Birdhouse and related systems and methods

Abstract

A birdhouse includes a body having an interior; and a cooling system for controlling the temperature inside the interior of the body. The cooling system may be passive or active. A passive system is a system that does not require any energy input to control the temperature in the interior of the body. An active system is a system that does require energy input to control the temperature in the interior of the body.

Description

[0001] BIRDHOUSE AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0003] [1] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 553,190 filed 14 February 2024 and titled “Birdhouse and Related Systems and Methods”. This application also incorporates by this reference the entirety of this U.S. Provisional Patent Application.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] [2] A common problem for nesting birds is temperature control in the nest where the eggs are laid and cared for, and the baby chicks hatch and develop. For non-cavity nesting birds, controlling the temperature isn’t as big a problem because many of their nests are not enclosed. If the temperature gets cool, then the lining of the nest and the heat from an adult’s body keeps the eggs and baby chicks warm. If the temperature gets warm, any breeze will help cool the eggs and baby chicks. For cavity nesting birds who need the nest to be enclosed for protection against predators, the enclosure mitigates the beneficial effects of a breeze. Thus, overheating in enclosed nests can be a problem.

[0006] [3] Therefore, there is a need for a birdhouse that provides protection for cavity nesting birds while they raise their clutch, and can cool the nest when it gets warm.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] [4] In one aspect of the invention, a birdhouse includes: a body having an interior; and a cooling system for controlling the temperature inside the interior of the body. The cooling system may be passive or active. A passive system is a system that does not require any energy input to control the temperature in the interior of the body. An active system is a system that does require energy input to control the temperature in the interior of the body.

[0009] [5] The cooling system controls the temperature of the interior of the birdhouse by preventing heat from warming the interior of the birdhouse, and / or removing heat from the interior of the birdhouse. When the cooling system is passive, such as a vent located near the top of the birdhouse’s body and another located near the bottom of the birdhouse’s body, and / or a reflective film and / or coating on the outside of the body that reflects most if not all of the sun’s radiation, the system can keep the temperature inside the birdhouse at or near the temperature of the ambient environment outside of the birdhouse. The vent effectively does this by removing heat generated by the chicks and parents when such heat is not welcomed inside the birdhouse. And the reflective film and / or coating does this by preventing the sun’s radiation from warming the body of the birdhouse, and thus blocks heat from reaching the interior of the birdhouse. When the cooling system is active, such as a fan or a thermoelectric module (Peltier module), the system can keep the temperature inside the birdhouse much lower than the temperature of the ambient environment outside of the birdhouse. It does this by effectively removing unwelcomed heat from both the chicks and parents, as well as from the ambient environment outside.

[0010] [6] In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for cooling a birdhouse includes controlling the temperature inside an interior of a body of the birdhouse.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] [7] FIG. 1 shows a view of a birdhouse, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0013] [8] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the birdhouse shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention. [9] FIG. 3 shows a view of a portion of the birdhouse shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0014]

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another birdhouse, according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016]

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a view of a birdhouse 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. The birdhouse 10 includes a body 12 that defines an interior (shown in FIG. 2), and an entrance 14. The birdhouse 10 also includes a cooling system 16 to control the temperature inside the interior of the body 12. Although two components of the cooling system 16 are shown here, these and more components of the system 16 are discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 2. The cooling system 16 may be passive, active, or any desired combination of the two. A passive cooling system 16 is a cooling system that does not require energy input into the system 16 to control the temperature in the interior. An active cooling system 16, however, does require energy input into the system 16 to control the temperature in the interior.

[0017]

[0012] The cooling system 16 controls the temperature of the interior of the birdhouse by preventing heat from warming the interior of the birdhouse, and / or removing heat from the interior of the birdhouse. When the cooling system 16 is passive, such as a vent located near the top of the birdhouse’s body and another located near the bottom of the birdhouse’s body (as discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 2), the system 16 can keep the temperature inside the birdhouse at or near the temperature of the ambient environment outside of the birdhouse. It does this by convection, effectively removing heat generated by the chicks and parents when such heat is not welcomed inside the birdhouse. When the cooling system 16 is passive such as a reflective film and / or coating on the outside of the body, the reflective film controls the temperature by preventing the sun’s radiation from warming the body of the birdhouse, and thus blocks heat from reaching the interior of the birdhouse. When the cooling system is active, such as a fan or a thermoelectric module, the system can keep the temperature inside the birdhouse much lower than the temperature of the ambient environment outside of the birdhouse. It does this by effectively removing unwelcomed heat from both the chicks and parents, as well as from the ambient environment outside.

