Animal deterrent device with insulated fasteners

Abstract

An animal deterrent device and methods for installing and producing an animal deterrent device for delivering an electric shock to an animal, pest, or bird to be deterred, having the typical components of a non-conductive base to which the electrically conductive elements are attached. The bottom layer unfolds outward to allow sewing of the conductive elements to the top layer of the elongated base, while preventing the stitching from penetrating the bottom layer of the elongated base. The bottom layer is then folded back into place after sewing is completed, thereby insulating any hole, fastener, or conductive element that pushed through the top layer of the elongated base from water or other material that may congregate at the bottom exterior, preventing unwanted arcing to the exterior surface below.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal deterrent device, comprising:
 an elongated base having a cross section including a top layer with a top surface and a bottom surface, and a bottom layer;   a first conductive element extending perpendicular to the cross section along the top surface of the top layer; and   a first fastener that couples the first conductive element to the top surface at a first connection point and extends from the first conductive element through the top layer to a second connection point on the bottom surface of the top layer;   wherein the bottom layer insulates the first fastener at the second connection point from an exterior.   
     
     
         2 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer is coupled to the top layer enclosing a gap. 
     
     
         3 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 2 , wherein the cross section of the elongated base has a slit that extends from an exterior to the gap. 
     
     
         4 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 3 , wherein the slit is positioned such that it creates a flap in the top layer or the bottom layer, wherein the flap covers at least a portion of the gap. 
     
     
         5 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 4 , wherein the flap is sufficiently flexible to allow it to be folded to obtain access to a bottom surface of the top layer from an exterior. 
     
     
         6 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second conductive element coupled to the top surface of the top layer and extending parallel to the first conductive element. 
     
     
         7 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 2 , wherein an adhesive is disposed on a portion of the first fastener that extends into the gap. 
     
     
         8 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive element is sewn to the elongated base. 
     
     
         9 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener extends from the first conductive element through the top layer and through the bottom layer. 
     
     
         10 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the cross section includes a center divider connecting the top layer and the bottom layer and is located substantially in a center of the elongated base and extending substantially perpendicular to the top layer. 
     
     
         11 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom layer is coupled to the top layer by the center divider. 
     
     
         12 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 5 , wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element are attachable respectively to the positive and negative terminals of a power source. 
     
     
         13 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the bottom layer increases proximate to the slit. 
     
     
         14 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor protruding down from the bottom surface of the top layer. 
     
     
         15 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the anchor proximate to its bottom is thicker than a portion of the anchor further from its bottom. 
     
     
         16 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 14 , wherein the anchor is an inverted T shape. 
     
     
         17 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 14 , wherein the anchor and the bottom layer are sealed with an adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 4 , further comprising an anchor protruding down from the bottom surface of the top layer;
 wherein the thickness of the gap tapers down proximate to the anchor.   
     
     
         19 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener extends through the bottom layer to a third connection point on the bottom surface of the bottom layer. 
     
     
         20 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive element further comprises a braided wire. 
     
     
         21 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 20 , wherein the braided wire comprises some strands of a conductive material and other strands of a non-conductive material. 
     
     
         22 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein a gap at an end of the elongated base is sealed off from an exterior. 
     
     
         23 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the top layer decreases proximate to the first fastener. 
     
     
         24 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the bottom surface of the bottom layer is increased over a substantial portion of the bottom surface of the bottom layer. 
     
     
         25 . An animal deterrent device, comprising:
 a first non-conductive piece having a top side and a bottom side;   a conductive element coupled to the first non-conductive piece with a first fastener that couples the first conductive element to the top surface at a first connection point and extends from the first conductive element through the top layer to a second connection point on the bottom surface of the top layer; and   a second non-conductive piece coupled to the first non-conductive piece wherein the second non-conductive piece covers the first fastener and insulates the first fastener at the second connection point from an exterior.   
     
     
         26 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 25 , wherein the first non conductive piece is coupled to the second non-conductive piece by an adhesive. 
     
     
         27 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 25 , wherein the second non-conductive piece is coupled to the first non-conductive piece by interlocking. 
     
     
         28 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 27 , wherein the first nonconductive piece and the second non conductive piece comprise an interlocking shape; and
 wherein the interlocking shape is selected from the group of a T-shape, a stemmed inverted V-shape, a stemmed inverted U-shape, a stemmed circular shape, and an arrowhead shape.   
     
     
         29 . An animal deterrent device, comprising:
 an elongated base having a hollow interior space forming a top inside surface and a bottom inside surface;   a first conductive element coupled to an outside of the elongated base by a first fastener that extends through to the top inside surface; and   a second conductive element coupled to an outside of the elongated base by a second fastener that extends through to the top inside surface.   
     
     
         30 . The animal deterrent device of  claim 29 , wherein the elongated base has a slit that extends from the outside of the elongated base to the hollow interior space.