GB2331442A

GB2331442A - Garden sheath

Info

Publication number: GB2331442A
Application number: GB9724622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ann Juliet Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-20
Filing date: 1997-11-20
Publication date: 1999-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-20
Also published as: GB9724622D0; GB2331442B

Abstract

In a garden sheath (10) for being inserted into the ground and receiving an elongate member, such as a cane, used to support a plant, the sheath comprises a hollow tubular body (11) with a flange (12) at one end and terminating in a point (13) at the other end. The body (11) also has watering means for delivering fluid from one end of the body to the exterior of the body at the other end thereof. The watering means may be one or more outlets (16) and/or channels (15) (Fig.3) in the body.

Description

GARDEN SHEATH 2331442 The present invention relates to a garden sheath,

which is intended to be driven into the ground so that it can receive and support an elongate member, such as a cane, used to support a plant.

Conventionally, growing plants are supported by means of a stake which is driven into the ground next to the plant. These stakes are often made of cane. However, a problem with canes is that they tend to split and shatter when being hammered into the ground, which is potentially dangerous if it happens at eye level. It is generally not economical to use materials, other than cane, which do not shatter, and moreover the known stakes only have a single function, which is to support the plant. A further problem with stakes that are driven directly into the ground is that they are loosened by "wind rock", i.e. the wind blowing the plant supported by the stake backwards and forwards, particularly when the plant is large and/or heavy.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garden sheath for receiving an elongate member used to support a plant, comprising:

a hollow tubular body which has a flange at one end and terminates in a point at the other end, and is for receiving the elongate member, the body also having watering means for delivering fluid from the said one end of the body to the exterior of the body at or near the said other end thereof.

The garden sheath of the invention is easy and quick to drive into the ground by virtue of the point, and the flange prevents the sheath from being driven so far into the ground that it cannot be retrieved. A cane or other elongate member is easily inserted into (and removed from) the body, thus solving the problem with hammering c anes into the soil. The sheath also solves the problem of "wind rock" because the cane can move within the sheath without causing the sheath to move and become loosened.

The watering means of the sheath enables fluid, such as water or liquid plant food, or even air, to be delivered directly to the roots of the plant where they are most needed. Thus, less water is needed to water a plant in times of drought and less plant food is needed.

Preferably, the watering means comprises one or more outlets opening to the exterior of the body. In one embodiment, the watering means comprises only one or more outlets which extend from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof. The or each outlet is preferably located nearer the point than the flange.

However, the watering means preferably comprises one or more channels which start at the one end of the body and terminate at the outlet. This enables the fluid to be delivered directly to the outlet and hence to the roots of the plant.

The or each channel may be a groove in the interior wall of the hollow body, or may be a bore in the wall of the hollow body. For reasons of ease of manufacture, the former is preferred.

In a preferred embodiment, the flange has a reentrant portion therein. This allows the sheath to be driven into the ground close to the stem of the plant to be supported.

Moreover, the flange may have a dished shape to catch any rain water and direct it into the hollow body and the watering means.

In a second aspect, the invention also provides a garden sheath, for receiving an elongate member used to support a plant, comprising a hollow tubular body which -3 is has a flange at one end and terminates in a point at the other end, and is for receiving the elongate member, wherein the flange has a re-entrant portion therein.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a support for a plant to grow on, comprising: driving into the soil where the plant is growing or is to grow a garden sheath in accordance with the first or second aspects of the invention; and inserting an elongate member into the sheath for the plant to grow on.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one garden sheath in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the garden sheath of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken along line III-IM of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another garden sheath in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the garden sheath of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a partial section taken along line VV' of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1, a garden sheath 10 has a hollow body 11 with a flange 12 at one end and a solid spike 13 at the other. The sheath is preferably moulded from a non-biodegradable plastics material.

The flange 12 is generally annular and has a reentrant portion 14 therein (see Figure 2), the purpose of which is described later.

Figure 2 also shows a watering groove 15 which is - 1 1 cut into the inner wall 11a of the '.,)llow body 11 and extends from the top of the sheatt an outlet aperture 16 in the hollow body 11. --he outlet 16 is located on the same side of the sh.-.,.h 10 as the re entrant portion 14 of the flange 1.- - which side is the side on which a plant will be loca- A when the sheath is in use.

The hollow body 11 also has an aperture 17 therein near to the bottom thereof, which allows any liquid to drain out of the hollow body 11. This prevents an elongate member received in the sheath from sitting in water and rotting.

In use, the sheath 10 is hammered or otherwise inserted into the soil next to a plant, oriented so that re-entrant portion 14 of flange 12 is next to the plant and allows the sheath 10 to be positioned in the soil close to the plant. A cane or other elongate member is then inserted into the hollow body 11 and the plant is tied to the cane to support it.

The sheath 10 need not be driven vertically into the soil. Instead, the strength of the sheath and elongate member combination means that the sheath could be inserted at an angle so that the supported elongate member is also at an angle. This allows the construction of diverse geometric structures for plants to grow on.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the flange 12 slopes downwardly from the centre thereof to the periphery thereof. However, the flange may have a different configuration, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4-6.

In this embodiment, the flange 12' has a dished shape, with upwardlyextending portions 12al at its periphery. This allows the flange 12' to catch any rain or other water and direct it into the hollow body and thence to the roots of the plant being supported.

It will be appreciated that the garden sheath of the present invention can be can be any length or width, depending on size of the elongate member that is to be supported. For example, larger sheaths can be used to support a trellis.

Claims

CLAIMS:

A garden sheath for receiving an elongate member used to support a plant, comprising:

a hollow tubular body which has a flange at one end and terminates in a point at the other end, and is for receiving the elongate member, the body also having watering means for delivering fluid from the said one end of the body to the exterior of the body at or near the said other end thereof.
2. A garden sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein the watering means comprises one or more outlets opening to the exterior of the body.
3. A garden sheath as claimed in claim 2, wherein the watering means comprises one or more channels which start at the said one end and terminate at the outlet.
4. A garden sheath as claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each channel is a groove in the interior wall of the hollow body.
5. A garden sheath as claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each channel is a bore in the wall of the hollow body.
6. A garden sheath as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flange has a reentrant portion therein.
7. A garden sheath as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flange has a dished shape.
8. A garden sheath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
9. A method for providing a support for a plant to grow on, comprising: driving into the soil where the plant is growing or is to grow a garden sheath as claimed in any preceding claim; and inserting an elongate member into the sheath for the plant to grow on.