[0018]

[0013] The shape of the birdhouse’s body 12 may be any desired shape, and the body 12 may be made of any desired material. For example, in this and other embodiments the body 12 has an egg shape and the body 12 is made of wood. In other embodiments, the body 12 may be made of other materials that do not absorb much of the sun’s radiation and thus do not quickly warm when exposed to the sun’s radiation. In still other embodiments, the body 12 may have a spherical, square or some other shape that has a low surface-area-to-interior-volume ratio. Generally, a sphere has the lowest of such a ratio. With the low ratio, the amount of surface area that is exposed to the sun’s radiation is minimal for the interior volume that the surface defines, and thus the amount of heat generated on the surface of the birdhouse by the sun’s radiation may be minimized.

[0019]

[0014] Still referring to FIG. 1 , the entrance 14 may also be configured as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments the entrance is circular and sized to barely allow an adult bird of the desired species for which the birdhouse 10 will be used through and into the interior where the nest is. Other embodiments may include a different sized entrance as well as a different configured entrance. In still other embodiments, the entrance may include two or more holes or passages.

[0020]

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the birdhouse 10 shown in FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The interior 18 is defined by the body 12 and is where many of the cooling system’s components are located. In this and other embodiments, the cooling system 16 includes four different passive components, and three different active components. As previously mentioned, embodiments of the birdhouse 10 may include one or more of these passive and active components in any desired combination. For example, in some embodiments the cooling system 16 includes a vent 20, and a reflective film and / or coating 22 on the outside of the birdhouse. Such passive components may suffice when the temperature in the ambient environment outside the birdhouse 10 rarely gets warmer than the desired temperature in the interior 18, and when it does the temperature does not exceed the desired temperature by much. For another example, in other embodiments the cooling system 16 includes a thermoelectric module 24. Such an active component may suffice when the temperature in the ambient environment outside of the birdhouse can get quite a bit higher than the desired temperature in the interior 18. In still other embodiments, the birdhouse 10 may include a vent 20, a reflective film and / or coating, a fan 26, and a thermoelectric module 24 each of which helps control the temperature in the interior 18 of the birdhouse 10

[0021]

[0016] The passive components of the cooling system 16 may include any desired component capable of controlling the temperature inside the interior 18 without needing any energy input. For example, in this and other embodiments the passive components of the cooling system 16 include the vent 20, the reflective film and / or coating 22, insulation (not shown) inside one or more of the walls of the body 12, and a radiant barrier liner (also not shown) located inside the interior 18. The reflective film and / or coating 22 is on the outside surface of the body 12, and reflects most if not all of the sun’s radiation, specifically wavelengths of light in the infrared range which are responsible for generating most of the heat from the sun’s radiation. The insulation slows down or substantially prevents the flow of heat from the outside surface of the body 12 that is exposed to the outside ambient environment to the inside surface of the body 12, and thus the interior 18. In this and other embodiments the insulation is a closed-cell foam. The radiant barrier liner helps keep the warmth generated by the birds living in the interior 18 from being absorbed by the inside surface of the body 12, and thus the body 12 itself. The radiant barrier liner also reflects unwanted radiant heat back towards the outer surface keeping the nesting box interior from excessive heat buildup. Then, when the vent 20 is operating, most if not all of the heat generated by the birds inside the interior 18 is removed from the interior 18 and replaced by air from the ambient environment outside.

[0022]

[0017] The vent 20 may be sized and configured as desired to provide the desired cooling effect. For example, in this and other embodiments, a vent 20 includes a first portion 20a and a second portion 20b. Each of these portions 20a and 20b allow air to enter into and then flow up and through walls of the body 12 to remove heat from the walls of the body 12. To promote this flow of air through the walls of the body 12, the second portion 20b is located near the bottom of the interior 18 and the first portion 20a is located near the top of the interior 18. In these locations, the vent 20 can generate airflow through the body’s walls by allowing warm air to rise up through the walls and then exit out of the first portion 20a (see arrows labeled 28), while the second portion 20b allows cooler air (see arrows labeled 30) from the ambient outside environment to enter into body’s walls. One or more of the vent portions 20a and 2b may include a valve or gate that one may close to prevent airflow through the body’s walls when the temperature in the ambient outside environment is cool, and that one may open to allow airflow through the body’s walls when the temperature in the ambient outside environment is warm. In this and other embodiments a second vent 20 includes a first portion 20c and a second portion 20d that allow air to enter into and then flow up and through the interior 18 of the body 12 to remove heat from the interior 18.

