Floating pier, pinniped deterrent system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10285394-B1
Application number	US-201514919499-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Oct 21, 2015
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A system for deterring pinnipeds comprising a plurality of connected tracks interspersed with expansion joints, wherein the tracks and expansion joints are operatively coupled via connector keys that fit into a recessed channel running underneath the tracks and expansion joints, the tracks and expansion joints having electrically insulated recessed channels allowing for conductive wire to run throughout the tracks and expansion joints, the expansion joints further comprising two wells allowing for excess wire to be coiled and housed, acting as a spring and allowing for expansion, and the wire is connected to a power source.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for deterring pinnipeds, comprising:
a straight track having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end, the top surface having two electrically-insulated parallel channels running from the first end to the second end,
an expansion joint, connected to the straight track, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end, the top surface having two parallel wells and two electrically-insulated parallel channels running from the first end to the second end through the wells and aligning with the two electrically-insulated parallel channels of the straight track,
wherein a conductive wire runs through each electrically-insulated parallel channel of each respective two electrically-insulated parallel channels of the straight track and the expansion joint,
wherein excess which conductive wire is housed in the wells, the excess conductive wire having a spring shape for facilitating expansion, and
wherein the conductive wire is connected to a power source.

2. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the expansion joint and the straight track have a recessed channel running through the center of bottom surface from the first end to the second end, and
wherein a connector key slides into the recessed channel and connects the expansion joint and the straight track together at one of the first end and the second end.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a corner track having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end, the top surface having two electrically-insulated parallel channels running from the first end to the second end that align with the two electrically-insulated parallel channels of the expansion joint and the straight track, the corner track having a curved shape from the first end to the second end, the bottom surface having a recessed channel running through the center from the first end to the second end, wherein a connector key slides into the recessed channel and connects to one of the expansion joint and the straight track at the first end or the second end.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a tab disposed over the two electrically-insulated channels and fastened with the straight track, the expansion joint, and the corner track holding the conductive wire within the channel.

5. The system of claim 4 ,
wherein each of the expansion joint, the straight track, and the corner track comprises a first side and a second side, and
wherein each of the expansion joint, the straight track, and the corner track comprises an incline from the first side to the center thereof and from the second side to the center thereof.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the expansion joint, the straight track, and the corner track comprises a third channel running along each respective top surface for facilitating a positioning of an LED light.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the expansion joint, the straight track, and the corner track comprises a bright color for facilitating demarcation from a mountable structure.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a lid fastened with the expansion joint.

9. A system for deterring pinnipeds, comprising:
a plurality of tracks, each track of the plurality of tracks comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a recessed channel, and an electrically-insulated recessed channel;
a plurality of expansion joints, each expansion joint of the plurality of expansion joints comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a recessed channel, an electrically-insulated recessed channel, and two wells; and
a plurality of connector keys operatively coupling together the plurality of tracks and the plurality of expansion joints, each connector key of the plurality of connector keys disposable in relation to each recessed channel of each track and each expansion joint,
each electrically insulated recessed channel configured to accommodate a conductive wire, and
each expansion joint configured to accommodate excess wire for forming a spring and for facilitating expansion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the conductive wire is connected to a power source.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tracks and the plurality of expansion joints is configured to mount in relation to a pier.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of tracks and the plurality of expansion joints are elevated in relation to the pier for facilitating water drainage and for preventing electrical shortage.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein each track and each expansion joint comprises a third channel on each top surface for facilitating positioning of an LED light.

14. A device, comprising an expansion joint having a base, the base having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the bottom surface having a recessed channel through a center from the first end to the second end, the top surface having an incline from the first side to the center and an incline from the second side to the center, the top surface having two wells, and the top surface having two parallel grooved, a plurality of electrically-insulated channels running from the first end to the second end through the wells, wherein excess conductive wire is housed in the wells, the excess conductive wire having a spring shape for facilitating expansion.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the expansion joint is connected to a track having a bottom surface, a top surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the bottom surface having a recessed channel through the center from the first end to the second end, the top surface having an incline from the first side to the center and an incline from the second side to the center, the top surface having two parallel grooved, electrically-insulated channels running from the first end to the second end and aligning with the plurality of electrically-insulated channels of the expansion joint.

16. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a connector key configured to slide into, and couple together, the recessed channel of the expansion joint and the recessed channel of the track.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein each electrically-insulated channel of the plurality of electrically-insulated channels of the expansion joint and each electrically-insulated channel of the plurality of electrically-insulated channels of the track is configured to accommodate a conductive wire, the conductive wire attached to a power source.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the expansion joint and the track is configured to mount in relation to a pier.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the expansion joint and the track comprises a bright color for facilitating demarcation from the pier.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the expansion joint and the track comprises a third channel running in relation to the top surface for facilitating integration of an LED light.

Assignees

• Us Navy
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Granger Brian J
• Chambers William A
• Krueger Kelly G
• Hoopes John E

Classifications

• E04B1/72

  Pest control (by keeping dry E04B1/70; impregnation of wood or like materials B27K) · CPC title

• A01M29/10

  using light sources, e.g. lasers or flashing lights · CPC title

• A01M29/24 Primary

  using electric or magnetic effects, e.g. electric shocks, magnetic fields or microwaves · CPC title

• E04B1/6803

  Joint covers (E04B1/6815 takes precedence) · CPC title