GB2251777A

GB2251777A - Cover arrangement for crops

Info

Publication number: GB2251777A
Application number: GB9101015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Edward Stephens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-17
Filing date: 1991-01-17
Publication date: 1992-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-17
Also published as: GB2251777B; GB9101015D0

Abstract

There is provided a cover arrangement which has a flexible sheet 15 which can be rapidly drawn across an area 10 from a roller arrangement. The sheet 15 is supported at its edges in guide rails 14 attached to posts 12 spaced along the length of the area 10. The sheet has suitable formations at its edges which are received in the rails 14. <IMAGE>

Description

COVER ARRANG aENT This invention relates to cover arrangements, particularly for use in horticulture, agricialture and farming. It will, however, be appreciated that other uses are possible.

In agriculture and horticulture it is generally necessary to shield plants to a chosen extent fran the elements such as rain, wind, frost, snow and even the sun in order to maxirnise growth and develoFrrent. However, weather is very changeable and it is not always ideal to keep a crop in a permanent shelter such as a greenhouse. In addition, the cover may be used or adapted to keep animals and birds away from the plants.

In addition, the cropping of various plants should only be undertaken in certain conditions. For example, strawberries should not be picked then they are wet and brussel sprouts should not be picked when there is a frost.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cover arrangement comprising a flexible sheet-like member and support means whereby, in use, the sheet member is movable from an inactive position to a secured active position in which it covers a chosen area and is supported by the support rreans.

Preferably, the support means is in the form of at least one pair of spaced posts between which, in use, the sheet umber passes and to which the sheet is connected.

In many arrangements a plurality of pairs of spaced posts are provided in a line so as to define the area to be covered.

In preferred arrange.ments the sheet member is provided with means at its side edges for connection to the support means. In sane cases said means comprise lengthwise extending runners for cooperation with guide means attached to the posts1 the sheet rraember being drawn by one end over the area in use, guided by the guide means. Conveniently the guide means is in the form of a rail which is connected to the post or posts and which extends along each side of area to be covered, the inner when engaged with the rail being incapable of lateral movement.

With further preferred embcdiments the rail has a curved or angled lead-in at the pair of posts closest to the sheet in its inactive position and the height oe the active position of the sheet member can be adjusted. Conveniently the height of the guide means on the post or posts can be varied. In one arrangement a number of predetermined positions for attachement of the guide means are provided on the or each post.

Preferably, the sheet is rrade frcm non-biodegradable plastics material and the sheet may be folded jp in its inactive position or on a roll mounted for rotation on a holder which, in use, anchors one end of the sheet, the sheet being rolled up in its inactive position. It is also best if the free end of the sheet, in its active position, is anchored.

Furthermore, the sheet may also be reinforced by know. means. The sheet may also be in the form of mesh or netting so as to keep animals and birds away from the plants bt allow passage of rain and light.

In sane enOodiments one or more Spring tensioners may be provided under the sheet in use so as to effect further support of the sheet. In addrt on a tensioning wire may connect and anchor each line of posts.

In other arrangements a side wall is provided along one or both sides of the cover arrangement. The side wall may also he made from flexible sheet.

Preferably, the side wall can be releasably attached to the tensioning wire and/or to the supporting posts and more preferably the side wall is clipped onto the tensioning wire and is connected to the posts by toggle fasteners.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover arrangement according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cover arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) are perspective views and a sectional view through parts of the guide system incorporated in embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side view of a spring tensioner for use with the present invention.

Fibre 1 shows an area 10 of ground in which various plants 11 are growling. A series of posts 12 are provided at intervals along each side of the area 10. The posts may be permanently embedded in concrete footings or simply forced into the ground or removably inserted into permanent supports or fixed in any other suitable way.

Each post 12 is provided with a number of vertically spaced locations 13 which may conveniently be in the form of through holes although other onts will be readily apparent. Guide rails 14 are positioned along each side of the area 10 and secured to the set of posts by, for example, a nut and bolt fixing through the holes provided at 13. It will of course be appreciated that many suitable methods of fixing the rail are possible and the specification is by no means limited to the described method.

A roll of plastics sheet 15 is provided at one end of the area 10.

The roll is provided with a suitable support 16 and a crank handle 17, if required.

The free end 18 cf the plastic sheet 15 is provided with a harness 19 which is attached by any convenient mears although it is probably best if the free end 18 is reinforced in sorneway, tor example by doubling over and stitching. The side edges of the sheet 15 are provided with lengthwise runners 29 for co-operation with the guide means as shown in figures 3(a), (b) and (c).

The runner 20 may be forrrd about the edge of the sheet, bolted, stitched or glued to it. 2ten inserted in the guide rail 14, it will be clear that the sections are such that lateral movement is not possible. Many sections would be suitable for this ouCpose.

When unsuitable conditions are expected, the runners 20 at the free end 18 of the sheet are inserted into curved or angled lead-in portions 21 of the guide rails 14 and pulled cr drawn over the area by harness 19. This action maybe manual or powered by a winch cr a tractor or even animal. The harness could of course be replaced by any suitable means such as handles.

