JP7496101B2 - Animal-proof fence - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an animal-proof fence that prevents animals from entering no-entry zones on expressways and the like, and in particular to an animal-proof fence that can guide animals into passable zones to prevent animals from entering no-entry zones.

Conventionally, when wild animals enter no-entry zones on expressways and other roads, they can cause traffic accidents, so animal-proof fences are set up along the no-entry zones near such zones.

Such animal-proof fences need to have the desired strength and height to prevent damage caused by animals colliding with them, or animals from entering by jumping over or digging through the ground where the fence is installed.

As described in Patent Document 1, the net that makes up the animal-proof fence is made of thread containing capsaicin, which repels animals. When animals touch the fence, they are repelled and retreat from it, preventing them from entering the no-entry zone.

As described in Patent Document 2, such an animal-repellent substance is known to be composed of a core substance made of a single or blend of animal-repellent herb essential oil extracts encapsulated in a microcapsule with a water-soluble coating, and is known to contain capsaicin as the core substance.

JP 2006-262765 A JP 2006-306796 A

However, conventional animal-proof fences have a problem in that while the repellent effect is exerted by animals directly touching the fence, for example by touching the fence with their face, biting it, or licking it, if an animal were to jump over the fence, for example, it could enter the no-entry zone.

In addition, passable zones that allow animals to enter are generally provided near no-entry zones. These passable zones are, for example, bridges or tunnels that cross an expressway, and allow animals to move to the other side of the expressway without entering the expressway. However, because such passable zones are provided in designated locations, there is a problem in that they cannot be used effectively unless animals are aware that they can pass through.

The present invention was developed in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide an animal-proof fence that can prevent animals from entering the no-entry zone and safely prevent animals from entering the no-entry zone by guiding animals to the pass-through zone.

The animal fence of the present invention is an animal fence that prevents animals from entering a no-entry zone, and comprises an animal fence main body that is arranged approximately parallel to the edge of the no-entry zone, and a guide fence that guides the animals to a pass-through zone that allows the animals to enter, the guide fence is configured so that its height from the ground surface gradually increases as it approaches the pass-through zone, and the surface of the animal fence main body contains a repellent that repels the animals when they come into contact with it .

In addition, in the animal-proof fence according to the present invention, it is preferable that the repellent contains at least microcapsules containing capsaicin.

In addition, in the animal-proof fence of the present invention, it is preferable that the guide fence is arranged at an angle with respect to the extension direction of the animal-proof fence main body.

In addition, in the animal-proof fence of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface of the guide fence contains the repellent.

In addition, in the animal-proof fence of the present invention, it is preferable that the concentration of the repellent contained in the guide fence is lower than the concentration of the repellent contained in the animal-proof fence body.

In addition, in the animal-proof fence of the present invention, it is preferable that the concentration of the repellent contained in the guide fence changes along the extension direction of the guide fence.

The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also constitute inventions.

The animal fence of the present invention comprises an animal fence body arranged approximately parallel to the edge of the no-entry zone, and a guide fence that guides animals to the pass-through zone that allows the animals to enter. The guide fence is configured so that its height gradually changes as it approaches the pass-through zone, and the surface of the animal fence body contains a repellent that repels the animals when they come into contact with it. Therefore, in addition to guiding animals that approach the animal fence to the pass-through zone by the guide fence, since the surface of the animal fence body contains a repellent, if an animal touches the animal fence body, it can be made to retreat from the animal fence body, preventing the animals from entering the no-entry zone.

1 is a schematic plan view illustrating an animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention. A schematic front view showing the animal prevention fence main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the internal structure of a covered wire that constitutes an animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating the configuration of an animal-proof guide fence according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view illustrating the configuration of a modified example of an animal-proof guide fence according to an embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a modified example of an animal-proof guide fence according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view illustrating the configuration of another modified example of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view illustrating the configuration of another modified example of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Below, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the inventions according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

1 is a schematic plan view for explaining an animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the animal-proof fence main body according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the internal configuration of the covered wire that constitutes the animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic front view for explaining the configuration of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic front view for explaining the configuration of a modified example of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a modified example of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a schematic front view for explaining the configuration of another modified example of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a schematic front view for explaining the configuration of another modified example of the guide fence of the animal-proof fence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the animal-proof fence 10 of this embodiment includes an animal-proof fence main body 11 that is arranged approximately parallel to a no-entry zone 1 that does not allow animals to enter, such as on a highway, and a guide fence 12 that is arranged at a predetermined distance from the animal-proof fence main body 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the animal-proof fence main body 11 includes posts 15 arranged at a predetermined interval from the ground G, a wire mesh section 13 attached in a planar manner between the posts 15, and a wire section 14 stretched horizontally above the wire mesh section 13. The lower part of the wire mesh section 13 may include a stealth wire mesh 16 embedded in the ground G. This stealth wire mesh 16 may be configured as one unit with the wire mesh section 13, or may be configured separately from the wire mesh section 13 so that it can be attached after the animal-proof fence main body 11 is installed. In this way, by providing the stealth wire mesh 16, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of small animals that dig into the ground and sneak through the animal-proof fence main body 11. Furthermore, in addition to the stealth wire mesh 16 embedded in the ground G, a wire mesh may be installed at the ground level in the gap between the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the ground G.

