GB2266829A

GB2266829A - A cloche

Info

Publication number: GB2266829A
Application number: GB9309757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Patrick Tobin; William Henry Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-12
Filing date: 1993-05-12
Publication date: 1993-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-12
Also published as: GB2266829B; GB9309757D0; GB9210215D0

Abstract

The cloche for protecting plant 16 comprises two cloche units 21, 22 each comprising a foot member 13, a first arm member 14, and a second arm member 15; foot member 13 is pivotally connected to distal end of arm member 14 and arm member 14 is pivotally connected to arm member 15 and a clip 17 secures cloche units 21, 22. Each foot member 13 is located on (or in) the plant growing medium and is secured by a spike 1 (see Figures 3, 4, for details), the foot member 13 being slidably mounted in a channel in the spike 1. Figures 5, 6 show a moulded module (6) used to make members 13, 14, 15. Arms members 14, 15 have transparent panels 18, 19 secured thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

A CLOCHE The present invention relates to a cloche, and to a cloche unit for use in the construction of a cloche.

The term "cloche" is used herein to denote a portable structure that is used to provide a micro-climate around a plant during one or more stages of the plant's growth. The cloche comprises a plurality of sheets or walls, at least one of which is transparent, which are arranged to provide cover for the plant.

In one form of construction, a cloche comprises two sheets of glass joined along an edge, or apex, by one or more clips so as to form a tunnel-like structure of triangular cross section when placed on the ground with the joined edges at the top of the structure. A plurality of such cloches may be placed end to end to form an extended cloche to protect an elongate row of plants.

In an alternative form, transparent sheets may each be mounted in a rigid or semi-rigid frame, and the frame may be provided with means for fixing the cloches to the ground.

Such cloches provide some protection for plants, but watering of the plants may be difficult. Watering typically involves either the laying of a sprinkler pipe through the length of one or more cloches, or the lifting up of individual cloches with a consequent major disturbance to the micro-climate around the plants.

Such cloches are also not readily adaptable to accommodate changes in size of a growing plant, so that different sized cloches may be needed at different stages of a plant's growth. A gardener must either use a cloche that is too large for the plant in its early growth stages, or keep a stock of differently sized cloches with a consequent cost in materials and storage.

According to the present invention there is provided a cloche, the cloche comprising a transparent first wall member and a second wall member, the wall members being opposed to one another and adapted to co-operate to form a cloche for a plant growing in a plant growth medium, characterised in that the first wall member is pivotally connected to a foot member adapted to be located in or on the surface of the plant growth medium so that the orientation of the first wall member can be pivotally adjusted relative to the foot member.

The pivotal connection preferably incorporates orientation retaining means which allow the relative orientation of the first wall member to the foot member to be varied by the user, and retain that relative orientation once selected by the user. The orientation retaining means may, for example, comprise a friction washer used with a nut and bolt, or the means may comprise two surfaces in contact, the first surface being provided with dimples, and the second surface being provided with corresponding small bumps so that engagement of a bump in a dimple provides a locking effect.

In a simple form, the configuration retaining means may comprise two materials with surfaces that are held in contact under pressure by a pop rivet, nut and bolt or like means, at least one material having a relatively high friction surface.

For simplicity hereinafter, the terms "pivotal connection", "pivotally connected" or derivations thereof will be used to mean a pivotal connection that includes the preferred orientation retaining means.

The cloche may be provided with one or more clips to secure the wall members to one another at the apex of the cloche.

The term "cloche unit" will be used hereinafter to denote a transparent wall member and a foot member that is pivotally connected to the wall member, the foot member being adapted to be located in or on the surface of a plant growth medium.

The invention extends to a cloche unit for use in making a cloche of the invention.

The second wall member may be a fixed structure, for example a brick wall, but it is preferred that the second wall member be transparent and pivotally connected to a second foot member adapted to be located in or on the surface of the plant growth medium. For convenience the invention will be described in terms of this preferred configuration, in which the two wall members are arranged generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cloche.

