Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21~3219
This invention relates to the i~ield of gardening and the like and more specifically, to an
apparatus adapted to dissuade aninnals from entering and disrupting flowerbeds and the like.
It is not unusual for homeo~ners to expend many hours and a Cu~id~,l dblc amount of
labour in the cultivation and raising of flowers in an effort to add beauty to their gardens.
05 Such flowers and other plants are, more of en than not, grouped into flowerbeds for
I . . A A; 111; ~ A I ;~ I' ' of visual appeal and ease of Ul~fu~ , these flowerbeds seem
to represent an attraction for the ullwanted and unwelcome attention of j-r ~ ,od pets -
most notably cats, which appear to view the beds as nothing more than eA~tended litter boxes
and, in the process of"covering their tracks" cause ~,o.~ disruption to the layout of
o the bed and the flowers therein.
Rcr- ~ni7in~ this problem and attempting to devise means to keep cats and other ani-
mals out of their flowerbeds has llead I~UIIICO~ and others to employ a great deal of
inventive ingenuity over the years. Solutions range from simple fences to electrified ground
panels, while more extreme methods encompass everything from the use of BB guns to
laying out of poisoned bait.
While it is appreciated that sllch animal activity is a continuing source of both frustra-
tion and annoyance, many would argue for a means of alleviating the problem that, in its
activation, causes no harm to the animal.
The invention disclosed hereinafter presents such a device. The device utili~es the
simple expedient of spaying the offending animal with water prior to the animal's entrance
into the flowerbed, thus J;~,uu- ~ lg further attempts at entry. The device is comprised of a
motion detector having a sensitivi~y adjustment cofflrol for setting the range within which
detection takes place. The motion detector controls the operation of a water flow control
valve which is normally biased clos.ed pending receipt of an electrical signal from the detec-
2s tor, which signal is generated by the detector in response to movement within the detector's
operating range. Upon receipt of the detector signal a solenoid on the water flow control
valve activates, biasing the valve oF~en and permitting water flow from a ~.UII~ ~,llLio,l_l garden
hose supply, through the valve to a perforated spray head. The spray head may be arranged
around the perimeter of a flowerbe~ to create a "wall" of water, or may be nothing more than
a simple oscillating or rotary sprinkler. The duration of the water spray may be set utiLing a
timer function of the motion detector, which timer limits the duration of the detector's elec-
0 21~i3Z~ ~
trical output signal and hence the ~vater spray.
While the water spray is sufficient, in and of itself, to deter most cats firom further
activity, the sudden ~ of the spray also startles most other animals into retreat.
According to one aspect, t~len, the present invention is a device for d ~-
05 animals from disrupting flowerbeds and the like ~
electronic motion detection means for generating an electrical output signal in response tothe approach of an animal to the p,erimeter of a flowerbed and the like;
electrically activated solenoid water valve means having a water inlet port means and a water
outlet port means, the valve normcllly blocking water flow firom the inlet port means to the
o outlet port means and activated to permit water flow from the inlet port means to the outlet
port means in response to the elecl rical output signal from the motion detector;
water delivery means for directing the flow of water firom the water valve means outlet port
means in a ~ de~el IIUIIed spray pattern;
timing control means for adjusting the water valve means activation time so as to automati-
s cally shut off the flow of water fiom the water valve means output port means within a
1~lrl1: Irl ll ~d elapsed time; and
sensitivity control means for adjusting the range within which moving objects are first regis-
tered by the electronic motion detection means.
