AU2004100879A4 - Rotating Bird Deterrent Device - Google Patents

Description

ROTATING BIRD DETERRENT DEVICE t Field of the Innovation.

0 The present innovation relates to bird deterrent devices and in particular to rotating bird deterrent devices for deterring birds from fouling items such as boats and the like.

Background Art.

00 Devices similar in concept to the present innovation exist in the omarketplace. An excellent summary of the state of the art in these devices is given in 8 10 US Patent 6742470 which is reproduced below.

There are many pieces of patent art that address the widespread problems related to intrusion by birds and pests into areas and locations where their presence is unwanted. This art has been particularly creative by involving a broad spectrum of approaches, ranging from simple "scareerows" to airborne chemicals, magnetic devices and even lasers. Perhaps the most prevalent approaches include devices that produce high levels of sounds. Examples of such devices which produce explosive reports include flennefer Pat. No. 2,304,358); Finch, Pat. No.

3,897,195); Troy et at., Pat. No. 4,475,102); Joseph Pat. No. 5,977,866); and Stonebraker, Pat. No. 6,257,146).

A second general approach to deterring birds is to incorporate some forn of static or dynamic mechanical device. Such devices range from simple netting for covering fruit-bearing trees and grapevines, to more complex covers and shelters.

Other physical deterrents to prevent birds from alighting, perching or roosting at specific sites include upwardly-extending nail-like probes, closely-spaced coils of wire Chatten Pat. No. 4,962,619) wind activated ribbons or streamers (e.g.

LeMessurier U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,357), and devices with rotating arms and streamers Pember, Pat. No. 4,074,653).

Examples of less-common approaches include Konzak, Teraoka, and Lehnardt, et al. Konzak Pat. No. 4,598,660) uses an "air gun for ejecting a gaseous stream." Teraoka Pat. No. 5,353,543) uses magnets, the magnetic fields of which are said to annoy many bird species. Lehnhardt et al, Pat. No.

6,250,255) uses pulsing microwaves or supersonic sound waves to cause "reversible unpleasant sensations" in the offending birds and other animals.

Along the lines of the classical scarecrow, Nuttle Pat. No.

4,656,770), creates "panic" in selected bird species. This is accomplished with a t weathervane-mounted simulated Tiger Cat having streamers attached to various 0 portions of the cat's anatomy. Morningstar Pat. No. 6,376,047) deters birds from bodies of water with a simulated floating crocodile.

Finally, examples of the prior art using suspension wires include Ohb, Pat. No. 6,003,47 which uses wire members stretched tightly between at least o0 three support port columns and a plurality of magnet members disposed on the wires.

0 Kasiner Pat. No. 5,845,607) provides an array of wires stretched across a body o of water. The wires, connected to rods, have tightening mechanisms such that they 010 may be "tuned" to generate a "high-pitched whine" in response to the movement of air across the wires. These wires are intended to provide both visual and auditory deterrents to the birds.

In summary, there is no shortage of methods and apparatus purported to deter birds from frequenting localized and broad areas where their presence is considered undesirable. The devices range from simple to complex, and incorporate a dizzying array of approaches, including acoustics, passive and active visual objects, chemical formulations, magnetics, physical bafflers and various combinations thereof.

Clearly, it can be seen from the art,' covering many decades, that a preferred solution has not been found. This extensive prior art also shows that the problem is serious and continuing, Individuals in agriculture know that bird and pest control is increasingly important to increasing profits from farms, orchards, fish-farming, and other businesses, while, at the same time, there is increased pressure to not destroy the birds and pests. Effective solutions may exist for some applications but they are often too complex, unreliable, too expensive, environmentally damaging, and harmful to birds and other animals (and not infrequently, humans).

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Summary of the Innovation.

The present innovation is directed to a rotating bird deterrent device, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

3 0 In one form, the innovation resides in a rotating bird deterrent device t including a mounting portion, and a rotating assembly associated with the mounting O portion, the assembly including at least one arm member extending substantially perpendicularly to the mounting portion, the length of the at least one arm member being adjustable.

The bird deterrent device of the innovation may act to alleviate the 0 problem discussed with birds fouling boats, pontoons, jetties, pool areas and the like owhere birds tend to accumulate due to the presence of water and somewhere to rest.

The device, with its at least one rotating arm, deters birds from landing in the vicinity of the device.

