Tree Protection System With Unitary Fastener

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Solution Overview

Problem

Trees face damage from animals, herbicide application, and frost cracking, with existing protection methods being costly, labor-intensive, and lacking ease of installation and removal.

Innovation Solution

A flexible UV-stable tree protection system comprising multiple layers with openings between 5 mm and 9 mm, impervious to herbicides, and a unitary fastener for easy installation, providing protection from animals, herbicides, and frost cracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional tree protection methods are used, then trees are protected from damage, but installation and removal are labor-intensive and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetree protection effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation and removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protection system is divided into multiple functional layers (mesh layer with openings, herbicide-impervious layer, frost protection layer) that can be independently designed and assembled, allowing easy installation and removal while maintaining comprehensive protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple protection functions (animal protection, herbicide protection, frost protection) are combined into a single integrated wrap system with a unified fastening mechanism, eliminating the need for separate protection methods and reducing installation complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If existing protection systems are used, then trees are protected from multiple threats, but the systems are expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against animals, herbicides, and frostVSAvoidcost of protection system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh layer incorporates openings (5-9 mm) that allow the structure to use simple, inexpensive materials while still providing effective animal protection and maintaining breathability, reducing material costs compared to solid protective coverings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines different material layers (mesh, herbicide-impervious film, frost protection material) each optimized for specific functions, allowing cost-effective selection of materials for each layer rather than using expensive multi-functional materials throughout

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If protective layers are added to protect from herbicides and frost, then protection effectiveness increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from herbicides and frost crackingVSAvoidnumber of protective layers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wrap system is designed as a multi-functional universal protection device where each layer serves multiple purposes (e.g., the mesh layer provides both animal protection and structural support for inner layers), reducing overall system complexity despite multiple protection functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection system incorporates flexible, adaptable layers that can be adjusted and reconfigured as trees grow, allowing the same basic structure to serve multiple protection needs over time without requiring complex specialized designs for each scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11032981B2Tree protection system

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 REACH SUPPLIES LLC

AI summary

A tree protection system including a flexible UV-stable first layer including a plurality of openings between about 5 mm and about 9 mm formed therein, the first layer configured to protectively surround at least a base of a tree, and a unitary fastener adapted to secure overlapping opposed portions of the first layer together during protectively surrounding the at least a base of a tree in response to application of a single force directed toward the opposed portions.