According to another aspect, the present invention is a timed, garden sprinkler system
20 triggered by the approach of animals and the like and comprised of:
electrical and electronic circuitry illLe., ' so as to produce an electrical output signal
in response to motion;
electrical and electronic circuitry ;ll~tl ~u~le~ d SO as to provide an adjustable, timed digital
pulse count, which timed pulse count electrically controls the duration ofthe electrical out-
2s put sign~l from the motion responsive circuitry; -2-
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electrical and electronic circuitry ;~ u~ul~,L~d so as to provide adjustable sensitivity con-
trol over the motion responsive circuitry whereby the range at which the motion responsive
circuitr,v triggers the generation of the electrical output signal in response to movement can
be varied;
05 normally closed, solenoid activated., water flow control valve, which valve is engagable to its
open position in response to the al~plication of the electrical output signal from the motion
responsive circuitry and is maintail1ed in the open position for the duration of the electrical
output signal; and
means for directing a flow of watl~r from the opened water flow control valve to multiple
lo target locations.
The invention, as exemplifie;i by a presently preferred ~ o.l; ~ ~ is described more
fully hereinafter having reference tl~ the ~ ,ul~pr~ g drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of the preferred ~l.,I,uJ;.ll~ of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a pictorial view of the clllbod;lll~ showing the relative positioning of the vari-
ous i~
Figure 3 is a somewhat schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical /UlllI~ iUII of
the power source with the motion detector amd the solenoid activated water flow control
valve;
Figure 4 is a cut-a-way view of thl~ water flow control valve; and
20 Figure5isabottomplanviewoftllemotiondetectorillustratingthei..~,ul~old~iulloftiming
and sensitivity control adjustment l~oints.
Referring now to figures 1 to 5 it may be seen that the presently preferred ~ b~ "
of the instant invention is comprised of a motion detector 10 illl,OI~ol ~ both sensitivity
12 and timing 14 control elements. It will be understood that the motion detector 10 is of
2s conventional design and well kno~vn to those skilled in the art, and is of the type which
comprises a m-lltif~r~tP~ lens assembly 16 wherein each facet of the lens 16 behaves as an
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~153219
individual heat detecting zone. Electrical and electronic circuitry i..L~;..,~in~ J with thelens assembly 16 detects a change in the heat level of each lens 16 zone, interprets this heat
level change as movement, designated in figure 1 as input signal 18, and produces an electri-
cal output signal 20 in response.
05 The range within which movement (signal 18) will be detected by the detector 10 may
be adjusted by means of the sensitivity control element 12 while the duration of the output
signal 20 is governed by the operation of the timing control element 14.
The motion detector 10 elec~rical output signal 20 is directed to the input terminals 22
of a solenoid activated water flow control valve 24, which valve 24 is of a type well known
0 to those skilled in the art and is comprised of a solenoid plunger 26, spring loaded 28 to close
off a pilot hole 30 in a flexible diaphragm 32 and wherein water from a normal household
water supply 42, connected to a l~alve 24 inlet port 34 enters a cavity 36 above the dia-
phragm 32 via a bleed hole 38. The total force of the water above the diaphragrn 32 exceeds
the force of the water below the diaphragm 32 and the diaphragm 32 is thus maintained in a
normally closed position. Application of the electrical output signal 20 to the valve 24 input
terminals 22 energizes the valve 24 solenoid, raises the plunger 26 against the action of the
spring 28 and thus uncovers the pilot hole 30 in the diaphragm 32. This action lowers the
water pressure above the diaphragm 32, unseats the diaphragm 32 and perrnits the flow of
water from the valve 24 inlet port .34 through the valve 24 to a valve 24 outlet port 40.
Water 44 flows out of the valve 24 to an elongate perforated spray head 46, which
spray head 46 is preferably constlructed of pliable material capable of hand moulding to
follow the contours of the perime~er of subject flowerbeds and the like which the user is
desirous of guarding. In the alternative the output water flow 44 may be directed to a con-
ventional oscillating or rotary sprinkler (not shown), if such is deemed to be sufficient by the
2s user to dissuade animals from entering the subject flowerbed and the like.
