Squirrel house

[0001] This invention relates generally to a squirrel house. In particular to a device that can be used for shelter from predators, from cold weather and for providing a den for a breeding pair of squirrels to build a nest for raising a family of young squirrels.

[0002] Squirrels, such as gray squirrels, have in the past been dependent on natural tree cavities or leaf nests in trees for sites for nesting as well as winter dens providing shelter. Inasmuch as natural forest areas with mature trees including such shelter have been greatly reduced, there is a need for a substitute artificial squirrel house for use as a den. The desired configuration of an artificial squirrel house should provide a light weight den for a breeding pair of squirrels, such as gray squirrels, and raising a family of young squirrels. Also the nest needs protection from predators along with an alternative exit. In particular such protection should provide ease of exit. The need to provide protection from predators is directed to red foxes, weasels, martins, minks, eagles and raptors. Nestling and young squirrels should also be protected from raccoons, opossums, cats and rat snakes.

[0003] A search of the prior art has failed to provide a showing of squirrel house devices. Birdhouses are generally available however they do not provide the desired configuration of a den for a breeding pair of such as gray squirrels nor do they address the need for dual access/egress to provide for ease of exit.

[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a squirrel house for providing a den for a breeding pair of squirrels to build a nest for raising a family of young squirrels having dual access/egress to provide for ease of exit.

[0005] The present invention is directed to an apparatus for addressing the need for an artificial squirrel house for shelter from predators, from cold weather and for providing a den for a breeding pair of squirrels to build a nest for raising a family of young squirrels.

[0006] The present invention disclosed herein is designed for ready use by a variety of squirrels species so that it may serve as a squirrel house in which such squirrels may build a nest. The squirrel house of the present invention may selectively be adapted by various kinds of squirrels, as they may change the size of the access holes by which squirrels may enter or exit the house. Such species could include red squirrels, gray squirrels, flying squirrels, and fox squirrels. Placement of such an artificial squirrel house in the form of a box, preferably should be attached to a tree and be placed at least 10 feet above the ground and be facing away from the prevailing winds. A living tree is preferred over dead trees to avoid the risk of having the tree blown down as is especially common with dead trees.

[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the squirrel house incorporates a thin-walled structure. The elements of structure of the squirrel house include a roof, four side walls with one of these walls having an access opening and another side wall including an attachment bracket. The house also includes a floor having a bottom access opening, said floor extending horizontally between said front wall and back wall arranged in orthogonal relationship thereto. Other structural members include a pair of matching side walls each having a a tapered top edge, and a shed roof extending at a slight incline from the back wall to and over the side access wall being supported along the tapered top edges of the side walls.

[0008] Additional elements of the squirrel house may include a laterally extending space for ventilation between the bottom of the shed roof and the top of the front wall; a reinforcing cleat with mounting fasteners extending across the attachment extension member in a horizontal plane and a L bracket providing bottom support attached to the bottom of the floor arranged perpendicular thereto. In particular and of critical importance, the “L” bracket may comprise a metallic angle support member of malleable construction with variable positioning to associate closely with selected curved tree trunk employed for bottom support.

[0009] The invention also includes a method of constructing a squirrel house comprising stapling freshly epoxy coated edges of wall members to a floor and roof member, to allow for a very strong squirrel house construction with low overall weight. This method comprises stapling the sides of the front wall to a floor, the rear wall to the floor, the sides of a matching pair of side walls extending vertically there between, and the sides of the roof.

[0010] As is shown in an alternate embodiment of the roof showing use of spikes as a predator guard for prevention of roosting by predators. The spikes located on the lateral surface of the roof comprise numerous prongs consisting of sharp points at one end and heads at the opposite end and are intended for preventing a predator/raptor from alighting and perching thereon. The prongs are arranged to project from the roof such that when a raptor does alight and perch thereon, said prongs render the perching to be so uncomfortable as to a) incur prompt departure and b) render subsequent return attempt most unlikely.

[0011] A squirrel house wherein a baffle is provided inside and adjacent the bottom access hole to prevent easy access by a foreign animal and to prevent baby squirrels from falling out of the house.

[0012] Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a squirrel house with dual, spaced apart access openings.

[0013] Another object is to provide a squirrel house with baffle members in association with at least one access opening to prevent easy access by a foreign animal and to prevent baby squirrels from falling out of the house.

[0014] It is another object is to provide in a squirrel house with a wall having an adjustable access opening.

[0015] It is another object is to provide a metallic angular support member with variable positioning capability to associate closely with a selected curved tree trunk to be employed for bottom support.

[0016] It is another object is to provide a squirrel house of sturdy, thin-wall construction for secure support of a family of squirrels.

[0017] The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in connection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized that those persons skilled in the art may make various changes, modifications, improvements and additions on the illustrated embodiments all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0031] Referring now to the FIGS. 1–10, there is shown the preferred embodiment of a squirrel house 10 in accordance with the present invention. In particular, referring now to the FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a squirrel house 10 having structural members of thin-wall construction constructed of materials made to withstand outdoor inclement weather, including a front wall 12, having an access opening 14, a back wall 16, and a attachment extension member 20. An additional structural member comprises a floor 22 of thin-wall construction having a bottom access opening 24 that defines the bottom of the said squirrel house 10. Said floor 22 extends horizontally between said front wall 12 and back wall 16 arranged in orthogonal relationship thereto. The floor is configured to support a nest, not shown, to accommodate a family of squirrels and the bottom access opening 24 in floor 22 allows for drainage of rain water to keep the nest dry.

