GB2361617A

GB2361617A - A perch

Info

Publication number: GB2361617A
Application number: GB0107329A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Knick
Original assignee: POLLY S PET PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: POLLY S PET PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 2000-03-23
Filing date: 2001-03-23
Publication date: 2001-10-31
Also published as: GB0107329D0; CA2340869A1

Abstract

The perch includes an elongate member 110 which defines an undulating surface, preferably irregularly undulating and textured, and at least one stabilizer 120 disposed in the end of the elongate member. The perch may be attached to a cage by engaging the nut 124 and washers 126 on a screw thread provided on the stabilizer 120. The perch can have such an attachement at one or both ends of the elongate member.

Description

2361617 A THERAPEUTIC PERCH AND METHOD FOR FABRICATION THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of animal support devices and to methods for fabricating these devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a perch device for providing therapeutic assistance to animals by enabling them to condition and exercise their feet and legs muscles and trim their nails, and to methods for fabricating the lightweight perch.

Background Art

Birds in captivity spend the majority of the day roosting on a bird perch. As such, the comfort and health of a bird's feet are essential to the bird's well-being. To assist a captive bird to maintain its health and be comfortable, particular attention should be paid to beak and nails as well as to the musculature of their legs and feet.

Trimmed nails help to protect the bird from injuries resulting from overgrowth, such as from catching their nails on objects. Trimmed nails also allow the bird to be handled with minimal risk of injury to the handler. Injuries sustained from handling a bird, such as by scratching, can be detrimental to the bird owner as well as the bird as any transfer of blood from the handler to the bird poses a health risk to the handler, as well.

A trimmed beak also helps protect the bird from suffering from injuries from overgrowth, such as a split beak. Moreover, a trimmed beak preserves the birds ability to effective feed and preen itself to feed and keep itself clean, as needed A captive bird spends much, if not all, of its time is spent roosting on a conventional perch and its feet and legs never receive a sufficient amount of exercise.

As a result of this lack of exercise, birds can and often do experience some degree of 2 muscular atrophy in their legs and feet. When this condition reaches an extreme state, or as the bird gets older, the muscular atrophy in their lower extremities creates a near paralytic condition where the birds feet are permanently disfigured and non-functional. At that juncture, little if anything can be done to relieve the discomfort this deformity 5 causes the bird.

Other methods for maintaining a bird's beak and nails are known in the art. Probably the most common methods for keeping a bird's feet comfortable in so far as keeping the nails trim is to manually trim the nails. However, to manual trim its nails, the bird must be captured first (and this usually involves wrapping the bird in a towel to prevent injury to the bird and the handler). Next, while holding the bird in the towel, the handler must manually trims its nails with a nail trimmer. A bird's beak can be trimmed in a similar fashion, given the proper trimming tool. The risk in caring for the Z:I zn bird in this manner is, if the nail or beak trimming is not performed carefully, the bird's foot pad may be cut or too much nail or beak may be cut, thus causin, the bird to bleed n or be disfigured unnecessarily. Alternatively, an owner's apprehension for his or her own or the bird's safety can render the owner's provision of this type of care ineffective, and the bird will continue to suffer.

Other devices which incorporate a nail and/or beak trimming composition have been developed to avoid or overcome the stress incident to this aspect of bird ownership. Bird perches fabricated from materials including wood, wood surrounded by sand paper, concrete, and perches fabricated from alternative materials such as cotton, are currently known in the art. These perches typically have a round configuration, are tapered or are configured as a square and have with rounded edges.

