GB2274765A - Plant shelters - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification discloses a combination of a tubular (plastics) transparent or translucent shelter and a stake 22 with a surface corresponding with a segment of the tube. The stake may be attached to the tube by ties or be integral. A membrane pierceable by the growing plant or degradable may close the upper end of the tube. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANT SHELTERS This invention relates to plant shelters, for example for protecting a young tree during its initial growth.

Typically, plant shelters consist of a tube or hollow square-section body of translucent plastics material, open at both ends, which is positioned over a newly planted-out tree or other plant and supported by a stake driven into the ground within or outside the shelter and attached thereto, for example by wire loops. It is preferred to position the stake outside the shelter, since this leaves more room therein for the growth of the plant and avoids the risk of damage to the plant caused by preservatives with which the stake, typically formed of wood, may have been treated. A convenient form of shelter is a plastics tube, for example of double-walled material for additional strength and for thermal insulation.However, a problem which arises with some known shelters of this type is that it is difficult to obtain a firm attachment between the stake and the shelter which does not allow pivotal movement of the shelter relative to the stake. Such movement can further weaken the attachment and can be damaging to the plant within the shelter.

One aspect of the invention provides a plant shelter comprising an elongate open-ended hollow body of a translucent or transparent material having a substantially flat reinforced face integrally formed therewith and means for securing a supporting stake against the face.

The flat face of the shelter is particularly suitable for attachment of wooden stakes, which are typically formed by sawing, which leaves at least one flat face which can engage the flat face of the shelter. Attachment of the stake to the shelter may be by means of wire or plastics ties passing through apertures in the shelter on each side of the flat face.

The invention further provides a plant shelter and a supporting stake therefor, the shelter comprising an open-ended tube of a translucent or transparent material, and the stake comprising a longitudinally-extending surface substantially conforming with a segment of the external cylindrical surface of the shelter.

In this manner, the shelter may be formed as a simple tubular structure, with the stake having a concave face for attachment, for example by wire or plastics ties, to the outer surface of the shelter. The stake may be simply a segment of a tube, the curved section conferring additional rigidity on the stake, which may be suitably moulded from a plastics material, for example by extrusion.

Another aspect of the invention provides a plant shelter and a supporting stake therefor, the shelter comprising an elongate open-ended hollow body of a translucent or transparent material having an external longitudinal member whose cross-section is narrower adjacent to the body and wider further therefrom, and the stake having therein an elongate groove opening at least one end face thereof and having a cross-section such that the external member on the body may be slidingly engaged with the groove from said end face but resists lateral disengagement therefrom.

The stake is suitably formed from a plastics material by extrusion. With this configuration, great rigidity can be achieved in the connection between the shelter and the stake, and the need for attachments such as wire or plastics ties may be avoided or reduced, simplifying the setting up of the shelter in its position around the plant.

A further aspect of the invention provides a plant shelter comprising an elongate open-ended hollow body of a translucent or transparent material having a supporting stake integrally formed therewith.

The shelter according to this aspect is simple to install, requiring only one operation, namely the driving of the stake. Movement between the stake and the shelter is avoided completely.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a plant shelter comprising an elongate open-ended hollow body of a translucent or transparent material having one end thereof closed by a translucent or transparent membrane of a material and thickness such that, in use, a plant within the shelter is able to pierce the membrane by the normal growth thereof and to grow through the membrane without injury to the plant.

The membrane may be a flexible plastics film stretched over the open end of the shelter and secured thereto, or a rigid film welded or cemented to the rim of the shelter.

The membrane serves to exclude excess rainwater from within the shelter, and to prevent ingress of snow or hail, which might damage the growing plant. Further, by enclosing the very young plant fully, chemical treatment of the surrounding land may be carried out with greatly reduced risk of damage to the plant. For example, weed-killers may be used to suppress growth of weeds around the shelters which might compete for available nutrients, and which may also shade the shelter undesirably. Although conventional shelters afford some protection in this respect, there is still a need for extreme care in applying the weed-killer to avoid any entering the open end of the tube. A further advantage of the membrane is that it enhances the creation of a micro-climate within the shelter favourable to the initial growth of the plant.

Since some types of plant may require some ventilation for satisfactory growth, the membrane may be provided with one or more small holes therethrough. These may assist the plant in breaking through when it has grown sufficiently.

The hole or holes will be kept sufficiently small that the advantages hereinbefore described are substantially main tained, but large enough, or large in enough in aggregate, to ensure adequate ventilation for satisfactory growth of the type of plant for which it is to be used.

A still further aspect of the invention provides a plant shelter comprising an elongate open-ended hollow body of a translucent or transparent material having one end thereof closed by a translucent or transparent membrane of a material and thickness such that, in use, the membrane degrades to open th; end of the tube within a predetermined period of time such that growth of a plant within the shelter is not impeded by the membrane.