The cloche may be simply formed from two cloche units by positioning the units a suitable distance apart with their foot members in or on the surface of a plant growth medium and with the wall members generally parallel, and pivoting one or both wall members so that the wall member of one cloche unit comes into contact with the wall member of the other cloche unit at a point or line of contact which defines the apex of the cloche. For convenience, the invention will be described in terms of both wall members making contact along their distal edges.

The wall member of the cloche unit may comprise a single transparent panel to give a triangular cross section cloche.

However, it is preferred that the wall member comprise at least two panels which are linked one longitudinal edge to another by pivotal connections.

By forming the wall members in this way, the height and width of the cloche may be adjusted to accommodate plant growth by suitable adjustment of the foot members and the orientation of the panels of the wall members relative to one another.

The transparent panels forming part or all of the wall members may be rigid, for example glass or polycarbonate sheets, and preferably they are reinforced polycarbonate sheets. Alternatively, the panels may be made of a flexible plastics material, and preferably a plastics material which includes gas bubbles or internal corrugations for greater thermal insulation.

In a preferred embodiment, the panels are received in or supported by a frame which is pivotally connected to the foot member of the cloche or cloche unit.

The transparent panels may be attached to a supporting frame without the need for other fixing means, for example by fitting the edges into slots, or the use of one or more dovetail joints. Alternatively the panels may be secured to the frame by means of clips, glue, screws, bolts or other suitable means. A supporting frame is particularly useful if the panel or panels are made of a flexible or semi rigid transparent material. The invention therefore includes a frame for use in the manufacture of a cloche or cloche unit according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame comprises an arm which is adapted to receive or support one or more panels, and a foot member which is pivotally connected to the proximal end of the arm.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the arm is formed from two or more arm members which are linked end to end by pivotal connections, each arm member being adapted to receive or support a transparent panel. The arms may be extended by pivotally connecting further arm members to the distal end of the terminal arm member in like manner, and this allows the extended arm to receive or support further panels.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pivotal linkages of the cloche, cloche unit, or frame include orientation retaining means which allow the relative orientations of the arms, panels, wall members or foot members to be varied by a user, and which retain those relative orientations once selected by a user.

For small panels, a single frame may provide sufficient support. For larger panels, however, it is preferred that the cloche unit comprise a first frame and a second frame, the frames being axially spaced apart, wherein the arms of each frame are adapted to co-operate with each other to receive or support the panel or panels.

The foot members and arm members are preferably made from a moulded module so that they are of substantially the same construction. This minimises production costs, and permits the assembly of the arms in modular fashion.

The foot member may simply comprise a spike for sticking into the plant growth medium. However, a heavy cloche may cause such a spike to sink further into the plant growth medium than desired, so it is preferred that the foot member have a horizontal component to enable it engage with the surface of the medium.

Preferably the foot member is provided with securing means for securing it to the plant growth medium, the securing means preferably comprising one or more spikes.

In a preferred embodiment the cloche unit is movable laterally relative to the fixing means, for example by providing the foot member and the securing means with interlocking surfaces which are free to slide relative to one another, to allow the width of the cloche to be adjusted when in use.

In operation the wall members of the cloche may be pivoted to provide a gap between the cloche units wherein the arms are outwardly inclined, hereinafter called the "open" position. In the open position the second panels may be further apart from one another than are the first panels, to facilitate the collection of water. The spacing of the arms of the cloche may be arranged so that in the open position seed trays may be easily inserted or removed from the cloche.

To facilitate watering, the wall members are pivoted to the open postion so that liquid falling between the two cloche units onto the wall members is directed to the plant growth medium at the base of the plants. By moving the side walls apart from one another, the effective water collection is improved.

The invention also provides a method of using a cloche according to the invention, the method comprising the steps of: locating each foot of a first and a second cloche unit a selected distance apart on or in the surface of a plant growth medium, orientating the angle of a first panel of each cloche unit relative to the surface of the plant growth medium to form an upstanding wall, and orientating the angle of a second panel of each cloche unit relative to the first panel to form a top to the cloche; and further adjusting the relative angles of the panels one to another so that the height and/or width of the cloche is adjusted to accommodate growth of plants that are growing in the cloche.

