Abstract:
A pest deterrent device having first and second mating sections forming a substantially cylindrically shaped body including a smooth outer surface. Each mating section has at least one latch and a plurality of alignment fingers disposed along a first vertical terminating edge of each mating section. Each mating section also has at least one loop aligned with the at least one latch along a second terminating edge side thereof. The first and second sections include a lip extending radially outward from said cylindrical body and a plurality of feet extending downwardly from a lower edge.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a pest deterrent device to be placed about the base of a tree or similar growing plant. The device reduces the risk that crawling pests, such as tent caterpillars, can reach the trunk of the tree and cause damage to the tree.  
           [0002]    Crawling insects and similar pests which travel along the ground, such as tent caterpillars, can defoliate a tree or shrub in a very short period of time. If the pests are extremely persistent, the tree can fail to survive the pest attack.  
           [0003]    The prior art includes various attempts to control the travel of the crawling pests. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,463 describes a band or collar that encircles the trunk of a tree or a post and which has an exterior surface with a coefficient of friction of from about 0.05μ-0.45μ. U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,435 describes a collar that encircles the trunk of a tree and that includes a recess for holding a material, such as mineral oil or vegetable oil, which creates a barrier to prevent the pests from continuing their climb into the branches of the tree. Unfortunately, while the tree may be protected from crawling pests, damage may be caused by the means used to attach the collar to the tree. For example, the &#39;463 collar is attached to the tree with an adhesive material, and the &#39;435 collar is attached to the tree with nails or screws. Further, by having the collars held tightly against the tree&#39;s trunk, as needed to prevent the pests from crawling between the trunk and the collar, the tree&#39;s growth is restricted in the area where the collar is positioned.  
           [0004]    The tree&#39;s trunk can also suffer damage by being hit, particularly near the base, with lawn mower blades and nylon string used in “weed-whackers.” Even mulch placed right at the base of the tree can cause undue stress and potential death to the tree. For example, devices to protect the tree&#39;s trunk from damage near the base are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,689, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,416, U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,889 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,507. However, these devices are not designed to prevent crawling pests from gaining access to the tree trunk, and possibly to the upper portion of the tree.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    The present invention relates to a pest deterrent device to be placed about the base of a tree or similar growing plant. The device includes a smooth surfaced cylindrical body having a lip which extends outwardly from an upper edge of the body and means to secure the device into the ground extending downwardly from a lower edge of the body. The lip reduces the risk that crawling pests, such as tent caterpillars, can reach the trunk of the tree and cause damage to the tree. A plurality of apertures in the body allow for air to circulate about the tree when the device is positioned about the base of the tree. Optionally, the device may include indicia, such as a recommended mulch level line. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a representative illustration of a pest deterrent device made in accordance with the present invention positioned around the base of a tree;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the pest deterrent device of FIG. 1 showing the interior surface;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a section of the pest deterrent device of FIG. 1 showing the exterior surface;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a section of an alternative embodiment of the pest deterrent device showing the exterior surface;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section of an alternative embodiment of the pest deterrent device showing the interior surface; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the pest deterrent device of FIG. 1 including an optional frost cap. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    The present invention relates to a pest deterrent device to be placed about the base of a tree or similar growing plant. The device is designed to reduce the risk that crawling pests, such as tent caterpillars, can reach the trunk of the tree and cause damage to the tree. The device is further designed to minimize any health risks to the tree while the device is being used.  
         [0013]    As shown in FIG. 1, a pest deterrent device  10  made in accordance with the present invention is intended to encircle the base  92  of a tree  90 . The device  10  is designed to rest tightly against the ground  98 , thereby preventing crawling pests, cutworms, rabbits, squirrels and other rodents, from gaining access to the tree trunk by crawling under the base of the pest deterrent device. Because the device  10  encircles the base  92  of the tree  90 , the device  10  can also prevent lawn mower and/or grass trimmer damage to the tree trunk  94 . Optionally, mulch  96  or similar ground cover may be placed around the tree  90  against an exterior surface  12  of the device  10 . The device  10  prevents the mulch  96  from resting directly against the tree  90  and, thus, potentially harming the tree  90 .  
         [0014]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , the pest deterrent device  10  includes a smooth surfaced cylindrical body  14 . In the embodiment shown, the body  14  is divided into two essentially identical semi-circular mating sections, of which one section  20  is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The section  20  has an interior surface  11  and an exterior surface  12 , a radius “r” and a length “L.” The radius “r” may be varied to accommodate trees with different diameter trunks. In an example embodiment, the radius “r” is about 3″ so that when two sections are combined to form a cylindrical device  10 , the diameter of the device is about 6″, and the length “L” is about 10″ from an upper edge  18  to a lower edge  19  of the body  14 . Preferably, the cylindrical body  14  has a smooth exterior surface  12  so that crawling pests cannot retain traction and climb along the exterior surface  12 .  
