Patent Publication Number: US-2009235581-A1

Title: Apparatus to prevent climbing a vertically disposed member

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to protective devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to devices which deter animals from climbing and destroying property housed, stored, and disposed on or extending from tree branches, posts, poles and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, tree guards, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to protect trees and plants from animals. Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Staggs, U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,144, provides a tree guard for young trees, seedlings, saplings and other plants which is a flat sheet having locking wing shaped tabs and receiving cut outs in the sheet positioned so as to securely receive and hold the wing shaped locking tabs such that when the sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape the side ends of the sheet are securely connected to each other. This tree guard is meant to prevent the young trees from being gnawed on by rodents and deer. 
     Potente, U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,459, provides a method for deterring arboreal animals from climbing and reaching a bird feeder, nesting box or elevated plant holder supported atop a post set within the ground and includes the steps of providing a freestanding, non-rotatable hollow, longitudinally extending body and inserting the post supporting the bird feeder, nesting box or elevated plant holder conjunctionally therein. Alternatively, the bird feeder, nesting box or elevated plant holder may be directly supported atop the freestanding, non-rotatable, longitudinally extending body. 
     Hancock-Bogese, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,076, provides a sheet of plastic used with a perimeter structure (e.g., fence) to prevent certain animals from climbing up the fence. The sheet of plastic is characterized by a smooth, slippery surface so that animals are unable to obtain a foothold on the sheet. 
     Faltinowski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,235, provides a device and method of use for protecting hunters and the like from attack by dangerous animals such as bears. The device has a body that fits around the perimeter of a tree trunk and control means attached thereto for discouraging a bear from climbing the tree. In one embodiment the body is divided into hinged body portions that can be fitted around a tree and closed by a clasp. In another embodiment the body consists of a plurality of bases that are strung together and retained to a tree by a belt. The device is fitted to the trunk of a tree which is climbed by the hunter. 
     Stone, U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,866, discloses a climbing animal barrier for tree trunks, poles, fences and walls. A barrier wall consisting of accordion-pleated metal cloth is bounded on its exterior by a solid metal skirt element which the climbing animal cannot grip or penetrate with its claws and thus is effectively prevented from circumventing the barrier. When applied to a tree trunk, the barrier can expand automatically with tree growth. 
     Carder, U.S. Pat. No. 2,999,479, discloses an animal restraining tree guard for protecting nests within a tree consisting of a disc-like body portion for placement around a tree, such disc-like body portion being secured in place by a plurality of finger-like projection extending towards the tree from such disc-like body portion. 
     Semmes, U.S. Pat. No. 1,017,920 discloses sheet metal piping, particularly useful for stove pipes, consisting of a pipe section having a hook on one edge and a double fold on the other with a longitudinal slot open at one end with which such hook cooperates and means for preventing the escape of the hook from the slot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus to prevent climbing a vertically disposed member. Such apparatus includes a covering member manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness, and a predetermined size. A securing means is operably connected to the covering member at a predetermined location thereon for securing the covering member at least one of to and around a predetermined object such that such object is rendered substantially incapable of being climbed upon at the location covered by the covering member. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will protect objects and living beings positioned in a tree, as well as objects housed in or hung from a tree. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a means to deter animals such as bears, raccoon, and the like from climbing trees, posts, and poles and accessing and damaging feeders attached to such trees, posts, and poles. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be positioned around the trunk of a tree, a pole, and a post to prevent such tree, pole, and post from being climbed upon. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simple device to protect food meant for deer, turkey, and other predetermined animals from pests, scavengers, varmints, and the like. 
     In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention is secured around a portion of a tree to prevent the tree from being climbed and thereby protecting the feeding device attached to the tree. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a plurality of apertures are disposed along a first side end and a second side end of such covering member. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the apparatus is securable to at least one additional apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which such apparatus is secured to one additional apparatus and in which both encircle a tree thereby increasing the surface area of such tree which is covered. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to another embodiment of the invention in which such covering member includes two semi-circular portions capable of being secured to each other. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which such covering member includes two-semicircular portions releasably secured to each other by a screw-type fastening system. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures. 
