GB2147485A - Connecting together garden canes - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector, for connecting together canes such as bean poles, has a body and a plurality of holes 2,3 arranged to resiliently grip the canes. The holes may be arranged in a circular array or in a line depending upon the application of the connector. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cane connector This invention relates to a connector, particularly a connector designed to facilitate the putting together of bean poles or canes.

At present bean poles, which are usually of about 8 ft. in length, may be assembled into a wigwam formation by tying the tops of the poles together once the poles are in position.

Because of the height of the poles many people stand on boxes, chairs, stools or even in wheelbarrows in order to tie the poles together and this can be dangerous.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector, for connecting together a plurality of canes, the connector having a body and a plurality of holes therein each arranged to receive and retain a cane. As applied to bean poles in a wigwam formation the connector of the invention enables the poles to be secured together before they are erected into their desired formation.

Preferably the connector is a planar body having a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes being surrounded by resilient means whereby the holes receive and resiliently embrace their respective poles.

The resilient means may be resilient flaps defined by radiating slots or may be a resiliency inherent in the material itself due to its relative thickness.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a connector, for securing together bean poles, comprises a planar body of plastics material having eight holes arranged in a circular array about a ninth, central hole, the holes being surrounded by resilient flaps whereby each hole is arranged to receive and resiliently embrace a respective bean pole.

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 first embodiment of connector for connecting bean poles together in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section on AA in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of connector; Figure 4 is a cross-section on BB in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of connector; Figure 6 shows variations of possible perforations; Figure 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment of connector in plan view; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a plan view of a fifth. preferred embodiment of connector; Figure 10 is a section on CC in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a plan view of a part of a sixth embodiment of connector;; Figures 1 2a and 1 2b show the connector of the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 applied to a wigwam of bean poles; Figure 1 3 shows a portion of the embodiment of Figure 11 applied to canes to form a frame to cover with netting; and Figure 1 4 shows a portion of the embodiment of Figure 11 applied to canes to form a ridge of bean poles.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 a bean pole connector 1 comprises a circular plastics on injection moulding having a central hole 2 and eight further holes 3 equi-angularly spaced about the central hole 2. Each hole 2 and 3 is provided with a plurality of equi-angularly spaced slits 4 (four for the hole 2 and three for the hole 3) which radiate outwardly from the respective hole 2 or 3 for a short distance and terminate in a small hole 5. The holes 5 prevent unwanted extension of the slits 4 in use as will be explained. The plastics material about the holes 2 and 3 forms a flexible membrane so that the flaps 6 defined between adjacent slits 4 are able to hinge out of the plane of the connector to facilitate insertion of a bean pole.In order to strengthen the connector 1 as a whole, concentric annular strengthening ribs 7, 8 and 9 are provided being interconnected by four radial ribs 10.

In Figures 3 and 4 a second embodiment of connector 11 is similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 but is of moulded rubber material.

However, instead of being provided with radiating slits as in the first embodiment, the holes 2 and 3 are surrounded by a thin annular membrane 1 2 which provides the flexibility required to adapt to various bean pole diameters. Although made of rubber material it could also be of moulded plastics material. The connector 11 has a circumferential strengthening rib 1 3 and an annular strengthening rib 1 4 about each hole 2 and 3 outside the respective flexible membrane 1 2.

In Figure 5, which illustrates a third embodiment of connector 21, the same reference numerals, as used in Figure 1, have been used where appropriate. The connector 21 is square in shape and is designed to be cut from strip material using a strip blade cutting tool. The connector 21 of Figure 5 is made of slightly thicker plastics material than the flexible membrane of Figure 1 and therefore strengthening ribs are not required. The slits 4 radiating from the respective holes 2 and 3 are terminated in various ways to prevent elongation in use e.g. by a transverse slit 22, by a radiused end 23 to the slit, or by an enlarged slit and enlarged radiused end 24 as shown in Figure 6.

