GB2535607A

GB2535607A - Kit of parts for a horticultural cage

Info

Publication number: GB2535607A
Application number: GB1522240.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rocke Alexander
Original assignee: Harrod UK Ltd
Current assignee: Harrod UK Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-23
Filing date: 2015-12-16
Publication date: 2016-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-16
Also published as: GB2535607B; GB201522240D0

Abstract

A frame for a horticultural cage comprising support legs 10, connectors 30 and bars 20. The bars have a mid portion and two end portions angled with respect to the mid portion. The connectors may slide along the length axis of the support leg and be fixed in place by fixing means (36, fig 2B). The connectors have a number of connection positions for the bars, the connection positions angularly spaced from one another around the length of the support leg. Each connector defines a connection axis such that two bars extending horizontally outwardly of the connection axes may be rotated in the horizontal plane about the connection axis and connected to the connector at a selected angular position. The bars may also be adjustable in the vertical plane (fig 6A). The connection positions are preferably apertures (37, fig 2A) into which the bars are inserted.

Description

Kit of parts for a horticultural cage This invention relates to horticultural cages for supporting or protecting plants.

A horticultural cage comprises at least a supporting frame which can be used for example to support or contain tall plants or to support a covering fabric such as a mesh or fleece to protect the plants, e.g. from cold weather or insects.

The covering can apply a substantial wind loading to the frame, for which reason frames which are intended to support a mesh or other covering are conventionally constructed from tubular bars with rigid jointing systems to clamp the bars together. The various jointing systems now commercially available impose a degree of complexity in manufacture and assembly, but provide a relatively rigid structure which is able to resist deformation by wind forces.

One disadvantage of such structures is that, since the shape of the structure is dictated by the geometry of the joints, it may be necessary to use a disproportionately large cage in order to enclose an irregularly shaped group of plants. Moreover, due to the relative rigidity of the frame, it may be difficult to arrange a large frame to follow the contours of the ground, so that on irregularly sloping ground the frame may not be properly anchored at each of its legs. The geometry of the joints also makes it difficult to adapt such frames to perform other functions, for example, to support flowering plants with tall, weak stems, particularly where such plants are growing at different heights or near a wall or other obstruction. In practice, ad hoc arrangements of stakes and string are used instead for such purposes.

The frame tubes of such horticultural cages are usually made from aluminium or steel. Due to the thin tube walls, steel provides good rigidity and strength to weight ratio, but is relatively vulnerable to corrosion unless well protected by a polymer or equivalent paint finish.

For aesthetic reasons, some users prefer for steel hardware to be supplied in an unfinished condition so as to obtain over time a natural rust patina. It would be desirable to offer this option in a horticultural cage. It would also be desirable for such a a cage to be maximally resistant to corrosion.

It would further be desirable to provide a horticultural cage comprising a frame which is more readily adaptable for use in supporting or protecting irregularly shaped groups of plants or for use on irregularly sloping ground or for other ad hoc uses.

It would further be desirable to provide a horticultural cage which is simple to manufacture and/or easy for the user to assemble and disassemble.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a horticultural cage which better satisfies some or all of these requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for a horticultural cage as defined in the claims.

Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which is provided purely by way of example and without limitation to the scope of the claims, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a kit of parts for a horticultural cage in accordance with a first embodiment, before and after assembly; Figs. 2A -2D show a connector of the first embodiment, respectively in top view, in side view, in section at line C -C of Fig. 2A, and in bottom view; Figs. 3A and 3B show a finial, respectively in side view and bottom view; Fig. 4 shows the connector and finial fixed to the support leg; Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a connector fixed to a support leg with two bars connected to the connector; Fig. 6 shows a connector in longitudinal section, fixed to a support leg with two bars connected to the connector; Fig. 7 shows a bar connected to a connector, both parts in longitudinal section; Fig. 8A illustrates the geometry of the bar of Fig. 7 with the section crosshatching removed for clarity; Fig. 8B shows the bar of Fig. 8B rotated through 90° to show the section line; Fig. 9 shows a mesh covering supported by the assembly of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 shows the kit of parts assembled to form a horticultural cage; Fig. 11 shows the horticultural cage of Fig. 10 with a mesh covering; Figs. 12A and 12B are respectively side and front views of an alternative end portion for one of the bars; Fig. 13 shows part of a frame assembled using the end portion of Figs. 12A and 12B; Fig. 14A shows another bar with an abutment; Fig. 14B shows the bar of Fig. 14A connected to a connector; Fig. 15A shows a support leg with an abutment element; and Fig. 15B is an end view of the support leg of Fig. 15A.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 -11, a kit of parts for a horticultural cage comprises a plurality of support legs 10, a plurality of bars 20, and a plurality of connectors 30.