Sandpaper and concrete perches have been developed to provide birds with both nail and beak trimming effects. However, sandpaper perches can be dangerous to the bird's health because serious foot sores can develop. Concrete perches currently known in the art are heavy and may deform or damage the bird cage and expose the bird to an unnecessary risk of injury. Concrete perches known in the art also tend to exhibit greater temperature fluctuations due to their composition and cause the bird to 3 experience unnecessary discomfort when its feet get cold. Cotton or wood bird perches are softer and/or warmer for a bird's feet, but they do not achieve a nail or beak trimming effect. Perches that provide a bird with therapeutic assistance which enables the bird to condition and exercise its feet and legs muscles, independent from or in conjunction with a means to trim their nails and/or their beak, are heretofore unknown in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a perch for therapeutically assisting a bird roosting on or moving along the perch. The perch includes an elongate member defining an undulating surface and a first end and a stabilizer defining a first end. The stabilizer is positioned in the first end of the elongate member and stabilizes the perch as the bird roosts on or moves along the perch. The undulating surface of the elongate member therapeutically assists a bird roosting on or moving along the perch by providing a variably dimensioned surface which compels the bird to utilize more of its leg and foot musculature as it roosts on or moves along the perch. The undulations of the surface also assists the bird in trimming its nails as the nails contact the protruding surface. The elongate member preferably defines an irregularly undulating surface which is textured.

The composition of the perch of the present invention is preferably provided by a combination of elements which include cement, at least one lightweight aggregate, and water. The use of an aggregate is preferred for the construct of the perch of the present invention for several reasons. The aggregate is lightweight and builds bulk in the perch structure without the added weight of ordinary cement. The aggregate also provides an insulating value such that the temperature of the perch is better moderated than that of concrete, and that temperature is more proximate that of ambient room temperature. Therapeutic elements may be selectively incorporated into the perch composition, onto the elongate member and/or onto the stabilizer, as desired, to afford the bird or other animal additional therapeutic assistance.

4 The present invention further provides a method for fabricating a perch for providing therapeutic assistance to an animal roosting or moving along the perch. This method includes the steps of creating an elongate member which defines an undulating surface and includes at least a first end, disposing a stabilizer defining a first end within the elongate member such that the first end of the stabilizer extends from the first end of the elongate member, and treating the surface of the elongate member to provide it with a textured finish. Where therapeutic elements are incorporated into the elongate member and/or onto the stabilizer, the step of incorporation is accomplished before, during or following any of these steps. The undulating surface and the textured elongate member surface of the perch of the present invention cooperatively provide therapeutic assistance to an animal roosting or moving along the perch.

I I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

The above summary as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following brief description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure IA is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention-, Figure 1B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A is an exploded elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2B is a side elevation view of the elongate member of the present invention, taken in section at 213-211 in Figure 2A; Figure 2C is another side elevation view of the elongate member of the present invention, taken in section at 2C-2C in Figure 2A; Figure 3A is an exploded elevation view of a second embodiment of the present invention-, Figure 3B is a side elevation view of the elongate member of the present invention, taken in section at 3B-3B in Figure 3A; Z71 Figure 3C is another side elevation view of the elongate member of the present invention, taken in section at 3C-3C in Figure 3A-, Figure 4A is an exploded elevation view of an alternative second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4B is a side elevation view of the elongate member of the present invention, taken in section at 4B4B in Figure 4A; and Figure 4C is another side elevation view of the elongate member of the present invention, taken in section at 4C-4C in Figure 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. More particularly, it will be understood that while the following discussion describes the application of the present invention to perches for birds, the perch 100 of the present invention is broadly adaptable for therapeutically assisting a wide range.of animals that would benefit from using a perch to exercise the musculature of their legs and feet or claws, better maintain the growth of their nails and/or beaks, and derive additional benefits as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

As used in the specification and in the claims, "a," "an," or "the" can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. The preferred embodiment is now described with reference to the figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures.