[0032] Additional structural members include a pair of matching side wall members 26 and 28, also of thin-wall construction, extending vertically there-between each having a tapered top edge. As is shown in FIG. 4, shed roof 32 is shown with a slight incline for drainage purposes. More particularly, said shed roof 32 is shown with a low front end and a high back end extending at a slight incline from the back wall 16 to and over the front wall 12, being supported along the tapered top edges of the side walls 26 & 28.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 there is shown a laterally extending space for permitting ventilation between the bottom of the shed roof 32 and the top of the front wall 12.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is also shown a reinforcing cleat 38 with a series of openings 40 associated with mounting fasteners 42, extending across the attachment extension member 20 in a horizontal plane. Said cleat provides for top mounting of squirrel house 10 on a tree trunk 44 is shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9,

[0035] As is shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9, “L” shaped bracket 46, that is directed to providing bottom support of squirrel house 10, is shown attached to the bottom of the floor 22, is arranged perpendicular thereto. “L” shaped bracket 46 comprises a metallic right angle support member for squirrel house 10 and is of malleable construction with variable positioning to associate closely with a selected curved tree trunk 44. The “L” shaped bracket 46 not only supports the weight of the house but supports a family of gray squirrels as well.

[0036] There is shown in FIG. 10 an exploded perspective view of squirrel house 10 shown in FIG. 1, showing use of adhesive 48 in combination with staples 50 wherein said staples are employed as a means of holding structural members together in place while the adhesive is drying and/or curing. Said structural members include front wall 12, back wall 16, floor 22 and shed roof 32, that comprise panels of light-weight wood comprising ¼″ exterior plywood to provide a lightweight construction.

[0037] As is shown in FIG. 7, bottom access opening 24 in the floor 22 of squirrel house 10 allows for bottom access for a squirrel to squirrel house 10 as well as permitting drainage of rain water. Also as is shown in FIG. 7 a critical feature of squirrel house 10 is shown in that said squirrel house 10 comprises a first and second access opening for squirrels, i.e. access opening 14 on front wall 12, and bottom access opening 24 in floor 22. This feature permits a squirrel to escape from said house via the second hole if a foreign animal attempts to enter said first hole. Furthermore, bottom access opening 24 also allows a squirrel to enter directly into squirrel house 10 from an adjacent tree trunk 44, as is shown in FIG. 8, from below. Also access hole 14 defines an opening for admitting squirrels from the shed roof 32 shown in FIG. 7. From this it can be seen that said first or second openings may also offer exit at such time as the other access is blocked by a predator.

[0038] Also, as is shown in FIG. 8, “L” bracket 46 comprises a metallic angular support member of malleable construction with variable positioning to associate closely with selected curved tree trunk 44 employed for bottom support of house 10. The squirrel house 10 wherein “L” bracket 46 supports the weight of the house 10 as well as a family of gray squirrels.

[0039] The invention also includes the method of constructing a squirrel house 10 comprising the steps of stapling sides of a front wall 12 to a floor 22, the back wall 16 to the floor 22; the sides of a pair of matching side walls 26 & 28 vertically there between, and the sides of a shed roof 32 to freshly epoxy coated edges 30 to provide for a very strong squirrel house 10 construction with low overall weight.

[0040] As is shown in FIG. 11 an alternate embodiment of the shed roof 32 shows use of a predator guard 54 for prevention of roosting by predators/raptors. The predator guard 54 is located on the lateral surface of the shed roof 32 and consist of numerous prongs 56 consisting of sharp points 58 at one end and head at the opposite end. Said prongs 56 and are intended for preventing a predator/raptor from alighting and perching thereon. The prongs 56 are arranged to project from the shed roof 32 such that when a raptor, not shown, does alight and perch thereon, said prongs 56 render the perching to be so uncomfortable as to a) incur prompt departure and b) render subsequent return attempt most unlikely.

[0041] As is shown in FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of squirrel house 10 includes a baffle 60 positioned inside and adjacent bottom access hole 24 to prevent easy entrance access by a foreign animal, as well as to prevent baby squirrels from falling out of said house 10. Said baffle 60 comprises two partition walls joined in orthogonal relation and arranged in perpendicular relationship to floor 22. Said partition walls are constructed of light-weight wood comprising ¼″ exterior plywood, fastened to floor 22 by use of adhesive 48 and staples 50 as a means of fastening structural members together while the adhesive is drying and/or curing.

[0042] A third alternate embodiment of squirrel house shown in FIG. 1 is of similar finished design and can be made out of plastics such as molded plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl polymer, polystyrene polyurethane, copolymers, etc. Plastic has the advantage of being free from rust, corrosion, watertight and provides for ease of fabrication. Use of plastics provides several options as to alternative assembly techniques. The practice may be supplied as attachable components or as a finished design. Preferably the squirrel house may be injection molded into one part or several parts and may be sealed together either by adhesive means, heat sealed, ultrasonic, or mechanically attached. The house may be formed in a unitary unit which is foldably snapped together to form a squirrel house. Alternatively the house may be stamped like a box with walls made from panels wherein the panels are folded together to create a box like shape and then are sealed together, preferably employing polypropylene plastic. Sealing together of the assembly is accomplished by the following steps; attaching the walls, roof and floor together to form a house with an entrance/exit hole in one wall and an entrance/exit hole in the floor, and when installed on a support such as a tree, employing a bottom support bracket.