Abstract: A bird feeder comprising a hopper suspended above ground by a hanger for holding granular bird seed, and a collapsible feed trough through which the seed flows. The trough consists of a series of pivotally interconnected ramps that unfold during deployment into a zigzag configuration. An uppermost ramp is fixedly secured to the hopper, and successive lower ramps are pivoted to each other in an angular “zigzag” arrangement. Each ramp is inclined relative to the horizontal approximately thirty degrees. Each ramp has a discharge hole at its lower end that is large enough for seed to fall through to a lower ramp. In response to vibration, seeds exit the hopper and travel through the trough. When the feeder is to be stored or shipped, the trough is collapsed by folding the ramps into a nested, retracted position.

Abstract: A metastable, motion generating squirrel feeder with a pair of coupled, generally V-shaped ribs attracts squirrels with corncobs secured at each rib end. Each rib has a pair of projecting wings symmetrically diverging away from a central vertex. The wings terminate in ends occupying the vertices of a virtual tetrahedron. Notches in the rib vertices enable rib coupling during assembly. Spaced-apart feed holders mounted on the wings each have a fixed bracket and a slidable bracket. Spikes projecting from each bracket towards the other captivate feed such as corncobs sandwiched between the brackets. A mounting ring non-rigidly captivates the vertice region of the ribs, loosely mounting the feeder and suspending it above ground so that the ribs are free to rotate and move in response to squirrels.

Abstract: An animal feeder primarily for squirrels comprises an elongated, tubular hopper that sequentially discharges husked ears of corn, and a lower, aligned cob discharge orifice that drops depleted corn cobs from the feeder. The vertically oriented hopper is sized to slidably contain one or more husked ears of corn which drop through it in response to gravity. A feeding tray suspended beneath the hopper initially contacts ears of corn when they drop from the hopper. An animal access region is formed between the hopper and the tray. Portions of ears temporarily occupying this region are exposed to squirrels for eating. A cob discharge orifice formed in the tray beneath the hopper bottom is sized to automatically discharge empty corn cobs from the feeder after the ears are reduced in diameter by corn depletion.