Abstract:
A rodent barrier in the form of an enclosure housing is provided for an automotive engine compartment, the enclosure housing having an inner compartment for holding a deterrent to discourage nesting by rodents. The enclosure housing includes at least one vent for diffusing a deterrent aroma within said engine compartment. The enclosure housing also includes fastening means for fastening the enclosure housing to a selected placement within the interior of the engine compartment. The fastening means are adapted for removably fastening the housing to the engine compartment.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to rodent deterrents and, more particularly, to rodent deterrents for automotive engine compartments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The unwanted presence of rats, mice, and other rodents is an ongoing problem in many environments. In particular, rodents oftentimes nest within automotive engine compartments due to the sheltered environment provided by automobiles. However, the nesting rodents may damage the automobile, for example, by chewing through wires or nesting within critical engine components. Additionally, rodents often carry disease and can create unpleasant odors and contamination within the automobile. Various approaches are known in the art for preventing rodent problems. However, these known approaches are not suited for rodent infestations within automobiles. 
         [0003]    One conventional means of rodent control is through poisons. The poisons are placed where invading rodents will ingest them and die. However, poisons have a variety of disadvantages. For example, storage and use locations of poisons must be carefully chosen to ensure that the poisons are not accessible to pets or children. Additionally, if poisoned rodents travel away from the poison site before dying, they must be located so that their bodies can be disposed of or the decaying rodent itself can lead to unpleasant odors, contamination and disease. 
         [0004]    Another conventional means for rodent control is the rodent trap. Rodent traps are typically strategically placed with bait to capture or kill rodents. Traps tend to be less dangerous than poisons but still must be placed away from children and pets. Additionally, since traps are intended to capture or kill the rodents, a user must dispose of the trapped rodents or risk unpleasant odors, contamination and disease. 
         [0005]    Other known means for prevention of rodent infestation include sonic and scent based repellents. Sonic repellents include devices that generate sound waves at frequencies offensive to rats and mice. These devices are typically electrically powered. Some scent-based repellents use predator urine from species including coyote, fox, bobcat, wolf, and mountain lion to deter prey animals from entering a specific area. Users can fill dispensers with predator urine and place them around the perimeter of the specific area. 
         [0006]    It is desirable to provide for a new and improved rodent deterrent to discourage rodents from nesting within an automotive engine compartment, which overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A rodent barrier in the form of an enclosure housing is provided for an automotive engine compartment, the enclosure housing having an inner compartment for holding a deterrent to prevent nesting by rodents. The enclosure housing includes at least one vent for diffusing a deterrent aroma within said engine compartment. The enclosure housing also includes fastening means for fastening the enclosure housing to a selected placement within the interior of the engine compartment. The fastening means are adapted for removably fastening the housing to the engine compartment. The housing is preferably of metallic construction. 
         [0008]    The rodent barrier may selectively and alternatively be mounted within the engine compartment between a level access position, an inwardly and/or downwardly tilted position or an inverted position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention will now be described for the purposes of illustration with reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rodent barrier according to the present invention in use; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rodent barrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the rodent barrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the rodent barrier according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the rodent barrier of  FIG. 4  after being attached within an engine compartment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the rodent barrier of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the rodent barrier according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a rodent barrier  10  is mounted inside an engine compartment  12  of an automobile  14 . Rodent barrier  10  includes a housing  16  containing a deterrent  18 , shown in  FIG. 3 , to prevent nesting by mice and other rodents in the engine compartment  12 . A user mounts the rodent barrier  10  within the engine compartment  12  and exposes the deterrent  18  to atmospheric air to deter rodents from nesting within the engine compartment  12 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the housing  16  includes a top portion  20  and a bottom portion  22 , which are preferably of metallic construction. The top portion includes vents  24  that allow odor from the deterrent  18  to exit the housing  16  and spread into the engine compartment  12 . The bottom portion  22  may also include vents  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , which also allow odor from the deterrent  18  to exit the housing  16 . Preferably, the deterrent  18  disperses an odor into the atmospheric air at room temperature. The phrase “disperses an odor into atmospheric air at room temperature” indicates that the deterrent  18  disperses into the air outside the housing  16  at least at temperatures in the range of about sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68° F.) to about seventy-seven degrees Fahrenheit (77° F.). This does not exclude repellents that disperse into the air at temperatures outside this range such as for use both indoors and outdoors. In fact, depending upon the external environment, it may be preferable to provide a deterrent  18  that disperses into atmospheric air at lower or higher temperatures. Although shown as circular, the vents  24  may be formed in other configurations as long as they are designed to keep the level of deterrent dispersed to atmospheric air below levels objectionable to humans. For example, the vents  24  may instead be rectangular or elliptical slots, a screened portion or any similar venting device known in the art. