WO2000062598A1 - A protective device for a plant - Google Patents

A protective device for a plant Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000062598A1
WO2000062598A1 PCT/IB2000/000354 IB0000354W WO0062598A1 WO 2000062598 A1 WO2000062598 A1 WO 2000062598A1 IB 0000354 W IB0000354 W IB 0000354W WO 0062598 A1 WO0062598 A1 WO 0062598A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
protective device
tubular wall
hook
rod
formation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2000/000354
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Edward Roelof Burger
Original Assignee
Edward Roelof Burger
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Edward Roelof Burger filed Critical Edward Roelof Burger
Priority to AU31866/00A priority Critical patent/AU3186600A/en
Publication of WO2000062598A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000062598A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G13/00—Protecting plants
    • A01G13/02—Protective coverings for plants; Coverings for the ground; Devices for laying-out or removing coverings
    • A01G13/04—Cloches, i.e. protective full coverings for individual plants
    • A01G13/043—Cloches, i.e. protective full coverings for individual plants with flexible coverings

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a protective device for a plant.
  • a protective device for a plant which comprises a tubular wall of flexible material, and a collapsible frame for holding the tubular wall in an extended condition around the plant.
  • the collapsible frame may comprise a pair of closed- loop end members, one at each opposite end of the tubular wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced upright members, the upright members each being disengageably engageable with the end members.
  • the tubular wall may have a hem at each opposite end thereof, the end members each being accommodated in a corresponding one of the hems.
  • Each upright member may comprise a rod having a pair of longitudinally spaced hook formations protruding laterally therefrom, one of the hook formations being adapted to hook behind one of the end members and the other hook formation being adapted to hook behind the other end member, thereby to keep the end members apart, with the flexible material of the tubular wall being stretched between the end members.
  • Each said hook formation may form part of a fitting that is slidably received on the rod, the rod having an abutment formation to prevent displacement of the fitting along the rod beyond the abutment formation.
  • the fittings may be injection moulded plastics components.
  • each of the upright members there may be a coil spring on the rod between at least one of the fittings and the corresponding abutment formation.
  • the upper hook formation may be deeper than the lower hook formation.
  • the tubular wall may be of knitted olefinic shadecloth, for example, a knitted polyethylene shadecloth.
  • the device may further comprise a top for closing the opening at the upper end of the tubular wall.
  • the top may comprise a closed-loop member and a web of flexible material spanning across the opening of the closed-loop member.
  • the web may also be of a knitted olefinic shadecloth.
  • Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a device in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a broken vertical section of the device.
  • reference numeral 10 generally indicates a device for protecting a plant, in particular a young tree or shrub, against wind, blown sand, and animals.
  • the device comprises an upper ring 12, a lower ring 14, a tubular wall 16 of shadecloth extending between the upper and lower rings, three circumferentially spaced upright members 18 for keeping the shadecloth of the tubular wall in a vertically stretched condition and for anchoring the device in the ground, and a top 20 for closing the opening at the upper end of the tubular wall.
  • the upper and lower rings 12, 14 may be of mild steel.
  • the shadecloth is preferably of knitted polyethylene material. This material has a degree of elasticity in it and, when the tubular wall is stretched in the vertical direction, will also tighten in the circumferential direction, giving the tubular wall a slightly waisted configuration.
  • the ring 12 is accommodated in a hem formed by stitching at the upper end of the tubular wall 16.
  • the ring 14 is accommodated in a hem formed by stitching at the lower end of the tubular wall.
  • Each of the upright members 18 comprises a mild steel rod 22 with a pair of fittings 24 and 26 thereon.
  • the fittings 24 and 26 are injection moulded plastics components and are a close sliding fit on the rod.
  • the upper fitting 24 has a hook formation 28 for engaging with the upper ring 12
  • the lower fitting 26 has a hook formation 30 for engaging with the lower ring 14.
  • Small openings are cut in the shadecloth material of the tubular wall 16, by means of a heated cutter, to allow the hook formations 28 and 30 to pass through.
  • the rod 22 is punched in two places, as shown at 32. This deforms the rod, forming abutment formations which prevent the fittings 24, 26 from sliding beyond these points.
  • the lower fitting 26 abuts directly on the abutment formation 32 at the lower end of the rod.
  • a washer 34 and a coil spring 36 are interposed between the upper fitting 24 and the abutment formation 32 at that end of the rod.
  • the top 20 comprises a mild steel ring 38 and a web 40 of shadecloth which spans across the opening of the ring.
  • the ring 38 has the same size as the rings 12 and 14, and can be accommodated in the hook formations 28, on top of the ring 12.
  • the small openings are cut in the web 40, by means of a heated cutter, to allow the upper parts of the rods 22 and of the fittings 24 to pass through.
  • the hook formations 28 are each provided with an inwardly projecting tooth 42. This requires the hook formation 28 to be resiliently deformed when placing the rings 12 and 38 in position in (or removing them from) the hook formations, the fitting 24 being of a material that will permit such deformation.
  • the downwardly protruding lower ends of the rods 22 form stakes which can be driven into the ground, to anchor the device in position.
  • the various metal parts of the device may be suitably treated to protect them against corrosion.
  • the upper ring 12 is first hooked into the hook formations 28 and the lower ring 14 then hooked into the hook formations 30. This requires the shadecloth material of the tubular wall 16 to be stretched and the coil springs 36 to be compressed. The rods 22 are then driven into the ground to anchor the device in position. The top 20 can be placed in position before or after the rods 22 have been driven into the ground.
  • the resilient stretchability of the shadecloth from which the tubular wall 16 is made, and also the compressibility of the coil springs 36 will ensure that, when the device is in its assembled condition, the shadecloth of the tubular wall 16 is always in a tightly stretched condition, giving the device a neat and tidy appearance throughout its useful life.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Supports For Plants (AREA)

