Two-in-one finch bird feeder

Abstract

A bird feeder is provided having a seed reservoir with a side wall that has at least one seed access opening and an adjustable feed port assembly. The feed port assembly includes a base mounted to the side wall in a fixed relationship thereto and having a central opening in communication with the seed in the reservoir. Fitted to the base is a rotatable insert having a perch coupled thereto in fixed relationship so that the perch and insert rotate as a unit. The insert is rotatable between two positions, an upright position in which the perch is below the base central opening enabling birds to feed while standing on the perch, and an upside down position in which the perch is above the base central opening, requiring birds to hang upside down from the perch to feed.

1 . A bird feeder comprising:
 a seed reservoir having a side wall with at least one opening therein through which birds can access seed held within the reservoir; and   an adjustable feed port assembly including a base and a rotatable insert fitted to said base, said base mounted to the side wall in a fixed position and having a central opening in communication with the opening in the reservoir side wall through which birds can access seed, said insert having a perch coupled thereto so that the insert and the perch are in fixed relationship to one another, said insert being rotatable within the base between two positions, an upright position in which the perch is below the base central opening enabling birds to feed while standing on the perch and an upside down position in which the perch is above the base central opening requiring that the birds hang upside down from the perch to feed.   
     
     
         2 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said insert is rotated with respect to said base to orient the insert in either said upright position or said upside down position, said insert having a pair of detents that engage with a corresponding pair of grooves on the base to hold the insert in one of said upright or upside down positions when the feeder is in use. 
     
     
         3 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said detents are flexible to be bent inwardly out of the grooves to enable the insert to be rotated within the base until the detents are again engaged with the grooves so that the insert is fixed in either the upright position or the upside down position when mounted to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein reorienting the insert between said upright and upside down positions requires that the insert be rotated about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a mounting body fitted within the reservoir sidewall opening and an outwardly projecting collar configured to receive and be coupled to said insert. 
     
     
         6 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said insert includes a body and a perch, said body having an insertion part and a face plate, said insertion part at least partly received within said collar and coupled thereto when the feeder is assembled for use, said face plate positioned on an outer end of said insertion part and having a plurality of holes therein through which birds access seed. 
     
     
         7 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the collar has a generally cylindrical sidewall, an inner surface of said sidewall having two grooves on opposing sides of said sidewall that extend generally perpendicular to the mounting body, said insertion part also having a generally cylindrical sidewall, an outer surface of said sidewall having two detents on opposing sides of the insertion part that engage within said grooves and prevent rotation of said insert when the feeder is in use. 
     
     
         8 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said grooves include a first groove and an opposing groove, and said detents include a first detent and an opposing detent, said insert being in the upright position when said first detent is aligned with said first groove and said opposing detent is aligned with said opposing groove, and said insert being in said upside down position when said first detent is aligned with said opposing groove and said opposing detent is aligned with said first groove. 
     
     
         9 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said insertion part has a radial channel adjacent a rear edge of said insertion part, the inner surface of the sidewall of said base collar having a plurality of lugs that are received and ride within said channel to rotatably secure the insert to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a connecting member engaged between said insert and said base, said connecting member being configured to be coupled to and rotate with said insert within said base. 
     
     
         11 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said connecting member has a body with two locking tabs positioned on opposing sides of said body and projecting from a front side of said body, said locking tabs being received within two slots formed on opposing sides of the cylindrical sidewall of the insertion part. 
     
     
         12 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said connecting member body further includes two insert positioning tabs on a second set of opposing sides of said body and projecting from said front side, said insert positioning tabs being offset from said locking tabs by about 90 degrees, said insert positioning tabs engaging with said grooves on said collar sidewall to secure the insert in one of the right side up or upside down positions within the base. 
     
     
         13 . A bird feeder comprising:
 a seed reservoir having a side wall with at least one opening therein through which birds can access seed held within the reservoir; and   an adjustable feed port assembly including a perch fitted within said side wall opening, said feed port assembly having at least one part that is coupled to said perch and rotatable therewith between a first orientation in which the perch is below the reservoir sidewall opening enabling birds to feed while standing on the perch and a second orientation in which the perch is above the reservoir sidewall opening requiring that the birds hang upside down from the perch to feed.   
     
     
         14 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said adjustable feed port assembly includes a base mounted to the side reservoir wall in a fixed position and having a central opening in communication with the opening in the reservoir side wall through which birds can access seed, said at least one part including an insert fitted within said base and rotatable with respect to said base between said first and second orientations. 
     
     
         15 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said insert has an insertion part with a generally cylindrical sidewall having a pair of detents that engage with a corresponding pair of grooves on a generally cylindrical inner surface of a collar on said base to hold the insert in one of said first and second orientations when the feeder is in use. 
     
     
         16 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said detents are flexible to be bent inwardly out of the grooves and against the inner surface of the base to enable the insert to be rotated within the base from the first orientation approximately 180 degrees until the detents are again engaged with the grooves with the insert fixed in said second orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said insertion part has a radial channel adjacent a rear edge of said insertion part, the inner surface of the sidewall of said base collar having a plurality of lugs that are received and ride within said channel to rotatably secure the insert to the base. 
     
     
         18 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a connecting member engaged between said insert and said base, said connecting member being configured to be coupled to and rotate with said insert within said base. 
     
     
         19 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said connecting member has a body with two locking tabs positioned on opposing sides of said body and projecting from a front side of said body, said locking tabs being received within two slots formed on opposing sides of the cylindrical sidewall of the insertion part. 
     
     
         20 . The bird feeder as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said connecting member body further includes two insert positioning tabs on a second set of opposing sides of said body and projecting from said front side, said insert positioning tabs being offset from said locking tabs by about 90 degrees, said insert positioning tabs engaging with said grooves on said collar sidewall to secure the insert in one of said first and second orientations within the base.