NZ702847B2 - Canopy - Google Patents
Canopy Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ702847B2 NZ702847B2 NZ702847A NZ70284713A NZ702847B2 NZ 702847 B2 NZ702847 B2 NZ 702847B2 NZ 702847 A NZ702847 A NZ 702847A NZ 70284713 A NZ70284713 A NZ 70284713A NZ 702847 B2 NZ702847 B2 NZ 702847B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- canopy
- cover
- sheet material
- vent
- flap
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 396
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 claims description 51
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000003014 reinforcing Effects 0.000 abstract description 34
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 abstract 2
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 110
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 44
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 42
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 34
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 29
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 23
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 23
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 16
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 16
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 14
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000001070 adhesive Effects 0.000 description 7
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000007688 edging Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 4
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 238000011176 pooling Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000012463 white pigment Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002759 woven fabric Substances 0.000 description 4
- 210000000887 Face Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000021028 berry Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000000789 fastener Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000006223 plastic coating Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009958 sewing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 3
- AYJRCSIUFZENHW-UHFFFAOYSA-L Barium carbonate Chemical compound [Ba+2].[O-]C([O-])=O AYJRCSIUFZENHW-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- TZCXTZWJZNENPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L Barium sulfate Chemical compound [Ba+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O TZCXTZWJZNENPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 229920002456 HOTAIR Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004594 Masterbatch (MB) Substances 0.000 description 2
- MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N ZrO2 Chemical compound O=[Zr]=O MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000996 additive Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 description 2
- VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L calcium carbonate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-]C([O-])=O VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000005043 ethylene-methyl acrylate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011068 load Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001684 low density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004702 low-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 2
- CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium oxide Chemical compound [Mg]=O CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920003229 poly(methyl methacrylate) Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004926 polymethyl methacrylate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N zinc monoxide Chemical compound [Zn]=O XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 241000271566 Aves Species 0.000 description 1
- 229960005069 Calcium Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229960003563 Calcium Carbonate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000005977 Ethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 241000238631 Hexapoda Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene (PE) Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 1
- LEDMRZGFZIAGGB-UHFFFAOYSA-L Strontium carbonate Chemical compound [Sr+2].[O-]C([O-])=O LEDMRZGFZIAGGB-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 240000006365 Vitis vinifera Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000014787 Vitis vinifera Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000005083 Zinc sulfide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004676 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052788 barium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910021523 barium zirconate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N barium(0) Chemical compound [Ba] DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001222 biopolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- QYMGIIIPAFAFRX-UHFFFAOYSA-N butyl prop-2-enoate;ethene Chemical compound C=C.CCCCOC(=O)C=C QYMGIIIPAFAFRX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000019 calcium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BJJVDFHQHSBAFC-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium;dioxido(oxo)zirconium Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-][Zr]([O-])=O BJJVDFHQHSBAFC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 1
- YIXQSYHBXUBLPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N dioxido(oxo)silane;zirconium(4+) Chemical compound [Zr+4].[O-][Si]([O-])=O.[O-][Si]([O-])=O YIXQSYHBXUBLPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HGVPOWOAHALJHA-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethene;methyl prop-2-enoate Chemical compound C=C.COC(=O)C=C HGVPOWOAHALJHA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005038 ethylene vinyl acetate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003000 extruded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007765 extrusion coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000009754 grape Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000012333 grape Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003562 lightweight material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000395 magnesium oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002736 nonionic surfactant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002420 orchard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001200 poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002952 polymeric resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005070 ripening Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N strontium Chemical compound [Sr] CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052712 strontium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000018 strontium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- FCCTVDGKMTZSPU-UHFFFAOYSA-N strontium;dioxido(oxo)zirconium Chemical compound [Sr+2].[O-][Zr]([O-])=O FCCTVDGKMTZSPU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011145 styrene acrylonitrile resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011115 styrene butadiene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- WGPCGCOKHWGKJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfanylidenezinc Chemical compound [Zn]=S WGPCGCOKHWGKJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004408 titanium dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009941 weaving Methods 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011787 zinc oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N zirconium Chemical compound [Zr] QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052726 zirconium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004711 α-olefin Substances 0.000 description 1
Abstract
canopy comprises a sheet material that forms a main portion of the canopy having a greater length than width. The canopy has netting along one side for ventilation with a covering strip (shown only in second figure) that allows ventilation and protects from weather, and with reinforcing bands across netting to reduce stretching laterally. ss netting to reduce stretching laterally.
Description
CANOPY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to materials for use over growing plants such as grape or berry or
other fruit vines, bushes, or fruit trees (herein: plants) in agricultural applications.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
US patent 7,523,584 discloses a weather cover for agricultural use over plants which
comprises a cover comprising flaps which overlap like tiles or weatherboards.
Figures 5 and 6 show puncture damage to a prior art canopy caused by wear from a
supporting pole.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a canopy that at least provides the
industry with a useful choice.
In one aspect, the invention comprises a canopy having a greater length than width
comprising:
at least one side extending between a longitudinal canopy ridge line and a
longitudinal canopy edge, the side comprising:
a sheet material extending the length of the canopy for shielding weather
(solar radiation, rain, wind, hail), and
a venting region extending the length of the canopy comprising netting
allowing air flow through the side of the canopy, the netting arranged alongside
the sheet material to form a section of the side of the canopy, a longitudinal
edge of the netting attached to a longitudinal edge of the sheet material,
a venting region cover arranged over the venting region and the longitudinal
edge of the sheet material for shielding weather and movable to allow the air flow
through the side of the canopy, and
a plurality of belts spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the canopy,
each belt extending across the venting region to reduce and limit the stretch of the
venting region in a width direction of the canopy, an amount of stretch of the belts being
less than an amount of stretch of the netting material without belts.
In some embodiments each belt comprises a strip or strap material attached to the sheet
material or netting. In some embodiments the plurality of belts are integrally formed in
the netting. In some embodiments the netting comprises venting portions and the
plurality of belts, the venting portions comprising a first netting construction and the
plurality of belts comprising a second netting construction, the second construction
having less stretch than the first construction. In some embodiments the venting
portions comprise a first construction density and the belts comprise a second
construction density, and the second construction density is higher than the first
construction density. In some embodiments the netting comprises a knitted
construction, and venting portions comprise a first knitted density and the belts comprise
a second knitted density, and the second knitted density is higher than the first knitted
density. In some embodiments the belts comprise a different aperture shape to the
venting portions. In some embodiments the netting comprises a knitted construction and
the venting portions comprise one of a diamond, hexagonal and triangular aperture
shape knit stretchable in the longitudinal and width directions of the canopy, and the
belts comprise a pillar construction, pillars of the pillar construction aligned in the width
direction of the canopy.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises securing features 44 near the canopy ridge
line spaced apart along the canopy and the securing features are aligned with the belts in
the width direction along the canopy.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises securing features near the canopy
longitudinal edge spaced apart along the canopy and the securing features are aligned
with the belts in the width direction along the canopy.
In some embodiments the venting region cover is secured to the side of the canopy along
a longitudinal edge of the venting region cover above the venting region, and the canopy
comprises a member that limits the amount the venting region cover may open or move
away from the venting region of the canopy. In some embodiments the member is an
elastic member for biasing the venting region cover towards a closed position over the
venting region. In some embodiments the elastic member extends along the length of
the canopy and is attached to the venting region cover and the side of the canopy at
locations spaced apart along the length of the canopy. In some embodiments the elastic
member is adapted to slide relative to the venting region cover and side of the canopy,
and the length of the elastic member attached to the side of the canopy being adjustable.
In some embodiments the elastic member is threaded through eyelets or loops attached
to or formed with the venting region cover and the side of the canopy.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a plurality of said elastic members spaced
apart along the length of the canopy. In some embodiments, each elastic member is a
rubber cord extending through an aperture on the venting region canopy and an aligned
aperture in a side of the canopy.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises webbing members spaced apart along the
length of the canopy, each member extending between the side of the canopy and the
venting region cover, each webbing member comprising a folded strip of material.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises vent apertures. In some embodiments the
canopy comprises a vent cover over each of the vent apertures.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a reinforced centre lengthwise portion which
has a heavier construction than the sheet material on either side of the reinforced centre
portion, the venting region located between the reinforced centre lengthwise portion and
the sheet material on at least one side of the canopy. In some embodiments the
reinforced centre portion includes a double layer of sheet material, one said layer
extending from the canopy to form the venting region cover.
In some embodiments the venting region is located alongside the ridge line of the
canopy.
In some embodiments a join between the netting and the sheet material forms a flap,
and one or more covering layer are folded over the outside of the flap.
Describe herein is a canopy comprising sheet material having a greater length than width
and having a reinforced centre lengthwise portion, which has heavier construction than
the material on either side of the reinforced centre portion.
In some embodiments the material on either side of the reinforced centre portion and
centre portion comprises at least one main web of canopy material, and the reinforced
centre portion comprises at least one additional material layer secured to the at least one
main web of canopy material.
In some embodiments the reinforced centre portion includes a layer of reinforcing
material bonded or heat bonded to the main web of canopy material.
In some embodiments the reinforced centre portion includes a layer of reinforcing
material secured to the main web of canopy material without piercing of the main web of
canopy material, for example without stitching.
In some embodiments the main web and the additional material layer each comprise a
woven sheet material woven from warp tapes and weft tapes, and a coating layer coating
at least one side of the woven sheet material, and
the main web and the additional material layer are joined together by melting the
coating layers to penetrate through and bond the two woven sheet materials together.
In some embodiments the main web and the additional material layer each comprise a
coating layer on both sides of the woven sheet material.
In some embodiments the coating layer of the main web is at a top side of the canopy
and the coating layer of the additional material layer is at an underside of the canopy.
In some embodiments the coating layer is an extruded plastic sheet melted to cover a
side of the woven sheet material.
In some embodiments the sheet material is woven from warp tapes and weft tapes, and
warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion are heavier than warp tapes on either side of
the reinforced centre portion.
In some embodiments the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion have a weight that
is at least 5% greater than the weight of the warp tapes on either side of the reinforced
centre portion, wherein the width of the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion is the
same as the width of the warp tapes on either side of the reinforced centre portion.
In some embodiments the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion have a thickness
that is at least 5% greater than the thickness of the warp tapes on either side of the
reinforced centre portion.
In some embodiments the layer of reinforcing material is a coating layer applied to the
main web of the canopy.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises reinforced areas in other regions of the
canopy that are reinforced according to the structure of the central reinforced region of
the canopy as described in any one or more of the above statements.
Preferably the canopy includes securing features within the region of the reinforced
centre portion. Preferably the canopy includes at least one flap extending from the
reinforced centre portion, and at least one securing feature is located in or on the flap.
Preferably the flap extends for a majority of the length of the canopy. Preferably the
securing feature is an aperture in the flap. The securing feature may include a reinforcing
grommet or eyelet. In some embodiments the flap comprises at least one layer of the
main web of canopy material. The flap may comprise two layers of the main web of
canopy material bonded together. The two layers may join at a fold. Alternatively the two
layers may each end at an edge. Where the reinforced centre portion is provided by an
additional material layer, the additional material layer may be provided into the flap as
well as adjacent the flap, or may be provided only adjacent to the flap. The flap may be
provided with one or more additional reinforcing layers. For example an edging tape may
be folded over the outside of the flap. The tape may be secured in any suitable fashion
such as stitching, adhesive or heat bonding. The edging tape may be sufficiently wide to
substantially cover both faces of the flap. The flap may extend outwards from an outside
or upward facing surface of the canopy. In some embodiments the flap may extend
inwards from an inside or downward facing surface of the canopy.
Preferably the canopy, or at least the parts of the canopy that are outside the reinforced
portion, are transparent or translucent to transmit light (or solar radiation) to plants
beneath the canopy in use. In some embodiments the reinforced centre portion of the
canopy is transparent or translucent to transmit light (or solar radiation) to plants
beneath the canopy in use.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a longitudinal fixing flap comprising the
sheet material a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, the fixing flap
comprising securing features spaced apart along the fixing flap, and a portion of the
width of the canopy outside the fixing flap forming a cover portion. In some
embodiments the longitudinal fixing flap is folded from a fold region of the sheet material
along a longitudinal fold line at a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, the
fixing flap comprising at least two layers of the sheet material folded together. In some
embodiments the fixing flap comprises a strip of material attached to the sheet material
to reinforce the fixing flap, the securing features provided through the strip of material
and the sheet material. In some embodiments the strip of material is provided to one
side of the fixing flap. In some embodiments the strip of material is provided to both
sides of the fixing flap with the sheet material sandwiched between. In some
embodiments the fixing flap has a height of 35mm to 150mm. In some embodiments
the fixing flap is formed 50mm to 3m from a longitudinal edge of the canopy so that the
cover portion has a width of 50mm to 3m. In some embodiments the fixing flap is
formed 50mm to 2m from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, or 50mm to 1m from a
longitudinal edge of the canopy, or 300mm to 500mm from a longitudinal edge of the
canopy so that the cover portion has a width of 50mm to 2m, or 50mm to 1m, or 300mm
to 500mm. In some embodiments the canopy comprises two said fixing flaps, each
fixing flap located a distance from a corresponding longitudinal edge of the canopy.
