GB2479004A

GB2479004A - Bird, insect or animal shelter

Info

Publication number: GB2479004A
Application number: GB1005180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Duncan Benedict Mccutchan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-26
Filing date: 2010-03-26
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-26
Also published as: GB201213206D0; GB2479004B; GB201005180D0; GB2492670B; GB2492670A

Abstract

A bird, insect or animal shelter 2 comprises a housing 4 which is adapted to replace a plurality of blocks of a wall 28. The housing 4 comprises a substantially closed container provided with at least one opening 26 to allow access to the shelter 2. The housing may comprise a front lid which fits to the container via cooperating formations such as lugs and tangs. The front lid may have slices of block, such as brick shims, matching the blocks of the wall fixed to it.

Description

BIRD, INSECT OR ANIMAL SHELTER This invention relates to a bird, insect or animal shelter and particularly, although not exclusively relates to a bird box which is built into a wall of a building.

Conventional bird shelters generally comprise wooden boxes which are attached to a structure, or are placed on a stand. It is also known to produce a bird box which is approximately the same size as a building block of a wall. When the wall is built, the bird box is inserted into the wall in place of one of the blocks. An opening is provided in the front of the box to allow access. A modified version of this box can be used to provide shelter for bats. In this case, a slot is provided in the front of the box to provide an access opening which is suitable for bats.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a bird, insect or animal shelter comprising a housing which is adapted to replace a plurality of blocks of a wall, the shelter comprising a substantially closed container provided with at least one opening to allow access to the shelter and having an outside profile which is substantially the same as that of the said blocks.

As the housing is adapted to replace a plurality of blocks of a wall, it is more spacious internally, than a conventional housing which replaces a single block of a wall.

Consequently, a housing in accordance with the present invention can accommodate larger birds, insects or animals. Alternatively, it could accommodate a plurality of birds, insects or animals. For example, a single container could house an entire colony of bats.

In addition, a housing in accordance with the present invention which replaces a plurality of blocks of a wall, will look more visually striking, if it is made from a different material or in a different colour from the other blocks of the wall. In particular, if the housing has a substantially cruciate shape, it will look particularly striking on an otherwise blank wall.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a bird nesting box with the cover removed; Figure 2 illustrates a first stage in the construction of a wall incorporating a shelter in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a second stage in construction of the wall of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates a third stage in construction of the wall of Figure 2; and Figure 5 illustrates the final stage in construction of the wall of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of animal shelter comprising a bird nesting box 2 comprising a substantially cross-shaped housing 4 and a substantially cross-shaped cover 6. The housing 4 defines a substantially horizontally aligned compartment 8 which is integrally formed with an upper compartment 10 and a lower compartment 12. A back waIl 14 and peripheral wall 16 are moulded together from plastics material to form the housing 4, and the cover 6 is also moulded in one piece from plastics material. In alternative embodiments, the compartments of the bird nesting box may be formed from individually formed walls which may be wholly or partially pre-assembled prior to sale or may be supplied in kit form for assembly on site. Furthermore, the bird nesting box may be formed in whole or in part from plastics material, or any other suitably rigid material such as aluminium, galvanised steel or fibreglass.

Tangs iSa, 18b, 18c and 18d are moulded onto the radially outer walls 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d of the housing 4 towards the front of the housing 4 and engage with corresponding retaining lugs 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d which are moulded into a face 24 of the cover 6 at the radially outer edges of the cover 6. An access opening 26 is formed through the cover 6. In the present embodiment, the opening 26 is circular to allow access for birds and is situated towards the top of the cover. In alternative embodiments, the shape and/or size and/or position of the opening 26 may be varied.

For example it may comprise a slot to provide access for bats. p

Referring to Figure 2, in use of the bird nesting box 2, a brick wall 28 is first constructed up to a course 28a at the proposed height of the lower wall 20c of the nesting box 2. A further course of bricks 28b is then laid, leaving a gap of sufficient size to accommodate the nesting box 2. In the embodiment illustrated, a gap 29 slightly wider than the compartment 12 is left in the coarse of bricks 28b. A bed of mortar 311s laid along the top of the course of bricks 28b and a bed of mortar 32 is laid in the bottom of the gap.

Referring to Figure 3, the nesting box 2 is then bedded into the waIl 28, such that the lower wall 20c of the nesting box 2 is laid onto the bed of mortar 32 on the course of bricks 28a and the substantially horizontally aligned compartment 8 sits on the bed of mortar 31 on the course of bricks 28b.

Referring to Figure 4, a further course of bricks 28c is then laid onto the course 28b, such that respective bricks of the course 28c abut the end walls 20b, 20d of the nesting box 2.

Referring to Figure 5, two more courses of bricks 28d, 28e are laid on respective beds of mortar 33, 35, such that the nesting box 2 is fully embedded in the wall 28. Further courses of bricks are added to complete the wall, and the wall is then pointed in a conventional manner. During the process of pointing the wall, the joints between the various brick courses and the nesting box 2 are also pointed.

It will be appreciated that by making the width of the housing 4 in the region of the upper and lower compartments 10, 12 equal to the width of a standard brick, and the width of the housing 4 in the region of the substantially horizontally aligned compartment 8 equal to the length of a standard brick, the bird box fits easily into the wall and an equal mortar gap is maintained around the bird box as is used in the rest of the wall 28.

