GB2368768A

GB2368768A - Anti-theft device for plants

Info

Publication number: GB2368768A
Application number: GB0107890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward James Hoyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-28
Filing date: 2001-03-30
Publication date: 2002-05-15
Also published as: GB0107890D0; GB0015655D0

Abstract

A plant security device that contains the root ball relative to an anchor comprises plural adjustable first elongate fastener members extending between fixing for an anchor and a second elongate adjustable member, whereby a plant root ball can be contained within the first members in spaced relation from the fixing to a drawn-in relation above said root ball.

Description

TITLE : PLANT ETC SECURITY DEVICE

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to security devices for plants etc.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Plants including trees and shrubs are increasingly subject to crime, particularly theft. Newly planted items are especially vulnerable as their root balls tend to retain the constraining shape of the pots in which they are sold, so can easily be lifted before the roots spread as the plants become better established.

Existing anti-theft devices for plants include rigid plates or collars fitted round the lower stem or base of the plant, and connected to an anchoring element buried in the ground. Accommodation to different shapes and sizes of plants is problematic. Anchoring means tends to be effectively limited to suitability for use in deep soil conditions. Such existing anti-theft devices for plants tend to be difficult to adapt in any way to particular plants and are time-consuming to install.

It is an object of this invention to provide an anti-theft plant security device that is more adaptable to individual plants, even containers for plants.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is

provided a plant security device comprising plural adjustable first fastener members extending between fixing for an anchor and another adjustable member, whereby a plant root ball can be contained including individually engaged if desired by the first fastener members in spaced relation about said root ball.

In preferred embodiments, elongate said first members and second member can be seen as co-operating to constitute an adjustable cage capable of accommodating and fitting to at least a range of sizes and shapes of root balls. Particularly preferred, as will be specifically described and illustrated are flexible said first members that can be advantageously effective with a flexible said second member, further preferably adjustable as to length or effective length.

The anchor fixing can, usually with advantage, be below the root ball of a plant to be protected, say and typically with the anchor extending away from the fixing, further typically further into the ground below the root ball. The first members can then be brought up round the root ball, any available desired adjustments made for length, and the first members drawn together and secured by the second member as an effective cage about the root ball.

Such effective cage presents protection against easy excavation of the plant and its root ball using a tool such as a garden spade or fork, at least without the deterrent of the further time and effort required to excavate the anchor as well. The root ball cannot simply be lifted through the cage-like security device, at least not without causing substantial damage to the plant. A damaged plant will, of course, have little or no re-sale value to a thief.

Such effective cage-like plant security device can also be installed about a plant root ball in a container

such as a planter with a suitable anchor passing through the container too.

The first members could be to at least some extent pre-shaped or pre-formed, but will generally have root ball encompassing shape and form as installed even where of preferred wholly flexible form. Plant roots will be able to pass through and about in entwining relation to the first members, which could further have apertures or be woven or braided to enhance plant root entwining.

The number, spacing and general arrangement of the first members can be varied according to the size and shape of a particular root ball. Protective material could be placed between the members and the root ball if desired or necessary to protect the root ball against damage.

The members can be made of any suitable material (s) including such as will resist cutting, e. g. metals as for tough steel strip or high tensile wire or case hardened chain etc, with or without coatings or as reinforcements.

Other materials of choice can, of course, include various plastics or even biodegradable materials.

Indeed, according to another inventive aspect hereof the second member is intentionally particularly difficult to remove once fitted, and can be used as a kind of tag that could even include an identifier so that a stolen plant could be traced. Then, the materials of the first members might not be so important to use of this aspect of the invention.

Convenient provision of the first members is as two strips crossing at the fixing, which can be registering mid-length holes of the strips. Other holes along the lengths of the strips facilitate securing of doubled back free ends forming loops taking the second member.

Convenient provision of the second member is as high tensile wire ends of which can be secured together by

such as a crimp lock.

Suitable anchors include ground anchors such as ripple surface pegs or staples, or of expanding bolt type for concrete, asphalt or paving, or even a wall bracket.

Inventive device aspects and features of this invention may be summarised as in claims 1 to 10.

