GB2473082A

GB2473082A - Trellis with spacers

Info

Publication number: GB2473082A
Application number: GB1006724A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Perry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-28
Filing date: 2010-04-22
Publication date: 2011-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-22
Also published as: GB0915029D0; GB201006724D0; GB2473082B

Abstract

A trellis comprises a generally elongated main body formed from a mesh, grill or apertured sheet material. The trellis incorporates at least one spacer flange17positioned on the underside of the trellis for the purpose of creating a gap, wedge or bump stop between the main body and the surface of an object (such as fence, wall or post) to which the trellis is to be attached. The spacer17may have an aperture, hole or cut-out area within its interior to allow plants to pass through the spacer. The trellis may incorporate at least one leg20that may have a hole or aperture16for receiving a fastening device15such as a screw or nail. The leg20may have a foot and the hole may be positioned in the foot, the foot may be bent inwards towards the underside of the main body. The leg may be adjustable to increase or decrease distance between the body and the surface of the object to allow plants to grow up both sides of the main body. The leg may also be pivotable.

Description

Plant ladders: A detachable mini trellis having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants This invention relates to a detachable mini trellis having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants.

Climbing plants such as Honeysuckle, Clematis, Passion Flower and so on are plants that tend to grow upwards before gaining mass and spread. They need something to cling to in order to encourage their growth but there are not many surfaces that allow the plant to cling to it and breathe thoroughly. When these plants climb up walls and fence posts the body of the plant is in direct contact with the surface of the wall or post such as the brickwork and, this does not allow the plant to have a free flow of air all through or around it. Often the portion of the plants body touching the surface of the wall or post will rot or die, leaving only the outer side of the plant in a healthy state. What's more, it is not always good for these plants to work their way into brickwork as it can damage the building so the plants need something to cling to in order to grow that allows them to breath but also prevent them from damaging certain surfaces.

People often have fences in their gardens but not all wish to have large trellises but would like to grow climbing plants to make their gardens look more attractive. There is nothing currently available that encourages vertical plant growth for climbing plants that is small, portable and which keeps the plants neat and looking tidy and also helps train and/or restrict the plants growth to particular areas or boundaries, for example: if one had a climbing rose and needed it to grow up one side of a fence post without spreading all over the fence, the rose would need to be tied up staked practically almost away from the fence. One could use large pieces of mesh nailed to the post but this looks unsightly and does not allow the underside of the plant to breathe as there is no set or predefined gap between the mesh and the post. This gap is essential as it allows air to flow behind the plant and trellis, between the trellis and wall/post and, to allow the plant to anchor itself onto the trellis -a bit like climbing a ladder. If one cannot grip the rungs, it is almost impossible to climb up it. There are also many different sizes of fence posts or objects the gardener would like to grow his climbing plants against such as pergolas, archways and so on and, large trellises or mesh sheets are not quick and easy to use and involve all sorts of inconvenient cutting and bending etc. Due to constant changes and garden re-designs the gardener may not always wish the plant and trellis to be in the same location and therefore the trellis must be detachable so it can be moved if so wished.

What is needed is a small trellis that can be portable and that incorporates a means to implement or construct a gap or space between the trellis and the object it is being attached to, to allow air to flow behind it to help keep the plants healthy and protect the surface of whatever the plant is climbing up.

According to the present invention there is provided a detachable mini trellis that may be adjustable and/or have one or more adjustable legs and that incorporates a means in the form of a spacer flange to allow the trellis to be attached to a surface with a set gap between its body and the surface to allow air to flow between the plant and the surface to help train the plant to grow up the trellis in a particular area whilst keeping it healthy, neat and tidy and reducing or preventing it from damaging brickwork or spreading into restricted areas.