Referring specifically to figure 3 it will be seen that the electrical connection between
the motion detector 10, the solenoid activated water flow control valve 24 and the house-
hold electrical supply line of 110 ~olts is comprised of joining the household "hot" power
line 48 to the motion detector 10 "hot" power line 48'. The household "neutral" power line
50 runs ~ub~L~ lly unbroken to one terminal 22 of the solenoid activated water valve 24
and is joined at a convenient and electrically safe point along is length by the motion detector
10 "neutral" power line ~0'. The output line 52 of the motion detector 10, i.e., the line
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~, 21332~9
carrying electrical output signal 20, is terminated in a connection to the other terminal 22 of
the solenoid activated water valve :~4. It is to be noted that all electrical, - are to be
made in a manner, and utilizing su,~h l,UII.~ ;OII~Ll coMecting devices as is approved under
prevailing Electrical Codes. The filse breaker assembly (not shown) protecting the house-
os hold supply is preferably of the "g]^ound fault ;ll~ll U~J~iUII'` type.
The water valve 24, its asso~,iated water 42 and 44, and electrical ~ 50 and
52 are housed in a receptacle 54 of ~,Ol~v~ ;ullal design constructed firom non-conducting
material such as plastic. Although not specifically illustrated in the ~ y;ll~ drawing
figures it is preferable to incorporâte one or more drainage holes in the body of the recepta-
o cle 54 to prevent a build up of water within the confines of the receptacle 54 in the event of
water leâkage from the water valve 24 and/or its associated water lines 42 and 44. The
motion detector 10 is mounted to l,he exterior of the receptâcle 54 by any ,UII. .,.I~;<Jllal and
upli~l~means,sothatthelensl60fthedetectorlOfacesawayfromthesurfaceofthe
receptacle 54.
In use, 110 volt household electrical power is provided to the motion detector 10 The
range of the motion detector 10 is adjusted via the sensitivity control element 12 to establish
a distance within which moving objects will be recognized as such by the detector 10. The
duration of the detector 10 output signal 20 and thus the duration of the water spray avail-
able at the spray head 46, is set via the timing control element 14. Household water is
supplied to the solenoid activated ~ater valve 24 via valve 24 inlet port 34 and is coMected
to valve 24 inlet port 34 by conventional garden hose coupling means. The spray head 46 is
positioned on the perimeter of a flowerbed or the like and coMected to the valve 24 outlet
port 40 by conventional garden hose coupling means. Any movement within the predeter-
mined range of the motion detectl~r 10, triggers the output signal 20 of the detector 10,
2s which signal 20, in turn, activates the water flow control valve 24 delivering a flow of water
to the spray head 46 for a ~, ~A~ d timed duration.
It is clear from the foregoing description that the ~l.L~ ofthe present invention
thus provides an effective and relatively harmless means of dissuading animal incursion, and
subsequent disruption, of flowerb~ds and the like without the need for constant gardener
vigilance.
Although the above description contains many ~ . these should not be con-
strued as limiting the scope of the present invention but rather as simply an illustration of a
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1 2~3219
presently preferred n~ .. cf the invention. It is apparent that the ,,..I~o~ 1 de-
scribed herein admits of several variations without, in amy manner, detracting from the spirit
of the invention. For example, while the preferred ~ ' utilizes a motion detector
which operates by detecting chang,es in relative heat and illLel~JI eLillg such changes as move-
05 ment, detectors based on different ,~perating principles, such as ultrasonics, and having simi-
lar pt;lIùllllallC,C ~ r' ;~ 5~ would serve equally as effectively. Likewise, while the pre-
ferred n~ o- l ~ utilizes a solem)id activated water valve of the type described herein, the
reader will be aware that several differing types of water valves are readily available which
serve :>ub lallLi~ the same functic,n and are thus suitable for use in an alternate ~...l .o l; , .1
o of the present invention. It should ~lso be readily discernible that the method of housing and
mounting the various co,l~,u"~ of the present invention may be varied uu..~ J~;~ly in
accordance with ~ g an~/or industrial design ~; L~ e~ ,lb. Thus the scope ofthe
present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legr11 equivalents
rather than by the description herein provided.
