Patents

US 10,839,983 B2

November 17, 2020

Patent diagram

A rodent repellent cable has an outer protective jacket with a repellent bonded to at least one component. The cable uses menthol as the repelling agent that creates a negative olfactory stimulus when the rodents are subjected to the repellent. Menthol naturally bonds to copper, affecting rodent olfactory systems without harming humans or pets, positioning this as a humane, non-toxic alternative to traditional pest control methods.

Background Summary

One specific example of such damage relates to electrical systems. Electrical wiring and electrical conduit generate heat, resulting from the flow of electricity therethrough. While rodents are warm blooded, they are sensitive to decreases in temperature. As a result, rodents are instinctually drawn to heat-producing wires, e.g., electrical wires, as a means to augment their body temperature with heat from the wires. Oftentimes, rodents will chew wires, causing power outages or fires, and/or presenting a dangerous potential for contact with exposed live wires. It has been postulated that a trend of transitioning from petroleum-based cable components, e.g., jacketing and primary insulation applied directly onto conductors, to more plant-based biodegradable materials, in an effort to reduce waste, has resulted in an increased incidence of rodent-inflicted wire damage, as rodents are supplementing their diets with the plant-based components as a food source.

Twenty percent (20%) of fires of undetermined origin are attributed to short circuits caused by rats chewing on the insulation of electrical wiring. Additionally, rodent-inflicted damage to car wiring systems is becoming increasingly prevalent, which, as discussed above, is attributable to automakers switching to more plant-based biodegradable materials in an effort to reduce waste. While efforts, such as jacketing wire with metal conduit, or the like, have been made to shield wire from rodents, the current materials of electrical wiring and electrical wiring insulation are not designed to repel rats.

Visual acuity of rodents is very poor. To compensate, they use their olfactory system as a means for navigation. Rodents’ olfactory systems are adversely affected by certain substances. For example, a rat’s olfactory system is acutely and negatively affected by menthol. Rat’s olfactory cells act as receptors to atomic or molecular interaction with menthol. Exposure to menthol causes rats to experience the “freezing” sensation humans can similarly experience when exposed to concentrated menthol. This is a devastating effect for a rat, since it relies so heavily on its sense of smell for navigation.

Research studies have shown that menthol is naturally attracted, and binds, to copper to form a coating on its surface. Among other things, the menthol coating acts as a protective barrier to protect copper in acidic environments.

US 10,910,129 B1

February 2, 2021

Patent diagram

This patent covers manufacturing methods using electrostatically bonding a repellent to one or more components of the cable. The methods apply to both electrical and fiber optic cable applications, providing comprehensive protection for all types of vehicle wiring systems against rodent damage.

Background Summary

One specific example of such damage relates to electrical systems. Electrical wiring and electrical conduit generate heat, resulting from the flow of electricity therethrough. While rodents are warm blooded, they are sensitive to decreases in temperature. As a result, rodents are instinctually drawn to heat-producing wires, e.g., electrical wires, as a means to augment their body temperature with heat from the wires. Oftentimes, rodents will chew wires, causing power outages or fires, and/or presenting a dangerous potential for contact with exposed live wires. It has been postulated that a trend of transitioning from petroleum-based cable components, e.g., jacketing and primary insulation applied directly onto conductors, to more plant-based biodegradable materials, in an effort to reduce waste, has resulted in an increased incidence of rodent-inflicted wire damage, as rodents are supplementing their diets with the plant-based components as a food source.

Twenty percent (20%) of fires of undetermined origin are attributed to short circuits caused by rats chewing on the insulation of electrical wiring. Additionally, rodent-inflicted damage to car wiring systems is becoming increasingly prevalent, which, as discussed above, is attributable to automakers switching to more plant-based biodegradable materials in an effort to reduce waste. While efforts, such as jacketing wire with metal conduit, or the like, have been made to shield wire from rodents, the current materials of electrical wiring and electrical wiring insulation are not designed to repel rats.

Visual acuity of rodents is very poor. To compensate, they use their olfactory system as a means for navigation. Rodents’ olfactory systems are adversely affected by certain substances. For example, a rat’s olfactory system is acutely and negatively affected by menthol. Rat’s olfactory cells act as receptors to atomic or molecular interaction with menthol. Exposure to menthol causes rats to experience the “freezing” sensation humans can similarly experience when exposed to concentrated menthol. This is a devastating effect for a rat, since it relies so heavily on its sense of smell for navigation.

Research studies have shown that menthol is naturally attracted, and binds, to copper to form a coating on its surface. Among other things, the menthol coating acts as a protective barrier to protect copper in acidic environments.

US 10,910,128 B1

February 2, 2021

Patent diagram

This patent specializes in fiber optic cables with rodent repellent properties, addressing the growing problem of damage to fiber optic cables inflicted by rodents. As vehicles increasingly rely on fiber optic systems for data transmission, protecting these critical components from rodent damage is essential for vehicle safety and reliability.

Background Summary

One specific example of such damage relates to electrical systems. Electrical wiring and electrical conduit generate heat, resulting from the flow of electricity therethrough. While rodents are warm blooded, they are sensitive to decreases in temperature. As a result, rodents are instinctually drawn to heat-producing wires, e.g., electrical wires, as a means to augment their body temperature with heat from the wires. Oftentimes, rodents will chew wires, causing power outages or fires, and/or presenting a dangerous potential for contact with exposed live wires. It has been postulated that a trend of transitioning from petroleum-based cable components, e.g., jacketing and primary insulation applied directly onto conductors, to more plant-based biodegradable materials, in an effort to reduce waste, has resulted in an increased incidence of rodent-inflicted wire damage, as rodents are supplementing their diets with the plant-based components as a food source.

Twenty percent (20%) of fires of undetermined origin are attributed to short circuits caused by rats chewing on the insulation of electrical wiring. Additionally, rodent-inflicted damage to car wiring systems is becoming increasingly prevalent, which, as discussed above, is attributable to automakers switching to more plant-based biodegradable materials in an effort to reduce waste. While efforts, such as jacketing wire with metal conduit, or the like, have been made to shield wire from rodents, the current materials of electrical wiring and electrical wiring insulation are not designed to repel rats.

Visual acuity of rodents is very poor. To compensate, they use their olfactory system as a means for navigation. Rodents’ olfactory systems are adversely affected by certain substances. For example, a rat’s olfactory system is acutely and negatively affected by menthol. Rat’s olfactory cells act as receptors to atomic or molecular interaction with menthol. Exposure to menthol causes rats to experience the “freezing” sensation humans can similarly experience when exposed to concentrated menthol. This is a devastating effect for a rat, since it relies so heavily on its sense of smell for navigation.

Research studies have shown that menthol is naturally attracted, and binds, to copper to form a coating on its surface. Among other things, the menthol coating acts as a protective barrier to protect copper in acidic environments.