GB2259638A

GB2259638A - Access prevention, e.g. to bird tables by squirrels

Info

Publication number: GB2259638A
Application number: GB9218665A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Horwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-05
Filing date: 1992-09-03
Publication date: 1993-03-24
Also published as: GB9119032D0; GB9218665D0

Abstract

For preventing an animal such as a squirrel from gaining access to a predetermined area such as a bird- table 3 on a vertically extending support 1, an apertured plate 5 is provided, the vertical support passing through the aperture. The aperture is of greater dimension than the part of the support that passes through the aperture. The plate is loosely supported at a region spaced from the outer periphery of the plate. The plate may be suspended by cords or wires attached to support 1 or may sit on a collar attached to the support, as shown. Downward movement of the plate is prevented, but upward movement of the plate is permitted. If a squirrel engages the outer lip of the plate, the plate tilts, thus throwing the squirrel off. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Improvements in or relating to access prevention means.

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to access prevention means and more particularly relates to access prevention means intended to prevent access to a predetermined area by a small creature such as, for example, a squirrel.

Various types of non-flying squirrel are prevalent in many parts of the world. Such squirrels often like to eat food that is put out primarily for birds, on bird tables or the like.

Many attempts have been made to design a bird-table which cannot be accessed by a squirrel, but all have been prone to squirrel access from above by jumping down onto the bird table from an adjacent tree or the like, or have been vulnerable to the high intelligence of the squirrel which is an animal which learns rapidly how to overcome fixed obstacles.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved access prevention means.

In it one aspect this invention provides access preventing means to prevent an animal from gaining access to a predetermined area or region which is located on or adjacent a substantially vertically extending support, the access preventing means comprising a plate defining an aperture therethrough, the support passing through the aperture, the aperture being of greater dimensions than the part of the support that passes through the aperture such that the support passes therethrough with clearance, there being means loosely supporting the plate at a region of the plate spaced from the outer periphery of the plate, which support means prevent downward movement of the plate but permit upward movement of the plate.

In one embodiment the said supporting means engage the underside of the plate mounted on the support, said means engaging the underside of the plate having an outer dimension sufficiently great for part of the plate adjacent the aperture to be supported thereby.

Conveniently the means engaging the underside of the plate comprise a collar.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the supporting means comprise a plurality of cords, wires or the like on which the plate is suspended. Preferably the plate is suspended on three cords, wires or the like which are connected to the plate at substantially equi-spaced points adjacent said aperture.

Preferably the aperture in the plate is circular and the support is of circular or tubular cross-section.

Advantageously the plate is formed of metal or plastic and has a hard upper surface.

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Preferably the plate is circular and has a diameter of at least 330mm.

Preferably the clearance between the support and the aperture defined by the plate and the means engaging the underside of the plate are designed to permit tilting of the plate through an angle of at least 28 degrees and to cause the plate to come to rest suddenly when tilted.

Conveniently the diameter of the support in the region where it passes through the plate is approximately 18mm and the diameter of the aperture in the plate is between 20.5mm and 21mm.

Advantageously the means engaging the underside of the plate comprise a circular collar having an outer diameter between 23mm and 30mm.

In another aspect this invention provides a bird table incorporating access preventing means as described above, the bird table comprising a support on which the access preventing means are located, further means being provided above the access preventing means for supporting food for a bird.

The means for supporting food for a bird may comprise a disc or the like secured to the support.

Further access preventing means may be provided at a position above the means supporting food to be consumed by a bird, the further access preventing means being as described above.

Alternatively the further access preventing means may comprise an upwardly directed conical element supported to pemit!tilting of the element. The conical element may carry a plate which surrounds the element.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bird table provided with access prevention means in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of part of the bird table of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a partly sectioned, perspective view of a bird table provided with a modified form of access preventing means according to this invention; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the modified access preventing means of Figure 3; and FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1 a bird table provided with access prevention means in accordance with the invention comprises a substantially vertical support post 1, the lower end of which is tapered, as shown at 2, so that the support post can be inserted into the ground or into an appropriate supporting bush. The support post may be formed of any appropriate material, and may comprise a metal tube. The tube may have an outside diameter of 18mm, and may, if desired, be formed in several interconnectable sections.

Mounted on the post 1 is a fixed disc 3 which may be formed of metal or any appropriate material. The disc extends horizontally and can support items of food to be consumed by a bird. Located at positions on the post 1 both above the disc 3 and below the disc 3 are access preventing means 4, 5 in accordance with the invention, both of substantially the same design.

The lower access preventing means 5, which is shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 2, with part thereof cut away, comprises a circular plate 6, formed of a non-deformable material such as steel, aluminium or plastic, the material being selected so that the claws of a squirrel cannot engage the material to secure a grip.

