# Patent

## Title
Bird repellant device

## Abstract

An improved bird repellent device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, yet which is 100% effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting on the protected structure by presenting a surface which projects outwardly from the protected structure at an angle in excess of 25° is impossible for birds to land or nest on and which can be installed quickly and easily on substantially any structure to be protected and is 100% effective in preventing landing or nesting of birds.

## Background
RELATED CASES
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,135, filed Aug. 2, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,263, issued May 11, 2010.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bird repellants and is particularly directed to improved apparatus for preventing birds from landing or nesting on billboards, buildings and the like.
PRIOR ART
Birds often land on billboards, buildings and the like and leave droppings which are unsightly and mar or obscure the appearance of the sign or building. Furthermore, such droppings entail considerable time and expense to remove and may cause permanent stains. Also, birds often build nests and raise young birds which greatly increases the problem of droppings plus the added problem of removing the unsightly nests. Numerous types of chemical bird deterrents have been proposed heretofore, however, these are usually of little or no effect. Also, several types of mechanical devices have been proposed to prevent birds from landing or nesting. Some of these have involved rotating arms which sweep about the edge of the billboard or roof so that approaching birds will be unable to land without being hit. However, these rotating devices require energy for operation which causes a considerable expense to the owner whether or not birds are present. Some stationary bird repellent devices have been proposed which provide a plurality of upwardly extending spikes which are intended to prevent birds from landing or nesting on a protected structure. Unfortunately, many birds still attempt to land on such devices with the result that often the devices are ineffective or serve to wound the birds causing bleeding which only adds to the unsightliness of the problem. Thus, none of the prior art bird repellant devices have been entirely satisfactory.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and a bird repellent device is provided which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install and which uses no energy and, hence, has no ongoing expense, yet which is 100% effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting on a protected structure.
These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an improved bird repellent device which presents a surface which projects outwardly from the protected structure at an angle in excess of 25° which is impossible for birds to land or nest on and which can be installed quickly and easily on substantially any structure to be protected and is 100% effective in preventing landing or nesting or birds.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bird repellent.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird repellent device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird repellent device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird repellent device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, yet which is 100% effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting on the protected structure.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird repellent device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, yet which is 100% effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting on the protected structure by presenting a surface which is impossible for birds to land or nest on and which can be installed quickly and easily on substantially any structure to be protected and is 100% effective in preventing landing or nesting of birds.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved bird repellent device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, yet which is 100% effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting on the protected structure by presenting a surface which projects outwardly from the protected structure at an angle in excess of 25° is impossible for to land or nest on and which can be installed quickly and easily on substantially any structure to be protected and is 100% effective in preventing landing or nesting or birds.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bird repellent device embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative form of the bird repellent device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2A is a side view of the bird repellant device of FIG. 2 as mounted on a protected surface;
FIG. 2B is a side view of an alternative form of the device of FIG. 2A; and
FIG. 3 is a side view of another alternative form of the bird repellent device of FIG. 1.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows a bird repellent device, indicated generally at 10, having a generally rectangular panel 12 having an upper edge 14, two sides 16 and 18 and a straight lower edge 20, with at least one mounting strip 22 attached to the panel 12 and extending parallel to the lower edge 20. The upper edge 14 may be straight, curved, angular, undulating or otherwise shaped, as desired. Moreover, the upper edge 14 may be serrated, notched or otherwise formed to discourage birds from landing thereon. The panel 12 has a front surface 24 and a rear surface 26 and the attaching strip 22 forms an angle of 0°-155° with the front surface 24 of the panel 10. As seen in FIG. 1, the attaching strip 22 may extend rearwardly from the lower edge 20 of the panel 10 and may have a flap 28 extending perpendicularly upward therefrom.
In use, the panel 10 may be mounted on substantially any desired surface to prevent birds from landing on the protected surface. The panel 10 is mounted by securing the mounting strip 22 to the surface to be protected so that the panel 10 lies at an angle of 25°-90° to the horizontal which prevents birds from landing on the panel 10 and, hence, prevents birds from landing or nesting on the protected surface. The mounting strip 22 may be secured to the surface to be protected by driving nails, screws or the like through the mounting strip 22 or, to mount the panel 10 to a vertical surface, by driving nails, screws or the like through flap 28.
FIG. 2 shows an alternative form of the device of FIG. 1 wherein the mounting strip 22 is a narrow strip attached to the lower edge 20 of the panel 10. FIG. 2A illustrates the panel 10 of FIG. 2 as mounted on a protected surface. The panel 10 can be installed easily and quickly on substantially any structure so that it is impossible for birds to land or nest thereon. For example, in the example embodiment of FIG. 2B, the narrow mounting strip 22 is secured to the structure with nails. The narrow mounting strip 22 may also be secured with screws and the like. As noted above, the upper edge 14 can be shaped or otherwise formed. Alternatively, FIG. 3 shows the attaching strip 20 attached to the rear surface 26 of the panel 10. In either instance, the mounting strip 22 extends at an angle of 0°-155° with the front surface 24 of panel 10 to enable the panel 10 to be mounted at an angle of 25°-90° to the horizontal.
Obviously, numerous other variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

## Claims

1. A device in combination with a structure for protecting the structure from birds, the combination comprising:
a ledge formed on the structure and a surface extending perpendicular from said ledge, said ledge and said surface forming said structure to be protected; and
a bird repellant device comprising:
a mounting strip mounted on said structure, said mounting strip having a mounting strip span; and
a planar panel having a first edge and a second edge separated by a horizontal distance comprising a panel span that is greater than said mounting strip span,
wherein said mounting strip adjoins said panel proximate said first edge of said panel, and said second edge of said panel comprises a free edge adjacent said structure and unconnected to any other component of said device, such that said mounting strip and said panel form an acute angle.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said mounting strip is mounted by screws or nails.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the free edge is shaped or formed.

4. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a leg extending from said mounting strip, between said mounting strip and said panel.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is at least 25°.