GB2484215A

GB2484215A - A method of forming a wall

Info

Publication number: GB2484215A
Application number: GB201120939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Farley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-06
Filing date: 2011-12-06
Publication date: 2012-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2031-12-06
Also published as: GB201120939D0; GB2484215B

Abstract

A method of forming a wall comprising the steps of selecting a sheet of material 41, selecting a support member 31 which is sized and shaped to correspond to the height of said wall and which comprises a plurality of upwardly extending stakes 32, 33, 34 and at least one strut 38, 39, 40 extending between said stakes, wherein said strut is manually bendable into a shape, bending said support member into shape, planting said support member in soil in a position, whereby said stakes pierce through said sheet of material, raising said sheet adjacent said support member and securing said sheet portion in said erected position to said support, via a clip 10.

Description

Manually Foldable Receptacle

FieLd of the Invention

The invention reLates to manuaLLy foLdabLe receptacLes.

Background to the Invention

The cLosest prior art known to the appLicant is the appLicant's own prior patent appLication W02008037990. The invention concerns various improvements to overcome the

foLLowing drawbacks of the prior art receptacLes:

* MateriaL wastage since the prior art bag incorporates side waLLs made of separate sheets of materiaL; * Weak points are present aLong junction points between the base portion and the side waLLs which in the prior art require doubLe stitching; * TunneLs are provided in side waLLs to receive support members; * The attachment means between receptacles might not function in certain conditions such as dirt, dust, extreme temperatures and when soil is waterlogged; * Due to the thickness of the side walls the transition between abutting receptacles is not as seamless as might be possible; and the overall cost is excessive due to the numerous steps in the processing of the receptacles such as cutting and sewing.

The invention aims at overcoming these drawbacks.

Summary of the Invention

In a broad independent aspect, the invention provides a method of forming a wall comprising the steps of: * selecting a sheet of material; * selecting a support member which is sized and shaped to correspond to the height of said wall and which comprises a plurality of upwardly extending stakes and at least one strut extending between said stakes, wherein said strut is manually bendable into a shape; * bending said support member into shape; * planting said support member in soil in a position whereby said stakes pierce through said sheet of material: * raising said sheet adjacent said support member; and * securing said sheet portion in said erected position to said support, via a clip.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows (not according to the claimed invention) a perspective view of an assembled receptacle according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows (not according to the claimed invention) perspective views of receptacles in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 shows (not according to the claimed invention) a perspective view of a blank suitable for forming the receptacle of figure 1.

Figure 4A shows a schematic perspective view of the assembly of a sheet where no side wall is provided.

Figure 4B shows a plan view of the support member in a bent configuration which may for example correspond to the trunk of a tree.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows (not according to the claimed invention) a receptacle generally referenced 1 with a base portion 2 and four side walls such as side wall 3. The receptacle is primarily formed of polypropylene in a criss-cross pattern as shown in magnified view 4.

The receptacle is formed starting from a single sheet of woven plastics material of rectangular form as shown in figure 3. Each corner portion such as corner portion 5 is folded along a diagonal fold line 6 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. In order to vary the height of the receptacle, the person assembling the receptacle varies the Length of the diagonal line 6. Once held as shown in figure 1 the corner portion 5 is then stitched along line 7 which corresponds to lines 7A and 7B in Figure 3. The operation is repeated for each of the four corners resulting in the receptacle of Figure 1. A single stitching line 7 may be employed. Alternatively a double stitching line may be employed around or about line 7.

The protruding corner portion 5 shown in Figure 1 is in effect a loop of material which may be secured either on side 8 or on side 9. Alternatively, the protruding corner portion may remain in the configuration shown in Figure 1.

In order to secure the corner portion against either of side watts 8 or 9 a clip 10 such as that shown in Figure 2 may be employed. Alternatively, the corner portion may be rapidly stitched to the side portion.

Figure 2 shows (not according toe the claimed invention) two neighbouring receptacles 11 and 12 which incorporate respective side walls 13 and 14 which are sized and shaped to match each other. Once side walls 13 and 14 are placed in abutment clips 10 and 15 may be employed to secure the side walls together. Clip 10 forms a jaw of sufficient size to straddle over rim 16 (as shown in figure 1). The clip may incorporate two flexible legs 17 and 18. Leg 17 incorporates a piercing tip 19 of sufficient sharpness to perforate the material of the receptacles and of sufficient length to protrude from the receptacles having pierced them in order to secure into eye 20. The attachment of piercing tip 19 and eye 20 may be carried out by friction. Alternatively, the piercing tip 19 may incorporate an oversized head 21 with a flange 22 which once forced through eye 20 is unreleasably is secured in position.

The ends of the plastics material strips are prevented from fraying by the upper portion of the side walls being folded and then stitched to the side walls to form rim 16. The folding to form rim 16 occurs inwardly in order to provide a substantially flat side wall from the outside.

Instead of incorporating side wall 13 as shown in Figure 2 stitching 23 and 24 may be removed in order to allow side wall 13 to be located underneath side wall 14 of an adjacent receptacle. This would have particular advantages in terms of preventing weed growth for example between neighbouring receptacles.

Figure 4 shows a further use of the clips described above. Clip 10 may be employed in association with a support member 31 to form a wall of any given geometry such as the geometry shown in figure 4B. The support member incorporates a number of stakes 32, 33 and 34 which terminate in sharp points 35, 36 and 37. The sharp points allow the support member to be pierced through a sheet of plastics material and then be retained in soil located underneath the sheet. A number of struts 38, 39, 40 and 41 extend between the stakes. The struts may be of bendable wire material in order to allow a support member to retain its shape once bent. Alternatively a bendable plastics material may be employed. A sheet of material may therefore be raised adjacent the support member and wrapped around the upper portion as shown in the Figure. FinalLy, a clip such as cLip 10 may be employed to secure the sheet reLative to the support member. A number of cLips may be used as appropriate.

The shaLLow waLLed pLateau aspect is preferabLy seLected in a range of 1/20 to 1/3 (height over Length). In a preferred embodiment the aspect is of approximateLy 1/1 1 or of approximateLy 1/15. Another preferred aspect is the Length being at least 10 times the height.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of forming a waLL comprising the steps of: * seLecting a sheet of materiaL; * seLecting a support member which is sized and shaped to correspond to the height of said waLL and which comprises a pLuraLity of upwardLy extending stakes and at Least one strut extending between said stakes, wherein said strut is manuaLLy bendabLe into a shape; * bending said support member into shape; * pLanting said support member in soiL in a position, whereby said stakes pierce through said sheet of materiaL; * raising said sheet adjacent said support member; and * securing said sheet portion in said erected position to said support, via a cLip.