Vibrating Wormer Probe with Telescoping Metal Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Anglers and gardeners face challenges in efficiently collecting earthworms from underground, as conventional methods are either costly or dangerous, and there is a need for a tool that can lure worms to the surface using vibrations for easier collection.

Innovation Solution

A hand tool with a telescoping metal probe and a vibrating motor or speaker that produces mechanical or sound-based vibrations to attract earthworms to the surface, featuring a handle with an on/off button and battery compartment, and a design that allows for easy storage and transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional electric shock probes are used to collect worms, then worms can be effectively collected, but the device becomes dangerous to operate due to high voltage requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworm collection effectivenessVSAvoiddanger from high voltage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical field-based conventional worm collection method with a mechanical vibration-based system. A motor-driven vibrator generates mechanical oscillations that travel through the probe into the ground, stimulating worms to surface without requiring high voltage electricity, thereby eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining collection effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mechanical probe as an intermediary medium to transmit vibrations from the motor into the ground. This probe acts as a mediator that delivers the vibrational stimulus to the soil and worms, replacing the direct electrical contact method and enabling safe, effective worm collection through mechanical rather than electrical means

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual soil overturning is used to find worms, then worms can be located, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworm collection efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent manually searching

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs mechanical vibration generated by a motor-driven vibrator that transmits oscillations through a probe into the ground. This vibration stimulates worms to emerge from the soil rapidly, enabling collection without the time-consuming process of manually overturning soil, thereby significantly improving efficiency while reducing time investment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Device complexity

If a fixed-length probe is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device becomes difficult to store and transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe structure simplicityVSAvoidportability and storage convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the probe into multiple telescoping segments that can extend and retract relative to each other. This segmentation allows the probe to be collapsed into a compact form for easy storage and transport, while still providing sufficient length when extended for effective worm collection, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and portability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 device effectively drives earthworms to the surface for collection, providing an efficient and safe means for anglers and gardeners to gather worms, while being portable and easy to use.

Implementation Method 1

The base component includes an on/off button in communication with the metal probe, as well as a battery and a vibrating motor or embedded speaker that would generate vibrations down the metal probe into the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a telescoping metal probe... generate vibrations down the metal probe into the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20240172736A1Wormer Device

Publication Date: 2024.05.30 MOSER KEITH

AI summary

The present invention relates to a novel wormer device. The device utilizes vibration, whether mechanical or sound produced, to drive worms to the surface of the soil for collection. The wormer device comprises a base component with a handle portion and a telescoping metal probe. The base component includes an on/off button in communication with the metal probe, as well as a battery and a vibrating motor or embedded speaker that would generate vibrations down the metal probe into the ground. The vibrations produced by the device will trigger a response by the worms to attract them to the surface of the soil for collection.