Abstract

A protective device for a plant comprises an upper ring (12), a lower ring (14), a tubular wall (16) of shadecloth extending between the upper and lower rings, three circumferentially spaced upright members (18) for keeping the shadecloth of the tubular wall in a vertically stretched condition and for anchoring the device in the ground, and a top (20) for closing the opening at the upper end of the tubular wall. Each upright member comprises a rod (22) with a pair of injection moulded plastics fittings (24, 26) thereon, the fittings each having a hook formation (28,30) for engaging with the upper and lower rings.

Description

A PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR A PLANT
This invention relates to a protective device for a plant. According to the invention there is provided a protective device for a plant, which comprises a tubular wall of flexible material, and a collapsible frame for holding the tubular wall in an extended condition around the plant.
The collapsible frame may comprise a pair of closed- loop end members, one at each opposite end of the tubular wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced upright members, the upright members each being disengageably engageable with the end members.
The tubular wall may have a hem at each opposite end thereof, the end members each being accommodated in a corresponding one of the hems. Each upright member may comprise a rod having a pair of longitudinally spaced hook formations protruding laterally therefrom, one of the hook formations being adapted to hook behind one of the end members and the other hook formation being adapted to hook behind the other end member, thereby to keep the end members apart, with the flexible material of the tubular wall being stretched between the end members.
Each said hook formation may form part of a fitting that is slidably received on the rod, the rod having an abutment formation to prevent displacement of the fitting along the rod beyond the abutment formation.
The fittings may be injection moulded plastics components.
In respect of each of the upright members, there may be a coil spring on the rod between at least one of the fittings and the corresponding abutment formation. The upper hook formation may be deeper than the lower hook formation.
The tubular wall may be of knitted olefinic shadecloth, for example, a knitted polyethylene shadecloth. The device may further comprise a top for closing the opening at the upper end of the tubular wall.
The top may comprise a closed-loop member and a web of flexible material spanning across the opening of the closed-loop member. The web may also be of a knitted olefinic shadecloth.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a device in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 2 is a broken vertical section of the device.
Referring now to the drawings in more detail, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a device for protecting a plant, in particular a young tree or shrub, against wind, blown sand, and animals. The device comprises an upper ring 12, a lower ring 14, a tubular wall 16 of shadecloth extending between the upper and lower rings, three circumferentially spaced upright members 18 for keeping the shadecloth of the tubular wall in a vertically stretched condition and for anchoring the device in the ground, and a top 20 for closing the opening at the upper end of the tubular wall.
The upper and lower rings 12, 14 may be of mild steel. The shadecloth is preferably of knitted polyethylene material. This material has a degree of elasticity in it and, when the tubular wall is stretched in the vertical direction, will also tighten in the circumferential direction, giving the tubular wall a slightly waisted configuration. The ring 12 is accommodated in a hem formed by stitching at the upper end of the tubular wall 16. Likewise, the ring 14 is accommodated in a hem formed by stitching at the lower end of the tubular wall.
Each of the upright members 18 comprises a mild steel rod 22 with a pair of fittings 24 and 26 thereon. The fittings 24 and 26 are injection moulded plastics components and are a close sliding fit on the rod. The upper fitting 24 has a hook formation 28 for engaging with the upper ring 12, and the lower fitting 26 has a hook formation 30 for engaging with the lower ring 14. Small openings are cut in the shadecloth material of the tubular wall 16, by means of a heated cutter, to allow the hook formations 28 and 30 to pass through.
The rod 22 is punched in two places, as shown at 32. This deforms the rod, forming abutment formations which prevent the fittings 24, 26 from sliding beyond these points. The lower fitting 26 abuts directly on the abutment formation 32 at the lower end of the rod. At the upper end of the rod a washer 34 and a coil spring 36 are interposed between the upper fitting 24 and the abutment formation 32 at that end of the rod. The top 20 comprises a mild steel ring 38 and a web 40 of shadecloth which spans across the opening of the ring. The ring 38 has the same size as the rings 12 and 14, and can be accommodated in the hook formations 28, on top of the ring 12. The small openings are cut in the web 40, by means of a heated cutter, to allow the upper parts of the rods 22 and of the fittings 24 to pass through. To retain the top 20 in position, the hook formations 28 are each provided with an inwardly projecting tooth 42. This requires the hook formation 28 to be resiliently deformed when placing the rings 12 and 38 in position in (or removing them from) the hook formations, the fitting 24 being of a material that will permit such deformation. The downwardly protruding lower ends of the rods 22 form stakes which can be driven into the ground, to anchor the device in position.
