AU2020203811A1 - Modular device - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a modular device and a kit that can be used to protect plant matter from plant eating pests that crawl on the ground such as snails and slugs. The modular device includes at least two components that can be fitted together in an assembled configuration, in which each component has a body defining an upwardly facing cavity, and when in the assembled configuration the cavities form one or more bath for receiving a liquid that can encompass the plant matter to be protected. The kit may include the modular device and an attractant having a noxious substance such as an alcohol so that when the pests move through the bath(s) the pest can become immobilized in the liquid. Fig. 1 P0080AU01 1/6 Figure 1 10 14 330 18 21 27 Figure 2 211 21 21

Description

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MODULAR DEVICE

Field of the present invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular device for protecting plant matter from plant eating pests that crawl on the ground. Examples of the plant eating pest, include but are by no means limited to, gastropods such as snails and slugs, arthropods such as millipedes, and other insects that crawl along the ground such as caterpillars.

Background of the present invention

[0002] Slugs and snails can have a devastating impact on both the appearance of domestic gardens and the productivity of commercial gardens. As a result, there are large number of different products presently available for minimising the impact of plant eating pests, including toxic and non-toxic materials. A problem with the toxic materials is that they can be toxic to pets and native fauna which is not acceptable. Toxic materials are also not suitable for commercial gardens and orchards that are operated under an organic certification. On the other hand, non-toxic materials can be less effective in stopping plant eating pests.

[0003] It is therefore an object to provide an alternative for protecting plant matter.

Summary of the invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a modular device for protecting plant matter from plant eating pests that crawl on the ground such as snails and slugs, the modular device includes:

at least two components that can be held relative to each other in an assembled configuration,

each component has a body defining an upwardly facing cavity,

and the components are shaped so that in the assembled configuration the cavities can form one or more bath for receiving a liquid that is arranged at least partly about the plant matter to be protected, and when the pests move through the bath(s) the pest can become immobilized in the bath by the liquid.

[0005] The components may be releasably held together in the assembled configuration. That is to say, the components may be assembled and disassembled at least once, and suitably on multiple occasions.

[0006] The components may be held relative to each other in an assembled configuration that encompasses the plant matter to be protected. That is to say, the components may be shaped to extend completely about the plant matter in the assembled configuration.

[0007] The components may have co-operating attachment formations that can be releasably coupled together to hold the components relative to each other in the assembled configuration, and decoupled as required.

[0008] In one example, the attachment formations may include couplings on the body of the components.

[0009] Examples of the couplings may include any one or a combination of the following: snap fit couplings, press fit couplings, friction fit couplings, male and female couplings, spring loaded or biased couplings, tongue and groove couplings, and co-operating magnetic couplings. An advantage with these types of couplings is that they can be coupled anddecoupled without additional equipment items.

[0010] In another example, the attachment formations may include abutting flanges on adjacent components, and the flanges can be releasably held together.

[0011] The flanges may be held together used fasteners, including screws, nut and bolt fasteners, rivets, and an adhesive, such as a press adhesive.

[0012] The attachment formations may press the components together in the assembled configuration so to provide a substantially watertight seal between the components.

[0013] If required, a sealant, such as polymeric silicones and elastomeric polymers may also be used to provide a watertight seal between the components, and suitably between the attachment formations or the interface between the adjacent components.

[0014] If required, a gasket or other fixed sealing material may be provided between the components to provide a seal.

[0015] It will be appreciated that the adhesive can be manually applied to the flanges, and may also be applied to a join between adjacent components when held relative to each other by attachment formations.

[0016] The attachment formations, be they either couplings or flanges, may be integrally formed with the body of the components.

[0017] The body of the components may be integrally formed as a single construction.

[0018] The body of the components may be diecast moulded. For instance, the corner pieces may be diecast moulded from a polymeric material.

[0019] The body of the components may be extrusion moulded. For instance, the sections may be extrusion moulded from a suitable polymeric material.

[0020] The body of the components may also be rolled formed or stamped, for example, from the metallic sheet.

[0021] The body of the components may have a bottom pan portion, and an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom pan portion to define the cavity.

