Bird feeder hanger assembly

Abstract

Implementations described and claimed herein provide apparatuses and methods for facilitating filling and cleaning of bird feeders that are aesthetically pleasing and adaptable for attracting different types of birds. In one implementation, a bird feeder includes a proximal edge extending around a central line and defining a plane. An outer surface and an inner surface each extends distally from the plane. The inner surface is connected to the outer surface by the proximal edge. An opening is formed by the proximal edge and positioned on the plane. A hanger is disposed distal to and not intersecting the plane, and the hanger assembly has a hanging portion positioned on the central line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of filling a bird feeder with nectar, the method comprising:
 inverting a reservoir from an upright orientation to an inverted orientation, the reservoir extending between a planar surface and a mouth and defining an interior, the planar surface being continuously solid and the mouth defining an opening, the inverted orientation including the planar surface disposed distal to the mouth;   pivoting a hanger of a hanger assembly to a folded position, the folded position including no portion of the hanger assembly protruding distal to the planar surface when the reservoir is in the inverted orientation; and   contacting a flat surface with the planar surface, contact between the flat surface and the planar surface being unobstructed by the hanger assembly with the reservoir in the inverted orientation and the hanger in the folded position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing access to the opening of the mouth by disengaging a basin assembly from the mouth of the reservoir; and   receiving the nectar into the interior of the reservoir through the opening of the mouth.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 reengaging the basin assembly to the mouth;   reinverting the reservoir from the inverted orientation to the upright orientation, the nectar being dispensed from the interior of the reservoir into the basin assembly through the mouth when the reservoir is in the upright orientation; and   pivoting the hanger of the hanger assembly from the folded position to an upright position for hanging the bird feeder.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hanger assembly includes a reservoir engaging portion having a body defining an opening, at least a portion of the reservoir near the planar surface extending through the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the hanger assembly includes a first set of connectors extending from the body of the reservoir engaging portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first set of connectors extend in an outward direction away from an axis about which the body of the reservoir engaging portion extends. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the hanger assembly includes a second set of connectors engaging the hanger to the first set of connectors. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first set of connectors or the second set of connectors include hooks. 
     
     
         9 . A method of filling a bird feeder with nectar, the method comprising:
 inverting a reservoir from an upright orientation to an inverted orientation, the reservoir extending between a planar surface and a mouth, the inverted orientation including the planar surface disposed distal to the mouth;   moving a hanger of a hanger assembly to a folded position, the folded position including an entirety of the hanger assembly being proximal to the planar surface when the reservoir is in the inverted orientation; and   positioning the bird feeder on a flat surface in the inverted orientation with the hanger in the folded position, such that the planar surface meets the flat surface unobstructed by the hanger assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hanger assembly includes a reservoir engaging portion having a body defining an opening, at least a portion of the reservoir near the planar surface extending through the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hanger assembly includes a first set of connectors extending from the body of the reservoir engaging portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first set of connectors extend in an outward direction away from an axis about which the body of the reservoir engaging portion extends. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hanger assembly includes a second set of connectors engaging the hanger to the first set of connectors. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first set of connectors or the second set of connectors include hooks. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bird feeder remains stable while positioned on the flat surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 inverting a reservoir from an upright orientation to an inverted orientation, the reservoir extending between a planar surface and a mouth, the inverted orientation including the planar surface disposed distal to the mouth;   moving a hanger of a hanger assembly to a folded position; and   disposing the planar surface on a flat surface with the reservoir in the inverted orientation and the hanger in the folded position, such that contact between the flat surface and the planar surface being unobstructed by the hanger assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing access to an opening of the mouth by disengaging a basin assembly from the mouth of the reservoir; and   receiving nectar into an interior of the reservoir through the opening of the mouth.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 reengaging the basin assembly to the mouth;   reinverting the reservoir from the inverted orientation to the upright orientation, the nectar being dispensed from the interior of the reservoir into the basin assembly through the mouth when the reservoir is in the upright orientation; and   moving the hanger of the hanger assembly from the folded position to an upright position for hanging.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the planar surface defines a plane and no portion of the hanger assembly intersects the plane when the hanger assembly is in the folded position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hanger includes a hanging portion.