The various metal parts of the device may be suitably treated to protect them against corrosion.
To assemble the device 10, the upper ring 12 is first hooked into the hook formations 28 and the lower ring 14 then hooked into the hook formations 30. This requires the shadecloth material of the tubular wall 16 to be stretched and the coil springs 36 to be compressed. The rods 22 are then driven into the ground to anchor the device in position. The top 20 can be placed in position before or after the rods 22 have been driven into the ground.
The device 10 can easily be collapsed again by removing the top 20 and disengaging the hook formations 28 and 30 from the rings 12 and 14. When this has been done the tubular wall 16 can be collapsed and the upright members 18 placed next to one another, to take up a minimum of space. The hook formation 28 is deeper than the hook formation 30. This makes it necessary, when collapsing the device, to unhook the lower ring 14 before the upper ring 12 can be unhooked. When the device has been anchored in position by driving the lower ends of the rods 22 into the ground, the lower ring 14 will be close to or touch the ground surface, preventing the lower ring from being unhooked. In other words, in order to collapse the device, it will be necessary first to withdraw the device from the ground.
The resilient stretchability of the shadecloth from which the tubular wall 16 is made, and also the compressibility of the coil springs 36 will ensure that, when the device is in its assembled condition, the shadecloth of the tubular wall 16 is always in a tightly stretched condition, giving the device a neat and tidy appearance throughout its useful life.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1 . A protective device for a plant, characterized in that it comprises a tubular wall (16) of flexible material, and a collapsible frame (12, 14, 18) for holding the tubular wall in an extended condition around the plant.
2. A protective device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the collapsible frame comprises a pair of closed-loop end members (1 2, 14), one at each opposite end of the tubular wall, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced upright members (18), the upright members each being disengageably engageable with the end members.
3. A protective device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the tubular wall (16) has a hem at each opposite end thereof, the end members (12, 14) each being accommodated in a corresponding one of the hems.
4. A protective device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that each upright member (18) comprises a rod (22) having a pair of longitudinally spaced hook formations (28, 30) protruding laterally therefrom, one of the hook formations (28) being adapted to hook behind one of the end members (12) and the other hook formation (30) being adapted to hook behind the other end member (14), thereby to keep the end members apart, with the flexible material of the tubular wall (16) being stretched between the end members.
5. A protective device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that each said hook formation (28, 30) forms part of a fitting (24, 26) that is slidably received on the rod (22), the rod having an abutment formation (32) to prevent displacement of the fitting along the rod beyond the abutment formation.
6. A protective device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the fittings (24, 26) are injection moulded plastics components.
7. A protective device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that, in respect of each of the upright members (18), there is a coil spring (36) on the rod (22) between at least one of the fittings (24) and the corresponding abutment formation (32).
8. A protective device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the upper hook formation (28) is deeper than the lower hook formation (30).
9. A protective device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular wall (16) is of knitted olefinic shadecloth.
10. A protective device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a top (20) for closing the opening at the upper end of the tubular wall (16).
1 1 . A protective device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the top (20) comprises a closed-loop member (38) and a web (40) of flexible material spanning across the opening of the closed-loop member.
12. A protective device as claimed in claim 1 1 , characterized in that the web (40) is of knitted olefinic shadecloth.
13. A protective device substantially as herein described and illustrated.
PCT/IB2000/000354 1999-04-16 2000-03-27 A protective device for a plant WO2000062598A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU31866/00A AU3186600A (en) 1999-04-16 2000-03-27 A protective device for a plant

