WO2003067964A1

WO2003067964A1 - A viticultural accessory and method of using same

Info

Publication number: WO2003067964A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/000412
Authority: WO
Inventors: Susanna Elizabeth Chalmers
Original assignee: Susanna Elizabeth Chalmers
Priority date: 2002-02-11
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Also published as: AU2003245709A1

Abstract

A waterproof cover (5, 28, 34, 41, 45) is provided for covering trellis supported grape vines (22) comprising an elongate flexible substantially waterproof sheet having along at least its longitudinal edges (6) an elongate, substantially inextensible reinforcing element (46) attached to, or held captive relative to, the elongate flexible sheet. Attachment formations (8, 49) are associated with the reinforcing element at spaced intervals along the length of said longitudinal edges, the attachment formations being adapted to cooperate operatively with fasteners (9, 50, 51, 54) that in turn cooperate operatively with a vine trellis wire (3, 31) to attach said longitudinal edges to the vine trellis wire. Various other associated methods and apparatus are provided.

Description

A VITICULTURAL ACCESSORY AND METHOD OF USING SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a viticultural accessory and method of using same and, more particularly, to a viticultural accessory that can be employed to combat the ill effects of excessive rain in particular during the ripening process and in times approaching the harvest of the grapes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is well known that, at a time generally approaching that of harvest of grapes, excessive rain can have a seriously deleterious effect on the grapes which can tend to develop many different diseases and even burst open if the grapes themselves remain wet for too long. As a result an extremely good crop can be seriously affected, both in quality and quantity, in the event of excessive rain being experienced, particularly as harvest time approaches.

Grapes vines are supported in many different configurations that appear to vary according to prevailing circumstances that include the type of grape; the locality, in particular the position insofar as the degrees of latitude are concerned that dictates the angle at which the vines receive sunlight; the slope of the ground; as well as various other factors that include, at least to some extent, tradition in a particular country or in a particular grape producing region.

One configuration that is of importance to the present invention is that in which posts arranged in a row support a pair of generally elongate, upwardly and outwardly diverging trellis arrangements usually consisting of a series of laterally spaced parallel longitudinally extending wires, ropes or the like (generally termed wires herein) supported on diverging support members in turn supported on central support posts. Rows of vines are thus supported with diverging portions overhanging the ground adjacent the posts. With the vines supported on a trellis of this configuration the grapes hang down over the ground adjacent the posts and are easily accessible for treating the vines and grapes growing thereon as well as for the purpose of harvesting the grapes. For ease of description, vines supported in this manner will be termed diverging trellis supported vines.

In a variation of this type of trellis one or more central wires of the trellis may be raised to form a pitched configuration, at least along the central region of the width of the trellis assembly.

In other configurations transverse trellis supports carried on central support posts may be orientated generally horizontally or at any generally shallow inclination to the horizontal very much in a mono-pitch configuration.

In still other configurations the trellis wires may be supported in a simple double pitch configuration from a central raised trellis wire.

Covers for grape vines have been proposed in the past but, as far as applicant is aware, these have consisted simply of long sheets of plastic material that are unwound from rolls thereof, in many cases using mobile equipment that travels along the rows of vines and holds the roll at an elevated position over the relevant row of vines (US patents 3,395,485 and 4,318,514). Another implement feeds the material laterally and upwards to an overhead position from which it is allowed to fall over the plants, fruit trees in general in this particular instance (US patent 5,956,923).

Apart from the difficulty of locating the covers in their operative positions there remains the attachment or anchoring thereof that has not attracted any particular attention of which applicant is aware. The only expedient that has been used of which applicant is aware is to fold the edge of a plastic sheet over a trellis wire and clip it to the wire with a short length of an extruded plastic material configured for the purpose. This arrangement is difficult to use; can lead to tearing of the plastic, particularly as a result of wind action on the plastic; and does not lend itself to ease of removal for later reuse, say the following season.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide covers for combating the difficulties outlined above in the event of excessive rain being experienced during the development of the fruit in at least the case of trellis supported grape vines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a waterproof cover comprising an elongate flexible substantially waterproof sheet adapted to be suspended over a row of trellis supported vines the waterproof cover being characterized in that it has along at least its longitudinal edges an elongate, substantially inextensible reinforcing element attached to, or held captive relative to, the elongate flexible sheet and wherein attachment formations are associated with the reinforcing element at spaced intervals along the length of said longitudinal edges, the attachment formations being adapted to cooperate operatively with fasteners that in turn cooperate operatively with a vine trellis wire to attach said longitudinal edges to the vine trellis wire.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the reinforcing element to be in the form of a tape, preferably a fibre or fabric reinforced plastic tape, for example, a polyester fabric encased within a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix; for the attachment formations to be simple holes cut through the waterproof sheet and reinforcing tape or, alternatively, for the attachment formations to be eyes, typically two-part eyelets, installed in apertures cut through the waterproof material and reinforcing tape; and for the reinforcing element to be located in a doubled over seam formed along the edge of the waterproof sheet with the free edge of the doubled over portion of the waterproof sheet overlying, and being secured to, the sheet itself.

Still further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the waterproof sheet material to be either a suitable thickness polypropylene fabric, in particular a nonwoven fabric that is conveniently spunbonded in which case, in the event of the material being doubled over, the free edge is attached to the sheet itself by stitching or hot melt adhesive that may either be applied in a continuous stripe or band or in a series of spaced spots or, alternatively, for the waterproof sheet material to be a substantially translucent and preferably substantially colourless polyethylene or polypropylene material in which case any doubled over seam is closed by thermally welding the doubled over layers of the plastic together to hold the elongate reinforcing element captive within the seam; and for the layer of waterproof material to have extending over the surface area thereof, generally on only one side, one or more additional layers of sheet material that may be physically protective material such as a suitable netting selected to render the cover hail proof and to protect fruit on the vines against birds or a layer of optically active material for filtering the suns rays in a required manner, or both.