Preferably each support leg 10 is a straight, solid steel rod defining a length axis L1 and having a continuous cross-section along at least most, preferably all of its length, defining a maximum dimension D1 transverse to its length axis of at least 6mm, more preferably at least 8mm, still more preferably at least 10mm. Preferably the cross-section is circular as shown, so that the maximum dimension D1 is the diameter. The support leg can be pushed into the ground to any desired depth.

Each suppport leg is provided with one or more connectors 30, each connector being fixable to the support leg at a selectable use position along its length axis L1. The adjustable position of each connector means that the connectors can be arranged at the desired height even where stony ground makes it impossible for all of the legs to be pushed into the ground to the same depth.

Each connector comprises a circular pressed steel plate 31 bounded by an integral peripheral flange 32. The outwardly facing flange transitions into the upwardly facing flat plate via a radiused bend. This pressed construction provides a strong and stiff plate which is capable of resisting deformation under bending moment applied by an unsupported bar, e.g. during assembly, so that if a free end of the bar is inadvertently dropped the bending moment is absorbed by elastic bending of the respective support leg.

A first aperture 33 is formed centrally in the plate to define a first insertion axis 33' normal to the plate. Four holes 37 are formed in the plate 31 and angularly spaced apart around the length axis L1 of the respective support leg in the use position of the connector so that each hole defines a respective connection position 34, the central axis of each hole defining at each connection position a connection axis 34' normal to the plate and parallel with the first insertion axis 33' so that when the connector is fixed to the support leg in the selected use position, each connection axis 34' is parallel with the length axis L1 of the support leg. Each hole 37 has a maximum dimension D2 transverse to the connection axis; preferably the holes are round so that the dimension D2 is the diameter, as shown.

The plate 31 is welded to a tube 35 defining by its bore the first aperture 33, and a fixing means comprising a stainless steel set screw 36 is threadedly engaged in a wall 38 of the tube.

Each connector is slidably engageable with the respective support leg by slidingly inserting the support leg along the first insertion axis 33' into the first aperture so that the connector can be slidingly adjusted to the selected use position. Moreover, when in the use position but not fixed by the screw, each connector 30 is rotatable about the support leg. The screw 36 can then be tightened against the inserted support leg to fix the connector in any desired position, both lengthwise along the length axis and angularly about the length axis L1. Preferably the first aperture is dimensioned to constrain the length axis L1 of the support leg substantially in alignment with the insertion axis 33' when the screw is tightened. In this way one, two, or more connectors can be fixed to each support leg so as to form a cage of any desired shape.

Each bar 20 is preferably a solid steel rod and has two opposite end portions 21 and a mid portion 22 between the end portions, each of the mid portion and the end portions defining a respective length axis 22', 21'.

Each end portion 21 is connected to the mid portion 22 by a radiused portion 23 whose length is defined by a radiused centre line 23' extending centrally through the radiused portion from the length axis 21' of the respective end portion, as shown in Fig. 8A. When considered in a section containing the radiused centre line 23' and the length axis 21' of the respective end portion, as shown in Fig. 8A, the radiused portion 23 defines an inner radius R2 and the end portion 21 defines a maximum dimension D3 transverse to its length axis. Preferably said section contains also the length axis of the mid portion of the rod, as shown in Fig. 8A, although the rod could alternatively be cranked between the mid portion and the radiused portion.