It will be readily appreciated that the rails 14 may be attached to tne posts 12 at any chosen height. This tray depend cn the crop or whether the height of the cover is inter.ded to allow people to walk underneath for purposes such as picking.

Thus a temporary crop cover is provided very quickly for protecting crops. This temporary covering, when bad weather is imminent, results in an extended growing season, reduced chance of crop failure and an extended cropping season.

Yields can therefore be increased significantly with little effort.

In the shown embodLment, spring tensioners 22 are provided under the sheet, see figure 4, although they are not essential. The tensioners urge the sheet 13 upwards and are used to prevent the plastic sagging and/or to allow rain water to run off.

The support means described in this embodiment is only one example of a suitable arrangement. For example, semi-circu1ar hoops spaced along the length of the area 10 could provide suitable support. Indeed, any arrangement is possible provided the sheet could be drawn over the supports to provide a cover. For example, posts could be provided only along one side of the area so that the cover is at an angle when in its active position.

In figure 3, there is shown a very similar system to that shown in flgure 1 and so like parts have been given like reference numerals.

In this arrangement, there is a tension wire 24 extending between the posts 12. Attached to the tension wire 24 and to the posts 12 is a side wall 25 which is also made out of a plastics sheet. The side wall 25 is attached to the wire by any suitable means such as clips 26 and to the posts by say toggle fasteners. Other releasable connections are, however, envisaged.

The provision of one or more side walls can be useful for a number of purposes such as providing wind protection, frost protection and animal protection. Hot air blowers could be placed inside the enclosure to provide extra twa."th, if needed. It is however not always necessary to have the side wall or walls attached.

The sheets 15, 25 are preferably made of a non-biodegradable plastics material and are preferably provided with built-in reinforcement. The plastic material may be transparent, semitransparent or opaque depending on needs. It could even be replaced by other materials such as canvas. Sheet in the form of a mesh or netting would be ideal for preventing birds or even small animals from getting to the plants whilst allowing the suns rays through as well as water.

Although the rails 14 are shown as being continuous along the length of the area 10, there could be provided only small sections at each post 12 although the sheet 15 would have to be fed through each section. This would of course be slower and less efficient but still a workable alternative.

Also, the rails 14 and runners 20 could be dispensed with and the sheet could be drawn across the area and simply hooked onto suitable means on the posts 12. Eurthermore, the height adjustment facility provided for the sheet could be removed if the intended use of the arrangement had no requirement for height adjustment.

Preferably, the free end 18 is anchored when the cover is in use.

Many ways are of course possible but the harness 19 could be tied to a suitably sitioned cleat or the end could be pegged down.

It will be appreciated that the described arrangements provide quick cover at a rroments notice. The cover can be for a large or small areas. The cover could also be closed as a temporarily lambing shelter or as a shelter for any livestock or indeed people or workings.

Claims

1) A crop cover arrangement comprising a flexible sheet and support means whereby in use the flexible sheet is movable from a redundant position to a secured working position in which it covers an area and is supported by the support means and is movable from said working position to said redundant position in which the area is not covered by the sheet.

2) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support means is in the form of at least one pair of spaced posts between which, in use, the sheet passes and to which the sheet is connected.

3) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of pairs of spaced posts are provided in a line so as to define the general area to be covered.

4) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sheet is provided with means at its side edges for connection to the support means.

5) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein said connection means comprises lengthwise extending runners for cooperation with guide means attached to the posts, whereby, in use, the sheet is drawn by one end over the area, guided by the guide means.

6) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the runners extend continuously or in sections along the length of the sheet.

7) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the guide means is in the form of rails, which are connected to the posts and which extend continuously or in sections along both sides of the area to be covered.

8) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein each rail has a curved or angled lead-in at the pair of posts closest to the sheet in its redundant position.

9) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the, in use, height of the cover can be adjusted.

10) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the height of the rails on the posts can be varied.

11) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein a number of predetermined positions for attachment of the rails are provided on the posts.

12) A cover arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the sheet is made from non-biodegradable plastics material.

13) A cover arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the sheet is in the form of a netting or mesh.

14) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the sheet is folded up in its redundant position.

15) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sheet is stored on a roll mounted for rotation on a holder which, in use, anchors one end of the sheet.

16) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein the other end of the sheet is anchored in its working position.

17) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 16 wherein said other end incorporates a yoke or harness to facilitate movement into the working position.

18) A cover arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein one or more spring tensioners may be provided under the sheet in use so as to effect further support of the sheet.

19) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 18 wherein a side wall is provided along one or both sides of the cover arrangement.

20) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 19 wherein the or each side wall is made from a flexible sheet material.

21) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 20 wherein the or each side wall is releasably anchorable with respect to the posts.

22) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 21 wherein a tensioning wire connects and anchors each line of posts.

23) A cover arrangement as claimed in claim 22 wherein the side wall is clipped on to the tensioning wire.

24) A cover arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.