AU726276B2

AU726276B2 - Device for assisting in supporting a plant

Info

Publication number: AU726276B2
Application number: AU12268/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Jeffrey Crowhurst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-14
Filing date: 1997-01-21
Publication date: 2000-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-21
Also published as: AU1226897A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: PAUL JEFFREY CROWHURST Actual Inventor(s): PAUL JEFFREY CROWHURST Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Invention Title: Device for Assisting in Supporting a Plant Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PN8038 filed 14 February, 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Name of Applicant: PAUL JEFFREY CROWHURST Actual Inventor(s): PAUL JEFFREY CROWHURST Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Invention Title: Device for Assisting in Supporting a Plant Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PN8038 filed 14 February, 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -1- Q:\OPER\KA\CROW.21 21/1/97 PMOPER\UMSTAKMATETLANTRO 16/8/00 1A- DEVICE FOR ASSISTING IN SUPPORTING A PLANT This invention relates to a device for assisting in supporting a plant in growth.

Staking is commonly employed for supporting plants by tying parts of the plant to stakes positioned in the ground. Tying is however time consuming. Furthermore, where this technique is employed with growing plants, the tying frequently needs to be undone and redone to accommodate changes in the size and configuration of the plant.

o 10 According to the present invention there is provided a A device for assisting in supporting a plant in growth, comprising a support arm and an engagement portion having an opening, said engagement portion being positionable on an upright stake so that the stake extends through the opening, with the support arm extending sidewardly from the stake, such that when the support arm is tilted downwardly to cause parts of the engaging portion, at respective opposite sides of 15 the opening, to engage respective side parts of the stake, movement of the device down the stake is substantially prevented by frictional forces due to said engagement, said device being formed from a body having a first section which defines the support arm and a second section which joins the first section and defines the engagement portion in the form of a loop, said second section defining in succession from a second end of the body first, second, third, fourth and fifth 20 parts thereof, said loop comprising four sides, a first of which is formed by the first and fifth parts, and the second, third and fourth sides are defined respectively by the second, third and fourth parts, the second end of the body being adjacent an end of the fifth part and substantially midway along the length of the first side of the loop, the first section extending away from said first side substantially midway along the length thereof, whereby the assisting in supporting of said plant in growth can be effected by passing a part of the plant over the support arm to rest thereon.

The loop may be substantially square in form. The length of the support arm may exceed the n, length of the second section.

P:\OPERUPN\STAKMATE\PLANT. PRO 4/8/00 -2- A device as formed in accordance with the invention may be formed from metal rod or wire, such as by bending from a single length thereof. Alternatively, the device may be formed by other techniques, such as by moulding in plastics.

The support arm may be configured as desired. For example, the support arm may extend substantially linearly outwardly from the engagement portion. The support arm may extend to a loop-like end portion. The support arm may also be of open generally looped form having divergent parts extending from at least adjacent the support portion in divergent relationship to outer ends which are at least adjacent to opposite ends of an outer part thereof.

10 In this case, the outer ends of the first and second parts may join to said third part at the ••respective ends of the third part, and an inner end of the first arm may join to the support S portion, an inner end of the second part being not connected to the support portion. In this case, then, the support arm may be generally triangular.

15 The invention also provides in combination, a plant, an upright stake for assisting in supporting the plant, and a support device comprising a support arm and an engagement portion having an opening, said engagement portion being positioned on said stake so that the stake extends through the opening, with the support arm extending sidewardly from the stake, such that the support arm is tilted downwardly to cause parts of the engaging portion, at respective opposite 20 sides of the opening, to engage respective side parts of the stake to substantially prevent, by frictional forces due to said engagement, movement of the device down the stake, wherein the support device is formed from a body having a first section which defines the support arm and a second section which joins the first section and defines the engagement portion in the form of a loop, said second section defining in succession from a second end of the body first, second, third, fourth and fifth parts thereof, said loop comprising four sides, a first of which is formed by the first and fifth parts, and the second, third and fourth sides are defined respectively by the second, third and fourth parts, the second end of the body being adjacent an end of the fifth part and substantially midway along the length of the first side of the loop, the first section extending away from said first side substantially midway along the length thereof, whereby, when a part 'of said plant rests on the support arm, the stake assists in supporting the plant through the P:\OPER\JPN\STAKMATE\PLANT. PRO 4/8/00 -3support device. There may be more than one support device, so as to provide support to the plant at more than one location. The support device may be formed in any of the preferred ways above described.

The invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to the support of a plant in growth.

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stake with three different forms of support device constructed in accordance with the invention shown attached thereto; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stake illustrating several attached support devices constructed in accordance with the invention, supporting parts of a plant.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the stake 8 shown therein may be of conventional form such as being rectangular or square in cross-section and adapted to be driven in the ground adjacent a plant for supporting the plant.

