GB1592048A - Device for positioning an article relatively to a support - Google Patents

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AN ARTICLE RELATIVELY TO A SUPPORT (71) We, ATHAG LIMITED, a British Company, of Carlyon Road Industrial Estate, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 1LQ, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a device for positioning an article relatively to a support and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a device which will secure a plant to a cane or the like.

When growing plants such as chrysanthemums, tomatoes or other plants which have long stems, it is often necessary to support the plants by means of garden canes. The cane is normally placed in the ground adjacent the plant when the plant is at an early stage of growth, and the plant is initially secured to the cane by string or wire.

As the plant grows, it is necessary to use additional string or wire ties to secure the plant to the stake, and this can be a timeconsumung operation particularly where a large number of plants are concerned. An object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used for securing articles such as plants to a support and which will not require the use of numerous string or wire ties.

According to the invention, a device for positioning articles relative to a support includes a ring-like member which, in use surrounds the support, and attachment means on said member for releasably securing the member to said support so that an article-receiving space or article-engaging region will be defined between the support and said member, the attachment means including at least first and second resiliently deformable lengths of material, each of which is secured at its ends to the ring-like member, portions of said lengths of material being arranged to overlap each other and being shaped so as to define a receiving area for the support between them.

The size of the support receiving area is preferably variable to enable the attachment means to locate on supports of various crosssectional dimensions. The support receiving area may be increased to receive the support by deforming at least the first length of material, the resilience of said first length of material causing the support to be gripped by the overlapped portions. If desired, a third length of material may be provided which is identical to one of the first and second lengths of material and which is arranged so that the third length and said one of the first and second lengths overlap the remaining length on opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the third length of material and said one of the first and second lengths are parallel.

A device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the device, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, the device being shown in position on a garden cane and supporting three plants.

The device comprises a metal ring 1 supporting a pair of parallel cane-engaging wires 2 and a further cane-engaging wire 3, the wires constituting the aforesaid lengths of material. As seen clearly in Figure 2, the wire 3 extends between the wires 2 which are welded to opposite sides of the ring 1 so as to define a space therebetween. Each wire 2, 3 comprises three straight portions 4, 5 and 6, the relative dispositions of the portions 5, 6 of each wire being such that they will engage the periphery of a cane 7 at two points as shown in Figure 1. The use of parallel caneengaging wires 2 ensures that the plane of the ring 1 will be substantially at right-angles to the axis of the cane when the ring is in position thereon. However, one of the wires 2 could be omitted if desired.The straight portions 4 of the wires 2, 3 are normally resiliently biassed away from each other so that the cane 7 will normally be gripped by the portions 5, 6. Where it is desired to reposition the device on the cane, the portions 4 of the wires 2 and the corresponding portion 4 of the wire 3 are gripped between the finger and thumb of a user and urged towards each other to release the grip of the wires on the cane 7. The device is then moved axially of the cane to the desired position and the portions 4 released so that the cane will be gripped once more.

A device in accordance with the invention is particularly useful for supporting plants which are normally tied to a cane by means of individual pieces of string or by ordinary wire ties. When the plants have grown a short distance above ground level, the device is located on the cane 7 so that the plants (indicated generally at 8, 9 and 10 in Figure 2) will project through plant receiving areas A, B and C respectively defined between the ring 1 and the wires 2, 3. If desired, a further plant could be located between the straight portions 4 of the wires 2 and 3. As the plant continues to grow, the device can be moved along the cane 7 and re-located at an appropriate height whilst still supporting the plants. Thus, the plants will be adequately supported without the use of individual string or wire ties, the device serving to support several plants.

Two or more plant support devices could be fitted to a single cane. In such a case, the rings of the devices could be utilised as formers for a bag to be placed over blooms or plant stems supported by the devices. The bag would be arranged to enclose the rings and blooms with the mouth of the bag facing downwards, a suitable tie being applied to the mouth to close it around the cane and stems. The bag would help to protect the blooms from rain or frost. Alternatively, string or wire may be arranged to extend between the spaced devices to provide additional support for supporting climbing plants.

It is believed that the diameter of the ring could be made in several standard sizes, for example, 6, 8 and 10 inches in diameter.

