DEVICE FOR DETERRING RESTING ON A SURFACE

Abstract

A device (20) for deterring resting on a surface is disclosed. The device is formed from a planar sheet (10) having an elongate central portion (11) and two side portions (12, 13) joined to either side of the central portion; wherein at least one of the side portions contains an array of stabbing members (14); and wherein the side portions (12, 13) have means (16, 16′, 17′ 17′) for joining one side portion (12) to another other side portion (13) once the side portions have been bent along their respective joins with the central portion (11) and abutted to each other.

Description

PRIORITY INFORMATION

The present application claims priority to Great Britain Patent Application No. 0815265.4, filed on Aug. 21, 2008, now issued as Great Britain Patent No. GB2451960, all of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for deterring resting on a surface and, in particular but not exclusively, for deterring a bird from perching on a surface.

Devices for deterring a bird from perching on a surface are known per se. Typically, a conventional such device consists of a series of spokes projecting out of a solid wood base which would rest on a surface prone to such perching or nesting such as a widow ledge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a device of the aforementioned type is provided, formed from a planar sheet having an elongate central portion and two side portions joined to either side of the central portion; wherein at least one of the side portions contains an array of stabbing members; and wherein the side portions have joining means for joining one side portion to the other once the side portions have been bent along their respective joins with the central portion and abutted to each other, thereby enhancing the overall rigidity of the device.

For example, such joining means may comprises a detent or an array of detents on one side portion and a corresponding protruding member or array of protruding members on the other side portion, wherein the detent(s) receive the protruding member(s). Also, such joining means may comprises an array of detents on each side portion and corresponding arrays of protruding members on each side portion. Where this is the case, the arrays of detents may be staggered with respect to each other (with the corresponding arrays of protruding members similarly staggered).

The inventor has realized that it is possible to construct a device for deterring a bird from perching on a surface from a pre-stamped or cut, planar sheet; such a device having the advantage of being compact for storage and transit prior to assembly, whereby assembly can be done at the same time as installation.

Both side portions may contain an array of stabbing members, ideally staggered with respect to each other.

Also, one or both side portions may contain at least two arrays of stabbing members with at least one array formed within the periphery of another, representing an efficient use of the available planar sheet material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a punched, flexible plastic sheet used to form a device for deterring a bird from perching on a surface according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a 3-D of a device according to the present invention formed from the planar sheet of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a punched, flexible plastic, sheet 10 is shown having a provided elongate central portion 11 which, when assembled, will form the base of a device 20 for deterring a bird from perching on a surface. Solid lines represent a cut through the sheet and dotted lines represent fold lines.

The central portion is provided with an array of apertures 18 which will facilitate the fixing of the base of the device 20 to such a substrate including by nailing, screwing, gluing or other means.

The sheet 10 is provided with side portions 12, 13 joined to either side of the central portion 11 and each consisting of an array of primary, triangular stabbing members 14, 14′. Inside each arrays of primary stabbing member is array of secondary stabbing members 15, 15′ also joined to either side of the central portion.

Each primary stabbing member 14, 14′ is provided with a slit 17, 17 and an arrow shaped protrusion 16 which, when both side portions 12, 13 are bent along their respective joins with the central portion 11 so as to abut each other, each protrusion may be received by a corresponding slit. This provides a fixed, triangular construction represented by the central portion and the primary stabbing members which provides a structure with enhanced integrity compared to that which would be present were both side portions not so joined. Once both side portions are joined, the secondary stabbing members 15, 15′ protrude from the plane of the primary stabbing members 14, 14′.

The sheet 10 may be preformed with lines of weakness corresponding to fold lines between the side portions 12, 13 and the central portion 11 on which folds during assembly desirably occur.

The invention has been described in the context of deterring a bird from perching on a surface but could be equally useful in preventing a human or animal from resting on a surface (e.g. when applied to the top of a wall, to discourage a person from climbing that wall).

Claims

1. A device for deterring resting on a surface formed from a planar sheet having an elongate central portion and two side portions joined to either side of the central portion; wherein at least one of the side portions contains an array of stabbing members; and wherein the side portions have means for joining one side portion to another other side portion once the side portions have been bent along their respective joins with the central portion and abutted to each other.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein both side portions contain an array of stabbing members.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the arrays of stabbing members are staggered with respect to each other.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein at least one side portion contains at least two arrays of stabbing members with at least one such array formed within the periphery of another.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein both side portions contain at least two arrays of stabbing members with at least one such array formed within the periphery of another.

6. The device according to claim 1 where the means for joining comprises a detent on one side portion and a protruding member on the other side portion wherein, once the side portions have been bent along their respective joins with the central portion and abutted to each other, the detent may receive the protruding member.

7. The device according to claim 1 where the means for joining comprises an array of detents on one side portion and a corresponding array of protruding members on the other side portion wherein, once the side portions have been bent along their respective joins with the central portion and abutted to each other, the detents may receive the protruding members.

8. The device according to claim 1 where the means for joining comprises an array of detents on each side portion and corresponding arrays of protruding members on each side portion wherein, once the side portions have been bent along their respective joins with the central portion and abutted to each other, the detents may receive the protruding members.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein the arrays of detents are staggered with respect to each other; and wherein the corresponding arrays of protruding members are staggered with respect to each other.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the or each detent is formed as slit.

11. The device according to claim 6, wherein the or each protrusion is formed as an arrow.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the central portion contains an array of apertures.