Rodent Exclusion Device

U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,997, filed on Feb. 16, 1983, shows an elevated wire supported rodent trap.

For many years members of the pest control industry have accepted the fact that rodents will readily climb on ropes, pipes, wires or other such objects in order to gain access to ships, buildings etc. In fact the introduction of the Norway Rat to the United States was due to the rats crossing dock lines and entering ships in their native country and being transported here. Once the ships docked the rats simply crossed the lines again and established themselves quickly.

To date there is no such device of this nature that will stop such rodents from gaining access to the upper portions of buildings or ships which would otherwise be inaccessible to them. The object of the device would be to exclude, not ensnare a rodent from these areas by means of physical pain if the rodent were to attempt to cross the device once installed. Whereby no dead carcasses would need to be removed from hard to reach areas as the rodents would not be killed by the device but merely repelled.

A flexible, non corrosive strapping material such as but not limited to polypropylene. Which is used as the base of the strip, contains small crown shaped pieces also made of non corrosive material such as but not limited to aluminum or brass. And common VELCRO fastening material sewn in on each end to secure the strips to the target object. The crown shaped pieces would be manufactured as having somewhat sharp edges on the crown blades which if contacted by the soft underside foot of a rodent would cause pain and discomfort to the rodent thereby causing the rodent to turn away from the area of the strip. The crown shaped pieces would be attached to the strapping by means of rivet like protrusions extending from the bottom of the crowns which would be stamped through the strapping material thereby obtaining a permanent installation. The spacing of the pieces on the strapping would be sufficient to allow a wrapping effect of the strip while maintaining an insufficient distance to allow rodents to place their feet in between the crowns. The strapping would be brightly colored in order to maintain visibility as a safety precaution and would come with instructions to be installed out of normal human reach, such as midway between ship dock lines, or over 10 feet from the ground etc. The completed device could be utilized as a permanent fixture or a temporary installation as needed due to ease of application.

FIG. 1 an independent view of crown shaped pieces showing horizontal alignment with other such pieces depicting sharp, pointed edges. Also a sectional view of a piece once installed through the strapping material.

FIG. 2 a top view of the completed device showing shape of strapping, alignment of crown shaped pieces, and location of male VELCRO fastening material located on each end.

FIG. 3 a bottom view of the completed device showing shape of the strapping, alignment of the bottom of the crowns once installed to the strapping material, and location of female VELCRO fastening material which would connect with male upon installation.

FIG. 4 a perspective view of the completed device installed on a target object (pipe).

The exclusion device as best seen in FIG. 4 includes an elongated rectangular base 1 made of 2" wide flexible polypropeline strapping material which is cut to a length of 24" for objects up to 1" in diameter, and shaped as shown in FIG. 2 in order to obtain a wrapping effect on a cylindrical shaped object 6. A variety of sizes would be available to accommodate objects of greater diameters, all being constructed of the same materials, and shaped exactly as the original device using the same angle cuts, only in greater dimensions. Shaping of the strap would be obtained by making an angled cut of 67.5 deg. at end 2 beginning 6/8" above the bottom of the end and continuing to the top of the same. At end 3 a similar cut would be made at a reverse angle to end 2. This would enable the strap to be neatly wrapped around virtually any target object without part of the ends protruding from the wrap which could cause unraveling of the device. (refer FIG. 4). The lower portion of the strap containing the area of space before the beginning of the 67.5 deg angle cut would contain male VELCRO strips 4 of 3".times.1/2" each, stitched at both ends of the area as shown in FIG. 2. The area between the VELCRO strips would remain free of crowned pieces so that the strap can be overlapped without interference and secured with the VELCRO. (refer FIG. 4) The upper portion of the strap would contain the crown shaped pieces 5 installed by means of rivet like protrusions at the bottom of the crowns in exact rows with each piece being spaced 1/8" apart. The rows would be spaced 1/8" apart in order to insure that all pieces are spaced evenly both horizontally and vertically. An area of 3/4" 7 beginning at the right of end 3 would contain no pieces in order to be held by the applicator to secure the device. The crowned shaped pieces would be stamped to a finished diameter of 3/16" with sharp points protruding vertically at a 90 deg. angle to the strap. And would be of a one piece construction with a rivet like protrusion at the bottom of the piece which would be used to fasten the crown to the strap by means of stamping.