Apparatus for scaring-off animals

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for scaring-off animals, in particular wild animals, comprising a scent dispensing unit (2) for dispensing a scent (21), or a connection for the scent dispensing unit (2) for dispensing the scent (21), and a controller (3) for controlling the scent dispensing unit (2) for dispensing the scent (21), wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a communication interface (4) integrated into or connected to the controller (3), wherein a time profile can be input into the controller (3) via the communication interface (4) and the scent dispensing unit (2) can be controlled by the controller (3) to dispense the scent (21) according to the time profile.

Description

[0001] Device for scaring away animals

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for scaring away animals, in particular wild animals, with a fragrance dispensing device for dispensing a fragrance or a connection for the fragrance dispensing device for dispensing the fragrance, and a controller for controlling the fragrance dispensing device for dispensing the fragrance.

[0003] Damage caused by game is becoming an increasingly serious problem for the regeneration capacity of forests, not just in some parts of Austria but worldwide. Damage to forests caused by game can occur, for example, through nibbling seedlings, peeling bark, or trampling. Of course, it is not necessarily the case that every disturbance to vegetation by game constitutes damage. However, if the frequency and severity are the same, economic and ecological damage can result. In view of climate change and the associated unavoidable adaptation of forests, it is necessary to minimize damage caused by game. In particularly vulnerable areas, deterring game may be an option. The deterrent used for this purpose should not injure the wild animal, but merely cause it to drive it away, and it should be affordable, safe, quick, and flexible in application.

[0004] One result of climate change is that summers are becoming hotter and drier, and winters milder and snowier, increasing the likelihood and risk of extreme weather events. As a result, habitats in lowland areas and mountains are shifting, which also leads to changes in animal behavior. Hunting is generally regulated by law, depending on time and location – it is also referred to as the so-called hunting and closed season. These are reasons why it is important in the future to

[0005] To further promote and expand possibilities for deterrence.

[0006] In principle, the task of scaring away animals is not limited to wild animals. Other animals, such as pets or livestock, sometimes need to be kept out of a certain area—that is, deterred from that area.

[0007] The generic DE 10 2010 054 074 A1 discloses an RC aircraft equipped with an optical, an acoustic, and an odor-emitting unit, and can be used to scare away game. The aircraft can use the integrated units individually or in combination. An integrated camera system makes it possible to deliver real-time images from a bird's eye view to one or more ground stations. The RC aircraft hovers above the game. The user can navigate the RC aircraft from a ground station. In addition to navigation, the ground station enables the transmission and reception of image information. Navigation of the RC aircraft is only possible from the ground station, which is why the user must always be on site. Depending on the forest density, it is also conceivable that the RC aircraft does not provide any usable image information, or that the game cannot be found.US 2016 / 0150772 A1 discloses a device for deterring wild animals. A motion sensor detects the presence of wild animals and then activates a flashing light. However, this may result in the sensor not correctly detecting the animal or mistaking it for other objects.

[0008] The object of the invention is to improve a device of the type mentioned at the outset in this regard.

[0009] For this purpose, the invention proposes, starting from a device of the type mentioned at the outset, that the device has a communication interface integrated into the controller or connected to it, wherein a time profile can be entered into the controller via the communication interface and the fragrance dispensing device can be controlled by the controller to dispense the fragrance depending on the time profile. A fundamental idea of ​​the present invention is that a time profile can be entered into the controller via the communication interface, specifying at which times or in which time windows the fragrance dispensing device should release the fragrance into the environment. In other words, the user has the advantage of being able to enter the time profile for dispensing the fragrance once and the device can then operate independently of the user.The user then neither needs to be present nor have visibility into the area from which the animals are to be scared away in order to scare away the animals, especially wild animals. A further improvement over the aforementioned prior art is that the present invention does not use any sensors which, as already mentioned, often do not properly detect the animal or confuse it with other objects. The system is configured in such a way that the scent release unit used for scaring away the animals can be used flexibly in a wide variety of situations thanks to the time profile that can be adapted to the respective task and does not rely on any sensors to release the scent. This takes advantage of the fact that it is generally known, at least approximately, which animals are most common in which area at which time of day.The time profile thus allows for individual adjustment of the release of the fragrance, particularly the amount and timing.