The support device 10 shown in Figure 1 is formed by bending from a single length of rod or wire and comprises an engagement portion 14 and an outstanding support arm 12. Support arm 12 is of simple linear configuration. Engagement portion 14 is in the form of a loop, in this case of substantially square form having four sides. The engagement portion 14 thus defines an opening 15, in this case of square form. The device 10 is positioned on stake 8 by passing the engagement portion 14 over the stake so that the stake extends through opening Arm 12 is formed from a section 16 of the length of the rod which forms the device r section 16 being at one end of the length, and engagement portion 14 is formed from a second P:\OPERUPN\STAKMATE\PLANT. PRO 4/8100 -4section 18 of the rod, at the other end of the length of rod. Section 16 cojoins with section 18. Section 14 defines five parts 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 arranged in that order from an end of the length of rod. Parts 22, 24, 26 define second, third and fourth sides of the engagement portion 14, and parts 20 and 28, which are arranged in generally coaxial alignment, define the first side of the engagement portion 14. The free end of part 20, being at the end of the length of rod, is about midway along the first side of the engagement portion, and is adjacent the junction between section 16 and part 28 of the length of rod, whereby the support arm 12 extends away from the engagement portion 14 midway along the first side thereof. To facilitate operation, it has been found best to make the length of the arm 12 greater than that o• 10 of the section 18 of the rod which forms the engagement portion.

slightly larger than, the cross-sectional form of the stake 8, whereby the device 10 may be The form of the engagement portion 14 is preferably substantially complimentary to, but freely moved up and down the length of the stake 8 to a desired position. That is to say, it can be located at any desired height on the stake. When so positioned, the support arm 12 may be tilted downwardly whereby the plane of the loop defining the engagement portion 14 is tilted with respect to the lengthwise axis of the stake so as to bring the side of the portion 14 defined by part 24, and that defined by parts 20 and 28 together, into engagement with opposite sides of the stake, whereby movement of the device 10 along the length of the stake is substantially prevented due to the frictional engagement between these parts 24, 20, and 28 with the side surfaces of the stake. Where, as shown, the stake 8 is non-circular and the stake receiving opening 15 defined by portion 14 is of complimentary form, rotation of the device 10 about the stake axis is substantially precluded. In the embodiment illustrated, however, the device 10 may be positionable at four different positions around the stake axis.

Once having positioned the or a number of devices 10 at a desired height or heights, branches 62 of a plant 60 may be positioned over the support arm or arms 12 to provide support thereto, thus supporting the plant from the stake via the or each support devices. By appropriately configuring the shape and size of the engagement portions 14, devices 10 may positioned at different angular positions around the stake so as to arrange support arms 12 P:\OPER\JPN\STAKMATE\PLANT.PRO 418/00 to extend outwardly at different radial dispositions.

By making the length of the support arm 12 relatively long, as indicated, the outer end of the support arm 12 will tend to fall, under the influence of gravity, to effect the required tilting of the engagement portion 14 to ensure proper frictional engagement with the stake 8 for locating the device 10 at a desired position on the stake. It is not essential however that this occur since the weight of the plants on the support arms may be sufficient to bring about this effect.

10 It is possible to easily release the holding of a device 10 from the stake by tilting the support arm 12 upwardly so as to enable it to be repositioned, such as to accommodate variations in I the form of the plant as it grows, or to enable it to be slid off the stake.

The device 10 may be formed of any suitable material such as a metal or moulded plastics.

The device 10 is particularly useful with wooden stakes, but can be used with stakes of other *o configurations. It is also particularly useful with growing plants, but can of course be used with other plants.

20 Figure 1 also illustrates two further exemplary support devices 40, 50 constructed in accordance with the invention. Each of these is formed by bending metal rod, the engagement portion 14 being in each case of similar configuration to that of the device In the case of the support device 40, the support arm 42 extends linearly away from the engagement portion 14 to a loop-like outer end 44. The support arm 52 of the device 50 has first and second parts 54,56 which extend in divergent relationship away from adjacent locations to join at ends thereof with ends of a transversely extending third part 58, so that the support arm is generally triangular in form. In the latter case, the arm 54 extends away from and is integral with part 28 of engagement portion 14, and arm 56 terminates at one free end of the rod which forms the device 50. This free end is positioned adjacent the other free d of the rod forming device 50, being the end of part 20 of engagement portion 14.

P:\OPERUPN\STAKMATE\PLANT.PRO 4/8/00 -6- By use of support devices in accordance with the invention, tying of plants to the stake can usually be avoided. Also, the devices are easily movable on the stake to reportion them to accommodate changes to the form of the plant, and can be removed from the stake for subsequent re-use if required.

