AU2005283189B2

AU2005283189B2 - A protective device for fruits

Info

Publication number: AU2005283189B2
Application number: AU2005283189A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marc William Jackson
Original assignee: GLOBAL FRUIT PROT Pty Ltd
Current assignee: GLOBAL FRUIT PROTECTION Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-23
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-23
Also published as: WO2006032109A1; ECSP067086A; AU2005283189A1; CR8987A; AU2005283189A8

Abstract

A protective device (20) is provided for protecting fruits (12) growing on a stem (14) of a plant. The device comprises a fruit protection sheet member (21, 22, 24)arranged to extend over one or more clusters (16) of fruits on said stem, and securing means (36) arranged for securing said protection member to a part of the stem. The securing means has a retention element (36) formed with an opening (39) that is configured to receive said part of the stem, and thereby securing said protection member to the stem when said part of the stem is in the opening. The retention element may have a gap (38) leading to said opening so that the part of the stem can be inserted through the gap into the opening. The retention element may be fixed to the protection member at a position adjacent to an edge thereof, and a slit is formed from said edge to said opening. Thereby, the retention element can be deformed to widen said gap to facilitate insertion of said part of the stem into the opening.

Description

A PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR FRUITS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to a protective device for fruits and in particular but not limited thereto the protective device is for protecting banana fruits while growing on a banana plant. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. Fruits growing on plants are subject to damage by the environment, birds and insects. For example, banana fruits are allowed to grow on banana plants until they have matured to a state for 15 harvesting. While growing on the plants, many of the banana fruits are damaged by windblown banana leaves, sun light, dust and storm, birds and insects. Any damage to the fruits affects their quality. Low quality fruits must either be discarded if commercially unattractive or sold at a relatively low price. Fruit producers must therefore protect their fruits while maturing on plants. 20 Prior art protection devices for banana fruits generally involve bagging each bunch of the fruits with a bag. The bags are secured to the plants by manually tying the bags to respective branches of the plants. To bag a bunch of banana fruits, a plantation worker must hold a bag in its open position and carefully position it over the bunch of banana fruits to make sure that all fruits are in the bag. The worker then needs to secure the bag to the stem by tying a string around the top of the bag. Often, the worker 25 must be on a ladder or platform to perform the bagging tasks, and must move the ladder/platform to another location to repeat the bagging process for another bunch of the banana fruits. Accordingly, the prior art bagging process is rather labourious and inefficient. 30 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. 35 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect therefore the present invention provides a fruit protective device to protect fruits growing on a stem or a branch branching from a stem of a plant, the device comprising a fruit protection member arranged to extend over an individual fruit, or one or more clusters of fruits on said stem or -2 branch, and a securing means adapted to secure said protection member to a part of the stem or branch, the securing means having a retention element formed with an opening configured to receive and retain part of the stem or branch therein, and thereby secure said protection member to the stem or branch when said part of the stem or branch is in the opening. 5 Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", comprisingn", and the like are to be construed in an ine-isive cn-e as nop e an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to". The retention element may have a gap leading to said opening so that the part of the stem or 10 branch can be inserted through the gap into the opening. Preferably, the retention element is integrally formed with or fixed to the protection member adjacent to an edge thereof, and a slit is formed from said edge to said opening. Thereby, the retention element can be deformed to widen said gap to facilitate insertion of said part of the stem or branch into the opening. 15 The retention element may be formed of a resilient or spring material and the gap is configured as a mouth which, when being pushed onto said part of the stem, expands from its normal shape to receive said part in the opening and to grip onto said part to secure the fruit protection member thereat. The protection member may be in the form of a sheet and said securing means is formed 20 integrally with or fixed to the sheet. The sheet is sized to extend over said individual fruit, or one or more clusters of fruits on said stem or branch. The protection member may also be in the form of a bag-like body having a first sheet member joined to or integrally formed with a second sheet member, and said securing means is formed integrally with or fixed to said second member. The first and second members are arranged to be separable to present an interior cavity to receive said individual fruit, or one or more 25 clusters of fruits on said stem or branch. In another aspect therefore the present invention resides in a pusher device for use with a protective device as hereinbefore described. The pusher device comprises a elongate member having an engagement arrangement at or adjacent to one end thereof. The engagement arrangement is 30 configured to engage said securing means to facilitate pushing same onto a stem or branch branching from a stem of a plant. The engagement arrangement may have a slot for receiving a portion of the securing means, and/or a lateral element configured to engage a section of said securing means while pushing the 35 securing means onto the stem. The lateral element is preferably shaped to conform substantially with said section of the securing means.

