Bird deterrent device

Abstract

A device for deterring birds from alighting onto an object, the device having a mounting adapted to be fixed to an object upon which birds may alight, a hub rotatably associated with the mounting, and at least one arm adapted to extend radially from said hub. The at least one arms each include an associated vane moveable between a storage position parallel to the associated arm and a working position moveable between angles generally perpendicular to the associated arm, certain of the vanes being wind driven in the working position to rotate the arms about the mount to deter birds from alighting upon an object. The device may also be folded such that the at least one arms are brought into a position adjacent to each other, the vanes thereof being moveable to the storage position when the device is folded to avoid damage thereto.

1 . A device for deterring birds from alighting onto an object, said device comprising: 
 a mounting device adapted to be fixed to an object on which birds may alight;    a hub rotatably associated with said mounting device;    a first arm adapted to extend radially from said hub to a first arm distal end;    a first arm vane assembly associated with said first arm distal end, said first arm vane assembly having a first arm vane adapted to move between a storage position substantially parallel to said first arm and a working position generally perpendicular to said first arm;    wherein said first arm and said hub may rotate about said mounting device.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first arm vane assembly further comprises a first spring associated with said first arm vane.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said first spring may be compressed to permit said first arm vane to move from said working position to said storage position.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said first arm vane further comprises a first post extending from said first arm, said first vane rotatably engaged with said first post.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said first spring is mounted upon said first post.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said first vane further comprises a first vane first locking tab adapted to prevent said first vane from rotating from said working position to a position beyond said storage position.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said first vane further comprises a first vane second locking tab, said first vane second locking tab and said first vane first locking tab adapted to secure said first vane in said storage position by partially surrounding said first arm when said vane is in said storage position.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said first spring may be compressed to move said vane from said working position to said storage position by passing said first vane second locking tab over said first arm.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first arm vane is substantially above said first arm when said first arm vane is in said storage position.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first arm vane further comprises a bottom surface, said bottom surface adapted to rest on said first arm when said first arm vane is in said storage position.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said first arm vane bottom surface is substantially adjacent to said first arm when said first arm vane is in said working position.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first arm vane may rotate relative to said first arm when in said working position.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said first arm vane further comprises a first arm vane first blocking member associated with a first side of said first arm vane, said first arm vane first blocking member adapted to limit rotation of said first arm vane when in said working position.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said first arm vane further comprises a first arm vane second blocking member associated with a second side of said first arm vane, said first arm vane first blocking member and said first arm vane second blocking member limiting the rotation of said first arm vane between the angles of approximately 45 degrees and 135 degrees relative to said first arm.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said first arm vane further comprises a first arm vane second blocking member associated with a second side of said first arm vane.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second arm, said second arm adapted to extend radially from said hub to a second arm distal end; and,    a second arm vane assembly associated with said second arm distal end, said second arm vane assembly having a second arm vane adapted to move between a second arm vane storage position substantially parallel to said second arm and a second arm vane working position generally perpendicular to said second arm;    wherein said first arm, said second arm, and said hub may rotate about said mounting device.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said first arm and said second arm are adapted to have a first arm position wherein said first arm and said second arm are displaced from each other by approximately 180 degrees along a plane formed through each arm.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said first arm and said second arm are adapted to move from said first arm position to a second arm position, wherein said first arm and said second arm are substantially adjacent to each other.  
     
     
         19 . A bird deterrent device comprising: 
 a mounting device having an upright support, said mounting device adapted to associate with a fixed object such that said upright support is substantially vertical;    a hub, said hub comprising a lower section and an upper section, said lower section having a recess sized and configured to accept said upright support such that said hub may rotate about a longitudinal axis of said upright support, said upper section having a top surface with a barrier wall extending therefrom;    a first arm engaged with a first side of said barrier wall, said first arm extending from said hub in a first direction to a first arm distal end, said first arm distal end having a first arm vane assembly comprising a first arm post extending from said first arm, a first arm vane rotatably mounted to said first arm post, and a first arm spring mounted on said first arm post adjacent said first arm vane, said first arm vane having a first arm vane lower surface, said first arm spring adapted to compress to permit said first arm vane to rotate such that said lower surface thereof may rest upon an upper surface of said first arm or extend to place said first arm vane lower surface below the upper surface of said first arm;    a second arm engaged with a second side of said barrier wall and extending from said hub in a second direction to a second arm distal end, said second arm distal end having a second arm vane assembly comprising a second arm post extending from said second arm, a second arm vane rotatably mounted to said second arm post, and a second arm spring mounted on said second arm post adjacent said second arm vane, said second arm vane having a second arm vane lower surface, said second arm spring adapted to compress to permit said second arm vane to rotate such that said lower surface thereof may rest upon an upper surface of said second arm or extend to place said second arm vane lower surface below the upper surface of said second arm.    
     
     
         20 . The bird deterrent device of  claim 19 , wherein said bird deterrent device has a storage position wherein said first arm spring and said second arm spring are compressed such that said first arm vane lower surface rests upon the upper surface of said first arm and said second arm vane lower surface rests upon the upper surface of said second arm.  
     
     
         21 . The bird deterrent device of  claim 19 , wherein said bird deterrent device has a working position wherein said first arm spring and said second arm spring are extended such that said first arm vane lower surface is below the upper surface of said first arm and said second arm vane lower surface is below the upper surface of said second arm.  
     
     
         22 . The bird deterrent device of  claim 20 , where said first arm is engaged with said barrier wall at a first engagement point and said second arm is engaged with said barrier wall at a second engagement point, said arms being rotatable about said engagement points such that said arms may rotate from a position substantially parallel to said top surface of said hub to a position substantially perpendicular thereto.  
     
     
         23 . A wind operated bird deterrent device comprising 
 a hub;    a mounting member upon which said hub may be rotatably assembled;    a plurality of elongate arms radially disposed from said hub; and,    a plurality of vanes, each one of said plurality of vanes associated with one of said plurality of arms, said vanes having a first position in which said vanes are adapted to be positioned parallel to said associated arm and a second position in which said vanes are adapted to move between angles approximately perpendicular to said associated arms, wherein certain of said vanes of said bird deterrent device may be wind driven in said second position.