IP Library Granted Patent US 12,507,689
Granted Patent B2
US 12,507,689 · App. 17/544,475 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Avian distractor device

Inventors: Brian McGowan (Dublin, IE); Jason Mulligan (Dublin, IE); Ravi S (Bangalore, IN); Praveena Vade (Bangalore, IN); Praveen Kushtagi (Bangalore, IN); Vijay Wasudeorao Tijare (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH ET AL.
A01M29/08
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,507,689
App. No.
17/544,475
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An avian distractor device includes a clamp having a pair of jaws attached to a hinge and biased via a plurality of springs into a closed position, and a locking member disposed in communication with the pair of jaws to rigidly hold a conductor of different sizes under a force generated by the plurality of springs. A spherical diverter is provided and is rotatably attached to the hinge and the clamp. A reflective surface encircles a central portion of the spherical diverter to enhance visibility of the device to wildlife. A plurality of dimples are formed on an external surface of the spherical diverter to reduce a drag force on the device.

Claims (29)

1 . An avian distractor device, comprising:

a clamp having:

a pair of jaws attached to a hinge and biased into a closed position via a plurality of springs; and

a locking member disposed in communication with the pair of jaws to rigidly hold a conductor of different sizes within the pair of jaws under a force generated by the plurality of springs;

a spherical diverter rotatably attached to the hinge and the clamp;

a reflective surface including a retro-reflective tape that extends continuously around and encircles a central portion of the spherical diverter to enhance visibility of the device to wildlife; and

a plurality of dimples formed on a portion of an external surface of the spherical diverter other than the central portion having the retro-reflective tape to reduce a drag force on the device.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spherical diverter includes two interlocking hemispheres mechanically interlocked via a male and female slot located at its end and a fastener threaded through a center portion of the spherical diverter.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the spherical diverter further includes a swivel structure located at an inner side of a lower hemisphere of the spherical diverter and receiving the fastener for rotatably attaching the spherical diverter to the hinge and the clamp.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a locking cover engaging with the locking member of the clamp via fasteners, the locking cover rigidly holding the locking member for fixing the conductor within the clamp.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the each of the pair of jaws includes a plurality of rubber inserts to flexibly hold the conductor.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment hole defined by each jaw of the pair of jaws.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the clamp is a polyamide structure having an ultraviolet and thermal stability to enhance visibility and ensure long durability.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spherical diverter comprises a polymer material with a photo-phosphorescence pigment to induce a night glow effect onto the spherical diverter.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the polymer material comprises a polycarbonate material or a polyacetal material.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spherical diverter is translucent.

11 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the retro-reflective tape is positioned over the male and female slot between the two interlocking hemispheres.

12 . An avian distractor device, comprising:

a spring-biased clamp;

a locking member disposed in communication with the clamp to rigidly hold a conductor of different sizes within the clamp;

a diverter rotatably attached to the clamp, the diverter is a spherical shape and has a reflective surface including a retro-reflective tape that extends continuously around and encircles a perimeter thereof; and

a plurality of dimples defined on a portion of an external surface of the diverter other than a central portion having the retro-reflective tape, the dimples extending between the retro-reflective tape and an upper end of the diverter attached to the clamp, and between the retro-reflective tape and a lower end of the diverter.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the clamp includes a pair of jaws pivotally attached to a hinge.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein each jaw of the pair of jaws includes at least one arm extending in a direction toward the other one of the pair of jaws.

15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the clamp includes a pair of tension springs arranged on respective sides of the pair of jaws, the ends of each tension spring attached to a respective one of the pair of jaws.

16 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a locking cover covering and engaging with the locking member of the clamp via fasteners, the locking cover rigidly holding the locking member for fixing the conductor within the clamp.

17 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the diverter includes two interlocking hemispheres mechanically interlocked together.

18 . The device of claim 17 , further comprising a fastener threaded via a center portion of the diverter via a swivel structure molded on an inner side of a lower hemisphere of the diverter to rotatably attach the diverter to the clamp.

19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the fastener extends from a bottom of the lower hemisphere, through the diverter, and engages with a hinge of the clamp arranged on an upper hemisphere of the diverter.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2024
From: TE CONNECTIVITY INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED; TE CONNECTIVITY IRELAND LIMITED
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH; TE CONNECTIVITY IRELAND LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067256/0792 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2022
From: S, RAVI; VADE, PRAVEENA; KUSHTAGI, PRAVEEN; TIJARE, VIJAY
To: TE CONNECTIVITY INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059602/0423 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2022
From: MCGOWAN, BRIAN; MULLIGAN, JASON
To: TE CONNECTIVITY IRELAND LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059717/0449 →
Priority Claims (1)
IN 202041053180 · Dec 7, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220174937A1 · Jun 9, 2022
References Cited (18)
US 5421266A · Larumbe · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 7770533B2 · Ramirez · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 8438998B2 · Spencer · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8827225B2 · Andersson · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8869732B1 · Chervick · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9331465B2 · Ortiz · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9706767B2 · Spencer · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10383326B2 · Oosthuyzen · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20170279258A1 · Meseti · 2017 [cited by examiner]
CN 102422337 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 203424209U · 2014 [cited by examiner]
CN 105552782A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 111296405A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
ES 2333397B1 · 2010 [cited by examiner]
JP 2008271676A · 2008 [cited by examiner]
Extended European Search Report, Application No. 21212512.4-1004, Dated: Apr. 28, 2022, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Rick Harness, Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to install Wire Markers to Mititgate Bird Collisions Env-Vision: Environmental Vision, Dated: May 25, 2016, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:https://epristorage.blob.core.w… [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office Action with English translation thereof, dated Apr. 23, 2025 in Application No. 202111467427.0, 19 pages. [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 1,144,589