GB2549974A

GB2549974A - Support device

Info

Publication number: GB2549974A
Application number: GB1607861.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cormack James
Original assignee: Haygrove Ltd
Current assignee: Haygrove Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-05
Filing date: 2016-05-05
Publication date: 2017-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-05
Also published as: GB201607861D0; GB2549974B; WO2017191433A1

Abstract

A support device comprises a substrate support member 14, the substrate support member 14 being provided with or defining an opening or recess 24 through which a truss support member 26 extends, the truss support member 26 including a screw threaded section with which a pair of threaded adjustment members 28 cooperate, at least part of the substrate support member 14 being located between the threaded adjustment members 28, the truss support member 26 further defining a support tape engagement region 30 with which a truss support tape (32, figure 1) cooperates, in use. The device may be used in the cultivation of strawberries.

Description

SUPPORT DEVICE

This invention relates to a support device, and in particular to a support device suitable for use in providing support to plants, and/or, for example to crops carried thereby.

Where certain types of plant are grown, it is known to provide support arrangements to provide support for parts of the plant or crops carried thereby to avoid, for example, crops growing thereon from contacting the ground or contacting other items which could result in damage to the growing crops, or for the weight of the crops to result in damage to the stems upon which the crops are growing.

By way of example, where strawberry plants are growing, truss stems grow from the crown of the plant, the truss stems ultimately carrying trusses of growing strawberries. Where strawberry plants are grown in a substrate carried by a support table, it is known for the support table to have associated therewith a series of supports, and for a truss supporting tape or webbing to be supported by the supports, the tape or webbing serving to provide support for the truss stems and for crop trusses carried thereby. The supports are typically designed to hold the supporting tape or webbing at a fixed height above the support table. Whilst such an arrangement is of relatively simple form, it has the disadvantage that, as the truss stems grow over time, the supporting tape or webbing may not be located at the most appropriate height to provide support for the truss stem and crop trusses carried thereby. As a result, the truss stems and/or crop trusses may be inadequately supported and may incur damage at points in time when inappropriately supported.

Support arrangements are also known in which support strings are carried between supports, being clipped to the supports by adjustable clips. The adjustable mounting of the support strings to the supports allows adjustment of the height of the support strings, in use. Further complex adjustable brackets are known, but these arrangements are typically costly and difficult to install and adjust, and run a significant risk of parts being lost during adjustment.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved support device whereby adjustable crop support can be achieved in an efficient, simple and convenient manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a support device comprising a substrate support member, the substrate support member being provided with or defining an opening or recess through which a truss support member extends, the truss support member including a screw threaded section with which a pair of threaded adjustment members cooperate, at least part of the substrate support member being located between the threaded adjustment members, the truss support member further defining a support tape engagement region with which a truss support tape cooperates, in use.

It will be appreciated that such an arrangement is advantageous in that the connection between the truss support member and the substrate support member is adjustable to allow the height of the support tape engagement region relative to the substrate support member to be adjusted. Accordingly, the height of the truss support tape can be varied as the growing season progresses to ensure that, at all times, adequate support is provided for truss stems and crop trusses carried thereby. Damage arising from inadequate support can thus be reduced.

The substrate support member may be mounted to a support leg whereby the substrate support member is supported at a desired height above the ground. The leg may be of adjustable length, if desired. In such an arrangement, a series of substrate support members are provided, spaced apart from one another, and carry therebetween a member or members defining one or more trough-like sections within which a substrate material is provided, plants growing, in use, in the substrate material.

Alternatively, the substrate support member may take the form of an intermediate support member that is carried by the trough-like section member and serves to support the troughlike section member so as to maintain it in a desired cross-sectional shape, whilst providing support to a truss support tape or the like to reduce sagging thereof.

The substrate support member may be arranged to carry a single row of substrate material or to carry two or more rows of substrate material, if desired. Where a single row of substrate material is provided, the substrate support member may carry a pair of truss support members located to both sides of the substrate to support truss stems and crop trusses to both sides of the substrate. Where two rows of substrate material are provided, then conveniently the substrate support member serves to support a net or the like to provide support to intermediate located truss stems and crop trusses, truss support members being provided to provide support for externally located truss stems and crop trusses.

The invention further relates to a crop support system comprising a series of substrate support members supporting therebetween a trough-like section member, each substrate support member being provided with or defining an opening or recess through which a truss support member extends, the truss support member including a screw threaded section with which a pair of threaded adjustment members cooperate, at least part of the substrate support member being located between the threaded adjustment members, the truss support member further defining a support tape engagement region with which a truss support tape cooperates, in use. A first group of the substrate support members may be mounted upon legs, and a second group of substrate support members may be located intermediate the first group, the second group of substrate support members being carried by the trough-like section member.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a crop support system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2a and 2b are views illustrating part of the system of Figure 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3a and 3b are views illustrating another part of the system of Figure 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are views illustrating an alternative embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, a crop support system 10 is illustrated. The crop support system 10 comprises a series of legs 12 arranged in a row. Each leg 12 carries, at its upper end, a first substrate support member 14. As shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the substrate support member 14 takes the form of a flat base 16, centre uprights 18 and support sections 20. The support members 14 carry, therebetween, trough-like section members 22, for example of a flexible plastics material or of a suitably shaped steel sheet or the like. The shapes of the support sections 20 are chosen to ensure that the trough-like section members 22 adopt and/or are held in substantially a predetermined desired cross-sectional profile. In the arrangement shown, each member 22 carries a respective growing medium substrate row 23.