Figures I A and I B illustrate two configurations of the perch of the present invention and each configuration depicts a first embodiment of the perch. As shown in these figures, the perch 100 includes an elongate member 110 defining an undulating surface and a first end 112 and a stabilizer 120 defining a first end 114. The first end 114 of the stabilizer 120 is positioned in the first end 112 of the elongate member 110 and stabilizes the perch 100 as the bird roosts on or moves along the perch 100. An 6 undulating surface of the elongate member 110, as intended and understood within the scope of the present invention, is one which defines a wave- like or sinuate appearance. As illustrated in Figure I A, the undulating surface may have a regular or sinusiodial appearance in which each crest and trough of the surface have relatively equivalent or relatively uniform dimensions with respect to each other or to another crest or trough defined by the elongate member 110. Alternatively, as shown in Figure I B, the undulating surface may have an irregular appearance in which the crest and trough of the surface have relatively non-equivalent or asymmetrical dimensions with respect to each other or to another crest or trough defined by the elongate member 110.

Regardless of the configuration employed, the undulating surface of the elongate member 110 of the present invention therapeutically assists a bird roosting, on or moving along said perch 100 by providing a variably dimensioned surface which compels the bird to utilize more of its leg and foot musculature as it roosts on or moves along the perch. It also assists the bird in trimming its nails as they rub along the undulating surface while the bird moves from side to side on it, The elongate member I 10 preferably defines an irregularly undulating surface.

The composition of the perch 100 of the present invention is provided by a combination of elements which includes cement, at least one lightweight aggregate, and water. The use of a lightweight aggregate is preferred for the construct of the perch 100 of the present invention for several reasons. The lightweight aggregate builds bulk in the perch structure without the added weight of ordinary cement. The aggregate also provides an insulating value such that the temperature of the perch is better moderated than that of concrete, and that temperature is more proximate that of ambient room temperature. Any lightweight aggregate known in the art may be used to form the perch of the present invention. Examples of such lightweight aggregates include saw dust, expanded perlite, volcanic rock, expanded slate, expanded shale, expanded clay, lyca blown clay, vermiculite, blown silica, pumice, foam, styrofoam, polymers, plastic, plaster, phenolic resins, furan resins, epoxy resins, and the like.

7 The composition of the perch 100 of the present invention may farther include at least one coarse substance including such as sand, boron carbide, silicon carbide, W alumina, diamond, cubic boron nitride, mullite, pigment, salt, chemical strengthener, chemical accelerator and the like. Selection of such other ingredients is not critical to the invention. Therefore, any known pigments, salts, chemical strengtheners or chemical accelerators may be used. Example pigments, salts, chemical strengtheners and chemical accelerators include: Rit Dye, Spectramine Green, Spectramine Fast Yellow, Spectranyl Flavine, Spectramine Blue, Spectramine Brown and Spectramine Turquoise.

The composition of the perch 100 of the present invention may also further include at least one therapeutic element (not shown) to provide the roosting bird or other animals with additional therapeutic assistance. Therapeutic elements that provide such assistance include, but are not limited to, magnets. Where magnets are the desired therapeutic element, the roosting bird or other animal is provided with the therapeutic assistance afforded by magnetic therapy. Such therapy has been found to be effective in treating conditions including chronic pain and infection and has been shown to help boost blood flow and healing. Where the at least one therapeutic element of the present invention is at least one magnet, the magnet may be disposed on or within the elongate member 110 or may be positioned on the stabilizer 120 prior to its encapsulation within the aggregate forming the elongate member 110. When disposed in the elongate member 110 or on the stabilizer 120 of the present invention, it is preferably positioned such that the north pole of the magnet is facing toward the bird or other animal's feet.

