Top-fill hummingbird feeder with float valve base closure mechanism

摘要

A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a liquid container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the liquid container, and a valve or sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The feeding basin includes an upwardly extending cylindrical well that receives the lower end of the liquid container, and the valve or sealing mechanism includes a float valve associated with the well. The feeding basin is filled by gravity feed of the liquid in the container through the liquid flow opening when the sealing mechanism is open. When the feeding basin reaches a full position, the liquid nectar raises the float valve which, in turn, acts to close the liquid flow opening.

主权项

1. A top-fill hummingbird feeder comprising:
a liquid container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end; a feeding basin positioned below and connectable to the lower end of the liquid container, said feeding basin having a cover and a base connected to one another to define an enclosure for containing liquid nectar, an upper surface of said cover having a plurality of feeding ports sized to receive a hummingbird's beak while preventing access to birds with larger beaks, nectar in the base of said feeding basin being accessible only through said feeding ports in said cover; and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening of the liquid container and the feeding basin, said sealing mechanism including a float valve which, when the float valve is in a first position, said liquid flow opening is open allowing fluid to flow from said container into said basin and, when the float valve is in a second position, said liquid flow opening is closed to prevent fluid flow from said container into said basin, said float valve including a float and a sealing member coupled to one another and movable upwardly and downwardly together in response to changing fluid level in said feeding basin.