TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention described herein relates to a deterrent device. In particular, the invention is directed to a deterrent device for flying animals such as birds and bats, although the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

BACKGROUND

Flying animals, such as birds and bats are often regarded as pests for a number of different reasons. For example, where equipment is positioned outdoors, the maintenance of that equipment can be significantly increased by bird litter which can foul that equipment and interfere with its operation. In another example, birds and bats can cause agricultural damage, resulting in the use of nets and other equipment which can be bulky, inconvenient and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a deterrent device which comprises a base fastenable to a substrate from which flying animals are to be deterred; a spigot detachably connected to the base; a rotor assembly arranged on the spigot and rotatable with respect to the spigot; a releasable retaining arrangement on the spigot and rotor member to retain the rotor member on the spigot while permitting rotation of the rotor assembly with respect to the spigot; at least one pair of arms extending from the rotor assembly; and a vane arranged on each arm, the spigot and rotor member being configured so that the spigot, arms and vanes rotate in the presence of air movement.

The base may be dimensioned so that, when the spigot is detached, the base defines a suitably low profile to minimise interference with pedestrian traffic.

The spigot and the base may define a quick release coupling, such as a bayonet fitting.

The rotor assembly may define a sleeve in which an operatively upper portion of the spigot is received. The retaining arrangement may include a circumferential recess defined in the upper portion of the spigot. The sleeve may define an opening that is aligned with the recess when the sleeve is positioned on the spigot. The retaining arrangement may include a retaining member that includes a pin that can be received through the opening and into the circumferential recess. Thus, the pin obstructs longitudinal movement of the sleeve with respect to the spigot. The retaining member may further include a grip from which the pin extends to facilitate manipulation thereof. A clip may extend from the grip to engage the sleeve on the outside. Thus, when the pin is inserted into the opening and circumferential recess, the clip engages the sleeve so that the retaining member is held in position.

The deterrent device may include a locking arrangement to lock the rotor assembly against rotation. For this purpose, both the sleeve and the spigot may have complementary openings extending therethrough. The retaining pin of the retaining member can be inserted through both the openings to lock the rotor assembly with respect to the spigot.

The rotor assembly may include a clamp assembly positioned on the sleeve. The clamp assembly may include a first clamp member fast with the sleeve. A second clamp member may be provided so that the arms can be clamped between the clamp members. A fastener may be received through the second clamp member to engage the first clamp member such that, when the fastener is manipulated, the second clamp member can be urged against the first clamp member. In particular, the fastener may have a threaded shank which is threadedly received into the first clamp member. A head of the fastener may be configured to bear against the second clamp member and may define a handle to permit rotation of the fastener.

In a preferred embodiment, the deterrent device includes a pair of arms which extend between the first and second clamp members. Each arm may be cylindrical. In particular, each arm may be tubular and of a lightweight, structural material such as aluminium. Each clamp member may define a groove to correspond with the arms. The grooves may be configured so that when the base is fastened to a horizontal substrate, and the arms are clamped between the clamp members, the arms are angled with respect to the substrate. The vanes may be positioned on the arms so that, when the arms are in the aforesaid configuration, an orientation of vanes is such that a downward force is exerted by the rotor member on the spigot during rotation of the arms. As a result, the rotor assembly is inhibited from being separated from the spigot, particularly in high wind.

Various bird-deterring accessories may be arranged on the device. This could include reflective strips or pieces of material attached to the arms. Furthermore, the arms and the vanes may be coated with reflective material, such as that which includes reflective particulate material. The arms of the device of the preferred embodiment may be provided with guide means and/or positive location means in order to guide the movement and/or final positioning of the vane relative to each arm. Once preferred mechanism is to provide a key and corresponding slot on the arm and vane respectively or vice versa. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is not intended to limit the scope of the preceding paragraphs or the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a side view of a deterrent device, in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows the orientation of a vane with respect to an arm of the deterrent device, in use. Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the deterrent device of figure 1.

Figure 4 shows an underneath plan view of a base and spigot assembly of the deterrent device of figure 1.

Figure 5 shows an orientation of one of the arms of the deterrent device with respect to clamp members of the deterrent device. Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a retaining arrangement of the deterrent device of figure 1.

Figure 7 shows an alternative of the deterrent device so that a rotor assembly of the deterrent device can be positioned at a required height from the base.

