Pest Inspection Tool Head Design for Timber Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tools for detecting timber damage caused by pests, such as termites and ants, are not optimally configured for use in areas with minimal tool-to-timber contact, particularly around the intersection of baseboards and floors, and in concave profiles of decorative timbers, limiting their effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A pest inspection tool with a shaft and a head designed for enhanced contact, featuring a flat rear portion and concave sides that allow penetration into timber surfaces and between the timber and floor coverings, enabling deeper detection of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a round ball or standard tool is used for timber inspection, then the tool structure is simple, but the tool-to-timber contact area is minimal, limiting detection effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool-to-timber contact areaVSAvoidtool structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The head incorporates concave portions that are concave in a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, allowing the tool to conform to curved surfaces and increase contact area with timber, particularly in concave profiles of moldings and decorative timbers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The head is divided into multiple functional portions including a substantially flat rear portion and concave sides with edges, each designed to engage with different timber geometries and maximize contact area in various inspection scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a standard tool shape is used, then the tool is easy to manufacture, but it cannot effectively access areas near the intersection of baseboard and floor or in concave molding profiles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to challenging areasVSAvoidtool manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The concave portions of the head enable penetration into surface deviations and tight spaces such as the intersection of baseboard and floor, and concave profiles of moldings, by conforming to these complex geometries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The head features an asymmetric design with a substantially flat rear portion and concave sides, allowing it to adapt to various timber configurations and access areas that symmetric tools cannot reach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Measurement precision

If minimal contact tools are used, then the tool design is simple, but the detection precision in damaged timber areas is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetimber damage detection precisionVSAvoidtool configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The concave portions increase the contact area between tool and timber, improving the detection of damage by enhancing acoustic coupling and tactile feedback from the timber structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The head design extends detection capability into the depth dimension by allowing penetration into surface deviations and between timber and floor coverings, enabling detection of damage at greater depths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9377442B2Pest inspection tool

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 TRADE MANAGEMENT SYST

AI summary

A tool for inspecting timber of a structure for the presence of damage to exposed timber caused by a pest. The tool includes a head having a substantially flat rear portion, and a generally concave front portion that forms an edge configured to permit the head to penetrate into a surface deviation in the timber, or into a boundary between the timber and a floor covering over a substantial portion of the height of the floor covering.