Wall-Mounted Lick Block Support Structure for Livestock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for providing nutritional supplements to livestock, such as lick blocks and buckets, are prone to soiling and can be easily overturned, making the supplements unavailable to animals.
Innovation Solution
A support structure with a base plate and housing for a solid nutritional supplement, fixed to a wall or barrier rail, which prevents overturning and maintains the supplement at a suitable height for easy access, featuring fixing holes for secure attachment and a design that allows for interlocking during storage or transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lick blocks or buckets are placed on the ground for animal access, then animals can freely lick the nutritional supplement, but the supplement becomes soiled by external elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent elevates the nutritional supplement from ground level to wall-mounted height, transitioning the supplement's position from horizontal (ground) to vertical (wall-mounted) space. This dimensional change removes the supplement from the soiling environment while maintaining animal accessibility through appropriate height positioning.
2Ease of operation
If lick buckets are made mobile for animal access, then animals can approach them easily, but they can be knocked over making contents unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the nutritional supplement container from mobile elements, fixing it firmly to the wall structure. This segmentation eliminates the mobility-stability contradiction by anchoring the supplement in a stable position while animals retain free access to approach and lick.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall or barrier rail acts as an intermediary structure between the supplement and the animals. Instead of the supplement being directly mobile or directly on the ground, the wall-mounted configuration provides a stable intermediate position that animals can access without risking overturning.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the support structure is fixed to walls or barrier rails at height, then the supplement remains clean and accessible, but the structure requires secure attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates self-fixing features through integrating fixing holes directly into the base plate design. This allows the structure to be easily attached to walls or barrier rails using simple screws or clips, eliminating the need for complex external fixing mechanisms while maintaining secure mounting.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a support structure (1) for providing livestock with a product of interest, in particular a solid nutritional supplement for licking. This support structure (1) comprises a base plate (2) extending in a platform plane (P) and having a recess (3) for receiving the product of interest. It further comprises a rear wall (5) and side walls (6, 7) extending on either side of the platform plane (P). The rear wall (5) and the side walls (6, 7) include fixing holes (10) adapted for fixing the support structure (1) by means of screws and/or brackets to a supporting element such as a wall or a horizontal barrier rail.