The membrane is suitably formed of a plastics material which is progressively broken down by the action of ultra-violet radiation in sunlight. Such materials are commonly employed in the manufacture of plant shelters to ensure that, by the time the plant has grown to a sufficient size to render the use of a shelter unnecessary, degradation of the plastic material causes the shelter to break down, to be further degraded in the soil. The reduced thickness of the membrane may be selected to ensure that breakdown occurs more quickly than for the remainder of the shelter.

The shelter according to this aspect of the invention offers the same advantages as that of the previous aspect.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical plant shelter; Figures 2 to 5 are sections through plant shelters in accordance with different aspects of the invention; and Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a plant shelter according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, a plant shelter, for example for protecting newly planted trees, consists of a generally tubular body 1 of a translucent plastics material, typically a double-walled UV-degradable polypropylene structure designed to disintegrate after a period of time.

The body has outwardly-directed rim la to protect the growing tree from chafing under the action of wind when it has grown sufficiently to emerge from the open end of the shelter.

A stake 2, of wood or plastics material, for example, is driven into the ground to support the shelter, and is attached thereto by, for example, plastics self-locking ties 3 such as are commonly used in horticulture.

The tree shelter illustrated in Figure 2 is generally as described with reference to Figure 1, the body 20 being extruded with a generally flat, solid and substantially rigid section 21 providing a face against which the supporting stake 22 may be secured, for example as described with reference to Figure 1. This configuration avoids the risk of pivotal movement of the shelter relative to the stake under the influence of high winds, for example, and of distortion of the shelter, reducing the internal space, and decreasing the strength of the shelter.

The shelter illustrated in Figure 3 has a rib 30 extruded along the outer surface of the flat section 21 of the shelter illustrated in Figure 2. The rib 30 has, in section, two parts, a wider generally circular part 30a and a thinner web 30b joining the circular part 30a to the section 21. The stake 31 is specially formed to co-operate with the shelter, for example being extruded from a degradable plastics material. The stake 31 has in one face 31a thereof a longitudinal groove 32 whose cross-section corresponds to that of the rib 30 so that the rib can be engaged in the groove 32 by sliding the rib into the groove from one end thereof. When engaged, the rib 30 cannot be withdrawn sideways from the groove 32, because the width of the circular part 30a exceeds the width of the entrance to the groove 32.Thus, no additional fastenings such as plastics ties are required, simplifying installation, while pivotal movement of the shelter relative to the stake is prevented.

Figure 4 shows a shelter in the form of a tube 40 of double-walled plastics material generally as described with reference to Figure 1, but with a stake 41 integrally formed therewith, for example by extrusion, or by welding or cementing a separate stake to the tubular material. The stake 41 is shown as of triangular section, but it will be appreciated that other shapes of cross-section of the stake may be employed if desired. Where the stake 41 is co-extruded with the tubular body 40, a second manufacturing stage will be required to cut away a length of the body 40 from the stake 41 to provide a length of the stake which, in use, will be driven into the ground to provide adequate support, bringing the lower rim of the body 40 to ground level, or preferably just below ground level.

The shelter shown in Figure 5 is a simple tube 1 of plastics material as described with reference to Figure 1, the stake 50 being extruded from degradable plastics material, for example, and having a generally T-shaped section, the cross-member 50a of the T being concave with a radius of curvature generally the same as that of the external surface of the shelter so as to conform with that surface. The upright 50b of the T serves to strengthen the stake, conferring rigidity upon it, but ensure that only a minimum of material is consumed in its formation. Attachment of the stake 50 to the body 1 may be by conventional ties, for example passing through the wall of the body 1 and around the stake, which may be provided with notches in the free end of the upright of the T in section to engage the ties and avoid their slipping.

Figure 6 illustrates a tree shelter according to a further aspect of the invention in use. The tree 60 growing therein has reached a size just short of the upper edge 61a of the tubular body 61 of the shelter, which may be of a type as described with reference to any of the preceding Figures. A thin plastics membrane 62 extends over and seals the otherwise open end of the shelter. The membrane is of a material and thickness such that, when the tree grows further, it will pierce the membrane and continue its growth without suffering any damage to itself. The membrane provides additional protection for the tree during the initial growth stage.

Claims (5)

1. A combination of a plant shelter and a supporting stake therefor, the shelter comprising an open-ended tube of a translucent or transparent material, and the stake comprising a longitudinally extending surface substantially conforming with a segment of the external cylindrical surface of the shelter.

2. A combination according to Claim 1, wherein the stake is formed of a plastics material.

7. A combination according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein one end of the shelter is closed by a translucent or transparent membrane of a material and thickness such that, in use, a plant within the shelter is able to pierce the membrane by the normal growth thereof and to grow through the membrane without injury to the plant.

4. A combination according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein one end of the shelter is closed by a translucent or transparent membrane of a material and thickness such that, in use, the membrane degrades to open the end of the tube within a predetermined period of time such that growth of a plant within the shelter is not impeded by the membrane.

5. A combination of a plant shelter and a supporting stake therefor, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.