[0023]

[0018] Still referring to FIG. 2, the active components of the cooling system 16 may include any desired component capable of controlling the temperature inside the interior 18 with the input of energy or power. For example, in this and other embodiments the active components of the cooling system 16 include the thermoelectric module 24, and the fan 26. The source of power for the active components of the cooling system may be any desired source capable of providing the desired power. For example, in this and other embodiments the cooling system 16 includes a battery 32 that provides direct current to active components. To charge the battery 32 after it has powered the active components for a while, the cooling system 16 includes a solar panel 34 that receives radiation from the sun and converts some of the radiation into electrical power that the battery 32 can then store for future use. The thermoelectric module 24 may be located anywhere inside the interior as long as the region of the module that warms during operation is exposed to the ambient outside environment, and not the interior 18. The fan 26 may also be located anywhere desired that allows the fan to move air through the interior 18, the body’s walls and / or both. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the fan 26 is located in the interior 18, and as shown in FIG. 3, the fan 26 is located inside a mount 36 of the birdhouse that is located outside of the body 12. To control the flow of electricity through the thermoelectric module 24 and fan 26, the cooling system 16 includes a switch (not shown in FIG. 2). The switch may be manually operated or may include a sensor (see FIG. 3) that sense the temperature in the interior or in the body’s walls and in response to the sensed temperature reaching a threshold temperature, closes to allow electricity to power the thermoelectric module and / or fan. To help control the sensor and switch, the cooling system may include control circuitry (not shown).

[0024]

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a view of a portion of the birdhouse 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an embodiment of the invention. The portion of the birdhouse 10 shown is a mount 36 that may be used to mount the birdhouse 10 on a pole. The mount 36 is similar to the mount shown in FIG. 1 except the mount 36 also houses a fan 26. When the mount 36 is used to mount the birdhouse 10 on a pole, the holes 40 (only three labeled for clarity) allow air from the ambient outside environment to enter into the birdhouse’s interior (18 in FIG. 2). When the mount 36 is not used to mount the birdhouse 10 onto a pole, the ambient outside air can also flow up through entrance 42. The sensor 44 controls the flow of electricity through the fan 26 and senses the temperature in the interior 18; and the plug 46 couples the fan 26 with a source of electricity, such as the battery in FIG. 2. To fasten the birdhouse 10 to the mount 36 bolts extend through the holes 48 and threadingly engage corresponding holes (not shown) in the birdhouse 10.

[0025]

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another birdhouse 50, according to another embodiment of the invention. The birdhouse 50 is similar to the birdhouse 10 except that the cooling system of the birdhouse 50 only includes a vent 52, and the birdhouse 50 also includes a camera 54 operable to shoot still photos and / or videos of life inside the interior 56 and nest (not shown). The birdhouse 50 also includes a quick-change mount 58 that one may use to mount a variety of different sized and configured cameras in the interior 56. Although four different mounts 58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d are shown here, other mounts are possible. Here, each of the mounts 58a, 58b, 58c, and 59d has a flange 60 that is sized and configured to nest within a groove 62 in the body 12 of the birdhouse. To remove a mount 58a, 58b, 58c, or 59d, one simply pulls the mount 58a, 58b, 58c, or 59d to slide the flange 60 out of the groove 62. And to install a mount 58a, 58b, 58c, or 59d, one simply pushes the mount 58a, 58b, 58c, or 59d to slide the flange 60 into the groove 62.

[0026]

[0021] The preceding discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:1 . A birdhouse comprising: a body having an interior; and a cooling system for controlling the temperature inside the interior of the body.2 The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system maintains a temperature in the interior of the body that is less than the temperature in the ambient environment outside of the body.

3. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system maintains a temperature in the interior of the body that is slightly above the temperature in the ambient environment outside of the body.

4. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system is passive.

5. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system is active.

6. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a layer on an outer surface of the body that is configured to reflect away from the body radiation from the sun.

7. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a vent having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion located at an end of the body and the vent’s second portion located at another end of the body opposite the location of the vent’s first portion.

8. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a fan operable to move air through the interior of the body.

9. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a thermoelectric module.

10. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a solar panel operable to convert radiation from the sun into electrical power, and a battery operable to store electrical power.11 . The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes: a sensor operable to sense the temperature in the interior of the body, and a circuit that receives a signal from the sensor and in response to the signal representing a temperature above a threshold temperature, turning on the cooling system to remove heat from the interior.

12. The birdhouse of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes insulation in the body.

13. The birdhouse of claim 1 further comprising a mount operable to hold a camera.

14. The birdhouse of claim 1 further comprising an entrance through which a bird passes to enter and leave the body’s interior, the entrance having an iris adjustable to enlarge or constrict the entrance.

15. A method for cooling a birdhouse, the method comprising controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse includes opening a first portion of a vent located at an end of the interior, and opening a second portion of the vent located at another end of the interior that is opposite the end with the first portion, to allow warm air to escape out through the first portion and allow cooler air to be drawn into the interior through the second portion.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse includes blocking radiation from the sun from warming the body of the birdhouse.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse includes blocking, with insulation, heat in the ambient environment outside the body from warming the interior.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse includes a fan moving air through the interior.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse includes powering a thermoelectric module.21 . The method of claim 15 wherein controlling the temperature in an interior of a body of a birdhouse includes sensing the temperature in the interior of the body, and in response to the temperature reaching a threshold temperature, powering a cooling system to remove heat from the interior.

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