ES1325706U - Biodegradable individual plant protector - Google Patents

Abstract

A biodegradable individual plant protector, comprising a protector body (1), characterized in that said protector body (1) is manufactured from biodegradable and compostable materials, certified according to European Standard 13432, derived from renewable sources, in particular a multi-layer Kraft cardboard waterproofed on both sides by means of a barrier coating based on a biopolymer of plant origin, specifically polylactic acid (PLA). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Biodegradable individual plant protector

[0005] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0007] The present invention belongs to the technical field of plant protection in the agricultural and forestry sectors, fitting within the scope of devices that are installed on individual plants used to prevent damage caused by atmospheric agents and to provide protection against animals or other pests in plantations of any type of plants, both in new and existing plantations.

[0009] The present invention relates to an individual plant protector for plants such as fruit trees, forest trees, shrubs, and vines. Its main functions include providing shelter during the initial stage of plant establishment, protection against adverse weather conditions (solar radiation, frost, strong winds, torrential rain, and hail), protection against pests and diseases, protection against damage caused by predators (herbivores), protection during weed control operations, and protection during the application of herbicides or pesticides that may affect its establishment and development.

[0011] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Agricultural and forestry plantations face, especially during the first years of their establishment and development, two types of problems that the sector strives to minimize: those related to adverse weather conditions and the harmful effects of herbivores. This requires significant investments in plant protection products, protective agents, perimeter fencing, traps, and other resources.

[0015] Regarding the state of the art, there are currently different types of individual protectors, generally tubular in shape, designed primarily to protect against attacks from animals such as rodents or other herbivores, as well as wild boars, deer and other mammals, and from inclement weather such as wind, excessive radiation or frost.

[0016] The types of individual plant protectors available today are mostly made from plastic materials (polypropylene or polyethylene), which is one of the problems associated with their use, since plastic is a petroleum derivative and is not biodegradable.

[0018] It is known that its use is not always in accordance with good application practices, ending up being released and dispersed by nature, especially because they do not have systems that effectively guarantee their stability and permanence around the plant.

[0020] It is also known that environmentally sustainable practices are generally not followed in their use, since the disposal of these protectors after their useful period is very infrequent and that when they remain for periods longer than recommended, or when reused repeatedly, they end up disintegrating and decomposing into microplastics, which has led to a serious problem of contamination of soils and aquatic systems by plastics (FAO, 2021; Klaus et al., 2024).

[0022] FAO, 2021. Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability - A call for action. Rome.

[0023] (https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb7856en)

[0025] Klaus, J., Seeger, M., Bigalke, M., J. Weber, C., 2024. Microplastics in vineyard soils: First insights from plastic-intensive viticulture systems. Science of The Total Environment. Volume 947. ISSN 0048-9697.

[0026] (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724048484)

[0028] Furthermore, individual plant protectors made of plastic materials can hinder some physiological processes in plants, such as respiration, transpiration, and other gas exchanges, leading to stressful conditions. These conditions can weaken, and even kill, plants due to excessive heat buildup during the warmer months. They also promote the appearance and development of fungi and diseases in plant structures due to the accumulation of ambient humidity or rain, which may require the use of pesticides for their control and elimination.

[0029] In addition, individual protectors produced in plastic materials generally have a rigid structure, with the tubular shape being the most common, requiring a considerable amount of space for storage and transport, which is reflected in the increased costs associated with the logistics of their use.

[0031] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The present invention allows solving the drawbacks and limitations identified by the use of currently existing individual plant protectors.

[0035] The individual plant protector of the present invention is made of biodegradable and compostable materials, certified according to European Standard 13432, from renewable sources.

[0037] For its production, a multi-layer Kraft cardboard is used, whose raw materials will preferably come from certified forests (FSC - Forest Stewardship Council and/or PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) where responsible and sustainable management of natural resources is practiced, waterproofed on both sides by means of a barrier coating based on a biopolymer of vegetable origin, polylactic acid (PLA), for greater resistance and durability of the device.

[0039] Due to the nature and characteristics of the materials used in the manufacture of the biodegradable individual plant protector, it does not require disassembly since it can disintegrate and decompose safely at the installation site, without causing any damage to the soil, fauna or flora that coexist in the ecosystem, making it an ecological and sustainable product.

[0041] Since the composition of the materials used for its manufacture is based on natural fibers, it allows it to function as a natural insulator against cold and heat, recreating the characteristic environment of greenhouses for the protection of plants, providing more favorable conditions for their establishment and development.

[0043] Despite being quite water-resistant, it absorbs some moisture and allows gas exchange, thus reducing the likelihood of fungal growth and diseases that can damage plants.

[0045] Being made of a lightweight material and being able to adopt a flat and compact shape, it allows for significant savings in storage space and a reduction in the costs associated with transport and distribution.

[0047] The design and combination of materials used in this invention give it great robustness, strength and durability, so that it effectively withstands inclement weather, chemical agents, tearing and traction that the plant's own growth may exert, and can be reused.

[0049] Thanks to the stake application opening system integrated into the device body, its installation is easy, quick and stable, requiring no specialized technical expertise.

