Birdfeeder and Seed Dispenser Therefor

Abstract

A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base piece mounted to an opening in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir and an apertured pied disposed therein. The apertured piece includes a first seed aperture having a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a second and different configuration. The apertured piece is moveable relative to the base 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. The apertured piece may be a dial that is rotatable relative to the base and able to dispense both thistle and mixed birdseed via the first and second apertures respectively. The invention is also directed to a method of feeding bird feeder having such a dispenser.

1 . A dispenser adapted to access and dispense bird seed from a birdfeeder that has a birdseed reservoir with a sidewall, comprising: 
 (A) a base piece mounted to an opening in the sidewall of said reservoir; and    (B) an apertured piece disposed in said base piece and including 
 (1) a first seed aperture of a first configuration; and  
 (2) a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration; and  
 (3) wherein said apertured piece is moveable relative to said base piece between 
 (a) a first orientation wherein said first seed aperture is oriented in a seed accessible state so as to provide access to the bird seed; and  
 (b) a second orientation wherein said second seed aperture is in the seed accessible state.  
 
   
   
   
       2 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece is at least partly disposed in the birdseed reservoir when mounted to the opening in said sidewall.  
   
   
       3 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece includes a plurality of spaced apart retaining tabs operative to retain said apertured piece and permit movement thereof relative to said base piece.  
   
   
       4 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece includes a plurality of resilient prongs operative to releasably secure said base piece on the sidewall.  
   
   
       5 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece includes a registration finger operative to facilitate attachment of said base piece to the opening in the sidewall.  
   
   
       6 . A dispenser according to  claim 4  wherein said base piece, said plurality of prongs and said registration finger are formed as an integral one-piece construction.  
   
   
       7 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece includes a wall having a seed outlet formed therethrough in fluid communication with the opening.  
   
   
       8 . A dispenser according to  claim 7  wherein the seed outlet is in fluid communication with the first seed aperture when said apertured piece is in the first orientation and wherein access to the birdseed via the second seed aperture is obstructed by said wall.  
   
   
       9 . A dispenser according to  claim 7  wherein the seed outlet is in fluid communication with the second seed aperture when said apertured piece is in the second orientation and wherein access to the birdseed via the first seed aperture is obstructed by said wall.  
   
   
       10 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece has an annular configuration.  
   
   
       11 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  including cooperating fasteners adapted to releasably secure said base piece to the sidewall.  
   
   
       12 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the first configuration is adapted to dispense thistle birdseed from the reservoir.  
   
   
       13 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the second configuration is adapted to dispense mixed birdseed from the reservoir.  
   
   
       14 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  including a retaining piece releasably securable to said base piece whereby said apertured piece is located therebetween.  
   
   
       15 . A dispenser according to  claim 14  wherein said retaining piece includes a plurality of spaced apart resilient retaining tabs adapted to retain said apertured piece and permit movement thereof relative to said base piece.  
   
   
       16 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said base piece and said apertured piece are each formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, metal and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A dispenser adapted to access and dispense bird seed from a birdfeeder that has a bird seed reservoir with a sidewall, comprising: 
 (A) a base piece mounted to an opening in the sidewall of said reservoir wherein the opening has a central axis generally perpendicular to the sidewall; and    (B) an apertured dial disposed in said base piece and journaled for rotation on the central axis, said dial including 
 (1) a first seed aperture having a first configuration; and  
 (2) a second seed aperture having a second configuration that is different from the first configuration; and  
 (3) wherein said apertured dial is rotatable relative to said base piece between 
 (a) a first orientation wherein said first seed aperture is oriented in a seed accessible state so as to provide access to the bird seed; and  
 (b) a second orientation wherein said second seed aperture is in the seed accessible state.  
 
   
   
   
       18 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein said base piece includes a plurality of spaced apart retaining tabs operative to retain said apertured piece and permit movement thereof relative to said base piece.  
   
   
       19 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein said base piece includes a plurality of resilient prongs adapted to releasably secure said base piece to the opening in the sidewall.  
   
   
       20 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein said base piece includes a wall having a seed outlet formed therethrough.  
   
   
       21 . A dispenser according to  claim 20  wherein the seed outlet is in fluid communication with the first seed aperture when said apertured dial is in the first orientation and wherein access to the birdseed via the second seed aperture is obstructed by said wall.  
   
   
       22 . A dispenser according to  claim 20  wherein the seed outlet is in fluid communication with the second seed aperture when said apertured dial is in the second orientation and wherein access to the birdseed via the first seed aperture is obstructed by said wall.  
   
   
       23 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein said base piece has an annular configuration.  
   
   
       24 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  including cooperating fasteners adapted to releasably secure said base piece to the sidewall.  
   
