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Technology:
Funny
Patents (IV)
It’s a Bird! It’s a Squirrel!
It’s
a Patent!
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Oliver Weiss
 There
are people out there who think of everything, from animal waste disposal systems
for Pooh's poo to the Fully Rotatable Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder. If it hasn't
already been invented, they'll be sure to file a patent some fine day. Read extracts from the
original files. |
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n animal waste disposal system including a
housing with an area for holding a bed of particulate litter, a scoop with a
plurality of perforations for separating animal's waste from the particulate
litter, and a drive mechanism for moving the scoop to remove animal's waste from
the bed of particulate litter is proposed.
The waste-removing operation is carried out by
collecting a mixture of animal's waste and particulate litter in the interior of
the scoop and moving the scoop in a raised position over the area for holding
the bed of particulate litter to allow the collected particulate litter to sift
through the perforations in the scoop while retaining animal's waste for
disposal into a waste container.
The bed of particulate litter may be
arbitrarily defined by a plurality of contiguous sections, each of which can be
cleaned or processed separately and independently. Two types of retractable
partitions are provided to make the waste-removing mechanism inaccessible to the
animal during its automatic operation.
Winnie-the-Pooh's
poo in little boxes
A variety of litter boxes or waste disposal systems exists with a mechanism for
removing animal's waste from a bed of particulate litter. These systems may be
classified into several categories based on their construction and functions.
For example, one type of system includes a stationary litter tray with a rake,
basket or scoop which moves along a predetermined path inside the litter tray to
collect animal's waste from the bed of particulate litter.
| This invention provides a waste-removing mechanism which is capable of removing
small pieces of waste from the bed of particulate litter. |
Another type of
system uses a rotary litter container with a sifting screen positioned inside
the container for separating animal's waste from the particulate litter as the
container is rotated about a horizontal axis.
A third type of system uses a
conveyer belt for removing a mixture of animal's waste and particulate litter
from one end of the container while clean litter is added at the other end of
the container.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic waste
removal system for animal with a safe waste-removing mechanism.
Another object
is to provide a waste-removing mechanism which is capable of removing
substantially smaller pieces of waste from the bed of particulate litter.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic waste
disposal system which is suitable for use with medium-grained non-absorbent
litter as well as fine-grained clumpable litter. (United States Patent 6,202,595)
You
asked for it:
the Fully Rotatable Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
The present invention relates to bird feeders, specifically to bird feeders
designed to prevent squirrels and other unwanted animals from pilfering birdseed
from the feeder.
Interest in feeding birds has grown rapidly in last decade from a relatively
small number of hobbyists to the mainstream population. In addition, the baby
boomer population is increasingly moving into retirement age, finding more free
time to enjoy their yards and nearby bird wildlife.
Feeding birds is also a
valuable educational experience for children by teaching them
about the environment around their homes and by nurturing basic respect for the
animal world.
Bird feeders typically attract a wide variety of desirable birds. In spite of
this fact, bird feeders also attract highly undesirable birds and nuisance
animals. Undesirable birds pilfer large amounts of birdseed, take over feeding
stations keeping smaller birds away, leave large amounts of bird droppings,
flock upon yards, and take over nesting sites.
In addition, animals such as gray
and red squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons pilfer large amounts of birdseed,
destroy bird feeders, take over nesting sites, and possibly cause undo havoc
upon property dwellings.
A once enjoyable bird watching experience can quickly
become a frustrating circus-like environment. It is not uncommon to see many
undesirable birds flock in yards and squirrels and other pesky animals scramble
about for the birdseed.
Look,
Ma, vertical braces!
A fully rotatable squirrel proof bird feeder for
dislodging and preventing unwanted animals comprising a horizontal shaft with
rotatable end sleeves, a seed receptacle with feed portals disposed midpoint and
fixed to the shaft, and a counter-weighted shell comprising a window opening,
weather awning, and rotatable perch assembly. The shell is mounted fully
rotatable on the shaft closely surrounding the seed receptacle.
Vertical braces
fixed to the shaft ends prevent axial rotation of the seed receptacle and
provide a secure method for hanging. An adjustable counter-weight fixed to the
shell permits weight discrimination and biases alignment between the window
opening and the feed portals. In the open feeding position, birds of
preferential weight land on the perch and pass through the window opening to the
feed portals.
In the closed rotating position(s), heavier unwanted animals upon
the feeder will roll the shell, the shaft sleeves, or the perch clockwise or
counterclockwise and either be dislodged or the shell will close off access to
the feed portals.
An alternate embodiment integrates various features and
counterbalance properties by molding the shell body shape and changing the pivot
location of the shell. (United States Patent
6,192,832)
[2002]
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