GB2431853A

GB2431853A - Gastropod barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2431853A
Application number: GB0522277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-01
Filing date: 2005-11-01
Publication date: 2007-05-09
Also published as: GB0522277D0

Abstract

The barrier comprises a plurality of rotatable wheels10 mounted side-by-side on an elongate axle 11, the outer circumferential surface of the wheels 10 being provided with a series of ridges 17 which extend generally axially and provide a profiled peripheral surface to the wheels 10, which is gripped more readily by slugs and snails, thereby ensuring that the wheels 10 rotate when the barrier is climbed. The ridges 17 also make it more difficult for slugs and snails to slide over the wheels 10 without causing them to rotate.

Description

Mollusc Barrier This invention relates to a barrier for preventing

molluscs, such as slugs and snails, from reaching plants growing in pots and borders.

Slugs and snails are a nuisance because they eat the leaves of plants growing in pots and borders. This makes the plants look unsightly and sometimes kills the plants or prevents them from flowering or growing. Also, slugs and snails can spoil vegetables to the extent that they are unsuitable for consumption.

Hitherto, numerous arrangements have been devised to stop the passage of molluscs to plants UK Patent Application No. GB2341073 discloses one such device comprising a barrier formed of a plurality of wheels or discs mounted side-by side on an axle In use, when slugs and snails climb over the barrier their weight causes the wheels to rotate and blocks the passage of the slug or snail over the barrier.

A disadvantage of the above-mentioned device s that the wheels may not always rotate when the barrier is climbed and accordingly, there is a risk that slugs and snails may be able to climb over the barrier unhindered.

I have now devised a barrier device which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a barrier device for preventing the passage of molluscs, the device comprising a plurality of rotatable members mounted side-by-side on an elongate axle, the outer circumferential surface of the members being provided with a series of ridges which extend generally axially thereof.

The ridges provide a profiled peripheral surface to the members, which is gripped more readily by slugs and snails, thereby ensuring that the members rotate when the barrier is climbed. The ridges also make it more difficult for slugs and snails to slide over the members without causing them to rotate.

Preferably the ridges comprise converging faces that meet to define a pointed apex: this makes the surface of the members difficult to climb and deters the passage of slugs and snails.

Preferably the diameter of the rotatable members is at least 50mm.

Preferably the members are slidably mounted on an axle to allow the members to be removed for cleaning.

Preferably the device comprises a plurality of supports which extend radially from the axle for supporting the rotatable members at a suitable height above the ground surface.

Preferably the supports extend between the axiel and a base which extends parallel to the axle. Preferably the axiel is detachable from the supports. Preferably the supports are arranged to mount the rotatable members at a point where their radially outer portions are positioned at a distance of 5mm or less away from the base Preferably ground-engaging means are provided for attaching the base to the ground. Apertures may be formed in the base for receiving the ground-engaging means.

Preferably the base comprises a plurality of arms, which extend substantially perpendicular to the axlel and to the support, which arms are arranged to extend across the surface of the ground to provide means by which the base can be secured to the ground.

In one embodiment, the barrier device is elongate and, in use, a plurality of such devices can be mounted end-to-end along or around a border.

In an alternative embodiment, the barrier device is of a closed-loop construction for placing around plants growing in pots or borders.

Preferably the central portion of the or each side surface of the wheels extends axially outwardly of the peripheral side portion, thereby maintaining the spaced relationship of the wheels and ensuring that the friction between adjacent wheels is minimised.

Preferably the or each side surface of each wheel is frusto-conical in shape.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of barrier device in accordance with this invention, the rotable members thereof being shown removed, Figure 2 is an end view of the barrier device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the barrier device of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of barrier device in accordance with this invention, the rotable members thereof being shown removed.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a barrier device for fitting around borders in gardens to protect the plants therein from slugs and snails. The device comprises a plurality of wheels 10 mounted side-by-side on an elongate axle 11 The wheels 10 are free to rotate on the axlel 11. Furthermore, the wheels 10 are slidable longitudinally of the axlel 11, such that they can be removed for cleaning as will be described hereinafter The barrier device further comprises an elongate base portion 13 of plastics material, which extends parallel to the axle 11. A plurality of upstanding supports 12 are provided at intervals along the base 13. The upper ends of the supports 12 are bifurcated, with the axle 11 removably resting in the bifurcations.

