FR2610475A1 - Dismantleable temporary greenhouse - Google Patents

Abstract

Device temporarily protecting citrus fruits or other plants from winter frost. The invention relates to a device whose structure is made up of elements fitting into one another by means of ferrules V or by being "telescopic" which can be assembled and dismantled without a tool (except a hammer), growing or changing in shape to suit the plants, by means of extensions 4, 9 (19, 20 for the variants) and which are fixed to the ground by pegs 22 passing through holes pierced in the curved-open part of the legs 10. Optionally, it can be adapted to the location by means of articulations 2 and 2'. The telescopic elements 7, 7' (19 and 20 for the variants) are horizontal and are used for the cohesion of the device and for holding the PVC (not shown). This device is heated: by bottled gas 12 with burner(s) 13 or by electricity (especially a fan heater with a thermostat).

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for protecting citrus fruits, or other plants or shrubs, against winter frosts, in particular in the southern regions.

Until then, there were only greenhouses - tunnels or others - that could not adapt to the plant or place and they were of a much larger size than those presented below; their assembly, or disassembly when it occurs, is a big job requiring tools and often specialists; their heating means, when it exists, is an important and fixed installation,
The device according to the invention and its variants provides solutions to these drawbacks. By the ease of assembly and disassembly of the device over winter, by elements making up its structure, made of PVC-NP, or other material, fitting into each other by means of male and female ferrules, or by telescopic means , like fishing rods. By means of extensions it changes shape or grows to adapt to the plant, or even to the place; PVC, or other covering material, adapting to these changes: PVC is easily cut and glued, but the manufacturer can offer ready-to-use coatings, the dimensions being standardized in correspondence with those of the structure.

 The mobile, light heating is provided by one (or more) bottle (s) of butane - or propane gas - with "Camping Gaz International" type burner (registered trademark) or similar, with or without a suitable thermostat. This heating can also be provided by one of the known electrical means with or without thermostat, which will be offered, optionally, by the manufacturer of the device (Greenhouse). Incidentally, in order to facilitate the installation of the device (Example: near a wall), there is optionally provided an articulation of an element of the structure called "head" making it possible to move the "foot (s)" "on the circle described by the device on the ground (the coating distended at this point will be unimportant).

 Figure I represents the main elements making up the structure of the device (the hexagonal shape sleeps from the variants) The covering is not shown in the drawing, let alone the ventilation holes (Open or closed) at the level of the "elbows ", vertical part of the covering.

AA is the axis of the greenhouse. The center (1) is a circle of material chosen by the manufacturer (iron, PVC-NP, etc.), the diameter being a function of the size of the greenhouse (R = 10 cm on the drawings), the thickness being a function of the material used and its width (3 cm on the drawings)
On this center (1) are fixed the "heads" (2) and (3) in variable number according to the size of the greenhouse (6 in the drawings) The extension (4j is held by the. Ferrules (V) male and female, with the "head" (3) as are all the elements of the structure of the device, except those which are rcliés by the telescopic and horizontal means. The Q, or section will depend on the nature of the material (= 2 cm on the drawings) There are two kinds of extensions: the (9) is twice the length of the (4) in order to be able to change the shape of the greenhouse which can thus be much wider than it is tall if the plant requires it The elbows (5) make a rounded angle, more or less large depending on the slope (P) chosen (20% on the drawings) or imposed by technical requirements. To protect the plastic coating, if the latter is used , a plate (6) covers the elbow (5) matching its shape. On this elbow (5) are fixed horizontally (the elbow being perpendicular) ferrules: a female left che and a male to the right of the elbow (5) or vice versa, so that the telescopic element (7) and (7 ') comes to fit into these said ferrules, which form, between them, an angle of 1200, for the hexagonal greenhouses, and 1350 for octagonal greenhouses, etc. The adjustment of the telescopic element (7) and (7 ') is done by means of holes (8) in one of which is fixed a dowel with a flat head (not shown in the drawings) the latter being on the side of the covering , plastic or other. Element (10) is the "foot" of the greenhouse. I1 rests on the ground (14) The part resting on the ground is curved for about 5 cm. This last part is pierced with a hole through which passes a dowel (22) fixing the device to the ground. These dowels are driven into the ground using a hammer, which will be the only tool necessary for mounting the greenhouse. A door (11) is formed in the coating in order to be able to access the gas bottle (s) (12) and the burner (s) (13). A bottle of gas, type "Camping gaz international" (Registered trademark) whose burner consumes 100 gr / hour, will be sufficient for small greenhouses. For others, optionally, a suitable thermostat, not shown in the drawings, can adjust the temperature.