The wire mesh section 13 is formed of a diamond-shaped wire mesh, tortoiseshell wire mesh, or mesh (lattice-like) made by weaving together coated wires 20, whose core wires are covered with synthetic resin or the like, with a mesh size that is small enough that animals cannot pass through. As shown in FIG. 3, the coated wire 20 is made by applying adhesive 22 to zinc-plated iron wire 24, which has been surface-treated with zinc plating 23, and extruding coating material 21 concentrically around the iron wire 24, which is the core wire, using an extrusion molding machine. Since the coated wire 20 is made of such an adhesive coating, its durability is increased, and even if it is scratched, the corrosion of the iron wire 24 can be prevented from spreading.

The coating material 21 is made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene mixed with a repellent. The repellent is preferably a microcapsule containing a spicy ingredient such as capsaicin, and the microcapsule is preferably formed to a size of 15 to 25 μm.

In this way, by mixing a repellent into the covering material 21, when an animal comes into direct contact with the wire mesh section 13 by touching it with its nose, biting it, licking it, or otherwise making direct contact with it, the microcapsules are destroyed and the spicy components and the like adhere to the animal, providing a repellent effect, forcing the animal to retreat from the animal-proof fence main body 11 and preventing it from entering the intrusion-proof zone 1. Note that, like the wire mesh section 13, the stealth wire mesh 16 is also preferably structured with a core wire covered with a covering wire, and the mesh shape may be the same as that of the wire mesh section 13, or may be changed as appropriate depending on the small animals digging into the ground G.

The wire portion 14 may be a wire coated with the same coating material 21 as described above and stretched between the posts 15, or a wire that does not contain a repellent may be used.

The guide fence 12 is configured to guide animals to a passable zone 2 that is located near the no-entry zone 1 or that intersects with the no-entry zone 1. The passable zone 2 is, for example, a tunnel or underpass that passes under the no-entry zone 1, or a bridge that is built above the no-entry zone 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide fence 12 is inclined at a predetermined angle to the animal-proof fence body 11, and is arranged in a generally V-shape toward the passable zone 2.

As shown in Figure 4, the guide fence 12 is configured so that it gradually becomes taller as it approaches the passable zone 2. Specifically, the position farthest from the passable zone 2 (left side in Figure 4) is a first guide fence 12a with only the wire mesh section 13, the position closest to the passable zone 2 (right side in Figure 4) is a third guide fence 12c with a higher wire mesh section 13 and a wire section 14, and between the first guide fence 12a and the third guide fence 12c is a second guide fence 12b with a wire section 14 on top of the wire mesh section 13, similar to the animal-proof fence main body 11.

The guide fence 12 is preferably made of a covering material 21 mixed with a repellent, similar to the animal-proof fence body 11. Here, it is preferable that the concentration of the repellent mixed into the guide fence 12 is lower than the concentration of the repellent mixed into the animal-proof fence body 11.

In this way, the concentration of the repellent is set higher in the animal-proof fence main body 11 than in the guide fence 12, so animals can be prevented from approaching the animal-proof fence main body 11, and as a result, animals can be prevented from entering the no-entry zone 1. Furthermore, even if an animal strays between the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12, it can be encouraged to move along the guide fence 12, which has a lower concentration of repellent.

It is also preferable that the concentration of the repellent mixed into the animal fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 changes along the direction in which the animal fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 are extended. By configuring it in this way, it is possible to make the repellent effect different between places far from the passable zone 2 of the animal fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 and places close to it, and to effectively guide animals approaching the animal fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 to retreat or to the passable zone 2.

By changing the concentration of the repellent in this way, animals approaching the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 can be encouraged to move in the direction of the passable zone 2. For example, if the concentration of the repellent is configured to decrease toward the passable zone 2, the animals will be guided in the direction of the lower repellent concentration, and if they move in the direction of the higher repellent concentration, they will be encouraged to move away from the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12, preventing them from entering the no-entry zone 1.

Specific methods for changing the concentration of the repellent include using a covering material 21 in which the repellent is mixed throughout the wire mesh of the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12, and mixing the repellent so that the concentration changes in any direction, or mixing the repellent into some of the covered wires 21 of the wire mesh to change the concentration of the repellent throughout the wire mesh.

