Tree Shoot Protection Device with Segmented Ventilation Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bite protection devices for tree terminals, especially coniferous trees, face issues where terminal drives can grow through ventilation holes, impairing the device's function.

Innovation Solution

A bite protection device with a headboard that includes elongated fastening elements for attachment to terminal drives and features ventilation openings equipped with a locking structure to prevent terminal drives from growing through.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ventilation holes are provided in the head part, then air conditioning of the interior space is improved, but terminal shoots can grow through the holes and impair the device function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair conditioning of interior spaceVSAvoiddevice function
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation opening is segmented into multiple smaller sub-openings by the blocking structure. This segmentation allows air to pass through multiple small paths while preventing terminal shoots from growing through, as the individual sub-opening dimensions are smaller than the shoot diameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking structure acts as an intermediary element between the ventilation requirement and the shoot growth prevention requirement. It mediates by providing pathways small enough to block shoots but large enough to allow air flow, thus resolving the contradiction between ventilation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the head part is completely closed to prevent shoot growth, then device reliability is improved, but ventilation of the interior space deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionVSAvoidventilation of interior space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking structure introduces local quality variations in the head part wall. Instead of being uniformly closed or open, specific regions contain sub-openings with dimensions optimized for their dual function of allowing air flow while blocking shoot growth, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ventilation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If blocking structures are added to ventilation openings, then terminal shoot growth through openings is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking structure is merged with the head part as a single integrated component. This combining of the blocking function with the existing ventilation opening structure avoids adding separate complex subsystems, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving the reliability improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it blocks terminal shoots from growing through, maintains ventilation by providing sub-openings for air flow, and can be integrated into the existing head part design. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 improved bite protection device effectively prevents terminal drives from growing through ventilation openings, enhancing the device's functionality and durability.

Implementation Method 1

The elongated fastening elements can be designed to be resilient, in particular, and thus be configured for resiliently fastening the browsing protection device to a terminal shoot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilience: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The head part has at least one opening for ventilation of the interior space enclosed by the head part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVentilation: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4552480A1Protection device for tree terminal shoots
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 NEO PLASTIC DOETSCH DIESPECK
  • EP4552480A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4552480A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4552480A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Anti-browsing device (10) for terminal shoots of trees and method for manufacturing such a device.