Protective case for a wildlife surveillance system

• US 8,973,751 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Non Typical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Non Typical Incorporated
• Inventors: Cuddeback, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGAN, JENINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/024,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20090194443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,594 Days
• Field of Search: 206/315.1, 206/316.2, 206/1.5, 206/464, 206/482, 206/315.11, 220/475, 220/476, 220/480, 220/300, 220/229, 220/730, 220/3.2, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.8, 220/3.9, 220/3.92, 220/3.94, 220/4.02, 220/4.21, 220/4.24, 220/4.33, 220/482, 220/481, 220/315, 220/322, 220/3.3, 220/324, 396/153, 396/433, 396/427, 396/265, 396/25, 396/27, 396/419, 396/428, 348/373, 348/151, 365/25, 439/133
• US Class Current: 206/316.2
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38

Abstract

A protective case that resists fractures, punctures, deformations, and other failures for use with a wildlife surveillance system is provided. The protective case includes a cooperating base and cover. The base and cover define a cavity therebetween, which houses the wildlife surveillance system. The base and cover interlock with each other, providing multi-dimensional stability of the entire assemblage. In addition, the protective case is made from a material that can endure manipulations, handling, or attacks from various wildlife animals, including, e.g., bears and others.

Claims

1. A combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein, the housed wildlife surveillance system within the case including a single enclosure which encloses at least a camera and a motion detector, the protective case comprising (a) a base, (b) a cover removably attached to the base and defining with the base a cavity configured for encasing the housed wildlife surveillance system therein, and (c) a lock mechanism for securing the cover to the base, the lock mechanism including interfacing shackle plates accepting a shackle of a padlock therethrough, a pair of front plates and a pair of lateral plates being spaced from the shackle plates and lying outwardly beyond the shackle of the padlock.

2. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 further including an interlocking connector having a tab with a downwardly extending leg portion.

3. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system of claim 1 further including multiple interlocking connectors provided on adjacent lateral portions of the base and the cover.

4. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system of claim 1 wherein the base includes two sidewalls, each having a slot configured to receive projections which are part of the wildlife surveillance system therein.

5. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and the cover has a yield strength value of at least about 14 MPa.

6. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and the cover is made from a material having a thickness dimension of at least about 14 gauge.

7. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and the cover is made from a material having a thickness dimension of at least about 12 gauge.

8. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and the cover is made from a ferrous material.

9. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base and the cover is made from steel.

10. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 further including user controls, the user controls being inaccessible when the cover is secured to the base.

11. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein the pair of front plates extends between the shackle plates and the lateral plates, such that the lateral plates and front plate reduce accessibility to the shackle of the padlock from at least (i) a first lateral side of the shackle, (ii) a second lateral side of the shackle, and (iii) a position in front of the shackle.

12. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein the base includes a lower wall having a slot extending thereinto, a portion of the lock mechanism projecting into the slot of the lower wall.

13. The combined protective case and housed wildlife surveillance system therein of claim 1 wherein the base is made from a non-polymeric material having a yield strength greater than a yield strength of the polymeric material.