In some embodiments the fixing flap extends from the main portion of the canopy and
the cover portion so that the cover portion extends from below the main portion of the
canopy and from inside the securing features to form a curtain to hang below the main
portion of the canopy in use. In some embodiments a join between the main portion of
the canopy and the cover portion forms the fixing flap comprising at least two layers of
sheet material.
In some embodiments the fixing flap extends from the main portion of the canopy and
the cover portion so that the cover portion extends from above the main portion of the
canopy and from inside the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal edge of
the main portion of the canopy in use. In some embodiments a join between the main
portion of the canopy and the cover portion forms the flap comprising at least two layers
of sheet material so that in use the cover portion is folded along a longitudinal fold line to
lie over the join and the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal edge of the
main portion of the canopy. In some embodiments the cover portion comprises
attachment features for securing the cover portion to an overlapping cover portion of an
adjacent canopy or to a support structure or both in use. In some embodiments the
attachment features comprise eyelets spaced apart along the length of the cover portion
so that in use a member may be threaded through the eyelets and corresponding eyelets
in the overlapping cover portion or through the eyelets and around a support structure or
both.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a lateral fixing flap comprising the sheet
material a distance from a lateral edge of the canopy, the lateral fixing flap comprising
securing features spaced apart along the lateral fixing flap, and a portion of the length of
the canopy outside the lateral fixing flap forming a cover portion. The lateral fixing flap
may comprise one or more features of the longitudinal fixing flap stated above.
In another aspect, in the invention comprises a method of sheltering a crop by
positioning a canopy according to the first aspect of the invention, or an embodiment
thereof, over the crop.
In some embodiments, the method comprises positioning two or more said canopies
side-by-side, each canopy comprising:
a longitudinal fixing flap comprising the sheet material a distance from a
longitudinal edge of the canopy, the fixing flap comprising securing features
spaced apart along the fixing flap, and a portion of the width of the canopy
outside the fixing flap forming a cover portion, wherein
the fixing flap extends from a main portion of the canopy and the cover
portion so that the cover portion extends from above the main portion of the
canopy and from inside the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal
edge of the main portion of the canopy, and
the cover portions of adjacent canopies overlapping.
In some embodiments the sheet material of the canopy is white in colour or slightly
white. This may provide diffuse light properties. Alternatively the sheet material may be
other colours or comprise particular pigments to influence the light quality beneath the
canopy.
In some embodiments the sheet material of the canopy comprises a weave of warp and
weft tapes. In some embodiments the sheet material comprises a weave of warp and
weft tapes and at least one coating layer on the weave. The coating or laminated layer
may be substantially water impermeable. The coating layer may be heat bondable. A
coating layer may be provided on both sides of the weave. Where certain properties of
the main web of the canopy are set out below, these properties are properties of the
combined weave and any coatings. The properties may be provided in part by the
material of the weave, by the material of the coating, or by the material of the weave
and the coating combined. In some embodiments the material comprises a weave of
warp and weft tapes and the structure of the weave is altered in the centre lengthwise
part of the material relative to the side parts of the material so that the weave is more
durable in the centre part of the material than the side parts of the material.
In some embodiments the centre portion of the canopy has a width of between 3 to 50
cm, or 5 to 30 cm or 8 to 15 cm, and the overall width of the canopy is between 1-12
metres, or 2 to 5 metres or 2.5 to 3.5 metres, for example. In some embodiments the
overall length of the canopy is between 2m and 200m, or between 15m and 200m, or
between 30m and 150m or above 40m.
The sheet material of the canopy, outside the centre portion, may be water impermeable.
Edge portions of the canopy may include fastening features. For example edge portions
of the canopy may include a reinforced edge region and a plurality of spaced apart
fastening locations, such as rings, hooks or eyes or apertures located in the reinforced
region.
In use the canopy is supported over the plant(s), for example by clipping or otherwise
attaching lengthwise edges of the material to cables or wires along rows of plants on
either side, in a garden, field crop, orchard or vineyard, with the centre portion of the
canopy supported over one or more of a post, posts, cable or line. The canopy will
typically remain in place for some months, before being removed and reused in a
subsequent growing season or on another crop in the same growing season, but in some
cases may remain in place over multiple growing seasons.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material reflects and/or absorbs radiation from
the earth (terrestrial (long wave or infrared) radiation). Thus when the material is placed
over plants it will assist in retaining heat beneath the material, which may be desirable
for some plants or applications.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material allows transmission and/or absorption
of radiation from the earth (terrestrial (long wave or infrared) radiation). Thus when the
material is placed over plants it will assist in releasing the heat beneath the material,
which may be desirable for some plants or applications.
In other embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material reflects and/or absorbs solar radiation.
Thus when the material is placed over plants it will assist in cooling beneath the material,
which may be desirable for some plants or applications.
In other embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material allows transmission and/or absorption
of solar radiation. Thus when the material is placed over plants it will assist in increasing
the heat beneath the material, which may be desirable for some plants or applications.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material diffuses solar radiation. Thus when
the material is placed over plants it will assist in cooling beneath the material.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
eliminate or reduce the extent to which the material forms water droplets of, for
example, condensation. Such anti drip additives may comprise, for example, a
surfactant. The anti drip additive may be included in coatings applied to a woven
substrate, or in polymer tapes of the woven substrate, or both.
The term “tape” or “tapes” is intended to include longitudinally extending single filament
elements having four sides when viewed in cross-section, such as a rectangular or square
cross-section, also longitudinally extending elements having a multisided cross-section
such as a triangular or hexagonal cross-section for example, and also longitudinally
extending elements having a circular or oval or similar cross-section (sometimes referred
to hereafter as monofilament). The tapes may be formed from any suitable polyolefin
such as polyethylene or polypropylene, for example, or a mixture thereof, or an ethylene
alpha-olefin, or a polyester, or a biopolymer, or a blend of any of the foregoing. Certain
plastics are particularly useful when present as minor or major components. Ethylene
vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) and ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA)
are useful for imparting elasticity and other properties. Polyesters and polystyrene,
styrene-butadiene (SB), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile
(SAN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and
polycarbonate are useful as dye carriers and also for influencing radiation (reflecting,
absorbing and transmission) properties and also other properties on the materials.
Starch and other plant polymers are useful to increase biodegradability.
In at least some embodiments, the canopy, or at least the parts of the canopy that are
outside the reinforced portion, are transparent or translucent to transmit light to plants
beneath the canopy in use. By transparent or translucent we mean that the material may
transmit at least 50% of solar radiation on average across the visible (wavelength about
400-700 nm) range. The material may optionally also transmit at least 10% on average
across the UV (wavelength about 280-400 nm) and very near infrared (wavelength about
700-800 nm) ranges. The material may also optionally transmit at least 10% on average
of solar radiation across the wavelength range about 800-2500nm.
In some embodiments the material transmits at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%,
at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90%, of solar radiation on average across the
visible (wavelength about 400-700 nm) range.
The term “netting” means a knitted, woven or non-woven material having a cover factor
(as herein defined) of up to 80% but typically less than 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%,
%, 10% or 5% or 2%.
The term “cover factor” means the percentage of the overall area of a netting material
which comprises knitted, woven, or non-woven monofilament, yarn, or tape or a
combination, forming the netting itself, judged from perpendicular to the plane of the
netting when laid out flat, as opposed to air space in between the netting. Thus if a
netting has a cover factor of 30% then the air space through the netting would be 70%
of the total area of the netting.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification and claims means “consisting at least
in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include
the “comprising”, other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each
statement can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to
be interpreted in similar manner.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and
widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The
disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in
any sense limiting.
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the
following gives examples only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1a is a schematic perspective view of the woven canopy material fixed over a
central ridge of poles and spanning a ridge cable. The canopy material is translucent or
partly translucent and the supporting structure can be seen through the canopy.
Figure 1b is a schematic perspective view of the woven canopy material fixed over a
central ridge of poles and spanning a ridge cable, and with vent apertures near the
centre of the material. The canopy material is translucent or partly translucent and the
supporting structure can be seen through the canopy.
Figure 1c is a schematic perspective view of the woven canopy material fixed over a
central ridge of poles and spanning a ridge cable, and with vent apertures near the
centre, middle and edge of the material. The canopy material is translucent or partly
translucent and the supporting structure can be seen through the canopy.
Figure 1d is a schematic perspective view of the woven canopy material fixed over a
central ridge of poles and spanning a ridge cable, and with vent apertures near the
centre of the canopy and near the edge of the material.
Figure 2 is side view of a canopy the same as the canopy of Figure 1c but without
reinforced areas in some regions of the canopy where vent apertures are provided.
Figure 3a is an end view of the canopy of Figure 1a.
Figure 3b is an end view of the canopy of Figure 1c with arrows indicating the flow of air
passing from beneath the canopy to ambient air above the canopy via vent apertures in
the canopy.
Figure 3c is an end view of the canopy of Figure 1c illustrating water running down an
outside surface of the canopy and vent covers preventing water on the outside of the
canopy from passing through the vent apertures.
Figure 4a is a schematic cross section view of a section of a canopy to illustrate one
possible construction.
Figure 4b is a schematic cross section view of a section of a canopy to illustrate one
possible construction.
Figure 4c is a schematic cross section view of a section of a canopy to illustrate one
possible construction.
Figure 4d is a schematic cross section view of a section of a canopy to illustrate one
possible construction.
Figures 5 and 6 show puncture damage to a prior art canopy caused by wear from a
supporting pole.
Figure 7a is a schematic cross section view of a section of a canopy to illustrate one
possible construction.
Figure 7b is a schematic cross section view of a section of a canopy to illustrate one
possible construction with a centre flap and vent apertures on the same side of the
canopy.
Figure 8a is a part perspective view of the canopy of Figure 1b.
Figure 8b is a part perspective view of the canopy of Figure 7b with a centre flap and
vent apertures on the same side of the canopy.
Figure 8c is a part perspective view of a canopy illustrating another form of vent cover
over a vent aperture in the canopy.
Figure 8d is a part cross sectional view of the canopy of Figure 8c illustrating the vent
cover billowing outwards.
Figure 8e is a part perspective view of a canopy illustrating another form of vent cover
over a vent aperture in the canopy.
Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a canopy material fixed below a ridge cable
supported by a support structure, and with vent apertures in the canopy near the centre,
middle and edge of the material. The canopy material is translucent or partly translucent
and the supporting structure can be seen through the canopy.
Figure 10a is a part perspective view of a canopy material comprising a vent region of
netting material adjacent a central region of the canopy.
Figure 10b is a part perspective view of the canopy of Figure 10a with a part of a cover
covering the vent region lifted to show a portion of the vent region of netting material
below the cover.
Figure 11 is a part perspective view of a canopy material comprising a vent region of
netting material adjacent a central region of the canopy with a cover over the vent region
omitted to show the netting material. An enlarged view of a section of the venting region
is included.
Figures 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d are cross section schematic views of a section of a
canopy to illustrate possible constructions comprising a vent region with cover over the
vent region.
Figure 13a is a part perspective view of a canopy material comprising a vent region of
netting material adjacent a central region of the canopy with a cover over the vent region
and an elastic member for biasing the cover towards a closed position over the vent
region. A portion of the cover is omitted to illustrate the venting region beneath.
Figure 13b is a cross section schematic view illustrating an elastic member for biasing
the cover over the vent region towards a closed position over the vent region.
Figures 13c and 13d are cross section schematic views illustrating a member extending
between the cover over the vent region for limiting the amount the cover may open away
from the venting region.
Figure 14a is a part perspective view of a canopy material comprising a vent region of
netting material adjacent a central region of the canopy with a cover over the vent
region, and a longitudinal fixing flap located a distance from a longitudinal edge of the
canopy for securing the canopy to a support structure. The portion of the width of the
canopy outside the fixing flap may hang vertically to extend the covered area provided
by the canopy.
Figure 14b is a cross section schematic view of a canopy material comprising a
longitudinal fixing flap located a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy for
securing the canopy to a support structure. The fixing flap extends from the canopy so
that the portion of the width of the canopy outside the fixing flap may hang vertically
below the main portion of the canopy from inside of the fixing flap.
Figure 14c is a cross section schematic view of a canopy material comprising a
longitudinal fixing flap located a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy for
securing the canopy to a support structure. The fixing flap extends from the canopy so
that the portion of the width of the canopy outside the fixing flap extends from above the
main portion of the canopy and from inside of the fixing flap.
Figure 14d illustrates canopies according to the embodiment of Figure 14B located side-
by-side with curtain portions hanging from below the main portion of the canopy to
extend the canopies effective area.
Figure 14e illustrates canopies according to the embodiment of Figure 14C located side-
by-side with cover portions extending from above the main portion of the canopy and
extending beyond a longitudinal edge of the main portion of the canopy, and the cover
portions of adjacent canopies overlapping.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 lengths of a canopy 10 (see Figure 1) can be fixed over rows
of for example berry vines or bushes. Figure 4a shows a cross section of the canopy.
