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US 8,733,291 B2Granted
Wild bird catch and release device and method of catching and releasing wild birds
AssigneeWal-Mart Stores, Inc.
InventorAndrea Dunigan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and methods for catching, removing from within buildings, and releasing wild birds are provided. Sonic and/or dynamic characteristics of water are utilized as an attractant to lure birds towards a device for capturing birds. The attractant is located within a holding area of the device. The walls of the device are transparent and vented to allow the dynamic characteristics of the water to be seen from outside the device and to allow the sonic characteristics to be heard from outside the device. The device includes an opening that allows birds to enter the holding area of the device and that also prevents birds located within the holding area from exiting the device.
Claims26
A device for catching birds, comprising:
- an enclosed holding area, said holding area including generally transparent and/or vented walls and top;
- a base having a first plurality of walls configured to support the generally transparent and/or vented walls and top, and from which the walls are removable;
- a reservoir disposed in the base having a second plurality of walls separate from the first plurality of walls;
- a floor configured to be disposed between said enclosed holding area and said base, and securable to said enclosed holding area, said floor further configured to support a basin;
- an opening defined by a wall that enables a bird to enter into said holding area;
- a door covering said opening, said door, when configured in a capture position, both allows the bird to enter said holding area from the exterior and deters the bird from exiting said holding area;
- and
- a water fountain within said holding area, said water fountain including a pump for circulating water within said basin to create dynamic motion and sonic characteristics in the water.
5 more elements
A method for catching birds, comprising:
- placing a water source within an enclosed holding area, the holding area including an opening and a door covering the opening, the door allowing a bird to enter the holding area from the exterior and deterring the bird from exiting the holding area;
- activating a pump to circulate water within the water source by delivering water from the water source into a basin positioned at an elevation higher than the water source, the activated pump causing visible dynamic characteristics and audible sonic characteristics of the water in the basin;
- placing the enclosed holding area within a building structure in which the bird is located;
- and
- capturing the bird within the holding area without human intervention as the bird is attracted and enticed to enter the holding area by the dynamic characteristics and audible sonic characteristics of the water in the basin.
2 more elements
A method for configuring a bird capture device, said method comprising;
- providing a first portion of the bird capture device configured to provide a water reservoir for water to be stored;
- positioning a second portion of the bird capture device to be supported by the first portion;
- positioning a third portion of the bird capture device to be supported by the second portion, the third portion being generally transparent and including openings that allow for audible noises to exit therefrom and an opening with a door that, when configured in a capture position, allows a bird to enter but not exit the third portion, the third portion further including a basin and a component of a water fountain that circulates water from the water reservoir in the basin to create a sonic characteristic and enables birds that enter the third portion to drink the water, the third portion further including means for capturing a bird within said third portion to transport the captured bird when said third portion is separated from said first and second portions;
- separating the third portion from the second portion in response to a bird being captured within the third portion of the bird capture device to remove the bird;
- and
- displacing at least a portion of the means for capturing the bird to enable the bird to exit the third portion.
3 more elements
A bird capture device, comprising:
- first portion configured to provide a water reservoir for water to be stored;
- a second portion supported by the first portion;
- a third portion supported by the second portion, the third portion including walls that are generally transparent and include openings that allow for audible noises to exit therefrom and an opening with a door that, when configured in a capture position, allows a bird to enter but not exit the third portion, the third portion further including a basin and a component of a water fountain that circulates water from the water reservoir in the basin to create a sonic characteristic and enables birds that enter the third portion to drink the water, the device further including means for capturing a bird within said third portion to transport the captured bird when said third portion is separated from said first and second portions;
- and
- displacing at least a portion of the means for capturing the bird to enable the bird to exit the third portion of the bird capture device.
2 more elements
A method for catching birds, comprising:
- placing a water source within an enclosed holding area, the holding area including an opening and a door covering the opening, the door allowing a bird to enter the holding area from the exterior and deterring the bird from exiting the holding area;
- activating a pump to circulate water within the water source, the activated pump causing visible dynamic characteristics and audible sonic characteristics in the water;
- placing the enclosed holding area within a building structure in which the bird is located;
- inserting a slide member horizontally through the holding area to isolate the bird within a portion of the holding area;
- capturing the bird within the holding area as the bird is attracted and enticed to enter the holding area by the dynamic characteristics and audible sonic characteristics of the water;
- removing the holding area from a base at the bottom of said holding area;
- taking the holding area outside said building structure;
- removing the slide member to release the bird from the portion of the holding area;
- and
- allowing the bird to exit the holding area through the bottom of the holding area.
7 more elements
A method for catching birds, comprising:
- placing a water source within an enclosed holding area, the holding area including an opening and a door covering the opening, the door allowing a bird to enter the holding area from the exterior and deterring birds from exiting the holding area, the enclosed holding area further including a basin that is accessible to a bird within the enclosed holding area and a floor member disposed between the water source and the holding area;
- activating a pump to circulate water within the water source by pumping water into the basin, the activated pump causing visible dynamic characteristics and audible sonic characteristics in the water in the basin, the activation being performed when a bird is located within a building structure;
- deactivating the pump when no birds are located within the building structure;
- placing the enclosed holding area within the building structure in which a bird is located;
- capturing the bird within the holding area as the bird is attracted and enticed to enter the holding area by the dynamic characteristics and audible sonic characteristics of the water in the basin;
- removing the holding area from a base supporting the enclosed holding area, the holding area inclusive of the floor and basin;
- taking the holding area outside of a building structure;
- at least partially adjusting the floor member to release the bird from the portion of the enclosed holding area;
- and
- allowing the bird to exit the enclosed holding area through the bottom of the enclosed holding area from where at least a portion of the floor member had previously been positioned.
7 more elements
A device for catching birds, comprising:
- an enclosed holding area, said holding area including generally transparent and/or vented walls and top;
- a base configured to support the generally transparent and/or vented walls and top, and from which the walls are removable;
- an opening defined by a wall that enables a bird to enter into said holding area, wherein the walls include one or more horizontal slots defined by the walls, and wherein the device further includes a slide member generally sized to fit within the one or more slots and to extend generally across said holding area to enable a user (i) to capture a bird within said holding area and said slide member and (ii) to transport the captured bird when said enclosed holding area is separated from said base;
- a door covering said opening, said door, when configured in a capture position, both allows the bird to enter said holding area from the exterior and deters the bird from exiting said holding area;
- a water fountain within said holding area, said water fountain including a pump for circulating water within said fountain to create dynamic motion and sonic characteristics in the water;
- and
- a basin through which said water fountain operates to circulate the water to create the dynamic motion and sonic characteristics.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.