Although, for simplicity, reference has been made to edge to edge pivotal connections or pivotal connections at proximal and/or distal ends of the arms or arm members or panels which are used to make a cloche or cloche unit, it will be understood that such terms are not intended to refer only to terminal connections. A pivotal connection may be either at or adjacent to an end of an arm, arm member, or foot member, or at or adjacent to the edge of a panel.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end elevation view showing a cloche secured to the ground and closed to protect a plant; Figure 2 shows the cloche of Figure 1 in the open position to enable the plant to be watered; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a spike for securing a cloche unit to the ground; Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the spike of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation view of a moulded module which is used to form the foot member and a first and second arm member for supporting the panels of the cloche of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 is an end elevation view of the moulded module of Figure 5.

Figure 1 shows a cloche which is made up of two cloche units 21, 22. The cloche is protecting a row of plants 16. Each cloche unit 21, 22 comprises a first frame and a second frame, and a first transparent sheet 18 and a second transparent sheet 19. Each frame comprises a foot member 13, a first arm member 14, and a second arm member 15. Only the first frame is visible in this Figure, the second frame being in registration with the first frame. The first arm member 14 has secured to it the proximal edge of the first transparent panel 18, and the second arm member 15 has secured to it the proximal edge of the second transparent panel 19. The distal edges of the panels 18, 19 are similarly secured to the second frame. The panels let in light and protect the plants 16. The panels are here shown secured to the arm members by means of screws.The first and second panels 18, 19 make up a wall member of the cloche. The panels 18, 19 are here shown as double sheets of reinforced polycarbonate.

The foot member 13 is pivotally connected to the proximal end of the first arm member 14, and the first arm member 14 is pivotally connected at its distal end to the proximal end of the second arm member 15. The arms of each cloche unit 21, 22 meet at their distal ends to define an apex 20 of the cloche. A clip 17 secures the arm of the first cloche unit 21 to that of the second cloche unit 22.

The foot member 13 of each cloche unit 21, 22 is located on the ground and secured upon the ground by means of a spike 1. The foot member 13 is slidably mounted in a channel in the the spike 1, and this slidable mounting permits the foot member 13, and hence each cloche unit 21, 22, to be moved laterally relative to the spike 1.

By sliding the foot members 13 relative to the spikes 1, and pivotally adjusting the angle of the first arm members relative to the foot members and/or relative to the second arm members, the width and/or height of the cloche may be adjusted to accommodate growing plants.

Figure 6 shows the cloche in the open position for watering of the plants 16, or for weeding purposes. In this position, the transparent panels 18, 19 collect rain water or sprayed water falling into the cloche. The effective water collection area is greater for the plant 16 in the cloche than if the cloche was not present because the wall members of the cloche units here act as a partial funnel.

Figures 3 and 4 show the spike 1 which is used to secure the cloche units 21, 22 to the ground. The spike 1 comprises four tapered tines 2 and a head 3 which has an inverted T channel section 4. The tines 2 have barbs 5 which help to keep the spike 1 firmly in the soil or other plant growth medium.

Figure 5 and 6 show a moulded module 6, which comprises a base strut 7 and an upstanding web 8. The moulded module 6 is used to make the foot member 13 and the arm members 14, 15 of the cloche units 21, 22. The web 8 is provided with extensions 11, 12 at each end, and the extensions 11, 12 each have a hole 9, 10.

To make the frame of Figure 1, three common members are pivotally connected together by means of nuts and bolts, rivets, or any other suitable means, so that the relative orientation of each member relative to the others remains constant as a result of friction in the connection until a user changes the relative orientations. One of the modules 6 which forms a foot member 13 is slid into the channel 4 of the spike 1. The transparent panels 18, 19 are fixed to two arms formed by the members 6 which are used as arm members 14, 15. The panels may be screwed, glued, or otherwise secured to the struts 7 of the arm members 14, 15.