Typically the canopy has a greater length than width, and is provided for use, as a roll or
in concertina folded form. In use the canopy is supported along a ridge line 12 or peak by
a combination of posts 14 and wires or cables 15 that extend between the posts. The
case could be the canopy is attached to the wire under the canopy to 44 and the wire is
supported by posts 14. Longitudinal edges of the canopy may be held in a stretched out
condition by guys or fasteners connecting between the edge 16 of the canopy and any
suitable securing point on the ground or on an adjacent frame or wire extending down
the row length and/or across the row width. In this form the canopy forms a ridge with
two major surfaces or side 17, 18 as shown in Figure 1 and 3 sloping away from the
ridge line. The canopy is particularly intended for shedding water to provide partial
shelter for the plants underneath. The canopy is particularly suited to use over ripening
berry fruit or other fruits grown on trees. The canopy will typically remain in place for
some months, before being removed and reused in a subsequent growing season or on
another crop in the same growing season, but in some cases may remain in place over
multiple growing seasons.
According to embodiments of the invention, the canopy comprises sheet material and has
a reinforced centre lengthwise portion 19. The reinforced centre portion 19 has heavier
construction than the material 21 on either side of the reinforced centre portion. The
reinforced centre portion takes the line and point loading and associated wear from
contact with the ridge line poles and wires that are underneath the material in figure 1a.
This more durable portion has an increased life under the load and wear conditions than
would be the case for the remainder of the material of the canopy. This increases the
useful life of the canopy as a whole, without significantly increasing the overall shading
from the canopy.
The sheet material may be woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material
that could be later coated in plastic film on one or both sides; or not coated.
Alternatively the sheet material could be plastics film. If the sheet material is woven from
tapes, the tapes may be formed by extruding a film material from a polymer resin and
then cutting the film into tapes which are in turn used to weave the material, or by
extruding individual tapes. The tapes may be formed from a polymer containing pigments
which give the canopy material desired properties, such as desired light reflective,
absorptive, transmission and/or diffusive properties for example.
If a film the sheet material may be extruded so the reinforced centre lengthwise portion
of the sheet material is extruded to be thicker than the other, and/or another layer of
film may be welded, coated or sewn or similar to extruded film sheet to form the
reinforced centre lengthwise portion.
In embodiments where the sheet material is woven from flat warp and weft tapes, the
canopy may be woven with heavier warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion than
outside the reinforced centre portion. For example, in some embodiments the warp
tapes in the reinforced centre portion have a weight in denier that is at least 5% greater
than the weight of the warp tapes outside the reinforced centre portion for a given tape
width. In some embodiments the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion have a
weight in denier that is at least 10%, or 20%, or 30%, or 40%, or 50%, or 60%, or
70%, or 80%, or 90%, or 100% greater than the weight of the warp tapes outside the
reinforced centre portion for a given tape width . For example, the sheet material of the
canopy may be woven from warp and weft tapes comprising a nominal tape width of
about 2mm to 3mm, or 2.4 to 2.6 mm and the warp tapes outside the reinforced portion
may comprise a nominal weight of about 500 to 1400 denier, 900 to 1400 denier, or
1000 to 1300 denier, or 1100 to 1200 denier, or 1120 to 1160 denier and the warp tapes
in the reinforced portion of the canopy may comprise a nominal weight of greater than
about 1200 denier. In some embodiments, the warp tapes in the reinforced centre
portion are 100% heavier than the weight of the warp tapes outside the reinforced centre
portion for a given tape width. That is, the tapes in the reinforced portion are twice as
heavy as the warp tapes outside the reinforced portion. For example, for a given tape
width, the warp tapes outside the reinforced portion may comprise a nominal weight of
about 1100 denier, and the warp tapes in the reinforced portion of the canopy may
comprise a nominal weight of about 2200 denier. In some embodiments the weight of
the warp tapes outside the reinforced portion is about 1000 to 1500 denier.
In some embodiments the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion have a thickness
that is at least 5% greater than the thickness of the warp tapes outside the reinforced
centre portion. In some embodiments the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion
have a thickness that is at least 10%, or 20%, or 30%, or 40%, or 50%, or 60%, or
70%, or 80%, or 90%, or 100% greater than the thickness of the warp tapes outside the
reinforced centre portion. For example, the warp tapes outside the reinforced portion
may comprise a nominal thickness of about 55 microns, and the warp tapes in the
reinforced portion of the canopy may comprise a nominal thickness of greater than about
60 microns. In some embodiments, the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion are
100% thicker than the thickness of the warp tapes outside the reinforced centre. That is,
the tapes in the reinforced portion are twice as thick as the tapes outside the reinforced
portion. For example, the warp tapes outside the reinforced portion may comprise a
nominal thickness of about 55 micron, and the warp tapes in the reinforced portion of the
canopy may comprise a nominal thickness of about 110 micron. In some embodiments
the thickness of the warp tapes on either side of the reinforced centre portion is 25
micron to 100 micron.
According to the illustrated embodiments, with particular reference to Figures 4a to 4d
the canopy is constructed from at least one main web 40 of plastics sheet material (for
example woven sheet material or unwoven sheet material). In some embodiments the
main web of the canopy is constructed from a single layer of sheet material. The
reinforced centre portion 19 comprises at least one additional material layer 42 secured
to the main web.
The reinforcing layer may be fixed to the main web by any suitable means, such as
bonding with adhesives or by heat, or by stitching, or an additional plastic coating or a
combination of these methods. Preferably the additional material layer is heat bonded to
the main web along lines or across areas or across substantially its entire area.
In some embodiments (Figures 4c and 4d) the main web sheet material 40 is woven from
warp and weft tapes to form a woven sheet material 23, and comprises a coating layer
24 on one or both sides of the woven sheet material. A coating layer is in some
embodiments on an outside or top side of the canopy. The coating layer is preferably a
non-woven sheet material that is melted onto the woven sheet material. For example,
the coating layer is an extruded sheet melted onto the woven sheet material to form a
coating over the woven material. In some embodiments the coating layer material is the
same as the material forming the warp and weft tapes for weaving the main web of the
canopy. Preferably the coating layer, per side, weighs about 15 to 30 grams per square
metre. The woven sheet material may comprise a weight of about 65 to 125 grams per
square meter. In some embodiments the coating is LDPE (low density polyethylene). In
some embodiments the tapes are HDPE (high density polyethylene). In some
embodiments the coating and/or the warp and weft tapes comprise a UV stabilizer or
stabilizers.
In some embodiments the additional reinforcing layer 42 has the same construction as
the sheet material forming the main web of the canopy, comprising a woven sheet
material with a coating layer. In some embodiments, the additional layer of sheet
material is applied to the main web of the canopy with the coating layer of the reinforcing
layer 42 facing downwards, and the coating layer of the main web of the canopy facing
upwards. In such an embodiment the reinforced central portion of the canopy comprises
a coating layer on the outside (top side) of the canopy, two layers of woven material (the
main web 40 and additional layer 42), and a coating layer on the inside (underside) of
the canopy.
In some embodiments the reinforcing woven layer and the main web material woven
layer are arranged together with a coating layer on each of the two woven layers in
contact. For example, where the woven sheet material has a coating on both sides, the
coating layer on one side of the main web and the coating layer on one side of the
reinforcing layer contact. Alternatively, where the woven sheet material has a coating on
one side, the coating layer of the main web and the coating layer on the reinforcing layer
may contact. Where the coating layers of the main web and the reinforcing layers
contact, the coating layers may be melted together to join the main web and the
reinforcing layers together. There may be at least some penetration of the coating layer
through the woven sheet materials to hold the woven sheet materials together. The
coating layer typically melts to the woven layers to hold the woven layers together. In
some embodiments the upper and lower coating layers seals and holds or bonds the two
layers of woven fabric together. For example, the coating layers are melted to penetrate
and bond together the two woven layers. In some embodiments, in manufacturing the
canopy, the woven main web and the woven reinforcing layer 42 are held or placed
together, and a top coating layer is applied to a top surface of the woven main web and a
bottom coating layer is applied to an under surface of the reinforcing layer (and in some
embodiments to the remainder of the underside of the main web), so that the top and
bottom coating layers join and hold or bond the layers of woven material together.
In some embodiments a coating layer is added to the main web and to the reinforcing
layer before the main web and reinforcing layer are joined together. The coating layer
may be an extruded sheet. The coating layer may cover the full surface of the main web.
Alternatively, the coating layer may coat a portion of the width of the main web. For
example, the coating layer may be in a strip or a plurality of spaced apart strips. For
example, areas 58 and 59 may be coated portions of the main web of the canopy.
In some embodiments, the coat layer or layers may comprise chemical additives to
impart particular properties to the canopy. For example, the coating material may
comprise anti drip additives comprising a surfactant.
In some embodiments, the main web of the sheet material is woven from warp and weft
tapes and the warp tapes in the reinforced centre portion have a greater weight and/or
thickness than the warp tapes on either side of the reinforced centre portion, and the
reinforced centre portion may in addition also comprises at least one additional material
layer 42 secured to the centre portion of the main web which may also comprising the
heavier warp tapes.
In the illustrated embodiments the canopy includes securing features 44 within the
region of the reinforced centre portion 19. In particular the canopy includes a flap 46
extending from the reinforced centre portion. At least one securing feature 48 is located
in or on the flap. The flap extends for substantially the whole, or at least a majority, of
the length of the canopy. In some embodiments a series of independent flaps may be
provided dispersed along the length of the canopy.
In the illustrated embodiment the flap 46 in Figures 4a and 7a is developed by an
extension of the web 40. The web 40 may be constructed from two parts, with edge
portions of the two parts secured together by heat sealing, adhesive bonding or sewing.
The secured edge portions form the flap 46. As described above, in some embodiments
the web sheet material 40 may comprise a coating on one or both sides. In such
embodiments, the coating layer(s) is also formed into the flap together with the woven
sheet material. For example, the flap may comprise a coating layer on a first side of the
flap, two layers of woven material separated from another two layers of woven material
by two coating layers, and another coating layer on an opposite second side of the flap.
One or more extra material layers may be included in the flap. For example a covering
layer 43 in Figures 4a, 4b and 7a, 7b of material may be folded over the outside of the
flap and be heat bonded, adhesively bonded or sewn to the flap.
In the illustrated embodiment, at least one securing feature is an aperture 47 (Figures 4a
and 7a) in the flap. The aperture may be provided with reinforcing such as a plastic or
metal eyelet or grommet such as 48 in Figure 4a and 7a.
Alternatively the securing feature might be a hook or clip or tag line bonded or sewn to a
flap, or bonded or sewn directly to the reinforced centre portion of the canopy.
In the illustrated embodiment the flap comprises at least one layer of the main web of
canopy material. The flap illustrated comprises two layers of the main web of canopy
material bonded together. The flap may be folded from the web sheet material to form
two layers joined at a fold. In the illustrated embodiment the two layers each end at an
edge at the edge of the flap, the main we formed from two parts as described above.
The additional material layer of the reinforced centre portion of the canopy may be
provided into the flap as well as adjacent the flap, as illustrated in Figure 4a.
Alternatively, the additional material layer of the reinforced centre portion of the canopy
is provided only adjacent to the flap, so that a separate web of reinforcing material is
provided at either side of the flap 46.
The flap may be provided with one or more additional reinforcing layers. For example an
edging tape or strip or belt of material 43 may be folded over the outside of the flap as
illustrated in Figure 4a. The edging tape or strip or belt of material may be secured in
any suitable fashion such as stitching, adhesive or heat bonding. The edging tape may be
sufficiently wide to substantially cover both faces of the flap.
In other embodiments the flap may comprise a fold of the reinforcing sheet material,
such that the reinforcing sheet material forms a double layer as the flap, and extends
away from the flap on either side where the flap joins to the main web of the canopy.
The double layer of the flap may be heat bonded together or sewn along one or more
lines to secure the two layers together.
In some embodiments the longitudinal centre portion of the canopy is not reinforced, as
illustrated in Figures 4b and 7b. As illustrated in Figures 4b and 7b, the flap 46 may
comprise two layers of the sheet material that forms the main web of the canopy.
However, in some embodiments, the flap 46 may include additional layers of reinforcing
material. For example, the flap in Figures 4a and 7a may comprise the same
construction as the flap in Figure 4a, however, the additional reinforcing layer 42 is
applied in the flap 46 only and does not extend into the central portion of the canopy so
that the central portion is not reinforced by the reinforcing layer 42.
The flap may comprise additional layers of material, for example one or more reinforcing
members may be located and secured within or over the folded double layer, or the
single sheet of reinforcing material may include multiple folds to form a flap with multiple
stacked layers.
In use, the securing features located within the area of the reinforced portion of the
canopy are connected to the supporting ridge wire or to the supporting poles. This
ensures that the reinforcing centre portion of the canopy stays in position over the ridge
wire and/or supporting poles.
In at least some embodiments, the canopy, or at least the parts of the canopy that are
outside the reinforced portion, or just the reinforced portion, are transparent or
translucent to transmit light to plants beneath the canopy in use. By transparent or
translucent we mean that the material may transmit at least 50% of solar radiation on
average across the UV (wavelength about 280-400 nm), visible (wavelength about 400-
700 nm) and very near infrared (wavelength about 700-800 nm) ranges, and which
transmits at least 10% on average of solar radiation across the wavelength range about
800-2500nm.