In a preferred embodiment, the perch 100 of the present invention consists of a composition including between about 5% (vol.) and about 90% (vol.) cement, between about 1 % (vol.) and about 90% (vol.) coarse substance; between about 1 % (vol.) and about 90% (vol.) lightweight aggregate and between about 3% (vol.) and about 75% (vol.) water, based on the volume of the total lightweight abrasive composition. The perch composition of this embodiment may further include between about 1% (vol.) and about 30% (vol.) pigment; between about 1 % (vol.) and about 10% (vol. ) salt; 8 between about 1 % (vol.) and about 25% (vol.) chemical strengthener; and between It> about 1% (vol.) and about 30% (vol.) chemical accelerator, based on the volume of the total lightweight abrasive composition.

in another preferred embodiment, the perch 100 of the present invention consists of a composition including between about 15% (vol.) and about 35% (vol.) cement, between about 15% (vol.) and about 35% (vol.) coarse substance; between about 15% (vol.) and about 35% (vol.) lightweight aggregate and between about 15% (vol.) and about 35% (vol.) water, based on the volume of the total lightweight abrasive C composition. The perch composition of this embodiment may further include between about 1 % (vol.) and about 5 % (vol.) pigment; between about 1 % (vol.) and about 5 % (vol.) salt; between about 1% (vol.) and about 5% (vol.) chemical strengthener; and between about 1 % (vol.) and about 10% (vol.) chemical accelerator, based on the volume of the total lightweight abrasive composition.

In the preferred embodiment, the irregular undulating surface of the elongate member 110 is textured to afford a bird additional therapeutic assistance by providing it with a surface on which it can groom its beak and nails as well as exercise its legs and feet. In this embodiment, the elongate member 110 is textured to provide a rough finish in any one of the following ways: by fabricating the member 110 such that it is textured upon its production, texturing the member 110 as a post-forming process, or adding additional materials to the composition forming the member 110, such as grit, sand, or the like, which will provide the member 110 with this textured feature. Still other methods for providing the elongate member 110 of the present invention with a rough finish will be known to those skilled in the art. In this embodiment, the elongate member 110 is preferably textured in a post-forming, step to provide the bird with an optimum nail and beak grooming surface. An incidental benefit of providing a rough 1 Z:1 textured surface to the elongate member 110 of the prefer-red embodiment is that the skin on the feet of the bird will also be strengthened by the bird's use of this perch. More particularly, the skin on the bird's feet will be strengthened as the rough textured surface will assist in removing dead skin cells from the bird's feet as it moves alon the -> 9 member surface. It will also assist in toughening the skin on the foot of the bird such 9 that it will more readily resist cutting and injury that may otherwise incidentally occur.

As illustrated in Figure 2A, the therapeutic perch 200 of the present invention preferably further includes at least one securement device 216 removably attached to the stabilizer 220 adjacent to its first end 214 for mounting the perch 200 on at least one side of a cage (not shown). Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are a number of securement devices that are adaptable for removably mounting the therapeutic perch 200 of the present invention onto the side of the cage. Included among these devices are hooks and brackets wl-iich extend from a cage wall to removably receive the first end 214 of the stabilizer 220 therein. In this embodiment, the first end 214 of the stabilizer 220 is preferably threaded and the securement device 216 includes at least a washer 226 and a nut, preferably a wingnut 124.

The perch 200 is mountable in the bird cage by placing a first washer 226 on the stabilizer 220 proximate the perch 200 and inserting the perch 200 in the bird cage, through one side of the cage such that the first end of the stabilizer 220 protrudes from between two bars of the cage. Once in place, the first washer 226 is seated on the stabilizer 220 against the inside of the cage between the elongate member 210 and the bars of the cage. The second washer 226 is then mounted onto the portion of the stabilizer 220 that protrudes from between the bars of the cage and the wingnut 224 is threaded onto the stabilizer 224 until the second washer 226 is similarly securely seated between the wingnut 224 and the outside of the bars of the cage. Whenever relocation of the therapeutic perch 200 is desired, removal of the perch 200 is accomplished by performing these same steps in a reverse order. Figures 2B and 2C assist in further demonstrating the undulating surface aspect of the present invention by illustrating, in section, the disposition of the elongate member 210 of the perch 200 at different points on the perch 200.