The foot member 13 does not require the extension 11. This may be removed subsequent to moulding, or the mould may be partially blanked out during the moulding process to prevent the extension 11 from being moulded. In similar fashion, the extension 11 is redundant for the second arm member 15 and may be similarly omitted.

It will be appreciated that as the basic cloche unit may be constructed from substantially identical modules there will be a manufacturing cost benefit. The same basic mould may be used, suitably blanked off, to omit redundant extensions.

However, the invention is not limited to the use of substantially identical foot members and arm members.

The number of arm members may be chosen to suit the usage of the cloche. The arm members may be straight (as shown), angled, or curved.

Cloches may be arranged end to end for market garden use and linked at adjacent wall members formed by the transparent panels so that several lengths or even a row of cloches can be opened or closed by one person in a single operation.

If cloches according to the invention are set in substantially parallel rows they may be opened so that the upper panels of adjacent rows meet. This ensures that any rain water or sprayed water will not fall directly on the pathways between the adjacent rows. This mode of operation provides a significant water saving.

The present invention also extends to a kit of parts comprising one or more transparent panels adapted to form the wall member of a cloche according to the invention, in combination with one or more frames according to the invention.

Claims

1 A cloche, the cloche comprising a transparent first wall member and a second wall member, the wall members being opposed to one another and-adapted to co-operate to form a cloche for a plant growing in a plant growth medium, characterised in that the first wall member is pivotally connected to a foot member adapted to be located in or on the surface of the plant growth medium so that the orientation of the first wall member can be pivotally adjusted relative to the foot member.

2 A cloche according to claim 1 wherein the second wall member is transparent and wherein the second wall member is pivotally connected to a second foot member adapted to be located in or on the surface of the plant growth medium.

3 A cloche according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wall members are pivoted so as to bring one wall member into contact with the other wall member at a point or line of contact which defines the apex of the cloche.

4 A cloche unit for use in making a cloche as claimed in claim 1, the cloche unit comprising a transparent wall member and a foot member that is pivotally connected to the wall member, the foot member being adapted to be located in or on the surface of a plant growth medium.

5 A cloche or cloche unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall member or members comprise a single transparent panel.

6 A cloche or cloche unit according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the wall member or members comprise two or more transparent panels which are serially linked edge to edge by pivotal connections.

7 A cloche or cloche unit according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the panel or panels are received in or supported by a frame which is pivotally connected to the foot member of the cloche or cloche unit.

8 A frame for a cloche or cloche unit according to claim 7, the frame comprising an arm which is adapted to receive or support one or more panels, and a foot member which is pivotally connected to the proximal end of the arm.

9 A frame for a cloche or cloche unit according to claim 8, wherein the arm is formed from two or more arm members which are linked end to end by pivotal connections, and wherein each arm member is adapted to receive or support a transparent panel.

10 A cloche, cloche unit, or frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivotal connections include orientation retaining means which allow the relative orientations of the arms, panels, wall members or foot members to be varied by a user, and which retain those relative orientations once selected by the user.

11 A cloche unit made from a first frame according to any one of claims 8-10, and a second frame according to any one of claims 8-10, the frames being axially spaced apart, wherein the arms of the frames are adapted to co-operate with each other to receive or support the panel or panels.

12 A frame for a cloche unit according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein the foot member or members and the arm member or members are of substantially the same construction.

13 A cloche, cloche unit, or frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foot member is provided with securing means for securing it upon the plant growth medium.

14 A cloche, cloche unit, or frame as claimed in claim 13, wherein the foot member is capable of being moved relative to the securing means.

15 A cloche, cloche unit, or frame according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the securing means comprises at least one spike.