The canopy may also include UV absorbers to reduce the amount of UV that is part of the
transmitted light below the canopy for the benefit of the plants below the canopy.
In some embodiments the sheet material of the canopy is white in colour. The sheet
material may alternatively be another colour such as red or green or blue or silver, or be
clear.
In some embodiments the reinforced centre portion 19 of the canopy has a width of
between 3 to 50 cm, or 5 to 30 cm or 5 to 20 cm, and the overall width of the canopy is
between 1-12 metres, or 1.5 to 6 metres, or 2 to 5 metres or 2.5 to 3.5 metres, or 2.8 to
3.2 metres for example.
Edges of the canopy may include fastening features. For example the canopy may
include a reinforced edge 55 and a plurality of spaced apart fastening locations, such as
rings, hooks or eyes (as at 57) or apertures located in the reinforced edge. Reinforced
edges may be provided by bonding a folded edge tape over the edge of the main web of
the canopy.
The material of the main web of the canopy may have a tight weave or high weave
density so that the canopy has low or negligible water permeability. Additionally or
alternatively the web may be coated with a continuous coating of a plastics material for
example by extrusion coating at manufacture of the material. Alternatively again the
material may be heat treated to melt or partially melt bond the warp and weft tapes
together to be water impermeable.
Preferably securing of additional layers of material, such as for reinforcing the centre
portion, or for reinforcing the edges of the material, is by methods that are non-piercing
of the material, such as heat bonding, or by pressed together the two layers then coating
on the outside of the two layers, on the up (top) side and on the down side, two layers of
coating, to seal and hold the two layers of woven fabric together. So preferably the
securing is not by stitching.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
eliminate or reduce the extent to which the material forms water droplets of, for
example, condensation. The anti drip additives may comprise, for example, a non-ionic
surfactant. The anti drip additive may be included in coatings applied to a woven
substrate, or in polymer tapes of the woven substrate.
As stated the tapes may be formed from a polymer containing pigments which give the
canopy material desired properties, such as desired light transmission properties for
example. Some or all tapes of a reflective material may be formed from a resin
comprising a white pigment, which resin has been formed by mixing a masterbatch
consisting essentially of 1 to 90% by weight of a white pigment or combination of
pigments chosen from zirconium, strontium, barium, magnesium, titanium, zinc and
calcium pigments, and a first polymer, with a second polymer such that the resin
(masterbatch) comprising the white pigment comprises between about 1 to 50% by
weight of the total mixture. In certain embodiments the white pigment may be selected
from zirconium dioxide, magnesium zirconate, calcium zirconate, strontium zirconate,
barium zirconate, zirconium silicate, zinc sulphide, calcium carbonate, barium sulphate,
magnesium oxide, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
and potassium titanate.
In some embodiments the canopy 10 comprises vent apertures 30 in the reinforced
centre region 19 of the canopy 10, illustrated in Figures 1b, 1c, 1d, 7a, 7b and 8a. The
vent apertures 30 may allow hot or warm air beneath the canopy to escape from beneath
the canopy to ambient air above the canopy. The vent apertures 30 may also allow
higher air pressure beneath the canopy, caused by such things as wind to escape to
lower air pressure above the canopy. In some embodiments the vent aperture may
include a reinforcing grommet or eyelet 32. In some embodiments, a vent cover 34 is
provided over each vent aperture. The vent cover or flap 34 restricts water from flowing
or entering the vent aperture and passing from outside the canopy to inside the canopy
but allows air to move upwards though the vent.
In the illustrated embodiment, a separate vent cover 34 is provided at each vent
aperture 30. In other embodiments, a continuous cover or flap extending longitudinally
along the canopy may cover more than one vent aperture 30. In some embodiments the
vent cover has a width of about 4cm to 14cm. In some embodiments the vent apertures
have a diameter of less than about 100mm. In some embodiments the vent apertures
have a diameter of about 60mm, 50mm, 40mm, 35mm, 30mm, 25mm, or 20mm, or
15mm, 12mm, or 10mm.
In some embodiments the vent apertures are provided to the reinforced centre portion
19 of the canopy. In some embodiments the vent apertures are provided near to or
adjacent to the centre or ridge line 12 of the canopy. In some embodiments the vent
apertures are positioned at about a midpoint between an edge 22 of the reinforced
centre portion 19 and the flap 46 comprising securing features 44. For example, in an
embodiment where the reinforced portion is 30cm wide, the vent aperture is located at
about 8cm from the centre of the reinforced portion 19, or 8cm from the flap 46
comprising the securing features 44. In some embodiments, the vent apertures are
closer to the centre of the canopy than the edge 22 of the reinforced portion 19 of the
canopy. For example, in an embodiment where the reinforced portion is 30cm wide, the
vent aperture is located at about 3cm to 4cm from the centre of the reinforced portion
19, or 3cm to 4cm from the flap 46 comprising the securing features 44. In some
embodiments the vent apertures are located about 5cm to 20cm, or from 7cm to 13cm,
or 8cm to 12cm, or 9cm to 11cm, or about 10cm from the centre 12 of the canopy. In
some embodiments, the vent apertures are placed at or adjacent to the edge 22 of the
reinforced centre portion 19. In some embodiments, the vent apertures may be placed
adjacent to the ridge line or flap 46 of the canopy.
The vent cover 34 may be attached to the reinforced portion of the canopy at or adjacent
to a longitudinal edge 35 of the vent cover that is positioned above the vent aperture in
use. The vent cover 34 may be attached to the reinforced portion of the canopy at or
adjacent to a longitudinal edge 35 of the vent cover that is located between the ridge line
12 of the canopy and the vent aperture 30. The vent cover may be fixed to the
reinforced portion by any suitable means, such as bonding with adhesives or by heat, or
by stitching (33 in Figures 8 and 8b), or a combination of these methods. In use, water
is restricted from entering the vent aperture by the cover 34.
In some embodiments, a lateral side or sides 36 of the vent cover may be attached to
the canopy reinforced portion 19, in part or in full, to reduce any side way entry of water
under the vent cover.
The vent cover may be formed from a piece or strip of material. The vent cover material
may be woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material or woven from flat
warp and weft tapes of a plastics material that has later been coated on one or both
sides. Alternatively the cover material could be plastics film. In some embodiments the
vent cover is formed from the same sheet material as the canopy sides. In the
illustrated embodiment of Figures 8a and 8b, the vent cover 34 is formed from a folded
piece of sheet material. The sheet material of the vent cover is folded about a fold line
31. An outer side 37 of the sheet material of the vent cover forms the vent cover 34. An
inner side 38 of the sheet material is attached to the reinforced portion of the canopy.
For example, in some embodiments, the vent aperture may include a reinforcing
grommet or eyelet 32, and the inner side 38 of the vent cover sheet material is attached
to the canopy by the grommet or eyelet extending through the inner side 38 and the
canopy. In some embodiments, the inner side of the vent cover material may be
attached to the canopy around a perimeter of the vent aperture by bonding with
adhesives or by heat, or by stitching, or a combination of these methods. In some
embodiments the vent cover is formed from a material that is formed in a cylinder. The
cylinder is flattened or folded to form the inner side 38 and the outer side 37, the vent
aperture 30 being formed through the inner side, and the outer side of the cylinder of
material forming the vent cover 34 over the vent aperture.
In some embodiments the outer side or vent cover 34 is attached to the inner side of the
strip or cylinder of material along a longitudinal edge 35 of the vent cover above the vent
aperture relative to a ridge line of the canopy. For example, the outer side may be
bonded with adhesive or by heat, or by stitched to the inner side. In some embodiments
at least an upper portion of a lateral side or sides 36 of the vent cover may be attached
to the inner side of the strip or cylinder of material to help restrict the amount the vent
cover lifts away from the venting aperture. In some embodiments the inner side of the
strip or cylinder of material is only attached to the canopy main web or sheet material
around the aperture 30, for example by a grommet 32 around the vent aperture.
The inner side of the material of the vent cover provides reinforcement to the vent
aperture. For example, in some embodiments, the canopy comprises three layers of
material at the vent aperture; the main web of the canopy 40, an additional material
layer 42 for reinforcing the centre region 19 of the canopy, and the inner side 38 of the
vent cover sheet material. In some embodiments the vent cover is provided without an
inner side 38 so that the vent aperture is formed through the reinforced portion of the
canopy and without further reinforcement provided by the additional layer of an inner
side 38 of the vent cover sheet material.
In Figure 8 the vent cover 34 is illustrated in a folded out position. In some
embodiments, in use the vent cover 34 may lie flat against the vent aperture 30.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1b, the vent apertures 30 are located adjacent to
a securing feature 44 along the length of the canopy. In the illustrated embodiment, the
vent apertures are located at alternate sides of the ridge 12 along the length of the
canopy. In the embodiment of Figure 1b, the vent apertures on each side of the ridge 12
are aligned. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1d, the vent apertures on one
side (first side) of the ridge 12 are staggered with the vent apertures on the other side
(second side) of the ridge.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises vent apertures 30 without a reinforced area
in the centre part of the canopy. For example, in the embodiments illustrated in Figures
4b, 7b and 8b, the canopy is provided with a flap 46 comprising securing features 44.
The flap 46 extends above the canopy to secure the canopy from above the canopy, for
example by a wire extending through the securing features 44. In the embodiments of
Figures 4b, 7b and 8b, the canopy is hung from the securing features 44 and the centre
portion of the canopy may not rest on ridge line poles. Such a canopy may not comprise
a reinforced central portion. An example canopy comprising an outwardly extending flap
with securing features and a support structure for supporting such a canopy is provided
in Figure 9.
In an embodiment without a reinforced portion, the vent apertures 30 may be located in
a longitudinally extending centre region of the canopy to be near to or adjacent the
centre of the canopy. For example the vent apertures may be at about 7cm to 13cm, or
8cm to 12cm or 9cm to 11cm or about 10cm from the centre 12 of the canopy. The vent
apertures may comprise a vent cover as described above. For example, the canopy may
comprise two layers of material at the vent aperture; the main web 40 of the canopy and
the inner side 38 of the vent cover material. In some embodiments the vent cover is
provided without an inner side 38 so that the vent aperture is formed through the main
web 40 of the canopy and without further reinforcement provided by the additional layer
of an inner side 38 of the vent cover material.
In some embodiments, vent apertures are provided outside a centre portion 19 of the
canopy, for example as illustrated in Figures 1c and 2. For example, the canopy may
comprise vent apertures 30 located in a longitudinal extending edge region of the canopy
to be positioned towards or near to a longitudinal edge of the canopy 10. For example, a
longitudinal row or group 51 of vent apertures may be positioned 5cm to 50cm, or 5cm
to 30cm, or 5cm to 20cm, or about 10cm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy
(referred to herein as an edge region of the canopy). However, the apertures in the
edge region may not be aligned in a row.
In some embodiments the canopy may comprise vent apertures 52 located in a
longitudinally extending intermediate region of the canopy between a centre 12 or centre
region or ridge of the canopy and a longitudinal edge or edge region of the canopy. For
example, the canopy may comprise a longitudinal row or group of vent apertures 52
located approximately midway between a centre 12 of the canopy and a longitudinal
edge of the canopy. For example, for canopies that are 1m to 10m wide, the midpoint
for the longitudinal extending intermediate region would be 0.25m to 2.5m from the
longitudinal edge of the canopy. In some embodiments the longitudinally extending
intermediate region of the canopy is between 5cm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy
and 10cm from a centre 12 of the canopy. In some embodiments the longitudinally
extending intermediate region of the canopy is between 10cm from a longitudinal edge of
the canopy and 15cm from a centre 12 of the canopy. In some embodiments the canopy
comprises vent apertures 50cm to 200cm, or 50cm to 150 cm, or 50 cm to 100cm from a
longitudinal edge of the canopy. The apertures may not be aligned in a row.
In some embodiments, the canopy comprises more than one longitudinal row or group of
vent apertures. For example, a canopy may comprise more than one of a longitudinal
row or group 51 of vent apertures located towards or near to a longitudinal edge of the
canopy 10 (referred to herein as an edge region of the canopy), a longitudinal row or
group of vent apertures 52 located approximately midway between a centre 12 of the
canopy and a longitudinal edge of the canopy, and a longitudinal row or group of vent
apertures 53 located near to or towards a centre 12 of the canopy. The vents could also
be placed randomly in each side of the canopy so they are not in a distinct pattern or in
rows.