The described arrangements have been advanced merely by way of explanation and many modifications or variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

S**

0 00 *0 0 0g *0 0 o oo* o *I e

Claims

1. A device for assisting in supporting a plant in growth, comprising a support arm and an engagement portion having an opening, said engagement portion being positionable on an upright stake so that the stake extends through the opening, with the support arm extending sidewardly from the stake, such that when the support arm is tilted downwardly to cause parts of the engaging portion, at respective opposite sides of the opening, to engage respective side parts of the stake, movement of the device down the stake is substantially prevented by frictional forces due to said engagement, said device being formed from a body having a first e section which defines the support arm and a second section which joins the first section and defines the engagement portion in the form of a loop, said second section defining in succession from a second end of the body first, second, third, fourth and fifth parts thereof, said loop comprising four sides, a first of which is formed by the first and fifth parts, and the second, third and fourth sides are defined respectively by the second, third and fourth parts, the second end of the body being adjacent an end of the fifth part and substantially midway along the length of 0°o• the first side of the loop, the first section extending away from said first side substantially •t o midway along the length thereof, whereby the assisting in supporting of said plant in growth can 0 be effected by passing a part of the plant over the support arm to rest thereon.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said loop is substantially square in form.

3. A device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the length of said support arm exceeds the length of said second section.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device is formed of rod. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device is formed by bending a single length of the rod. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device is formed of P:\OPERUPN\STAKMATE\PLANT.PRO -4/8/00 -8- moulded plastics material.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second end of the body is remote from a first end of the body.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support arm extends substantially linearly outwardly from the engagement portion.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support arm extends to a loop-like end portion.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support arm is of open o generally looped form having divergent first and second parts extending from at least adjacent the engagement portion in divergent relationship to outer ends which are at least adjacent to opposite ends of an outer third part thereof.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outer ends of said first and second parts join to said third part at the respective ends of the third part and an inner end of the first arm 0: joins to said engagement portion, an inner end of the second arm being not connected to the S: o engagement portion. o* S12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support arm is generally triangular. 6**oo*

13. In combination, a plant, an upright stake for assisting in supporting the plant, and a support device comprising a support arm and an engagement portion having an opening, said engagement portion being positioned on said stake so that the stake extends through the opening, with the support arm extending sidewardly from the stake, such that the support arm is tilted downwardly to cause parts of the engaging portion, at respective opposite sides of the opening, to engage respective side parts of the stake to substantially prevent by frictional Re forces due to said engagement, movement of the device down the stake, wherein the support P:\OPERUPN\STAKMATE\PLANT.PRO -4/8/00 -9- device is formed from a body having a first section which defines the support arm and a second section which joins the first section and defines the engagement portion in the form of a loop, said second section defining in succession from a second end of the body first, second, third, fourth and fifth parts thereof, said loop comprising four sides, a first of which is formed by the first and fifth parts, and the second, third and fourth sides are defined respectively by the second, third and fourth parts, the second end of the body being adjacent an end of the fifth part and substantially midway along the length of the first side of the loop, the first section extending away from said first side substantially midway along the length thereof, whereby, when a part of said plant rests on the support arm, the stake assists in supporting the plant through the support device.

14. The combination claimed in claim 13, wherein said loop is substantially square in form, o and the stake is substantially square in cross section, whereby rotation of the device about the .00: axis of the stake is substantially prevented. The combination claimed in either claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the length of said support arm exceeds the length of said second section.

16. The combination claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the support device is formed of metal rod. :ooo S17. The combination claimed in claim 16, wherein the support device is formed by bending a single length of the rod.

18. The combination claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the device is formed of moulded plastics material.

19. The combination claimed in any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the second end of the body is remote from a first end of the body. P:\OPERUIPN\STAKMATE\PLANT. PRO 4/8/00 The combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the support arm extends substantially linearly outwardly from the engagement portion.

21. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 20 wherein the support arm extends to a loop-like end portion.

22. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the support arm is of open generally looped form having divergent first and second parts extending from at least adjacent the engagement portion in divergent relationship to outer ends which are at least adjacent to opposite ends of an outer third part thereof.

23. The combination as claimed in claim 22, wherein the outer ends of said first and second oo parts join to said third part at the respective ends of the third part, and an inner end of the first arm joins to said engagement portion, an inner end of the second arm not being connected to the engagement portion.

24. The combination as claimed in claim 23, wherein the support arm is generally triangular. *o

25. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 24 wherein said plant is a plant in growth. o*

26. The combination claimed in any one of claims 13 to 25, including a plurality of said S support devices on said stake, arranged to support parts of said plant. P:\OPERV\PN\STAKMATE\PLANT. PRO 4/8/00 11

27. A support device for supporting a plant in growth, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. The combination of a plant, an upright stake for assisting in supporting the plant, and a support device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 4th day of August, 2000 PAUL JEFFREY CROWHURST By his Patent Attorneys SDavies Collison Cave