In a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 3A3C, the elongate member 310 and the stabilizer 320 each ffirther include a second end 318, 328, respectively, opposite the first end 312, 314 and the second end of the stabilizer 328 is positioned proximate the second end of the elongate member 318. The stabilizer 320 of this embodiment includes at least two sections extending one from each of the first and second end 312, 318 of the elongate member 310. The perch of the second embodiment also includes two securement devices 316 for removably mounting said perch 300 on two sides of a cage. Each securement device 316 of this embodiment is disposable on each end of the stabilizer 320 and each end of the stabilizer 320 is correspondingly configured to complimentarily and removably receive one each of the two securement devices 316. The perch 300 of this embodiment is mountable between two adjacent or opposing walls of the cage in a manner similar to that described above.

C) Where the stabilizer 320 is enclosed within the elongate member 310 (not shown), at least one hook or other similar device may be used to suspend the perch in the cage in a swing-like manner. The perch 300 may also be pressure mounted between two bars in the cage by slidably engaging each end of the perch 300 between two bars of the cage Z:1 Zn and allowing the resistive force of the bars to maintain the perch 300 in a relative stable position within the cage.

Figures 4A-4C illustrated an alternative second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the stabilizer 420 is a single rod that extends through the elongate member 410 in a relative coaxial alignment with the elongate member 410 of the perch 400. Where the stabilizer 420 extends through and from each end 412, 418 of the elongate member 410, mounting methods such as those described above are useful for mounting the perch 400 in a cage. The stabilizer of the present invention is fabricated from any material which is compatible with the lightweight abrasive composition and strong., enough to support the weight of the bird. Such materials may include, but are not limited to wood, metal and alloys thereof, polymer, and plastic.

The present invention further provides a method for fabricating a perch 100.

Z This method includes the steps of creating an elongate member I 10 which defines an irregularly undulating surface and includes at least a first end 112, and disposinp 2t least a portion of a stabilizer 120 having a first end 114 within the elongate member such that the first end 114 of the stabilizer 120 extends from the first end 112 of I I said elongate member 110. In this method, the surface of the elongate member 110 is textured to provide it with a textured finish. Texturing the surface of the elongate member 110 of the present invention is accomplished by any one of the methods described below. The irregularly undulating textured surface of the elongate member 110 of the perch 100 of the present invention provides therapeutic assistance to an animal roosting on or moving along the perch 100.

In a preferred method for fabricating the perch 100 of the present invention, a mold is manipulated or formed to provide an irregular undulating form and a lightweight composition is inserted into the mold to form the elongate member of the perch 100. A stabilizer 120 is then at least partially inserted into and properly positioned in the composition within the mold and the mold is allowed to set.

Thereafter, the perch 100 is removed from the mold and the exterior surface of the perch 100 is textured and allowed to dry.

More particularly, in the preferred method of the present invention, the mold is formed of a PVC-type pipe which is heated, manipulated to form an irregular undulating shape, cooled and then separated into segments which are removable from the elongate member once it has been cast and dried. Other types of molds for forming the elongate member 110 and perch 100 of the present invention are equally foreseeable. Included among these molds, for example, is a metal cast mold which is structured in a manner similar to the PVC-type mold.

According to the preferred method of the present invention, the lightweight composition is created prior to insertion into the mold. In one embodiment, the lightweight composition includes cement, at least one lightweight aggregate, and water.

r) Z:) Optionally, the lightweight abrasive and coating compositions can include other 4 ingredients, such as coarse substances, lightweight aggregates, pigments, salts, chemical strengtheners and chemical accelerators. In the preferred embodiment, the lightweight abrasive composition includes pigment, chemical accelerators, chemical strengtheners, water, cement, sand, and lightweight aggregate 4: tD 12 The perch 100 of the present Invention can be textured In a number of ways. In one embodiment, the perch 100 is textured by performing the additional step of adding materials to the composition that provide the perch 100 with a roughened finish, prior to the step of inserting the stabilizer 120 into the composition within the mold. In another embodiment, the texturing step comprises the step of filing the perch 100 after it is removed from the mold to provide the exterior surface of the perch 100 with a rough finish. In the preferred embodiment, the texturing step comprises the step of filing the perch 100 after it is removed fi7om the mold and further comprises the steps of adding a coating layer to the exterior surface of the elongate member I 10 and allowing the coating layer to dry. Alternatively, the texturing step may comprise the step of sandblasting the perch prior to the steps of adding the coating layer and allowing the coating layer to dry. In this preferred embodiment for texturing the perch 100, the coating composition includes cement, at least one coarse substance, and water.

