Abstract:
A number of vertically upright, thin, wire mesh sections are interconnected and arranged in a circle with spokes about a bird feeder pole over a desired ground area beneath the pole. The wire sections are smooth on top with no upwardly directed sharp pieces. The wire section arrangement prevents a cat from having a stable area to sit on.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to animal deterrent devices, and in particular to a device for deterring cats from approaching an area protected by the device.  
           [0002]    Cats are known to prey on birds feeding from post-mounted bird feeders. The prior art discloses various obstacle devices which may be mounted on the post of a bird feeder to prevent an animal from climbing up to the bird feeding area. However, since a cat can jump over six feet into the air, it may still be able to clear the obstacle and reach the bird feeding area. Even if the cat can not reach the bird feeding area, it can still catch a bird by waiting on the ground area near a bird feeder post or below a bird feeder. By sitting on the ground area beneath the feeder, a cat can jump and catch a bird hovering near the bird feeder or can catch a bird dropping to the ground to retrieve food which has fallen from the bird feeder.  
           [0003]    Some attempts have made in the prior art to protect a selected ground area. Those that might discourage a cat usually have vertical, sharpened spikes which are affixed to some type of mat device. Although these types of devices may have a certain effectiveness, they are unsightly, and dangerous to people, especially children.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art, by providing a number of vertically upright, thin, wire mesh sections which are interconnected. The wire sections are arranged below a bird feeder or about a bird feeder pole over a desired ground area beneath the bird feeder. The wire sections are smooth on top with no upwardly directed sharp pieces. The sections are typically made a dark green in color. The color and thinness of the wire sections make the present invention nearly invisible from any distance. The wire section arrangement prevents a cat from having a stable area to sit on. A cat must sit and be comfortable in order to pounce. Without a clear landing area, a cat will not jump over the outer wire sections to get onto the area beneath a bird feeder.  
           [0005]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention folded.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a top view of still another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a front view of a wire section as used in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a front view of a wire section as used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a front view of a wire section as used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, the present invention  1  is comprised of a number of interconnected wire sections  10 , each of which is comprised of a main inverted U-shaped section  11  having an outer elongated leg  12 , a parallel inner elongated leg  13  and a rounded top  20  interconnecting both legs  12 ,  13 . The outer leg  12  has a vertical bottom  15  and a vertical top  14  terminating in a generally horizontal end  21  of the rounded top  20 . The inner leg  13  has a vertical bottom  17  and a vertical top  16  terminating in a generally horizontal end  22  of the rounded top  20 .  
         [0015]    Each section  10  is further comprised of two cross bars, an upper cross bar  30  and a lower, parallel cross bar  31 . The upper cross bar  30  has two ends, an outer end  32  connected to the outer vertical leg  12  and an inner end  33  protruding past the inner leg  13 . The upper cross bar inner end  33  terminates in a hook  34 . The upper cross bar  30  is connected to the inner leg  13  at the point  35  where the upper cross bar  30  crosses the inner leg  13 . The lower cross bar  31  also has two ends, an outer end  36  connected to the vertical outer leg  12  and an inner end  37  protruding past the vertical inner leg  13 . The lower cross bar inner end  37  terminates in a hook  38 . The lower cross bar  31  is connected to the inner leg  13  at the point  39  where the lower cross bar  30  crosses the inner leg  13 .  
         [0016]    Each wire section  10  is further comprised of inverted U-shaped reinforcing section  40  having an outer elongated leg  41 , a parallel inner elongated leg  42  and a rounded top  50  interconnecting both legs  41 ,  42 . The outer leg  41  has a vertical bottom  43  and a vertical top  44  terminating in a generally horizontal end  51  of the rounded top  20 . The inner leg  42  has a vertical bottom  45  and a vertical top  46  terminating in a generally horizontal end  52  of the rounded top  50 . The outer leg bottom  43  and inner leg bottom  45  each terminate at and are joined to the lower cross bar  31 . The outer leg  41  and inner leg  42  are further joined to the upper cross bar  30  near to each leg&#39;s top  44 ,  46 . The reinforcing section top  50  is positioned below the main section top  20 .  
         [0017]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention  1  is comprised of a number of sections  10  assembled into an approximate circle  6  around a vertical bird feeder pole  2 . The invention  1  may also be used beneath a bird feeder hanging without a pole. In the embodiment shown, the pole  2  has two ends, an upper end  3  supporting a bird feeder  9  and a lower end  4  inserted into the ground  5 . In this embodiment of the invention, nine sections form the circle  6 . To form the circle  6 , the cross bar hooks  34 ,  38  of one section  10  are fitted about the vertical outer leg  12  of an adjacent section. The outer and inner leg bottoms  15 ,  17  of each section  10  are inserted into the ground  5 . The invention  1  is further comprised of nine additional sections  10 ′ arranged within the circle  6 , much like spokes in a wheel. The cross bar hooks  34 ,  38  of each “spoke” section  10 ′ is connected to a vertical outer leg  12  of a circle section  10 . The “spoke” section outer legs  12  are positioned near to or adjacent to the pole  2 . The “spoke” section outer and inner leg bottoms  15 ,  17  are inserted into the ground  5  for stability of the entire arrangement.  
         [0018]    For additional stability, the outer legs  12  of each “spoke” section  10 ′ may have one or more elongated connector elements  24  attached thereto. Each connector element  24  has an end  25  pivotally attached to an outer leg  12 . The connector element  24  has an opposite end terminating in a hook  26 . The connector element  24  is attached to an adjacent “spoke” section  10 ′ by attachment of the connector hook  26  to the adjacent section outer leg  12 . See FIGS. 4 and 7.  
         [0019]    In another embodiment for adding stability, the inner legs  13  of each “spoke” section  10 ′ may have one or more elongated connector elements  24  attached thereto. Each connector element  24  has an end  25  pivotally attached to an inner leg  13 . The connector element  24  has an opposite end terminating in a hook  26 . The connector element  24  is attached to an adjacent “spoke” section  10 ′ by attachment of the connector hook  26  to the adjacent section reinforcing outer leg  41 . See FIGS. 5 and 8.  
         [0020]    The present invention will deter cats from the area about the bird feeder pole  2  or beneath a hanging bird feeder. Applicant has found that a cat will not go into the area surrounded by the invention circle  6 . Nor will a cat jump the circle wire sections  10  without a clear landing area. The invention “spoke” sections  10 ′ eliminate a clear landing area. The circle sections  10  and “spoke” sections  10 ′ prevent a cat from setting itself comfortably to pounce after a bird. The invention cat baffle  1  does not have any upwardly pointing sharp ends, thereby providing feeding birds perches on which to set in order to recover seed and the like which may have fallen from the bird feeder  9 . The thinness of the wire used in the wire sections  10 ,  10 ′ prevents squirrels from having a stable platform from which to leap up to the bird feeder  9 . In the preferred embodiment, the present invention  1  is made entirely from a thin wire, and is painted a dark green. This makes the invention  1  nearly invisible against a normal vegetation and grass environment. As may be seen most clearly from FIG. 2, the invention  1  may be easily folded for carrying, storage or shipping.  
         [0021]    It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. The basic teachings of the present invention have been described above. Many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. Many, if not all of the physical aspects of the game are flexible, i.e., number of elements, element composition, spaces, dimensions, colors, etc. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.