Marine Mooring Line Vermin Shield Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vermin control solutions for marine vessels, particularly recreational pleasure craft, lack effective and safe methods to prevent vermin from crawling along mooring lines from the shoreline onto the vessels, especially since many prior solutions involve poisonous substances or are not designed for smaller craft, and existing designs are often cumbersome or difficult to install.
Innovation Solution
A marine mooring line vermin shield featuring a disc with a central aperture and radial slot, combined with a closure mechanism that compresses the mooring line against the aperture, creating a barrier to vermin movement, and includes a locking mechanism for security and ease of installation, accommodating various mooring line diameters through interchangeable aperture inserts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vermin trap with poisonous substance is used, then vermin are trapped and killed, but the device becomes more dangerous and unsuitable for recreational craft with children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful poisonous substance into a harmless alternative by using a purely mechanical barrier (the disc shield) that physically blocks vermin without introducing toxins. The sharp edge of the disc creates a mechanical obstacle that vermin cannot cross, achieving the same protective function without the harmful chemical element.
2Ease of manufacture
If a physical barrier disc is used without closure mechanism, then installation is simple, but the disc can be easily removed or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is pre-configured on the disc itself, with the closure member and cam already integrated into the disc structure. This preliminary arrangement allows for quick installation where the closure simply needs to be engaged with the mooring line, maintaining ease of installation while providing secure attachment that prevents theft or easy removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a remote rope or cable system is used to install vermin guard, then installation is possible on large vessels, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disc is segmented into functional components (shield portion, closure mechanism, cam) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows the disc to be made in standardized sizes suitable for different mooring line diameters without requiring complex remote installation systems, maintaining simplicity while providing adaptability through size variation rather than mechanical complexity.
4Reliability
If a solid disc without aperture is used, then vermin barrier is complete, but the mooring line cannot pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The disc features an asymmetric design with an aperture that is offset from the center and has an irregular shape. This asymmetric aperture is specifically configured to allow the mooring line to pass through easily while the surrounding disc structure maintains a complete barrier against vermin. The asymmetry creates a functional distinction between the passage function and the barrier function.
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
Effectively prevents vermin from crawling along the mooring line onto the vessel by creating a secure, easy-to-install barrier that is lightweight, inexpensive, and safe for use on smaller craft, while also preventing theft of the shield and accommodating different mooring line sizes.
Implementation Method 1
the closure being in a closed state to compress the mooring line against the aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A marine mooring line vermin shield to prevent the passage of vermin crawling along a marine mooring line from land to a pleasure craft, including a disc with a centrally located aperture through the disc, and a slot extending from the aperture to a periphery of the disc. The vermin shield also includes a closure that is urged to insert into the disc slot in a closed state compressing the mooring line against the aperture to secure the vermin shield against the mooring line. The closure may also be locked in the closed state. The closure can also be extracted from the disc slot in an open state to allow the mooring line to be removed from the aperture through the slot past the disc periphery.