Modular Annular Plant Edging with Stacked Segmented Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant edging solutions, such as masonry edging made of stone, brick, or concrete, are expensive and difficult to position aesthetically around trees, resulting in a lack of appealing and effective decorative and protective barriers.
Innovation Solution
A modular edging system comprising annular members with engagement portions that can be vertically stacked to form a decorative border around plants, featuring a base member, central members, and a cap member with protrusions and slots for secure assembly, allowing for easy adjustment and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If masonry edging (stone, brick, concrete) is used, then protective barrier function is provided, but cost increases and aesthetic appeal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The edging system is divided into multiple separate annular members (base member, central member, cap member) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be produced more efficiently and at lower cost while maintaining the overall protective function when assembled together around the plant base.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular members are designed to nest vertically within each other, with the base member at the bottom, central member in the middle, and cap member at the top. This nested arrangement provides the protective barrier function similar to solid masonry edging but uses less material and allows for easier, more cost-effective manufacturing and assembly.
2Reliability
If masonry edging (stone, brick, concrete) is used, then protective barrier function is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult positioning
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the edging into separate annular members, the system becomes much easier to position and adjust. Each member can be independently handled and placed in the correct position, allowing for easy alignment and assembly around the plant base, unlike solid masonry edging which requires precise positioning of heavy, indivisible units.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design with engagement portions allows the edging members to be easily assembled, disassembled, and repositioned as needed. This dynamic assembly capability enables simple adjustment and reconfiguration without requiring specialized tools or techniques, significantly improving ease of operation compared to fixed masonry edging.
3Ease of operation
If modular annular members with engagement portions are used, then ease of operation improves through easy stacking, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into multiple members does increase the number of components, each member is designed with simple, standardized engagement portions that feature basic protrusion-slot geometry. This keeps the individual component complexity low and makes the assembly process intuitive, offsetting the increase in component count with simplicity of each element.
Data Source
AI summary
An edging system is disclosed herein. The edging system includes a set of annular members having a plurality of first engagement portions and a plurality of second engagement portions. In some embodiments, each annular member is modular. Adjacent annular members are configured to join together via engagement of the plurality of first engagement portions and the plurality of second engagement portions thereon. The edging system edging provides a barrier for the plant, protecting the plant whilst providing a tidy and aesthetically pleasing appearance to the plant and the yard/garden as a whole.