[0051] In exceptional cases, such as in areas more exposed to strong winds or other inclement weather, the anchoring can be reinforced by attaching cable ties to the support stake. Ideally, the cable ties should be made of biodegradable materials such as sisal, jute, raffia, hemp, etc., as these materials have the advantage of not needing to be removed after use. In this way, the individual plant protector will remain firmly in place throughout its lifespan.

[0053] It offers great versatility since, depending on the type of plant, its needs and the conditions of the place where it is installed, it can be sized and configured to better meet the shelter and protection needs of each plant and maximize its performance.

[0055] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

[0058] Figure 1.- Shows a plan view of the cuts, folds and perforations made to manufacture the body of the individual protector, with holes for ventilation and light entry.

[0060] Figure 2.- Shows a view of the individual protector with holes for ventilation and light entry, folded and closed by collage.

[0062] Figure 3.- Shows a plan view of the cuts, folds and perforations made to manufacture the body of the individual protector, without holes for ventilation and light entry.

[0064] Figure 4.- Shows a view of the individual protector without holes for ventilation and light entry, folded and closed by collage.

[0066] Figure 5.- Shows a side perspective view of the individual protector with ventilation and light entry holes installed around the plant.

[0068] Figure 6. - Shows a side perspective view of the individual protector without ventilation and light entry holes installed around the plant.

[0070] These figures refer to a set of elements which are:

[0071] 1 - Body of the individual protector

[0072] 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d - Faces of the individual protector

[0073] 2 - Folding folds

[0074] 3 - Collage flap

[0075] 4 - Ventilation and light entry holes

[0076] 5 - Openings for stake placement

[0077] 6 - Holes for applying flanges

[0078] 7 - Demarcation by drilling

[0079] 8 - Flaps, optionally openable, to regulate ventilation and light entry 9 - Floor

[0080] 10 - Stake

[0081] 11 - Cable Ties

[0082] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0084] Regarding its manufacturing process, the individual plant protector of the present invention is made flat on a sheet of cardboard coated with biopolymer, cut, folded and perforated with the help of a precision tool designed for this purpose (die-cutting tool).

[0085] The cutting, folding and perforating operation materializes in sheet metal the body of the individual protector (1), the delimitation by means of folding folds (2) of the faces of the individual protector (1a, 1b, 1c and 1d) and the collage flap (3), the cutting of the holes for ventilation and light entry (4), the cutting of the openings for the placement of stake (5), the cutting of the holes for the application of flanges (6) and the demarcation by perforation (7) of the flaps, with optional opening, to regulate ventilation and light entry (8) (Figure 1. and Figure 3.).

[0087] The folding is then carried out using the folding creases (2) and the device is closed by gluing the respective collage flap (3) to the inner face of face 1a, by applying water-based glue (without chemical solvents), adopting a flat and compact shape (Figure 2. and Figure 4.).

[0089] Placed around the plant (9), it adopts a structure in the form of a triangular prism, open at its ends (Figure 5. and Figure 6.), a shape that gives the device great robustness and resistance.

[0091] The placement and stabilization of the individual protector around the plant (9) is carried out by means of a stake (10), preferably made of wood, which passes through the stake placement opening system (5) designed for this purpose and integrated into the body of the device (Figure 5. and Figure 6.), and which is buried in the ground.

[0093] The reinforcement of the attachment to the stake (10) can be facilitated by applying flanges (11) that pass through flange application holes (6) integrated into the body of the device and are attached to the stake (10) (Figure 5. and Figure 6.).

[0095] Depending on the type of plant to be protected and the environmental conditions in which it is installed, the biodegradable individual plant protector can be presented in different forms and can be configured and sized to guarantee maximum performance. It can be presented with or without holes for ventilation and light entry (4), allows regulation of airflow and light by means of a flap system, with an optional opening to regulate ventilation and light entry (8), and has a variable height and cross-sectional width.

[0097] The individual plant protector of the present invention finds wide application in the forestry area, specifically in afforestation, reforestation and landscaping projects, in the area of fruit growing, for the protection of fruit trees, and in the area of viticulture, for the protection of the vine.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS 1. Biodegradable individual plant protector, comprising an individual protector body (1), characterized in that said individual protector body (1) is made from biodegradable and compostable materials, certified according to European Standard 13432, from renewable sources, in particular a multi-layer Kraft cardboard waterproofed on both sides by means of a barrier coating based on a biopolymer of plant origin, specifically polylactic acid (PLA). 2. Biodegradable individual plant protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body of the individual protector (1) comprises a folding system (2) for compression and opening of the device. 3. Biodegradable individual plant protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body of the individual protector (1) when open and arranged around the plant (9) assumes a structure in the form of a triangular prism, open at the base and at the top. 4. Biodegradable individual plant protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body of the individual protector (1) may comprise a plurality of holes for ventilation and light entry (4). 5. Biodegradable individual plant protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body of the individual protector (1) comprises a system of flaps, with optional opening, to regulate ventilation and light entry (8). 6. Biodegradable individual plant protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body of the individual protector (1) comprises an integrated system of openings for the placement of a stake (5). 7. Biodegradable individual plant protector, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body of the individual protector (1) comprises a set of holes for the application of flanges (6) to reinforce the attachment to the stake (10).