In the example shown, the rod has a circular cross section so the dimension D3 is the diameter. Cross sections of the support leg and the rod at lines X -X are shown in Fig. 6A. In the example shown, each radiused portion 23 is simply a bent region of the rod. It will be noted that Figs. 7, 8A and 8B show a bar with slightly larger radius R2 than the other figures.

When each support leg (i.e. its length axis) is in a vertical position as shown and each connector is fixed in the selected use position on its respective support leg, each end portion of the bar is insertable along the connection axis 34' into a respective one of the holes 37 to connect the bar to the connector at the selected connection position 34, and is adjustable during assembly to a selectable angular position about the respective connection axis. It can be seen that when two bars are arranged to extend horizontally outwardly from two connection axes of the same connector, which is to say, with the length axes of their mid portions lying in a horizontal plane, each bar (i.e. the length axis of its mid portion) can be rotated in a horizontal plane about its respective connection axis to define a selected angular position relative to the other respective bar (best seen in Fig. 5) and connected to the connector at the respective connection position in the selected angular position.

The angular position of the end portion is thus angularly adjustable, preferably infinitely angularly adjustable, within a range of adjustment about the connection axis. Most preferably the bar is rotatable about the connection axis when connected to the connector at the selected connection position, which makes it very easy to fix the support leg in the ground before placing the bar in the desired position to build a frame of irregular shape.

The end portions of the bar are angled with respect to the mid portion, which is to say, the length axes of the end portions are not collinear with the length axis of the mid portion. Preferably the lenth axes of the mid portion and end portion are all contained in a common plane. Preferably the end portions are straight and parallel at 90° to the mid portion, although they could alternatively be curved. Typically the mid portion will be at least ten times the length of each of the end portions.

Advantageously, the end portion 21 of the rod is turned at 90° to the mid portion 22, S and each hole 37 is larger than the transverse dimension D3 of the rod by a sufficient degree to provide that the end portion 21 of the rod can be simply dropped into the hole 37 so as to be angularly adjustable, not only in a horizontal plane about the connection axis 34', but also in a vertical plane about the selected connection position 34. This makes it easy to angle the bars up and down in any desired position to follow the slope of uneven ground. More preferably, each bar 20 is angularly adjustable through an angular range al of at least 60° in a vertical plane about the selected connection position 34, as shown in Fig. 6A. Preferably this range of angular adjustment in a vertical plane is available in all angular positions within the range of angular adjustment around the connection axis 34'. Optionally, the holes 37 may be positioned slightly further radially outwardly from the tube 35 than in the illustrated example so as to increase the available angular range al. Advantageously, the bar is adjustable in the vertical plane independently of its angular adjustment about the connection axis 34', so that the frame can be easily laid out to the desired shape, including acute, obtuse and reflex angles in both vertical and horizontal planes to form polygons, triangles and any other desired regular or irregular configuration as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Preferably, D2 (D3+R2), so that as best seen in Fig. 7, when the mid portion of the bar is horizontal, the end portion and radiused portion together span the maximum transverse dimension or diameter D2 of the hole 37.

For a stable connection between the bars and the support legs, preferably (D3+R2) < 3.5xD2. More preferably (D3+R2) < 3.0xD2. Yet more preferably (D3+R2) < 2.5xD2.

Still more preferably (D3+R2) < 2.0xD2.

It can be seen from Fig. 7 that when considered along a horizontal line parallel with the length axis of the mid portion of the bar, the combined width of the end portion and radiused portion varies according to the distance between that line and the length axis of the mid portion.

This means that although the end portion of the bar can be very simply connected to the connector by dropping it into the hole 37, when connected, the radiused portion settles down into the hole 37 until it contact both of the opposite sides of the hole 37 in the axial direction of the bar, adjusting by gravity to the exact distance between the support legs as shown in Fig. 7, so that even with only approximate spacing between the support legs, due to the flexibility of the support legs and the shape of the radiused portion there is no lost motion between the bar and the connector in either axial direction of the bar.

