GB2396093A - Animal barrier strip - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal barrier strip comprises a body in the form of a flexible strip 1 which has incisions cut at intervals from one edge to part way into the body to form fingers or flaps 2. The integral base 3 is used for adjustable attachment to any vertical structure. The flexible fingers or flaps prevent animals from gaining a foothold on the top of any barrier which may be containing or excluding them. The barrier strip may be manufactured from any plastic material and the length, width and thickness of the strip could vary according to the size and type of animal concerned.

Description

Animal Barrier Strip Page 1 THIS invention relates to a plastic strip from

which vertical cuts have been made from the top, thereby forming flexible fingers or flaps. When the invention is attached to the middle or upper part of a vertical structure, the apparatus then aids the containment of animals within bounds, or excludes them from entering a prohibited area.

This appliance has been devised to keep pets and other animals inside or outside an area that is surrounded by any standing or vertical structure, eg walls, fences, screens or barricades. The appliance achieves this by preventing them from gaining a foothold on the top or leverage over the top of a barrier.

The appliance has been designed to achieve this humanely, so that injuries may not be sustained due to direct contact with the appliance.

According to the present invention, there is provided a flat sheet of flexible material. The substances used for making the material would come under the general heading of plastics, ie "a group of materials though stable in use at ordinary temperatures are plastic at some stage of their manufacture and can be shaped by the application of heat and pressure". The length, width and thickness of the fingers/flaps and the integral base would be manufactured according to the size and type of animals that these criteria would be suited to exclude or contain, eg hamsters living in an open top box, or cats or foxes climbing over fences or walls.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Page 2 In which, p5 Fig 1.1 shows a drawing of a front view of a flat strip of flexible plastic (attached to a fence) from which vertical cuts at intervals along the length of the strip have been made, thereby creating fingers/flaps which are the working and flexible moving parts shown in Fig 1.2, from which the sharp corners have been rounded.

The integral base shown in Fig 1.3 is for adjustable attachment to the fence or structure.

Figs 2, 3 and 4 on p6 show side views of three examples of the apparatus. The flaps/fingers contoured to different shapes are shown attached to a fence.

2.2 - To stop a pet/animal from escaping.

3.2 - As Fig 2.2, but contoured due to the fence being capped.

4.2 - An example excluding an animal from entry without the device trespassing neighbouring property. However, there are many variations of shapes that may be contoured to meet specific requirements.

Claims (4)

1. Claims

   Page 3 1. An animal barrier strip is a body in the form of a flat strip of flexible plastic from which vertical cuts have been made from the top to part way down the body, thereby forming flexible fingers or flaps. Comprising the integral lower half of the body is the base which is used and is large enough for adjustable (up or down) attachment to an upright structure.
2. 2. An animal barrier strip as claimed in Claim 7 wherein also the fingers straeghcr or flaps of the apparatus may be contoured to any adjustable shape.
3. 3. An animal barrier strip as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the heights, lengths, thickness and densities of materials used in manufacture are made according to their specific adaptation.
4. 4. An animal barrier strip substantially as described herein with reference to Claims 1-4 of the following drawings.