Inventive device aspects and features of this invention may be summarised as in claims 13-15 and as applied to containers or ground-planting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Specific exemplary implementation will now be shown in and described relative to accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment: Figure 2 is a bottom plan view from a ground hole; Figures 3A, B show details of suitable fastener and securement means: Figure 4 is a side view; Figure 5 is a top plan view; Figure 6 shows a variant; and Figures 7-10 show application to plant containers.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to Figures 1-5, a plant security device comprises four first members each of which is one half of one of two strips 12A, B that are apertured at intervals along their lengths. The strips 12A, B are shown crossing at registering mid-length apertures and with their ends folded back on themselves with apertures registering in forming loops over a second member 13 in the form of a cable or wire. The folded-back ends of the strips 12A, B can be secured through their registering apertures, say by snap-in high tensile fasteners 11-see Figure 3A-or such as rivets. The cable or wire 13 is secured in a loop by a fastener 14. The fastener 14 can be of any suitable type, say with crimp action, but a

particularly convenient type is of screw-to-breaking key type such as available commercially for securing/sealing of ISO containers-see Figure 3B.

The strips 12A, B can receive an anchor 15 typically a spike or peg passing through their registering midlength apertures. Alternatives include such a staple or J-peg 15J driven into the ground, say over crossing of the strips 12A, B-see Figure 6.

It will be appreciated that three or more strips like 12A, B could be used, maybe even just one if such is seen as viable.

Installation in a hole in the ground will typically start by sizing the ground hole to take the intended plant root ball, then passing anchor spike or peg 15 through the mid-length registering holes of the strips 12A, B, or a staple or J-peg 15J over crossing of the strips 12A, B, and hammering further into the ground centrally of the ground hole. The strips 12A, B will be located evenly spaced round the hole and against its sides, the root ball emplaced between them, and the strips 12A, B bent over the root ball and folded back from adjacent the main stem or trunk of the plant, conveniently over the cable or wire 13, and the ends of the strips 12A, B secured together. This suits a cable or wire 13 with fastener 14 in captive sliding relation to it. Alternatives include the cable or wire 13 being threaded through end loops of the strips 12A, B and the fastener 14 applied later, or the cable or wire 13 being threaded through holes in the strips 12A, B then typically cut to length. The cable or wire 13 may be the agency by which the folded-over ends of the strips 12A, B are drawn together over the root ball. In any event, the fastener 14 is then secured, say by crimping.

Planting can then be completed in the usual way. and the plant will be secure in the ground.

Turning to Figures 7-10, an intended container for a plant is indicated at 20, and has the plant security device installed much as above for the ground hole. The anchor 15 will often then be of expanding bolt type to fix over and through a hole in the base of the container 20 typically into a receiving hole in a solid base such as concrete, asphalt or paving.

Figure 10 shows a variant with eye-bolt 16 threaded onto a staple or J-peg 15J below the strips 12A, B and the eye-bolt 16 passed through registering medial holes of the strips 12A, B for further securement as desired or necessary using such as one-way nut and washer securement at threaded stud 16S.

Preferably, the second member 13 and its fastener 14 are particular resistant to removal so as to form a kind of tell-tale tag even if the first members are removed.

Then, a hard-to-remove or obliterate identifier can be useful, say impressed into the fastener 14, and feasibly of serial number (or letter or other indicia) type see 141 in Figure 3B. This may be of use in establishing ownership of stolen plants, or at least fact of theft.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A plant security device comprising plural adjustable first elongate fastener members extending between fixing for an anchor and a second elongate adjustable member, whereby a plant root ball can be contained within the first members in spaced relation from the fixing to a drawn-in relation above said root ball.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first members have their ends folded back on themselves in forming loops to take the second member.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the first members have their folded-back ends secured onto them.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first members are strips with apertures along their lengths from their ends to be secured through registering said apertures.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein two said first members are parts of one strip extending to each side of a medial aperture affording the fixing.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second member is a cable or wire holding the first members in their drawn-in relation.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the cable or wire has associated fastener means to secure the cable or wire to itself.
8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the cable or wire or the fastener means has identifier means.
9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the first and second members is flexible.
10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second member is resistant to cutting.
11. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first members are each resistant to cutting.
12. A plant security device arranged and adapted to be

used substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
13. Method of securing a plant wherein a cage-like structure is assembled relative to an anchorage and about the root-ball of the plant.
14. Method according to claim 13, wherein first members of the cage-like structure are fixed relative to the anchor before being formed about the root-ball.
15. Method according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the cage-like structure is completed by a second member collecting the first members above the root-ball.
16. Method of securing a plant substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.