GB2400010A

GB2400010A - Bird deterring device

Info

Publication number: GB2400010A
Application number: GB0307658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Richardson; David Jones
Original assignee: Jones & Son Pigeon Control Sup
Current assignee: Jones & Son Pigeon Control Sup
Priority date: 2003-04-02
Filing date: 2003-04-02
Publication date: 2004-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-02
Also published as: GB2400010B; GB0307658D0

Abstract

A bird deterrent device (10) comprising a base element (11) and a plurality of mutually spaced prongs (12,14) extending away from an upper face of the base element (11), wherein at least some of said prongs (12,14) are provided in pairs by the diverging limbs (12,14) of substantially symmetric, truncated-V formations (15) consisting of two tines (12,14) extending away from the opposite ends of an integral tines-connecting link (16), and the base element (11) is provided with retention means (18) retaining the tines-connecting links (16) in inclined relation to the main upper and/or lower face of the base element (11).

Description

240001 0 - 1

BIRD DETERRING DEVICES

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to devices for deterring birds, especially pigeons, from landing or alighting on surfaces. Such bird deterrent devices thus serve to protect the surfaces against bird faeces and their damaging effect.

Background Art

Known bird deterrent devices (for example as disclosed in EP-0300441, EP0300936, EP-0340108, EP-0515262 and EP-0792099) comprise a base element to be secured to the surface to be protected, and a plurality of mutually spaced prongs extending from the base element.

In EP-0792099, the base element is provided as an elongate strip of plastics material with the prongs provided as metal wire tines formed by the diverging limbs of symmetric, truncated-V formations attached to the plastic strip. The metal tines are arranged as a laterally staggered sequence of first and second pairs of mutually diverging prongs located in parallel planes that, when viewed in a direction normal to the planes, present the inward metal prong of each first pair in a crossing-over or overlapping relation with the inward metal prong of each second pair (which prevents nesting of bird deterrent devices one within the other). During manufacture, each pair of mutually diverging prongs is inserted through holes in the base strip from the underside of the strip to extend away from the top face of the strip.

A version of a bird deterrent device that has been recently introduced onto the UK market has the base element provided as an elongate strip of plastics material with the prongs provided as metal wire tines formed by the diverging limbs of asymmetric, DCI-7103:L 3/ 2003 - 2 truncated-V formations attached to the plastic strip such as to be located in parallel planes. Each asymmetric, truncated-V formation is formed from a single length of wire to provide two tines extending, at two different obtuse included angles, away from an integral tines-connecting link, and connection of each asymmetric, truncated-V formation is by snap-fitting the tines-connecting link into a snap retainer therefor provided on the top of the strip, the tines-connecting link extending in a plane generally parallel to the main top face of the strip whereby the tines of that asymmetric, truncated-V formation are inclined at differing first and second angles to the main top face of the strip. Alternate asymmetric, truncated-V formations are located on the strip with their tines all directed at the same first and second angles; and the asymmetric, truncated-V formations between them are all located "the other way round" on the strip with their tines all directed at third and fourth angles different to the first and second angles - to the top main face of the strip.

In one preferred form of this version of a bird deterrent device, the asymmetric truncated-V formations are mounted to the strip to provide a sequence of laterally staggered first and second pairs of mutually diverging tines (or prongs) located in planes that are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located. The four prongs of neighbouring first and second pairs extend at four different angles to the base element and, when viewed in said direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located, present the two prongs appearing innermost as diverging away from one another as they extend away from the base element (thereby to permit the nesting of one such bird deterrent device within another with their base elements in close mutual proximity).

Due to the asymmetric form of the truncated-V formations of said version of bird deterrent device, it is necessary to ensure during manufacture and assembly that alternate V-formations along the strip are mounted to the strip in opposite directions.

This is difficult to achieve without the exercise of concentration and considerable care by the assembly personnel.

DRACE/1113..L 3/ 23 - 3 With a view to overcoming this and/or other difficulties, the present invention contemplates the provision of a bird deterrent device comprising a base element and a plurality of mutually spaced prongs extending away from an upper face of the base element, wherein at least some of said prongs are provided in pairs by the diverging limbs of substantially symmetric, truncated-V formations consisting of two tines extending away from the opposite ends of an integral tines-connecting link, and the base element is provided with retention means retaining the tines-connecting links in inclined relation to the main upper and/or lower face of the base element.

