They Invented What? (No. 33)

U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,770:  Bird repelling means.

 

Abstract: 

This invention is a combination of visual and aural devices to create panic in selected bird species. This is accomplished in part through a body simulating a Tiger Cat which is weathervane mounted. The body includes bright orange stripes and has predatory eyes. Streamers depicting paniced birds are attached to the tiger’s tail and an internal wind driven flute produces a variety of the noises. Additionally, reflectors are used on a propeller to simulate light reflection from a gun barrel. Further, random or scheduled explosions from an automatic acetylene exploder and bird warning and distress calls are broadcast over loud speakers for the species of birds being repelled.
 

Claims:

1. A bird repelling means comprising: predator simulating means; a wind driven flute mounted within said predator simulating means; means for mechanically altering the tone of said wind driven flute; means for periodically broadcasting prerecorded bird warning and panic calls; and means for periodically creating explosion-type noises whereby the simulated predator will act as a visual bird repelling means while the wind flute, periodic broadcast and explosions will act as an aural means of repelling said birds.

2. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said simulated predator includes a pair of predator eyes.

3. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said simulated predator includes predator teeth.

4. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said mechanical flute playing means is a rotating disk.

5. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said simulated predator is pivotably mounted whereby ambent winds will cause a weathervaning effect which in turn imparts realistic movement to said simulated predator.

6. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said broadcasting means is a recording play back type device operatively connected to a plurality of loud speakers.

7. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein the means for periodically creating loud explosion-type noises is an acetylene exploder.

8. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said means for creating loud explosion-type noises is a carbide cannon.

9. The bird repelling means of claim 1 including a predator head having a windsock-shaped lining for catching and directing air into the mouth of said flute.

10. The bird repelling means of claim 9 wherein a motor/generator is operatively mounted in the entrance of said windsock-shaped lining and is driven by propellor means whereby when adequate wind velocity is available to play said flute means, electricity is generated as the propellor turns, and when adequate wind is not available, said propellor can be driven to create the required velocity.

11. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein the simulated predator has stripes.

12. The bird repelling means of claim 11 wherein said stripes are bright orange in color.

13. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein said simulated predator includes a flexible streamer tail.

14. The bird repelling means of claim 13 wherein said streamer includes pictures of panic stricken birds thereon.

15. The bird repelling means of claim 14 wherein said streamer is readily replacable whereby the pictures of panic stricken birds can be readily replaced.

16. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein gun barrel simulating reflector means are provided in conjunction with said predator body.

17. The bird repelling means of claim 16 wherein said reflector means are flat reflector surfaces provided on a rotatable shaft operatively mounted on said predator body.

18. The bird repelling means of claim 1 wherein a programmable controller means is utilized to coordinate the various functions thereof.

19. The bird repelling means of claim 19 wherein said controller means is battery powered.

20. The bird repelling means of claim 19 wherein said battery means is at least partially charged by at least one solar panel.

21. The bird repelling means of claim 19 wherein said battery is at least partially charged by a wind driven generator means.

22. The bird repelling means of claim 19 wherein said battery means is charged by a combination of at least one solar panel and a wind driven generator means.

23. A bird repelling means comprising: predator simulating means; a wind driven flute operatively associated with said predator simulating means; and means of mechanically altering the tone of said flute whereby an improved visual and aural repelling means is provided.

24. The bird repelling means of claim 23 wherein said wind flute includes a plurality of sound varying holes and said tone altering means includes a rotating disk having a plurality of openings alignable with said sound varying holes to open and close the same as said disk rotates.