GB2228659A - Connector for rigid elongate members or canes - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector (1) for joining together garden canes comprises first and second end portions (4, 5) adapted to receive and grip a cane, and an interconnecting strap (6) joining said first and second portions. Each end portion comprises tapering segments for gripping the cane, the segments allowing the cane to be pushed into the connector but resisting withdrawal therefrom. A plant support may be formed by a plastic mesh moulding within a boundary formed by at least two connectors 1 which receive canes to hold the support above the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

CONNECTOR The present invention relates to a connector for joining together two upright members, particularly, but not exclusively, to provide support for a growing plant when the connector is used to join two garden canes together.

Conventionally, garden canes have been used to support tall growing plants, and one way of achieving this is to place a number of canes around the plant and tie the canes together using string or twine to provide a type of fence or cage around the plant. However, this can be quite time consuming and the string or twine used also tends to deteriorate and eventually break.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector adapted for use with one or more rigid elongate members such as garden canes or the like. the connector comprising a first end portion and a second end portion joined to said first end portion by means of an interconnecting portion, in which said first and second end portions are each adapted to receive and grip said elongate member.

Conveniently, the first and second end portions are each arranged such that in one direction of relative sliding movement between the connector and the elongate member there is very little resistance but in the opposite direction there is a high degree of resistance, thereby allowing a cane or other elongate member to be pushed into the first or second end of the connector but not readily withdrawn therefrom. This means that when the connector is positioned as required relative to the canes, it will not tend to slide down the canes. Also, as the plant grows, the connector can be raised to a higher position to lend support to the upper parts of the plant, and the connector will stay in this new, higher position.

Preferably, said first and second end portions each comprise a ring or collar and, disposed within said collar a plurality of segments defining between them a circular hole in the centre of the collar, for receiving an elongate member.

The segments preferably taper in thickness such that they are thickest at their junction with the collar and thinnest adjacent the central hole. The flexibility of the segments allows a cane to be pushed into the central hole, but should the cane be pulled in the opposite direction the tapering shape of each segment will cause the segments to dig into the cane, thereby locking the connector on the cane.

Advantageously. the interconnecting portion is in the form of a strap or web, and is sufficiently flexible to allow it to curve.

Typically, the connector would be injection moulded from plastics material to which some form of ultraviolet light resistant agent may be added to increase the life of the connector when exposed to the elements.

Although the above description relates to a connector having only two cane-receiving means, one at each end, it is also envisaged that each connector may have more than two cane receiving means. In practice though two cane receiving means will be sufficient as the user could simply use additional connectors to link a number of canes together.

In an alternative embodiment, two or more of the connectors form part of plant support designed to support a plant growing in a clump. In this embodiment, the connectors form a boundary within which is located a meshtype grid structure through which the plant grows, the support being held above the ground by two or more garden canes as described previously. The support may be circular, hexagonal or any other regular or irregular shape, and any number of connectors may be incorporated in the support.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig 1 illustrates the connector in use to connect two garden canes together; Fig 2 is a side view of the connector; Fig 3 is a plan view of the connector; Fig 4 is a plan view of one end of the connector, illustrating the means for receiving the cane; Fig 5 is a perspective view of the cane receiving means of the connector; Fig 5A illustrates how the connector may be pulled up the garden cane; Fig 5B illustrates the use of a single connector, with a single garden cane; Fig 5C illustrates the use of a number of connectors and a number of canes to support a growing border:: Fig 5D is a schematic plan view of one particular arrangement which can be achieved using a number of connectors and a number of canes; and Figs 6 to 8 illustrate three different versions of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a connector (1) for joining together two rigid, elongate members such as garden canes (2), (3). comprises a first end portion (4) for receiving the first cane (2) and an second end portion (5) for receiving a second cane (3). The first and second end portions (4) , (5) are joined by an interconnecting strap (6) which is integrally formed with the two end portions (4), (5).

As can be seen more clearly in Figs 3 to 5, each end portion (4), (5) comprises a collar (4a), (5a) within which are disposed a number of segments (4b), (5b). These segements together define a central hole (4c), (5c) within which the canes (2), (3) may be received. The segments themselves are not of uniform thickness but instead taper towards the central hole. As the cane is pushed into the hole from above, the segments deform downwardly allowing the cane to pass through the connector. However, if the user attempts to draw the cane back in the opposite direction the segments will tend to dig into the cane preventing relative motion between connector and cane in this direction.

The connector of the present invention provides a tough but flexible, easy to use alternative to existing methods of tying canes together by string or twine. Also.

the connector can be slid up the canes as the plant grows to provide support where it is most needed, ie at the top of the plant. as illustrated in Fig 5A.

As shown in Fi 5B, a single connector can be used with a single cane by placing both ends over the cane, one above the other. Alternatively, a number of canes can be linked together by a number of connectors, as shown in Fig 5c. It will be appreciated that any desired formation may be achieved with a number of canes and connectors, one such formation being shown in Fig 5D.

Figs 6 to 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment, in which a mesh-type grid which is a one-piece plastic moulding is located within a boundary formed by two or more connectors, the latter being used to hold the support above the ground by means of two or more canes. This provides a ring support for use with plants that grow in clumps, the plant growing up throught the mesh. The ring support may be circular as shown in Fig 6, hexagonal as shown in Fig 7, or irregular (freeform) as shown in Fig 8.

Claims (10)

1. A connector adapted for use with one or more rigid elongate members such as garden canes or the like, the connector comprising a first end portion and a second end portion joined to said first end portion by means of an interconnecting portion, in which said first and second end portions are each adapted to receive and grip said elongate member.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which said first and second end portions are each arranged such that in one direction of relative sliding movement between the connector and the elongate member there is very little resistance but in the opposite direction there is a high degree of resistance.

3. A connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which said first and second end portions each comprise a ring or collar and, disposed within said collar a plurality of segments defining between them a circular hole in the centre of the collar, for receiving the elongate member.

4. A connector according to claim 3 in which the segments taper in thickness such that they are thickest at their junction with the collar and thinnest adjacent the central hole.

5. A connector according to any of the preceding claims in which the interconnecting portion is in the form of a strap or web, and is sufficiently flexible to allow it to curve.

6. A connector according to any of the preceding claims and being made of plastics material to which an ultraviolet light resistant agent has been added.

7. A support for a plant. comprising a grid structrue adapted to be held above the ground by two or more rigid, elongate members, the support also including at least two retaining members adapted to receive and grip an elongate member.

8. A connector according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

9. A connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A support according to claim 7 and substantially as herein described.