초록 ▼

A portable trench barrier is capable of greatly reducing the number of beetles migrating into a cultivated area, such as a field of potato plants. The device comprises a series of linear barrier sections and connector pieces joined together to enclose and protect a cultivated area. Each linear barri

A portable trench barrier is capable of greatly reducing the number of beetles migrating into a cultivated area, such as a field of potato plants. The device comprises a series of linear barrier sections and connector pieces joined together to enclose and protect a cultivated area. Each linear barrier section comprises an extruded plastic section having (a) an elongated floor section, (b) a pair of continuous leg portions extending downwardly from the side edges of the floor portion. The leg portions are adapted to penetrate the soil and form a continuous sub-surface barrier. A pair of opposed upwardly inclined elongated ramp portions extending upwardly and inwardly from the side edges of the floor portion, these ramp portions terminating in downwardly curved free edge portions having smooth outer surfaces with the curved free edge portions of the opposed ramp portions forming therebetween a gap having a width of up to about 20 mm. The opposed ramp portions and gap are arranged such that beetles are able to climb the ramp and continue along the ramp until they reach a point on the curved free edge portion where they lose their footing and slide down into and are trapped in a chamber formed by the floor section and ramp portions.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A portable trench barrier for precluding beetle migration comprising in combination linear barrier sections and connector means for joining said linear sections, said linear sections and connector means being adapted to enclose and protect a cultivated area,wherein each of said lin

[ We claim:] [1.] A portable trench barrier for precluding beetle migration comprising in combination linear barrier sections and connector means for joining said linear sections, said linear sections and connector means being adapted to enclose and protect a cultivated area,wherein each of said linear barrier sections comprises an extruded plastic section having (a) an elongated floor portion, (b) a pair of continuous leg portions extending downwardly from side edges of the floor portion, said leg portions being adapted to penetrate the soil and form a continuous sub-surface barrier, and (c) a pair of opposed upwardly inclined elongated ramp portions extending upwardly and inwardly from the side edges of the floor portion at an angle in the range of 40.degree. to 60.degree. relative to the floor portion, said ramp portions terminating in downwardly curved free edge portions having smooth outer surfaces with the curved free edge portions of the opposed ramp portions forming therebetween a gap having a width of about 8 to 20 mm and said ramp portions having footholds for the beetles in the form of a plurality of transverse ridges or grooves which continue up the ramp portions to said smooth outer surfaces of the downwardly curved free edge portions, said opposed ramp portions and gap being arranged such that beetles are able to climb the ramp portion and continue along the ramp portion until they reach a point on the curved free edge portion where they lose their footing on the smooth surface and slide down into and are trapped in a chamber formed by the floor portion and ramp portions, and wherein the connector means are adapted to slide fit within ends of the linear barrier sections, with at least some of said connector means, including an exit tube extending laterally therefrom between the ends of the linear barrier sections and providing an exit from the trench barrier, and closure means for closing an end of the exit tube.