[0022] The inner sidewall may have single or double panel construction.

[0023] When viewing the components in the assembled configuration, the inner sidewall is located adjacent to the plant matter.

[0024] The inner sidewalls of the components define an inner perimeter of the device in the assembled configuration.

[0025] The outer sidewalls of the components define an outer perimeter of the device in the assembled configuration.

[0026] The outer sidewall may have double panel construction, including an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner and outer panels may be joined at an upper rim and extend outwardly in a direction away from the upper rim. An internal void may be located between the inner and outer panels. The internal void may face downwardly and be open to the ground when in use.

[0027] Reinforcing members, including webs, may extend between the inner and outer panels of the outer sidewall. The reinforcing members provide structure rigidity to the body of the components.

[0028] The reinforcing members may also extend under the pan portion and attached to the inner sidewall.

[0029] The press fit couplings may be provided at opposite ends of the components, and one end has a pair of oppositely disposed flanges that define a groove and the other end can be frictionally press fitted into the groove so that the components can be held end-to-end in an assembled formation.

[0030] The pair of oppositely disposed flanges of the press fit coupling may extend continuously over the inner sidewall, the bottom pan wall and the outer sidewall in the profile of the component, and the other end is a cross section that can be press fitted into the groove so that the components can be held end-to-end in an assembled formation.

[0031] In one embodiment, the components may include a corner piece having a body that has an axis extending over an angle ranging from 22 to 315 degrees.

[0032] In other words, the corner piece has an arch shaped axis (or an arched shaped body) and the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter of the body define the cavity therebetween.

[0033] Free space is provided inwardly of the inner perimeter. That is to say, the free space provides a void that can accommodate plant matter growing from the ground.

[0034] Ideally the components include at least two corner pieces, which when in the assembled configuration define an axis extending over an angle of 360 degrees.

[0035] The angle of one of the corner pieces may be an acute angle, or an obtuse angle or a 180 degree angle. For example, the corner piece may have angles including a semi-circle, a quarter-circle, or one eighth of a circle.

[0036] The or each corner piece may have an axis that extends over an angle of: 22.5 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 115 degrees, 135 degrees, or 180 degrees.

[0037] The corner pieces may include an inner corner piece having an outer perimeter that is concave.

[0038] The corner pieces may include an outer corner piece having an outer perimeter that is convex.

[0039] In one embodiment of the device, the device comprises two components that in the assembled configuration has an annular shape with a central opening, and the device can be assembled with the plant matter to be protected in the central opening. Although the axis of the two components forming the annular shape may extend over different angles, suitably, the components extend over the same angle.

[0040] The advantage of this embodiment is that the device can be readily assembled about the plant matter by holding the pieces together in the assembled configuration.

[0041] The annular shape may be circular, square, quadrangular, pentangular, hexangular, octangular and so forth.

[0042] The components may include a linear section.

[0043] The components may include a curvilinear section.

[0044] The or each section may be held relative to the corner pieces in the assembled configuration.

[0045] The or each section may have a length that can change. For example, the section may have two slidably connected sub-sections that can slide relative to each other to change the overall length of the section.

[0046] The or each section may have demarcations or points of weakness on the section denoting points at which the section can be severed to shorten the section.

[0047] The corner pieces and sections may be held relative to each in the assembled configuration.

[0048] The corners and the sections can be directly attached to each other in the assembled configuration.

[0049] The device may also include a joiner that is connectable to two of the components.

[0050] In one example, the joiner may be connectable to one of the corner pieces and one of the sections.

[0051] In yet another example, the joiner may be connectable to ends of two of the sections to connect the sections together in a line.

[0052] In yet another example, the joiner may be connected to ends of two of the corner pieces.

[0053] The joiner may also be connected to an alike joiner.

[0054] The cavity of the components when assembled together may form a bath for receiving liquid that extends along the components.

[0055] In one example, by holding together two or more of the components, a continuous bath extends completely around the plant matter. This is advantageous with the device can be assembled on the flat or relatively flat terrain compared to the depth of the bath. This is also advantageous when the pest can approach the plant matter being protected from any direction.