One (or more) independent burner (s) - not shown in the drawing related to one (or more) 13 kg bottle (s) of butane (or propane) gas providing heating. The gas bottle (s) may be outside of the greenhouse in a sheltered box, or the like. The door (11) is cut in the covering (the edges being reinforced) in the case of PVC, and folds down by its own weight. It is held in place by an appropriate adhesive, or other means (lacing, etc.) and depending on the nature of the coating. The door also serves to ventilate the greenhouse. The greenhouse can also be heated by known electrical means, a fan heater, for example, with a thermostat.

Figure 2 shows the center (1) and the "heads" (2) and (3) seen from above. The "head" (3) pivoting around a flat head bolt (15)
The element (2) being the female part of the joint and (2 ') the male part. The latter being the extension of (3) flattened. The element (2) is circular in order to reinforce the maintenance of the slope (P) in all the positions that can take (3) the ferrule (V) female being the other end of (3).

 Figure 3 shows in profile Figure 2 above. The slope (P) -20% on the drawings - being obtained by the inclination of the element (2) on the center (1) The articulation is made around a bolt (15) with conical and flat head, the hole through which the bolt (15) passes being milled. The part (2 ') being in the extension of the element (3) flattened or reduced and forms the male part of the joint.

 FIG. 4 represents a variant of FIG. 3: the slope (P) is no longer obtained by the inclination of the male part (2 ') (always at 20%) on the element (3) The female part of the joint (2) remaining straight on the center (1).

 Figure 5 shows, seen from above, the center (1) and the "heads" (3 ') fixed directly on this center (1): there is no articulation (2) These are "heads" fixed. The element (3 ') is enlarged by the element (2) which has disappeared.

 Figure 6 shows in profile the fixed "heads". The element (3 ') is welded directly to the center (L) with the inclination at 20%. The female ferrule (V) being the other end of (3 ').

 Figure 7 shows in perspective, seen from the ground, the elbow (5): the male and female ferrules connect the element (7) and (7 ') They make, between them, an angle of 1200 for hexagonal greenhouses, 1350 for octagonal greenhouses, etc. A plate (6) covers them to protect the plastic coating if the latter is used. It may be deleted if other coatings do not make it necessary for the protection of said coating.

The ferrule (V) connects the elbow (5) to the "head" (3) or (3 ') with or without extension (s).

 Figure 8 shows the elbow (5) in perspective, front view.

The ferrules (V) male and female (or vice versa) for the telescopic elements (7) and (7 ') (or vice versa) make a right angle with the vertical element of the elbow (5) being horizontal but in perspective as well as the upper part of the elbow (5).

 Figure 8 also shows, the elbows (5) for the so-called "tunnel" devices (Figures 10 and 11) with this note: the horizontal ferrules made for the telescopic elements (7) (7 ') and (7) are between them a flat angle. Only the upper part of the elbow (5) is in perspective.

Figure 8 shows a variant having two female ferrules of this said elbow.

 Figure 9 shows the elbow (5) in profile. The rounded angle is more or less depending on the slope (P) (20% on the drawings) and the latter is a function of technical needs and corresponds with that of the "heads" (3) or (3 ') or again (2) or (2 ').

 FIG. 10 represents a variant of the device represented by FIG. 1. It is a device in the form of a "tunnel" (Only the "centers" and "heads" are represented in the drawings) The half-center (1 '.) is extended by (b) in order to give the desired shape to the greenhouse. This half-center (1 ') is identical, for its half, to the other centers (1) as well as the "heads" which are welded to it. The latter can be articulated or fixed (only the "fixed heads have been drawn). The element (19) is a connection made up of two female ferrules (V) used to hold the extensions (20) special to this type of device. can put as many extensions (20) as desired and as a result of elements (7) and (7 ') which become due to the lengths (7) (7') and (7) thus having three parts ( not shown in the drawings) all the horizontal elements are used for the cohesion of the device and for the maintenance of the PVC coating it. There must also be small extensions of this type, ie having only one or two parts (7) or (7) and (7 ') the play which will exist in the shell will have little importance. The "head" (17) consists of 2 elements (3') of 2 elements (19) joined by a bar of length equal to the diameter of the half-center (1 ') minus the thickness of the two elements (19) making the whole a single piece (17) of which all the parts are welded.

