Patent ID: 9326458
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: A01G,A01M

Claim Text:
1. In a tree having a trunk, an apparatus attaches to a lower section of the trunk and prevents mollusks from gaining access to an upper section of the trunk above the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a ring for generally horizontal disposition about the trunk, the ring having a top, a bottom, an inside circular edge and an outside circular edge concentric with the inside circular edge, wherein a lower generally horizontal face is defined on the bottom extending between the inside circular edge and the outside circular edge and an upper generally horizontal face is defined on the top extending between the inside circular edge and the outside circular edge; a circular sleeve member coinciding and extending from the inside circular edge, the circular sleeve member having a proximate edge adjacent to the upper face and a distal edge extending upwardly from the upper face, the circular sleeve member having an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface, the outward facing surface generally perpendicular to the upper face; and a funnel member having a large diameter rim and a small diameter rim, the large diameter rim coupled to the inward facing surface, wherein the funnel member comprises a funnel surface which extends inwardly from the large diameter rim to the small diameter rim, wherein the large diameter rim is positioned adjacent to the distal edge of the circular sleeve member and the small diameter rim extends toward the lower face, wherein the small diameter rim is sized to encircle the trunk of the tree, wherein the funnel member comprises a plurality of immediately adjacent radially disposed barrier members, each barrier member having an outside edge and an inside edge, wherein the outside edges of the barrier members combine to form the large diameter rim and the inside edges of the barrier members combine to form the small diameter rim.