[0056] In another example, the components may have partitions that divide the bath formed by the components into at least two separate baths. The partitions provide a liquid tight barrier between the bottom pan portion and the inner and outer sidewalls. The advantage this provides is that the upper level of the liquid in the baths can be independent of each other, which enables the device to be assembled on less even or uneven terrain.

[0057] The or each partition may extend completely across the cavity of the respective component.

[0058] The device may also include a ground spike that can be driven into the ground to secure the device in an operative position.

[0059] In one embodiment, the ground spike may be integrally formed with the component and may, for example, extend from underneath the body of the components.

[0060] In another embodiment, the ground spike may have a separate body to the body of the components. For instance, the ground spike may engage either one, or both of, the inner and outer sidewalls of the device.

[0061] An embodiment of the present invention also relates to a kit including the modular device as described herein and an attractant that can for adding to the cavity.

[0062] The attractant may be a liquid or a solid that can be liquified with the addition of water and added to the bath of the device.

[0063] The attractant may be a liquid concentrate that is diluted with water.

[0064] The pest may favour the attractant over plant matter.

[0065] The attractant may contain nutrients, including yeast extract, carbohydrates, sugars and so forth.

[0066] The attractant may also include a noxious substance that is selectively noxious toward the pests. The noxious substance may be an organic substance, such as an alcohol. Ideally the organic substance is miscible with water.

[0067] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a device for protecting plant matter from plant eating pests that crawl on the ground such as snails and slugs, the device has:

an annular shaped body having a bottom pan portion, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall that extend upwardly from the bottom pan portion, and are spaced apart to define an upwardly facing bath for a liquid attractant in which the pest can become immobilised,

wherein the inner sidewall defines a central region that is a free space through which the plant matter to be protected can be positioned.

[0068] The embodiment described in the paragraph immediately above may also include anyone or a combination of the features of the modular device described herein. Specifically, the body of the device may include two or more components that are held together in an assembled configuration.

[0069] The annular shaped body may be of any geometry including circular annulus, an oval annulus, a square annulus, a rectangular annulus, a triangular annulus, a quadrangular annulus, a pentangular annulus, a hexangular analysts and so forth.

Brief description of the drawings

[0070] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures which are summarised as follows:

[0071] Figure 1 is a top and side perspective view of a modular device according to a first embodiment in an assembled configuration.

[0072] Figure 2 is a side view of the modular device shown in Figure 1.

[0073] Figure 3 is a top and side perspective view of the modular device shown in Figure 1 in a disassembled configuration.

[0074] Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the modular device through the line X to X in Figure 2.

[0075] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the portion of the horizontal cross sectional view showing encircle A in Figure 4.

[0076] Figure 6 is a top and side perspective view of a modular device according to a second embodiment in an assembled configuration.

[0077] Figure 7 is a top and side perspective view of the modular device shown in Figure 6 in a disassembled configuration.

[0078] Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a linear section of the modular device shown in Figure 6.

[0079] Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a corner piece of the modular device shown in Figure 6.

[0080] Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a joiner that can be used for interconnecting linear sections of the modular device shown in Figure 6.

Detailed description

[0081] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a modular device 10 according to a first embodiment of a preferred version of the invention, and Figures 6 to 10 illustrate a modular device 10 according to a second embodiment of a preferred version of the invention.

[0082] The following description includes reference numerals which correspond to features shown in the Figures. However, in order to maintain the clarity of the Figures, all of the reference numerals are not included in each Figure.

[0083] The first and second embodiments of the modular device 10 including a set of connectable components 30 that can be releasably held relative to each in an assembled configuration to form an upwardly facing cavity 31 that extends at least partially about plant matter (not shown in the drawings) to be protected. Ideally the modular device 10 completely encompasses the plant matter to be protected and the cavity 31 forms a bath 32 that extends at least partially about, or entirely about the plant matter to be protected, but this is not necessarily the case in all situations. For example, the plant may be adjacent to a solid structure, such as a wall, and the device 10 can be used to butt against the wall without completely encompassing the plant matter. In any event, in most situations the device 10 will have a configuration in which a pest is required to attempt to across the device 10 in order to reach the plant matter such that the pest can become immobilised within the bath 32 of liquid provided in the device 10.