         [0015]    A lip or flange  16 , having a width “W”, extends outwardly from the exterior surface  12  of the body  14 . In the embodiment shown, the lip or flange  16  extends radially outward from the upper edge  18 , although the lip  16  may be positioned essentially anywhere along the exterior surface  12 . The lip  16  has an upper side  15  facing toward the branches of the tree  90  and an underside  17  facing toward the ground  98  when the device is in use. The outward extension of the lip  16  provides a deterrent for crawling pests. Even if a crawling pest is able to scale the body  14 , when the pest begins to crawl along the underside  17  of the lip  16 , gravitational forces will increase the probability that the pest will fall from the device  10  before reaching the upper side  15 . Optionally, the lip  16  may further include a rim  22  which extends upwardly from an outer edge  17  of the lip  16 . In an example embodiment, the lip  16  has a width “W” of about 1¼″ with a ½″ rim  22 .  
         [0016]    The body  14  includes a plurality of apertures  24 . The apertures  24  may vary in design and dimension and are included to allow air to circulate about the tree  90  when the device  10  is positioned about the base  92  of the tree  90 . However, the apertures  24  should be sized such that crawling pests cannot easily pass through the apertures  24  to reach the interior surface  11  of the section  20 . In one preferred embodiment, the apertures  24  are 1″×{fraction (1/16)}″ slits positioned about 4″ from the upper edge  18  of the body  14  and separated from each other by about 2½″.  
         [0017]    The section  20  also includes one or more feet  26  extending vertically downward from the lower edge  19  by a length “X”. The feet  26  allow the device  10  to be secured into the ground  98 . The shape of the feet  26  may vary as desired by the user. For example, the feet  26  may be slightly rounded, as shown. Alternatively, the feet  26  may be pointed to more easily force the feet  26  into the ground  98 , or barbed to minimize the risk of the device being pulled from the ground  98 . The length “X” of the feet  26  can vary as desired by the user. As is known in the art, a longer foot  26  will provide a better ground anchor, but may be more difficult to force into the ground  98  such that the lower edge  19  of the device  10  rests against the ground  98 . Thus, the length of the feet  26  may be modified for different soil types. For example, soft soil might use a longer rounded foot, whereas clay soil might be better served with a shorter pointed foot.  
         [0018]    The section  20  further includes mating first  21  and second  23  opposed terminating vertical edges or sides, and means for attaching one section  20  to an essentially identical section  20 . For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , the first and second opposed vertical terminating edges  21 ,  23  are essentially straight and flat-edged with hooked latches  28  extending outward from the first side  21  and receivers or loops  30  affixed to the second side  23 . The sides  21 ,  23  may also be angled, beveled, or curved, or may include other interacting designs that will result in a smooth, continuous seam along the exterior face  12  of the device  10  when sections  20  are united. The latches  28  are designed to matingly engage the receivers  30  forming fasteners. The number of latches  28  and receivers  30  may vary as desired by the user. Alternatively, any appropriate attaching means can be used in place of the latches  28  and receivers  30 . Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the latches  28  and receivers  30  may also be affixed to the lip  16 , if desired. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the latch  28  and receivers  30  are on the upper side  15  of the lip  16 , but latch  28  and loop  30  may be mounted on the lower side  17 .  
         [0019]    In an alternative embodiment, two sections may be essentially identical except for the attaching means. In this case, one section may include latching-type units while the second section includes receiving units. For example, the two sections may include interacting hinges along one pair of matching edges, and latch/loop combinations along a second pair of matching edges.  
         [0020]    Optionally, the section  20  may include additional features, such as keepers  32 , and text or other indicia  34  for use. The keepers  32  extend outward slightly from the first side  21  and function to keep the sides aligned during use. Alternatively, the keepers  32  could extend outward from the second side  23  or could alternate between the first and second sides  21 ,  23 . The number and spacing of the keepers  32  may vary as desired by the user. Text or other indicia  34  may also be included on the section  20 . For example, the section  20  may include a line or similar marking on the exterior surface  12  showing a recommended mulch level for plantings. As shown in FIG. 6, peripheral items may also be used with the pest deterrent device  10 , such as a removable frost cover  40  which can fit over the top of the device  10  when used with small plants.  
         [0021]    From a reading of the above, one with ordinary skill in the art should be able to devise variations to the inventive features. For example, the pest deterrent device  10  may be used with plants other than trees. The device  10  may also be divided into smaller sections  20 , thereby requiring more than two sections  20  to be combined to form a complete device  10 . Further, the various section dimensions may be optimized for different size trees or other growing plants. These and other variations are believed to fall within the spirit and scope of the attached claims.