GB2077084A

GB2077084A - Portable horticultural enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2077084A
Application number: GB8115420A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LOADTREE Ltd
Current assignee: LOADTREE Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-22
Filing date: 1981-05-20
Publication date: 1981-12-16
Also published as: WO1981003256A1; NL8120161A; JPS57500960A; BE888938A; DK25282A; DE3148630A1; GB2077084B

Abstract

A portable horticultural enclosure has a rigid frame (1) formed by two rigidly interconnected end sections (3, 4) and a transparent plastics cover made up of separate cover sheets (16) on each side of the frame, each said cover sheet being attached to a longitudinal frame member (5) interconnecting the two end sections. Each cover sheet has along its upper longitudinal edge a rigid bar (18) which is releasably engageable in seats at the upper ends of the two end sections (3, 4) and has along it lower longitudinal edge a bar (19) which can be anchored releasably (20) to lower parts (6) of the frame so as to tension the cover sheet (16). The cover further includes end cover sheets (15) which are tensioned between the top and bottom of each end frame section (3, 4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable horticultural enclosure This invention relates to portable horticultural enclosures.

Existing portable horticultural enclosures in the form of cloches or frames are not suitable for the cultivation of tall plants such as tomatoes. Moreover, the ventilation of such known enclosures, for the purpose of temperature control, presents problems, and access to plants is usually possible only by removal of the enclosure.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and lightweight portable enclosure for covering plants under cultivation, particularly tall plants such as tomatoes grown in peat bags.

The invention accordingly provides a portable horticultural enclosure comprising a rigid frame having two rigidly interconnected end sections and a cover of transparent plastics sheet supported by the frame, the cover including a sheet on one or each side of the frame, the or each said cover sheet passing over a longitudinal frame member interconnecting the two end sections and being attached adjacent its opposite longitudinal edges to respective rigid bars one of which is releasably engageable with the upper ends of the two end sections and the other of which is releasably engageable with lower parts of the frame so as to tension the cover sheet between said rigid bars.

Ventilation of the enclosure can be effected by simply disengaging the upper or the lower rigid bar from the frame to release an upper or lower part of the associated cover sheet.

Moreover, by disengaging the upper and/or lower rigid bars of the or each cover sheet it is possible to gain unobstructed access to the upper or lower part of the enclosure respectively, without disturbing the remainder of the enclosure.

The dimensions of the rigid frame are ideally such as to provide an enclosure suitable for the cultivation of tall plants such as tomato plants. The enclosure may be placed over the plants under cultivation and anchored to the ground by any convenient means. Where the enclosure is used for the cultivation of plants in peat bags the weight of the peat bags themselves may be used to anchor the enclosure to the ground. Thus wires or cords may span the enclosure and interconnect lower frame members for the purpose of anchoring the enclosure when cultivation bags are placed on said wires or cords in the enclosure.

Being essentially of lightweight construction the enclosure does not require a special foundation or base.

The frame preferably includes at least one lower longitudinal frame member interconnecting the two end sections, the rigid bar adjacent the lower longitudinal edge of the or each cover sheet being releasably connected to the lower longitudinal frame member by tensioning elements which are releasably engageable with opposite ends of the lower rigid bar.

The end sections may be gable end sections for a free-standing enclosure. Alternatively the enclosure may be made with a sloping 'leanto' roof, with appropriately shaped end sections. Where the enclosure is free-standing with a gable roof, each side of the roof may be opened by disengaging the upper rigid bar from the two gable end sections and then lowering the bar with the cover sheet attached to it.

Preferably the or each cover sheet is provided with loops or pockets on its inside surface through which the associated longitudinal frame member passes to form an anchorage for the sheet between the two rigid bars.

The upper rigid bar attached to each respective cover sheet preferably has end portions projecting beyond the edges of the sheet, said end portions being engageable in respective seats on the end sections to form a roof ridge, with the cover sheet tensioned between the said upper rigid bar and the associated longitudinal frame member. Each end section is preferably formed as a gable end section with tubular rods which converge towards the roof ridge and which are formed at their adjacent ends with upwardly facing part-cylindrical seats. The seats may, for example, be provided on respective plugs inserted into the upper ends of the convergent tubular rods.