[0084] The components 30 of the device 10 include corner pieces 11 and, optionally, linear or curvilinear sections 12. The components 30 can be assembled together to form a modular device 10 of any shape, including an annular shape such as the device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 6, and a quadrangular shape such as the device 10 shown in Figures 7 to 10.

[0085] The modular device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises two components 30, each having a semi-circular or arched body that extends over approximately 180 degrees. Moreover, the modular device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises two arched bodies that are the same. That is to say, the modular device 10 shown in figures 1 to 6 comprises two of the same arched bodies that inter-fit with each other to form the annular shape device 10. The annular shape device 10 may have any geometry but in the case of the body mentioning figures 1 to 6 has a circular geometry with a central opening 28.

[0086] When the two components 30 are held together, as shown in Figure 1, the central opening 28 can accommodate any type of plant, such as a rose bush.

[0087] The two components 30 of the first embodiment may be manufactured using any suitable method, including diecast moulding from a polymeric material like polypropylene, PVC or ABS. Ideally, the components 30 are integrally formed and have a bottom pan wall 14, and inner and outer sidewalls 15, 16 extending upwardly from the bottom pan wall 14 to define the upwardly facing cavity 31 that extends along the components 30. The inner sidewall 17 defines an inner perimeter 26 of the annular shaped device , and the central opening 28 is located inwardly of the inner sidewall 15.

[0088] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, the inner sidewall 15 extends vertically up from the bottom pan wall 14 and the outer sidewall 16 is a double panel structure having inner and outer panels 17, 18 that are angled to taper outwardly from each moving in a direction way from an upper rim 21 of the outer sidewall 16.

[0089] The inner and outer panels 17, 18 define an internal void 29 that faces toward the ground when the device 10 is in an operative position. A reinforcing member 19, suitably in the form of a web, interconnects the inner and outer panels 17, 18 within the internal void 29 to provide structural stability to the arched bodies. Each component 30 may include any number of reinforcing members 19, however, two reinforcing members 19 provide adequate stability. Although not shown in the Figures, the reinforcing members 19 may also extend beneath the bottom pan wall 14 and extend upwardly on the inner sidewall 17 to form a brace between the inner and outer sidewalls 15 and 16.

[0090] The device 10 may include optional spikes 20, shown in broken lines, for engaging the ground to help stabilise the device 10 in an operative position. The spikes 20 can be an independent structure or integrally formed with the components 30. In the case of the preferred embodiment, the spikes are integrally formed with the components 30 and extend from the reinforcing members 19. In any event, it will be appreciated that the spikes may have any desired profile and the device 10 may include any number of the spikes 20.

[0091] Figure 4 illustrates a horizontal cross-sectional through a line X-X in Figure 2 as viewed in a direction from underneath toward the upper rim 21 of the outer sidewall 16. Figure 5 is an enlargement of the circle "A" in Figure 4, which shows attachment formations 22 provided at the ends of the arch bodies which enables alike arched bodies to be inter-fitted and held together in the assembled configuration.

[0092] Specifically, the attachment formations 22 include cooperating press fit couplings at opposite ends of the components 30. The press fit couplings at one end of components 30 includes a pair of oppositely disposed flanges 23 that define a groove 24 therebetween that extends continuously over the inner sidewall 15, the bottom pan wall 14 and the outer sidewall 16 in the profile of the component 30, which is best seen in Figure 3. The width of the groove 24 is sized so that the other end of an alike component 30 which is flush, can be frictionally press fitted into the groove 24 to hold the components 30 together in an assembled formation. That is to say, the flush end of the components 30 forms part of the press fit coupling and comprises the following that are aligned in a common plane and has thicknesses defined by the thickness of the following parts: i) the flush end of the inner sidewall , ii) the flush end of the bottom pan wall 14, and iii) the outer sidewall 16.