A plurality of arms 14 extend outwardly from one side of the base 13, perpendicular to the upstanding supports 12. Each arm 14 is formed with a plurality of apertures 15, through which ground-engaging pegs 16 can be passed to fasten the barrier device securely in place.

Each wheel 10 comprises a circumferential outer surface which is formed with a series of circumferentially spaced ridges 17 extending axially of the wheel 10. Each ridge 17 is formed by a pair of planar converging surfaces that meet to define a substantially pointed radially outer end to each ridge 17 The axially-facing side surfaces of the wheel 10 are slightly frusto-conical in shape, as such that the centre portion thereof is disposed axially outwardly of the peripheral outer portion thereof.

A plurality of wheels 10 are mounted side-by-side on the axle 11 and the frusto-conical shape of their side surfaces help to ensure that the opposing side faces of adjacent wheels 10 are not fully in contact with each other, thereby reducing friction and ensuring that the wheels 10 can turn independently of each other. The supports 12 support the axle at a position 11 where the outer surface of each wheels 10 is close but slightly spaced from the upper surface of the base 10 In use, a plurality of barrier devices are arranged end-to-end along borders or around areas to be protected from slugs and snails. When a slug or snail attempts to climb over the barrier device, it bears down on one or more of the ridges 17 on a wheel 10, thereby causing the wheel 10 to rotate and blocking the passage of the slug or snail.

The ridges 17 help to ensure that the slug or snail always has sufficient purchase on the wheel 10 to cause it to rotate, thereby avoiding any risk that the slug or snail may be able to pass over the wheel 10 unhindered.

In order to ensure that the wheels 10 are always able to freely rotate, the axlel 11 can be lifted off the supports 12 to allow the wheels 10 to be slid axially off the axlel 11 for cleaning.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative embodiment of barrier device in accordance with this invention, which is similar in principle to the barrier device of Figures 1 to 3 except that the axlel 21 and base 23 are annular, such that the device can be positioned around individual plants growing in borders or in pots.

In this embodiment, the frusto-conical shape of wheels helps to maintain the clearance between adjacent wheels mounted on the annular axle 21 The axlel 21 is preferably formed from an elongate rod having juxtaposed ends which can be separated to allow the wheels to be removed from the axiel for cleaning A barrier device in accordance with this invention is simple and inexpensive in construction yet is able to reliably protect plants from slugs and snails.

Claims

Claims 1. A barrier device for preventing the passage of molluscs, the

device comprising a plurality of rotatable members mounted side-by-side on an elongate axle, the outer circumferential surface of the members being provided with a series of ridges which extend generally axially thereof.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the ridges comprise converging faces that meet to define a pointed apex.

3. A device as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which the diameter of the rotatable members is at least 50mm.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the members are slidably mounted on an axle to allow the members to be removed for cleaning.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which a plurality of supports extend radially from the axle for supporting the rotatable members at a suitable height above :,::,,s 20 the ground surface. * **. * . * SI*

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the supports extend between the axle * **.

* and a base which extends parallel to the axle.

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7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the supports are arranged to mount the rotatable members at a point where their radially outer portions are * positioned at a distance of 5mm or less away from the base.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 or 7, in which the axle is detachable from the supports.

9. A device as claimed in claims 6 or 7, in which ground-engaging means are provided for attaching the base to the ground.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, in which apertures are formed in the base for receiving the ground-engaging means.

11. A device as claimed in claims 9 or 10, in which the base comprises a plurality of arms, which extend substantially perpendicular to the axle and to the support, which arms are arranged to extend across the surface of the ground to provide means by which the base can be secured to the ground.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the barrier device is elongate.

13. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, in which the barrier device is of a closed-loop construction.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, in which the central portion of the or each side surface of the rotatable members extends axially outwardly of the peripheral side portion.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, in which the or each side surface of each : :. . 20 rotatable member is frusto-conical in shape. I... * S S..

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