In consequence, the resulting frame of the cage is stable and does not rattle in the wind; instead, it tends to flexibly deform under wind loading and then returns to a stable position after the wind eases, in much the same way as the plants within the cage. This avoids damage to the frame, and moreover enables the frame to be made with relatively small diameter support legs. This in turn means that the support legs can be made from solid steel rod and consequently are sufficiently resistant to corrosion that if desired, like the bars and connectors, they can be left unfinished to obtain a natural rust patina over time.

Since the bars 20 are retained in the connected position by gravity they can be lifted out and replaced very easily in a new configuration. Preferably the end portion of the bar is connected loosely with the connector to enable movement between the bar and the connector as the frame moves with the wind, while the connector is fixable rigidly to the support leg, so that the connection between the bar and the connector is relatively more loose (i.e. permits greater freedom of movement) than the connection between the connector and the support leg.

The kit of parts may include a mesh covering 60 which is arranged over the frame after assembly so that the frame supports the mesh covering to enclose the plants within the frame. The mesh comprises apertures defined by filaments; in the example shown, the filaments defining each aperture having a combined length of 4xF1 = M1 so that the periphery of the aperture has a length M1 (Fig. 9).

By making the support legs from solid steel rod, their diameter can be minimised. A further advantage of making the frame with relatively small diameter support legs is that, even where a relatively small mesh is selected, for example, to protect against butterflies or other insects, the upper end of the support leg may nevertheless be passed through one of the apertures of the mesh so that the mesh is supported on the collar, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. Preferably the kit of parts also comprises a plurality of finials 50, each finial being attachable to an end of a respective support leg to retain the mesh and to act as a safety cap to prevent injury from the end of the rod. In the illustrated embodiment each finial 50 is a steel sphere with a socket 51 to receive the end of the rod. Of course, the rod and the socket could be threadedly engaged together if desired.

Where the frame is to be used with a mesh covering, preferably each plate 31 is bounded by a periphery 32' having a radius of at least R1, wherein R1 > 1.5xD1, and 3xD1 < M1 < 4xR1. This ensures that the mesh can be supported by the plates and bars, with the plates forming smooth angular transitions in the frame without unduly straining the mesh, while the support legs extend upwardly through the mesh.

Preferably the periphery of the plate defines the minimum radius R1 at all points of said periphery. Preferably R1 > 2.5xD1. More preferably, R1 3xD1, as in the example 30 shown.

In tests during which the assembled frame was subjected to very heavy wind loading, it has been found that when the bar 20 is arranged with its central axis offset by a substantial angle from the central axis of the support leg, the connector can act as a crank which converts reciprocal axial movement of the bar into torque which drives the support leg in rotation, which can potentially damage the leg and loosen it in the ground, while the radiused portion 23 acts against the margin of the hole 37 with a prising action which can deform the connector to the extent that the point of contact moves further along the bar.

To prevent rotation of the support leg under very heavy wind conditions, the support leg can be provided with an abutment surface which extends laterally outwardly from the support leg and parallel with the length axis of the support leg, preferably proximate but spaced apart from a lower end of the support leg, so as to engage the ground in use. The abutment surface could lie along a radius of the length axis of the support leg or alternatively as shown, could be offset to one side of the length axis so that it does not lie along a radius.

Preferably the or each abutment surface is formed on an abutment element, wherein the total surface area of the abutment surface or surfaces is much greater (e.g. at least times) the maximum total surface area of the abutment element extending in a plane normal to the length axis of the support leg or when considered in a direction along the length axis of the support leg, which is to say, the visible surface of the abutment element when viewed along the length axis of the support leg is less that one tenth of the total surface area of the abutment surfaces. This allows the abutment element to react torque against the ground while presenting little resistance to driving the support leg straight into the ground, so that each support leg can be driven to any desired depth. Alternatively of course, if desired, the abutment element could be arranged with an additional, horizontal abutment surface to allow the user to push it into the ground with one foot and to prevent the support leg from moving further into the ground.

As shown in Figs. 15A and 15B, abutment surfaces 12 may be formed on each side of an abutment element formed by a flat steel plate 11 which is welded to the support leg a short distance above its lower end, allowing the lower end to be driven straight into the ground until the plate is just below the ground surface. In alternative embodiments several abutment surfaces could be arranged in the form of a cross or otherwise angled relative to one another.