   
       25 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein the first configuration is adapted to dispense thistle birdseed from the reservoir.  
   
   
       26 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  wherein the second configuration is adapted to dispense mixed birdseed from the reservoir.  
   
   
       27 . A dispenser according to  claim 17  including a retaining piece releasably securable to said base piece whereby said apertured dial is located therebetween.  
   
   
       28 . A dispenser according to  claim 27  wherein said retaining piece includes a plurality of spaced apart retaining tabs adapted to retain said apertured dial and permit rotational movement thereof relative to said base piece.  
   
   
       29 . A bird feeder adapted to be suspended from a support structure against the force of gravity and to provide birdseed to birds, comprising: 
 (A) a hanger member adapted to engage the support structure;    (B) a birdseed reservoir with a surrounding sidewall adapted to receive the birdseed therein, said sidewall having an opening formed therethrough; and    (C) a seed dispenser mounted to the opening in said sidewall and adapted to dispense the birdseed to the birds and including an apertured piece having 
 (1) a first seed aperture of a first configuration; and  
 (2) a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration; and  
 (3) wherein said apertured piece is moveable relative to said sidewall between 
 (a) a first orientation wherein said first seed aperture is oriented in a seed accessible state so as to provide access to the bird seed; and  
 (b) a second orientation wherein said second seed aperture is in the seed accessible state.  
 
   
   
   
       30 . A bird feeder according to  claim 29  wherein said birdseed reservoir has a configuration selected from the group consisting of tubular, rectangular, and frustoconical.  
   
   
       31 . A bird feeder according to  claim 29  including a plurality of openings formed in said sidewall of said birdseed reservoir and including a plurality of seed dispensers mounted thereto.  
   
   
       32 . A bird feeder according to  claim 29  wherein apertured piece is configured as a dial and is adapted for rotational movement relative to said sidewall.  
   
   
       33 . A bird feeder according to  claim 29  wherein said seed dispenser includes a base piece adapted to couple said apertured piece to said sidewall.  
   
   
       34 . A bird feeder according to  claim 33  wherein said base piece includes a wall having a seed outlet formed therethrough.  
   
   
       35 . A bird feeder according to  claim 34  wherein the seed outlet is in fluid communication with the first seed aperture when said apertured piece is in the first orientation and wherein access to the birdseed via the second seed aperture is obstructed by said wall.  
   
   
       36 . A bird feeder according to  claim 34  wherein the seed outlet is in fluid communication with the second seed aperture when said apertured piece is in the second orientation and wherein access to the birdseed via the first seed aperture is obstructed by said wall.  
   
   
       37 . A bird feeder according to  claim 33  including a retaining piece releasably securable to said base piece and wherein said apertured piece is located therebetween.  
   
   
       38 . A bird feeder according to  claim 29  wherein the first configuration is adapted to dispense thistle birdseed from the reservoir.  
   
   
       39 . A bird feeder according to  claim 29  wherein the second configuration is adapted to dispense mixed birdseed from the reservoir.  
   
   
       40 . In a bird feeder adapted to provide birdseed to birds, including a birdseed reservoir adapted to receive and contain the birdseed therein said reservoir including a surrounding sidewall and at least one opening formed therein that is adapted to access and dispense the birdseed from the reservoir, the improvement comprising: 
 (A) an apertured piece coupled to the opening in said sidewall and including 
 (1) a first seed aperture of a first configuration; and  
 (2) a second seed aperture of a second configuration that is different from that of the first configuration; and  
 (3) wherein said apertured piece is moveable relative to said sidewall between 
 (a) a first orientation wherein said first seed aperture is oriented in a seed accessible state so as to provide access to the bird seed; and  
 (b) a second orientation wherein said second seed aperture is in the seed accessible state.  
 
   
   
   
       41 . A birdfeeder according to  claim 40  wherein said apertured piece is a dial adapted for rotational movement relative to said sidewall.  
   
   
       42 . A method for feeding birds utilizing a bird feeder having a birdseed reservoir with a surrounding sidewall adapted to contain the birdseed and an opening formed in the sidewall adapted to access and dispense the birdseed to the birds, comprising the steps of: 
 (A) providing the bird feeder with a seed dispenser having a plurality of seed apertures associated therewith;    (B) adding a selected type of birdseed to the birdseed reservoir; and    (C) moving a selected one of said plurality of seed apertures into a seed accessible state whereby said selected seed aperture is in fluid communication with the opening in the sidewall.    
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 42  wherein said seed dispenser includes a dial piece and wherein said plurality of seed apertures are formed therethrough.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 43  wherein step of moving a selected one of said seed apertures is accomplished by rotating said dial piece.