Furthermore, it is envisaged that the caneengaging wires may be formed with an alternative profile to that shown in Figure 1.

Although specific reference has been made to plants, the device could be used for supporting other articles in relation to a cane or like stake or suppport.

If desired, the wires 2, 3 could be arranged so that the cane 7 will be positioned eccentrically of the ring 1.

Instead of forming the device from metal, it could be formed from suitable plastics.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for positioning articles relative to a support including a ring-like member which, in use, surrounds the support, and attachment means on said member for releasably securing the member to said support so that an article-receiving space or articleengaging region will be defined between the support and said member, the attachment means including at least first and second resiliently deformable lengths of material, each of which is secured at its ends to the ring-like member, portions of said lengths of material being arranged to overlap each other and being shaped so as to define a receiving area for the support between them.

2. A device, according to Claim 1, in which the size of the support receiving area is variable to enable the attachment means to locate on supports of various cross-sectional dimensions.

3. A device, according to Claim 2, in which the size of the support receiving area is increased to receive the support by deforming at least the first length of material, the resilience of said first length of material causing the support to be gripped by the overlapped portions.

4. A device, according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which a third length of material is provided which is identical to one of the first and second lengths of material and which is arranged so that the third length and said one of the first and second lengths overlap the remaining length on opposite sides thereof.

5. A device, according to Claim 4, in which the third length of material and said one of the first and second lengths are parallel.

6. A device for positioning articles relatively to a support constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. towards each other to release the grip of the wires on the cane 7. The device is then moved axially of the cane to the desired position and the portions 4 released so that the cane will be gripped once more. A device in accordance with the invention is particularly useful for supporting plants which are normally tied to a cane by means of individual pieces of string or by ordinary wire ties. When the plants have grown a short distance above ground level, the device is located on the cane 7 so that the plants (indicated generally at 8, 9 and 10 in Figure 2) will project through plant receiving areas A, B and C respectively defined between the ring 1 and the wires 2, 3. If desired, a further plant could be located between the straight portions 4 of the wires 2 and 3. As the plant continues to grow, the device can be moved along the cane 7 and re-located at an appropriate height whilst still supporting the plants. Thus, the plants will be adequately supported without the use of individual string or wire ties, the device serving to support several plants. Two or more plant support devices could be fitted to a single cane. In such a case, the rings of the devices could be utilised as formers for a bag to be placed over blooms or plant stems supported by the devices. The bag would be arranged to enclose the rings and blooms with the mouth of the bag facing downwards, a suitable tie being applied to the mouth to close it around the cane and stems. The bag would help to protect the blooms from rain or frost. Alternatively, string or wire may be arranged to extend between the spaced devices to provide additional support for supporting climbing plants. It is believed that the diameter of the ring could be made in several standard sizes, for example, 6, 8 and 10 inches in diameter. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the caneengaging wires may be formed with an alternative profile to that shown in Figure 1. Although specific reference has been made to plants, the device could be used for supporting other articles in relation to a cane or like stake or suppport. If desired, the wires 2, 3 could be arranged so that the cane 7 will be positioned eccentrically of the ring 1. Instead of forming the device from metal, it could be formed from suitable plastics. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for positioning articles relative to a support including a ring-like member which, in use, surrounds the support, and attachment means on said member for releasably securing the member to said support so that an article-receiving space or articleengaging region will be defined between the support and said member, the attachment means including at least first and second resiliently deformable lengths of material, each of which is secured at its ends to the ring-like member, portions of said lengths of material being arranged to overlap each other and being shaped so as to define a receiving area for the support between them.

2. A device, according to Claim 1, in which the size of the support receiving area is variable to enable the attachment means to locate on supports of various cross-sectional dimensions.

3. A device, according to Claim 2, in which the size of the support receiving area is increased to receive the support by deforming at least the first length of material, the resilience of said first length of material causing the support to be gripped by the overlapped portions.

4. A device, according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which a third length of material is provided which is identical to one of the first and second lengths of material and which is arranged so that the third length and said one of the first and second lengths overlap the remaining length on opposite sides thereof.

5. A device, according to Claim 4, in which the third length of material and said one of the first and second lengths are parallel.

6. A device for positioning articles relatively to a support constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.