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA992767 1999-04-16
ZA99/2767 1999-04-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000062598A1 true WO2000062598A1 (en) 2000-10-26

Family

ID=25587677

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2000/000354 WO2000062598A1 (en) 1999-04-16 2000-03-27 A protective device for a plant

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3186600A (en)
WO (1) WO2000062598A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2056136A (en) * 1936-05-20 1936-09-29 American Steel & Wire Co Horticultural guard
GB2115262A (en) * 1982-02-23 1983-09-07 Osborne Limited A T Plant protection devices
GB2174281A (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-11-05 Joseph Norman Luker Collapsable cloche
DE3524652A1 (en) * 1985-07-10 1987-01-15 T R Plast Gmbh & Co Kg Herbaceous plant hood

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2056136A (en) * 1936-05-20 1936-09-29 American Steel & Wire Co Horticultural guard
GB2115262A (en) * 1982-02-23 1983-09-07 Osborne Limited A T Plant protection devices
GB2174281A (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-11-05 Joseph Norman Luker Collapsable cloche
DE3524652A1 (en) * 1985-07-10 1987-01-15 T R Plast Gmbh & Co Kg Herbaceous plant hood

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3186600A (en) 2000-11-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4520590A (en) Tree brace system
US5544446A (en) Collapsible and adjustable plant support and protector
US4649666A (en) Self-stabilizing tree support assemblies
US7331140B1 (en) Plant stake with wires and pegs in vertically spaced holes
US5592783A (en) Gutter guard
US6000171A (en) Method of holding a plant to a stake and a kit therefor
US20090140224A1 (en) Universal fencing stake
US10206337B1 (en) Tree support system and method
WO2017127898A1 (en) Trampoline safety enclosure
US5687772A (en) Protective end cap
US20070173132A1 (en) Resiliently compensated wire tensioner particularly for use in the field of vine growing
JP3131895U (en) Defense net device
WO2000062598A1 (en) A protective device for a plant
ZA200100451B (en) A protective device for a plant.
US6073391A (en) Tree support with wrapping, strap and fastener
NZ562536A (en) Shelter means for trees or other plants
US6625926B1 (en) Tree and shrub stabilizing apparatus and method for stabilizing a tree or shrub
US6889470B1 (en) Plant protector securing device
KR101524910B1 (en) A Structure For Landscaping And Assembling Type Structure For A Structure For Landscaping
AU2020204429A1 (en) A plant or tree protector
US11206769B2 (en) Expandable, configurable, disassemblable structure for creating barriers or enclosures for landscaping
KR101522227B1 (en) Bough directing equipment
US6128851A (en) Tree support assembly
US1011017A (en) Plant-shield.
KR20140045753A (en) Construction method of pressable weed-proofing mat in the new road side

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CR CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK DM DZ EE EE ES FI FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP