Malleable Pool Barrier Frame for Spillway Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barriers for preventing animals from accessing bodies of water like hot tubs or fountains are either ineffective at allowing free water flow or are not customizable to fit specific spillways, allowing animals to circumvent them.
Innovation Solution
A customizable animal barrier system using malleable frame members and connectors, combined with a flexible web, that can be shaped to fit various spillways while allowing water flow and preventing animal access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a barrier is installed to prevent animals from accessing the water, then animal protection is improved, but water flow freedom deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible web material that forms a barrier preventing animal access while allowing water to pass through. The flexible nature of the web enables it to conform to various spillway shapes without obstructing water flow, resolving the contradiction between animal protection and water flow freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible web functions as a porous barrier that blocks animals while permitting water passage. The material's porous or mesh structure allows water molecules to pass through freely while physically blocking larger animal bodies, thus maintaining water flow freedom while achieving animal access prevention.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed barrier design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different spillways deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes malleable frame members that can be bent and shaped to match different spillway configurations. This dynamic adaptability allows the same standardized components to be customized for various spillway shapes and sizes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving spillway-specific adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The malleable frame members can have their physical parameters (shape, curvature, configuration) changed to suit different spillways. This parameter flexibility allows a single standardized product line to adapt to multiple spillway designs, balancing manufacturing ease with customization requirements.
3Device complexity
If standardized barrier components are used, then device complexity is reduced, but customization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into standardized modular components (frame members, connectors, flexible web sections) that can be assembled in different configurations. This segmentation allows complex customizations to be achieved through simple assembly of standardized parts, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized components are designed with universal connection mechanisms that allow them to function in multiple configurations. The same frame members and connectors can be assembled to fit various spillway shapes, reducing the need for multiple specialized component types and simplifying the overall device structure.
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 system effectively allows free water flow while preventing animal access, adapting to different spillway designs through malleable frame members and connectors, ensuring a secure and functional barrier.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible web is cut to conform to the frame members and held thereto at the protrusions at least partially by friction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an animal barrier for use proximate bodies of water such as pools, ponds, fountains or hot tubs. The barrier comprises elongated, malleable frame members, each having opposing ends and protrusions projecting laterally therefrom. A flexible web conforms and affixes to the frame members, held thereto at the protrusions by friction. The malleable frame members are bent to suit water feature shapes, allowing customization. The elongated frame members connect using linear union connectors coaxially joining the ends, and L-connectors orthogonally joining the ends, together forming a malleable barrier frame. The frame is placed about the body of water, forming the customizable animal barrier preventing access, while allowing water flow. The malleable frame members and customization allow adaptation to various water feature spillway designs.