In Figures 7 and 8 a connector 31 is illustrated which may be stamped from rubber material. The connector 31 has a total of seven holes, 2 and 3, each of which is provided with radiating slits 4 terminating in small holes 5, or slits 22 as in Figures 5 and 6.

The embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is the preferred embodiment and the connector 41 is a plastics injection moulding similar to the embodiment of Figure 1. However, the connector 41 has only one circumferential strengthening rib 42 and the flaps 6 are defined by small holes 43. the circumferences of which touch the respective holes 2 and 3.

In Figure 11 an alternative strip form of connector 51 is shown which may be used for plant support for the canes of equi-spaced plants or may be cut to length for other applications as shown in Figures 1 3 and 1 4.

In this embodiment flaps 52 are defined simply by three radial slots 53 about each hole 54.

The holes 54 in Figure 11 are dimensioned for smaller canes, but the holes may be made larger for the ends of larger canes, if desired, in order to ensure that the flaps 52 firmly grip such a cane. The strip may be, for example, ten foot long and therefore only a portion is shown.

In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 10, referring particularly to Figures 9, 10, 1 2a and 1 2b, bean poles 60 are laid on the ground and are then inserted one through each of the holes 2 and 3, the flaps 6 or the flexibility of the surrounding membrane 12, allowing insertion while gripping the respective bean pole 60. Once all nine poles have been positioned in the connector the assembly of poles 60 can be erected and the base of the poles pressed into the ground at the appropriate angle for support as shown in Figure 1 2b.

This arrangement enables the danger associated with tying the tops of poles to be eliminated whilst facilitating erection of a wigwam formation. In particular, the connector of the invention helps disabled people and people with arthritis in their hands to assemble the bean poles thereby enabling them to be able to have their own bean rows or even sweet pea formations. Also, elderly people who are most at risk when putting up bean poles are saved the climbing or the stretching normally associated with assembly.

Referring now to Figures 1 3 and 14 a connector of Figure 11 is cut to length as desired and may be used either to form a framework to support netting as in fruit cages for example (Figure 1 3) or may be used to facilitate the erection of a ridge formation of bean poles (Figure 14).

The connector of the invention may have any number of holes and be of any suitable shape in plan. It is suitably designed to receive standard eight foot bean poles of up to 3/4" diameter.

In the preferred embodiment for bean poles there are nine holes incorporated into the planar body to enable a multiplicity of pole insertions dependent on availability of poles or personal decision as to quantity desired. A total of nine holes incorporated into the planar body will allow, for example, a 5 pole main structure with additional poles added on one side to give a reinforcement to the structure to offset prevailing winds.

The compact assembly of poles into the planar body permits easy storage. On removal of the bean poles from the ground at the end of the season, it only needs the ends of the bean poles to be cleaned and they can be tied together enabling easy storage and readiness for the next season. The strip version suitably has nine holes along its length.

Claims (10)

1. A connector, for connecting together a plurality of canes, the connector having a body and a plurality of holes therein each arranged to receive and retain a cane.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein the holes are surrounded by resilient means so as to receive and retain a cane.

3. A connector according to claim 2 wherein the resilient means for each hole comprises a number of flaps defined by radially extending openings.

4. A connector according to claim 3 wherein the radially extending openings are slits or smaller circular holes.

5. A connector according to claim 2 wherein the resilient means for each hole comprises a thin annular membrane.

6. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims for connecting together bean poles in wigwam formation wherein the holes are arranged equi-distantly spaced in a circle about a central hole.

7. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims for connecting together canes in ridge formation or otherwise in a framework wherein the holes are arranged equi-distantly spaced in a line.

8. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are nine holes.

9. A connector for securing together bean poles comprising a planar body of plastics material having eight holes arranged in a circular array about a ninth, central hole, the holes being surrounded by resilient flaps whereby each hole is arranged to receive and resiliently embrace a respective bean pole.

10. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.