[0010] The word "vergarämen" comes from hunting jargon and means to scare something away. In the context of the present invention, it means that animals are scared away from certain areas. The term "vergermung" can also be described as "scaring away something" and also comes from hunting jargon. The device can consist of one or more parts. In other words, the invention includes two possibilities. It is possible to provide connections, particularly on the outside, to which a fragrance dispensing device for dispensing a fragrance can be connected in an exchangeable manner, i.e. in other words, replaceable in the event of defects, for example. Another possibility is for the fragrance dispensing unit to be already integrated into the device. The fragrance dispensing device, like the device itself, can consist of one or more parts.

[0011] Thus, different parts of the

[0012] The fragrance dispensing device can be integrated into a single device or into various parts of the device. In other words, it is also possible to assemble the device individually and according to the preferences of the respective user. The fragrance dispensing unit can comprise one or more parts. For example, it can include a tank, a pump, and a nozzle.

[0013] For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that in the course of describing this invention, the numerals used, such as one, two, the, and the like, generally only describe the minimum quantity of a feature present in the device according to the invention. Individual features or components of the device can, of course, also be present in larger numbers. Thus, devices according to the invention can also have more than one fragrance dispensing device. In this sense, for example, the numeral "ein" is to be understood as meaning "at least one," etc.

[0014] The device comprises a controller for controlling the fragrance dispensing device to dispense the fragrance. The controller may, in principle, comprise a communication interface integrated or connected to the controller. Via the integrated or connected

[0015] A time profile can be entered into the controller via the communication interface, specifying when, how often, and at what intervals the fragrance dispenser releases the fragrance into the environment. Furthermore, the amount of fragrance released per unit of time or within a time interval can also be specified via the communication interface. It is even conceivable to specify the type of fragrance to be released at a particular time or within the respective time interval via the communication interface. This is particularly true if the device comprises different fragrance dispensers for different fragrances and / or the fragrance dispenser is suitable for releasing different fragrances.

[0016] The term "fragrance" encompasses all substances that can be perceived through the nose. The type of fragrance used can be adapted to the specific task at hand, and especially to the type of animal to be repelled. The fragrance can also be a substance that is particularly offensive to the animal in question. The fragrance can be gaseous and / or liquid.

[0017] The term "time profile" should also be interpreted broadly. It can include one or more points in time and / or time intervals entered via the communication interface, but also additional information, such as the amount and / or type of scent to be released per time. The time profile can include information on both switching the scent release device and / or other release devices mentioned below on and off. The time profile entered via the communication interface can also be fully or partially randomly controlled. The latter can, for example, help prevent habituation effects in the animals to be deterred.

[0018] It is conceivable that the communication interface, which is integrated into the controller or connected to it, can be remotely controlled wirelessly or via a wired connection. A fundamental distinction is made between short-range wireless methods and long-range wireless methods. A short-range wireless connection could, for example, be wireless local area network (WLAN) technology, Bluetooth technology, Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and / or RFID technology. Long-range wireless methods could, for example, be global positioning system (GPS) technology, Bluetooth technology, a mobile communications network, such as LTE and 5G, or similar, and / or another radio network.

[0019] The second possibility is a wired communication technology, in which a physical transmission medium, such as a cable and / or a telephone line, is used for the transmission of data. There are, for example, three different types of wired networks that can be used, for example, local area networks (LANs) and / or metropolitan area networks (MANs) and / or wide area networks (WANs). For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that in the course of the description of this* invention, the generic terms used, such as LAN, MAN and WAN, basically include every sub-variant. It is preferably provided that the

[0020] The communication interface has a printed circuit board in order to avoid complex cable management. However, it is also preferably provided that the communication interface, which is integrated into the controller or connected to it and via which a time profile can be entered into the controller, is configured such that it is possible to switch between wireless and wired remote control at any time. In other words, that a cable can be connected or removed as required. The invention also includes the possibility that the communication interface has a combination of several of the variants mentioned at the outset, whereby another of the above-mentioned variants can be used in the event of possible defects in the communication interface.