As described above, in some embodiments the canopy comprises vent apertures in the
centre portion 19 (that is reinforced or not reinforced) of the canopy, and also vent
apertures outside the centre portion, for example rows of vent apertures 51 and 52. In
some embodiments, the canopy sheet material is reinforced in the regions where vent
apertures are located. For example, in some embodiments the canopy comprises vent
apertures 51 located in a longitudinal extending reinforced edge region of the canopy to
be positioned towards or near to a longitudinal edge of the canopy 10. For example, a
longitudinal row or group 51 of vent apertures may be positioned in a longitudinally
extending reinforced portion of the canopy located 5cm to 50cm, or 5cm to 30cm, or 5cm
to 20cm, or about 10cm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy. In some embodiments,
the canopy comprises vent apertures 52 in a longitudinal extending reinforced region of
the canopy positioned intermediate of the centre portion of the canopy and an edge
region of the canopy. For example, a longitudinal row or group 52 of vent apertures may
be positioned in a longitudinally extending reinforced portion of the canopy located
between 10cm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy and 15cm from a centre 12 of the
canopy, or 50cm to 200cm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, or 50cm to 150 cm,
or 50 cm to 100cm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy. The longitudinal reinforced
portions of the canopy may comprise the construction as described for the centre
reinforced portion of the canopy. For example the reinforced portions of the canopy,
whether in a central region 19, an edge region 58, or a region 59 that is intermediate the
edge and central regions may comprise heavier warp tapes and/or an additional layer or
layers of sheet material and/or an additional plastic coating.
In one embodiment, the vent apertures 53 located near to a ridge of the canopy may be
spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the canopy at a distance of 20cm to
200cm, 20 cm to 150cm, 20cm to 100cm, or 30cm to 90cm, or 40cm to 80cm, or 50cm
to 70cm, or about 60cm. In one embodiment, the vent apertures 52 located
intermediate the ridge and longitudinal edge of the canopy may be spaced apart along
the longitudinal direction of the canopy at a distance of 50cm to 200cm, 50cm to
130cm, or 60cm to 120cm, or 70cm to 110cm, or 80cm to 100cm, or about 90cm. In
one embodiment, the vent apertures 51 located near to or adjacent a longitudinal edge
of the canopy may be spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the canopy at a
distance of 20cm to 200cm, 80cm to 160cm, or 90cm to 150cm, or 100cm to 140cm, or
110cm to 130cm, or about 120cm. So in some embodiments, the vent apertures in the
longitudinal centre portion or region may be spaced closer together along the length of
the canopy compared to the vent apertures in the edge region and/or in the intermediate
region. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the vent apertures in the edge region may
be spaced closer together than the vent apertures in the centre portion. In some
embodiments, the spacing between vent apertures in the edge may be the same as the
spacing between the vent apertures in the centre region. In some embodiments the vent
apertures in the intermediate region are spaced closer together than the vent apertures
in the central region. In some embodiments, the spacing between vent apertures in the
intermediate region may be the same as the spacing between the vent apertures in the
centre region. In some embodiments, the vent apertures in the edge region are spaced
closer together than the vent apertures in the intermediate region. In some
embodiments, the spacing between vent apertures in the intermediate region may be the
same as the spacing between the vent apertures in the edge region.
The vents can also be placed in other locations in the canopy. For example, vent
apertures may be positioned as illustrated in figures 1b, 1c and 1d, and/or vent
apertures may be placed randomly throughout the canopy. Vent apertures located
towards or near to a longitudinal edge of the canopy may be particularly useful for
preventing water pooling on top of the canopy in a region extending along a longitudinal
edge of the canopy. For example, in use, water running down the canopy may collect in
a region near to the longitudinal edge of the canopy where the canopy is installed without
sufficient tension to allow water to run off the canopy. The weight of the water can
cause the canopy to form a concave shape near the longitudinal edge where water
collects and builds up on the canopy. Vent apertures with covers near to the longitudinal
edge may act as relief valves to allow water pooling or collecting in this region of the
canopy to leak or drain from the canopy to avoid water remaining on or being captured
by the canopy or the water is limited to an area beneath the location of the vent
apertures in the edge region of the canopy (the amount of water cannot build up towards
the centre of the canopy beyond the location of the vent apertures). This reduces the
downward water pressure on the canopy caused by pooling water. In some
embodiments the vent apertures in the edge region of the canopy are not covered by
vent covers, as illustrated in Figure 1d, to allow water at the edge region of the canopy
to drain through the canopy via the vent apertures in the edge region. In some
embodiments, the vent apertures in the edge region are spaced closer together than the
vent apertures in the central region, to provide sufficient vent apertures in the edge
region to allow water to leak through the canopy at the edge region to prevent the
pooling of water at the edge region of the canopy. For example, in some embodiments,
the vent apertures at the edge region are spaced apart by 20 cm to 200 cm, 20 cm to
150cm, 20cm to 100cm, or 30cm to 90cm, or 40cm to 80cm, or 50cm to 70cm, or about
60cm, whereas the vent apertures in the central region are spaced apart by 80cm to
160cm, or 90cm to 150cm, or 100cm to 140cm, or 110cm to 130cm, or about 120cm.
The vent apertures may also allow air pressure due to wind or breeze to be released from
beneath the canopy. Vent apertures may allow wind or breeze to pass through the
canopy from below the canopy to ambient above the canopy. In a breezy or windy
climate, wind passing below the canopy may cause the canopy to billow outwards,
straining any securing features or support structures retaining the canopy in place. The
vent apertures may allow wind or breeze to pass through the canopy and reduce
billowing of the canopy in a windy climate. The vent apertures may allow cheaper or
lighter weight securing devices to be used to secure the canopy.
In use, hot air accumulating under the canopy rises towards the ridge of the canopy.
Vent apertures near to the top of the canopy near the ridge 12 allow hot air to exit the
canopy to ambient air above the canopy. The vent covers restrict water above the
canopy from entering the vent apertures to assist in maintaining a dry environment
under the canopy in at least a central area under the canopy.
In some embodiments vent apertures in the longitudinally extending centre portion of the
canopy have a larger diameter than the vent apertures in other regions of the canopy.
For example the vent apertures 53 in the centre portion are larger than the vent
apertures 51 in a longitudinal edge region of the canopy, and/or the vent apertures 52 in
an intermediate region between the longitudinal edge region and the centre portion of
the canopy. The larger diameter apertures provide for increased breeze or airflow to
pass from beneath the canopy to exit the canopy to ambient air above the canopy. For
example, the diameter of the vent apertures in the central portion of the canopy may
comprise a diameter of 10mm to 100mm, 20mm to 50mm, or 25mm to 45mm, or 30mm
to 40mm. The vent apertures in other regions of the canopy may comprise a diameter of
5mm to 25mm, or 10mm to 20mm, or 20mm to 40 mm.
The larger sized vent covers required to cover the larger diameter vent apertures may be
more prone to being blown open compared to vent covers over smaller diameter vent
apertures. Preferably a vent cover lifts away from or is positioned from the vent aperture
enough to allow sufficient air flow while preventing or significantly restricting water flow
from outside the canopy.
As described above, in some embodiments, the vent cover may be formed from a folded
piece or strip of material or a strip material formed into a cylinder and folded. An outer
side of the strip or folded cylinder of material forms the vent cover, and an inner side of
the strip or folded cylinder of material is attached to the canopy. For example the inner
side is attached to the canopy by a grommet forming the vent aperture through the inner
side and the sheet material of the canopy.
To restrict the amount the vent cover lifts away from the vent aperture, in some
embodiments the vent cover is attached to the inner side of the strip or cylinder of
material along a longitudinal edge 39 of the vent cover below the vent aperture, as
illustrated in Figure 8C. In some embodiments the outer side 37 is releasably attached
to the inner side 38 along a longitudinal edge 39 of the vent cover below the vent
aperture 30. For example, a hook and loop type fastener may be applied along the
longitudinal edge of the vent cover and the inner side of the strip or cylinder of material
below the vent aperture.
Further, in some embodiments, at least an upper portion of a lateral edge or edges 36 of
the outer side are attached to the inner side. For example, the vent cover 34 is fixed to
the inner side 38 from the top of the vent cover to approximately half way down each
lateral edge 36 of the vent cover.
Where the inner side 38 of the strip or cylinder of material is not attached to the canopy
main web or sheet material except around the perimeter of the vent aperture (for
example by a grommet 32), and the vent cover 34 is attached to the inner side along
longitudinal edges 35, 39 above and below the vent aperture 30, a breeze or air
movement may cause the vent cover 34 and the inner side 38 of the vent cover material
to billow outwards from the aperture, as illustrated in the cross sectional view of Figure
8D. However, as the vent cover is attached to the inner side 38 along longitudinal edges
, 39 above and below the vent aperture, the vent aperture always remains covered,
even when a strong breeze blows through the vent aperture.
In some embodiments the lateral dimension of the vent cover between the longitudinal
edges 35, 39 of the vent cover is greater than the lateral dimension of the inner side
between the longitudinal edges 35, 39 so that the vent cover 34 arches or bows
outwardly from the vent aperture, as illustrated in Figure 8e. This embodiment helps to
ensure the vent cover is spaced a distance from the vent aperture, even when there is no
substantial breeze or air flow passing through the vent aperture to cause the vent cover
to billow outwards. With the vent cover held or bowed outwards from the vent aperture,
a low resistance path for venting air from below the canopy is provided, while the vent
aperture remains covered.
In some embodiments, the vent cover may be formed from a sheet material comprising a
particular weight suitable for an intended amount of air flow. The weight of the material
of the vent covers may regulate the amount of air flow through the vent apertures. For
example, a vent cover formed from a light weight sheet material may allow a higher flow
of air through a vent aperture compared to a vent cover formed from a heavier weight
sheet material. And a vent cover formed from a relatively intermediate weight material
may allow a relatively intermediate flow rate of air through a vent aperture compared to
lighter and heavier vent cover materials. A vent cover formed from a light weight sheet
material lifts relatively easily away from the vent aperture to allow a larger air flow rate
through the aperture. A vent cover formed from a relatively intermediate weight sheet
material lifts less easily away from the vent aperture compared to a vent cover formed
from a light weight material. A vent cover formed from a relatively heavy weight sheet
material lifts less easily away from the vent aperture compared to vent covers formed
from a lightweight or a relatively intermediate weight material and allows a relatively
smaller air flow rate through the vent aperture.
The vent cover that is also heavier will also take more wind force to be lifted than a
lighter weight vent cover. Thus the weight of the vent cover may be chosen to regulate
the amount of wind force required to lift a vent cover. Higher wind force will be required
to lift the vent cover comprising a heavier weight material and thus a heavier weight vent
cover will stay closer to the vent aperture in higher wind conditions and restrict rain
associated with the wind from penetration though the vent aperture to the crop below.
The vent cover is still not so heavy that it will not lift to allow a flow of air from beneath
the canopy to reduce high wind pressure on the canopy.
In some embodiments the vent covers are formed from a relatively light weight sheet
material comprising a weight of about 50 to 200g/m . In some embodiments the vent
covers are formed from a relatively intermediate weight sheet material comprising a
weight of about 200 to 400g/m . In some embodiments the vent covers are formed from
a relatively heavy weight sheet material comprising a weight of about 400 to 1000g/m .
In some embodiments the vent covers are formed from a relatively light weight sheet
material comprising a weight of about 50 to 100g/m . In some embodiments the vent
covers are formed from a relatively intermediate weight sheet material comprising a
weight of about 100 to 200g/m . In some embodiments the vent covers are formed from
a relatively heavy weight sheet material comprising a weight of about 200 to 600g/m .
In some embodiments, the canopy may comprise some vent covers that comprise a
relatively light weight sheet material, and some vent covers that comprise a relatively
heavy weight sheet material. For example, the vent apertures in the longitudinally
extending centre portion of the canopy may be covered with vent covers comprising a
lighter weight material, and the vent apertures in other regions of the canopy may be
covered with vent covers comprising a heavier weight material. The lighter weight
material allows a higher air flow through the vent apertures in the centre of the canopy
compared to flow through apertures covered with a heavier material in other regions of
the canopy.
In some embodiments, the position of the vent aperture in the canopy determines the
weight of the vent cover material. Vent covers over vent apertures positioned directly
over a crop should have more resistance to lifting in windy conditions compared to covers
over vent apertures that are not positioned directly over the crop. Therefore, for
example, the vent covers over apertures in a central region of the canopy may comprise
heavier weight material, and vent apertures in an edge region of the canopy may
comprise lighter weight material, where the canopy is intended to be positioned centrally
over a row of trees.
For example, the vent apertures in the central portion of the canopy may comprise vent
covers comprising a material weight of 200 to 1000g/m , and the vent apertures in an
edge region of the canopy may comprise vent covers over comprising a material weight
of 50 to 200g/m .
In some embodiments vent apertures in one region of the canopy may have a larger
diameter than the vent apertures in other regions of the canopy. For a larger diameter
vent aperture, the vent cover is correspondingly larger compared to the vent covers over
smaller vent apertures in the canopy. To assist with maintaining a cover over the larger
apertures, in some embodiments the vent covers over the larger diameter apertures
comprise a heavier weight material, and smaller diameter vent apertures in other regions
of the canopy material are covered with vent covers comprising lighter weight material.
