US4598660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bird scaring device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-29
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Granted: 1986-07-08
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Expires: 2004-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A device for scaring birds thereby aiding in the prevention of crop destruction due to the birds feeding thereon comprises in combination an actuator, such as an air gun which ejects at increased velocity a gaseous stream in a predetermined path, a frame including a target disposed in an impinging relationship to the gaseous stream path so as to be moved between rest and operative positions responsive to the gaseous stream, and visual scaring member operatively connected to the target for scaring birds, the visual member being reciprocally operable between inactive and active positions in response to the target being moved between the rest and operable position, respectively. According to another embodiment of the present invention, automatic controls are provided for disabling the device during night hours and/or during periods of increased wind velocities which could potentially damage the device. Conversion of linear motion into rotary motion is provided by operative cooperation between guide rollers mounted to the piston of the visual member and a spiral track which is in fixed relationship to the visual member.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Konzak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:46
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M29/00; A01M29/06; A01M29/16; A01M29/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
A bird scaring device comprising: a frame; visual means attached to said frame for reciprocal rectilinear movements between active and inactive positions for scaring birds; and actuator means operatively connected to said visual means for moving said visual means between said inactive and active positions, said actuator means including means for ejecting a gaseous stream in a predetermined path and at increased velocity; said visual means including target means disposed in said predetermined path so as to present a surface against which said gaseous stream impinges, said visual means moving from said inactive position and into said active position in response to impingement of said gaseous stream upon said surface of said target means; said visual means including motion converting means for converting linear motion of said visual means into rotary motion in response to said visual means linearly moving from said active position and into said inactive position, wherein said motion converting means includes means defining a track to establish a spiral course in a fixed position relative to said visual means, and roller means attached to said visual means so as to be moveable therewith, said roller means engaging said track when said visual means moves from said active position to said inactive position along said linear path and for following said spiral course established by said track to responsively translate the linear movement of said visual means into rotary movement, whereby said visual means rotates upon movement from said active position to said inactive position; said roller means including a pair of axles each having one and other ends, said axles being pivotally mounted to said visual means at said one end thereof so as to be pivotally movable between first and second position, and rollers journalled to respective said axles at said other end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
A bird scaring device comprising: a frame; visual means attached to said frame for reciprocal rectilinear movements between active and inactive positions for scaring birds; and actuator means operatively connected to said visual means for moving said visual means between said inactive and active positions, said actuator means including means for ejecting a gaseous stream in a predetermined path and at increased velocity; said visual means including target means disposed in said predetermined path so as to present a surface against which said gaseous stream impinges, said visual means moving from said inactive position and into said active position in response to impingement of said gaseous stream upon said surface of said target means; said visual means including motion converting means for converting linear motion of said visual means into rotary motion in response to said visual means linearly moving from said active position and into said inactive position, wherein said motion converting means includes means defining a track to establish a spiral course in a fixed position relative to said visual means, and roller means attached to said visual means so as to be moveable therewith, said roller means engaging said track when said visual means moves from said active position to said inactive position along said linear path and for following said spiral course established by said track to responsively translate the linear movement of said visual means into rotary movement, whereby said visual means rotates upon movement from said active position to said inactive position; said roller means including a pair of axles each having one and other ends, said axles being pivotally mounted to said visual means at said one end thereof so as to be pivotally movable between first and second position, and rollers journalled to respective said axles at said other end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 1 further comprising means for retaining said visual means in said active position for a predetermined period of time and for gradually returning said visual means to said inactive position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said visual means is vertically disposed and includes: means defining an elongated cylindrical cavity; piston means disposed in said cylindrical cavity for reciprocal movement therein; and means connecting said piston means and said target means so that said piston means is raised to said active position in said cavity in response to said target means being moved to said operable position by virtue of said gaseous stream impinging upon said surface of said target means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
236 words
A bird scaring device comprising: visual means reciprocally moveable between inactive and active positions along a linear path for scaring birds; actuator means operatively connected to said visual means for moving said visual means along said linear path from said inactive position to said active position; and motion converting means operatively associated with said visual means for converting linear movement of said visual means into rotational movement in response to said visual means moving along said linear path from said active position to said inactive position, wherein said motion converting means includes means defining a track to establish a spiral course in a fixed position relative to said visual means, and roller means attached to visual means so as to be moveable therewith, said roller means for engaging said track when said visual means moves from said active position to said inactive position along said linear path and for following said spiral course established by said track to responsively translate the linear movement of said visual means into rotary movement, whereby said visual means rotate upon movement from said active position to said inactive position, said roller means including a pair of axles each having one and other ends, said axles being pivotally mounted to said visual means at said one end thereof so as to be pivotally movable between first and second positions, and rollers journalled to respective said axles at said other end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
236 words
A bird scaring device comprising: visual means reciprocally moveable between inactive and active positions along a linear path for scaring birds; actuator means operatively connected to said visual means for moving said visual means along said linear path from said inactive position to said active position; and motion converting means operatively associated with said visual means for converting linear movement of said visual means into rotational movement in response to said visual means moving along said linear path from said active position to said inactive position, wherein said motion converting means includes means defining a track to establish a spiral course in a fixed position relative to said visual means, and roller means attached to visual means so as to be moveable therewith, said roller means for engaging said track when said visual means moves from said active position to said inactive position along said linear path and for following said spiral course established by said track to responsively translate the linear movement of said visual means into rotary movement, whereby said visual means rotate upon movement from said active position to said inactive position, said roller means including a pair of axles each having one and other ends, said axles being pivotally mounted to said visual means at said one end thereof so as to be pivotally movable between first and second positions, and rollers journalled to respective said axles at said other end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bird scaring device as in claim 4 wherein said actuator means comprises means for ejecting a gaseous stream in a predetermined path at increased velocity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bird scaring device as in claim 1 or 4 wherein said roller means further includes biasing means to bias said axle into said first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bird scaring device as in claim 6 wherein said biasing means is a torsion spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bird scaring device as in claim 1 or 4 further comprising shock absorber means to absorb force of said visual means upon said visual means being moved to said active position to prevent damage thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A bird scaring device as in claim 8 wherein said shock absorber means includes flange means for engaging said visual means at said active position and spring means exerting a bias on said flange means to counter a force exerted by said visual means upon engagement with said flange means and to effect yielding displacement of said flange means upon said engagement to thereby absorb said force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A bird scaring device as in claim 1 or 4 further comprising arm means associated with said visual means for simulating the arms of a human, and motion damping means connected to said arm means to damp motion imparted to said arm means upon movement of said visual means between said active and inactive positions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-07 | 1990-01-06 | 1990-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-07 | 1994-01-06 | 1994-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-07 | 1998-01-06 | 1998-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |