U.S. patent application number 10/791076 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for arm guard for preventing raptor nesting.
Invention is credited to Harvey, James A..
Application Number | 20050210769 10/791076 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34988071 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050210769 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harvey, James A. |
September 29, 2005 |
Arm guard for preventing raptor nesting
Abstract
A cross arm utility pole guarding device for preventing raptor
nesting is described. The device includes housing of
non-conductive, non-sticky, preferably clear material, having an
ultra violet protective layer with a sloped top to prevent debris
from accumulating at the top of the housing. The housing is
preferably connected by screwing the sides of the housing into and
parallel to the cross arms of the utility pole. The method of
preventing raptor nesting is by attaching the housing as stated
above, parallel to the cross arms of the utility pole.
Inventors: |
Harvey, James A.;
(Greensboro, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John C. Andrade
P.O. Box 598
Dover
DE
19903
US
|
Family ID: |
34988071 |
Appl. No.: |
10/791076 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/24 20130101;
A01M 29/32 20130101; H02G 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/101 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/72 |
Claims
1. A cross-armed utility pole guarding device for preventing raptor
nesting comprising: (a) A housing of non-conductive, non-sticky
material having a sloped top to prevent debris from accumulating at
the top of said housing; (b) Means for connecting said housing to
said utility pole parallel to said cross arms;
2. The cross arm utility pole guarding device of claim 1, wherein
said housing is a continuous smooth surface.
3. The cross arm utility pole guarding device of claim 1, wherein
more than 1 said housing is attached to said cross arms having a
space of no greater than 4 inches separating said housings.
4. The cross arm utility pole guarding device of claim 1, wherein
said housing is of a clear plastic having a UV protective
layer.
5. The cross arm utility pole guarding device of claim 1, wherein
said housing is rounded at said top of said housing.
6. The cross arm utility pole guarding device of claim 1 further
comprising a side of said housing extending down from the top of
said housing and further said sides having spaced holes suitable
for screwing said side of said housing into said cross arms of said
utility pole.
7. A method of preventing raptor nesting on a cross arm utility
pole comprising attaching a housing of non-conductive, non-sticky
material, having a sloped top preventing debris from accumulating
at the top of said housing.
8. The method of claim 7 where more than one said housing could be
attached wherein the space of said housings are less than 4
inches.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the housing is made of
clear-plastic having a UV protective layer.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein said housing further comprises
sides extending down from the top of said housing, having holes in
said sides suitable for screwing into said cross arms.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a device that prevents raptors
from nesting on cross-armed utility poles and the process for
preventing such raptor nesting.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Raptors cause several problems for the utility business.
Raptors, principally ospreys, have changed their nesting habits
from trees to the use of utility poles. This creates an enormous
burden for the utility business. The utilities must provide service
and at the same time must protect the raptors.
[0005] When the raptors nest on utility poles, the nests can cause
outages, system operation blinks, as well as pole fires that damage
utility equipment and burn the nests. The primary cause is the
debris in contact with high voltage conductors.
[0006] The problem with raptor nesting on utility poles is that the
raptors have touch contact with the utility lines, which in many
cases have been fatal to the raptor.
[0007] Prior devices that have been used to prevent raptor nesting
have generally suffered from too many weaknesses. Typically they
consist of many parts, which can be difficult to install, and at
the same time, tend to have different portions of the unit that the
raptors can find a place or starting point to build their nests.
For example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,023B1, there are
various points on the device where raptors can use a starting point
for their nests.
[0008] What is needed is a simple device that is easy to install,
is non-conductive, which would prevent the electrocution of the
raptor and at the same time would stop the raptor from forming a
nest on the structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is the object of the present invention to provide a
system that is, simple and easy to install, and is non-conductive
and at the same time effective in preventing raptors from nesting
on such structure. The system of the present invention is a
cross-armed utility pole guarding device for preventing raptor
nesting. It comprises a housing of non-conductive, non-sticky
material. The top of the housing is sloped at an angle to prevent
debris from accumulating at the top of the housing. A means for
connecting the housing to a utility pole parallel to the cross-arms
will preferably be drilling holes in the sides of the housing and
the guarding device can be screwed directly into the cross-arms at
the sides so that the top prevents the raptors from nesting on the
utility pole. Preferred embodiments of the invention are that the
housing material is clear, having an ultra violet protective layer
and having a continuous smooth surface. On some utility poles, the
pole will actually extend through the housing and in that situation
there would be two separate housing units with a gap of no more
than 4 inches, preferably no more than 3 inches.
[0010] The method of preventing raptor nesting on cross arm utility
poles is to attach the housing set out above on top of and parallel
to said utility poles. This method of preventing raptor nesting has
proven to be effective in the installations conducted to date.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention
installed on a cross-armed utility end pole.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention,
installed on a cross armed utility pole having a pole jutting up
between the middle of the housing.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an end view of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an end view of a rounded embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention
installed on a cross-armed utility end pole. The housing 20 is made
of non-conductive, non-sticky material and has a sloped top to
prevent debris from accumulating at the top of the housing. On the
end pole shown, the housing completely covers the top 22 of the
utility pole 10. The housing 20 is one continuous smooth surface.
The housing 20 is attached parallel to the cross arms 12 which are
attached by supporting struts 16 to the utility pole 10. The
utility pole shown is an electrical utility pole and the bells 14
and the electrical wire 18 are shown attached to the cross arm.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention
installed on a cross arm utility pole and has a pole jutting up
between the middle of the housing. This is by far the more common
utility pole and since the top 22 of the utility pole 10 juts up
above the cross arms 12 and has wire 18a running through the top
22, the housings cannot be continuous throughout. Therefore, there
are two separate housing units 20a and 20b shown. The housing unit
20a is on the street side of the utility pole 10 and the housing
20b is on the curb side of the utility pole 10. The spacing 30
between housing units 20A and 20b should be no more than 4 inches,
otherwise there will be sufficient space for the raptors to start a
nest in the space, preferably it would be less than 3 inches. As
shown, the side 24 of the housing is screwed into the cross arm
with the screws 26 as shown. Most cross arm utility poles have two
cross arms and the sides of the housing are screwed directly into
the cross arms. There are three cross arms shown in FIG. 2
necessitating the addition of a piece of wood 27, screwed into the
crossarms to screw the side 24 into with the screws 26.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view of the housing of the present
invention only and shows the holes 28 in the side 24 of the housing
unit 20 for attachment to the cross arm of a utility pole.
[0019] FIGS. 4 and 5 are end views of two embodiments of the
present invention. In FIG. 4 the angle 32 of the top of the housing
20 should be sufficiently small as to prevent debris from
accumulating at the top of the housing. An angle of 90 degrees is
shown in FIG. 4 and anything less than that should be sufficient to
prevent debris from accumulating at the top of said housing.
Increasing the angle above 90 degrees, would reach a point where
debris could accumulate at the top of said housing and the raptors
would be able to build a nest at the top of the housing. FIG. 5
shows a rounded top 20c of the housing. While the top is rounded,
the slope should still be sufficient so that debris cannot
accumulate at the top of the housing.
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