Further, due to the larger surface area of the vent covers over larger vent apertures, the
covers over larger vent apertures may be more prone to being lifted by wind passing
over the canopy. To reduce the likelihood or occurrence of larger vent covers lifting
away from larger vent apertures in windy conditions, in some embodiments the vent
covers over larger vent apertures are formed from heavier weight material, and the vent
covers over smaller vent apertures are formed from lighter weight material. For a
canopy, the material weight of vent covers over larger vent apertures in the canopy may
be heavier than the material of vent covers over smaller vent apertures in the canopy so
that the vent covers over the larger apertures and the vent covers over the smaller
apertures require a similar amount of wind force to lift away from the larger and small
vent apertures. This provides even or uniform protection for plants below the canopy
regardless of where the plants are positioned beneath the canopy.
For example, the diameter of the vent apertures in a first region (for example a central
portion) of the canopy may comprise a diameter of 10mm to 100mm, 20mm to 50mm,
or 25mm to 45mm, or 30mm to 40mm or 40mm to 50mm, and the vent covers over the
vent apertures in the first region of the canopy may comprise a material weight of 200 to
1000g/m . In comparison, the vent apertures in second region (for example an edge
region) of the canopy may comprise a diameter of 5mm to 25mm, or 10mm to 20mm,
and the vent covers over the vent apertures in the second region of the canopy may
comprise a material weight of 50 to 200g/m .
Conversely, larger diameter vent covers may comprise lighter weight material vent
covers compared to other smaller diameter vent covers, so that an even greater
increased flow of air is achieved through the larger vent apertures.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises vent covers formed from a heavier weight
sheet material than the sheet material of the main portion of the canopy. In some
embodiments the canopy comprises vent covers formed from a lighter weight sheet
material than the sheet material of the main portion of the canopy. In some
embodiments, some vent aperture covers are formed from a heavier weight sheet
material, and some vent covers formed from a lighter weight sheet material, and the
main portion of the canopy is formed from an intermediate weight sheet material.
In some embodiments the vent covers are formed from the same weight sheet material
as the sheet material of the main portion of the canopy.
In very windy environments the vent apertures may not provide sufficient venting
surface area to allow sufficient air flow from below the canopy.
In some embodiments, the canopy may comprise a venting region at or adjacent to the
central region of the canopy. In windy environments, wind flow below the canopy may
rise up the canopy to exit the canopy via the vent region to prevent the canopy billowing
outwards. The venting region thus reduces force on the canopy, fasteners fastening the
canopy to supporting structures, and supporting structures holding the canopy in place.
Figures 10a and 10b illustrate embodiments of a canopy comprising a venting region 60.
In some embodiments a vent region cover 70 may cover the venting region 60. The
cover 70 restricts water from flowing or entering the vent region and passing from
outside the canopy to inside the canopy and onto the plants but allows air to move
upwards though the vent region.
In some embodiments the venting region may comprise netting material. In some
embodiments, the venting region extends longitudinally along the length of the canopy,
for example in a region of the canopy bridging the apex or ridge line of the canopy in
use. In some embodiments, the venting region may be formed in sections spaced apart
along the length of the canopy. In some embodiments, the cover 70 extends
longitudinally along the length of the canopy to cover the venting region. In the
embodiment of Figure 10a, the lateral ends of the cover 70 are not affixed to the lateral
ends of the canopy. In the embodiment of Figure 10b, the lateral ends of the cover 70
are affixed to the lateral ends of the canopy to prevent weather (rain) passing from
outside or above the canopy to inside or below the canopy at the lateral ends of the
canopy. In Figure 10b, the cover is illustrated as being lifted away from the venting
region 60 so that the venting region below the cover 70 may be viewed in the Figure.
In some embodiments the venting region extends along one or both sides of the ridge 12
of the canopy. The venting region may extend up to 100mm, or 200mm or 300mm or
400mm or 500 mm or 600 mm or 700 mm or 800 mm or 900 mm or 1000 mm or
1500mm from the ridge of the canopy in the width direction of the canopy, on one or
both sides of the ridge. The cover preferably overlaps the venting region completely.
For example, where the venting region extends 400mm from the ridge of the canopy, the
cover may extend 500mm from the ridge.
In an alternative embodiment the venting region is spaced from the ridge 12 or central
region of the canopy to be located intermediate between the ridge and a longitudinal
edge 16 of the canopy.
The venting region cover 70 may be formed from a strip of material. The venting region
cover material may be woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material or
woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material that has later been coated on
one or both sides. Alternatively the cover material could be plastics film. In some
embodiments the venting region cover is formed from the same sheet material as the
canopy sides.
Figure 11 illustrates the canopy with the venting region cover omitted. In the illustrated
embodiment, the venting region comprises a netting material extending longitudinally
along the canopy. In some embodiments the netting may be expandable netting.
Expandable netting is netting that may be pulled taunt in one or more directions to
elongate the apertures of the netting in the direction the netting is pulled. The
expandability of the netting in the vent region is a property of the netting that may be
undesirable. Expansion of the netting may cause the overall dimensions of the canopy to
be variable, resulting in the canopy being difficult to fasten securely. Expansion of the
netting in a longitudinal direction may not result in the canopy being expandable in the
longitudinal direction, as the canopy sheet material 40 extending the length of the
canopy may have no or minimal stretch. Where the netting material extends along the
full length of the canopy, stretch in the netting results in the canopy being expandable or
stretchable in the width direction which may be undesirable as explained above.
To prevent or reduce the amount of stretch of the canopy caused by stretch in the
netting of the venting region, in some embodiments the canopy is provided with strips or
belts of material extending in the width direction of the canopy across the venting region.
With reference to Figure 11, the belts 62 are spaced apart along the longitudinal direction
of the canopy and extend across the venting region to join or connect to the canopy
material 17, 18 either side of the venting region, or between the ridge line 12 and the
sides 17, 18 of the canopy. The stretch of the belts 62 is less than the stretch of the
netting 60, thus reducing the stretch of the canopy in the width direction. The belts
make the canopy dimensionally stable. In some embodiments the belts may be straps or
strips formed of material woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material or
woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material that has later been coated on
one or both sides. Alternatively the belt material could be plastics film. In some
embodiments the venting region belts are formed from the same sheet material as the
canopy sides.
In a preferred embodiment the belts 62 extending across the netting of the venting
region are integrally formed with the netting. For example, the belts are a knitted
section of the netting of the venting region of the canopy. For example, the netting
material 60 comprises venting portions 61 and belt sections 62. The venting portions 61
of the netting 60 comprise a first knitted construction and the belt sections 62 of the
netting 60 comprise a second knitted construction, the second construction having a
lower amount of stretch compared to the first construction. The first part of the knitted
structure is 61 has less coverage than 62, so it allows more air movement than the area
of 62 but 62 acts to restrict the expandability of 61. The netting material comprises
spaced part belt sections knitted into the netting material at the time the netting material
is knitted/manufactured.
In some embodiments, the netting in the belt sections 62 of the netting 60 may comprise
a construction comprising a higher density compared to the density of the venting
sections 61 of the netting 60. For example, the belt sections of the netting may
comprise apertures of 1mm to 3mm in size, which could be made from a pillar type
construction, whereas the venting portions of the netting may comprise apertures of
5mm to 20mm in size which could be made from a diamond, hexagonal, or triangular
aperture or other pattern type construction. The higher density or pillar type
construction results in a reduced amount of stretch in the belt sections of the netting and
added strength at the belt sections of 62. The netting material 60 with integrally formed
or knitted belt sections provides the openness of the areas of 61 allowing air flow
combined with the strength and lack of expandability of the belt sections 62.
In some embodiments, the netting in the belt sections 62 of the netting 60 may comprise
a knitted construction comprising a higher knitted density compared to the knitted
density of the venting sections 61 of the netting 60.
In some embodiments the belt sections 62 of the netting comprise a different aperture
shape to the venting sections 61 of the netting. For example, the venting sections 61 of
the netting may comprise a diamond shape knit that may stretch when pulled taunt in
the longitudinal and lateral directions of the canopy, and the belt sections 62 of the
netting may comprise a pillar construction, the pillars 63 of the netting aligned in the
lateral or width direction of the canopy. A pillar type knit has low or lower stretch along
the length of the pillars 63 of the netting. Aligning the pillars in the width direction of the
canopy reduces the amount of stretch of the canopy in the width direction. While the
diamond part, 61 is more flexible in both directions. The incorporation of the two types of
net construction enables the benefits of the two to be available for where they are best
utilised.
In some embodiments, securing features 44 near the ridge line and/or securing features
57 at longitudinal edges may be aligned with the belts or belt sections 62 of the venting
region. The canopy may be pulled taunt in the width direction, with little stretch in the
width direction provided by securing features at the canopy apex and at the canopy
longitudinal edges being in line with the belts of the venting region, as illustrated in
Figure 11. If the areas of 62 were not present the width of the fabric would not be able to
be controlled that same way as with the areas 62.
The belts 62 across the venting region of the canopy may be spaced apart along the
length of the canopy by a spacing of between 100mm and 10m. In some embodiments
the belts are spaced apart by, 200mm to 2m and further 300mm to 1m.
In some embodiments the belt sections of the venting region are between 20mm and
100mm in width.
With particular reference to Figure 12a, the canopy may be constructed from plastics
sheet material 40 to form a majority of each of the canopy sides 17, 18. A longitudinal
edge of the sheet material is attached to a longitudinal edge of the netting of the venting
region. To provide sufficient strength in the join between the netting 60 and the sheet
material 40 the longitudinal edges of the netting and sheet material may be lapped or
joined together to form a flap 65. The edges of the netting and sheet material secured
together by heat sealing, adhesive bonding or sewing. The secured edge portions form
the flap 65. One or more extra material layers may be included in the flap. For example a
covering layer 66 of plastics material may be folded over the outside of the flap and be
heat bonded, adhesively bonded or sewn to the flap. The join flap 65 may be formed to
the inside or lower side of the canopy as in 12a or to the outside or top side of the
canopy as shown in Figure 12b.
At the ridge or centre of the canopy the netting material may be formed into a flap 46
similar in construction to earlier embodiments. The flap 46 may be formed by a double
layer of the netting material, the layers secured together by heat sealing, adhesive
bonding or sewing. One or more extra material layers may be included in the flap. For
example a covering layer 43 of plastics material may be folded over the outside of the
flap and be heat bonded, adhesively bonded or sewn to the flap. The layer 43 may be
sufficiently wide to substantially cover both faces of the flap. As illustrated in
embodiments of Figures 12a and 12b, the venting region cover 70 may be integrated into
the flap 46 forming an additional covering layer for the flap 46. Alternatively, the venting
region cover 70 on each side of the flap 46 may be fixed or attached to a side of the flap
46, with an additional layer 43 covering flap 46 and an edge region of each cover 70
incorporated into the flap. Securing features 44 may be provided to the flap as described
with reference to earlier embodiments. As described with reference to the embodiment
of Figure 4, flap 46 may be formed to the inside of the canopy.
In some embodiments, the canopy may comprise a venting region 60 and a central
reinforced region as described earlier, for example with reference to Figure 1a. An
example construction is illustrated in Figure 12c. The venting region may be provided at
both sides, or just one side, 17, 18 of the canopy intermediate between the sheet
material 40 of the sides and the reinforced central portion 19. Flaps 65 may be formed
at the joins between the sheet material of the sides 17, 18 of the canopy and the venting
region nettings, and between the venting region netting and the centre reinforced
portion. The reinforced centre portion 19 comprises at least two material layers. In the
illustrated embodiment, the reinforced central portion comprises a sheet material, for
example the sheet material forming the main parts of the sides of the canopy, and an
additional layer 42 of sheet material. In the illustrated embodiment, the additional layer
may extend from the reinforced portion 19 to form the venting region covers 70. The
layers 41, 42 may be fixed together by any suitable means, such as bonding with
adhesives or by heat, or by stitching, or an additional plastic coating or a combination of
these methods, or is made of two layers of woven fabric pressed together with a coating
on the outside of the two layers, one on the upside and down side, two layers of coating,
to seal and hold the two layers of woven fabric together. Preferably the layers of the
centre portion are heat bonded along lines or across areas or across substantially its
entire area.
In the illustrated embodiments the canopy includes securing features within the region of
the reinforced centre portion 19 and preferably in the flap 46 as described earlier with
reference to earlier embodiments.
In some embodiments, the canopy may comprise a venting region 60 intermediate
between a central region of the canopy and a longitudinally extending edge of the
canopy. For example, Figure 12d illustrates venting region 60 intermediate between
central region 90 and longitudinal edge 16. In some embodiments, an edge of the
venting region cover 70 may be secured to the central region to extend over the venting
region 60. In the illustrated embodiment, an edge of the cover 70 is incorporated into
flap 66.
As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the venting region cover is secured to the
canopy along a longitudinal edge above the venting region. In some embodiments, the
venting region cover may be secured to the canopy at or near to the ridge 12 of the
canopy. The cover may move between a closed position covering the venting region to
an open position where the cover moves away from the venting region to allow air flow
through the venting region. In some embodiments the canopy may be provided with a
member or members that limit the amount the venting region cover may open or move
away from the venting region of the canopy.
In some embodiments, the venting region cover 70 is provided with an elastic element or
elements to bias the cover 70 towards a closed position over the venting region. It may
be desirable to bias the cover 70 to a closed position so that the cover does not remain in
an open position, for example once a breeze drops.