To overcome the problem of local wear and deformation in very heavy wind conditions, particularly where the bar is a rod with a substantially continuous profile along its length (which is to say, its outer profile when considered in cross section is substantially the same at all points along its length, as for example the bar 20), the bar can be provided with an abutment which extends outwardly from the radiused portion of the bar to abut against the flat plate of the connector 30 in use when the end portion 21 is inserted through the hole 37 in the connector. The abutment transfers axial forces on the bar to the connector to limit the travel of the end portion through the hole. In the example shown in Figs. 14A and 14B the abutment comprises a steel ball 24 which is welded to the radiused portion 23', one at each end of the bar 20', which is a round steel rod generally similar to the bar 20 of the previously decribed embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 12A and 12B and Fig. 13, in another variant, each bar comprises a mid portion 222 and at least one end portion 121 which is releasably, preferably adjustably fixed to the mid portion. The other end portion may be identical to the first, in which case the mid portion can be a straight length of rod, e.g. round steel rod, or alternatively may be a bent region of the bar as in the embodiment described above. The mid portions of the bars and the support legs may be made from the same diameter rod. In this way the user can cut each rod to the desired length so as to form a framework of any desired dimensions adapted to the particular use situation, e.g. as a fence, an espalier support, a plant support, a covered cage, or any other desired function.

In the illustrated example, each end portion 121 comprises a pin 123, the pin being a solid rod of circular cross section, and a socket 124, the socket defining an insertion axis 124' normal to a length axis 123' of the pin, and the mid portion of the respective bar is fixably receivable in the socket so that its length axis 222' is collinear with the insertion axis 124' of the socket and normal to the length axis 123' of the pin. A set screw 125 may be threadedly received in a wall of the socket to lock the mid portion in position.

The pin 123 is dropped into the hole 37 of the connector 30 along the connection axis 34' in the same way as the end portion 21 of the earlier embodiment so that the end portion 121 can be arranged at any desired angular position around the connection axis. Like the first described embodiment, the pin 123 of the end portion 121 is preferably of circular cross section so that it is rotatable about the connection axis 34' when connected to the connector 30 and easily removed when required, although it may alternatively be arranged to define at least six discrete connection positions, or may be tapered to fit tightly into the hole 37. The socket may be supported on the upwardly facing surface of the plate 31 by abutment surface 126, which may be flat as shown, conic, rounded or otherwise shaped to snugly engage the hole 37. The upwardly facing surface of the end portion 121 can be rounded to avoid damaging a mesh or other covering.

The socket 124 may comprise a through hole as shown, so that the mid portion 222 of the bar can if desired extend through the socket on either side of the end portion 121 with one end of the mid portion extending beyond the connection position as a cantilever. Alternatively the mid portion may be supported by other support legs at both of its ends, or a single mid portion 222 can be fixed by a number of end portions 121 along its length to a number of supporting legs.

In such an arrangement, any pair of end portions 121 are construed as the opposite end portions of the bar, and the region of the mid portion 222 between those opposite end portions 121 is construed mutatis mutandis as the mid portion of the bar, with any end portions 121 between the opposite end portions forming intermediate supports.

In this way the illustrated end portion 121 is releasably fixable to the mid portion 222 at a position between two opposite end portions 121 so that the three end portions 121 connect the mid portion via three or more connectors to three or more support legs. This makes it possible to use bars of any length, for example, to form a long fence or espalier support framework. If desired, the end portion 121 could be arranged with a groove, clamp, or other fixing means rather than a socket, so that an additional end portion 121 can be fixed to the mid portion 222 of a bar without removing the opposite end portions 121 on either side of it.

In summary, in a preferred embodiment a frame for a horticultural cage comprises a plurality of solid steel rods defining support legs and horizontal bars, and a plurality of connectors, each connector comprising a circular pressed steel plate which is slidingly engaged with the support leg and fixable at any position along its length. Each connector defines a plurality of holes forming connnection positions spaced apart angularly around the support leg. In use, the legs are pushed into the ground, and bent end portions of the horizontal bars are dropped into the holes in the connectors to connect the legs together to form any desired regular or irregular shape on flat or irregularly sloping ground. The frame can be covered with a mesh or other covering and can flex under wind loading.