Each outer end of the base 16 is formed with an eye 24 defining an opening or recess through which a part of an associated truss support member 26 extends. The part of the truss support member 26 extending through the eye 24 is provided with an external screw thread, and internally threaded nuts 28 are in screw threaded engagement with the thread, the nuts 28 being positioned such that one of the nuts 28 is located above the base 16 and another of the nuts 28 is located beneath the base 16. It will be appreciated that, when fastened, the nuts 28 trap part of the base 16 therebetween, securing the truss support member 26 to the base 16. The manner in which the truss support member 26 is secured is such that the truss support member 26 adopts an upstanding configuration and is able to be weight bearing, bearing significant loads, in use, without undergoing excessive deflection.

It will be appreciated that by loosening the nuts 28, and moving the nuts 28 lengthwise along the screw threaded region of the truss support member 26 before retightening the nuts 28, the truss support member 26 can be secured to the base 16 in a range of different heights.

An upper part of each truss support member 26 is shaped to define a tape engagement region 30 with which a truss support tape 32 or the like extending along the length of the system 10 can cooperate such that the truss support members 26 serve to hold the tape 32 at a desired height relative to the base 16, which height can be adjusted as desired.

Between adjacent ones of the first substrate support members 14 are located second substrate support members 34. As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the second support members 34 each cooperate with the trough-like section members 22 so as to be retained thereto and supported thereby, the support members 34 providing support to the members 22 to maintain them in the desired cross-sectional shape. The support members 34 are an interference fit with the members 22. The support members 34 each define an interconnection region 36 interconnecting the parts providing support to the members 22, the interconnecting region 36 providing support for a soft netting 38 providing support to inboard located truss stems and crop trusses.

As with the first substrate support members 14, eyes 24 are formed with which truss support members 26 cooperate by way of nuts 28 to provide adjustable support to the tape 32, reducing sagging thereof between the first support members 14.

In use, with plants growing in the substrate material 23, truss stems growing therefrom can be supported by tapes 32 adjustably supported, in turn, by the truss support members 34. As the truss stems grow, the heights of the tapes 32 can be adjusted by adjustment of the nuts 28 to maintain a good level of support to the truss stems. As crop trusses form, these too can be adequately supported by the tapes 32, adjustment of the heights of the tapes 32 being undertaken when necessary to maintain optimum or adequate support for the crop trusses.

Whilst Figures 1 to 3 relate to an arrangement in which two rows of substrate 23 are present, the invention is not restricted to such an arrangement and Figures 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate parts of a crop support system for use where a single substrate row is present.

It will be apparent that the invention provides a means by which truss stems and crop trusses can be adequately supported, in use, the support being adjustable thereby allowing optimisation of the support, or ensuring that adequate support is provided. The system is simple, of low cost and is convenient to use. The intermediate located support members reduce sagging of the tape 32, thereby further enhancing support.

It will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made to the arrangements described hereinbefore without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support device comprising a substrate support member, the substrate support member being provided with or defining an opening or recess through which a truss support member extends, the truss support member including a screw threaded section with which a pair of threaded adjustment members cooperate, at least part of the substrate support member being located between the threaded adjustment members, the truss support member further defining a support tape engagement region with which a truss support tape cooperates, in use.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the substrate support member is mounted to a support leg whereby the substrate support member is supported at a desired height above the ground.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the leg is of adjustable length.

4. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the substrate support member takes the form of an intermediate support member that is carried by a trough-like section member.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the substrate support member serves to support the trough-like section member so as to maintain it in a desired cross-sectional shape.

6. A device according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the substrate support member is an interference fit with the trough-like section member.

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate support member is arranged to carry a single row of substrate material.

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein the substrate support member carries a pair of truss support members located to both sides of the substrate to support truss stems and crop trusses to both sides of the substrate.

9. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the substrate support member is arranged to carry two or more rows of substrate material.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the substrate support member serves to support a net or the like to provide support to intermediate located truss stems and crop trusses, truss support members being provided to provide support for externally located truss stems and crop trusses.

11. A crop support system comprising a series of substrate support members supporting therebetween a trough-like section member, each substrate support member being provided with or defining an opening or recess through which a truss support member extends, the truss support member including a screw threaded section with which a pair of threaded adjustment members cooperate, at least part of the substrate support member being located between the threaded adjustment members, the truss support member further defining a support tape engagement region with which a truss support tape cooperates, in use.

12. A system according to Claim 11, wherein a first group of the substrate support members are mounted upon legs, and a second group of substrate support members are located intermediate the first group, the second group of substrate support members being carried by the trough-like section member.