The plate 6 may be treated to resist corrosion. The plate may, if desired, be formed from a transparent material.

The plate has a minimum diameter of 330mm and is preferably approximately 3mm thick. The plate has a central aperture 7 formed therein, the diameter of the aperture 7 being greater than the diameter of the post 1 and thus having a diameter of between 20.5mum and 21mm. The plate 6 is mounted on the post 1 with the post passing through the aperture 7, thus leaving a gap 8 between the aperture 7 and the post 1. A collar 9 is securely mounted to the post beneath the plate 6 in order to support the plate 6. The collar has a minimum outer diameter of 23mm and a maximum outer diameter of 30mm. The vertical height of the collar can be selected as is appropriate.

It is preferred that the plate 6 is located at a height of at least 900mm above ground level and also that it is located at a distance of at least 350mm beneath the level of the disc 3 that comprises the bird table.

Itb is to be appreciated that the plate 6 is just loosely resting on top of the collar 9 and thus the plate 6 is capable of tilting. With the dimensions specified above the plate should be capable of tilting to a position in which it is inclined at least 28 degrees to the horizontal.

The plate can tilt in any lateral direction.

The access preventing means 4 provided at the top of the post 1 is of the same design as the access preventing means 5 and is located approximately 350mm above the level of the disc 3 that comprises the bird table.

It is to be noted that the bird table 3 should have a diameter not exceeding 220mm, that is to say two thirds of the diameter of the plates 6 which define the access preventing means.

Whilst in the embodiment described thus far a disc 3 is provided to support the food for birds it is to be appreciated that other means may be provided, such as hooks adapted to support bags of nuts or the like so long as there is no restriction to the tilting of the plate 6.

When a squirrel seeks to gain access to food present on the disc 3 (or on the hooks provided at the equivalent position on the post 1 to support bags of nuts or the like) the squirrel may attempt to climb up the post 1. The squirrel may be able to reach the edge of the plate 6 with its front paws. However, any attempt to transfer its weight to the plate, by releasing its grip on the post 1, will immediately cause the plate 6 to tilt.

The plate will tilt to an angle of at least 28 degrees to the horizontal and will come to rest, at that angle or a greater angle, suddenly, when the edge of the aperture 8 engages the part of the post 1 located above the collar 9.

This--has the effect of unbalancing the rodent, which immediately releases its hold on the plate and falls to the ground. It is to be appreciated that the plate 6 must be smooth and hard enough to prevent the claws of the squirrel gaining purchase.

As soon as the squirrel has let go of the plate 6 the plate 6 will return to its initial horizontal position.

The access preventing means, as described, is located a sufficient distance above the ground to prevent the squirrel leaping directly from the ground to the disc 3 which supports the food or to any portion of the support post 1 above the disc 6.

It may be that, in a simple embodiment of a bird table, which is intended to be used at a position spaced from trees or other high objects, a bird table provided with access preventing means to prevent access from the ground would be sufficient. However, if it is envisaged that the bird table will be used under trees or the like, then an upper access preventing means, 4 may be provided as illustrated. If a squirrel somehow manages to get onto the top of the bird table structure illustrated in Figure 1, if the squirrel begins to approach the edge of the plate constituting the upper access preventing means, the plate will immediately tilt to an angle of 28 degrees or more, will come to rest suddenly and the squirrel will again fall harmlessly to the ground.

In Figures 3 and 4 an arrangement is illustrated in which the upper access prevention means 4 is of a modified form. In this particular arrangement the upper access prevention means 4 comprises a circular plate 10 having a central aperture 11. The plate 10 is of the same form as the Diate96 provided in the lower access prevention means.

A thimble 12 is located within the aperture 11 in the plate 10, the thimble 12 comprising a hollow conical body having a rim or lip around its free edge. The thimble is located within the aperture 11 so that the conical body is pointing upwardly and the lip of the thimble is dimensioned so that it will not pass through the aperture 11 but supports the plate 10 as illustrated in the drawings.

The upper access prevention means 4 is located upon the uppermost end of the support post 1 which is tapered to a point 13. The access prevention means are located upon the support post by positioning the thimble 12 over the pointed upper end of the post. The angle of the conical body of the thimble 12 and the taper at the free end of the support post 1 are designed such that there is sufficient clearance between the internal surface of the conical body of the thimble and the upper end of the post 1 at point 14 in order to allow the plate 10 to tilt from a horizontal position through an angle of at least 28 degrees.If a squirrel attempts to gain access to food provided on the disc 3 from above then if it lands upon the plate 10 the plate 10 will tilt to an angle of at least 28 degrees and will then come to rest in an abrupt manner causing the squirrel to fall from the plate to the ground.