-3 In preference, said retention element of the securing means is in the form of a band or disk. The band or disk may be substantially C- or U-shaped. Preferably, said retention element is in the form of a curved band configured into a substantially C- or U-shape, such as a C-clamp. Free ends of the C- or U shaped band may have respective curved lateral extensions bordering said gap for guiding said part of 5 the stem into the securing means. The retention element may be formed of one or more layer materials formed integrally with or fixed to the protective member, and said one or more layer materials are configured with said opening in communication with a gap. The retention element may be made of a metallic or plastic or cardboard material. 10 The securing means may be fixed along or inwardly of an edge of said sheet or second sheet member. Said sheet or second sheet member may have a cut-out portion extending to a location on or inwardly from the edge, and the securing means is fixed to said sheet or second sheet member so that its opening is in alignment with said cut out portion. 15 The second sheet member is preferably longer than said first sheet member. The end of said bag-like body remote from said edge may be open or closed. The sheet member or any of the first and second sheet members may be made of a transparent 20 or translucent material. Preferably, the sheet material is selected to shield certain harmful components of sunlight. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of protecting fruit comprising applying the aforementioned fruit protective device to an individual fruit or one or more clusters of fruits 25 on a stem or branch. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be readily understood and put into practical effect the 30 description will hereinafter refer to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non limiting embodiments of the present invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a bunch of banana fruits; 35 Figure 2 shows a prior art protective cover device applied to a cluster of the n banana fruits shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of the protective device according to the present invention; - 3a Figure 4 is a top prospective view of the protective device shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of the protective device shown in Figure 4; 5 Figure 6 shows the protective device shown in Figures 3 to 5 being applied to protect a cluster of banana fruits on a stem; Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a pusher device for securing the protective device to a stem as shown in Figure 6; 10 Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the protective device secured in place for protecting a cluster of banana fruits on a stem; Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the protective device according to the present invention and 15 the cover is being applied to protect a cluster of banana fruits on a stem, and a partial view of a pusher for the cover; Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of the protective device shown in Figure 9 being secured in place for protecting a cluster of banana fruits on a stem; WO 2006/032109 PCT/AU2005/001469 4 Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of the protective device according to the present invention; Figure 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the protective device according to the present invention; 5 Figure 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the protective device according to the present invention; and Figure 14 shows a sixth embodiment of the protective device according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10 Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown a partial perspective view of a bunch 10 of banana fruits 12 on a stem 14 extending from the main trunk (not shown) of a banana plant. The banana fruits 12 are grown in spaced clusters or hands 16 along the stem 14. To protect the banana fruits 12 while growing, it is known to applied a plastic bag 15 18 over the fruits 12 as shown in Figure 2. The bag 18 is open ended so that it can be positioned to receive some banana fruits 12 through one Open end. The bag 18 is then secured by tying a string (not shown) around a part of the fruits 12 that are in the bag 18 as shown in Figure 2. As mentioned hereinbefore, the tying process is labourious and inefficient. As can be seen in Figure 2, the bag 18 must be tied to the joint between 20 the cluster 16 of the fruits 12 and the stem 14. It is difficult for a plantation worker to reach the joint and to tie the string around the cluster 16 of banana fruits 12. Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, there is shown a first embodiment of the protective device 20 according to the present invention. The device 20 has a cover member in the form of a first sheet member 22 with a top edge 26 and a bottom edge 25 28, and a second sheet member 24 with a top edge 30 and a bottom edge 32. The second member 24 is formed integrally with the first member 22. The second sheet member 24 is longer than the first sheet member 22, and the members 22 and 24 are arranged with their lower edges 28 and 32 in alignment. The upper edge 30 of the second member 24 is above that of the first member 22, and has a curved cut-out 30 portion 34 substantially at its middle. Securing means 36 is fixed at the cut-out portion 34. The securing means 36 in this embodiment is a substantially C-shaped spring clamp element 36. The clamp element 36 is formed as a spring like curved plastic band 40 configured with a mouth 38 leading to an opening 39, and bent lateral extensions 42 for guiding a stem portion into the opening 39 of the clamp element 36 through the mouth 35 38.

WO 2006/032109 PCT/AU2005/001469 5 Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the protective cover device 20 as shown is being pushed by a pusher device 44 for the purpose of securing the device 20 to the stem 14 at a position adjacent to a cluster or hand 16 of the banana fruits 12. The pusher device 44 has a recess 46 at one end thereof and a flap 48 associated with the recess 46. The 5 recess 46 is configured to receive a portion of the plastic band 40 of the clamp element 36, and the flap 48 is adapted to engage the band 40 when the band 40 is in the recess 46. Accordingly, the pusher device 44 has a relative larger area of contact with the band 40 when pushing the element 36 to clamp onto the stem 14. Being resilient or spring like, the band 40 would deform to allow the stem 14 to 10 enter the opening 39 of the clamp element 36 through the mouth 38 and would then collapse onto the stem to frictionally secure the cover device 20 to the stem 14. Thus the device 20 can be located in relation to a cluster 16 of the banana fruits 12 to be protected and be easily secured to the stem 14 by the clamp element 36. The pusher device 44 not only facilitates pushing the clamp element 36 to secure the cover 20 to 15 the stem 14, but also allows the device 20 to be used for protecting a cluster 16 of banana fruits 12 at a relatively high position without the use of a ladder or platform. As shown in Figure 8, the cluster 16 of banana fruits 12 are within the cavity of the device 20 and the device 20 is positively secured to the stem 14. The second embodiment of the protective device 20 as shown in Figure 9 has 20 a single sheet member 21 with its top edge 30 formed with a cut-out 34 at which securing means 36 is fixed. The securing means 36 in this embodiment is substantially similar to that of the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 8. Specifically, said securing means 36 is a substantially C-shaped spring clamp element 36 with a spring like curved plastic band 40 configured with a mouth 38 leading 25 to an opening 39 and bent lateral extensions 42 at ends thereof for guiding a stem portion into the opening 39 of the clamp element 36 through the mouth 38. The pusher 44 described earlier is used to push the element 36 in the direction as shown to secure the cover 20 onto the stem 14. As can be seen in Figure 10, the sheet member 21 of the protective cover 20 is 30 sized to extend over a cluster 16 of banana fruits 12. Removal of the cover device 20 is simply accomplished by pulling the clamp element 36 off the stem 14 before uncovering the cluster 16 of banana fruits 12. Referring to Figure 11, the third embodiment of the protective device 20 as shown is being pushed by hand to secure the device 20 to the stem 14 at a position 35 adjacent to a cluster or hand 16 of the banana fruits 12. This device 20 has a single WO 2006/032109 PCT/AU2005/001469 6 sheet member 21 with a top edge 30 and a cut-out 34 at which securing means 36 is fixed. The sheet member 21 is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 9 with the exception that the cut-out 34 is positioned inwardly from the edge 30 and it has a slit 31 extending from the edge 30 to the cut-out 34, The securing means 36 is arranged at the 5 cut-out 34 so that its opening 39 is in alignment with the cut-out 34. In this embodiment, the securing means 36 is a substantially C-shaped, flat disk element 40 configured with a mouth 38 leading to an opening 39. The ends of the element 40 adjacent to the month 38 is chamferred so that the mouth 38 widens towards the edge for guiding a stem portion into the opening 39. 10 The slit 31 allows the band 40 to deform to cause the mouth 38 to open for the stem 14 to enter the opening 39 of the element 36 and would then closes onto the stem to frictionally secure the cover device 20 to the stem 14. In the fourth embodiment of the protective device 20 shown in Figure 12, this device has a single sheet member 21 similar to that described with reference to Figure 15 11. The securing means 36 in the fourth embodiment, however, has a relatively strong plastic layer material 40 fixed to the sheet member 21. The material 40 has an opening 39 in alignment with the cut-out 34 of the sheet member 21, and a gap 38 in alignment with a slit 31 leading from the cut-out 34 to the edge 30 of the sheet member 21.The layer material 40 can be deformed to widen the gap 38 for positioning a stem 14 into the 20 opening 39. The gap 38 would narrow when a force causing it to widen is removed, Thus the device20 would be retained on the stem 14. In the fifth embodiment of the protective device 20 shown in Figure 13, the device 20 has a bag-like body as described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. However, the securing means 36 is replaced with the form as described with reference to Figure 25 11. In the sixth embodiment of the protective device 20 shown in Figure 14, the securing means 36 fixed on the bag-like protection body member takes the form of the securing means 36 shown in Figure 12. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present 30 invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A fruit protective device to protect fruits growing on a stem or a branch branching from a stem of 5 a plant, the device comprising a fruit protection member arranged to extend over an individual fruit, or one or more clusters of fruits on said stem or branch, and a securing means adapted to secure said protection member to a part of the stem or branch, the securing means having a retention element formed with an opening configured to receive and retain part of the stem or branch therein, and thereby secure said protection member to the stem or branch when said 10 part of the stem or branch is in the opening.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the retention element has a gap leading to said opening so that the part of the stem or branch can be inserted through the gap into the opening.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the retention element is integrally formed with or fixed to the protection member at a position on or adjacent to an edge thereof. 15

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the protection member has a slit extending from said edge to said opening and in substantial alignment with said gap.

5. The device according to any one of claims 2-4 wherein the retention element is deformable to widen said gap and thereby facilitate insertion of said part of the stem or branch into the opening. 20

6. The device according any one of the preceding claims wherein the retention element is formed as a band or disk of metallic, plastic or cardboard material.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the band or disk is resilient and the gap is configured as a mouth which, during engagement with said part of the stem or branch, expands from its normal shape to assist passage of said part into the opening and to grip onto said part to secure 25 the protective member therein.

8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retention element is formed of one or more layer materials formed integrally with or fixed to the protective member.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said retention element is substantially C- or U-shaped and has opposing free ends bordering said gap. -8

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the free ends having respective curved lateral extensions bordering said gap for guiding said part of the stem or branch into the opening.

11. The device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the protection member is formed as a sheet with said securing means being formed on or fixed to the sheet, the sheet being 5 sized to extend over said individual fruit, or one or more clusters of fruits.

12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said protection member is formed as a bag-like body having a first sheet member joined to or integrally formed with a second sheet member, the first and second members being arranged to present an interior cavity to receive said individual fruit, or one or more clusters of fruits, said securing means being 10 formed on or fixed to said second member.

13. The device according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the securing means is provided along or adjacent to an edge of said sheet; or second sheet member.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein the edge of said sheet; or second sheet member, has a cut-out portion and the securing means is provided at said cut-out portion.

15 15. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the second sheet member is arranged to be longer than said first sheet member.

16. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the end of said bag-like body remote from said edge is arranged to be open or closed

17. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protection member is 20 formed of a transparent or translucent material.

18. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protection member is produced from a material adapted to shield the fruit from certain harmful components of sunlight.

19. A method of protecting fruit comprising applying to a stem or a branch extending from said stem 25 of a plant, a fruit protecting device as claimed in any one of claims 1-18 and extending said fruit protection member over an individual fruit or one or more clusters of fruits on said stem or branch.