Selective animal feeder

Abstract

An animal feeder includes a feed bin configured to hold feed stock. The feed bin has a first feed port. The animal feeder also includes an outer housing positioned around at least a portion of the feed bin. The outer housing has a second feed port. The animal feeder further includes a magnet supported by one of the feed bin and the outer housing. The magnet magnetically couples the outer housing to the feed bin. The outer housing is movable relative to the feed bin between a first position, in which the outer housing is magnetically coupled to the feed bin such that the first feed port and the second feed port are at least partially aligned, and a second position, in which the outer housing is not magnetically coupled to the feed bin and the first feed port and the second feed port are out of alignment.

1 . An animal feeder comprising:
 a feed bin configured to hold feed stock, the feed bin having a first feed port;   an outer housing positioned around at least a portion of the feed bin, the outer housing having a second feed port; and   a magnet supported by one of the feed bin and the outer housing, the magnet magnetically coupling the outer housing to the feed bin;   wherein the outer housing is movable relative to the feed bin between a first position, in which the outer housing is magnetically coupled to the feed bin such that the first feed port and the second feed port are at least partially aligned, and a second position, in which the outer housing is not magnetically coupled to the feed bin and the first feed port and the second feed port are out of alignment.   
     
     
         2 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing moves to the second position when a force is applied to the outer housing that exceeds a magnetic coupling force provided by the magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , further comprising a perch coupled to the outer housing adjacent the second feed port, wherein the outer housing moves to the second position when an animal of sufficient weight stands on the perch. 
     
     
         4 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member coupled to the feed bin and the outer housing, wherein the resilient member biases the outer housing to the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The animal feeder of  claim 4 , wherein the resilient member includes a compression spring positioned between the feed bin and the outer housing. 
     
     
         6 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , further comprising a support member for hanging the animal feeder, wherein the feed bin is fixedly coupled to the support member, and wherein the outer housing is movably coupled to the support member. 
     
     
         7 . The animal feeder of  claim 6 , wherein the support member defines an axis, and wherein the outer housing moves linearly along the axis between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is supported on the outer housing by a strap. 
     
     
         9 . An animal feeder comprising:
 a housing configured to hold feed stock, the housing having a feed port;   a perch positioned adjacent the feed port, the perch configured to support an animal and to provide access to the feed port;   a magnet magnetically coupling the perch to the housing, wherein the perch magnetically uncouples from the housing and does not provide access to the feed port when a force is applied to the perch that exceeds a magnetic coupling force provided by the magnet;   a biasing member fixed to the perch to bias the perch into engagement with the magnet and   an awning coupled to the housing adjacent the feed port, wherein the perch is supported by the awning.   
     
     
         10 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The animal feeder of  claim 9 , wherein the magnet is supported on one of the awning and the housing to magnetically couple the awning to the housing, and wherein the awning magnetically uncouples from the housing when the force is applied to the perch. 
     
     
         14 . The animal feeder of  claim 13 , wherein the awning is also pivotally coupled to the housing, and wherein the awning pivots relative to the housing and substantially blocks access to the feed port when the awning magnetically uncouples from the housing. 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The animal feeder of claim  12 , wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         22 . The animal feeder of  claim 13 , wherein the perch is pivotally coupled to a distal end of the awning, such that, when the awning magnetically uncouples from the housing, the perch does not prevent the awning from substantially blocking access to the feed port. 
     
     
         23 . The animal feeder of claim  12 , wherein the feed port is a first feed port, the perch is a first perch, the magnet is a first magnet, the biasing member is a first biasing member, and the awning is a first awning and further comprising:
 a second feed port;   a second perch positioned adjacent the second feed port, the second perch configured to support an animal and to provide access to the second feed port;   a second magnet magnetically coupling the second perch to the housing, wherein the second perch magnetically uncouples from the housing and does not provide access to the second feed port when a force is applied to the second perch that exceeds a magnetic coupling force provided by the second magnet;   a second biasing member fixed to the second perch to bias the second perch into engagement with the second magnet; and   a second awning coupled to the housing adjacent the second feed port, wherein the second perch is supported by the second awning,   wherein the first perch is operable to magnetically uncouple from the housing separate from the second perch.   
     
     
         24 . The animal feeder of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a support member for hanging the animal feeder,   wherein the feed bin is fixedly coupled to the support member,   wherein the outer housing is movably coupled to the support member,   wherein the support member defines an axis, and wherein the outer housing moves linearly along the axis between the first position and the second position, and   wherein the resilient member is aligned with the axis.   
     
     
         25 . The animal feeder of  claim 4 , further comprising a crossbar coupled to the feed bin, wherein the resilient member is positioned between the crossbar and the outer housing. 
     
     
         26 . The animal feeder of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a support member for hanging the animal feeder,   wherein the support member defines an axis, and wherein the outer housing moves linearly along the axis between the first position and the second position, and   wherein the crossbar extends through the axis and supports the resilient member on a surface which is generally perpendicular to the axis.   
     
     
         27 . The animal feeder of  claim 7 , wherein the outer housing moves linearly along the axis between the first position and the second position relative to the feed bin and the support member. 
     
     
         28 . The animal feeder of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional first feed port in the feed bin;   an additional second feed port in the outer housing; and   a perch coupled to the outer housing adjacent at least one of the second feed port and the additional second feed port,   wherein in the first position the additional first feed port is at least partially aligned with the additional second feed port,   wherein in the second position both the first feed port and the additional first feed port are out of alignment with the additional second feed port, and   wherein the outer housing moves to the second position when an animal of sufficient weight stands on the perch.   
     
     
         29 . The animal feeder of  claim 28 , further comprising a resilient member coupled to the feed bin and the outer housing, wherein the resilient member biases the outer housing to the first position.