Once the mortar has set, the cover 6 can be pushed into place onto the housing 4 such that the retaining lugs 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d on the cover 6 engage with the corresponding tangs 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d on the housing 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the lugs snap fit into position, but in alternative embodiments (not illustrated) they may simply engage as a friction fit with the tangs, or screws may be secured into the housing 4 through holes formed in the cover 6.

In order to improve the appearance of the bird box 2 in the wall 28, the cover 6 may be coloured or patterned. For example the cover may be moulded to reproduce the shape of the bricks in the wall. Alternatively, brick or part brick shaped elements may be attached to the cover either at the time of manufacture or on site. In one alternative embodiment, actual bricks from the wall may be cut to produce the sections which can be attached to the cover by screws, adhesive or any other suitable means to reproduce exactly the contour of the wall 28 over the visible surface of the bird box 2.

The opening 26 is sized and shaped to allow access by birds which are to nest in the box 2. It will be appreciated that the invention could be adapted for other purposes.

For example, as mentioned above, the opening could comprise a slot which provides access to bats rather than birds. Similarly, the invention could be adapted to provide accommodation for reptiles or insects either for the purpose of nurturing them or as a bait box into which traps or poisoned bait could be laid and into which only pests such as rats and mice can gain access. In this embodiment, the bait box may be laid into the wall substantially at ground level, or above or below the damp proof course. As the housing extends over an area greater than that of a single block, it provides a large reservoir for bait, or a large space which can accommodate more than one trap.

The invention may also be applied as a retrofit assembly. In this embodiment, a brick and two batts are removed from an existing wall and a nesting box 2 is cemented in their place. Generally, removing this many bricks will not weaken a wall to the extent that additional support is required, especially since a bat or bird nesting box is likely to be sited at the top of a wall close to the eaves, where loading is generally light.

However, where additional support is required the housing 4 may be made of stiffer material or may be provided with internal bracing, provided that this does not unduly limit the useful space available in the box.

Alternatively, a lintel may be inserted above the box to support the wall above the box.

This technique is used conventionally above door and window openings, so is not described in detail here.

The invention can be adapted to any structure, either externally or internally, where the structure is formed in whole or in part from blocks fitted together. For example it could be applied to any form of block work or brick work construction as well as to natural stone or even solid concrete walls simply by modifying the housing 4 and cover 6 to fit the pattern of the brick work, block work or stone work, or matching the cover 6 to the surface finish of a continuous wall such as a solid concrete wall. The box may be cast directly into a concrete wall either on site or at a pre-cast fabrication area.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover 6 may be deliberately contrasting in colour or contour to provide an attractive highlight in the wall.

An advantage of making the cover 6 removable is that access to the housing 4 is possible at anytime, for example to clean out the old nest material or to displace unwanted creatures such as bees, wasps, hornets, or rodents or to install a camera to observe the movements and behaviour of creatures in the box.

In an alternative embodiment, the back wall of the box may be omitted or maybe replaced by a transparent or translucent panel, so that the movements and behaviour of creatures in the box can be observed from inside the building to which the box is fitted. Furthermore, by removing the back wall of the box, access could be provided to a cavity behind the box, such that the box operates as an opening into the cavity for use by creatures such as bats.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bird, insect or animal shelter comprising a housing which is adapted to replace a plurality of blocks of a wall, the housing comprising a substantially closed container provided with at least one opening to allow access to the shelter.
2. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in claim 1, in which at least an exposed face of the container is adapted to match the appearance of the said blocks.
3. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in claim 1, in which at least an exposed face of the container is adapted to contrast with the appearance of the said blocks.
4. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in claims 3, in which the exposed face is a different shape and/or has a different colour and/or texture from that of the said blocks.
5. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which, in use, is mounted in a wall, such that an exposed face of the container is substantially flush with the wall.
6. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the housing further comprises a lid, the lid covering the exposed face of the container.
7. A bird, insect or animal she'ter as claimed in claim 6, in which the lid and container are provided with cooperating formations which interconnect when the lid is fitted onto the container.
8. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in claim 7, in which the cooperating formations comprise lugs on one of the container and lid, and tangs on the other of the container and the lid.
9. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in claim 8 in which the tangs are barbed and are received in openings formed in the lugs.
10. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which slices of block, matching the blocks from which the wall are formed, are attached to the lid.
11. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in claim 10, in which the slices of block are fixed to the lid using adhesive, or screws passing through an artificial mortar joint between the slices of block.
12. A bird, insect or animal shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is adapted to provide structural support to the wall.
13. A method of locating a bird, insect or animal shelter in a wall comprising: forming a shelter comprising a housing which is adapted to replace a plurality of blocks of the wall, the housing comprising a substantially closed container provided with at least one opening to allow access to the shelter; and incorporating the shelter into the wall.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising attaching a lid to the container to complete the housing, the lid being adapted to match the appearance of the said blocks.
15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which joints between the shelter and the surrounding blocks are grouted to match the grouting of the remainder of the wall.
16. A bird, insect or animal shelter substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.