U.S. patent application number 15/085674 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-06 for method of preventing snails from accessing the upper portions of a tree.
The applicant listed for this patent is William A. Miller. Invention is credited to William A. Miller.
Application Number | 20160286786 15/085674 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55807253 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160286786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; William A. |
October 6, 2016 |
Method of Preventing Snails from Accessing the Upper Portions of a
Tree
Abstract
A method of preventing snails from reaching the upper portion of
the plant or tree utilizes a device which bars access to leaves and
fruit subject to attack from the snails. Embodiments of the device
utilized in the method have an inner funnel-shaped sleeve which
biases against the tree trunk to provide a sufficiently tight
closure to prevent snails from climbing between the trunk and the
device. Embodiments of the device have a downward facing surface
having a plurality of closely-spaced downwardly facing spike
members. These spike members are sufficiently closely spaced so as
to substantially or completely prevent snails, including
small-sized young snails, from moving across the downwardly facing
surface to crawl around the outside of the device to gain access to
the upper portion of the tree.
Inventors: |
Miller; William A.;
(Moorpark, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Miller; William A. |
Moorpark |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55807253 |
Appl. No.: |
15/085674 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14674421 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
9326458 |
|
|
15085674 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 13/105 20130101;
A01G 22/00 20180201; A01G 13/0237 20130101; A01M 29/34
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01M 29/34 20060101
A01M029/34; A01G 13/02 20060101 A01G013/02; A01G 13/10 20060101
A01G013/10; A01G 1/00 20060101 A01G001/00 |
Claims
1. A method of preventing snails from accessing an upper section of
a tree trunk, the method comprising the steps of: separating a ring
barrier apart at a break in the ring barrier, wherein the break has
a first side and a second side and wherein the ring barrier
comprises a barrier member comprising a downwardly facing surface,
the downwardly facing surface comprising a plurality of
closely-spaced downwardly facing spike members; encircling a lower
section of the tree trunk with the ring barrier; and connecting the
first side of the break to the second side of the break.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the ring barrier further comprises
a plurality of adjacent radially disposed barrier members, the
barrier members each having an outside edge and each having an
inside edge, the ring barrier further comprising a sleeve member
attached to the barrier member, wherein the outside edges are
attached to an inner surface of the sleeve member such that the
plurality of adjacent radially disposed barrier members define a
funnel member such that the outside edges define an outer rim and
the inside edges define an inner rim, wherein the inner rim is
sized to encircle the trunk of the tree.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of attaching
the ring barrier to the tree trunk by attaching attachment strips
extending upwardly from the circular sleeve member to the tree
trunk.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Divisional application of U.S. application Ser.
No. 14/674,421, which was filed on Mar. 31, 2015 and for which a
Notice of Allowance was issued on Mar. 2, 2016. This inventor
claims domestic priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/674,421,
which application is incorporated herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to methods and apparatus
for preventing snails from damaging plants, trees, flowers, and
fruit. This invention more particularly provides a method which
prevents snails from gaining access to the leaves, flowers, and
fruit of large plants and trees.
[0003] Snails can inflict severe damage to plants and trees, and to
fruit growing on the plants and trees. With respect to trees,
citrus trees and citrus fruit are especially susceptible to damage.
Snails are most active at night, and will typically seek hiding
places to avoid sun and bright light. Shady areas and areas with
dense ground cover provide shelter for snails. Such shelters are
frequently found in orchards. The conventional techniques for
controlling snails include hand picking of the snails from foliage
and ground surface, use of toxic snail baits, utilizing barriers,
and traps. It is also known to utilize barriers on the trunks of
trees and plants. All of the techniques have various levels of
effectiveness, some more effective than others. However, many have
various drawbacks as well with respect to expense, practicality,
danger to young children and animals, and, with respect to traps,
the unpleasant task of disposing of a large number of snails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide an effective
method for preventing snails from gaining access to the portions of
plants and trees which are above the apparatus. For purposes of
this disclosure, the phrase "upper portions of the tree" shall
refer to those portions of the tree which are above the device.