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the deterrent includes naphthalene. Naphthalene is also known as naphthaline, tar camphor, white tar, albocarbon, or antimite and not to be confused with naohtha, is a crystalline, aromatic, white, solid hydrocarbon with formula C 10 H 8  and the structure of two fused benzene rings. The substance is generally volatile, forming a flammable vapor, and readily sublimes at room temperature, producing a characteristic odor that is detectable at concentrations as low as eight hundredths parts per million (0.08 ppm) by mass. Most naphthalene is derived from coal tar. While the composition of coal tar varies with the coal from which it is produced, typical coal tar is about ten percent (10%) naphthalene by weight. In industrial practice, distillation of coal tar yields an oil containing about fifty percent (50%) naphthalene, along with a variety of other aromatic compounds. This oil undergoes fractional distillation to isolate the naphthalene. Naphthalene&#39;s most familiar use is as a household fumigant, such as in mothballs. Naphthalene in mothball form, which is suitable for the present invention is commercially available at various hardware stores and pharmacies, from Willert Home Products, Inc. having its principal place of business at 4044 Park Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., 63110. Other fumigant uses of naphthalene include use in soil as a fumigant pesticide, in attic spaces to repel animals and insects, and in museum storage-drawers and cupboards to protect the contents from attack by insect pests. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the top portion  20  includes top threads  26  that engage bottom threads  28  of the bottom portion  22  to form an interior compartment  30  for housing the deterrent  18 . Top threads  26  and bottom threads  28  allow the top portion  20  and the bottom portion  22  to be disengaged so that deterrent  18  may be added and/or removed from the interior compartment  30 . The vents  24  provide hydraulic communication between the interior compartment  30  and atmospheric air in the engine compartment  12 , shown in  FIG. 1 , thereby exposing the deterrent  18  to the atmospheric air and allowing the deterrent  18  to disperse as discussed above. 
         [0021]    The rodent barrier  10  includes fastening means for attaching the rodent barrier  10  to an engine compartment surface  32 . For example, the fastening means may include a magnet  34  fixed on a lower surface  36  of the bottom portion  22 . The magnet  34  is disposed such that it does not cover the vents  24  in the bottom portion  22  of the housing  16 , if present. The magnet  34  removably fastens the rodent barrier  10  to the engine compartment surface  32 , which is metal. The engine compartment surface  32  may be any metal surface within the engine compartment  12 , for example, an inner fender surface, a firewall surface or any other surface that is responsive to magnetic forces. The force of the magnet  34  should be sufficient to maintain the rodent barrier  10  on the engine compartment surface  32  regardless of whether or not the automobile is operational. Thus, the risk of vehicle damage from a dislodged rodent barrier  10  interfering with vehicle operation is minimized. 
         [0022]    Magnet  34  allows the rodent barrier  10  to be detached from the engine compartment surface  32  and subsequently reattached to the engine compartment surface  32  at the same, or, alternatively, a different, location. Magnet  34  is advantageous because it does not experience a degradation in its fastening ability with multiple reattachments, as would be the case with an adhesive fastening means. The removable fastening provided by magnet  34  is also advantageous because it allows the rodent barrier  10  to be removed from the engine compartment  12 , providing accessibility to the interior compartment  30  for cleaning of the rodent barrier  10  and/or replenishing deterrent  18 . Additionally, the magnet  34  allows the rodent barrier  10  to be relocated within the engine compartment  12  to be closer in proximity to a rodent nest, if discovered, or a location where rodent activity is suspected of occurring. 
         [0023]    Although shown as mounted to a horizontal engine compartment surface  32 , the magnet  34  may attach the rodent barrier  10  to other surface configurations, including a vertical surface or an angled surface. Additionally, the rodent barrier  10  may be attached to a horizontal surface such that the rodent barrier  10  is fully or partially inverted. Additionally, although described as having a threaded connection between the top portion  20  and the bottom portion  22 , the top portion  20  and bottom portion  22  may instead have other known connection means, for example, a snap connection, one or more screw connections or a magnetic connection wherein the top portion  20  is attached to the bottom portion  22  by magnetic forces from magnet  34 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fastening means for attaching the rodent barrier  110  to an engine compartment surface  132  may alternatively include a clip  138 . The clip  138  is fixed to the lower surface  136  of the rodent barrier  110 . The clip  138  removably fastens the rodent barrier  110  to a projection  140  of the engine compartment surface  132 . Thus, the clip  138  may fasten the rodent barrier  110  to substantially any static metallic or non-metallic surface within the engine compartment (not show), including, for example, an air filter housing, battery tray or windshield washer fluid tank. The rodent barrier  110  and the clip  138  are formed such that the clip  138  fastens the rodent barrier  110  to the engine compartment surface  132  regardless of whether or not the automobile is operational. Thus, the risk of vehicle damage from a dislodged rodent barrier  110  interfering with vehicle operation is minimized. 