Where the end sections are formed as gable ends the cover preferably includes end sheets which are attached to respective transverse frame members of the end sections and which are folded over the upper ends of the gable end sections, each end sheet being anchored by a tensioning element or elements attached to the ends of the folded sheet on the inside of the enclosure. Each end sheet preferably has at least one loop or pocket on its inside surface through which the respective lower transvers frame member passes to anchor the lower edge of the sheet.

The rigid frame is preferably formed by aluminium tubes interconnected by screws which engage in captive elements located within the ends of the tubes. The entire frame can then easily be dismantled and stored compactly when not in use. The plastics sheets forming the transparent cover can be folded and stored flat when the enclosure is dismantled.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable horticultural enclosure according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the enclosure shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the assembled enclosure shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the way in which the enclosure is opened for access or ventilation, and Figure 4 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of an enclosure, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the use of the enclosure for the cultivation of plants growing in peat bags.

The illustrated enclosure according to the invention is intended for use in conjunction with a number of peat bags in which plants are grown directly, without the need for transplanting. The plants are placed on flat ground, either on earth or on a concrete or paved surface such as a patio, and the enclosure according to the invention is placed over the plants and the cultivation bags to protect the growing plants and to provide, in effect, a miniature "greenhouse".

The illustrated horticultural enclosure consists of a rigid frame 1 made up of tubular aluminium sections interconnected, in a manner known per se, by means of screws 2 engaging in captive nuts or other apertured fixing elements anchored within the ends of respective tubes, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The frame 1 is formed with two gable end sections 3, 4 interconnected by upper longitudinal frame members 5 and lower longitudinal frame members 6.The gable ends 3, 4 themselves are each formed by two upright frame members 7, 8 which are vertical between the longitudinal frame members 5, 6 and which, above the upper longitudinal frame members 5, converge towards each other to define the opposite ends of a gable roof, the upright members 7, 8 being rigidly interconnected by upper and lower transverse frame members 9, 1 0. The two upper transverse frame members 9 of the gable ends 3, 4 are further interconnected by longitudinal bracing bars 11 (Fig.

1) or wires 1 1A (Fig. 4) which serve as convenient supports for plant stakes when the enclosure is in use.

The convergent upper ends of each pair of gable end frame members 7, 8 are spaced from each other and are each provided with a plastics plug 1 2 which is inserted into the open upper end of the respective frame member 7, 8 and which projects beyond this open end, defining a part-cylindrical seat 1 3 which faces upwardly and towards the seat 1 3 of the adjacent plug, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of each pair of gable frame members 7, 8 are rigidly interconnected by respective brackets 14 bolted to the adjacent ends of the frame members 7, 8.

The entire enclosure has a cover of transparent plastics sheet, preferably polyvinylchloride (p.v.c.). In the illustrated example the cover is made up of four separate sheets, as shown in Fig. 2. Two sheets 1 5 cover the respective gable end sections 3, 4 and the other two sheets 16 cover each longitudinal side and roof section of the frame. Each plastics cover sheet 15, 1 6 is provided on its.

inside face with respective strips, of the same transparent plastics sheet material, which are welded to the sheet to define loops or pockets 1 7 which are used for the anchoring of the sheet. For example, referring to Fig. 2, the upper longitudinal frame members 5 upon assembly of the frame are inserted through seam-welded pockets 1 7 before being fixed to the two gable end sections 3, 4 to provide an effective anchorage for the respective cover sheets 16.

Upper and lower rigid bars 18, 19, each consisting of an aluminium tube fitted with plastics end caps 1 8A, 1 9A, are attached to each cover sheet 1 6 adjacent its upper and lower longitudinal edges. Each rigid bar 18, 1 9 has a length slightly greater than the length of the respective sheet, so that the end caps 1 8A, 1 9A at the opposite ends of the bars project laterally beyond the edges of the cover sheet 1 6. The bars 18, 1 9 are inserted in appropriately positioned seam-welded pockets 1 7 adjacent the upper and lower longitudinal edges of each cover sheet 16.

In the illustrated embodiment the plastics end caps 1 8A of each upper bar 1 8 are arranged to engage in the part-cylindrical seats 1 3 of two of the plugs 1 2 fitted to the gable section frame members 7, 8, with the associated cover sheet 1 6 under tension between the upper bar 1 8 and the upper longitudinal frame member 5. The tension in the sheet 1 6 retains the end caps 1 8A positively in the respective seats 13, as illustrated in the left- hand side of Fig. 3.

