Abstract:
A pest repelling apparatus including pest detectors which normally activate a repelling device but which are arranged to prevent activation of a repelling device when a human is detected. A delayed water spray acting as a repelling device may be activated after a sound or light emitting source has been activated. A series of repelling apparatuses may be connected together either by a wired or wirelessly connection to operate an irrigation sprinkler system when a pest is detected.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/818,591 filed on May 2, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention concerns apparatus for repelling pests such as birds and small animals intruding into selected areas, such as lawns, decks, etc. 
         [0003]    Various devices have been developed intended to accomplish this end. 
         [0004]    Typically, detectors are arranged to monitor the area and if an intruding pest is detected, a signal from the detector activates a repelling device, causing the pest to withdraw from the area monitored. The detectors typically direct a sonic waves or electromagnetic radiation into the area, which reflect from the intruder and return to the detector. Or, an infrared sensor can detect the warmth radiating from the body of the pest. 
         [0005]    Detection of return waves activates the repelling device which generates a repelling disturbance in the vicinity, such as by directing a water spray into the monitored area, broad casting sounds, or energizing bright lights, lasers, etc so as to cause pest to exit from the area. 
         [0006]    While generally effective, some common problems are encountered in the operation of such devices. 
         [0007]    If the detectors do not discriminate pests from humans moving into the area, this will trigger the device for repelling the pest and the person may be annoyingly subjected to the effects of the activating the repelling device. 
         [0008]    False positive of the sensors also occurs due to unreliability of detecting the intrusion of a pest. 
         [0009]    Another problem is encountered if a water spray is used as a repellant, and water from a reservoir is used to create the spray, as the water supply in the reservoir may be quickly depleted, necessitating frequent refills. 
         [0010]    A related problem is the tendency of certain birds to build nests in covered areas, such as beneath docks and boat canopies, which are quickly rebuilt by the birds if they are simply removed. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a pest repelling apparatus which will improve the reliability of detecting an intruding pest and will minimize the possibilities of triggering operation of a repelling device by a person entering the protected area. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the invention to provide a repelling device using a water spray which alleviates the problem of too rapid emptying of a water reservoir which supplies the sprayer. 
         [0013]    It is a further object to provide a repelling device which can be particularly adapted to monitor areas of various configurations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The above objects of the present invention as well as other objects which will be understood upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by an apparatus including an arrangement of a plurality of detectors, or sets of detectors, with signals from the detectors being responded to by a control so as to not activate the repelling device when a person enters the monitored area. 
         [0015]    These detectors can be variously angled and may be different in number with an associated corresponding detection algorithm determining when activation of the repelling device should occur. 
         [0016]    In a first embodiment, a first detector of the detector arrangement detects intrusions in a space at a low level above a monitored area. A second detector of the arrangement detects intrusions in a space higher above a monitored area corresponding to the height of a person&#39;s upper torso. Even after detection of an intrusion into the lower space above the monitored area by the first detector, the repelling device will not necessarily be activated but such activation will also require that the high level detector does not detect an intrusion into the space above the lower space. 
         [0017]    Upon activation, the repelling device causes a disturbance in the vicinity of the monitored area of a nature which causes typical pests to exit the area, i.e. energizes a light, initiates a vibration, generates a water spray, or broad casts a sound likely to disturb a pest, etc. 
         [0018]    In a second embodiment another arrangement of two detectors (or sets of detectors) is employed to monitor spaces above first and second respective monitored areas. 
         [0019]    A first detector (or group of detectors) is of an infrared type which detects the warmth emanating from a warm bodied pest such as a bird or small animal intruding into the space above a first monitored area. Again, this detection will not in itself result in activation of the repelling device if a second detector (or group of detectors) also detects movement within a second space defined above a second area offset from the first area. Activation of the repelling device will only occur if there is an absence of a detected intruder in the second space. 
         [0020]    This allows free movement of humans through the second space without activation of the repelling device. 
         [0021]    The first and second detectors can both be of an ultrasonic type, which emit high frequency sound waves into the space of the first and second monitored areas, and detects any return reflections from impinging an intruder. 
         [0022]    This arrangement of detectors thus defines a desired monitored area which area can vary in configuration and size depending on the location and range of the detectors or set of detectors, such as two nested rectangular areas. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, multiple sets of combined detectors can be interconnected by wire or wireles sly, and deployed to create narrow target areas extending along the shore of a pond, lake or stream or over the pond itself for a substantial distance. 
         [0024]    Thus, a person can freely walk back and forth through areas close to the front of the detectors without triggering the repelling device. 
         [0025]    The apparatus may advantageously be combined with existing equipment such as an irrigation sprinkling system or flood lights which can be turned on to perform as a repelling device instead of relying on a water spray which relies on a refillable reservoir for its water supply. 
         [0026]    A compact version of the apparatus can be secured beneath a dock, boat, canopy or other covered area to deter nesting of birds there. 
         [0027]    The arrangement of detectors can be installed in an upright tubular housing or alternatively can be built into existing structures such as walls, boat hulls, etc. 
         [0028]    A rain collector dish can be associated with a reservoir in an upright housing which supplies a water spray to reduce the frequency of refillings thereof. 
         [0029]    A water spray repelling device can be advantageously combined with a sound, vibrator, or light emitter in such a way that the water spray is activated only after a predetermined delay after the time that the sound or light is initially energized, and is not activated if the pests are not detected in the area during the delay period. Over time, the pests may be conditioned to leave the area solely by activation of the sound broadcast or bright light display alone by a Pavlovian association to create a conditioned response to the generation of the sound, vibration, light or other device and the subsequent activation of the water spray if the pest persists. 
         [0030]    A particular light generating device can be used in which a mirrored ball is rotated while a number of lights are shone on the ball. The axis of rotation of the mirrored ball may be skewed to cause mutation of the ball to create random light display patterns which are believed to greatly alarm waterfowl and small animals. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a repelling apparatus according to the invention with an outline of a human and a waterfowl intruding into the space above a monitored area. 
           [0032]      FIG. 1A  is a block diagram depiction of the components of the repelling apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a mobile version of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the bottom of a modified form of the apparatus depicting a rain collector dish. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a built-in form of the apparatus showing a defined targeting area established thereby. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a number of apparatuses connected together and arrayed along the shore of a body of water and connected to an associated conventional sprinkler irrigation system. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of the underside of a dock having a compact version of the apparatus installed thereon. 
           [0038]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged pictorial view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a pictorial fragmentary pictorial view of the stern of a boat having a built in repelling apparatus according to the present invention installed therein. 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of a randomly varying light source used as a repelling device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0042]    Referring to the drawings and particularly  FIG. 1 , a repelling apparatus  10  according to the invention, is shown, which can include an upright housing  12  which can be buried at its lower end or held in a base (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) extending vertically up from on the ground. 
         [0043]    An arrangement of two detectors  14 ,  16  is mounted on one or more sides of the housing  12 , vertically spaced apart. 
         [0044]    The detectors  14 ,  16  detect the intrusion of a pest into a respective one of a first or second space above a monitored area adjacent the housing  12 , as by broadcasting ultrasonic waves into those spaces and detecting any waves reflected back to the respective detector  14  or  16 . The detectors  14 ,  16  in each arrangement include an upper detector  14  and a lower detector  16  from which emanate waves at respective levels X and Y. Thus, detector  14  does not receive any reflected waves from a body located below level X, while detector  16  does not receive any reflected waves from a body located above level Y. 
         [0045]    Thus, if the body of a pest  18  or  20  intrudes into the space opposite lower detector  16 , this triggers a signal corresponding to the presence of the body  18  or  20  regardless of its height. A control circuit or programmable controller  22  receives that signal. 
         [0046]    A higher detector  14  will detect the presence of a taller body  18 , and a signal sent to the controller  22 . A repelling device is activated by the control  22  to create a disturbance in the monitored area of a nature which will cause pest to leave the monitored area when the proper combination of signals from the detectors  14 ,  16  occurs. The repelling device can be a combination of a water spray  26  or a loud speaker  26 . 
         [0047]    That is, the controller  22  does not activate cause a disturbance to be generated in the monitored area solely in response to the signal from the lower detector  16 . 
         [0048]    That is, only if there is a detection of the presence of a body  18 ,  20  only by the lower detector  16  and no intrusion into the upper space detected by detector  14  does the controller  22  activate the water spray  24  audio speaker  26  to broadcast a repelling noise. 
         [0049]    A circuit delay  28  may temporarily prevent activation of the water spray  24  for a few seconds. 
         [0050]    If the lower detector  16  continues to detect a body  18 ,  20  in the lower space above the area for those few seconds notwithstanding the noise generated, the controller  22  then also activates the water spray  24 . 
         [0051]    This delayed activation reduces the volume of water used to conserve the water in a reservoir if such stored water is used to supply a pump used to create the water spray  24 . Thus, if the presence of a person is causing the lower detector  16  to detect his or her presence, the upper detector  14  will generate a signal transmitted to the controller  22  which results in the controller  22  not activating either the water spray  24  or the speaker  26 . 
         [0052]    The use of the two detectors  14 ,  16  improves the detection process and minimizes false hits. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  shows a mobile repelling apparatus  10 A including an upright housing  12 A supported upright on a wheeled holder  30 . 