[0093] Ideally the press fit coupling is continuous across the bottom pan wall 14, and the inner and outer sidewalls 15 and 16 to enable the cavities of adjacent components 30 to be joined together in a continuous bath. Moreover, the press fit couplings provide a substantially watertight seal between the components 30.

[0094] Although not shown in detail in the Figures, it is possible that the press fit coupling may have optional sealing means, such as a resiliently flexible member that engages the flush end or the flange(s) or the groove when inter fitted.

[0095] The modular device 10 shown in Figures 6 to 10 has two different components 30, namely quarter-circle corner pieces 11 and linear sections 12 that can be inter-fitted. The modular device 10 also includes a joiner 13 that can be used to interconnect the linear sections 12 to increase the length of the device 10 if desired. Each side of the device 10 shown in Figure 6 to 10 including two pieces of the linear section 12 so that the device has a quadrangular shaped plant matter to be protected.

[0096] The quarter-circle corner pieces 11 have an arched body that extends over approximately 90 degrees and the linear sections 12 have a straight longitudinal axis. However, it will be appreciated that the linear sections 12 could have a curved longitudinal axis. Although the modular device 10 shown in Figures 6 to 10 is rectangular, it will be appreciated that the modular device when in the assembled configuration could have any geometric shape, including triangular, square, pentangular, hexangular and so forth.

[0097] Both of quarter-circle corner pieces 11 and the linear sections 12 have a body defining an upwardly facing cavity 31 for receiving a liquid. The body of the corner pieces 11 and the linear sections 12 include a bottom pan wall 14, and inner and outer sidewalls 15 and 16 extending upwardly from opposite sides of the bottom pan wall 14. The inner sidewall 14 forms an inner perimeter 26 of the device 10 when assembled, as shown in figure 6, which defines a central opening 28 for accommodating plant matter to be protected.

[0098] The outer sidewall 27 comprises inner and outer panels 17 and 18 that are connected at an upper rim 21 and extend outwardly moving in a direction away from the upper rim 21. The outer panel 17 of the outer sidewall 16 defines the outer perimeter 27 of the device in the assembled configuration as shown in figure 6.

[0099] The inner and outer panels 17 and 18 also define an internal void 29 which faces the ground when the device 10 is in an operative position.

[0100] Figure 7 illustrates the modular device 10 in a disassembled position in which the attachable components 30 and joiners 13 of the device 10 have been separated.

[0101] As can best be seen in Figure 9, the corner pieces 11 include one or more reinforcing members 19, such as a web, that interconnects the inner and outer panels 17 and 18 of the corner pieces 11 to provide stability to the structural geometry of the corner pieces 11. The device 10 may also include a ground spike 20 that extends from the web below the bottom pan wall 14, which is best seen in Figure 9. The ground spike 20 can engage the ground with the device 10 in an operative position.

[0102] The linear sections 12 include a bottom pan wall 14, an inner sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom pan wall 14 at the inner perimeter 26 of the device 10, and an outer sidewall 16 that is oppositely disposed to and spaced from the inner sidewall 15, which forms part of an inner perimeter 26 of the device 10.

[0103] The outer sidewall 16 includes inner and outer panels 17 and 18 that are joined at an upper rim 21 and taper outwardly moving in a direction away from the upper rim 21. Unlike the corner pieces 11, the inner and outer panels 17 and 18 are not joined by a reinforcing member 19 which unable the linear section 12 to be extrusion moulded. Moreover, the thicknesses of the bottom pan wall 14, the inner sidewall 15 and the outer sidewall 16 are substantially constant along the length of the linear section 12.

[0104] In addition, the absence of reinforcing members between inner and outer panels 17 and 18 of the linear sections 12 enables the linear sections 12 to be stacked one on top of the other in a nested relationship when not in use.

[0105] The corner pieces 11 and the linear sections 12 can be connected by way of press fit couplings that provide a watertight seal between the components to minimise leakage of liquid from the bath(s) formed by the cavities.

