Bird deterrent apparatus

Abstract

A bird deterrent apparatus for preventing birds from landing near a location to be protected, such as, but not limited to, a boat. The bird deterrent apparatus is easy to install and remove, and does not interfere with the normal use of the location. The bird deterrent apparatus comprises a line retractor, a retractable barrier line, and associated hardware and barrier line guides to secure the line retractor and the barrier line to structural elements in proximity to the location to be protected from perching birds and their associated debris.

1 . A bird deterrent apparatus comprising:  
       a barrier line for preventing birds from landing near a location to be protected from said birds;  
       a line retractor having a line spool for storing and delivering said barrier line and a spring for tensioning and retracting said barrier line, said spring operatively connected to said line spool; and  
       a rail clamp attached to said line retractor for mounting and demounting said line retractor on a structural element.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier line retainer attached to one end of the barrier line for attaching said barrier line to a terminating location.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an upper barrier line guide assembly for retaining and guiding said barrier line while said barrier line is in use.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a lower barrier line guide assembly for retaining and guiding said barrier line while said barrier line is in use.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a brake connected to said line retractor for ensuring that said barrier line is not suddenly retracted with unnecessary force.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said line retractor is rectangular.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said line retractor is cylindrical.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said barrier line is a monofilament.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said barrier line is wire.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said barrier line is made from gel spun polyethylene fibers.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said barrier line is made from nylon.  
     
     
         12 . An upper barrier line guide assembly for retaining and guiding a barrier line, wherein said barrier line is used for preventing birds from landing near a location to be protected from said birds, the upper barrier line guide assembly comprising: an upper barrier line guide having a partially open eyelet for retention and guidance of said barrier line; and  
       a clamp connected to said upper barrier line guide for attaching said upper barrier line guide to a structural element.  
     
     
         13 . A lower barrier line guide assembly for retaining and guiding a barrier line, wherein said barrier line is used for preventing birds from landing near a location to be protected from said birds, the lower barrier line guide assembly comprising: a clamp; and  
       a hole in said clamp for retention and guidance of said barrier line.  
     
     
         14 . A method for repelling birds from a marine vessel while the marine vessel is not in use, comprising:  
       attaching a line retractor to a first structural element of said marine vessel;  
       extending a length of barrier line contained within said line retractor over an area of the marine vessel to be protected from said birds; and  
       attaching a terminating end of said barrier line to a second structural element of said marine vessel.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , the method further comprising attaching an upper barrier line guide assembly having a clamp and an eyelet to a structural element of said marine vessel and placing said barrier line within the eyelet of said upper barrier line guide assembly.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , the method further comprising attaching a lower barrier line guide assembly having a clamp and a hole to a structural element of said marine vessel and placing said barrier line within the hole of said lower barrier line guide assembly.