In the embodiment of Figure 13a, the canopy comprises an elastic member 80 that
extends along the length of the canopy. The elastic member is threaded through eyelets
or grommets in the venting region cover and the canopy material below the cover.
Where the cover is moved away from the venting region (for example under the force of
a breeze passing through the venting region), the elastic member is stretched. Tension
in the stretched elastic member biases the cover back towards the closed position.
Alternatively the elastic member may be threaded though loops of material fixed to the
cover and/or the sides of the canopy. In some embodiments, the elastic member 80
extends through eyelets or grommets in the flap 66 at the join between the venting
region material 60 to the canopy sheet material 40.
In the embodiment of Figure 13a, the elastic member 80 extends along the length of the
canopy. A user may adjust the length of the elastic member to adjust the amount of
tension or biasing force the member provides to close the cover. One or both ends of the
elastic member 80 may be provided with a buckle or clip 81 for adjusting the length of
the elastic member secured between the ends 15 of the canopy. The elastic member 80
may comprise one or more elastic bands or threads, for example a bundle of rubber
members such as a bungee cord or rubber cord.
With reference to Figure 13b, in some embodiments, the canopy may comprise elastic
members 82 spaced apart along the length of the canopy, each member 82 extending
between a side 17, 18 of the canopy and the venting region cover. For example,
members 82 may comprise an elastic band stitched to the cover and canopy side, or tied
through eyelets in the canopy side and cover. In some embodiments, the elastic band
may extend between the cover 70 and the flap 65, 66 joining the venting region material
60 to the canopy sheet material 40. For example, the elastic band may be stitched or
otherwise fixed to the cover 70 and flap 66, or may extend through eyelets in the cover
and the flap 66.
With reference to Figures 13c and 13d, in some embodiments the canopy may comprise
webbing members 83 spaced apart along the length of the canopy, each member 83
extending between a side 17, 18 of the canopy and the venting region cover. For
example, members 83 may comprise a folded strip of material. With the cover in the
closed position against the venting region, the webbing member is folded flat, two sides
of the webbing member folded together as shown in Figure 13d. With the cover moved
away from the venting region, the folded webbing member opens, the sides of the folded
member separated to allow the cover 70 to move away from the venting region as
illustrated in Figure 13c. The webbing member may be bonded or stitched or otherwise
fixed to the sides of the canopy and venting cover. The webbing members may be
woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a plastics material or woven from flat warp and
weft tapes of a plastics material that has later been coated on one or both sides.
Alternatively the webbing members could be plastics film or a knitted belt like material.
In some embodiments the webbing members are formed from the same sheet material
as the canopy sides. In some embodiments the webbing members may be elastic strips.
As shown in Figures 10a, 10b and 12c, in some embodiments the canopy may comprise
vent apertures 30 as described earlier, for example with reference to the embodiment of
Figures 1b and 1c.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a longitudinal fixing portion or flap
positioned a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy. The fixing portion or flap
100 is illustrated in Figures 14a and 14b. The fixing portion or flap may comprise two
layers of the sheet material of canopy. In some embodiments, the fixing flap 100 is
folded from a fold region of the sheet material of the canopy along a longitudinal fold line
at a distance from a longitudinal edge 16 of the canopy so that a portion 105 of the width
of the canopy located outside the fixing flap is integrally formed with the main portion of
the canopy. Alternatively, instead of being folded from the canopy sheet material, the
portion 105 may comprise a separate section of sheet material fixed to the sheet
material of the main portion of the canopy at or adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the
main portion of the canopy. In some embodiments, the portion 105 is fixed to the sheet
material of the main portion of the canopy at the longitudinal edge of the main portion of
the canopy so that the fixing flap comprises two layers of sheet material, one layer from
the main portion of the canopy and a second layer from the sheet material of the portion
105, as illustrated in Figure 14b. In some embodiments, the portion 105 is fixed to the
sheet material of the main portion of the canopy adjacent the longitudinal edge of the
main portion of the canopy so that the fixing flap comprises one layer of sheet material
from the main portion 40 of the canopy.
Securing features, for example eyelets 102 are formed in the fixing flap for securing the
canopy 10 to a support structure.
In some embodiments the fixing flap 100 comprises a strip of material 101 attached to
the sheet material of the fixing flap to reinforce the flap. The eyelets are provided
through the strip of material and the sheet material of the fixing flap. In some
embodiments the strip of material is provided to one side of the fixing flap. In some
embodiments the strip of material is folded to be provided to both sides of the fixing flap.
In some embodiments the fixing flap comprising eyelets or similar may have a height of
35mm to 150mm. In some embodiments the fixing flap has a height of 100mm.
The portion 105 forms a longitudinal border or cover portion 105 extending from a
longitudinal edge 106 of a main portion 40 of the canopy. It is to be understood that
description of the location of vent apertures in the canopy given as a distance from a
longitudinal edge of the canopy provided earlier is to be understood to be in relation to
the longitudinal edge 106 of the main portion of the canopy in embodiments comprising a
cover portion 105.
In some embodiments the fixing flap is formed 50mm to 3m from a longitudinal edge 16
of the canopy so that the width of the cover portion is 50mm to 3m wide. In some
embodiments the fixing flap is formed 50mm to 2m from a longitudinal edge of the
canopy, or 50mm to 1m from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, or 100mm to 700mm
from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, or 200mm to 600mm from a longitudinal edge of
the canopy, or 300mm to 500mm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy so that the
cover portion 105 is 50mm to 3m wide, or 50mm to 2m wide, or 50mm to 1m wide, or
100mm to 700mm wide, or 200mm to 600mm wide, or 300mm to 500mm wide.
Preferably the canopy comprises two fixing flaps 100, each flap located a distance from a
corresponding longitudinal edge of the canopy as illustrated in the Figures.
As illustrated in Figures 14a and 14b the fixing flap 100 may extend from the main
portion 40 of the canopy and the cover portion 105 of the canopy so that the cover
portion extends from below the main portion of the canopy. In an alternative
embodiment the fixing flap 100 may extend from the main portion and the cover portion
so that the cover portion extends from above the main portion of the canopy, as shown
in Figure 14c.
The longitudinal fixing flap 100 comprising eyelets is especially useful for anchoring the
canopy to posts or structures above a row of trees. The cover portion 105 of the canopy
can hang below the fixing flap 100 to cover at least a portion of the sides of trees or
plants below the main portion of the canopy. The cover portion 105 forms a vertical wall
or curtain to protect the sides of the trees or plants from rain approaching the canopy
from a side of the canopy. The fixing flap is provided at the longitudinal edge 106 of the
main portion of the canopy for securing the edge of the canopy to a support structure, so
that in use the cover portion 105 hangs below the main portion of the canopy from inside
the securing features. The fixing portion or flap forms a longitudinal edge of the main
portion 40 of the canopy. This arrangement allows the canopy to be held above the trees
or plants at a distance from the trees, so that an air gap is present between the canopy
and the trees or plants. Furthermore, the cover portion 105 can be arranged to contact
the ground so that there are no gaps between the edge of the canopy and the ground, or
where adjacent canopies are erected above the ground side-by-side, the portion 105 may
extend to cover a gap between adjacent canopies. Where the eyelets are attached to a
wire, then a scalloping gap that may form between the points of attachment at each
eyelet may be filled or covered with the side portion 105 of the width of the canopy
provided outside the fixing flap 100. This assists to prevent birds or insects passing
around the canopy and/or shields plants below the canopy from weather. Where eyelets
are provided at the edge 16 of the canopy, gaps between the edge 16 of the canopy and
the ground or an adjacent canopy may be difficult to close due to scalloping or dishing of
the canopy between connection points or eyelets 102.
Figure 14d shows adjacent rows of trees 200 protected by canopies 10 according to the
embodiment of Figure 14b. Each row of trees is protected by a canopy 10. As shown,
each canopy comprises a longitudinal cover portion 105 that hangs from a longitudinal
edge 106 of a main portion 40 of the canopy. The cover portions 105 extend from below
the main portion of the canopy and from inside the eyelets 102. The longitudinal edges
of the canopies are secured, for example, to longitudinally extending wires 150 via the
eyelets 102 that are positioned outside the cover portions 105. There may be two wires
150 between adjacent canopies 10, one wire for each side of each canopy attached to the
eyelets of the fixing flap via a suitable attachment device such as a wire or steel or
plastic clip, the one wire each side allow the canopies to more independent of the
adjacent canopy. The ridge of each canopy is secured to a longitudinally extending wire
160. Longitudinally extending wires 160 are secured between supporting poles or other
support structure (not illustrated in Figure 14d).
The cover portions form curtains and allow the main portion 40 of the canopy to be
narrower than it otherwise would be if the curtains were absent, while providing a given
amount of protection from rain approaching the canopy from a side of the canopy. The
curtains 105 provide an increased amount of vertical protection (against horizontally
directed rain) without increasing the width of the canopy. Having a narrower canopy can
be beneficial as more sunlight may reach the ground between adjacent rows of trees.
Reflective ground matting material may be used in between adjacent rows of trees to
reflect sunlight back up and underneath the canopies to provide improved growing
conditions, while maintaining protection from rain entering from the side where such
protection is desirable. The covering portions 105 can allow for an increased gap between
adjacent canopies while maintaining protection from rain hitting the canopy from above
at an angle. At times of high wind and rain together, the canopy will tend to lift at the
edges of the canopy to expose a greater portion of the plant beneath the canopy. The
width of the canopy could be extended further to meet an adjacent canopy. However,
preferably a gap is maintained between adjacent canopies to provide room for installation
of the canopies. The gap between adjacent canopies allows for some rain to enter and
hit the plants beneath, however, the cover portions 105 extending vertically reduces the
risk of side rain entering the crop. The cover portions 105 also have the added advantage
of increasing the possibility of trapping air under the canopies to retain warm air
beneath. Warm air rises from under the canopy to collect at the apex or ridge of the
canopy. The warm air may build up under the canopies to an extent where the warm air
extends downwards from the ridge line until the warm air reaches the longitudinal edges
16 of the canopy at the bottom of the covering portions or curtains 105 where it can flow
outwards from beneath the canopy. The cover portions 105 increases the collection
volume for warm air and delays the out flowing of the warm air at the edges of the
canopy.
As described above, in some embodiments the fixing flap 100 comprising securing
features 102 may extend from the sheet material so that the covering portion extends
from above the main portion of the canopy, as shown in Figure 14c. In use the
longitudinal cover portion 105 extends from above the main portion of the canopy to
beyond the longitudinal edge 106 of the main portion of the canopy.
In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 14c, a join between the main portion of the
canopy 40 and the cover portion 105 forms the fixing flap 100, so that the fixing flap
comprises two layers of sheet material, one layer from the main portion of the canopy
and a second layer from the sheet material of the portion 105. In this embodiment, so
that the covering portion extends outside the longitudinal edge 106 of the main portion
of the canopy in use, the cover portion 105 is folded along a longitudinal fold line 107 to
lie over the join and the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal edge of the
main portion of the canopy.
Figure 14e shows adjacent rows of trees 200 protected by canopies 10 according to the
embodiment of Figure 14c. Each row of trees is protected by a canopy 10. As shown,
each canopy comprises a longitudinal cover portion 105 that extends from above the
main portion of the canopy. The cover portions 105 extend from above the main portion
of the canopy and from inside the eyelets 102. As shown, the longitudinal edges 106 of
the canopies are secured, for example to a longitudinally extending wire 150, or they
may also just rest on wire 150. There may be two wires 150 between adjacent canopies
, one wire for each side of each canopy attached to the eyelets of the fixing flap via a
suitable attachment device such as a wire or steel or plastic clip. The ridge of each
canopy is secured to a longitudinally extending wire 160. The cover portions 105 extend
from above the main portion of the canopy and from inside the securing features to
extend outwards from the longitudinal edges 106 of the canopy so that the cover
portions of adjacent canopies overlap above the support structure, for example wire or
wires 150.
In some embodiments, the cover portions of adjacent canopies may be attached or
secured together. For example, the cover portion of a first canopy may comprise an
attachment feature and the cover portion of a second adjacent canopy may comprise a
corresponding attachment feature for securing to the attachment feature of the first
canopy. In some embodiments the cover portion may comprise an attachment feature
for attaching the cover feature to a support structure.
In some embodiments, the cover portions comprise eyelets or grommets spaced apart
along the length of the cover portions. In use, once adjacent canopies are installed side-
by-side as shown in Figure 14e, an elastic member may be threaded along the
overlapping cover portions through the eyelets of both overlapping cover portions to
secure the overlapping cover portions together. Where the overlapping cover portions
are moved apart (for example under the force of a breeze passing past the cover
portions), the elastic member may stretch. Tension in the stretched elastic member
biases the cover portions back towards each other. In some embodiments an elastic
member may be threaded through the eyelets in the cover portion and around looped
around a support structure, for example wire 150, to secure the cover portion to the
wire. Alternatively, a non-elastic member may be threaded through the eyelets in the
overlapping cover portions and/or to wire 150 along the length of the canopy, for
example a steel wire. In some embodiments clips may be used to attach the cover
portion to wire 150. Alternatively the cover portions may comprise loops of material for
receiving an elastic member. For example, the cover portion of one canopy may
comprise loops of material applied to the bottom surface and an adjacent cover may
comprise loops of material applied to the top surface of the cover portion so that the
elastic material can pass along the overlapping cover portions and through the loops.