Preferably each retention means comprises a pair of resilient snapfitting retainers spaced laterally and urging a tines-connecting link into abutment of an inclined ramp.

Advantageously the tines-connecting links are inserted into the retention means in a downwards direction towards said upper face.

Preferably, the two tines and interconnecting link of each truncated-V formation are formed from a single length of metal wire.

Preferably the truncated-V formations are attached to the plastic strip such as to provide a laterally staggered sequence of first and second pairs of mutually diverging prongs located in parallel planes that are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs arc located, the retained tines-connecting links of the first and second pairs being inclined to the upper and/or lower face of the base element at opposite angles.

Thus, in one preferred arrangement, the retained tines-connecting links of the first pairs are inclined to the upper face of the base element at a first angle a and the retained tines-connecting links of the second pairs are inclined to the upper face of the base element at a second angle 0, preferably equal to 180 minus cr.

DRAGE/103 L 2003 - 4 Advantageously the four prongs of neighbouring first and second pairs extend at four different angles to the base element and, when viewed in the direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located, present the two prongs appearing innermost as diverging away from one another as they extend away from the base element (thereby to permit the nesting of one such bird deterrent device within another with their base elements in close mutual proximity).

Preferably the said four prongs of neighbouring first and second pairs, when viewed in said direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located, present the two prongs appearing outermost as extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the base element, said base element being of substantially strip-like form.

Advantageously the strip-like base element is provided at spaced apart intervals, preferably on its underside, with lines of weakness, e.g. provided by transverse grooves of preferably V-shaped cross-section, to allow a desired length to be snapped off the strip-like base element.

Preferably the strip-like base element has a sinuous form.

Advantageously the prongs extend upwards from side projections extending laterally from the main path of the strip-like base element.

Advantageously the base element is provided with countersunk apertures, preferably of non-circular (e.g. cruciform) shape. When the base element is to be secured by adhesive to a surface to be protected, the adhesive can be squeezed out from beneath the base element and enter the countersunk apertures such as to form therewith a keying bond when the adhesive is set.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example one embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure I is a plan view of part of a bird deterrent device according to this invention; DRAG EV I 03 thy: 3/ 2003 - 5 f Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Fig 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of Fig 2, Figure 4 is a scrap cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig 3, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V of Fig 3.

Description of Illustrated Embodiment

The illustrated bird deterrent device 10 comprises a base element 11 provided by an elongate sinuous strip of plastics material, a plurality of prongs 12,14 provided as metal wire tines formed by the diverging limbs of a symmetric, truncated-V formations 15 attached to the plastic strip such as to be located in parallel planes. Each a symmetric, truncated-V formation 15 is formed from a single length of wire to provide two tines and an integral tines-connecting link 16. The two tines serve as the prongs 12,14 and extend at the same obtuse included angle, away from the link 16. Connection of each a symmetric, truncated-V formation 15 is by snap- fitting the tines-connecting link 16 into snap retainer means 18 provided in a small housing 19 on the top of the main face of the strip.

The snap retainer means 18 is arranged to hold and retain the tinesconnecting link 16 such that it extends in a plane inclined laterally to the main top face of the strip 11 whereby the tines 12,14 of that symmetric, truncated-V formation 15 are inclined at differing first and second angles to the main top face of the strip 11. Alternate symmetric, truncated-V formations 15 are located on the strip 11 with their tines connecting links 16 all directed at the same angle y; and the links 16 of the symmetric, truncated-V formations 15 disposed between them are all directed at the same different angle -in this example equal to 180 - y.