The mounting portion of the device is suitably permanently attached relative to a surface of the item to be protected from the birds. This is typically accomplished by providing a mounting portion in the form of a base plate to be attached relative to the surface of the boat, pontoon or the like. Generally, the base plate is attached to the surface using screws or similar but other attachment means are also envisaged such as clamps or the like.

The mounting portion will typically be manufactured from aluminium but any light and strong material could be used. The base plate will normally include a more or less centrally located, internally threaded opening. This opening will typically be associated with, and receive an upwardly extending spindle member.

The spindle member will suitably be externally threaded to be received in the opening and be secured therein. The spindle member when so secured may be provided with a tapered upper extremity. The spindle may be manufactured of metal, typically stainless steel or the like, to extend the life of the device given its location generally around a water source.

A locknut may be provided to assist with the securement of the spindle relative to the base plate. The locknut may be a wing-nut or similar.

The rotating assembly will typically include more than one part. The rotating assembly is typically removeably attached relative to the spindle member.

The rotating assembly preferably includes a mounting tube, a plug member and an arm attachment assembly.

The mounting tube is hollow and typically manufactured of metal and preferably stainless steel. The mounting tube preferably receives the spindle member "s 4

O

0 therein. The spindle member is preferably received snugly within the mounting tube t but still allow rotation of the tube relative to the spindle and also maintain the O orientation of the tube.

The tube may be of any shape but a round tube will be preferred due to the rotation. The tube is typically approximately 5 to 20 cm in length. The plug member will typically be mounted within the mounting tube.

00 The plug member is generally manufactured of plastic or similar. The oplug member will generally be a solid tubular member. The lower end of the plug S1 member preferably abuts the upper end of the spindle to support the rotating assembly on the mounting portion. The plug member may also act to attach a clamp member of the arm attachment assembly relative to the tube.

The plug member may be manufactured of any type of plastic but preferred plastics will include rigid and hard plastics so as to maintain the support and also minimise wear of the plug by the tapered upper portion of the spindle when rotating.

The arm attachment assembly will suitably include an arm mounting member having a base member and a pair of arm securing members. The base member will suitably be a planar member attached to an upper end of the mounting tube and perpendicular thereto, with the plug immediately under the base member.

The pair of arm securing members extends preferably upwardly from the base member. Each of the arm securing members is suitably planar and the pair of members are at opposite sides of the base member. They are located typically at either side of the base member. Typically, the arm securing members and the base member are integrally formed and are formed in a single piece.

The arm securing members and the base member thereby adopt a substantially U-shape, with the arm securing members angled slightly outwardly.

Each of the arm securing members preferably has an opening therein and the openings are configured in pairs, one in either arm securing member. The at least one arm member will generally extend through both of the openings in an opposed pair.

The arm securing members are typically slightly resilient and may be adapted to flex, particularly when the arm members are fitted to the device. The arm attachment assembly will also preferably be manufactured of stainless steel.

O

O

cThe arm attachment assembly will also preferably include a clamp t member. The clamp member is also substantially U-shaped having a base wall and a 0 pair of opposed clamping arms.

The base wall of the clamp member will typically be planar and include an opening therethrough. The opening will typically be located between the opposed clamping arms. The opening may be adapted to receive a threaded securing means o allowing attachment of the clamp member relative to the arm attachment assembly oand also the plug member. Indeed, the threaded securing means may engage with an o upper portion of the plug to maintain the securement.

The clamping arms are preferably inclined outwardly. The clamping member is positioned above and inside the opposed arm securing members. As the clamping member is forced downwardly between the opposed arm securing members, this acts to spread the arm securing members apart. This in turn reduces the effective diameter of the openings in the securing members and thereby fixes the arms to the arm attachment assembly.

There may be additional securing means provided to ensure the retention of the arms in the openings such as lock nuts or similar.

There will generally be at least two arm members and generally there will be a pair. Each of the arm members may be manufactured of aluminium and will be cylindrical. The arm members may be approximately 1 metre in length but this dimension may be different for larger or smaller devices as well as being adjustable when the length of the arms is set for a particular device.

One end of the arm member preferably extends through the opposed openings in the arm securing members. The opposite end of the arm members will typically be provided with a blade assembly to assist with the rotation of the arms.

The blade members may act to catch any wind or air movement and thereby rotate the arms.