Figure 8 shows a vane attached to an arm of the deterrent device. Figure 9 shows a strip of deterrent material attached to an arm of the deterrent device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In figures 1 and 3, reference 10 generally indicates an embodiment of a deterrent device, in accordance with the invention. The device shown in the drawings is particularly suited for deterring birds. However, it will readily be appreciated that, with some simple modification, the deterrent device can be used to deter bats.

The device 10 includes a base 12 that is fastenable to a substrate from which birds are to be deterred. It will readily be appreciated that the substrate can take many forms. For example, in waterways, it is common for the authorities to make use of beacons that display green or red lights for the direction of waterborne traffic. A common problem with such beacons is that various waterbirds, such as seagulls, tend to gather on the beacons and to foul the beacons with litter. As a result, the lights can become damaged resulting in significant danger to the waterborne traffic. In order to address this problem, the authorities spend a significant amount of time and money cleaning litter from the beacons. The device 10 can be positioned on such a beacon to deter waterbirds. As a result, the device 10 can be used to alleviate the time and expense spent in cleaning the beacons. Other locations where the device 10 could find application would be on jetties and other areas which should be kept clear of bird litter, such as on buildings and other outdoor structures.

A spigot 14 is detachably connected to the base 12. In particular, as can be seen in figure 4, the spigot 14 and the base 12 define a bayonet fitting 16. For this purpose, a pair of projections 18 extend from a lower end of the spigot 14, the lower end being received through an opening 20 defined in the base 12. The base 12 defines corresponding locking members 22 to engage the projections 18. A pair of gripping formations 24 extend from the spigot 14 to facilitate manipulation of the bayonet fitting 16.

The base 12 defines a pair of openings 13 so that suitable fasteners or fixing screws 11 (figure 1) can be received through the openings 13 to fasten the base 12 to the substrate. The base 12 is dimensioned so that it defines a profile that does not interfere with the use of the substrate. For example, the base 12 could be fastened to a walkway, such as a walkway to a jetty or on the jetty itself. Such areas are often used for foot traffic and it would be undesirable if the base 12 projected upwardly and interfered with such traffic. Accordingly, the device 10 is particularly suited to use in such areas.

A rotor assembly with a rotor 26 is arranged on the spigot 14 and is rotatable with respect to the spigot 14. As can be seen in figure 3, an operatively upper end region of the spigot 14 is received in a sleeve 28 defined in an operatively lower end region of the rotor 26. The sleeve 28 and spigot 14 are dimensioned so that the rotor 26 can rotate freely with respect to the spigot 14. To facilitate rotation and minimise friction, a bead 31 is arranged on an upper end of the spigot 14 to bear against an internal wall of the sleeve 28 thereby carrying the weight of the rotor 26.

The device 10 includes a releasable retaining arrangement 30 to retain the rotor 26 on the spigot 14 while permitting rotation of the rotor 26 with respect to the spigot 14. The arrangement 30 includes a retaining member 32, shown in further detail in figure 6. The upper end region of the spigot 14 defines a circumferential recess 34 and the sleeve 28 defines an opening 36 that is aligned with the recess 34. The retaining member 32 includes a thumb grip 38 with a pin 40 extending from the thumb grip 38. The pin 40 can be received through the opening 30 and into the recess 34 to retain the rotor 26 against longitudinal movement with respect to the spigot 14. A clip 41 extends from the thumb grip 38 to engage the sleeve 28 when the pin 40 is inserted into the recess 38. This serves to retain the member 32 in position.

A clamp assembly 42 is positioned on the rotor 26. The clamp assembly 42 includes a first clamp member 44 that is fixed to the rotor 26. A complementary second clamp member 46 defines an opening through which an elongate fastener 48 can be received. The fastener 48 has a shank 50 and a grip 53 arranged on the shank 50. The shank 50 can be received through the opening and threaded into the first clamp member 48. A bearing formation 52 is interposed between the shank 50 and the grip 53. Thus, when the grip 53 is rotated, the formation 52 bears against the second clamp member 46 to drive it towards the first clamp member 44. The base 12, the spigot 14, the rotor 26, the clamp members 44, 46 and the fastener 48 can be of any weather-resistant material. In one embodiment, these components are of a reinforced plastics material, such as a fibre reinforced polyethylene. Furthermore, the material can be UV resistant.