The illustrated embodiment is exceptionally simple to manufacture and easy to assemble and disassemble. Moreover, due to the simplicity of the solid steel parts, it is also very resistant to corrosion and can be supplied in mild steel without a surface coating to obtain a natural rust patina. Due to the simple connection between the bars and the connector, surface rusting does not affect the ease of assembly and disassembly. The material of the stainless steel setscrew is likewise selected to avoid seizing due to corrosion, while the clearance between the diameter D1 of the support leg and the inner wall of the first aperture allows the connector to slide freely even when the surface has rusted.

The component parts of the novel cage are very easy to assemble and disassemble and readily adaptable to a variety of different uses. Any desired number of connectors can be arranged on each support leg so that any number of bars can be connected to the support leg at different heights and angles, for example, to provide support for groups of tall flowering plants with weak stems, where different plants growing close together need to be supported at different heights. The support legs and bars can also be arranged in straight lines, for example, to form a fence around a pond or alongside a path or to enclose the border of a planting bed, or to form a substantially planar framework in a vertical plane to support an espalier fruit tree growing against a wall.

In alternative embodiments, the support leg and/or the bars could have a noncircular cross section. The connector could have non-circular holes, optionally defining in the use position of the connector a plurality of discrete angular positions within a range of angular adjustment for each end portion, preferably at least six angular positions, about the connection axis. Even where the holes are non-circular, the end portion may be arranged to be rotatable or at least infinitely angularly adjustable about the connection axis.

Preferably, as exemplified by the illustrated embodiment, each connection position is defined by a connection aperture, and the connection axis extends through the connection aperture. In alternative embodiments, each connector could be a moulded block or the like rather than a plate, and each connection position could be defined by a connection aperture such as a socket, or by any other connection feature, rather than a hole in a plate. The connector could comprise more than four or less than four holes or other connection positions.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the connection axes are angled (i.e. not collinear) with respect to the length axis of the mid portion of the bar when the bar is arranged to extend horizontally from a vertical support leg, and preferably are parallel with the first insertion axis and with the length axis of the support leg. Alternatively they could be non-parallel with the length axis of the support leg and the first insertion axis, as long as they permit at least a substantial range of angular adjustment of the bar about the connection axis in a horizontal plane, i.e. when considered in plan view. Preferably each connection axis is arranged to permit angular adjustment, more preferably infinite angular adjustment of the bar through an angular range of at least about 20°, more preferably at least about 30°, yet more preferably at least about 90° about the connection axis.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the fixing means is releasable to allow the connector to slide along the length axis of a respective support leg to a selected use position and engageable in the selected use position to fix the connector to the support leg. Conveniently this is provided by a screw as in the illustrated embodiment. Rather than a screw, the fixing means could be a clamp, wedge, collet, or any other releasable mechanism for fixing the connector in the selected use position on the support leg.

In alternative embodiments, the connector could be attachable to the support leg other that by insertion of the support leg through an aperture in the connector; for example, the connector could be clamped around the support leg at a selectable position along the length axis of the support leg.

Preferably the connector is made from a relatively hard and rigid material, most preferably a metal, alternatively and less preferably a hard plastics material not being an elastomer. In less preferred embodiments, the support legs, rods, and/or finials could also be made from a material other than steel. Where the bars are protected by a paint finish, a plastics sleeve can be arranged over the radiused portion to protect the finish from damage at the point of contact with the connector.