     Reference is now made, more particularly, to  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     An apparatus, generally designated  10 , to prevent climbing a vertically disposed member is provided. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 , such apparatus  10  includes a covering member  12  manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness, and a predetermined size. 
     It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is at least one of a metal, a plastic, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such predetermined material is a metal. It is further presently preferred that such metal is a metal having a memory. It is also presently preferred that such metal is flexible. 
     It is presently preferred that such predetermined shape is substantially a cylinder. It is presently preferred that the diameter of such cylinder is between about 12.0 inches and 20.0 inches. 
     It is presently preferred that such covering member  12  is between about 40.0 inches and 50.0 inches high. It is presently preferred that the predetermined length of such covering member  12  is between about 45.0 inches and 55.0 inches. 
     It is presently preferred that such covering member  12  is at least one of smooth and slippery on an outside facing side  14 . It is further presently preferred that such covering member  12  includes at least a portion decorated to resemble foliage, forestry, greenery, camouflage cloth, rock, tree bark, a predetermined animal&#39;s natural habitat, and a combination thereof. 
     A first securing means  16  is operably connected to the covering member  12  at a predetermined location thereon for securing the covering member  12  at least one of to and around a predetermined object  18  such that the object is rendered substantially incapable of being climbed upon at the location covered by the covering member. It is presently preferred that such predetermined object is at least one of a tree  22 , a post, a pole, and the like. 
     It is presently preferred that the first securing means  16  is at least one of a snap type fastening system, at least one clamp, a screw type fastening system, a hook and eye type fastening system, a threaded member type fastening system and a combination thereof. 
     It is presently preferred that such covering member  12  includes a first side end  24  and a second side end  26  each having a plurality of apertures  28  disposed therethrough at predetermined locations thereon such that when such covering member  12  is placed around such predetermined object  18  the apertures  28  on the first side end  24  are capable of being aligned with the apertures  28  on the second side end  26 . 
     It is presently preferred that such first securing means  16  includes a plurality of screws  32  for screwing into the plurality of aligned apertures  28 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , it is further presently preferred that such covering member  12  further includes a second securing means  34  for securing such apparatus  10  to at least one additional apparatus  10 . 
     It is further presently preferred that such second securing means  34  includes a plurality of apertures  28  being disposed along at least one of an upper end  36  and a lower end  38  of such covering member  12  at predetermined locations therethrough for being aligned with a predetermined plurality of apertures  28  disposed at predetermined locations through such at least one additional apparatus  10  and wherein the second securing means  34  further includes a plurality of screws  32  for screwing into the plurality of aligned apertures  28 . 
     It is presently preferred that such covering member  12  further includes at least one beveled edge  42  at a predetermined location thereon for facilitating such apparatus  10  fitting together with such at least one additional apparatus  10 . 
     It is further presently preferred that such covering member  12  includes a first beveled edge  44  adjacent an outside edge  46  of an upper end  48  of such covering member  12  and a second beveled edge  52  adjacent an inside edge  54  of a lower end  56  of such covering member  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , according to another embodiment of the invention, such covering member  12  includes a first elongated hollow semi-circular member  58  and a second elongated hollow semi-circular member  62 , each semi-circular member being of a substantially identical predetermined size and such first member  58  being securable to such second member  62  by such first securing means  16 . 
     According to this embodiment is it presently preferred that such first member  58  and such second member  62  each include a first side end  24  and a second side end  26  each having a plurality of apertures  28  disposed therethrough at predetermined locations such that when such first member  58  and such second member  62  are placed around such predetermined object  18  such apertures  28  on the first side end  24  of the first member  58  are capable of being aligned with the apertures  28  on the first side end  24  of the second member  62  and the apertures  28  on the second side end  26  of the first member  58  are capable of being aligned with the apertures  28  on the second side end  26  of the second member  62 . 
     According to this embodiment, it is presently preferred that such first securing means  16  is at least one of a snap type fastening system, at least one clamp, a screw type fastening system, a hook and eye type fastening system, a threaded member type fastening system and a combination thereof. According to this embodiment, it is presently most preferred that such first securing means  16  includes a plurality of screws  32  for screwing into the plurality of aligned apertures  28 . 
     While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.