GB2273117A

GB2273117A - Support plank

Info

Publication number: GB2273117A
Application number: GB9324319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iain Woodhurst Dougal Forde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-01
Filing date: 1993-11-26
Publication date: 1994-06-08
Also published as: GB9324319D0

Abstract

A support plank 1 for horticultural or constructional use comprises a generally planar elongate support member 2 having a plurality of spaced apart sockets/channels 4a-k extending laterally there across. The spaced apart sockets/channels 4a-k are formed and arranged for receiving pins 14 for securing the plank 1 to the ground or to another plank 1 and/or securing other items to the plank 1. Many uses are suggested, e.g. earth retaining walls, fencing, edging, root barrier, tanks etc., etc. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT PLANK The present invention relates to a support plank for use in horticultural and/or constructional use but not exclusively.

Wooden planks, are often used in a variety of applications in horticulture and construction, for instance in supporting or shoring up earth excavations; for providing pathways for pedestrians and vehicles across soft ground; and for providing walkways between rows of plants and/or vegetables in gardens or allotments. Such planks are however heavy and difficult to move around and store. Such planks. may also suffer from degradation or rotting. Furthermore when such planks get wet the surface thereof can get very slippery which may be dangerous for example when used as pathways. Moreover they do not provide any means for interfacing with or supporting other planks or horticultural elements or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a support plank for horticultural or constructional use which plank comprises a generally planar elongate support member having a plurality of spaced apart socket/channel means extending laterally there across, said spaced apart socket/channel means being formed and arranged for receiving pin means for securing said plank to the ground or to another plank and/or securing other items to said plank.

Thus with a support plank according to the present invention a plurality of said planks may be connected to each other in a simple and convenient manner to provide a support across soft ground, or to shore up or contain earth from an excavation or the like.

Preferably said support plank is made from a lightweight, rigid or semi-rigid thermosetting or thermoforming plastics material such as polypropylene which may be readily extruded or moulded into the desired form of the plank. Alternatively in applications where a more substantial support plank is required, for instance for supporting a vehicle, said support planks may be of a pressed or extruded lightweight metal or alloy e.g. aluminium.

Preferably said spaced apart socket/channel means are spaced more or less regularly and/or equidistantly, apart along the length of said support plank. A socket/channel means may also be provided at each end of a plank with a suitable configuration (e.g. interlocking projections) so that a plurality of planks may be connected together end to end. Said plank may also be manufactured in a more or less continuous form which is sufficiently resilient to be rolled up into rolls of any required length. Said socket/channel means are conveniently in the form of generally part-cylindrical section slots which are open laterally at one planar side of said plank. It is also possible though to use tubular e.g. cylindrical section, socket means extending laterally across said plank. Furthermore there could be used socket/channel means which are open-sided along a central portion of said plank.Desirably where said socket/channel means is enclosed across the full width of said plank, the circumferential outline of said sockets/channels means may project above the planar side of said plank so as to provide a more or less corrugated surface which has the advantage of providing a generally non-slip surface for persons and/or vehicles passing thereover. If desired though the surface of the corrugations, or where there are no such corrugations of the flat planar side of the plank, may be provided with a non-slip texture surface finish. The socket/channel means can also help to provide some structural rigidity or stiffness to the support plank without any additional weight.

Most preferably said generally cylindrical slots of said socket/channel means are open across a central portion of said support member and closed at the edge portions of said support member so as to define, an intermittent channel formation extending longitudinally along said support member.

It will of course be appreciated that said generally cylindrical slots of said socket/channel means may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape including polygonal shapes.

The type, length and/or shape of pin means used depend on whether the pin means is for securing said plank to the ground, or to another plank or to an accessory for use with the support plank. Thus for example a pin with an eye may be inserted into the plank and a further pin inserted through said eye to fix said plank to the ground.

Preferably where a plank is to be secured to the ground a more or less long elongate pin sufficiently long to pass more or less right through, and project from a respective socket/channel means, may be used. Where two adjacent planks are to be connected together a relatively short "bridgeing" may be sufficient.

Alternatively where two planks are to be connected together at more or less right angles to each other a cranked configuration of pin may be used. There may also be used pins which are of generally 'U' or 'V' shaped form for connection between two adjacent planks so as to form the support structure for a cloche or the like for use in horticultural applications.

It will be appreciated that the plank may be made in various sizes - depending on the particular horticultural/constructional application. In general though the plank preferably has a width of at least 100mm, conveniently from 150 to 300mm, e.g. about 200mm. The length of the plank is generally at least 45cm, conveniently from 60cm to 240cm, advantageously from 120cm to 180cm. The thickness of the plank is generally at least lOnim, conveniently from 20mm to 75mm, preferably from 25mm to 55mm.

In another respect the present invention provides a support plank system for horticultural/constructional use which system comprises a plurality of generally planar elongate support members having a plurality of spaced apart socket/channel means extending laterally thereacross, and a plurality of pin means formed and arranged to be received in said socket/channel means, whereby in use a plurality of support planks may be secured to each other, to the ground, or to another item for support thereof and/or of the planks.

Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of some preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l is a perspective view of a support plank according to the invention; Fig.2 is a partial perspective view of the pin connection of the two of the support planks in Fig.1; and Fig.3-28 show a variety of different applications of the support plank according to the invention.