Many further adaptations may be made within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A kit of parts for a horticultural cage, comprising a plurality of support legs, a plurality of bars, and a plurality of connectors; each support leg having a length axis; each connector having fixing means, the fixing means being releasable to allow the connector to slide along the length axis of a respective support leg to a selected use position and engageable in the selected use position to fix the connector to the support leg; each bar having two opposite end portions and a mid portion between the end portions, the end portions being angled with respect to the mid portion, each of the mid portion and the end portions defining a respective length axis; each connector defining a plurality of connection positions, each connection position defining a respective connection axis, the connection positions being angularly spaced apart around the length axis of the respective support leg in the use position of the connector; each end portion being connectable with a respective one of the connectors at a selected one of the connection positions and adjustable about the respective connection axis so that when one connector is arranged in the use position on a vertical support leg, each of two bars extending horizontally outwardly from two connection axes of said one connector can be rotated in a horizontal plane about its respective connection axis to define a selected angular position relative to the other respective bar and connected to the connector at the respective connection position in the selected angular position.
2. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein the said selected angular position is infinitely adjustable about the connection axis within a range of adjustment.
3. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein when connected with the connector at the selected connection position the end portion is rotatable about the connection axis.
4. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein when connected with the connector in the use position of the connector, each bar is angularly adjustable in a vertical plane about the selected connection position.
5. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein the connector defines at least four connection positions.
6. A kit of parts according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of finials, each finial being attachable to an end of a respective support leg.
7. A kit of parts according to claim 1, further comprising a mesh covering.
8. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein each support leg and each bar consists of a solid rod.
9. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein each connector includes a first aperture defining a first insertion axis, a respective support leg being slidingly insertable along the first insertion axis into the first aperture.
10. A kit of parts according to claim 9, wherein each connector comprises a plate, the first aperture being formed in the plate.
11. A kit of parts according to claim 10, further including a mesh covering; wherein each support leg has a continuous cross section along at least most of its length axis, the continuous cross section defining a maximum dimension D1 transverse to said length axis; and each plate is bounded by a periphery having a radius of at least R1; and the mesh comprises apertures, each aperture having a periphery with a length Ml; wherein R1 > 1.5xD1, and 3xD1 < M1 < 4xR1.
12. A kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein each connection position comprises a hole formed in the plate, the respective connection axis extending centrally through the hole normal to the plate, the hole having a maximum dimension D2 transverse to the connection axis; each end portion being insertable along the connection axis into a respective hole to connect the respective bar to the connector.
13. A kit of parts according to claim 12, wherein each end portion is connected to the mid portion of the respective bar by a radiused portion, the radiused portion having a length defined by a radiused centre line extending centrally through the radiused portion from the length axis of the respective end portion; and when considered in a section containing the radiused centre line and the length axis of the respective end portion, the radiused portion defines an inner radius R2 and the end portion defines a maximum dimension D3 transverse to its length axis; wherein D2 (D3+R2).
14. A kit of parts according to claim 13, wherein (D3+R2) < 3.5xD2.
15. A kit of parts according to claim 13, wherein each bar comprises a solid rod, and the radiused portions are bent regions of the rod.
16. A kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein each connector includes a tube defining the first aperture, and the fixing means comprises a screw threadedly engaged in a wall of the tube.
17. A kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein the plate is bounded by a peripheral flange.
18. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein at least one said end portion is releasably fixable to the mid portion of the respective bar.
19. A kit of parts according to claim 18, wherein the said at least one end portion comprises a pin and a socket, the socket defining an insertion axis normal to a length axis of the pin, and the mid portion of the respective bar is fixably receivable in the 10 socket.
20. A kit of parts according to claim 19, wherein the socket comprises a through hole so that an additional said at least one end portion can be fixed to the mid portion between said opposite end portions to connect the mid portion via three or more connectors to three or more support legs.
21. A kit of parts according to claim 18, wherein the said at least one end portion is releasably fixable to the mid portion of the respective bar at a position between two said opposite end portions so as to connect the mid portion via three or more connectors to three or more support legs.
22. A kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein each support leg is provided with an abutment surface which extends laterally outwardly from the support leg and parallel with the length axis of the support leg to engage the ground in use.
23. A kit of parts according to claim 22, wherein the abutment surface is proximate but spaced apart from a lower end of the support leg.
24. A kit of parts according to claim 12, wherein each end portion is connected to the mid portion of the respective bar by a radiused portion, and the bar is provided with an abutment which extends outwardly from the radiused portion of the bar to abut against the connector when the end portion is inserted through the hole in the plate.
25. A kit of parts substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.