If desired the thimble 12 could be formed integrally with the plate 10. However, with a separate thimble the plate 10 can be of precisely the same form as the plate 6 used in the lower access prevention means 5.

As a further modification, the circular plate which forms the upper axis prevention means could itself be of conical form, being supported upon the tapered upper end of the support post 1 or upon a central upwardly extending pin fixed ~to the top of the bird table. In any event the support post or pin must permit the plate to tilt through an angle of at least 28 degrees so as to ensure that a squirrel landing on the plate will lose its grip when the plate is deflected. The internal angle of the cone must not however be too small since this might enable a squirrel to climb up the outside of the cone. It may be desirable to provide a small indentation on the underside of the cone at the apex thereof in order to prevent the cone from becoming dislodged from the support post or support pin in a high wind or when subjected to attack by a squirrel.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention in which a plate 6 is mounted on a tubular post 1, with the post 1 passing through an aperture 7 formed in the plate 6 thus leaving a gap 8 between the aperture 7 and the post 1. The plate 6 is supported by three cords or wires 15, only two of which are shown, the cords or wires 15 being connected to the plate 6 at points 16 which are equi-spaced and which are located adjacent the aperture 7. The cords or wires 15 are connected to a support ring 17 connected to the post 1 at a position above the plate 6.

Whilst the cords or wires, in this specific embodiment, are of a flexible material, and could equally well comprise chains or any other equivalent elongate flexible elements, rigid pivotal elements could, of course, be utilised if desired.

Because the cords or wires are connected to the plate at positions adjacent the aperture, and because the cords or wires permit upward movement of the plate, whilst preventing downward movement of the plate, should a rodent, such as a squirrel, apply any weight to the peripheral edge of the-plate, at any point on the periphery of the plate, the plate will again tip. If the plate 6 and the post 1 have the same dimensions as in the embodiments described above, the plate will tip rapidly to an angle of at least 280, again causing the squirrel or rodent to fall from the plate.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Access preventing means to prevent an animal from gaining access to a predetermined area or region which is located on or adjacent a substantially vertically extending support, the access preventing means comprising a plate defining an aperture therethrough, the support passing through the aperture, the aperture being of greater dimensions than the part of the support that passes through the aperture such that the support passes therethrough with clearance, there being means loosely supporting the plate at a region of the plate spaced from the outer periphery of the plate, which support means prevent downward movement of the plate but permit upward movement of the plate.

2. Access preventing means according to Claim 1 wherein said supporting means engage the underside of the plate mounted on the support, said means engaging the underside of the plate having an outer dimension sufficiently great for the part of the plate adjacent the aperture to be supported thereby.

3. Access preventing means according to Claim 2 wherein the means engaging the underside of the plate comprise a collar.

4. ~~~ Access preventing means according to Claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprise a plurality of cords, wires or the like on which the plate is suspended.

5. Access preventing means according to Claim 4 wherein the plate is suspended on three cords, wires or the like which are connected to the plate at substantially equi-spaced points adjacent said aperture.

6. Access preventing means according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the aperture in the plate is circular and the support is of circular or tubular crosssection.

7. Access preventing means according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the plate is formed of metal or plastic and has a hard upper surface.

8. Access preventing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plate is circular and has a diameter of at least 330mm.

9. Access preventing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the clearance between the support and the aperture defined by the plate and the means engaging the underside of the plate are designed to permit tilting of the plate through an angle of at least 28 degrees and to cause the plate to come to rest suddenly when tilted.

10. Access preventing means according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the diameter of the support in the region where it passes through the plate is approximately 18mm and the diameter of the aperture in the plate is between 20.5mm and 21mm.

.!

11. Access preventing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means engaging the underside of the plate comprise a circular collar having an outer diameter between 23mm and 30mm.

12. A bird table incorporating access preventing means according to any one of the preceding claims, the bird table comprising a support on which the access preventing means are located, further means being provided above the access preventing means for supporting food for a bird.

13. A bird table according to Claim 12 wherein the means for supporting food for a bird comprises a disc or the like secured to the support.

14. A bird table according to Claim 9 or 10 wherein further access preventing means in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 11 are provided mounted on the support at a position above the means supporting food to be consumed by a bird.

15. A bird table according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein further access prevention means are provided at a position above the means supporting food to be consumed by a bird, the further access prevention means comprising an upwardly directed conical element supported to permit tilting of the element.

16. A bird table according to Claim 15 wherein the conical element carries a plate which surrounds the element.

17. Access preventing means substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Access preventing means substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

19. Access preventing means substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A bird table substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

Amendments to the claims have been fled as follows means are located, further means being provided above the access preventing means for supporting food for a bird.