Stackable Metal Bird Spike with Resilient Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird deterrent devices are often expensive to ship and install due to lack of stackability and require tools for length adjustment, posing safety risks and increasing installation time.
Innovation Solution
A stackable bird deterrent device with a metal base that has sufficient resiliency to revert to its original form after bending at least 15° and includes break points for easy length adjustment, allowing spikes to be oriented at least 5° out of parallel with the base for efficient installation without repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices are made non-stackable to maintain spike orientation, then installation effectiveness is improved, but shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spikes are pre-positioned at the correct orientation (at least 5° out of parallel) during manufacturing, so that when devices are stacked for shipping, the spikes maintain their effective orientation without requiring repositioning during installation. This preliminary action eliminates the need to choose between stackability and installation effectiveness.
2Manufacturing precision
If tools are required to reduce device length, then manufacturing precision is improved, but installation time and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device base is divided into segments with break points between them, allowing the device to be easily divided into shorter sections by hand during installation. This segmentation enables length adjustment without requiring tools, reducing installation time and safety risks while maintaining adequate manufacturing precision through the break point design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If base flexibility is increased to allow bending, then adaptability is improved, but device stability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The base has different properties in different locations: break points provide localized flexibility for length adjustment, while the main body of the base maintains rigidity for stability. This local differentiation allows the base to be adaptable where needed (at break points) while remaining stable overall (in the main 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 solution reduces shipping costs, installation time, and safety risks by enabling devices to be shipped stacked with prepositioned spikes, allowing for quicker and safer installation without the need for tools, while maintaining effective bird deterrence.
Implementation Method 1
a configuration such that the metal base has sufficient resiliency to revert to an original form after being bent at least 15°
Data Source
AI summary
A bird deterrent device is presented having a base that is at least partially composed of a metal or metal composite. The base can be configured such that the base has sufficient resiliency to revert to an original form after being bent at least 15°. A plurality of spikes can be coupled to the base so that the device is stackable with other such devices while the spikes are oriented at least 5° out of parallel with respect to a plane of the base. It is contemplated that the devices can be stacked such that the base of one device is less than 3 cm from the base of an adjacent device in the stack.