When used in the present application, the terms up, upwardly, down
and downwardly are made with respect to the ground surface, such
that "upwardly" refers to the direction away from the ground
surface, etc. The terms inwardly and outwardly are made with
respect to tree trunk or plant trunk, such that "inwardly" refers
to towards the trunk and "outwardly" refers to away from the trunk.
The term "trunk" shall be understood to refer to trunks of both
plants and trees, and the terms "plant" and "tree" shall be
understood to be synonymous for purposes of this disclosure.
[0005] An embodiment of the present method utilizes a barrier which
encircles the trunk of a tree as a ring. This barrier comprises a
downwardly facing surface which may comprise a plurality of
closely-spaced downwardly facing spike members. These spike members
are sufficiently closely spaced so as to substantially or
completely prevent snails, including small-sized young snails, from
moving across the downwardly facing surface. For example, the spike
members may have a density of thirty spikes or more per square
inch, such that the spaces between adjacent spikes might be smaller
than one quarter inch.
[0006] The interior portion of the ring barrier comprises a
plurality of adjacent radially disposed barrier members, the
barrier members having an outside edge and an inside edge. These
barrier members are configured such that the assembled group of
barrier members form a funnel configuration, with the outside edges
of the barrier members defining an outer rim when the barrier
members are assembled together. An inner rim is defined by the
assembled inside edges. The outside edges of each barrier member
may be attached to a sleeve member to which the ring barrier is
attached. When thus attached to the ring barrier, for an apparatus
properly sized for a particular trunk, the inside edges of the
barrier members will be biased against the outside surface of the
tree. The side edges of each barrier member abut, or nearly abut,
the side edges of the adjacent barrier member. Thus configured, the
assembled barrier members join tightly about the trunk, preventing
snails from crawling between the ring barrier and the tree, or from
crawling between adjacent barrier members.
[0007] Embodiments of the ring barrier utilized in the method are
fabricated from relatively flexible plastic materials, which allow
the memory of the material to provide the necessary biasing
properties such that the barrier members will remain biased against
the tree trunk. The ring barriers must also allow the ring barrier
to be opened so that it may be placed about a tree trunk. In one
embodiment of the ring barrier, the device is a single piece having
one portion of the ring in which the ring opens at a break to allow
it to be slipped around the tree trunk. This embodiment will
include closure structure, such as pins on one side of the break
and holes on the other side of the break, where the pins engage the
holes to close and lock the ring around the tree trunk. Other
embodiments of the device, the ring barrier may be fabricated from
several arc-shaped sections, where the arc-shaped sections are
connected together to form the ring.
[0008] Embodiments of the device utilized in the method may further
comprise attachment strips which allow the device to be secured to
a tree trunk with nails or screws. Embodiments of the device
utilized in the method may further comprise apertures for inserting
and anchoring irrigation emitters. For this embodiment, the device
provides a secure platform for anchoring irrigation emitters and
directing water away from the trunk or base of the tree. Water can
cause problems when sprayed directly onto the trunks of citrus
trees. The present invention keeps the emitters above the ground
and provides an irrigation point which delivers water away from the
base of the tree in a desirable pattern.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the apparatus utilized in the
method as installed on a tree trunk.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, looking towards the bottom,
of an embodiment of the present apparatus utilized in the
method.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the apparatus
utilized in the present method.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the apparatus
utilized in the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of the apparatus
utilized in the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows a tree 100 having
a trunk 110. As shown in FIG. 1, embodiments of the disclosed
shield 10 attach to a lower section of trunk 110 by encircling the
trunk. As indicated in FIG. 1, the shield 10 will typically be
installed beneath the point of the trunk 110 from which major
branches 114 begin to grow out from the trunk. This section of
trunk 110 which is below the major branches 114 shall be referred
to as the lower section 116 of the trunk. The section of trunk 110
from which the major branches 114 begin or, alternatively, the
section of trunk above the point where the shield 10 is installed,
shall be referred to as the upper section 118 of the trunk. The
shield 10 encircles the trunk 110 and provides a barrier which
prevents snails from gaining access to the upper section 118 of the
tree 100.
