Like many new homeowners, the founders of Dalen Products Inc. set out to make their new house a home by starting a garden. Unfortunately, like many others, the founders quickly learned how much a nuisance a bird can be when trying to make your plants grow. Rather than filling the garden with pesticides, chemicals, or traps, Dalen Products designed a chemical free pest deterrent. This design has recently been granted a patent.

Their scarecrow design resembles a predator, like an owl, using a motorized, two-piece head so that the head can rotate. The scarecrow head is designed to mimic the movements of a live animal, like an owl, providing a more effective scarecrow device.

The motor is configured to rotate the motor shaft about ⅛ of a revolution one direction and then in an opposite direction so that the head moves back and forth about 45 degrees in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The scarecrow also has an electronic circuit, solar panel, and a motion sensor located within the head to trigger motion when pests are nearby.

While the motorized scarecrow is a great design for individual users, Dalen’s design has also simplified manufacturing and assembly. Formed from molded plastic, the pieces are readily installed together with the motor mounted inside the head.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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