The elastic member may extend along the length of the canopies. A user may adjust
the length of the elastic member to adjust the amount of tension or biasing force the
member provides to hold the cover portions together. One or both ends of the elastic
member may be provided with a buckle or clip for adjusting the length of the elastic
member secured between the ends of the canopy. The elastic member may comprise
one or more elastic bands or threads, for example a bundle of rubber members such as a
bungee cord or rubber cord. Alternatively the attachment features may be buckles and
corresponding straps, or male/female pairs of couplers such as spring snap buttons, or a
clamping device for clamping the overlapping cover portions together and/or to wire 150.
In one in-field arrangement, clips or wires or cord may extend between the fixing flaps of
adjacent canopies. For example the eyelets 102 of the fixing flaps 100 of two adjacent
canopies may be secured together. The clips or wires or cord spanning between the
fixing flaps of adjacent canopies are spaced apart along the canopies or extend along the
canopies below the cover portions 105 and support the cover portions 105 extending
between the main portions of the adjacent canopies.
The overlapping cover portions 105 of adjacent canopies acts to prevent or reduce rain
passing below the canopies. Furthermore, where there is a breeze or air flow, the
overlapping cover portions 105 may lift to allow the air flow to pass. The cover portions
105 when overlapped as illustrated in Figure 14e may give some sealing to the warmed
air beneath the canopy. As the cover portions 105 extend from the upper surface of the
main portion of the canopy, the cover portions may overlap with adjacent canopies
without being fixed at the longitudinal edges 16 of the canopy. The cover portions, being
over lapped and not fixed at their edges allow a release point during strong winds under
the canopy. When there is strong wind the overlapping cover portions may lift to release
the air and then fall back to the resting position as the strong wind is reduced.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a lateral fixing flap a distance from a lateral
edge of the canopy. The lateral fixing flap may comprise at least two layers of sheet
material. Fixing features such as eyelets are spaced apart along the fixing flap. In some
embodiments, the lateral fixing flap is folded from a fold region of the sheet material of
the main portion of the canopy along a lateral fold line at a distance from a lateral edge
of the canopy.
The lateral flap comprising eyelets is especially useful for anchoring the canopy to posts
or structures above a row of trees. A portion of the length of the canopy located outside
of the lateral flap forms a cover portion that can extend beyond the lateral flap to cover
sides of trees or plants below the elevation of the main portion of the canopy. This
arrangement allows the canopy to be held above the trees or plants at a distance from
the trees, so that an air gap is present between the canopy and the trees or plants.
Furthermore, where adjacent canopies are erected above the ground end-to-end, the
cover portion outside lateral fixing flap can be arranged to cover a gap between adjacent
canopies. The lateral fixing flap may be formed by joining an edge portion of the main
part of the canopy and an edge of the portion of the canopy extending outside of the
lateral fixing flap.
In some embodiments the lateral flap comprises a strip of material attached to the sheet
material to reinforce the flap. The eyelets are provided through the strip of material and
the sheet material. In some embodiments the strip of material is provided to one side of
the flap. In some embodiments the strip of material is provided to both sides of the flap
with the sheet material sandwiched between.
In some embodiments the lateral flap may have a height of 35mm to 150mm. In some
embodiments the lateral fixing flap has a height of 100mm. In some embodiments the
lateral flap is formed 80mm to 500mm from a lateral edge of the canopy. In some
embodiments the portion of the canopy located outside of the lateral fixing flap 100 is
50mm to 3m wide, or 50mm to 2m wide, or 50mm to 1m wide, or 100mm to 700mm
wide, or 200mm to 600mm wide, or 300mm to 500mm wide.
In some embodiments the canopy comprises a lateral flap at each end of the canopy.
The lateral flap may extend from the sheet material to be located above the canopy in
use. In an alternative embodiment the lateral fixing flap may extend from the sheet
material to be located below the canopy in use.
The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and
modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated
in the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.
Claims (42)
1. A canopy having a greater length than width comprising: at least one side extending between a longitudinal canopy ridge line and a longitudinal canopy edge, the side comprising: a sheet material extending the length of the canopy for shielding weather, a venting region extending the length of the canopy comprising netting allowing air flow through the side of the canopy, the netting arranged alongside the sheet material to form a section of the side of the canopy, a longitudinal edge of the netting attached to a longitudinal edge of the sheet material, a venting region cover arranged over the venting region and the longitudinal edge of the sheet material for shielding weather and movable to allow the air flow through the side of the canopy, and a plurality of belts spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the canopy, each belt extending across the venting region to reduce stretch of the venting region in a width direction of the canopy, an amount of stretch of the belts being less than an amount of stretch of the netting material without belts.
2. A canopy as claimed in claim 1 wherein each belt comprises a strip or strap material attached to the sheet material or netting.
3. A canopy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of belts are integrally formed in the netting.
4. A canopy as claimed in claim 3 wherein the netting comprises venting portions and the plurality of belts, the venting portions comprising a first netting construction and the plurality of belts comprising a second netting construction, the second construction having less stretch than the first construction.
5. A canopy as claimed in claim 4 wherein the venting portions comprise a first construction density and the belts comprise a second construction density, and the second construction density is higher than the first construction density.
6. A canopy as claimed in claim 5 wherein the netting comprises a knitted construction, and venting portions comprise a first knitted density and the belts comprise a second knitted density, and the second knitted density is higher than the first knitted density.
7. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the belts comprise a different aperture shape to the venting portions.
8. A canopy as claimed in claim 7 wherein the netting comprises a knitted construction and the venting portions comprise one of a diamond, hexagonal and triangular aperture shape knit stretchable in the longitudinal and width directions of the canopy, and the belts comprise a pillar construction, pillars of the pillar construction aligned in the width direction of the canopy.
9. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the canopy comprises securing features near the canopy ridge line spaced apart along the canopy and the securing features are aligned with the belts in the width direction along the canopy.
10. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the canopy comprises securing features near the canopy longitudinal edge spaced apart along the canopy and the securing features are aligned with the belts in the width direction along the canopy.
11. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the venting region cover is secured to the side of the canopy along a longitudinal edge of the cover above the venting region, and the canopy comprises a member that limits the amount the venting region cover may open or move away from the venting region of the canopy.
12. A canopy as claimed in claim 11 wherein the member is an elastic member for biasing the venting region cover towards a closed position over the venting region.
13. A canopy as claimed in claim 12 wherein the elastic member extends along the length of the canopy and is attached to the venting region cover and the side of the canopy at locations spaced apart along the length of the canopy.
14. A canopy as claimed in claim 13 wherein the elastic member is adapted to slide relative to the venting region cover and side of the canopy, and the length of the elastic member attached to the side of the canopy being adjustable.
15. A canopy as claimed in claim 14 wherein the elastic member is threaded through eyelets or loops attached to or formed with the venting region cover and the side of the canopy.
16. A canopy as claimed in claim 12 wherein the canopy comprises a plurality of said elastic members spaced apart along the length of the canopy.
17. A canopy as claimed in claim 16 wherein each elastic member is a rubber cord extending through an aperture on the venting region canopy and an aligned aperture in a side of the canopy.
18. A canopy as claimed in claim 11 wherein the canopy comprises webbing members spaced apart along the length of the canopy, each member extending between the side of the canopy and the venting region cover, each webbing member comprising a folded strip of material.
19. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the canopy comprises vent apertures.
20. A canopy as claimed in claim 19 wherein the canopy comprises a vent cover over each of the vent apertures.
21. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the canopy comprises a reinforced centre lengthwise portion which has a heavier construction than the sheet material on either side of the reinforced centre portion, the venting region located between the reinforced centre lengthwise portion and the sheet material on at least one side of the canopy.
22. A canopy as claimed in claim 21 wherein the reinforced centre portion includes a double layer of sheet material, one said layer extending from the canopy to form the venting region cover.
23. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the venting region is located alongside the ridge line of the canopy.
24. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein a join between the netting and the sheet material forms a flap, and one or more covering layer are folded over the outside of the flap.
25. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the canopy comprises a longitudinal fixing flap comprising the sheet material a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, the fixing flap comprising securing features spaced apart along the fixing flap, and a portion of the width of the canopy outside the fixing flap forming a cover portion.
26. A canopy as claimed in claim 25 wherein the longitudinal fixing flap is folded from a fold region of the sheet material along a longitudinal fold line at a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, the fixing flap comprising at least two layers of the sheet material folded together.
27. A canopy as claimed in claim 25 or 26 wherein the fixing flap comprises a strip of material attached to the sheet material to reinforce the fixing flap, the securing features provided through the strip of material and the sheet material.
28. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein the strip of material is provided to one side of the fixing flap.
29. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 and 27 wherein the strip of material is provided to both sides of the fixing flap with the sheet material sandwiched between.
30. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29 wherein the fixing flap has a height of 35mm to 150mm.
31. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 30 wherein the fixing flap is formed 50mm to 3m from a longitudinal edge of the canopy so that the cover portion has a width of 50mm to 3m.
32. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 31 wherein the fixing flap is formed 300mm to 500mm from a longitudinal edge of the canopy so that the cover portion has a width of 300mm to 500mm.
33. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 32 wherein the canopy comprises two said fixing flaps, each fixing flap located a distance from a corresponding longitudinal edge of the canopy.
34. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 33 wherein the fixing flap extends from the main portion of the canopy and the cover portion so that the cover portion extends from below the main portion of the canopy and from inside the securing features to form a curtain to hang below the main portion of the canopy in use.
35. A canopy as claimed in claim 34 wherein a join between the main portion of the canopy and the cover portion forms the fixing flap comprising at least two layers of sheet material.
36. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 33 wherein the fixing flap extends from the main portion of the canopy and the cover portion so that the cover portion extends from above the main portion of the canopy and from inside the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal edge of the main portion of the canopy in use.
37. A canopy as claimed in claim 36 wherein a join between the main portion of the canopy and the cover portion forms the flap comprising at least two layers of sheet material so that in use the cover portion is folded along a longitudinal fold line to lie over the join and the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal edge of the main portion of the canopy.
38. A canopy as claimed in claim 36 or claim 37 wherein the cover portion comprises attachment features for securing the cover portion to an overlapping cover portion of an adjacent canopy or to a support structure or both in use.
39. A canopy as claimed in claim 38 wherein the attachment features comprise eyelets spaced apart along the length of the cover portion so that in use a member may be threaded through the eyelets and corresponding eyelets in the overlapping cover portion or through the eyelets and around a support structure or both.
40. A canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 39 wherein the canopy comprises a lateral fixing flap comprising the sheet material a distance from a lateral edge of the canopy, the lateral fixing flap comprising securing features spaced apart along the lateral fixing flap, and a portion of the length of the canopy outside the lateral fixing flap forming a cover portion.
41. A method of sheltering a crop by positioning a canopy as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 40 over the crop.
42. A method as claimed in claim 41 wherein the method comprises positioning two or more said canopies side-by-side, each canopy comprising: a longitudinal fixing flap comprising the sheet material a distance from a longitudinal edge of the canopy, the fixing flap comprising securing features spaced apart along the fixing flap, and a portion of the width of the canopy outside the fixing flap forming a cover portion, wherein the fixing flap extends from a main portion of the canopy and the cover portion so that the cover portion extends from above the main portion of the canopy and from inside the securing features to extend outside the longitudinal edge of the main portion of the canopy, and the cover portions of adjacent canopies overlapping.
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ702847B2 true NZ702847B2 (en) | 2016-09-27 |
Family
ID=
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20150201565A1 (en) | Canopy | |
US10750679B2 (en) | Crop protection netting | |
AU2013364497B2 (en) | Netting material with grommets | |
JPH10502817A (en) | Crop protector with foldable waterproof crop protection curtain | |
US20210092910A1 (en) | Netting material | |
US20120090229A1 (en) | Reflective netting material | |
US20160073592A1 (en) | Crop protection netting | |
AU2002342551B2 (en) | Weather protection device for the protection of special cultures sensitive to moisture | |
US10750681B2 (en) | Netting material with eyelets | |
JP5273562B2 (en) | Sheet and simple house for fruit tree cultivation using sheet and method for assembling simple house for fruit tree cultivation using sheet | |
US20170145606A1 (en) | Netting material | |
NZ702847B2 (en) | Canopy | |
US10750680B2 (en) | Woven sheet crop protection material | |
WO2003067964A1 (en) | A viticultural accessory and method of using same | |
JP5035645B2 (en) | Fruit tree covering sheet and simple house for fruit tree cultivation provided with fruit tree covering sheet | |
US20150195998A1 (en) | Grommet for a sheet material | |
NZ619265B2 (en) | Netting material with grommets | |
US20190078333A1 (en) | Roof | |
ES1285732U (en) | Greenhouses adapted to control indoor humidity (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) | |
JPH099798A (en) | Material for covering fruit tree | |
JPH09275819A (en) | Green house for agriculture |