The support plank, generally indicated by reference number 1, comprises an elongate support member 2 having eleven equidistantly spaced apart sockets 4a-k extending laterally across the plank 1. The sockets 4a, k at the ends 2a, b of the plank 1 are cylindrical slots 6 which have an open portion 8 across only a central portion of the plank 1. Alternate ones of the sockets 4c, e, g, i are open laterally across the full width of the plank 1, and the other sockets 4b, d, f, h, i are open across only a central portion of the plank 1 so as to define a channel 10 along the centre 8 of the plank. The sockets 4a-k provide a non-slip surface 12 to the plank as well as providing additional lateral strength. The sockets 4a-k are formed and arranged for receiving pins 14 (See Fig.2 and Figs. 3-29) for securing the plank 1 to the ground or to other similar planks.

In more detail and with reference to Fig.2, the end sockets 4a, k of two planks la, ib are formed and arranged to be connected together by two pins 14 a, b so as to connect the two planks in a hinge like pivotable connection.

Fig.3 shows the two planks 1, connected together at right angles by a right angle pin (not shown) or by a pin with an eye and an elongate pin therethrough (not shown), and located in place by elongate pins 14 so as to retain soil 16.

Fig.4 shows two planks laterally connected together by elongate pins 14 which are driven into the ground so as to provide a retention wall 15 for excavations.

Fig.5 is generally similar to Fig.4 and shows two parallel rows of planks 1 being used to contain soil 16.

Fig.6 shows a plurality of planks/connected together and located in place by long pins 14 driven into the ground to provide flood protection.

Fig.7 shows the planks placed in the ground as a root barrier 15 adjacent to underground pipework 18.

Fig.8 shows two parallel planks 1 used as the foundation base for a tunnel cloche 20 and Fig.9 is generally similar to Fig.8.

Fig. 10 shows two planks 1 mounted laterally in the ground and used as the base for supporting straining posts 17 for growing climbing plants.

Fig.ll shows planks mounted on posts 22 driven into the ground to provide a fence 24.

Fig. 12 shows a free standing fence 24 which comprises planks 1 acting as a base for supporting cranked posts 22 which fit into the sockets 4 thereof for supporting planks generally similar to Fig.ll.

Figs.13 and 14 show planks 1 laterally connected together to provide a windbreak 26 for farm animals 28 or plants 30 respectively.

Fig. 15 shows two planks 1 placed flat on the ground parallel to each other and being interconnected by a 'V'-shaped cloche support pin 21 for supporting a cloche 20.

Fig.16 shows a 'U' shaped and square hoops 20 mounted between two planks 1 for supporting netting 20a.

Fig.17 shows a plank 1 partially buried so as to provide a barrier to plantings by burrowing animals. The plank 1 also provides a base on which to mount a fence 24.

Figs.18-21 show the planks arranged in raised bed cloches or for blanching vegetables such as leeks 32 (See Fig. 18).

Fig.22 shows a compost container 34 comprising eighth planks arranged and connected together to form the container.

Figs.23 and 24 shows planks 1 being used to provide edging 35 between paths and flower beds.

Fig.25 shows planks of the invention being used as a base on which to support fruit nets 36.

Figs.26 and 27 show small water reservoirs 37 comprising planks arranged into the desired shaped and lined with a suitable waterproof lining. The reservoirs 37 are provided with a circumferentially extending member in the form of a chain or rope 37a for supporting the planks 1 and water contained therein. The reservoirs may further be provided with elongate pins 14 driven into the ground for additional rigidity and strength.

Fig.28 shows planks being used to hold down sheeting 38 through which plants may grow.. The planks are located in place by pins 4 and pegs 39. It will also be appreciated that in addition to holding down the sheeting 38 the planks 1 act as a mulch cover increasing soil temperature and suppressing growth of weeds.

It will be appreciated that various other applications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A support plank for horticultural or constructional use which plank comprises a generally planar elongate support member having a plurality of spaced apart socket/channel means extending laterally thereacross, said spaced apart socket/channel means being formed and arranged for receiving pin means for securing said plank to the ground or to another plank and/or securing other items to said plank.

2. A support plank as claimed in claim 1 which is made from a lightweight, rigid or semi-rigid plastics material.

3. A support plank as claimed in claim 1 which is made of a pressed or extruded lightweight metal or alloy.

4. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said spaced apart socket /channel means are spaced substantially regularly and/or equidistantly, apart along the length of said support plank.

5. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said socket/channel means is provided at each end of a plank with interlocking projections configured for connecting together, end-to-end, a plurality of said planks.

6. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said socket/channel means are in the form of part-cylindrical section slots, open laterally at one planar side of said plank.

7. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said socket/channel means are in the form of a tubular cylindrical section socket means extending laterally across said plank.

8. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said socket/channel means are open sided along a central portion of said support members and closed at edge portions of said support member so as to define an intermittent channel formation extending longitudinally along said support member.

9. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said pin means is in the form of an elongate pin sufficiently long to pass right through, and project from a said socket/channel means.

10. A support plank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said pin means has a configuration selected from a group comprising 'U' shaped, 'V' shaped, 'L' shaped and other cranked configurations.

11. A support plank system for horticultural/constructional use which system comprises a plurality of generally planar elongate support members having a plurality of spaced apart socket/channel means extending laterally thereacross, and a plurality of pin means formed and arranged to be received in said socket/channel means, whereby in use a plurality of support planks may be secured to each other, to the ground or to another item for support thereof and/or of the planks.

12. A support plank substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, alone or with any of Figs. 3 to 28 of the accompanying drawings.