[0106] The press fit couplings include attachment formations 22 at opposite ends of the quarter-circle corner pieces 11 in the form of a pair of oppositely disposed flanges 23 that define a groove 24. The groove 24 has a substantially constant width along its length over the inner sidewall 15, the bottom pan wall 14, and the inner and outer panels 17 and 18 of the outer sidewall 16, and the width of the groove 24 is sized to frictionally receive a free end of one of the linear sections 12.

[0107] The thickness of the linear section 12 is ideally constant along its entire length such that if required, a portion of the linear section 12 can be severed in a plane across a longitudinal axis of the section 12 so that shortening the section 12 does not interfere with the press fit coupling between the corner piece 11 and the section 12.

[0108] Figure 10 is an enlarged view of one of the joiners 13 which has attachment formations 22 on either end in much the same way as the quarter-circle corner pieces 11.

[0109] The joiners 13 include a bottom pan wall 14, and inner sidewall 15, and outer sidewall 16 that has an inner panel 17 and outer panel 18.

[0110] The attachment formations 22 of the joiners 13 comprise a pair of oppositely disposed flanges 23 at the outer extremities of the joiners 13 which define a groove 24 having the same end profile as the linear sections 13.

[0111] The joiners 13 also include a reinforcing member 19, in the form of a web, that is provided between the inner and outer panels 17 and 18 and a spike 20 for engaging the ground extending downwardly from the web below the bottom pan wall 14. The groove P4 is specifically sized to receive releasably receive a flush end of one of the linear sections 12.

[0112] Figure 7 illustrates a layout of the device 10 in an exploded arrangement which includes four corner pieces 11, two short sides comprising one length of the linear section 12, and two long sides comprising two lengths of the linear sections 12. The two lengths of the linear sections are interconnected by one of the joiners 13 illustrated in Figure 10. By coupling the components 30 and the joiners 13 in the arrangement shown in Figure 7, the device 10 has an annular bath in a rectangular shape as shown in Figure 6.

[0113] The components of the first and second embodiments are ideally held together in a watertight arrangement by the attachment formations 22. In addition, a user can, at their discretion, also add a sealant to a junction or interface between the components 30, and at the junction or interface between the components 30 and the joiner 13. Ideally the sealant is releasable or can be delaminated or peeled from the device 10 in the event the device 10 is to be disassembled for reuse somewhere else.

[0114] The corner pieces 11 and the joiners 13 may be manufactured in a diecast a mould and moulded from suitable polymeric materials, including polypropylene, PVC or ABS. As previously mentioned, the linear sections 12 may be manufactured by extrusion moulding.

[0115] Although not shown the figures, a kit comprising either one, or both of, the first and second embodiments may also include an attractant for the pests. The attractant may be a liquid that can be added to the bath of the assembled device. In one example, the attractant may be a concentrated liquid that can be diluted with water. In another example, the attractant may be a solid substance that can be dissolved or suspended in water which can then be added to the assembled device.

[0116] In any event, the attractant either is, or can be made into a liquid that can be added to the device to form a bath from which pests, such as slugs or snails, are incapable of exiting and become immobilised. The attractant may for example include yeast extracts, glucose, alcohol and other substances that either attract or inebriate the pests so that they are become immobilised on contact with the liquid.

[0117] Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate that many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0118] For example, although not shown in the Figures, the surface of the outer panel may be roughened to have a "sandpaper"like texture which can scarify the foot of pests such as slugs and snails, and in turn increase the rate at which the pests become susceptible to an attractant located in the bath.

[0119] In another example, the components 30 may include one or more partitions that divide the bath into separate pools. The or each partition may extend upwardly from the bottom pan wall and between the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall. The partition(s) enables the liquid level within the baths to be maintained separately despite the terrain on which the device been assembled being level. An upper edge of the partitions may be located at or below the upper rim of the outer sidewall.

[0120] In another example, the components 30 may each have at least one divider extending across the cavity that divides each bath into separate pools.

[0121] In yet another example, each component may have two spaced apart dividers, for instance one divider at each end of the component. Each divider may be adjacent to the couplings for attaching the components together. In this instance, the couplings need not provide a liquid tight seal. Rather, the couplings are merely provided to hold the component to each other.