The end caps 1 9A of each lower bar 1 9 which project beyond the edges of the sheet 1 6 are engaged by respective elastic retaining bands 20 which pass beneath the respective lower longitudinal frame members 6. The bands 20, being under tension, hold the sheet 1 6 in tension between the upper longitudinal frame member 5 and the lower bar 19. The tension in the elastic bands 20 should be sufficient to tension the entire sheet 1 6 between the upper and lower bars 18, 1 9 when the sheet 16 is in its closed position.

The side walls of the enclosure may easily be opened for access or ventilation. Thus, as shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 3, the top of the enclosure may be opened for ventilation purposes on one or both sides by simply lifting the appropriate rigid bar 1 8 out of the seats 1 3 and allowing the bar 1 8 to hang down on the outside of the enclosure, suspended from the upper frame member 5.

Similarly, the entire side of the enclosure may be opened for easy access to growing plants by simply releasing the elastic retaining bands 20 and lifting the lower rigid bar 1 9 on the side in question over the roof of the enclo sure, leaving an unobstructed opening between the upper and lower frame men bers 5 and 6. When the upper bar 1 8 is in its lowered position, for top ventilation or access, the ends of the bar 1 8 may be inserted between the taught sheet 1 6 and the adjacent upright frame members 7 or 8 to retain the bar 1 8 and prevent flapping.

If desired, each side of the enclosure may be opened completely, for access or ventilation, by releasing the bars 1 8 and 19, as shown on the right in Fig. 3, lowering the bar 1 8 onto the sheet 1 6 and then rolling the sheet 1 6 onto the respective longitudinal frame member 5 to which the sheet is anchored.

The end cover sheets 1 5 are anchored to the upper and lower transverse frame members 9, 10 by the insertion of these members in respective seam-welded pockets 17, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The upper end of each end cover sheet 1 5 is folded over the upper ends of the respective gable end sections 3, 4 to form two triangular flaps 21 on the inside of the enclosure. The flaps 21 are anchored to the centre of the upper transverse frame member 9 by elastic tensioning elements 22 which are connected to hooks engaging in eyelets in the sheet.

Since the assembled enclosure is free-standing it does not require any external means of support, but may simply be anchored to the ground by any convenient means, for example by means of retaining stakes or pegs driven into the ground and engaging the lower frame members 6 and 10, or by means of weights such as concrete blocks.

A preferred method of anchoring the enclosure is to utilise the weight of peat bags in the enclosure, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A wire or cord 23 is laced between the two opposite lower longitudinal frame members 6, and each peat bag 24 is placed on the wire Of cord 23 spanning the enclosure.

Assembly of the enclosures is easily accomplished without skill or special tools. As a first step, the two gable end sections 3, 4 are assembled from the pre-fabricated tubular frame members 7, 8, 9, 10 the transverse frame members 9, 10 of each end section 3, 4 being inserted through respective pockets 1 7 of the associated cover sheet 1 5 to tension the latter between the transverse frame members 9, 1 0. The upper ends of the cover sheet 1 5 are folded over the upper inclined portions of the frame members 7, 8 and then anchored to the upper transverse frame member 9, for example, by means of the elastic elements 22. The two gable end sections 3, 4 are then interconnected by means of the lower frame members 6 and the bracing bars 11.

The upper frame members 5 are attached to the two gable end sections 3, 4, after attaching the respective cover sheets 1 6 to the members 5 by threading the members through appropriate welded pockets 17, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper and lower rigid bars 1 8, 1 9 are then threadr!d through the respective pockets 1 7 on the inside of the sheet 1 6 adjacent the uppei and lower longitudinal edges thereof, at positions such that when the bars 1 8, 1 9 are anchored to the frame, as described previously, the cover sheet 1 6 is placed under tension.

The lower edges of the respective sheets 15, 1 6 hang loose and may rest upon the ground. In the case of the two end cover sheets 1 5 a generous lower margin of each cover sheet 1 5 may rest upon the ground inside the enclosure and be anchored beneath peat bags 24 in the enclosure.