There may be an opening in the outer end of each arm member through which a bolt may extend to attach the blade assembly to the arm. The blade is typically a planar blade and the blade may rotate about the bolt. The blade itself may be manufactured from plastic or metal, preferably stainless steel or aluminium, for example, and all other components may be manufactured from metal or plastic.

The bolts attaching the respective blades to the arm members may be a provided with a lock nut at a lower extremity. The bolts will typically extend through 0 the arm member and the lock nut may be attached to the bolt and tightened to abut the arm member thereby providing the locking effect. This may act to secure the bolt and reduce wear on the arm and bolt through movement of the blade when catching the wind.

o The blades may be provided with additional deterrent material such as 0images of eyes for it has been shown that birds may be deterred by such images.

Other material may be attached to the arms and/or the blades to improve the deterrent capabilities.

In an alternative embodiment, the arm attachment assembly and mounting tube may be integrally formed. The mounting tube and the arm securing members may be formed in a single piece with a direct clamping member to be attached to this single item to clamp the arm members between the two parts. The two parts may both be provided with arcuate portions to receive the arm members therein.

When a user wishes to change the length of the arm members in order to cover a smaller or larger area or to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the arms, the clamping member is loosened. This in turn allows the arm securing members to return to their generally perpendicular position which aligns the openings in the opposed arm securing members through which the arms extend. The arms can then be slid into position and the clamping member reattached.

A contribution to the working of the device according to the innovation may be realised by allowing a user to easily and quickly change the length of the arm members and thereby increase the utility of the device.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Various embodiments of the innovation will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of the device of the present innovation.

Figure 2 is a side cut-away view of an alternative embodiment of the rotating assembly according to the present innovation.

Figure 3 is a side view of the device according to a preferred 'set 7 0 embodiment of the present innovation.

t Detailed Description of the Innovation.

0 According to a preferred embodiment of the present innovation, a rotating bird deterrent device 10 is provided.

As seen in Figure 1, the rotating bird deterrent device 10 includes a mounting portion 11, and a rotating assembly 12 associated wit the mounting portion 00 11. The rotating assembly 12 includes a pair of arm members 13 extending o substantially perpendicularly to the mounting portion 11, and the length of the arm o members 13 being adjustable.

010 The mounting portion 11 of the device is permanently attached relative to a surface of the item to be protected from the birds using a base plate 14 to be attached relative to the surface of the boat, pontoon or the like. The base plate 14 of the preferred embodiment is attached to the surface using screws The base plate 14 is manufactured from aluminium but any light and strong material could be used. The base plate 14 includes a centrally located, internally threaded opening (obscured). This opening is associated and receives an upwardly extending spindle member 16.

The spindle member 16 is externally threaded to be received in the opening in the base plate 14 and be secured therein. The spindle member 16 is provided with a tapered upper extremity. The spindle member 16 is manufactured of metal, typically stainless steel or the like to extend the life of the device given its location generally around a water source and the corrosion that generally occurs.

A locknut 17 is provided to assist with the securement of the spindle member 16 relative to the base plate 14. The locknut is in the form of a wing-nut or similar.

The rotating assembly 12 comprises more than one part. The rotating assembly 12 is removeably attached relative to the spindle member 16. The rotating assembly 12 of the preferred embodiment includes a mounting tube 18, a plug member 19 and an arm attachment assembly The mounting tube 18 is hollow and manufactured of metal and preferably stainless steel. The mounting tube IS receives the spindle member 16 therein. The spindle member 16 is received snugly within the mounting tube 18 but still allows rotation of the tube 18 relative to the spindle member 16 and also t maintains the orientation of the tube 18.

o The tube 18 is a circular tube, preferred due to the rotation of the tube.

The tube is between 5 to 20 cm in length. The plug member 19 is mounted within the mounting tube 18.

The plug member 19 is manufactured of plastic or similar. The plug 00 member 19 is a solid tubular member. The lower end of the plug member 19 abuts the 0 upper end of the spindle member 16 to support the rotating assembly 12 on the o mounting portion 11. The plug member 19 also acts to attach a clamip member 21 of 010 the arm attachment assembly 20 relative to the tube 18.

The plug member 19 is manufactured of any type of plastic but preferred plastics will include rigid and hard plastics so as to maintain the support and also minimise wear of the plug member 19 by the tapered upper portion of the spindle member 16 when rotating.

