GB2333683A

GB2333683A - Shading sheet for plants

Info

Publication number: GB2333683A
Application number: GB9801889A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Joscelyn Clerk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-28
Filing date: 1998-01-28
Publication date: 1999-08-04
Also published as: GB9801889D0

Abstract

A sheet for providing partial shading for plants or seedlings is formed with openings of dimensions such that some sunlight may pass through and some ventilation take place. The openings may comprise hinged flaps 5 which can flutter in the breeze. The flaps may themselves be provided with further holes 6. The sheet may be made of plastics, canvas or waterproof cloth.

Description

Shading Sbeet This invention relates to means for providing partial shading from the sun, particularly for plants and seedlings.

In temperate climates, plants are often grown in greenhouses, in which they are surrounded by glass walls and roofs in order to conserve heat. Shading is only necessary in unusually hot weather. However, in tropical climates, shading for plants is required more frequently. Typically this is provided by shade cloth, the function of which is to keep plants cool and shaded from the sun's rays. Shade cloth is a loosely woven cloth of thread or fibre. Although the cloth is loosely woven, the sun's rays do not completely pass through it; therefore, only diffuse light reaches the plants under the cloth and the plants avoid being scorched by direct sun. However, when plants are completely shaded and do not receive direct rays from the sun, photosynthesis cannot occur efficiently. In addition, as ventilation through such cloth is poor, hot air is trapped under the cloth and plants and seedlings become overheated.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide partial shading for plants so that they are protected from the full intensity of the sun's rays, but receive sufficient sunlight for efficient photosynthesis to occur. It is a further object of the present invention to provide adequate ventilation to allow hot air to escape through such shades.

According to the present invention, there is provided partial shading for plants by means of flexible sheets having openings therein. These openings (hereafter also referred to as "holes") may take any shape, but must be of sufficient dimension that the sun's rays may pass through them and reach the plants underneath, and that sufficient ventilation is provided to allow hot air to escape easily.

The sheets may be made from various materials, including plastic, canvas and waterproof cloth. Preferably the sheets are made from plastic.

The holes may extend continuously across the sheet or may be arranged into groups separated from one another by borders. In the case where the sheet is to be hung loosely, the only borders necessary are around the outer edge of the sheet. If the sheet is to be stretched, it may be provided with additional borders between the groups, these being necessary to take the strain involved.

In one embodiment of the invention, a sheet has round holes arranged in groups, with borders running both around the edge of the sheet and between the groups of holes. In another embodiment of the invention, holes extend continuously across the area of the sheet, borders only separating the holes from the edge of the sheet.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet has hinged flaps cut therein.

(These flaps will also be referred to as "leaves", for reasons outlined below.) A cut is made around almost the whole circumference of such a flap so that only a small section thereof remains connected to the body of the sheet. For example, where the flap is polygonal, the cut is made so that only one side of such a polygon remains connected.

As the connection is only loose, a breeze will cause the "leaves" to flutter like those on a plant, so that the intensity of sunlight striking a given position will vary with time.

The "leaf' may additionally have holes provided therein in order to lessen its weight and prevent it from drooping. The "leaf' may be round but may be of other shapes, in particular a simple shape of an oval leaf.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the flap is spaced apart from the sheet immediately surrounding it. For example, a further cut is made in the sheet immediately surrounding the flap, and the material between the two cuts is removed, so that an additional opening is provided between the flap and the sheet. This provides additional ventilation. The two cuts defining the additional spacing may take the same general shape but are not limited to such.

The invention will be more clearly described by reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention shall not be taken as limited to that described in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a sheet 1 where the holes 2 are arranged in groups, rectangular in shape.

The holes do not extend to the edge of the sheet, but are separated therefrom by a border 3. The groups of holes are also divided from one another by borders 3, which extend across the sheet both longitudinally and transversely.

Figure 2 is a magnified version of Figure 1, showing a corner section of a sheet 1 and illustrating a group of holes 2 surrounded by borders 3. In this example the holes 2 are circular in shape.

Figure 3 shows a section of a sheet 4 with flaps 5 cut therein. The flaps 5 have holes 6 provided therein; in addition, spaces 7 are provided between the flap and the sheet immediately surrounding it. Borders 8 separate the flaps 5 from the edge of the sheet, and from the adjacent group of flaps (not shown).

Figure 4 illustrates a sheet 9 where holes 10 are arranged continuously over the area of the sheet, rather than divided into groups. In this case, borders 11 only separate the holes from the edge of the sheets.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A sheet provided with openings of suitable dimension so that sufficient sunlight may pass through, and sufficient ventilation is provided, whilst providing sufficient shade.
2. A sheet according to claim 1, characterised in that the holes are arranged in groups, separated from one another by borders.
3. A sheet according to claim 1, characterised in that the holes are arranged in one continuous area across the sheet.
4. A sheet according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the openings take the form of hinged flaps, the connection between said hinged flap and said sheet being sufficiently loose that a breeze would cause said flaps to flutter.
5. A sheet according to claim 4, characterised in that said hinged flap is spaced apart from the sheet immediately surrounding it.
6. A sheet according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it is made from material selected from plastic, canvas and waterproof cloth.

6. A sheet according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that said hinged flap is itself provided with further holes.

7. A sheet according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it is made from plastic.

Amendments to the claims have been fled as follows 1. A sheet provided with openings of suitable dimension so that sunlight may pass through and ventilation is provided, whilst providing shade, wherein said openings take the form of hinged flaps, the connection between said hinged flap and said sheet being sufficiently flexible that a breeze would cause said flaps to flutter.

2. A sheet according to claim 1, characterised in that the openings are arranged in groups, separated from one another by borders.

3. A sheet according to claim 2, characterised in that the borders extend across the sheet in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

4. A sheet according to claim 1, characterised in that said hinged flap is spaced apart from the sheet immediately surrounding it.

5. A sheet according to claim 1 or claim 4, characterised in that said hinged flap is itself provided with further holes.