Wild bird feeder

Abstract

A wild bird feeder comprising a container and a base. A cable extends through the container and base and is provided with a hanging loop at one end and a bottom cover at the other end for retaining the components of the bird feeder between them and suspending the bird feeder in a hanging position when hung from a tree or otherwise. The container comprises and is formed by a cover, a dome, a collar, and a hopper. In use, the cover can be detached from the dome to expose a first opening and/or the cover and dome can be detached from the hopper to expose a second opening to pour bird seed into the bird feeder, the star shaped opening of the cover frictionally engaging the cable to retain the cover and/or the cover and dome in their respective open positions during re-filling of the bird feeder.

1 . A bird feeder having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising:
 a cover;   a star shaped opening in the cover, the star shaped opening comprising an open center surrounded by a plurality of adjacent teeth;   a dome having a first rim defining an open top and a second rim defining an open bottom;   means for releaseably attaching the cover to the first rim of the dome for covering the open top;   a hopper having a third rim defining a second open top and a fourth rim defining a second open bottom;   means for releaseably fastening the second rim of the dome to the third rim of the hopper;   a tray having a top surface and a bottom surface;   means for releaseably coupling the fourth rim of the hopper to the top surface of the tray;   a cable having a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end;   a passageway passing through the bird feeder from the proximal end to the distal end;   the cable being received through the open center and engaging the plurality of adjacent teeth in the cover and passing through the passageway of the bird feeder;   whereby, when the cover is detached from the dome and slideably moved along the cable in the direction away from the dome to an open position exposing the open top, the plurality of adjacent teeth in the star shaped opening of the cover frictionally engaging the cable to retain the cover in the open position, or   whereby, when the dome and cover combined are detached from the hopper and slideably moved along the cable in the direction away from the hopper to a second open position exposing the second open top, the plurality of adjacent teeth in the star shaped opening of the cover frictionally engaging the cable to retain the dome and cover in the second open position; and   whereby, when the cover is detached from the dome, bird seed can be poured into the open top of the dome to re-fill the bird feeder or when the dome and cover are detached from the hopper, bird seed can be poured into the second open top of the hopper to re-fill the bird feeder; and   whereby, after the bird feeder is re-filled, the cover is slideably moved along the cable in the reverse direction with the cable passing back through the open center and plurality of adjacent teeth enabling the cover to be reattached to the dome thereby closing the open top, or the dome and cover are slideably moved along the cable in the reverse direction with the cable passing back through the open center and plurality of adjacent teeth enabling the dome to be reattached to the hopper thereby closing the second open top.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the means for releaseably attaching the cover to the first rim of the dome for covering the open top comprises a latch affixed to the cover, a latch hole in the rim providing a chamber, the chamber having an entrance and an opposite end, the latch being received through the latch hole and into the chamber, the cover being rotated laterally forcing the latch to move from the entrance of the chamber to the opposite end of the chamber thereby locking the cover to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the latch comprises a recessed wall extending downwardly from the cover and a protruding ledge affixed to the recessed wall having a top surface located a distance and parallel to an underside surface of the cover, the underside surface of the cover, the recessed wall, and the top surface of the ledge engagingly mating with the rim for assisting in locking the cover to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the means for releaseably fastening the second rim of the dome to the third rim of the hopper is a collar. 
     
     
         5 . A method for using a bird feeder, comprising the steps of:
 hanging the bird feeder in the air from a cable, the cable having a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end, the bird feeder having a open passageway for the cable to slideably pass through and be retained between the ends of the cable;   removing a cover from the bird feeder to expose an opening;   sliding the cover along the cable away from the bird feeder to a desired location;   frictionally attaching the cover to the cable at the desired location;   inserting bird seed into the opening to fill the bird feeder;   sliding the cover from the desired location back to the bird feeder; and   re-attaching the cover to the bird feeder.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  and further comprising the step of removing a dome from the bird feeder to expose a second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  and further comprising the step of sliding the dome along the cable away from the bird feeder to a second desired location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising the step of inserting bird seed into the second opening to fill the bird feeder. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  and further comprising the step of sliding the dome from the second desired location back to the bird feeder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  and further comprising the step of re-attaching the dome to the bird feeder.