[0122] It is also possible that the couplings may be held together in the assembled configuration by means of spikes locating the components on the ground. The spikes may be integrally formed with the components or separate from the components. The components may also be held relative to each other in the assembled configuration by any form of fitting between the components.

Reference numeral table modular device 10 ground spike 20 corner piece 11 upper rim 21 linear section 12 attachment formation 22 joiner 13 flanges 23 bottom pan 14 groove 24 inner sidewall 15 flush end 25 outer sidewall 16 inner perimeter 26 inner panel 17 outer perimeter 27 outer panel 18 central opening 28 reinforcing member 19 internal void 29

Claims (25)

1. A modular device for protecting plant matter from plant eating pests that crawl on the ground such as snails and slugs, the modular device includes:

at least two components that can be held relative to each other in an assembled configuration,

each component has a body defining an upwardly facing cavity,

wherein the components are shaped so that in the assembled configuration the cavities can form one or more bath for receiving a liquid that is arranged at least partly about the plant matter to be protected, and when the pests move through the bath(s) the pest can become immobilized in the bath by the liquid.

2. The modular device according to claim 1, wherein the components can be releasably held together so that the components can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled as desired on multiple occasions.

3. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the components are held relative to each other in the assembled configuration to encompasses the plant matter to be protected.

4. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the components have co-operating attachment formations that can be releasably coupled together to hold the components relative to each other in the assembled configuration, and decoupled as required.

5. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body of the components has a bottom pan wall, and an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom pan portion to define the cavity of each component.

6. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment formations include press fit couplings.

7. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the press fit couplings are provided at opposite ends of the components, and one end has a pair of oppositely disposed flanges that define a groove and the other end can be frictionally press fitted into the groove so that the components can be held end-to-end in an assembled formation.

8. The modular device according to claim 7 when appended to claim 5, wherein the pair of oppositely disposed flanges of the press fit coupling extends continuously over the inner sidewall, the bottom pan wall and the outer sidewall in the profile of the component, and the other end is a cross-section that can be press fitted into the groove so that the components can be held end-to-end in an assembled formation.

9. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer sidewall has a double panel construction, including an inner panel and an outer panel, in which the inner and outer panels are joined at an upper rim and defines an internal void having an opening facing downwardly when in use.

10. The modular device according to claim 9, wherein the outer panel of the outer sidewall has to have a "sandpaper" like texture that can scarify the foot of pests such as slugs and snails, and in turn increase the rate at which the pests become susceptible to an attractant and/or toxin located in the bath.

11. The modular device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein when the device is viewed in an upright orientation, the inner sidewall is angled inwardly, the inner panel of the outer sidewall is angled outwardly and the outer panel of the outer sidewall is angled inwardly.

12. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device can be nested with an alike device in a stacked relationship.

13. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes at least two components which when in the assembled configuration can form an annular shape with a central opening that can accommodate the plant matter to be protected.

14. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein components include a corner piece having an arched shaped body with arch shaped axis.

15. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the components include a linear section.

16. The modular device according to claim 15 when appended to claim 14, wherein the linear section can be releasably coupled to the corner pieces in the assembled configuration.

17. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes a joiner that is connectable to two of the components.

18. The modular device according to claim 17, wherein the joiner has opposite ends, in which at least one end has a pair of opposite flanges defining a groove which can receive the wall of another component to couple the joiner and the other component together.

19. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein when the components are assembled together, the bath for receiving the attractant is a single pool that extends along the components.

20. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the component has a partition extending across the cavity of the component to divide the bath in separate pools for the liquid.

21. The modular device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the component has at least two partitions extending across the cavity of the component so as to component has at least one bath that is contained within the component.

22. A kit including the modular device as defined in any one of the preceding, wherein the kit includes an attractant that can for adding to the cavity.

23. The kit according to claim 22, wherein the attractant is a liquid or a solid that can be liquified with the addition of water and added to the bath of the device.

24. The kit according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the attractant contains nutrients, including at least one of yeast extract, carbohydrates or sugars.

25. The kit according to claim 24, wherein the attractant includes a noxious substance including an alcohol.