The invention will now be described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the invention attached to a fence post with a plant using it to climb against.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention attached to a wall with a plant using it and the improved airflow Figures 3 and 3A show the invention in perspective with a spacer flange and legs Figures 4 and 4A show how the spacer flange can be formed from the wire Figures 5 shows a modified version with adjustable legs Figure 6 shows the invention used in a plurality attached to a pergola and training plants Figures 7 and 7A shows how the adjustable legs are adapted to clasp a concrete fence post Figures 8 illustrates how the main body may be formed to allow easy access for fixing of the legs Figure 9 shows a circular version With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 on page 1/7 shows the invention having an elongated rectangular wire grill or mesh type body 10 attached to a fence post 33 with the plant 3 entwined through it and using it to climb up the fence post 33 -there are two units of the invention 10 used on the post. Figure 2 on page 1/7 shows a side view of the invention 10 attached to a wall via the legs 20 which have feet and the spacer 17 shown in the middle of the main body 10 prevents the body from being pushed closer against the wall 38 by the plant 3 climbing up the body 10 of the invention. This diagram also illustrates how the legs 20 and spacer 17 keep the main body 10 away from the wall 38 and allows air AIR' to flow up between the body 10 of the invention and the wall 38 to give plenty of fresh air circulation to the plant 3 allowing the plants underside to grow without mould or other diseases etc not mentioned.

Figure 3 on page 2/7 shows the invention in perspective having a main body 10 that is generally rectangular and elongated and formed from wire or a mesh/grill/trellis like material that is holed to allow the plants to weave through it and use it like a ladder to climb up the body 10 which is used as a support for the plant. The body 10 has a leg 20 at each end of the main body said leg having has a bent portion at its end referred to here as its foot 97 which has a hole 16 for the purpose of receiving a nail or screw 15 to releasably secure the invention 10 to a wall or fence post etc. The leg 20 also acts as a spacing device that keeps the main body away from the surface of the object it is attached to so that the plant is able to wholly grip the body for better support. The main body 10 also has a spacer 17 incorporated into it at its mid portion which prevents the weight of the plant pushing the body flat against the surface and blocking the growth of the plant and the air flow. Figure 3A on page 2/7 shows a cross sectional view of the main body 10 having a leg 20 that has a foot 97 at each end and the spacer 17.

Figure 4 on page 3/7 shows the invention with a longer main body 10 and multiple spacers 17 incorporated into the body 10. The longer the body becomes the more spacers are needed displaced at intervals along the body to prevent the body from being squashed by the plant.

Figure 4A on page 3/7 illustrates how the mesh body 10 and wire may simply be cut and bent away from the body 10 to form a spacer portion 17 rather than attaching extra pieces to the body as in figure 4.

Figure 5 on page 4/7 illustrates the invention 10 attached to a wall 38 via the legs 20 at each end of the body which are now adjustable by using two portions that each have an aperture 19 joined together by a fastening nut 25 to allow the body to be spaced closer or further away from the wall which gives the user the option to have their plants cling to the wall as well as the body or be set away form it but still trained up the wall through the invention. The spacers 17 here are marked with an X' to mark a minimum measurement of the depth of the spacer that is needed to allow the invention to be effective in allowing air to circulate behind it and allowing the plant to have sufficient grip of the invention to support it. The spacers act like bump stops.

Figure 6 on page 5/7 shows the invention 10 used in a plurality and attached to several different areas of a pergola 48. The invention 10 helps to train the plants 3 up over the pergola 48 whilst keeping them under a reasonable control so that they don't intervene with each other and are trained to grow within the area of their ladder.

Figure 7 on page 6/7 shows a modified version of the invention 10 where the adjustable legs 20 are displaced either side of the body's width and attached to a concrete fence post 43. There is a wing nut 25 on each leg 20 allowing the adjustable leg to be tightened once the invention is in place against the post and there are spacers 17 formed from portions of the main body that are cut from within the main body 10. The legs may be formed around the edge of the mesh body to allow them to pivot and become foldable or collapsible or pack in underneath the body of the mesh to allow multiple numbers of the invention to fit easily into a packing box (not shown).