16 A method of using a cloche according to any one of claims 6, 7, 10, or 13-15, the method comprising the steps of: locating each foot of a first and a second cloche unit a selected distance apart on or in the surface of a plant growth medium, orientating the angle of a first panel of each cloche unit relative to the surface of the plant growth medium to form an upstanding wall, and orientating the angle of a second panel of each cloche unit relative to the first panel to form a top to the cloche; and further adjusting the relative angles of the panels one to another so that the height and/or width of the cloche is adjusted to accommodate growth of plants that are growing in the cloche.

17 A method of using a cloche according to any one of claims 8-15, which method comprises the steps of locating each foot member of the cloche in or on the surface of a plant growth medium so that the cloche spans a plant growing in the plant growth medium, orientating the angle of a first panel of each wall member relative to the surface of the plant growth medium to form an upstanding wall, and orientating the angle of a second panel of each wall member relative to the first panel-to form the top of a cloche which surrounds the plant, opening the cloche at the top for watering when required; and further adjusting the relative angles of the panels to one another so that the height and/or width of the cloche is adjusted to accommodate growth of the plant.

17 A cloche as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

18 A cloche unit as claimed in claim 4, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

19 A frame as claimed in claim 8, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

20 A method of using a- cloche according to claim 1, substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

21 A kit of parts comprising one or more transparent panels adapted to form the wall member of a cloche according to claim 1, in combination with one or more frames according to any one of claims 8-10.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1 A cloche comprising a transparent first. wall member and a second wall member, the wall members being opposed to one another and adapted to co-operate to form a cloche for a plant growing in a plant growth medium, the first wall member being pivotally connected to a foot member adapted to be located in or on the surface of the plant growth medium so that the orientation of the first wall member can be pivotally adjusted relative to the foot member to bring the first wall member into disengageable contact with the second wall member at a point or line of contact defining the apex of the cloche, whereby the first wall member may be pivoted away from the second wall member to provide a gap in the cloche for watering.

2 A cloche according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second wall member is substantially similar in construction to the first wall member.

3 A cloche according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pivotal connections include orientation retaining means which allow the relative orientations of the wall members to be varied by a user, and which are adapted to retain those relative orientations once selected by the user.

4 A cloche according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foot member is provided with securing means for securing it upon the plant growth medium.

5 A cloche according to claim 4, wherein the foot member is capable of being moved relative to the securing means.

6 A cloche according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the securing means comprises at least one spike.

7 A cloche according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wall member comprises a single transparent panel.

8 A cloche according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the first wall member comprises two or more transparent panels which are serially linked edge to edge by pivotal connections which include orientation retaining means which allow the relative orientations of the panels to be varied by a user, and which are adapted to retain those relative orientations once selected by the user.

9 A cloche according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the panel or panels are received in or supported by a frame which is pivotally connected to the foot member.

10 A cloche according to claim 9, wherein the frame comprises an arm which is adapted to receive or support one or more panels, the arm being pivotally connected at its proximal end to the foot member.

11 A cloche according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the panel or panels are received in or supported by a first frame and a second frame, each frame including an arm and the arms being spaced axially apart, wherein the pair of arms are adapted to co-operate with each other to receive or support the panel or panels.

12 A cloche according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the or each arm is formed from two or more arm members which are linked end to end by pivotal connections, and wherein each arm member or pair of arm members is adapted to receive or support a transparent panel.

13 A cloche according to claim 12, wherein the foot member or members and the arm members are of substantially similar construction.

14 A cloche according to any one of claims 8-13, wherein the height and width of the cloche can be changed by the user by adjusting the relative angles of the panels to one another to accommodate the growth of plants growing in the cloche.

15 A cloche substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

16 A frame for fabricating a cloche according to claim 12, which is pivotally connected at one end to a foot member adapted to be located in or on the surface of a plant growth medium, and which comprises two or more arm members which are linked end to end by pivotal connections, wherein each arm member is adapted to receive or support a transparent panel, and wherein all the pivotal connections include orientation retaining means which allow the relative orientations of the members to be varied by a user, and which are adapted to retain those relative orientations once selected by the user.