Tree Fastener With Protective Collet for Growth-Compatible Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for attaching structures to trees often cause damage due to incorrect installation or repeated repairs, which can harm the tree and impede its growth.
Innovation Solution
A fastening system using a hanger bolt with a protective collet and mounting bracket that minimizes damage to the tree by allowing the cambium layer to grow over the bolt, and allows for extension of the bolt as the tree grows, enabling continuous use without further damaging the tree.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If commonly used attaching devices are installed to fasten structures to trees, then the structures can be securely attached, but the tree is damaged and its growth is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective collet as an intermediary component between the bolt and the tree. The collet is a smooth, cylindrical protective sleeve that fits over the bolt shaft, preventing direct contact between the bolt and the tree's cambium layer. This mediator allows the attachment structure to be securely fastened while protecting the tree from damage, enabling the tree to heal around the collet without compromising attachment strength
Solution Approach 2:
The attaching device is divided into distinct functional segments: the bolt portion for secure fastening, the protective collet for minimizing tree damage, and the mounting bracket for structure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the bolt provides strength, the collet protects the tree, and the bracket enables versatile mounting
2Ease of repair
If repeated repairs or reinstallation are performed on tree-mounted structures, then the structures can be maintained, but the tree damage accumulates and growth is further impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The protective collet is pre-installed on the bolt before attachment to the tree. This preliminary action ensures that the tree's cambium is protected from the outset, preventing initial damage that would require repair. The collet creates a smooth surface that allows the tree to heal around it, eliminating the need for future repairs and preventing cumulative damage
Solution Approach 2:
The tree naturally heals around the protective collet through its own growth processes. The collet's smooth, cylindrical design allows the cambium to grow over it seamlessly, with the tree effectively repairing itself by enveloping the protective component. This self-healing process eliminates the need for human intervention or repeated repairs
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bolt is fixed in place to maintain attachment stability, then the structure remains secure, but the tree growth is impeded as the bolt prevents cambium movement
Solution Approach 1:
The protective collet serves as a mediator that decouples the stability function from the growth restriction. The bolt is firmly secured to maintain attachment stability, while the collet's smooth surface allows the cambium to move and grow over it freely. This intermediary enables both attachment stability and uninterrupted tree growth to coexist
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, restrictive attachment to a dynamic, growth-compatible configuration. The protective collet allows the tree's cambium to dynamically grow and envelop the bolt over time, transforming the attachment from a rigid constraint into a flexible, growth-accommodating structure that maintains stability while enabling continuous tree development
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for attaching structures to a tree employs, in an embodiment, a hanger bolt, a protective collet, and a mounting bracket for attaching a support structure to a tree in a way that minimizes damage to the tree. In some embodiments, an extending member adds length to the bolt. The mounting bracket attaches to the bolt. The bracket serves to affix hardware and separate support structures to a tree.