Where the perch 100 of the present invention includes at least one therapeutic element for providing additional therapeutic assistance to a roosting bird or other animal, the method of the present invention further includes the step of incorporating the at least one therapeutic element into the perch. The point of incorporation of the therapeutic element into the perch will depend on what type of element is desired for use in the perch. Where the therapeutic element is at least one magnet for affording the animal the therapeutic benefits of magnetic therapy, the magnet may be positioned onto the stabilizer 120 before the stabilizer 120 is inserted into the aggregate fon-ning the elongate member 110 of the perch 100. As may also be preferred, the magnet maybe positioned within the aggregate independent of the insertion of the stabilizer 120 or on the elongate member 110 after its formation. In either instance, the magnet will be inserted such that the north pole of the magnet faces toward the bird or other animal's feet so that the beneficial effects of the magnet are provided. Still other methods for incorporating the at least one therapeutic element into or onto the perch 100 of the present invention into the are foreseeable.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific 13 details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.

14

Claims

I A perch comprising an elongate member having an undulating surface and defining a first end, said undulating surface being provided for therapeutically assisting an animal roosting on or moving along said perch, and a stabilizer defining a first Zn stabilizer end for being positioned in said first end of said elongate member and for Z stabilizing said perch as the animal roosts on or moves along said perch.

Z.--:n
2. The perch of claim I wherein said elongate member defines an irregularly undulating surface.
The perch of claim I or claim 2 wherein said undulating surface of said elongate member is textured. 15
4. The perch of any of the preceding claims wherein said elongate member includes a second end opposite said first end thereof and said stabilizer extends through said elongate member to form a second stabilizing end adjacent the second end of said stabilizer, said second stabilizing end being adapted to stabilize said second end of said 20 perch.
5. The perch of any of the preceding claims further comprising at least one Z.- therapeutic element disposed within said perch for providing additional therapeutic Zn assistance to the animal.
6. The perch of claim 5. wherein the at least one therapeutic element is a magnet.
7. The perch of any of the preceding claims further comprising a securement device C C for removablv mounting said perch onto at least one side of a cage, said stabilizer being confi-ured for removably receiving said securement device.
8. The perch of claim 7, further comprising two securement devices for removably mounting said perch on two sides of a cage, said stabilizer being configured for removably receiving said securement devices.

C
9. The perch of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said first end of said stabilizer is threaded and said at least one securement device comprises at least one washer and at least one nut of a size for being removably threaded onto said first end of said stabilizer, wherein said washer and said nut are complimentarily received onto said stabilizer to removably secure said perch to one side of the cage.
10. The perch of claim 8, wherein each said end of said stabilizer is threaded and each said securement device comprises at least one washer and at least one nut for being removably threaded onto each said end of said stabilizer, wherein each said washer and said nut are complimentarily received onto said stabilizer to removably secure said perch to two sides of the cage.
11. A method for fabricating a perch, said method comprising the steps of forming an Zn Z-- elongate member defining an undulating surface, said elongate member having a Z:' Z:I stabilizer at least partially disposed therein, said stabilizer defining a stabilizer end Z-- extending from at least one end of said elongate member; and treating said surface of said Z:I ZD elongate member to provide said surface with a textured finish, said undulation and said texture of said surface of said elongate member cooperatively providing therapeutic Zn assistance to an animal roosting on or moving along said perch.

Z:I
12. The method of fabricating a perch according to any of claims I to 10.

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