[0021] It is also possible for the communication interface to be designed so that the time profile can be entered into the controller on-site, for example, manually. For example, the communication interface can comprise a touchscreen or other input device operable manually or by voice control or the like, via which the time profile can be entered. In addition to or as an alternative to the touchscreen, it is also possible, for example, for the controller to have a keyboard, voice control, facial recognition, or a controller, preferably an ESP32 microcontroller, as a communication interface.

[0022] The communication interface integrated or connected to the controller can also include a SIM module, preferably a SIM800L module, for receiving SMS messages. The SIM800L module is subjected to high power for short periods of time, which is why a charge controller is used to reduce the voltage from 12 volts to 4 volts. The LM2596S model, for example, is used as a charge controller. However, other models that serve the same purpose are also conceivable. The SMS message can be sent from a mobile phone. It is also conceivable that a message is sent from a laptop, tablet, smartwatch, or computer.

[0023] The invention can also provide that in the

[0024] In addition to the fragrance dispensing unit, the device additionally has integrated therein a light dispensing device and / or a sound dispensing device that can be controlled by the controller as a function of the time profile, or such a light dispensing device and / or sound dispensing device can be connected to the device.

[0025] It is conceivable that the light emitting device is configured so that it can emit light, preferably in the color blue, at different wavelengths or different frequencies. It is therefore possible for the light emitting device to emit different light with different wavelengths or different frequencies, which may or may not be visible to humans. The wavelength or frequency range of the emitted light, as well as its intensity and duration, can be adapted to the type of animal to be deterred. It is also conceivable for the light emitting device to combine light with different wavelengths in such a way that an alternating light play or light signal occurs, in order to counteract the habituation effect of this deterrent in animals. An LED lamp and / or flash lamp, for example, can be used as the light emitting device.It should be noted that the light-emitting device may be replaceable. In other words, it may be possible to remove the light-emitting device at any time and without causing any damage and replace it with a new or different one.

[0026] To replace the light emitting device.

[0027] The invention can provide for the existing sound emitting device to be configured to include a loudspeaker. The sound emitting device can be configured to emit sound at different frequencies. The sound emitting device can be set or configured to emit sounds in frequency ranges that are imperceptible to the human ear, thus, for example, only scaring away animals that perceive this frequency range, such as ultrasound. It is also conceivable for the sound emitting device to be configured to emit or imitate natural animal noises. The sound emitting device can be removed or replaced at any time without causing damage. Preferably, it can comprise a 12-volt piezo buzzer.Of course, another piezoelectric component can also be used that can emit sounds in frequency ranges that are perceptible or imperceptible to humans.

[0028] The time profile can be input into the controller via the communication interface in such a way that the controller, for controlling the fragrance dispensing device for dispensing the fragrance and, if applicable, also the light dispensing device and / or the sound dispensing device, releases the fragrance and / or, if applicable, the light signal and / or the sound signal either at a specific time and / or for a specific time window, for example, for any number of minutes and / or any number of hours. Various combinations of joint, but also separate, activation and deactivation of the various aforementioned dispensing devices are possible.

[0029] In preferred embodiments, the present device is a portable device. It is thus conceivable, for example, for the device to have a handle, allowing it to be carried by hand from one location to another without any problems. Another possibility is for the device to have rollers that allow the device to be pulled or pushed. A further embodiment allows the device to be transported to another location by a motor vehicle, for example a car and / or a tractor. Additionally, it is possible for the device to have straps, allowing it to be carried like a backpack and / or a bag. The handle and / or the rollers and / or the straps can be permanently connected to the device or can be detached at any time, preferably non-destructively, i.e., in other words, reusable.Another possibility is that the device has any of the transport variants listed above.