In this way, the animal-proof fence 10 of this embodiment prevents animals from entering the no-entry zone 1 by repelling animals due to the repellent contained in the animal-proof fence main body 11, and prevents animals from entering the no-entry zone 1 by guiding animals to the pass-through zone 2 with the guide fence 12, so that the synergistic effect of these two features makes it possible to prevent animals from entering the no-entry zone 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the guide fence 35 is preferably configured so that its height gradually increases toward the passable zone 2, and the third guide fence 12c', which is positioned closest to the passable zone 2 and configured to have the highest height from the ground surface G, is provided with a passage means 30 through which animals can pass.

The passage means 30 is configured to allow an animal that has strayed between the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the guide fence 35 to pass through the guide fence 35 so that the animal can move to the opposite side of the animal-proof fence main body 11 from the guide fence 35. For example, it is preferable for the passage means 30 to be configured as a covered opening 31 or a tunnel 32 formed below the third guide fence 12c'.

As shown in FIG. 6, the covered opening 31 is configured with a lid 18 that closes the opening 17 formed below the third guide fence 12c' from the side opposite the animal fence body 11, and the lid 18 can be rotated to open and close freely relative to the opening 17 via a hinge 19. By configuring the covered opening 31 in this way, if an animal wanders in between the animal fence body 11 and the guide fence 35, the animal that has wandered in near the third guide fence 12c' can push open the lid 18 of the covered opening 31 from the animal fence body 11 side, and move to the side of the guide fence 35 opposite the animal fence body 11, allowing the animal to escape from the intrusion prevention zone 1.

The covered opening 31 is configured so that the opening 17 is closed by the cover 18 from the side opposite the animal fence body 11, preventing intrusion between the guide fence 35 and the animal fence body 11 from the side opposite the guide fence 35 to the animal fence body 11.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the guide fence 40 may be configured so that its height from the ground surface G gradually decreases toward the passable zone 2. By installing the guide fence 40 in this manner, animals that have wandered between the animal-proof fence main body 11 and the guide fence 40 can easily jump over the guide fence 40, making it possible to allow the animals to escape from the no-entry zone 1. In this case, it is preferable to configure the concentration of the repellent contained in the guide fence 40 to gradually decrease toward the passable zone 2, so that animals can be guided along the guide fence 40.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, while the height of the guide fence 50 itself is constant, an embankment 33 may be formed so that the ground level gradually rises toward the passable zone 2, and a tunnel 32 may be provided as a means of passage below the embankment 33. This configuration allows animals to easily jump over the guide fence 50 from above the embankment 33, and animals that do not jump can escape from the no-entry zone 1 by passing through the tunnel 32.

In this way, the height of the guide fence from the ground can be changed as appropriate depending on the animal morphology at the installation location. For example, in an environment with many jumping animals, the guide fence should be structured to make it easier to jump over, while in an environment with many animals that tend to burrow underground, it is preferable to use wire mesh 16 to prevent intrusion from underground and to encourage animals to retreat from the guide fence using tunnels 32.

In the above embodiment, the animal prevention fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 are described as being composed of the wire mesh section 13 and the wire section 14, but the animal prevention fence main body 11 and the guide fence 12 may be composed of only the wire mesh section 13 without the wire section 14. In addition, the guide fence 12 may be formed so that its height increases continuously. It is clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

1 No entry zone, 2 Passable zone, 10 Animal-proof fence, 11 Animal-proof fence main body, 12 Guide fence, 13 Wire mesh section, 14 Wire section, 20 Covered wire, 30 Passage means, 31 Opening with lid, 32 Tunnel, 33 Embankment, G Ground.

Claims (6)

An animal-proof fence that prevents animals from entering a restricted area,
An animal-proof fence body arranged approximately parallel to the edge of the intrusion-proof belt;
a guide fence for guiding the animal to a passable zone that allows the animal to enter,
The guiding fence is configured so that its height from the ground surface gradually increases as it approaches the passable zone,
This animal-proof fence is characterized in that the surface of the animal-proof fence body contains a repellent that repels animals when they come into contact with it. The animal-proof fence according to claim 1 ,
The animal-proof fence is characterized in that the repellent contains microcapsules in which at least capsaicin is encapsulated. The animal-proof fence according to claim 1 or 2 ,
An animal-proof fence, characterized in that the guide fence is arranged at an angle with respect to the extension direction of the animal-proof fence main body. The animal-proof fence according to claim 3 ,
An animal-proof fence, characterized in that the surface of the guide fence contains the repellent. The animal-proof fence according to claim 4 ,
An animal-proof fence, characterized in that the concentration of the repellent contained in the guide fence is lower than the concentration of the repellent contained in the animal-proof fence body. The animal-proof fence according to claim 4 or 5 ,
An animal-proof fence, characterized in that the concentration of the repellent contained in the guide fence changes along the extension direction of the guide fence.

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