         [0025]    Like the magnet  34 , the clip  138  allows the rodent barrier  110  to be detached from the engine compartment surface  132  and subsequently reattached to the engine compartment surface  132  at the same, or, alternatively, a different, location. Additionally, the clip  138  allows the rodent barrier  110  to be fastened to additional components within the engine compartment, for example, wires, cables or wire harnesses. The clip  138  is also advantageous because it does not experience a degradation in its fastening ability with multiple reattachments. The removable fastening provided by the clip  138  also allows the rodent barrier  110  to be removed from the engine compartment (not shown), providing accessibility to the interior compartment  130  for cleaning of the rodent barrier  110  and/or replenishing deterrent  118 . Additionally, the clip  138  allows the rodent barrier  110  to be relocated within the engine compartment (not shown) to be closer in proximity to a rodent nest, if discovered, or a location where rodent activity is suspected of occurring. 
         [0026]    Like the magnet  34 , the clip  138  may attach the rodent barrier  110  to a variety of surfaces within the engine compartment, including a horizontal surface, a vertical surface or an angled surface. Additionally, the rodent barrier  110  may be attached to a horizontal surface such that the rodent barrier  110  is fully or partially inverted. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the rodent barrier  10  may also include a scented compound  42  to at least partially mask the odor of the deterrent  18 , for example, the naphthalene component, from human detection. The scented compound  42  will make the rodent barrier  10  less intrusive to human beings while still providing necessary rodent deterrent capabilities. 
         [0028]    The rodent barrier  10  may be contained within a sealed package configured for retail sale so that deterrent  18  is prevented from dispersing into the atmosphere until desired. Additionally, referring to  FIG. 7 , the rodent barrier  10  may also have a removable cover  44  extending across the vents  24 , restricting hydraulic communication between the interior compartment  30  and the atmosphere until the removable cover  44  is removed from the rodent barrier  10 . Once removed, hydraulic communication between the interior compartment  30  and the atmosphere is enabled through vents  24 . 
         [0029]    The rodent barrier  10 ,  110  is advantageous because it provides a user-friendly way of deterring infestation of rodents, such as mice, rats, and squirrels, within automobiles while avoiding the need to dispose of live or dead rodents associated with traps and poisons. 
         [0030]    The rodent barrier  10 ,  110  is also advantageous because the fastening means provide flexibility with regard to location of the rodent barrier  10 ,  110  within the engine compartment. Additionally, the fastening means simplify refilling of the rodent barrier  10 ,  110  with deterrent  18 ,  118  and cleaning of the rodent barrier  10 ,  110 . 
         [0031]    The fastening means also provide flexibility by allowing the rodent barrier  10 ,  110  to be attached to substantially any engine compartment surface  32 ,  132 . Thus, the rodent barrier  10 ,  110  may be employed in a wide range of environments and may be conveniently and unobtrusively located. Although described in connection with an automobile, the rodent barrier  10  is also compatible with use on other structures where rodent deterrence is desired, including, for example, manufacturing facilities, food processing plants, other vehicles and dumpsters. 
         [0032]    The rodent barrier  10 ,  110  may also employ other known fastening means, for example, the rodent barrier  10 ,  110  may include Velcro on lower surface  36 ,  136  rather than magnet  34  or clip  138 . Corresponding Velcro would then be placed in particular locations within the engine compartment  12  to mate with the Velcro of the rodent barrier  10 ,  110 . Care would need to be observed in selecting the locations within the engine compartment  12  for the corresponding Velcro to ensure that heat from the engine does not cause Velcro deterioration. 
         [0033]    The rodent barrier  10 ,  110  will not only deter rodents from entering the engine compartment  12  but also drive them away if they are already present by allowing for a controlled release of the deterrent  18 ,  118 . Since the rodents are not captured or killed, users will not need to dispose of the rodents or their bodies. Additionally, users will not need to handle the deterrent  18 ,  118 , since the rodent barrier  10 ,  110  may be purchased having deterrent  18 ,  118  already in the interior compartment  30 ,  130 . 
         [0034]    One skilled in the art will understand that various modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the rodent barrier  10  is shown as having a circular housing  16 , the housing  16  may be formed in other geometric shapes, including, for example, a square, a triangle, an oval, a diamond or a trapezoid.