There may be more than one cover sheet 1 6 on each side of the enclosure. Each side may then be opened for ventilation or access by sliding at least one of the sheets along the frame members 5, 6 and at the same time folding or rucking the sheet, in an operation similar to drawing a curtain.

Further ventilation may be achieved by releasing the upper corner flaps 21 of each end cover sheet 1 5 and then folding these released flaps downwardly and outwardly so that they hang down from the upper transverse frame members 9, forming a ventilation aperture at the gable end of the roof, while leaving the remainder of the sheet 1 5 tensioned between the transverse frame members 9, 10.

Additional horizontal frame members, not shown, may be fixed at one or more intermediate levels and may extend between the end sections 3, 4 to support shelving or racks for the storage of potted plants or seed boxes.

The two parallel closely spaced upper bars 18 in the erected enclosure form a convenient 'nip' for gripping an electrical supply cable (not shown) by means of which a smaller heater lamp may be suspended within the enclosure.

The gap between the upper bars 18, and the slight gaps which inevitably exist between the side edges of the adjacent sheets 15, 1 6 and between the bottom edges of the sheets 1 5, 1 6 and the ground, are sufficient to ensure good air circulation in the enclosure under normal conditions, reducing the tendency for condensation to occur.

-'The construction of the enclosure, with its four separate individually tensioned cover sheets 15, 1 6 ensures that the cover is taut, and therefore relatively invulnerable in high winds. In hot ambient conditions the plastics cover sheets 15, 1 6 expand to a much greater extent than the frame 1, allowing the sheets 15, 1 6 to slacken and increasing the natural ventilation of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A portable horticultural enclosure comprising a rigid frame having two rigidly inter connected end sections and a cover of transparent plastics sheet supported by the frame, the cover including a sheet on one or each side of the frame, the or each said cover sheet passing over a longitudinal frame member interconnecting the two end sections and being attached adjacent its opposite longitudinal edges to respective rigid bars one of which is releasably engageable with the upper ends of the two end sections and the other of which is releasably engageable with lower parts of the frame so as to tension the cover sheet between said rigid bars.

2. A portable enclosure according to Claim 1, in which the frame has at least one lower longitudinal frame member interconnecting the two end sections, the rigid bar adjacent the lower longitudinal edge of the or each cover sheet being releasably connected to the lower longitudinal frame member by tensioning elements which are releasably engageable with opposite ends of the lower rigid bar.

3. A portable enclosure according to a Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the or each cover sheet is provided with loops or pockets on its inside surface through which the associated longitudinal frame member passes to form an anchorage for the sheet intermediate the two rigid bars.

4. A portable enclosure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the upper rigid bar attached to each respective cover sheet has end portions projecting beyond the edges of the sheet, said end portions being engageable in respective seats on the end sections to form a roof ridge, with the cover sheet tensioned between the said upper rigid bar and the associated longitudinal frame member.

5. A portable enclosure according to Claim 4, in which each end section is formed as a gable end section with tubular rods which converge towards the roof ridge and which are formed at their adjacent ends with upwardly facing part-cylindrical seats.

6. A portable enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the end sections are formed as gable ends and the cover includes end sheets which are attached to respective transverse frame members of the end sections and which are folded over the upper ends of the gable sections, each end sheet being anchored by a tensioning element or elements attached to the ends of the folded sheet on the inside of the enclosure.

7. A portable enclosure according to Claim 6, in which each end sheet has at least one loop or pocket on its inside surface through which the respective lower transverse frame member passes to anchor the lower edge of the sheet.

8. A portable enclosure according to Claim 6, in which each end sheet is formed with a flexible ground-engaging edge flap which projects downwardly beyond the respective lower transverge frame member.

9. A portable enclosure according to Claim 2, in which the or each cover sheet is provided with a flexible ground-engaging edge flap which projects downwardly beyond the - respective lower rigid bar when the latter is anchored to the associated lower longitudinal frame member.

1 0. A portable enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims, in which wires or cords span the enclosure and interconnect lower frame members for the purpose of anchoring the enclosure when cultivation bags are placed on said wires or cords in the enclosure.

11. A portable enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the rigid frame is formed by aluminium tubes interconnected by screws which engage in captive elements located within the ends of the tubes.

1 2. A portable horticultural enclosure substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.