. The dispenser also includes an apertured piece received in the chamber having a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a different configuration. The apertured piece is moveable between a first orientation, which places the first seed aperture in a seed accessible state permitting birds access to the seed, and a second orientation to place the second seed aperture in the seed accessible state.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dispenser adapted to access and dispense birdseed from a birdfeeder that has a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, said dispenser comprising: a base piece associated with an opening in the sidewall of said reservoir, said base pi

What is claimed is: 1. A dispenser adapted to access and dispense birdseed from a birdfeeder that has a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, said dispenser comprising: a base piece associated with an opening in the sidewall of said reservoir, said base piece having an access opening formed therethrough passing from said reservoir outer surface to said reservoir inner surface and in fluid communication with the sidewall opening; an apertured piece supported by said base piece at a location adjacent said access opening and including a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration, said apertured piece being rotatably moveable relative to said base piece in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane of said base piece between a first orientation in which said first seed aperture is in fluid communication with the access opening, and a second orientation in which said second seed aperture is in fluid communication with the access opening. 2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said base piece includes a back wall having an outlet port therein, said apertured piece being supported adjacent said back wall and moveable with respect thereto between said first and second orientations so as to bring either said first or second seed apertures into alignment with said outlet port. 3. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said base piece includes spaced connecting members configured to retain said apertured piece against and in rotatable relation to said back wall. 4. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said connecting members are tabs. 5. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an end piece coupled to said base piece and including a wall, said base piece and said end piece together forming a chamber sized and adapted to receive said apertured piece which is supported proximate to and generally parallel with said end piece wall. 6. The dispenser according to claim 5, further comprising a spacer interposed between said end piece and said apertured piece and adapted to separate at least a portion of said apertured piece from said end piece wall, said end piece wall having a groove formed therein that is sized and adapted to receive a portion of said spacer to restrain movement thereof. 7. A birdfeeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, comprising: a birdseed reservoir with a surrounding sidewall for receiving the birdseed therein, said sidewall having an opening formed therethrough; and a seed dispenser associated with the opening in said sidewall so as to cover said opening and to dispense the birdseed to the birds, said seed dispenser having a base piece and an apertured piece cooperating with said opening, said apertured piece including a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration, said apertured piece having an outer face accessible to birds and being rotatably moveable relative to said base piece in clockwise and counterclockwise directions and in a plane substantially parallel therewith such that the accessibility of the outer face to birds remains the same throughout rotation, said clockwise and counterclockwise rotation moving said apertured piece between a first orientation in which said first seed aperture is oriented in a seed accessible state so as to provide access to the bird seed and a second orientation in which said second seed aperture is in the seed accessible state. 8. The birdfeeder according to claim 7, wherein said base piece includes a back wall having an outlet port therein, said apertured piece being supported adjacent said back wall and moveable with respect thereto between said first and second orientations so as to bring either said first or second seed apertures into alignment with said outlet port. 9. The birdfeeder according to claim 8, wherein said base piece includes spaced connecting members configured to retain said apertured piece against and in rotatable relation to said back wall. 10. The birdfeeder according to claim 9, wherein said connecting members are tabs. 11. The birdfeeder according to claim 10, further comprising an end piece coupled to said base piece and including a wall, said apertured piece supported proximate to and generally parallel with said end piece wall. 12. The birdfeeder according to claim 7, wherein the base piece includes a plurality of connection members that engage complementary structures on said reservoir to releasably secure said base piece to said sidewall. 13. The dispenser according to claim 12, wherein said connection members are prongs and said complementary structures are notches formed in an edge of said sidewall opening. 14. The birdfeeder according to claim 12, wherein said base piece includes a front plate formed as an integral part thereof that is adapted to surround the opening and confront an outer surface of said birdseed reservoir sidewall. 15. The birdfeeder according to claim 7, wherein said base includes a separate base piece cooperating with said sidewall opening and having an access opening formed therethrough in fluid communication with said sidewall opening, said apertured piece rotatably mounted adjacent said access opening and supported by said base piece. 16. A dispenser adapted to access and dispense two different sizes of birdseed from a birdfeeder that has a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, comprising: a base piece mounted to an opening in the sidewall of said reservoir; an end piece coupled to said base piece and including a wall having at least one aperture therein that is in fluid communication with the opening; a movable piece supported by said base piece at a location proximate to said wall of said end piece and rotatable with respect to said wall and in a plane generally parallel therewith to place either a first seed aperture of a first configuration in a seed accessible position for dispensing a first size of said two different sizes of birdseed or a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration in the seed accessible position to dispense the second size of birdseed. 17. The dispenser according to claim 16, wherein said base piece has a front plate with an opening formed therein and a flange extending around the opening and projecting away from said front plate. 18. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said end piece is supported by said flange such that said flange and said end piece together define a chamber, said movable piece being received in said chamber and rotatable with respect to said end piece and in a plane generally parallel therewith. 19. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said base piece includes spaced connecting members configured to retain said base piece against said flange. 20. The dispenser according to claim 19, wherein said connecting members are tabs and said flange is provided with corresponding cutouts that receive said tabs. 21. The dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the base piece includes a plurality of connection members that engage complementary structures on said reservoir to releasably secure said base piece to said sidewall. 22. The dispenser according to claim 21, wherein said connection members are prongs and said complementary structures are notches formed in an edge of said sidewall opening. 23. A birdfeeder adapted to be supported in spaced relation to a support surface and to selectively provide birdseed of different types to birds, comprising: a birdseed reservoir with a surrounding sidewall adapted to receive the birdseed therein, said sidewall having an opening formed therethrough; and a seed dispenser mounted to the opening in said sidewall and having a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration by which said birdfeeder is configured to dispense different types of birdseed to the birds by placing one of said first and second seed apertures into a seed accessible position as selected by a user, said seed dispenser including a base assembly mounted to said sidewall opening and having a front plate with an opening formed therein, a flange extending around the opening and projecting away from said front plate, and an end wall supported by said flange such that said flange and said end wall together define a chamber, said end wall having at least one aperture therein; and a movable piece received in said chamber and rotatable with respect to said end wall and in a plane generally parallel therewith to place either said first seed aperture in the seed accessible position or said second seed aperture in the seed accessible position. 24. The birdfeeder according to claim 23, wherein said base assembly includes spaced connecting members configured to retain said base assembly against said flange. 25. The birdfeeder according to claim 24, wherein said connecting members are tabs and said flange is provided with corresponding cutouts that receive said tabs. 26. The dispenser according to claim 23, wherein the base assembly includes a plurality of connection members that engage complementary structures on said reservoir to releasably secure said base assembly to said sidewall. 27. The birdfeeder according to claim 26, wherein said connection members are prongs and said complementary structures are notches formed in an edge of said sidewall opening. 28. A dispenser adapted to access and dispense birdseed from a birdfeeder that has a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, comprising: a base piece mounted to an opening in the sidewall of said reservoir and having a front plate with an opening formed therein and a flange extending around the opening and projecting away from said front plate; an end wall supported by said flange such that said flange and said end wall together define a chamber, said end wall having at least one aperture therein; and a movable piece received in said chamber and rotatable with respect to said end wall and in a plane generally parallel therewith to place either a first seed aperture of a first configuration in a seed accessible position or a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration in the seed accessible position. 29. The dispenser according to claim 28, wherein said base piece includes spaced connecting members configured to retain said base piece against said flange. 30. The dispenser according to claim 29, wherein said connecting members are tabs and said flange is provided with corresponding cutouts that receive said tabs.