The arrangement is such that the truncated-V formations 15 are mounted to the strip 11 to provide a sequence of laterally staggered first and second pairs of mutually diverging tines or prongs 12,14 located in planes that are spaced apart in a direction transverse-at generally 90 -to the planes in which said pairs are located. This direction is shown by the arrow A in Figure 1. The four prongs 12a, 14a; 12b, 14b of neighbouring first and second pairs extend at four different angles to the main plane of DRAGEVI03:.:.3/ 2003 - 6 the base element 11 and, when viewed in the direction of arrow A (i.e. said direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located), present the two prongs appearing innermost (i.e. tines 12b, 14a) as diverging away from one another as they extend away from the base element 11-see Fig 2. This permits the nesting of several such such bird deterrent devices 10 one within another with their base elements 11 in close mutual proximity.

Due to the alternating inclines of the links 16 of the symmetric truncated-V formations IS it is not necessary to ensure during manufacture and assembly that alternate V formations along the strip are mounted to the strip in opposite directions. The alternating inclines automatically achieve the desired result of sequences of four prongs, each in two pairs, directed at four different angles a,, as, al and a4 to the ledge or other surface 20 onto which the strip 11 is mounted (Fig 2).

To provide for retention of the tines-connecting links 16 in inclined relation to the main upper and/or lower face of the base element 11, each housing 19 contains a.pair of resilient snap-fitting retainers 21,22 (Figs 3-5) spaced laterally of the strip 11 and urging a tines-connecting link]6 into abutment of an inclined ramp 23. This inclined ramp 23 is located just below the retainers 21,22 and between them such as to provide a central stop to further insertion of link 16. To facilitate insertion of the tines connecting links 16 into the retention housings 19 in a downwards direction towards said upper face of the strip 11, each such housing is provided with cavity 24 of generally V-shaped cross- section leading to the inclined ramp 23 and into which project the snap- fitting resilient fingers 21,22 providing the retainers 18. These two fingers 21,22 are of different effective length-but their free ends terminate at the same short distance-less than the diameter of a link 16-from the inclined ramp 23. This ensures retention of the link 16 (and hence the whole formation IS) when the link is forced past those free ends.

It will be seen from Fig I that the truncated-V formations 15 are attached to the plastic strip 11 such as to provide a laterally staggered sequence of first and second pairs of mutually diverging prongs located in parallel planes that are spaced apart in a direction DRAGrll03: 2003

- -

- shown by arrow A-transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located, the retained tines-connecting links 16 of the first and second pairs being inclined to the upper and/or lower face of the base element 11 at opposite angles and 6.

As best shown in Fig 2, the four prongs 12a, 14a; 12b,14b of neighbouring first and second pairs, when viewed in the direction of arrow A (Fig 1) present the two prongs appearing outermost (i.e. tines 12a,14b) as extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the sinuous strip-like base element l 1.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 to S allows all the prongs to project upwardly and outwardly and extend over a wide angle away from a narrow base strip 11, and there is no need to provide for these four rows of prongs a strip 11 that is any wider than the strip needed for just two rows of prongs or to provide a doubled narrow strip (i.e. two, possibly interconnected, narrow strips.

Also it will be appreciated that the arrangement illustrated in Figs 1 to S does not require bending of the tines after their attachment to the strip 11. Nevertheless, embodiments of the invention are envisaged in which the prongs, in symmetric U formations or truncated-V formations, are attached by insertion through holes in the base element from the underside of the strip-like base element. The prongs may be pre bent to their desired final form-and e.g. be held in position on the strip by their inherent resilience-or may be bent to their desired final truncated- V form after such attachment to the strip. In each case, the tinesconnecting link 16 would be inclined to the plane of the lower face of the base element, alternative links l 6 being inclined in the same one direction and angle y, and the links 16 between them being inclined in the opposite direction at an angle (preferably the same as angle y).

Advantageously, with each embodiment described above, the strip-like base element 11 may be provided at spaced apart intervals, preferably on its underside, with lines of weakness, e.g. provided by transverse grooves of preferably V-shaped cross-section, to allow a desired length to be snapped off the strip-like base element 11.

DRAGLIlo3:uL-4I 2003 - 8 r Conveniently, with each embodiment described above, the base element l 1 is provided with countersunk apertures 25, preferably of non-circular (e.g. cruciform) shape. When the base element is to be secured by adhesive to a ledge or other surface 20 to be protected, the adhesive can be squeezed out from beneath the base element l 1 and enter the countersunk apertures such as to form therewith a keying bond when the adhesive is set.

