System and method for constructing and marketing a modular bird feeder
View Patent ↗A modular system and method is provided that enables the consumer to design/build his or her own bird feeder based on interchangeable modular components that include multiple bases of different styles, multiple nutrient reservoirs of different styles, and one or more additional components, each having different styles. The system and method provides an on-line store that allows consumers to view the various styles for each component and to select their own base, reservoir, etc. Once the desired components have been selected on-line, a bill of materials listing the components is printed at a manufacturing facility where the selected components are pulled from a common inventory, assembled into a custom feeder and shipped to the consumer.
1. A modular bird feeder system comprising:
a plurality of bases each having a different appearance, all of said bases having a connecting structure of a same size and configuration;
a plurality of nutrient reservoirs each having a different appearance, all of said reservoirs having a lower end configured to be coupled to the connecting structure of any of said bases to connect a respective reservoir to a respective base, each of said reservoirs having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, said lower end opening being closed by the base;
at least one cap configured to be secured to an upper end of said reservoirs to close said upper end opening; and
a feed port through which birds can access a nutrient being dispensed by said feeder;
said bases, reservoirs, cap and feed port being interconnectable with one another in a plurality of different combinations as each component is selected by a consumer to produce a plurality of differently styled bird feeders from a common component inventory; and
a web site having a build-a-feeder program, said web site configured to present the consumer with a plurality of feeder components available for customization and, in response to consumer selection of a first component type, to present the consumer with a plurality of styles available for the first component and, in response to the consumer's selection of a style, to determine whether the consumer has selected one or more additional components for customization and, if the consumer has selected one or more additional components for customization, to present the consumer with a plurality of styles available for each additional component.
2. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said feeder is a hummingbird feeder and said feed port is in said base.
3. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of feed port enhancement types, each type having an ornamental part and a connecting part, each of said ornamental parts of a given type having a different appearance from the other types, all of said connecting parts having a same size and configuration to be inserted into a respective base feed port to connect said feed port enhancement to said base, any of said feed port enhancement types being connectable to the feed port of any of said bases.
4. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said plurality of feed port enhancement types are various simulated flowers.
5. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said connecting parts are secured within said feed ports with a snap fit.
6. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said connecting parts are secured within said feed ports with a friction fit.
7. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of accessories for use in connection with said bird feeders.
8. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said feeder is a seed feeder and said feed port is in said reservoir.
9. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said base is configured to be connected to one of a plurality of trays, each tray having a different appearance.
10. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said system is offered over the Internet.
11. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said feeder is a seed feeder and includes a tube reservoir with at least one side wall opening, said feeder port including a mounting part sized and shaped to fit within said reservoir side wall opening and be coupled to said tube reservoir.
12. The modular bird feeder system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said cap has two apertures in an upper surface adjacent a perimeter of said upper surface, said modular bird feeder system further including a hanger wire and a hanger rod mounted transversely in said tube reservoir and extending outwards from said reservoir on each rod end, said rod ends having apertures that are in vertical alignment with said cap apertures, said hanger wire having legs that extend through the aligned apertures to secure the cap to the reservoir and a handle enabling the feeder to be suspended from a support element.