Abstract:
A dispenser for animal repellent effluent is disclosed consisting of a chemical repellent containing compartment having a plurality of vents, a compartment cover to protect the repellent from the weather and a positioning or attaching device to fix the dispenser at a selected location. The vents provide for the dissemination of repellent effluent about the location such as a trashcan, dumpster, or exterior of a building.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/674,062 filed Apr. 22, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention resides in the field of devices for warding off unwanted animals by the release to the environment of an effluent offensive to the animals.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Several devices for emitting a chemical effluent repellent to animals exist in the prior art. The purpose of these is to provide a container for an animal repellent chemical, mothballs for example, which may be situated in an area where animal pests are likely to gather to discourage their presence by an odor offensive to them. Examples are U. S. Pat. No. 3,840,145, Almanza; U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,142, Riley; U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,545, Gall et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,520, Bitner.  
         [0006]     The invention disclosed herein provides unique and novel features over the prior art known to applicant, in particular, the location and secure placement of the dispensers which enhance their use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention may be summarized as an animal repellent effluent emitter or dispenser which is attachable or securable at a selected location to which animals are likely to be attracted. The apparatus includes a chamber for holding the repellent substance, moth balls for example, a chamber cover for protecting the repellent from the weather, and means for positioning, attaching or securing the dispenser. Vents in the chamber are provided to introduce the repellent effluent into the atmosphere.  
         [0008]     A plurality of embodiments are disclosed herein. The dispenser may be a separate attachable unit or may be molded directly into the structure of a trashcan or dumpster. It may also take the form of a pail with an interior shelf coupled with a stake for holding the dispenser in place by sinking the stake into the ground.  
         [0009]     These and other features and advantages, as well as the detailed structure of the invention will become more evident from the description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings which follows.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative mounting position of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an additional placement of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an additional mounting arrangement of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a partially cross-sectional front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a partially cross-sectional front view of a further embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 ; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention in which dispenser  10  of any appropriate shape is composed of a lower compartment  12  for containing a chemical animal repellent and an upper cover  14  for securing and protecting the repellent. The cover may be held in place by the force fit of a flange  16  as shown or by, for example, matching threads, clips, Velcro strips, or similar such mechanical means. Ports  18  are placed about the circumference of compartment  12  to release the vapors from chemical  20 , a substance such as moth crystals, disposed in the compartment.  
         [0020]     Dispenser  10  is attached to cover  22  of trashcan  24  by, for example, a strong double-sided adhesive tape  26  or other mechanical means such as nut and bolt sets  28 . Additionally, a handle  30  may be attached to cover  14  by, for example, nut and bolt sets  32  to lift both dispenser cover  14  and/or trash can cover  22  depending upon how cover  14  is attached to container  12 .  
         [0021]     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , the dispenser of  FIG. 1  is shown combined with the body of can  24  and in particular is mounted under trash can handle  34  so that, in addition to the protection provided by cover  14 , the entire dispenser is shielded from the weather by handle  34  when it is secured in this position.  
         [0022]     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , dispenser  10  is illustrated mounted on dumpster 36  on both door  38  and side  40 . The same means as described above may be used to secure the dispenser to the dumpster.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative means of positioning dispenser  10  by providing hook 41  for locating the invention in a general area where animals are unwanted such as a borough in a yard or near a house foundation.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention showing a dispenser comprising a pail  42  having a cover  44  and an interior perforated shelf  46 . Upper chamber  48  holds an animal repellent chemical  50  and lower chamber  52  further isolates the chemical from the environment. Perforations  54  in shelf  46  and ports  56  in chamber  52  allow allow chemical effluent generated by chemical  50  to escape into the surrounding atmosphere. Handle  58  and/or ground stake  60  are provided to move and secure the dispenser at a desired location.  
         [0025]     Referring next to  FIG. 6 , a partially cross-sectional front view of an additional embodiment of the invention is shown in which three variations of a dispenser are disposed in a trashcan or receptacle  58 . The cover of can  58  is not shown for purposes of clarity. Two of the dispenser variations,  60  and  62  are molded directly into can  58  and the third dispenser variation  64  is a separate unit and is suspended from the rim of the can by, for example, a wire clip  66 .  
         [0026]     Dispenser  60  is shown twice as a side view  60   a  and as a front view  60   b  and is composed of cover  68  and dispenser body  70  which cover may either snap on and off or slide back and forth to open and close the interior of dispenser body  70 . Perforated shelf  72  divides the dispenser into an upper chamber  74  for containing repellent chemical  76  and a lower chamber  78 . Ports  80  formed directly in the wall of can  80  allow the repellent effluent, as indicated by arrow  82 , to directly enter the atmosphere.  
         [0027]     The second variation  62  is also illustrated as two views, as a side view  62   a  and a front view  62   b , and is the same as dispenser  60  except that the cover  84  is not removable. Instead sliding door  86  for the insertion of chemical  87  is arranged to cover port  88  formed directly in the wall of the can.  
         [0028]     Referring next to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a cross-sectional side view and plan view of an additional embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This arrangement comprises a base  90  for supporting a trashcan  92  above ground level  94 . Wall  96  extending above base  90  may be added to aid in preventing can  92  from tipping over and may completely surround the can or may be a partial wall disposed in sections  98  about the base to achieve the same purpose.  
         [0029]     Dispenser  100  is disposed in top  102  of base  90  and includes removable cover  104  and chamber  106  for containing animal repellent chemical  108 . Ports  110  are disposed in chamber  106  and ports  112  are disposed in base  90  to allow the effluent from repellent  108  to disperse to the environment. Base  90  may be held in place by the weight of can  92  alone or may additionally be secured by stakes  114  driven into ground  94  through tabs  114  attached to base  90 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of a further embodiment of the invention in which trashcan  116  has a bottom  118  raised above ground  120  by extensions  122  of sidewall  124 . Compartment  126  for containing animal repellent chemical  128  is mounted below bottom  118  and has removable cover  130  for inserting chemical  128 . Ports  132  allow the chemical effluent to pass into the environment through space  134  at the bottom of the can as created by extensions  122 .  
         [0031]     As variations in the above-described embodiments will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, the invention is accordingly defmed by the following claims.