In another envisaged embodiment of this invention, instead of just four rows of tines arranged as shown in Fig 2, a bird deterrent device may be provided comprising of six rows of tines. For this, the two outer rows on each side are provided by inclined, symmetric truncated-V formations lS (i.e. in accord with one or more of the embodiments described above), but the central two rows of tines are provided as pairs of tines (e.g. provided by the diverging limbs of truncated-V formations consisting of two tines extending away from the opposite ends of an integral tinesconnecting link), that extend in spaced apart vertical planes that are at an angle other than 90 with respect to the general longitudinal extent of the base element. An example of an arrangement suitable for these central two rows of tines is described with reference to Figs l to 4 of our other UK patent application filed today-the content of which is to be deemed incorporated herein by this reference.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention. Thus, the particular embodiment hereinbefore described may be varied in construction and detail without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

nRAGEll03 uL 4/ 2003

Claims

1. A bird deterrent device comprising a base element and a plurality of mutually spaced prongs extending away from an upper face of the base element, wherein at least some of said prongs are provided in pairs by the diverging limbs of substantially symmetric, truncated-V formations consisting of two tines extending away from the opposite ends of an integral tines-coMecting link, and the base element is provided with retention means retaining the tines-coMecting links in inclined relation to the main upper and/or lower face of the base element.

2. A bird deterrent device according to Claim 1, wherein each retention means comprises a pair of resilient snap-fitting retainers spaced laterally and urging a tines connecting link into abutment of an inclined ramp.

3. A bird deterrent device according to Claim l or Claim 2, wherein the tines connecting links are inserted into the retention means in a downwards direction towards said upper face.

4. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the two tines 2() and interconnecting link of each truncated-V formation are formed from a single length of metal wire.

5. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the truncated-V formations are attached to the base element such as to provide a laterally staggered sequence of first and second pairs of mutually diverging prongs located in parallel planes that are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located, the retained tines-coMecting links of the first and second pairs being inclined to the upper and/or lower face of the base element at opposite angles.

3()

6. A bird deterrent device according to Claim 5, wherein the retained tines connecting links of the first pairs are inclined to the upper face of the base element at Dk\G! /] ..L I/ 2/4 - 10 a first angle a and the retained tines-connecting links of the second pairs are inclined to the upper face of the base element at a second angle,B.

7. A bird deterrent device according to Claim 6, wherein the second angle is equal to 180 minus c.

8. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the four prongs of neighbouring first and second pairs extend at four different angles to the base element and, when viewed in the direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs 1() are located, present the two prongs appearing innermost as diverging away from one another as they extend away from the base element.

9. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the four prongs of neighbouring first and second pairs, when viewed in the direction transverse to the planes in which said pairs are located, present the two prongs appearing outermost as extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the base element.

l O. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the said base element is of substantially strip-like form. 2()

11. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the said base element is of plastics material.

12. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the strip-like base element is provided at spaced apart intervals, preferably on its underside, with lines of weakness to allow a desired length to be snapped off the strip-like base element.

13. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the said lines of weakness are provided on the underside of the strip-like base element.

DR\Glylll3:..:/ 2lN)4 - 11

14. A bird deterrent device according to any Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the said lines of weakness are provided by transverse grooves across a surface of the strip- like base element.

IS. A bird deterrent device according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said transverse grooves are of V-shaped cross-section.

16. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the strip-like base element has a sinuous form.

17. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the prongs extend upwards from side projections extending laterally from the main path of the strip-like base element.

18. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the base element is provided with countersunk apertures.

19. A bird deterrent device according to Claim 18, wherein the countersunk apertures are of non-circular shape. 2()

20. A bird deterrent device according to Claim 18 or Claim 19, wherein the countersunk apertures are of cruciform shape.

21. A bird deterrent device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the prongs are arranged to permit the nesting of one such bird deterrent device within another with their base elements in close mutual proximity.

22. A bird deterrent device substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DR2\C,1./11)3:-,:1/ 21N)4