초록 ▼

A bird feeder that includes a bird feed holder having open top and bottom ends, a plurality of feeding ports disposed in a sidewall defining the holder, a plurality of perches each associated with an inlet of an associated feeding port and a removable base for engaging with the bottom end of the hol

A bird feeder that includes a bird feed holder having open top and bottom ends, a plurality of feeding ports disposed in a sidewall defining the holder, a plurality of perches each associated with an inlet of an associated feeding port and a removable base for engaging with the bottom end of the holder, the removable base having a closed position for sealing the bottom end of the holder so as to retain the bird feed therein and an open position in which the base is removed from the holder to enable access to the bottom end of the holder. One embodiment has a manually operated latch member supported by the base and supported for radial engagement so as to enable releasable securing of the removable base to the holder. In another embodiment a manually operated latch couples to a main body portion, the latch being supported for rotation with respect to the main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing. Also disclosed is a feeder support apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed, having an upper end and an open lower end and having a housing longitudinal center axis that extends between the upper and lower e

What is claimed is: 1. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed, having an upper end and an open lower end and having a housing longitudinal center axis that extends between the upper and lower ends; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly including a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open lower end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated rotational latch having respective locked and released positions, coupled to the main body portion and having a longitudinal latch center axis, the manually operated rotational latch being supported for rotation about said latch center axis and with respect to the rotatably fixed main body portion, the manually operated rotational latch, in the locked position thereof, securing the manually operated rotational latch and main body portion to the housing to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing, and in the released position thereof being rotatable about the center axes and relative to the main body portion to enable release of the base assembly from the housing, said latch center axis coincident with said housing center axis; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection and the second engaging member comprises a lip for capturing the projection in the engaged position of the latch; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the respective one or more ports; and wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members. 2. The bird feeder of claim 1, wherein the latch has finger grips to facilitate the rotation of the latch. 3. The bird feeder of claim 2, including stop means between the latch and base assembly to limit the rotation of the latch. 4. The bird feeder of claim 1 wherein the latch includes a peripheral rim and internal shoulders that define respective finger grips used to rotate the latch between locked and released positions. 5. The bird feeder of claim 1 including retaining means for holding the latch to the main body portion while permitting rotation of the latch between locked and released positions of the latch. 6. The bird feeder of claim 1 wherein the main body portion has an open bottom into which the latch is disposed and a circumferential base rim forming a base rest surface. 7. The bird feeder of claim 6 wherein the latch is entirely positioned in the open bottom of the main body portion and spaced above the base rest surface. 8. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and having an open lower end; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly having a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated latch coupled to the main body portion, the latch being supported for rotation with respect to the main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing and having locked and released positions; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion of the base assembly and a lip on the manually operated latch for capturing the projection in the locked position of the latch. 9. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and having an open lower end; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly having a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated rotational latch coupled to the main body portion, the manually operated rotational latch being supported for rotation with respect to the rotatably fixed main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection internally of the housing and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion and a lip on the latch for capturing said projection when the manually operated latch is rotated relative to the main body portion to one of secure the base assembly to the housing and release the base assembly from the housing. 10. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and having an open lower end; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly having a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated rotational latch coupled to the main body portion, the manually operated rotational latch being supported for rotation with respect to the main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection internally of the housing and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion and a lip on the latch for capturing said projection when the manually operated rotational latch is rotated relative to the main body portion about a longitudinal latch axis and between released and locked positions; wherein the main body portion has an open bottom into which the latch is disposed, said latch including stops spaced apart to engage said projection at opposite open and closed positions of said latch. 11. The bird feeder of claim 10, wherein the main body portion of the base assembly has an annular rim adapted to sealingly engage the housing at the open end of the housing. 12. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including at least two ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and formed by a peripheral sidewall; at least one and other bird feed port inserts, each insert adapted to be received in a corresponding port and each having a collar portion positioned outside the housing and a hood portion extending into the housing along a port axis that extends substantially orthogonal to the housing sidewall; and an interconnecting member having one and other ends and for interconnecting the hood portions of the inserts to one another with a snap fit to secure the inserts within the housing; each said hood portion including an inner passage for receiving the interconnecting member; said interconnecting member having a first leg means at the one end thereof engageable with the one insert inner passage for locking therewith; said interconnecting member also having at least a second leg means at the other end thereof engageable with the other insert inner passage for selective engagement therewith; said second leg means including a release leg having an engagement lip that removably interlocks the interconnecting member with the other insert; said release leg including a distal end tip that is offset from said engagement lip, that extends in the direction of the port axis, and that is manually engageable in the direction of the port axis to release the interconnecting member. 13. The bird feeder of claim 12, wherein each insert further comprises an internal projection. 