[0015] The embodiment of the shield 10 depicted in FIG. 1 serves a
secondary purpose of providing a platform for mounting irrigation
emitters 80 which are connected to water line 82 by irrigation
tubing 84. Irrigation emitters 80 may be inserted into apertures 86
which are placed in ring 12.
[0016] FIGS. 2-5 show different views of an embodiment of shield
10. This embodiment of shield 10 has a ring 12 which has a bottom
14 and a top 16. The ring 12 has an inside circular edge 18 and an
outside circular edge 20. The bottom 14 has a lower face 22 which
extends between the inside circular edge 18 and the outside
circular edge 20. The top 16 has an upper face 24 which also
extends between the inside circular edge 18 and the outside
circular edge 20.
[0017] This embodiment of shield 10 has a circular sleeve member 26
which coincides and extends from the inside circular edge 18. The
circular sleeve member 26 has a proximate edge 28 which is adjacent
or in engaging contact with upper face 24. Circular sleeve member
26 also has a distal edge 28 which extends upwardly away from the
upper face 24. The circular sleeve member has a surface 30 which
faces inwardly (the "inward facing surface") and a surface 32 which
faces outward (the "outward facing surface"). As best shown in FIG.
3, the outward facing surface 32 is generally perpendicular to
upper face 24.
[0018] This embodiment of shield 10 also comprises a funnel member
34. As best shown in FIG. 4, funnel member 34 has a small diameter
rim 36 and a large diameter rim 38. The large diameter rim 38 is
coupled, molded with, or otherwise attached to the inward facing
surface 30. Funnel member 34 further comprises a funnel surface 40
which extends between the large diameter rim 38 and the small
diameter rim 36. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, large diameter rim 38 is
positioned adjacent to the distal edge 28 of circular sleeve member
26 and small diameter rim 36 extends axially toward the lower face
22. Funnel member 34 may comprise a plurality of adjacent radially
disposed barrier members 42. Radially disposed barrier members 42
have outside edges which define large diameter rim 38. Radially
disposed barrier members 42 have inside edges which define small
diameter rim 36.
[0019] Small diameter rim 36 forms an opening which is sized to
encircle trunk 110. Shield 10 may be fabricated from thermoplastic
materials through injection molding or other known processes. The
material properties of the plastic matrix forming shield 10 should
be such that the radially disposed barrier members 42 which make up
small diameter rim 36 are naturally biased. It is desired that when
installed on a tree trunk 110, that the inside edges of radially
disposed barrier members 42 are abutting against the tree trunk
110, with the memory of the thermoplastic material biasing the
radially disposed barrier members 42 against the trunk 110. This
configuration provides a sufficient seal between the trunk 110 and
the small diameter rim 36 to prevent snails from getting above the
shield 10 and thus gaining access to the upper section 118 of the
trunk 110.
[0020] Lower face 22 may comprise a plurality of closely-spaced
downwardly facing spike members 44. These spike members 44 are
sufficiently closely spaced so as to substantially or completely
prevent snails, including small-sized young snails, from moving
across the downwardly facing surface of lower face 22. For example,
the spike members 44 may have a density of thirty spikes or more
per square inch, such that the spaces between adjacent spikes might
be smaller than one quarter inch.
[0021] In order to be installed around a tree trunk 110,
embodiments of the shield 10 must have at least one break 46 which
allows the ring 12 to be twisted or spread to open up a space
between the two sides of the break so the device can be placed
around the trunk 110. Break 46 will have a first side 48 and a
second side 50. Various structures known in the art may be utilized
with break 46 to attach first side 48 to second side 50 once the
shield 10 has been placed around trunk 110. By way of example,
first side 48 may comprise an aperture 52 and second side 50
comprises a pin 52. Other combinations of pins, apertures, buckles,
clips, etc. may be utilized to close and lock the shield 10 around
tree trunk 110.
[0022] Embodiments of the shield 10 may further comprise various
structures to prevent the shield 10 from sliding downward on trunk
110. For example, shield 10 may comprise attachment strips 54 which
extend upwardly from the circular sleeve member 26. Attachment
strips 54 may then be attached to trunk 110 by nails, screws, or
other fasteners.
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