The device 10 includes a pair of arms 54. The arms 54 are cylindrical. The arms 54 can be of any suitably strong, lightweight material. In this embodiment, the arms 54 are of tubular aluminium. Each clamp member 44, 46 defines a pair of grooves 56 to accommodate respective arms 54. The grooves 56 are configured so that when the base 12 is fastened to a horizontal substrate, and the arms 54 are clamped between the clamp members 44, 46, the arms 54 are angled with respect to the substrate. In particular, and as can be seen in figure 5, the grooves 56 have a profile that is angled with respect to the substrate when the clamp members 44, 46 are in a substantially horizontal orientation.

A vane 58 is mounted on an end of each arm 54. In particular, a pin 60 connects each vane 58 to its respective arm 54. To facilitate this, a connecting piece 62 is mounted on an end of each arm 54. The connecting piece 62 defines a sleeve 64 through which the pin 60 extends to be freely pivotal with respect to the connecting piece 62. A free end of the pin 60 is grooved to receive a retaining clip 66 which is a press-fit onto the pin 60.

The connecting piece 62 extends beyond the sleeve 64 and the vane 58 is dimensioned so that a portion 68 of the vane 58 can be positioned on one side of the connecting piece 62. Thus, when a breeze or wind impinges on the vane 58, the portion 68 bears against the connecting piece 62 to rotate the arm 54. To ensure that the arms 54 can rotate with any wind direction, the respective portions 68 are positioned on opposite sides with respect to their associated connecting pieces 62, as can be seen in figure 1. The sleeves 64 are oriented substantially at right angles with respect to their associated arms. Thus, since the arms 54 are angled upwardly, the orientation of each vane 58 with respect to its associated arm 54 is as shown in figures 2 and 8. In particular, the vanes 58 are positioned on the arms 54 so that, when the arms 54 are in the aforesaid angled configuration, the orientation of the vanes 58 assists in ensuring that a downward force is exerted by the rotor

26 on the spigot 14. As a result, the rotor 26 is inhibited from being separated from the spigot

14, particularly in high wind.

The vanes 58 and their associated pivot pins 60 are in the form of one-piece mouldings of a weather-resistant material. An example of a suitable material is a fibre-reinforced plastics material. An inner region 70 of each vane 58 is profiled to assist in generating movement of the arms 54 in air movement.

Each vane 58 can be coated with a reflective material in the form of a sticker or reflective coating. Furthermore, the reflective material can be holographic to provide a further visual deterrent, particularly to birds. As shown in Figure 9, a strip 72 of reflective material can be attached to each arm 54 with a suitable clip 74. The reflective material can be holographic to provide a further visual deterrent, particularly to birds.

It is to be understood that when the clamp members 44, 46 are loosened, the arms 54 can be slid with respect to each other to vary an effective span of the arms 54. Thus, a sweep area of the device 10 can be adjusted to some extent depending on the application of the device

10.

It will be appreciated that it may be necessary from time to time to lock the rotor 26 against rotation. For example, one application for the device 10 is for use in vineyards. In vineyards, it is often necessary to have nets positioned over the vines to prevent birds and fruit bats from eating the grapes. In this application, the device 10 could be positioned on posts that support the vines. During vineyard maintenance, it is often necessary to drive a vehicle between rows of vines. It will be appreciated that the arms 54 could interfere with the vehicle.

Thus, said upper end region of the spigot 14 defines a passage 62 that corresponds with an opening in the sleeve 28. In order to lock the rotor 20 with respect to the spigot 14, the pin 40 of the retaining member 32 is inserted through the opening and into the passage 62 thereby locking the sleeve 28 against rotation. In that position, the clip 41 serves to retain the retaining member 32 in position. In areas such as vineyards, it may be necessary that the rotor 26 be positioned at an extended height with respect to the base 12, for example, to prevent vegetation from interfering with the rotation of the rotor 26. For such applications, the device 10 includes an extension piece 76 arranged on the spigot 14 as shown in figure 8. The extension piece 64 can be selected so that the rotor 26 is at a suitable height. Furthermore, the device 10 can be supplied with different extension pieces 64 for different required heights of the rotor 26.

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The term "comprise" and variants of the term such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.