[0030] In preferred embodiments, the present device comprises a housing. The housing can be a fixed component of the device or can be removed at any time, preferably non-destructively, i.e., in other words, reusable. It is also conceivable that the above-mentioned options, for example, the handle and / or the straps and / or the rollers, for transporting the device are a fixed component of the housing or can be removed non-destructively, i.e., in other words, reusable. The device can be accommodated, preferably with all its parts, in the housing. However, it is also possible to arrange individual parts of the device in the housing and other parts of the device outside the housing. It is also conceivable that the housing has connections for all or parts of the fragrance dispensing device for dispensing a fragrance and / or the sound dispensing device and / or the light dispensing device.The material of the housing is preferably chosen so that it is sealed and / or waterproof and / or water-repellent and / or oil-resistant and / or dirt-repellent and / or easy to clean. The housing can be designed, for example, as a case.

[0031] The invention provides for a power storage device to be integrated into the device or connectable to the device. A rechargeable battery, such as an SLA battery, can be used as the power storage device. It is also possible to store excess power, for example, from a photovoltaic module, in the power storage device for later use.

[0032] A power source can also be integrated into the present device or can be connected to it. A PV system and / or a wind turbine is preferably used as such a power source. However, it is also conceivable for the device to be supplied with power via a cable from a standard household socket or from a high-voltage socket. The PV module is preferably an element with a maximum voltage of 50 volts or a maximum power of 130 watts at 12 volts or 260 watts at 24 volts. The device can be switched on and off via the communication interface. Furthermore, it may be possible to call up the resource level and / or an operating state of the device. For example, it is conceivable that the remaining running time of the battery and / or the amount of remaining fragrance can be called up via the communication interface.It is also possible that only one of the three dispensers, the fragrance dispenser or the sound dispenser or the.

[0033] Light emitting device is switched on or off. With the present invention, it is also conceivable that the time profile can be freely configured and / or the factory settings reset via the communication interface. Freely configurable refers to individual settings in connection with the time profile described above.

[0034] The fragrance dispenser can have a pump for pumping the fragrance and / or a tank for storing the fragrance and / or a nozzle for atomizing the fragrance into the environment. It is also conceivable, however, for the fragrance dispenser to have different tanks with different fragrances. This allows for easy changing of fragrances without the user having to visit the device. It is also conceivable that the communication interface can be used to input into the control system from which tank and in what quantity the pump should pump the fragrance. A pressure diaphragm pump, for example, is conceivable as the pump. Mist nozzles are preferably used as the nozzle. The material from which the tank is made is advantageously chosen to be waterproof and / or water-repellent and / or oil-resistant and / or dirt-repellent and / or easy to clean.The various parts of the* fragrance dispensing device can be located entirely or partially within a housing of the device. They can also be located outside the housing and connected via a corresponding connector. In addition to the possibility of the time profile, which can be entered into the control system via a communication interface, having a specific time, it is also possible, as already explained above, for the time profile to be randomly controlled. This means that the fragrance dispensing device can also be used alone and / or together with the sound dispensing device and / or the.

[0035] Light emitting devices can be used randomly. It is also conceivable that at certain times or time windows, the fragrance emitting device could be used alone and / or together with the sound emitting device and / or the light emitting devices.

[0036] Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained by way of example in the following description of the figures. They show:

[0037] Fig. 1 the device with closed housing;

[0038] Fig. 2 shows the device from Fig. 1 with the housing opened.

[0039] Fig. 1 now shows an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for scaring away animals, in particular wild animals, with a fragrance dispensing device 2. In this embodiment, the fragrance dispensing device 2 comprises a pump 10 for pumping the

[0040] Fragrance 21 and a tank 11 for storing the fragrance 21 and a nozzle 12 for atomizing the fragrance 21 into the environment. In the illustrated embodiment, the fragrance dispensing device 2 thus comprises several parts. In the example shown, the pump 1.0 is located in the interior of the housing.