The arm attachment assembly 20 includes an arm mounting member having a base member 22 and a pair of arm securing members 23. The base member 22 is a planar member attached to an upper end of the mounting tube 18 and perpendicularly thereto, wit the plug 19 immediately under the base member 22.

The pair of arm securing members 23 extends upwardly from the base member 22 at opposite sides of the base member. The arm securing members 23 and the base member 22 are integrally formed.

The arm securing members 23 and the base member 22 adopt a substantially U-shape, with the arm securing members 23 angled slightly outwardly.

Each of the arm securing members 23 has two openings therein and the openings are configured in pairs, one in either arm securing member 23. The arm members 13 extend through both of the openings in an opposed pair.

The arm securing members 23 are slightly resilient and are adapted to flex, particularly when the arm members 13 are being fitted to the device The arm attachment assembly 20 also includes a clamp member 21.

The clamp member 21 is also substantially U-shaped, having a base wall 24 and a pair of opposed clamping arms The base wall 24 of the clamp member 21 is planar and includes an opening theretbrough. The opening is located between the opposed clamping arms The opening receives a threaded screw or bolt 26 allowing attachment of the t clamp member 21 relative to the arm attachment assembly 20 and the plug member O 19.

The clamping arms 25 are inclined outwardly. The clamping member 21 is positioned above and inside the opposed arm securing members 23. As the clamping member 21 is forced downwardly between the opposed arm securing o members 23, this acts to spread the arm securing members 23 apart. This in turn 0reduces the effective diameter of the openings in the arm securing members 23 and o thereby fixes the arm members 13 to the armnn attachment assembly The arm members 13 are approximately 1 meter in length.

One end of the arm members 13 extends through the opposed openings in the arm securing members 23. The opposite end of the arm members 13 is provided with a blade member 27 to assist with the rotation of the arm members 13.

The blade members 27 act to catch any wind or air movement and thereby rotate the arm members 13.

There is an opening in the outer end of each arm member 13 through which a bolt 28 extends to attach the blade member 27 to the arm 13. The blade 27 is planar and can rotate about the bolt 28. The blade 27 itself is manufactured from stainless steel.

The bolts 28 of the respective blades 27 extend through the arm members 13. A lock nut 29 is attached to the bolt 28 and tightened to abut the arm member 13 thereby providing the locking effect. This acts to secure the bolt 28 and reduce wear on the arm 13 and bolt 28 through movement of the blade 27 when catching the wind.

When a user wishes to change the length of the arm members in order to cover a smaller or larger area or to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the arms, the clamping member is loosened. This in turn allows the arm securing members to return to their generally perpendicular position which aligns the openings in the opposed arm securing members through which the arms extend. The arms can then be slid into position and the clamping member reattached.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the arm attachment assembly 20 and mounting tube 18 are integrally formed. The mounting tube 18 and the arm securing members 23 are formed in a single piece with a direct clamping member 21 to be attached to this single item to clamp the arm members 13 t between the two parts. The two parts are both provided with arcuate portions 29 to O receive the arm members 13 therein.

In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

0 Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an oembodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in 1 connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present innovation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

In compliance with the statute, the innovation has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the innovation is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the innovation into effect. The innovation is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (2)

1. 2. A rotating bird deterrent device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting o portion includes a base plate with a substantially centrally located, internally threaded 0 opening associated with an upwardly extending spindle member with a tapered upper o extremity. 0 10 3. A rotating bird deterrent device according to either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the rotating assembly includes a mounting tube, a plug member and an arm attachment assembly.
2. 4. A rotating bird deterrent device according to claim 4 wherein the arm attachment assembly includes a. an arm mounting member having a base member and a pair of arm securing members, each of the pair of arm securing members extends upwardly from the base member, each of the arm securing members with an opening therein, each of the at least one arm member extending through an opening in each of the arm securing members; and b. a clamp member having a base wall and a pair of opposed outwardly inclined clamping arms wherein as the clamping member is forced downwardly between the opposed arm securing members, this acts to spread the arm securing members apart and reduce the effective diameter of the openings in the arm securing members, thereby fixing the arms to the arm attachment assembly. A rotating bird deterrent device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 15th day of October 2004 Kevin George Martin By his patent attorneys CULLEN CO