GB2380117A

GB2380117A - Safety attachment for window bird feeders

Info

Publication number: GB2380117A
Application number: GB0123050A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bertram Mindell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-26
Filing date: 2001-09-26
Publication date: 2003-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-26
Also published as: GB2380117B; GB0123050D0

Abstract

A string/cord (or the like) 1 is attached by one end to a bird feeder 3 which is fastened to the outside of a window pane 4 by suction cups 5. The other end of the safety device is secured to a secure object 7 on the inside of the window. In use the device would restrain the feeder should it fall from the window.

Description

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR WINDOW BIRD FEEDERS There is a growing interest in bird feeders of different shapes which can be attached to windows usually by means of suckers. This allows people who do not have ready access to gardens to enjoy helping wild birds and seeing them close to while they are feeding.

The normal method of keeping the bird feeder in place is by means of one or more suckers where one end is connected to the feeder and the sucker portion is attached to the window.

Most suckers are of a reliable manufacture and, once properly applied, will stay in place for quite a period of time. However the risks to life and property can be significant if the sucker or suckers lose their grip. This can happen if they are inadequately applied, subject to extremes of temperature or have not been re-applied sufficiently frequently. Since the consequences of such a failure could be very serious it would be advantageous to have a fail-safe system whereby the bird feeder is permanently attached to an object in the interior of the dwelling so that if the suckers lose their grip the bird feeder is prevented from falling to the ground.

Furthermore it would be helpful if the portion of the feeder whose purpose was to hold food could be separated from the portion which is attached to a window by means of suckers. Such a separation would ease the fixing of the feeder in a precisely horizontal position and would also facilitate the filling and cleaning of the food area. However such a foodholding portion capable of being separated from the portion attached to the window would be subject to the risk of falling to the ground due to an accident when being handled if it were not secured in some manner Accordingly the present invention provides a window bird feeder having one or more suckers for securing it to the exterior of a window and having a string or the like of which one end is secured round or through said window bird feeder and which is of sufficient length so that the other end can reach to the interior side of the window with a view it being fastened there to a secure object Said string or the like can be made of wire, cord, twine, string, line, rubber or any other convenient material of sufficient strength to restrain said window bird feeder from falling to the ground.

It is preferable that said string or the like should be of a sufficiently thin diameter that it can pass between a window and its window frame without creating undue difficulty in fastening or distorting said window.

It is preferable that said string or the like should be of a material which can experience being bent at one or more right angles without its strength being weakened.

It is preferable that said string or the like be made of a material which is resistant to constant or intermittent moisture and to variations of temperature normally associated with year-round outdoor use.

Normally one string or the like will be sufficient but it is envisaged that in certain circumstances two or more strings or the like might be desirable.

Said window bird feeder can be of any shape or size including ones with a horizontal area holding bird food and/or water and ones consisting of a vertical tube or wire mesh holding bird food.

Figure I and Figure 2 are elevations of window bird feeders in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 the string or the like 1 is shown passing through a hole 2 of the window bird feeder 3 which is attached to window 4 with suckers 5, said string or the like being secured by an impediment 6 to prevent it returning through the same hole 2 and being fastened on the interior side of the window to a secure object 7.

Referring to Figure 2 the string or the like 1 is shown passing through an aperture 8 in the back of the window bird feeder 3 which is attached to

window 4 with suckers 5, said the string or the like 1 being secured in a loop 9 round an edge of said window bird "feeder 3 and being fastened on the interior side of the window to a secure object 7.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A window bird feeder having one or more suckers for securing it to the exterior of a window and having a string or the like of which one end is secured round or through said window bird feeder and which is of sufficient length so that the other end can reach to the interior side of the window with a view it being fastened there to a secure object
2. A window bird feeder as claimed in claim 1 where said string or the like is made of wire, cord, twine, string, line, rubber or any other convenient material of sufficient strength to restrain said window bird feeder from falling to the ground.
3. A window bird feeder as claimed in claim lor claim 2 where said string or the like is made of material which is resistant to constant or intermittent moisture and to variations of temperature normally associated with year-round outdoor use.
4. A window bird feeder as claimed in any previous claim where said string or the like of a sufficiently thin diameter that it can pass between a window and its window frame without creating undue difficulty in fastening or distorting said window.
5. A window bird feeder as claimed in any previous claim where said string or the like is made of a material which can experience being bent at one or more right angles without its strength being weakened.
6. A window bird feeder as claimed in any previous claim where one end of the string or the like has an impediment to prevent it passing totally through said window bird feeder.
7. A window bird feeder as claimed in any previous claim where said string or the like forms part of a series of two or more strings or the like.
8. A window bird feeder as claimed in any previous claim which contains either a horizontal area holding food and/or water or a vertical tube or wire mesh holding food.
9. A window bird feeder as claimed in any previous claim which is substantially described herein above with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.