[0041] 6. In this example, the tank 11 and the nozzle 12 are separate parts which can be connected to the housing 6 via the connections 16 and 17 and are arranged outside the housing 6. However, this can of course also be solved differently within the scope of the invention. For example, the entire fragrance dispensing device 2 can also be connected to the apparatus 1 via a connection and can then preferably also be arranged completely outside the housing 6. The material from which the tank 11 is made is advantageously selected such that it is waterproof and / or water-repellent and / or oil-resistant and / or dirt-repellent and / or easy to clean. It is conceivable that the tank 11 can be replaced at any time without being destroyed, i.e. in other words, reusable.If a smaller or larger amount of fragrance 2 is required, it is possible to use a tank 11 with a corresponding capacity or to connect it to the device 1. The tank 11 can be provided with several separate storage options in order to store and ultimately dispense more than one fragrance 21. Of course, the fragrance dispensing device 2 can also comprise several tanks 11 and / or nozzles 12 for this purpose.

[0042] Fig. 1 reveals that the device 1 is surrounded by a housing 6. However, it is conceivable that the housing 6 is non-destructive, i.e., in other words, reusable, detachable from the device 1. However, it is also possible for the housing 6 to be a fixed component of the device 1.

[0043] On the device 1, specifically on the housing 6, an antenna 18 can be seen in this embodiment as a wireless communication interface 4 for inputting the time profile into the controller 3. It can also be used, if necessary, to send or receive other signals. The communication interface 4 can, for example, be designed as a SIM module that can be controlled by a mobile phone 14 for receiving and / or sending SMS messages. Of course, there are also numerous other possibilities for wireless or wired

[0044] Remote control of the controller 3 via the communication interface 4, 18, primarily for transmitting the time profile to the controller 3, which can be used in the implementation of the invention. Also visible in Fig. 1 is a power source 8, in this example in the form of a PV module 9. Alternatively or additionally, a wind turbine or a wired power supply would also be possible to ensure the power supply to the device 1 EU.

[0045] Also visible in Fig. 1 is the light emitting device 5. The light emitting device 5 is capable of emitting light in different wavelength ranges, preferably blue. The light emitting device 5 consists of a lamp, which is preferably an LED lamp. It is also possible to remove or replace the light emitting device 5 from the device 1 and / or the housing 6 without causing damage, i.e., in other words, in a reusable manner.

[0046] Fig. 2 now shows the device 1 from Fig. 1 in the open state of the housing 6.

[0047] Fig. 2 discloses a connection 15 for the light emitting device 5, a connection 16 for the nozzle 12, and a connection 17 for the tank 11. The connections 15, 16, 17 thus enable individual assembly of the device 1. In other words, it is conceivable that in certain embodiments, the user can equip the device 1 individually and as needed. It is conceivable that the connection 15 for the light emitting device 5 is a USB-C connection and / or and / or an AUX connection and / or an HDMI connection. Fig. 2 shows a sound emitting device 22 that can be controlled by the controller 3 depending on the time profile. The sound emitting device 22 can, as implemented here, be integrated into the device 1 or, in this case, into the housing 6, or can be connected to it.It is therefore possible for the sound emitting device 22 to be formed separately from the device 1 and to be connected to the device 1 via a connector not shown here. It can thus be removed from the device 1 and / or the housing 6 or replaced without causing damage—in other words, reusable. Depending on the animal species to be repelled, the sound emitting device 22 can emit sounds at different frequencies, including those that are imperceptible to humans.

