GB2338396A

GB2338396A - Rodent guard

Info

Publication number: GB2338396A
Application number: GB9914028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Bendall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-18
Filing date: 1999-06-17
Publication date: 1999-12-22
Also published as: GB9813094D0; GB9914028D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-rodent barrier for parked vehicles designed to prevent access of rodents and other vermin to the interiors of such vehicles. The barrier comprises a first member 1 and a second member 2, that are adapted for connection to one another to form a rectangular box with no top or bottom. In order to stop rodents crawling under the barrier when the vehicle is parked on an uneven surface, the members are each provided with a set of retractable pins (7 Fig 4) capable of axial motion in parallel with one another to accommodate irregularities in the ground.

Description

r 1 1 2338396 RODENT GUARD 4 This invention relates to an anti-rodent

barrier for use in preventing the access of rodents, such as mice or rats, to the interior of a parked vehicle.

Agricultural premises are commonly subject to infestation by rodents, such as mice and rats. These are voracious animals and proliferate rapidly, and are continually in search of edible materials. Quite apart from the destruction of stored animal feedstuffs, there is also the problem that they climb into the interior of parked vehicles and attack the insulation around electrical components of the vehicles. Although the motors of agricultural vehicles, such as tractors are high off the ground, relative to the size of the animals, they readily obtain access to the motor compartments by climbing up the wheels.

FR-A-2686850 provides a device for protecting vehicles against theft that can be assembled as rectangular box around a rear wheel of a car. The shorter sides of the rectangle are provided with inwardly directed spikes, so that attempts to drive off the vehicle will result in the tyre being punctured.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a barrier against access by rodents to the motor compartments, body work, etc of parked vehicles and provides an anti-rodent barrier for parked vehicles which comprises a first member and a second member that can be assembled to form a rectangular box having no top or bottom, the bottom of each side of the box being provided with a set of retractable pins, each being capable of axial motion in parallel to each other and to the plane of said side of the box.

1 1 According to one embodiment, the barrier comprises a first and second member which are each L-shaped to comprise two adjacent sides of said box, means being provided to fasten the first and second members to where ends of one member abut corresponding ends of the second member when the box is assembled.

In another embodiment, the barrier comprises a first member and a second member, each member having a first side being straight, second and third sides each being straight, and substantially parallel to one another, and orthogonal to said first side, the thickness of each member being less than the lengths of said sides, said first and second members being adapted for connection to one another at their respective second sides and respective third sides.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying Drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is a general view of a barrier according to the invention in position to provide protection to a wheel of an agricultural tractor; Fig 2 is a general view of a two-part barrier according to the invention with the members separated; Fig 3 is a view of the barrier according to Fig 2, with the two members fastened together; Figs 4 and 4A respectively represent views of a lower portion of one member of the barrier according to the invention showing the retractable pins, respectively in retracted and outward positions, and Fig 5 represents a second embodiment of the invention showing the two members when separated.

2 1 Referring more specifically to one embodiment of the barrier according to the invention, as shown in Figs 2 and 3, it comprises two members P11 and [21 which can be separated for installation, and fastened together around a wheel of a vehicle, such as a tractor. in the embodiment shown, these members are separable and can be fastened together by appropriate catches [31 and [41.

In an alternative embodiment, the two members [11 and [21 can be hinged together at one end, so that only a single fastening is necessary.

In the embodiment shown, in Figs 2 and 3, the members [11 and [21 are substantially rectangular, with a prolongation Ma, lb; 2a, 2b] at each end.

For fastening together, the prolongations are brought together that at the ends of the prolongations of one member abut against corresponding ends of the prolongations of the other member. If desired, however, the members need not be formed in this configuration, they may if desired by provided with a curved profile.

in another embodiment, as shown in Fig 5, each member [6, 71 comprises two limbs, constituting adjacent sides of the rectangle. Each limb is provided at one end with a pair of projecting catches [8, 9, 8a, gal which fit in corresponding bores [10, 11, 10a, 11al of the other member. A greater number of catches and bores may be provided if desired. If desired, the limbs of each member may be hinged together for convenient stowage. It is also possible for the two members to be hinged together, but this is less convenient.

The dimensions of the barrier will be such as to encircle completely a wheel of an item of agricultural equipment, and will correspondingly be produced in a variety of sizes, having regard to the dimensions of agricultural machinery. The height will be such as to hinder, as far as possible, the access of climbing 3 1 1 1, rodents into the interior of the barrier. To make access of rodents to the wheels of the vehicle even more difficult, the upper portions of the barrier can, if desired, be splayed outwards, thereby making climbing more difficult.

The bottom of each member is provided with a series of retractable pins [71, which can be located in bores within the walls of each member, or can be mounted externally of the walls, on either side so as to be in the interior or exterior of the barrier as suitable. The purpose of these is to permit the barriers to be used for the protection of vehicles parked on irregular surfaces, since the standings upon which agricultural vehicles are parked as rarely completely flat. These pins may, as shown in Fig 4a, project below the lower edge [51 of the respective member so that the tips of these pins are in contact with the ground. This can be achieved either by spring loading or simply by the weight of the material forming the pins. These pins must be located sufficiently closely together for it to be impossible for rodents to obtain access to the interior of the barrier.

is 4

Claims

1. An anti-rodent barrier for parked vehicles which comprises a first member and a second member that can be assembled to form a rectangular box having no top or bottom, the bottom of each side of the box being provided with a set of retractable pins, each being capable of axial motion in parallel to each other and to the plane of said side of the box.

2. A barrier according to Claim 1 wherein said first and second members are each L-shaped to comprise two adjacent sides of said box, means being provided to fasten the first and second members to where ends of one member abut corresponding ends of the second member when the box is assembled.

3. A barrier according to Claim 1 wherein the members are hinged together at one abutment, and are provided with fastening means at the other abutment.

4. An anti-rodent barrier according to Claim 1 wherein first member and second member each has a first side being straight, and second and third sides each being straight, and substantially parallel to one another, and orthogonal to said first side, the thickness of each member being less than the lengths of said sides, said first and second members being adapted for connection to one another at their respective second sides and respective third sides.

5. An anti-rodent barrier according to Claim 4 wherein said first and second members are hinged together at their respective second sides and are provided with fastening means at their respective third sides.

Y 4 1

6. An anti-rodent barrier according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein said first and second members are provided with fastening means at their respective second sides and at their respective second sides.

7. An anti-rodent barrier according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said retractable pins are spring loaded for said axial motion.

6