Tree Trunk Snail Shield with Spike Barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for preventing snail damage to plants and trees are either ineffective, costly, pose risks to children and animals, or involve unpleasant disposal of snails, and fail to prevent access to leaves and fruit effectively.

Innovation Solution

A ring barrier with closely spaced spike members encircling the tree trunk, made from flexible plastic, which prevents snails from climbing and provides a platform for mounting irrigation emitters to direct water away from the trunk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional snail control methods (hand picking, toxic baits, traps) are used, then some level of snail damage prevention is achieved, but they pose risks to children and animals, involve unpleasant disposal tasks, or have limited effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of snail damage preventionVSAvoidrisk to children and animals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a physical barrier (shield) as an intermediary between the snails and the tree trunk, eliminating the need for direct contact with toxic substances or manual handling of snails. The shield with downwardly facing spike members creates a mechanical intermediary that snails cannot cross, thereby preventing damage without exposing children or animals to harmful chemicals or unpleasant disposal tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If barriers are applied to tree trunks, then snail access is prevented, but the barriers must be securely attached while allowing for tree growth and installation flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of snail accessVSAvoidinstallation flexibility and tree growth accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is designed with attachment strips that can be flexibly secured to the tree trunk, allowing the barrier to adapt to tree growth while maintaining secure attachment. The downwardly facing spike members are configured to maintain their protective function regardless of minor trunk diameter changes, providing a dynamic solution that grows with the tree.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier is divided into attachment strips and spike member sections that can be independently adjusted and secured. This segmentation allows for flexible installation around trees of varying diameters and enables the barrier to accommodate tree growth without requiring complete replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If closely spaced spike members are used to prevent snail movement, then snail protection is enhanced, but the density required (thirty spikes or more per square inch) increases manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of snail movementVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of high-density spikes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shield utilizes a flexible substrate that can be manufactured with closely spaced spike members without requiring extremely complex manufacturing processes. The flexible material allows for the creation of high-density spike patterns through simpler forming techniques, making the high-reliability design practically manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 snails from accessing the upper sections of trees and plants while allowing for efficient irrigation management, reducing damage and maintaining a safe and practical solution.

Implementation Method 1

a downwardly facing surface which may comprise a plurality of closely-spaced downwardly facing spike members. These spike members are sufficiently closely spaced so as to substantially or completely prevent snails from moving across the downwardly facing surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

Embodiments of the ring barrier are fabricated from relatively flexible plastic materials, which allow the memory of the material to provide the necessary biasing properties such that the barrier members will remain biased against the tree trunk

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

provides a secure platform for anchoring irrigation emitters and directing water away from the trunk or base of the tree

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS9326458B1Tree trunk snail shield and method of preventing snails from accessing the upper portions of a tree

Publication Date: 2016.05.03 WAMRAC INC

AI summary

A device attaches to the trunks of plants and trees to prevent snails from reaching the upper portion of the plant or tree which has leaves and fruit subject to attack from the snails. Embodiments of the device have an inner funnel-shaped sleeve which biases against the tree trunk to provide a sufficiently tight closure to prevent snails from climbing between the trunk and the device. Embodiments of the device have a downward facing surface having a plurality of closely-spaced downwardly facing spike members. These spike members are sufficiently closely spaced so as to substantially or completely prevent snails, including small-sized young snails, from moving across the downwardly facing surface to crawl around the outside of the device to gain access to the upper portion of the tree.