[0048] Fig. 2 discloses the controller 3, into which, in this example, a touchscreen 20 is integrated as an additional communication interface 4, via which a time profile can also be entered. However, it is also conceivable that, instead of the touchscreen 20, a keyboard or a controller or a voice recognition or a face recognition or the like is integrated as a locally operable communication interface 4 into the device 1, in particular into the controller 3. Even if, in this embodiment, a remote-controlled and a locally operable

[0049] Communication interface 4 is present, it is clear that in principle only one communication interface 4 is sufficient. Fig. 2 shows that the device 1 or the housing 6 has a handle 19 and is thus transportable. In addition to the handle 19, the device 1 can also have wheels and / or straps for pulling or carrying. The housing 6 can be sealed and / or waterproof and / or water-repellent and / or oil-resistant and / or dirt-repellent and / or easy to clean. For example, it can be a case. The housing 6 can form a complex with the device 1, but can also be detachable from the device 1 in a non-destructive manner, i.e., in other words, reusable. Fig. 2 shows a power storage device 7, which is integrated into the device 1 and arranged here in the housing 6. The

[0050] Power storage device 7 is preferably an accumulator.

[0051] The accumulator can be designed to be replaceable. Fig. 2 also shows a charge controller 13, which, in a conventional manner, regulates the charging of the power storage device 7, in particular by means of the power source 8.

[0052] to the reference numbers:

[0053] 1 Device 2 Fragrance dispensing device

[0054] 3 Control

[0055] 4 Communication interface

[0056] 5 Light emission device

[0057] 6 Housing 7 Power storage

[0058] 8 Power source

[0059] 9 PV~ Panel

[0060] 10 Pump

[0061] 11 Tank 12 Nozzle

[0062] 13 charge controllers

[0063] 14 Mobile phone on

[0064] 15 Connection

[0065] 16 Connection 17 Connection

[0066] 18 Äntexme

[0067] 19 Carrying handle

[0068] 20 touchscreens

[0069] 21 Fragrance

[0070] 22 Toxic delivery device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (1) for scaring away animals, in particular Wild animals, comprising: a fragrance dispensing device (2) for dispensing a fragrance (21) or a connection for the fragrance dispensing device (2) for dispensing the fragrance (21), and a controller (3) for controlling the fragrance dispensing device (2) to dispense the fragrance (21), characterized in that the device (1) has a communication interface (4) integrated into the controller (3) or connected thereto, wherein a time profile can be input into the controller (3) via the communication interface (4) and the fragrance dispensing device (2) can be controlled by the controller (3) to dispense the fragrance (21) depending on the time profile.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the Communication interface (4) can be remotely controlled wirelessly or wired.

3. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (4) has a SIM module for receiving and / or sending SMS messages.

4. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein in the device (1) in addition to the fragrance dispensing device (2) a light dispensing device (5) and / or a sound dispensing device (22) which can be controlled by the controller (3) depending on the time profile is integrated, or such a light dispensing device (5) and / or sound dispensing device (22) can be connected to the device (1), 5. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) is a transportable device.

6. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) comprises a housing (6), 7. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a power storage device (7) is integrated into the device (1) or can be connected to the device (1).

8. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a power source (8) is integrated into the device (1) or can be connected to the device (1). 9, Device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the power source (8) is a PV module (9) and / or a wind turbine.

10. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (!) can be switched on and off via the communication interface (4) and / or a resource status and / or an operating state of the device (1) can be retrieved.

11. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the time profile can be freely configured and / or reset to factory settings via the communication interface (4).

12. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the fragrance dispensing device (2) has a pump for pumping the fragrance (21) and / or a tank (11) for storing the fragrance (21) and / or a nozzle (12) for atomizing the fragrance (21) into the environment, or* such a pump (10) and / or such a tank (11) and / or such a nozzle (12) can be connected to the device (1).

13. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the time profile has at least one time that can be entered via the communication interface (4) or is randomly controlled.

14. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the fragrance dispensing device (2) integrated into the device (1) or connectable to the device (1) together with at least one of the two emitting devices, consisting of the light emitting device (5) and sound emitting device (22), can be used at the same time and / or separately for deterring purposes.

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