         [0054]    The controller  22 A is located within the housing  10 A beneath a solar charger  32  used to charge a battery  34  powering the controller  22 A and a solenoid/pump assembly  36  mounted above a water reservoir  28  in the housing  12 A. 
         [0055]    Water is pumped into a vertically descending hose  40  having a spray jet  24 A at the bottom. 
         [0056]      FIG. 2A  shows a rain collector dish  42  extending around the housing  12 A designed to catch rainwater and collect the same in reservoir  30  so as to reduce the frequency of adding water to keep some water in the reservoir  38  available so as to enable a water spray to be more reliably created. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , arrangements of sets of two different types of detectors  44 ,  46 , are shown, installed in respective building walls  48 ,  50  extending at right angles to each other. 
         [0058]    First detectors  44  maybe infrared detectors of a type able to detect an intruding warm blooded pest and generate a corresponding output signal. 
         [0059]    Second detectors  46  are of a type designed to detect the intrusion of the body of a pest, such as ultrasonic detectors which broadcast high frequency sound waves into spaces above a monitored area and detect any return reflected waves and corresponding signals are generated. 
         [0060]    Both of these detector signals are transmitted to the controller  22  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). If a warm body is detected by the detectors  44 , the resultant output signal is sent to the controller  22 , but no activation of a repelling water spray from a spray jet  50  results from the receipt of that signal alone. Rather, only if the detectors  46  produce a signal corresponding to an intruding body being a predetermined distance from the detectors  46  will the controller  22  activate the water jet spray  50  or other repelling device. 
         [0061]    Two sets of detectors  44 ,  46  arranged 90° from each other can thus define a rectangular monitored area  52  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0062]    Accordingly, a person standing or walking alongside the walls  48  would not cause activation of a repelling device, i.e. the spray jets  50 . 
         [0063]    A light or sound type repelling device could be combined with the water spray with a delayed activation of the water supply as described above. 
         [0064]    A monitored area  52  of any shape or size can be defined by properly locating and orienting the detectors  44 ,  46  which will cause activation of one or more repelling device. 
         [0065]      FIG. 4  shows a series of repelling apparatuses  10 - 1  to  10 - 5  arranged along a shoreline of a body of water connected together by wiring or by wireless connection. 
         [0066]    These are connected to a control station  54  which activates irrigation sprinklers  56  so that if a pest is detected by the detectors of any one of the repelling apparatuses  10 - 1  to  10 - 5 , a part of the entire sprinkler system adjacent that particular apparatus is turned on. Alternatively, the entire sprinkler system can be turned on to simplify the control  22 . 
         [0067]    Thus no water reservoir or separate pump is necessary to repel pests in the area along the shoreline. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 5A , a compact version of a pest repelling apparatus  58  is shown, comprised of a short stepped cylinder body  60  adapted to be mounted to an overhead surface such as beneath a dock  62  (or a pontoon boat canopy) to deter nesting under the dock  62  or canopy by any bird species prone to do so. 
         [0069]    A base section  64  houses a circuit board and batteries. 
         [0070]    Detector sets  68  are housed in a second section  66 , each detector set  68  including circumferentially spaced pairs of detectors  68 A,  68 B shown with an additional pair on the backside thereof (not visible) such as the ultrasonic detectors described above. The detector ranges may be adjusted by rotation of the second section  66  when mounting the same. 
         [0071]    A plurality of water spray jets  72  are provided in a downwardly projecting tube  70 , supplied by a battery powered pump (not shown). 
         [0072]    The detectors  68 A,  68 B and other detectors not shown will detect anything intruding into the space beneath the dock  62  and immediately causes a water spray to be generated in directions extending along the under surface of the dock  62 . 
         [0073]    As noted above in connection with  FIG. 4 , the components can be built into a structure. 
         [0074]      FIG. 6  shows a pair of vertically spaced sensors  74 ,  76  and a sprayer slot  72  disposed in the stern of a boat, protecting a swim platform  78  from any roosting birds. A battery operated pump (not shown) creates a water jet spray emanating from slot  80  when intrusion of a pest is detected as described above. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a light source repelling device is depicted and comprises a small “disco” mirrored ball  82  mounted on slightly inclined shaft  84  rotated by a small motor  86 . 
         [0076]    A series of LED lights  88  (which may e of different colors) are mounted extend around the circumference of a transparent support dish  90 . 
         [0077]    The reflections from the small minors  92  on the mirrored ball  82  of light from the LED&#39;s  88  as the ball rotates and nutates (wobbles) due to the inclined axes of the shaft  84 . 
         [0078]    This is believed to greatly disturb pests, particularly water fowl, such that they will quickly exit the area. The unusual nature of the light produced and stimulation of the fear of waterfowl in thinking it is being viewed by a predator is believed to create a strong response by waterfowl to cause them to quickly exit the area of the light repelling device  80 .