Bent Varmint Shield Deflects Feed to Block Climbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wildlife feeders are vulnerable to varmints climbing their legs to access the feed, leading to feed depletion and damage to solar panels and electrical components, resulting in increased maintenance costs and reduced wildlife attraction.
Innovation Solution
A varmint shield is designed to be attached to the legs of wildlife feeders, featuring a bent body with notches and cuffs for structural strength, deflecting feed outward and preventing varmints from climbing, while also producing an audible noise to attract desirable wildlife.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the wildlife feeder uses simple legs for support, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but varmints can easily climb the legs to access the feed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (the shield) attached to the feeder legs. This shield acts as a mediator between the simple leg structure and the varmints, blocking their access to the feed while maintaining the simplicity of the original feeder design. The shield is a separate element that intervenes in the interaction between varmints and the feed storage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution segments the feeder system by adding a distinct shield component attached to the legs. Rather than redesigning the entire feeder structure, the legs remain simple and unchanged, while the added shield segments the space between the legs and the feed hopper, creating a physical barrier that prevents varmint climbing without complicating the core feeder mechanism.
2Loss of time
If the feeder hopper is left unattended for substantial periods, then maintenance time and labor are reduced, but feed is depleted by varmints before the next visit
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is installed in advance on the feeder legs before varmint damage occurs. This preliminary protective action prevents varmints from accessing the feed during extended unattended periods, thereby preserving the feed supply and eliminating the need for frequent maintenance visits. The anti-action (blocking varmint access) is established beforehand to counteract the potential harmful effect (feed depletion).
3Adaptability or versatility
If the feeder is placed in remote locations, then wildlife attraction effectiveness is improved, but access for monitoring and refilling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shield provides self-service protection by automatically blocking varmint access without requiring human intervention or monitoring. Once installed, the shield continuously performs its protective function, allowing the feeder to operate autonomously in remote locations without increasing the need for frequent human visits for maintenance or refilling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The varmint shield effectively prevents varmints from accessing the feed, reducing waste and maintenance costs, and enhances wildlife attraction by signaling the availability of food through the audible noise.
Implementation Method 1
The body of the varmint shield is bent along its length from the top end to the bottom end at an angle sufficient to deflect feed expelled from the wildlife feeder outwardly and away from the wildlife feeder
Implementation Method 2
The varmint shield effectively prevents varmints from accessing the feed, reducing waste and maintenance costs, and enhances wildlife attraction by signaling the availability of food through the audible noise
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes a varmint shield for a wildlife feeder supported by at least one leg. The varmint shield includes a body having a length, a back side and a front side, a top end and a bottom end; and a first side and a second side. A notch is cut in the top end of the body. A plurality of mounting tabs are formed by bending the body at the notch toward the front side, each including at least one hole for receiving a fastening means such as a screw for securing the body to the wildlife feeder. The body of the varmint shield is bent along its length from the top end to the bottom end at an angle sufficient to deflect feed expelled from the wildlife feeder outwardly and away from the wildlife feeder. The body may also include beads formed along its length for structural strength and cuffs folded along its edges. A first shoulder and a second shoulder are preferably cut in the bottom end of the body. The first shoulder and the second shoulder preferably include edges folded to form cuffs. These cuffs aid in structural rigidity. At least one hole may be drilled in the body adjacent the bottom end for securing the body to the at least one leg of the wildlife feeder.