 The figure. 11 shows a variant of FIG. 10: it is a device to be placed against a wall (21) The centers (1 ") are only quarter quarters of the center (1) Therefore (b) is increased by R on the side of the wall (21) (R = 10 cm on the drawings) The "head" (18) is a variant of the "head" (17): it has only one "head" (3 ') and only one fitting (19) integrated into the element (3 ') and it rests on the wall (21) The length of the support is equal to the radius R of the quarter of center (1 ") minus the thickness of the two fittings ( 19) We will see in Figure 13 how the PVC covering holds.

 Figure 12 shows in profile and front the "head" (17) In profile we see the two elements or "heads" (3 ') welded to the fittings (19) perpendicularly and to the center of the latter. The length which separates the two fittings (19) is, externally, equal to the diameter of the half-center (1 ') measured also externally, reduced by the thickness of the two fittings (19) From the front, we see the fitting (19) with its two female ferrules (V), and perpendicularly and in perspective we see a "head" (3 ') masking the second which is opposite to it as does the fitting (19) for its opposite.

 FIG. 13 represents the "head" (18) seen in profile and intended for the device of FIG. 11. It is a variant of the "head" (17): it has only one "head" (3 ' ) but two fittings (19), one of which is welded and integrated into the "head" (3 ') the other being welded to the end of the support against the wall (21) (see FIG. 11) Vertically, a female ferrule (V) is fixed in order to hold a "foot" (10) with or without extension (4) or (9) We see that this "foot" will be inside the greenhouse and consequently in the vegetation . It is not impossible if we can move this so-called "foot" with small extensions which are discussed in the description Ae in Figure 10 above, in order to be able to move this "foot" in a place that does not interfere with the vegetation.

 Figure 14 shows the fitting (19) consisting of two female ferrules (V) with a space between equal to the section or diameter of the "heads" (3 ').

 FIG. 15 shows a large extension (20) (about 1.50 m), the small extension not being drawn. Its ends end in a (V) mile ferrule. Those intended to be against the wall (21) are provided with hooks (C) in order to be able to fix, if necessary, the covering, in the case of PVC provided with eyelets on its adequate edge and through which these said hooks will pass.

 Figure 16 shows a telescopic extension having parts (7) and (7 ') interlocking and sliding one on the other. The sliding is stopped by a dowel (with a flat head which can thus be turned towards the side of the covering, PVC in particular unless it is placed vertically) passed through one of the holes (8) once the desired length has been obtained; the plug having a suitable size and length easily determined from the above data (the plug is not shown in the drawings).

 The telescopic extensions intended for so-called tunnel greenhouses may have three parts in order to enlarge their length, that is i (7) (7 ') and (7) (This last part is not shown in the drawing) and even of advantage if necessary, by alternating the parts (7) and (7 '), the latter being able to be sawn without difficulty to the desired length. In the case where an elbow (5) has 2 female horizontal ferrules intended for the part (7) of the telescopic element and the latter ends in part 7 ') there would be play which would be of no great importance (see Figure 8 and its description above).

 Figure 17 shows a small extension (4) used, with the (9) to enlarge the greenhouse, or to change its shape. It ends with a ferrule mglé at one end and a female ferrule at the other end.

 FIG. 18 shows a large extension (9) having the same characteristics as the small (4) and the same functions, also ending in ferrules (V) male and female. Its length is twice that of (4).

 Figure 19 shows the "foot" (10) of the device and its variants.

Its length is greater than that of the extension (9) I1 has a male ferrule (V) at one end and at the other a part - about 5 cm - curved perpendicularly and in which is drilled a hole through which passes a dowel (22) which sinks into the ground using a hammer, or a similar tool, which will be the only tool necessary for mounting the greenhouses.

Claims (4)

 1) Device temporarily protect citrus fruits, or other plants, from winter frosts, characterized by a structure, the elements of which fit into each other by means of male and female ferrules (V) or by telescopic means (7) ( 7t) (and (19) (20) for the variants) which allow the assembly and disassembly in the same way as those of fishing rods.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized by the standardization of the dimensions composing the structure of the device and its variants, in order to make them correspond to those of the coating of the device.  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the heating means, mobile, light, insured, or  - by means of butane (12) or propane gas bottle (s), with fixed or independent burner (s) (13) (the latter (s) are (are) not) not shown in the drawing) inside or outside the device  - by electrical means according to one of the known technical methods (the fan heater seems to be particularly suitable, with thermostat)  4) Optional device, making it possible to move the foot (s) (10) on the circle (or half, or even quarter of a circle for the variants) that all of the devices describe on the ground in order to adapt this (s) last at the place; characterized by the joint (2) welded on the center (1) (or (1 ') or even (1 ") for the variants) and (2') rotating around a bolt (15).