GB2098043A - Plant supports - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant support has a bottom stem element (2) which can be supported in upright disposition relative to a plant, and one or more extension elements are provided for connection to the bottom stem element (2). In one embodiment the bottom stem element (2) is mounted in a base structure (1) which may be free-standing within a plant pot (12). Extension elements may include one or more further stem elements (2), one or more side branches (3) and one or more wires (14, 15). By appropriate selection and interconnection of the various parts a plant support having a desired height and transverse configuration can be constructed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plant supports This invention relates to a plant support.

It is known to support pot plants with canes, sticks, trellis structures and moss sticks (i.e. sticks covered externally with moss in which climbing plants such as vines can root). In each case however the support lacks versatility with regard to the adaptation thereof to different plant sizes and shapes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant support of improved versatility.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a plant support comprising a first elongate element adapted to be supported in upright disposition relative to a plant, characterised by the provision of one or more auxiliary supporting elements adapted to be connected to said first elongate element thereby to extend same.

With this arrangement by appropriate connection of the auxiliary supporting element or elements to the first elongate element, the support can be adapted to meet requirements with regard to the supporting of a plant thereby.

Preferably at least one said auxiliary supporting element comprises a further elongate element which is adapted to fit end-to-end with said first elongate element thereby to extend the length of same. There may be a plurality of said further elongate elements adapted to fit end-to-end with each other as well as with the first elongate element, and most conveniently said further elements may be of like form to each other and to the first elongate element. With this arrangement, a desired length can be selected for the support in accordance with initial requirements and such length can then be increased as appropriate to accommodate growth ofthe plant being supported.

End-to-end interfitting of the first elongate element and said elongate auxiliary supporting element, and also end-to-end fitting where appropriate of elongate auxiliary supporting elements with each other, may be effected by interengagement of male and female conformations, for example by insertion of spigot-shaped male ends into tubularorsocket- shaped female ends. Tight interfitting may be achieved as a consequence of the relative dimensions of the interengaging conformations and/or as a consequence of the provision of interlocking configurations of a snapfit wind and/or other kinds of interlocking or wedging configurations.

Most preferably the first elongate element and, where appropriate, the or each said elongate auxili- ary supporting element, comprises a tubular structure, particularly a straight, rigid tubular structure of circular cross-section.

Preferably also, at least one said auxiliary supporting element comprises a branching element adapted to be mounted on said first elongate element (and/or where appropriate on one or more of said elongate auxiliary supporting elements) so as to project transversely therefrom. Most preferably the or each such branching element can be mounted as aforesaid selectively at different positions whereby the overall configuration of the plant support can be adapted to suit different or changing supporting requirements. The or each said branching element may be in the form of a rod or stick. Alternatively or additionally, a branching element in the form of a wire may be provided.Mounting of the or each said branching element may be effected in any suitable manner although preferably this is achieved by insertion of such element into a selected hole in a side wall of the elongate element (or elongate auxiliary supporting element as appropriate). Most preferably the elongate element (and the or each said elongate auxiliary supporting element) is provided with a plurality of holes spaced along the length and also around the periphery of same so as to provide a wide range of mounting positions for the branching element or elements.

With regard to the support of the said elongate element relative to a plant, this may be achieved in any suitable manner. Thus, for example, the element may simply be inserted into the growing medium alongside the plant, or alternatively a base structure may be provided, such structure being embedded within or extending beneath the growing medium and being adapted for connection to the element.

Said base structure may comprise a plate with a soc ket formation thereon adapted to receive and securely locate the bottom end of the element. The base structure may be of a suitable construction to ensure secure and stable support of the said elongate element with the or each said auxiliary element attached thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the weight of growing medium and also the production of roots by the plant being supported will act to stabilize the structure. It is also possible to use a base structure which is attached to or forms an integral part of a plant pot or other plant container.

Thus, for example, a plant pot may have one or more connectors formed on an inner side thereof adapted to receive and support said elongate element.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional representation of one form of a plant support according to the invention mounted in a plant pot; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base structure of the support; Fig. 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale of a detail of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 4A to 4F show a series of sectional views on the lines A-A to F-F of Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, a plant support comprises a base structure 1, a plurality of tubular stem members 2 and a plurality of branch elements 3.

Each stem member 2 comprises a straight, rigid plastics tube of constant circular cross-section except for a portion 4 of reduced external diameter at one end. Holes 5 are provided at positions along the length and around the periphery of the tube between the reduced diameter end 4 and the opposite extremity 6 of the tube. Such holes 5 are in regularly-axially spaced sets, each set comprising two pairs of diametrically opposed holes and the holes of each set being offset relative to the holes in the next set (although if desired the sets need not be offset). The end portion 4 has a smooth cylindrical outer surface.

The tubes 2 are fitted securely together end-to-end by insertion of the reduced diameter end portion 4 of each tube 2 (except in the case of the lowermost tube) into the top end 6 of the next lowest tube. Each such end portion 4 fits tightly yet releasablywithin the respective tube top end 6.

As shown the base structure comprises a flatbottomed circular disc 7 having an integral upstanding tubular socket member 8 and side reinforcing struts 9 on its top face. The reduced diameter end portion 4 of the bottom tube 2 fits tightly yet releasably within the socket member 8. Two holes 10 are provided in the disc (Fig. 2).

