US3990403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ceramic apparatus for dispensing liquid substances to flying creatures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-12
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Granted: 1976-11-09
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Expires: 1995-03-12
Abstract
Abstract An inverted ceramic container dispenses nutritional liquids through a short glass tube to hovering hummingbirds. The tube extends into the interior of the dispenser through a resilient stopper which engages a refill aperture in the dispenser. Various insulative properties of the ceramic dispenser protect the liquids from heat and light damage and loss. The rough unglazed inside surface of the dispenser neck establishes a tenacious seal with the resilient stopper. The unglazed exterior surface of the neck prevents dew and rain moisture from flowing down the outside surface of the dispenser to the tip of the glass tube. This surface moisture is objectionable because it wets the tip of the glass tube causing the nutritional liquid to drip out. The plastic nature of moist unfired clay readily permits the formation support loop integral with the ceramic body.
Inventors
- 👤 Janina Jacobs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:01
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K39/00; A01K39/02; A01K39/0213; A01K39/0206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A device for dispensing liquid substances to flying creatures, comprising: an opaque ceramic body member formed of earthenware, stoneware or porcelain having an inner cavity portion adapted to contain the liquid substance with a downwardly extending ceramic neck portion integrally formed in the lower portion of the ceramic body portion and defining an aperture therein to provide fluid access from the cavity portion through the body member, the external surface of the body member having a glaze thereover except for a continuous unglazed band proximate the aperture extending around the inside and the outside of the neck portion; a resilient member contoured to fit into the aperture and dimensioned to compressively engage unglazed band around the inner surface thereof; an elongated hollow feeder member extending through the resilient member providing fluid communication between the external tip of the feeder member and the cavity; and support means formed integrally with the body member for suspending the members with the external tip of the feeder member position below the level of at least a substantial portion of the liquid substance adapted to be contained within the cavity portion for allowing the feeder member to fill with the liquid substance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A device for dispensing liquid substances to flying creatures, comprising: an opaque ceramic body member formed of earthenware, stoneware or porcelain having an inner cavity portion adapted to contain the liquid substance with a downwardly extending ceramic neck portion integrally formed in the lower portion of the ceramic body portion and defining an aperture therein to provide fluid access from the cavity portion through the body member, the external surface of the body member having a glaze thereover except for a continuous unglazed band proximate the aperture extending around the inside and the outside of the neck portion; a resilient member contoured to fit into the aperture and dimensioned to compressively engage unglazed band around the inner surface thereof; an elongated hollow feeder member extending through the resilient member providing fluid communication between the external tip of the feeder member and the cavity; and support means formed integrally with the body member for suspending the members with the external tip of the feeder member position below the level of at least a substantial portion of the liquid substance adapted to be contained within the cavity portion for allowing the feeder member to fill with the liquid substance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the neck portion terminates in a continuous unglazed vertical margin portion extending around the aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the external tip of the feeder member extends laterally away from the body member; the resilient member is a rubber stopper with a cylindrical channel therethrough; and the feeder member is a cylindrical hollow glass tube extending into the channel in fluid communication with the cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the support means is a ceramic loop integrally formed proximate the top of the ceramic body member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the support means is a generally flat vertical portion integrally formed along one side of the body member and having a mounting aperture therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3125069A
Cited
US1650028A
Cited
US2308325A
Cited
US3320929A
Cited
US3589338A
Cited
US3769070A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-09 | 1980-05-10 | 1980-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-09 | 1984-05-10 | 1984-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-10 | 1988-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |