AU2012258445A1

AU2012258445A1 - Fruit protection device

Info

Publication number: AU2012258445A1
Application number: AU2012258445A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jason Johansson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-02
Filing date: 2012-11-30
Publication date: 2013-06-20

Abstract

A housing (10) for fruit growing on a branch. The housing is configured to surround the fruit and has first and second ends (18, 19). Each of the first and second ends (18, 19) is provided with an opening (24, 26) adapted to receive a 5 part of a branch adjacent the fruit. Figure 1 IAi Figure 2

Description

RICOallI Regultion 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Fruit protection device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1A Fruit protection device Field of the invention The present invention relates to a protective device for fruit. In particular, the invention is directed to a device for protecting fruit growing on a plant. 5 Background of the invention Fruit growing on a plant is subject to not only environmental hazards such as strong winds and heavy rains, but is also at risk of being destroyed by birds and other wildlife such as possums. This is particularly the case as the fruit ripens and becomes an attractive and easily accessed food source for local wildlife. 0 Commercial fruit producers protecting the value of their fruit crop often place a significant financial investment in fruit protection devices and methods. Such protective methods typically involve the large scale deployment of a net or canopy. Bird scaring devices such as gas fired scare guns are also known. Such devices are generally not suitable for use in the domestic environment due 5 to their size and cost. Domestic or hobby fruit growers are known to use small scale nets which are typically draped over an entire fruit tree. This method, whilst being reasonably effective, can be difficult to set up and remove as the user would generally need the use of a ladder. Another known deterrent is tying plastic bags to the fruit tree which serve to frighten birds away from the ripening fruit. The effectiveness of this 20 method is quite variable and plastic bags tied to fruit trees can be unsightly. The inventor has recognised the need for an effective fruit protection device that is at least suitable for the domestic or hobby fruit grower, and may also be used in small commercial operations. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, 25 an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art 2 could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention The invention provides a protective housing for fruit growing on a branch, the 5 housing being configured to surround the fruit and having first and second ends, each of the first and second ends being provided with an opening adapted to receive a part of a branch adjacent the fruit. Advantageously, the housing is constructed in two halves. Preferably each half is semi-cylindrical such that when the two halves are connected together they form a 0 generally cylindrical housing. In a particularly preferred embodiment the two halves of the housing are provided separately. Each half includes a pair of longitudinal side edges provided with latch means adapted to releasably connect with complementary latch means on another half housing. 5 In an alternate embodiment, the two halves are preferably permanently connected to each other along a first longitudinal side edge of the housing, for example, by a hinge. The hinge may be formed integrally with the two halves of the housing. A second longitudinal side edge of the housing, preferably opposite the first side, may include one or more latch means to close and releasably latch the two halves of the 20 housing to one another. Each of the ends of the cylindrical housing includes an open portion which is sized to receive a branch of a fruit tree. In use, the housing is opened and located such that the housing is adjacent the fruit to be protected. The housing is then closed such that the housing surrounds the fruit to be protected and the branch on either side of the 25 fruit passes through the respective open ends of the housing. The two halves of the housing are releasably latched using the latch means. In a further aspect, the invention provides a protective housing for fruit growing on a branch, the housing including first and second halves movable from an open 3 configuration to enable placement on or removal from a fruit tree, and a closed configuration in which fruit is enclosed within the housing; the first and second halves being movable with respect to one another about a hinge means; and wherein one or more releasable latch means are provided on the housing to retain the first and second halves in the closed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, each half of the housing includes latch means that correspond to latch means provided on the other half of the housing. In this embodiment, the closed configuration is obtained by mating respective latch means on ) two housing halves to form the fruit protector. Advantageously, the open configuration is obtained by unlatching one side of the fruit protector and while leaving the other side latched, the hinge means thereby being provided by the latch means on one side of the fruit protector. In one embodiment the hinge means is formed integrally with the two halves of 5 the housing. The housing preferably has two ends, each respectively provided with an opening adapted to receive a part of a branch adjacent the fruit to be protected. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and 20 "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps. Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 25 Figure 1 is an isometric view of a fruit protector according to an embodiment of the invention in a closed configuration; 4 Figure 2 is an isometric view of a fruit protector according to an embodiment of the invention in an open configuration; Figure 3 is an end view of the fruit protector of Figure 1 showing two separate halves being brought together; Figure 4 is an end view of the fruit protector of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an end view of the fruit protector of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front view of the fruit protector of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side view of the fruit protector of Figure 1; and Figure 8 is a perspective view showing several halves of the housing in a stack. a Detailed description of the embodiments Referring to the Figures there is illustrated a fruit protector housing 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. Housing 10 comprises two halves 14, 16. Each half 14, 16 is generally semi cylindrical and includes central semi-cylindrical wall, 17, and curved end-walls 18, 19. 5 When the housing is in a closed configuration as shown in Figure 1, the housing forms a generally cylindrical tube with end walls 20, 22. Each of the end walls 18, 19 are provided with a semi-circular recess 24, 26 midway along the upper edge of the end wall 18, 19. When the two halves 14, 16 of the housing are brought together such that the ends 20, 22 are substantially closed, 20 recesses 24, 26 form generally circular apertures 28 adapted to surround a branch of a fruit tree. Apertures 28 are sized to closely receive the branch of the tree in order to secure the device 10 to the tree. Preferably, the diameter of the apertures 28 is approximately 20mm. The recesses 24, 26 may take other shapes but semi-circular is best suited for 25 most tree branches. Sufficient space is provided to allow the branch to grow and/or move within the apertures 28 without impeding the growth of the branch. Ends 20, 22 5 are preferably curved to prevent damage to the fruit inside the housing and to adjacent branches and/or fruit. In this embodiment, the housing 10 is cylindrical in cross-section but it is envisaged that other cross-sectional shapes may be employed, or even a housing 5 having a cross-sectional shape that varies along its length, e.g. wider cross sectional profile in the middle of the length of the housing and becoming narrower towards the ends. Housing 10 is also sized and dimensioned to provide adequate protection for the fruit without impeding or restricting the growth of the fruit contained within. In a 0 preferred embodiment, the housing is 500mm long, and 300mm wide. Housing 10 is advantageously moulded from a rigid plastic material. It may be manufactured from recycled plastic. The plastic is preferably UV resistant to extend the usable lifetime of the device. Latch means 34, 36 are provided on each of the longitudinal upper edges 35, 37 5 of each half 14, 16 of the housing 10. In the embodiment illustrated, latch 34 includes a tongue portion 38 attached to one half 16 of the housing. Tongue 38 connects with complementary receiving portion 44 on the other half 14 of the housing 10. Latch 34 is openable to facilitate removal or repositioning of the housing 10. It will be appreciated that other forms of releasable latching mechanisms may be employed. 20 A particularly advantageous aspect of the invention is that the housing 10 is moulded to include a plurality of housing apertures 42, preferably entirely along and around the housing 10. In the embodiment illustrated, apertures 42 are shown as a series of generally square holes in the plastic housing 10. In alternate embodiments (not illustrated) the apertures 42 may instead have a round or rectangular shape and 25 may be more closely spaced such that the housing 10 more closely resembles a rigid mesh. The size and spacing of the apertures is chosen so as to enable sufficient sunlight to enter the housing 10 when it is closed so that the fruit can continue to grow unimpeded. The apertures must also allow adequate water to enter the housing 10 and 6 allow for adequate ventilation and drainage to avoid the build-up of water and/or condensation within the closed housing 10. At the same time, the apertures must be small enough to prevent or at least substantially restrict access to the fruit inside the housing 10 from wildlife, particularly birds. A mesh of apertures that are approximately 5 10mm square has proven to be adequate. In use, the two halves 14, 16 are located such that they are adjacent the fruit to be protected. The branch on either side of the fruit is aligned with the recesses 24, 26 at the respective ends 20, 22 of the housing 10. The housing 10 is then closed by aligning the side edges 35, 37 of the housing halves 14, 16 and connecting the respective pairs 0 of latches 34, 36 such that the housing 10 surrounds the fruit to be protected and the branch passes through the apertures 28. Alternately, the housing 10 may have been constructed previously. In this case, the closed housing is opened by unlatching one side 35 of the housing and while leaving the other side 37 of the housing latched. Side edge 37 then acts as a hinge 5 between the two housing halves enabling the housing to be located adjacent the fruit to be protected before re-closing the housing by re-latching the latch means on side 37. When it is time to harvest the fruit the latches 34, 36 are simply unclipped and the housing 10 removed from the branch. The housing may then be repositioned elsewhere on the tree as needed. 20 In an alternate embodiment the two halves 14, 16 are joined along one side edge by a hinge which may be integrally formed with the housing halves. The hinge may be a thin flexible plastic elongate section that allows each half of the housing to move between an open and a closed configuration. It will be appreciated that several of the devices of the invention may be used on 25 a single tree. It will also be appreciated that depending on the size of the fruit to be protected, the fruit protection device may enclose a single piece of fruit or several pieces of fruit. The fruit protection device described is straightforward and easy to use and so is ideally suited to domestic and/or hobby fruit growers. The device is shaped and 7 dimensioned to provide protection from potentially destructive wildlife without impeding the growth of the fruit within the housing. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A housing for fruit growing on a branch, the housing being configured to surround the fruit and having first and second ends, each of the first and second ends being provided with an opening adapted to receive a part of a branch adjacent the fruit. 5

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed in two halves.

3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein each half of the housing is semi-cylindrical such that when the two halves are connected together they form a generally cylindrical housing. 0

4. The housing according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, the two halves of the housing are provided separately.

5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein each half of the housing includes a pair of longitudinal side edges provided with latch means adapted to releasably connect with complementary latch means on another half housing. 5

6. The housing according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the two halves are permanently connected to each other along a first longitudinal side edge of each half of the housing.

7. The housing according to claim 6, wherein the two halves are permanently connected by a hinge. 20

8. The housing according to claim 7, wherein the hinge is formed integrally with the two halves of the housing.

9. The housing according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a second longitudinal side edge of each half of the housing includes one or more latch means to close and releasably latch the two halves of the housing to one another. 25

10. A housing for fruit growing on a branch, the housing including: 9 first and second halves movable from an open configuration to enable placement on or removal from a fruit tree, and a closed configuration in which fruit is enclosed within the housing; the first and second halves being movable with respect to one another 5 about a hinge means; and wherein one or more releasable latch means are provided on the housing to retain the first and second halves in the closed configuration.

11. The housing according to claim 10, wherein each half of the housing includes a pair of longitudinal side edges. 0

12. The housing according to claim 11, wherein each longitudinal side edge includes latch means that complement latch means provided on the other half of the housing.

13. The housing according to claim 12, wherein the closed configuration is obtained by mating respective latch means on two housing halves to form the housing. 5

14. The housing according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the open configuration is obtained by unlatching one side of the fruit protector and while leaving the other side latched, the hinge means thereby being provided by the latch means on one side of the housing.

15. The housing according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the hinge 20 means is formed integrally with each half of the housing.

16. The housing according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the housing has two ends each respectively provided with an opening adapted to receive a part of a branch adjacent the fruit to be protected.