Each branch element 3 comprises a solid rod generally of circular cross-section with axially spaced projections 11 (shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and also indicated in Fig. 1. If desired a peripheral recess (not shown) may be provided diametrically opposite each projection 11. The projections 11 are distributed along the entire length of each rod and may be arranged in a number of different orientations as shown in the sectional views of Fig. 4, the arrangement being such that the rod can be inserted through diametrically opposite holes in one of the tubes 2 (as shown more clearly in Fig. 3) and will then be held tightly, yet releasably, in position by tight engagement of at least two such projections within or against the peripheries of the holes 5.

In use, as indicated in Fig. 1, the base structure is placed on the bottom of a plant pot 12, an appropriate number of tubes 2 are interconnected end-to-end and engaged with the base structure to give a support of a desired height, the pot 12 is filled with growing medium for a plant, and any desired number of branch rods 3 are inserted horizontally into selected holes 5 in the tubes. In this way a secure, stable plant support of desired height and configuration is provided. Moreover, as the plant grows, the support can be extended or modified to increase the height and/or change the configuration of same without involving undue disturbance of the plant.

The holes 10 in the disc7 permit or facilitate drainage through the plant pot drainage hole 13 and the disc 7 is thin enough to be trimmed to size if required. As indicated in the drawings feet may be provided on the bottom of the disc 7 to maintain a space between this and the bottom of the plant pot.

All parts of the support may be formed from green plastics (such as PVC or polypropylene) which is hard-wearing, rot-proof and may be attractive or at least unobstrusive.

In place of or in addition to the branching rods 3 it is possible to use one or more lengths of springy nylon wire, such wire being flexible yet having suffi cent rigidity as to retain a curved or bent shape thereto. It is possible to use one or more lengths of wire 14 (as shown in the lower part of Fig. 1) passed through holes 5 in the tubes to define one or more spirals or other shapes. Alternatively or additionally (and as shown in the upper part of Fig. 1) one or more short lengths of wire 15 may be passed through holes 5 in the tubes and/or connected to each other and/or to rods if desired with the assistance of twist ties 16 or the like to define trellis structures or the like. The wire is thinner than the rods 3 and does not therefore tightly engage the holes 5 but is held in position relative thereto by its springiness or external connection to other parts.It is also possible to link one or more further vertical assemblies of said tubes 2 to the vertical assembly mounted on the base structure by means of said rods 3 extending between such assemblies. It is further possible to use the tubes 2 without any branching elements 3 engaged with same and in this case the tubes 2 may be filled with moss. Water may be introduced via the top of the tubes 2 and provision may be made for attachment of a waterfeed bottle or the like to the top of the tubes.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only. In particularthe support is not restricted to use with plant pots as shown in the drawings but may be used to support plants in any other suitable context. Thus, for example, a plant pot or other plant receptacle (such as a trough) may be provided with one or more integral socket members (like the member 8) around its inner peripphery whereby the lowermost end portion 4 of one or more vertical tube assemblies as shown in Fig. 1 can be mounted in such socket member or members thereby obviating (or supplementing) the use of any free-standing base structure 1.

Also, the outer peripheries of the end portions 4 need not be wholly smooth but may have therein slight projections which exert a wedging action and facilitate secure connection of the tubes 2 with each other and with the base structure. Alternatively, the end portions may have thereon larger projections which define a snap-fit with the holes 5 in the interengaged tube end 6 and with holes provided for this purpose in the part 8. Alternatively or additionally, the end portions 4 may not be wholly circular in cross-section but may have at least one pair of diametrically opposed flats thereto (at least at the outer periphery) which co-operate with flats at least at the inner periphery of the tube ends 6 (and perhaps also at least at the inner periphery of the part 8). Such flats may be defined at the inner periphery of the tubes 2 by thickening the tube side walls longitudinally in the region of the holes 5.

Claims (16)

1. A plant support comprising a first elongate element adapted to be supported in upright disposition relative to a plant, characterised by the provision of one or more auxiliary supporting elements adapted to be connected to said first elongate element thereby to extend same.

2. A plant support according to claim 1, including at least one said auxiliary supporting element which is a further elongate element adapted to fit end-toend with said first elongate element.

3. A plant support according to claim 2, wherein there is a plurality of said further elongate elements adapted to fit end-to-end with each other as well as with said first elongate element.

4. A plant support according to claim 2 or 3, wherein end-to-end interfitting is effected by interengagement of male and female conformations.

5. A plant support according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said first elongate element and the or each said further elongate element are of a common form.

6. A plant support according to claim 5, wherein each elongate element comprises a straight, rigid tubular structure.

7. A plant support according to claim 6, wherein said tubular structure is of circular cross-section.

8. A plant support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, including at least one said auxiliary supporting element which is a branching element adapted to be mounted on said first elongate element and/or on any said further elongate element so as to project transversely therefrom.

9. A plant support according to claim 8, wherein the or each said branching element can be mounted as aforesaid selectively at different positions.

10. A plant support according to claim 8 or 9, including at least one said branching element in the form of a rod or stick.

11. A plant support according to any one of claims 8 to 10, including at least one said branching element in the form of a wire.

12. A plant support according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein said first elongate element and/or any said further elongate element are provided with a plurality of holes therein spaced axially and also around the periphery thereof to receive the or each said branching element.

13. A plant support according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further including a base structure adapted for connection to said first elongate element.

14. A plant support according to claim 13, wherein said base structure is a free-standing structure having a base plate with an upstanding socket member to receive and locate the bottom end of said first elongate element.

15. A plant support according to claim 13, wherein said base structure is formed integrally with a plant pot or other plant container.

16. A plant support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.