Figure 7A on page 6/7 shows a sectional drawing of the legs 20 positioned at the sides of the main bodylO. Figure 7B on page 6/7 shows how the leg can be formed around the edge of the body frame so that it can pivot marked P' on the drawing.

Figure 8 on page 7/7 shows in detail how the wire body 10 is formed around the top of the leg 20 directly above the foot 97 where the leg 20 attaches to the main body 10. The leg 20 protrudes down below the underside of the body and its foot 97 is formed facing inwards underneath the body 10. There is an area 32 cut in the main body 10 directly above the leg 20 and foot 97 which is left open and free from obstruction to allow the user access to the leg and foot from above the body to enable him to fasten the screws 15 through the hole 16 in the foot 97 to the object the invention is being attached to. This illustration also shows a spacer 17 protruding below the main body.

Figure 9 on page 7/7 is a circular version of the invention 10 having a leg 20 at each end and two spacers 17. -5-.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants consisting of a main body formed from and/or in a mesh, grill or apertured sheet material incorporating at least one spacer flange positioned on the underside of the trellis for the purpose of creating a gap, wedge or bump stop between the main body and the surface of the object to which it is being attached.
2. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in claim I where any one of said flanges/spacers may have an aperture or hole or having a cut out area within its interior to allow plants to pass through the flange/spacer.
3. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in claim I and claim 2 incorporating at least one leg that may have a hole or aperture for receiving a fastening device said leg positioned on any side of the main body that may have a foot that has at least one hole said foot bent inwards towards the underside of the main body.
4. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 having at least one leg that may be adjustable in height, length or width or contour.
5. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 where said adjustable leg is generally used in pairs which may also be flexible or have a degree of flexibility or be formed in a set curve for the purpose of curving around and attaching to clamp members such as a fence post.
6. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 where any leg may pivot around a portion of the main body to allow it to be foldable or collapsable.
7. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 where the main body has a slightly larger apertured area directly above the foot and leg left open and free of mesh so that the user can access the foot to insert a nail or screw to fix the invention to the clamp member.
8. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any preceding claim where any hole used to receive a nail or screw to fix the invention to the clamp member may be countersunk and/or recessed or partially countersunk.
9. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growthCLAIMSof climbing plants as claimed in any preceding claim that may be made from metals, plastics materials, wood, glass, biodegradable materials or a combination or compound of these materials.
10. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any preceding claim described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSCLAIMS1. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants consisting of a main body formed from and/or in a mesh, grill or apertured sheet material incorporating at least one leg that may be adjustable that has a foot joined to the leg said main body having at least one spacer flange said flange positioned on the underside of the trellis for the purpose of creating a gap, wedge or bump stop between the main body and the surface of the object to which it is being attached said main body having a slightly larger apertured area directly above the foot and leg left open and free of mesh so that the user can access the foot to insert a nail or screw to fix the invention to the surface of the object to which it is being attached.2. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in claim 1 where any one flange has an aperture or hole or having a cut out area within its interior to allow plants to pass through the flange/spacer.3. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in claims 1 and claim 2 incorporating at least one leg comprising two pieces where both pieces have a hole or aperture for receiving a fastening device such as a nut and bolt to releasably join the two pieces to S.. form the leg said leg positioned on any side of the main body that may have a foot * : : that has at least one hole.4. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in claim 3 having at least one leg that may be adjustable in height, length or width or contour allowing the leg or legs to * wrap around a two or more sides of a fence post.5. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve I' * health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 where said adjustable leg is generally used in pairs which may also be flexible or have a degree of flexibility or be formed in a set curve for the purpose of curving around and attaching to clamp members such as a fence post.6. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 where any leg may pivot around a portion of the main body to allow it to be foldable or collapsable.7. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any preceding claim where any hole used to receive a nail or screw to fix the invention to the clamp member may be countersunk and/or recessed or partially countersunk.8. A detachable mini trellis that may be portable having a means to improve health and growth of climbing plants as claimed in any preceding claim that may be made from metals, plastics materials, wood glass, biodegradable materials or a combination or compound of these materials.