14. The bird feeder of claim 13, wherein each insert further comprises a bird perch, formed on the collar portion, extending away from the housing and disposed under the port. 15. The bird feeder of claim 12, wherein the interconnecting member includes a third leg means for engagement with a passage of a third insert. 16. The bird feeder of claim 12 wherein the interconnecting member comprises a single piece member. 17. The bird feeder of claim 16 wherein each insert comprises a port member having the inner passage, and the first leg means includes a first leg set with each leg having an interlock means. 18. The bird feeder of claim 17 wherein the second leg means includes a leg set, one leg of which is said release leg. 19. The bird feeder of claim 18 wherein the engagement lip retains the interconnecting member locked to the insert, and can pass through the passage when the release leg is depressed. 20. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed, having an upper end and an open lower end and having a housing longitudinal center axis that extends between the upper and lower ends; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly including a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated latch coupled to the main body portion and having a latch center axis, the manually operated latch being supported for rotation about said latch center axis with respect to the main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing, said latch center axis coincident with said housing center axis; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member and wherein the bird feed port comprises a port member releasably engaged with the housing, the port member carrying one of the first and second engaging members; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion of the base assembly and a lip on the manually operated latch for capturing the projection in the locked position of the latch. 21. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and having an open lower end; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly having a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated latch coupled to the main body portion, the latch being supported for rotation with respect to the main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing, including a projection facing internally on the housing, the main body portion having an open bottom into which the latch is disposed, the latch including stops spaced apart to engage the projection at opposite positions of the latch, and a port member disposed in the port and wherein the projection is from the port member; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion of the base assembly and a lip on the manually operated latch for capturing the projection in the locked position of the latch. 22. The bird feeder of claim 21 wherein the manually operated latch in the locked position thereof securing the manually operated latch and main body portion to the housing to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing, and in the released position thereof being rotatable about a center axis of the latch and relative to the main body portion to release the base assembly from the housing. 23. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and having an open lower end; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly having a main body portion adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing so that the main body portion is rotatably fixed but removable with respect to the housing, and a manually operated latch having respective locked and released positions and coupled to the main body portion, the latch being supported for rotation with respect to the main body portion to, in the locked position, secure the base assembly to the housing and, in the released position, release the base assembly from the housing by rotating the latch member relative to the main body portion, wherein the latch member has a bottom wall with an opening therein, and the main body portion includes a base member having a post that engages with the bottom wall opening, the manually operated latch being rotatable relative to the base member post between the respective locked and released positions; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion of the base assembly and a lip on the manually operated latch for capturing the projection in the locked position of the latch. 24. The bird feeder of claim 23 including a detent means arranged between the post and opening. 25. The bird feeder of claim 24 wherein the detent means includes at least one channel in the opening and at least one ridge on the post. 26. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed, having an upper end and an open lower end and having a housing longitudinal center axis that extends between the upper and lower ends of the housing; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly including a base adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing but removable in order to provide access at the open lower end of the housing, a manually operated rotational latch coupled to the removable base and having locked and released positions, and means for rotatably supporting the manually operated rotational latch relative to the removable base so that in the locked position the base assembly is secured to the housing and in the released position the base assembly may be removed from the housing; said means for rotatably supporting including means for enabling the manually operated rotational latch to rotate about a latch axis that coincides with the housing longitudinal center axis between locked and released positions; wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member upon positioning the first and second engaging members adjacent one another; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; and wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the main body portion of the base assembly and a lip on the manually operated latch for capturing the projection in the locked position of the latch. 27. The bird feeder of claim 26 wherein the removable base is rotatably fixed in the locked position but removable with respect to the housing in the released position. 28. The bird feeder of claim 27 wherein the latch has spaced apart finger grips. 29. The bird feeder of claim 28 wherein the latch has finger grips to facilitate the rotation of the latch. 30. The bird feeder of claim 26 including stop means between the latch and base to limit the rotation of the latch relative to the base. 31. A bird feeder comprising: a housing for storing bird feed therein, including one or more ports through which access is provided to the bird feed and having an open lower end; and a base assembly adapted to close the open end of the housing, the base assembly including a base adapted to fit within the housing at the open end of the housing but removable in order to provide access at the open lower end of the housing, a manually operated rotational latch coupled to the removable base and having locked and released positions, and means for rotatably supporting the manually operated latch relative to the removable base so that in the locked position the base assembly is secured to the housing and in the released position the base assembly may be removed from the housing; wherein the removable base is rotatably fixed in the locked position but removable with wherein one of the housing and the latch has a first engaging member and the other of the housing and the latch has a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member; further comprising one or more bird feed perches extending from the housing under the port; wherein the bird feed port comprises an insert releasably engaged with the housing, the insert having one of the first and second engaging members; wherein the first engaging member comprises a projection internally of the housing and the second engaging member comprises a slot in the base and a lip on the latch for capturing said projection in the locked position of the latch.