It is to be noted that in the case that the elongate reinforcing element is a tape with apertures cut therethrough, no metal or other eyelets are required to reinforce the aperture if the selection of tape is appropriate to this construction. A suitable grade of polyester fabric reinforced polyvinyl chloride has been found to exhibit such properties. A still further feature of the invention provides for the waterproof sheet to have one or more series of drainage perforations therethrough the positioning of which across the width of the waterproof cover is dependent on the configuration that the cover is to assume in use, the drainage perforations being located so as to drain rainwater from longitudinally extending channels that are formed in consequence of the cross-sectional shape that the cover adopts in use by virtue of the trellis wires that support it; and for the drainage perforations to have reinforced peripheries, conveniently utilizing patches of material bonded to the waterproof sheet material, conveniently by thermal welding or hot melt adhesive as may be appropriate..

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention there is provided a method of combating the ill effects of excessive rain on diverging trellis supported vines, the method comprising attaching an elongate waterproof cover over the trellis with one longitudinal edge of the cover attached to an upper and outer elongate wire on one side of the trellis and the other longitudinal edge of the cover attached to an upper and outer elongate wire on the other side of the trellis, the method being characterized in that the cover is dimensioned such that the central region between the said edges hangs down below the level of the supporting elongate wires and the central region of the cover is provided with drainage perforations therethrough.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the width of the cover to be selected such that the central region hangs down substantially onto the bottom of the Vee-shape defined by the diverging trellises with the cover being supported on a series of laterally spaced parallel longitudinally extending wires of the trellis; and for the longitudinally extending edges of the cover to be provided with a series of spaced holes or eyelets adjacent the edge whereby fasteners, for example in the form of split rings or fastener links as hereinafter described, can be used to attach the holes or eyelets to a supporting wire of the trellis. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, in instances in which the trellis is indeed supported on diverging trellis supported vines, the cover is characterised in that it has its two edges supported by upper and outer trellis wires with a raised central region defining two drainage channels, one towards each side of the cover and the cover may have two sets of drainage perforations corresponding to the region in which the channels are formed.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method characterised in that an additional elongate cover is supported along an outer extremity of a trellis assembly along one or both longitudinal edges thereof so as to afford lateral protection to vines supported by the trellis assembly. Generally, in instances in which the prevailing weather patterns result in rain driving generally in one particular direction, only one side of a trellis supported row of vines may need to be protected in this way.

In all of the above instances the elongate covers can be stabilized against being lifted by the wind by installing either transverse straps at spaced intervals along the length of the cover between the two outer trellis wires employed to suspend the cover in position or, alternatively, a longitudinally extending lower region of any of the covers can be provided with a series of apertures therethrough (drainage perforations could be employed for this purpose) through which an elongate tension member such as a rope or cord can be threaded and secured to supporting posts in a suitable position, typically a position below a transverse support member.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood various embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is in isometric view illustrating a part of the length of the diverging trellis support assembly fitted with a cover provided by this invention (the vines having been omitted for clarity of illustration);

Figure 2 is an oblique end view thereof taken from above the trellis assembly;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a cover utilized in the assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an isometric schematic view illustrating a part of the length of a diverging trellis support assembly fitted with a cover having a pitched configuration and no drainage perforations;

Figure 5 is a similar view of a trellis support assembly that is fitted with an additional elongate cover supported in a manner affording lateral protection to vines supported by the trellis;

Figure 6 is an oblique end view of a diverging trellis support assembly fitted with a cover having a drainage channel formed towards each side region thereof together with accompanying series of drainage perforations;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a composite cover assembly; Figure 8 is an isometric view illustrating a part of the length of a trellis support assembly having a double-pitch configuration of trellis wires;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a cover according to the invention having a reinforcing tape extending along the edges thereof;

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-section taken through an edge of the cover illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an isometric view illustrating one form of fastener suitable for use in attaching an edge of a cover to a trellis wire; Figure 12 is an elevation of an alternative form of fastener;

Figure 13 is an elevation of a third form of fastener; and,

Figure 14 is a side view of the fastener illustrated in Figure 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings a support assembly for grape vines (that have been omitted from the illustration for purposes of clarity) consists of a series of support posts (1) arranged in generally straight rows thereof. Each post supports, at its upper end, a pair of diverging support members (2). A series of elongate, parallel, laterally spaced, wires (3) are strung from one support member to the next so that together the support members and wires form two diverging trellises on which the grape vines can be supported.

As shown in Figure 2, bunches of grapes, indicated by numeral (4), will thus hang down beneath the diverging trellises and both the fruit and the vines are easily accessible for purposes of treatment, maintenance and harvesting. A viticultural accessory in the form of a cover (5) is provided in terms of this invention for use as and when required. The cover is made of flexible waterproof sheet material, typically a fabric or fibre reinforced plastics material, and is made to an elongate shape with a width chosen to enable the two longitudinal edges (6) to be attached to the two uppermost and furthest spaced wires (3a) with the centre (7) hanging down between the two diverging trellises and preferably substantially to the bottom of the Vee shape formed by the trellises in end view.

The length of the cover can be chosen to be appropriate to the length of the rows of vines or, alternatively, to a convenient length for transport, storage and handing purposes. Particularly, the width of the cover may be of the order of 2 to 3 m in a typical situation and the length could be of the order of 50 to 100 m, and generally not less than about 25 m.

The edges of the cover, in this embodiment of the invention, have eyelets (8) provided at spaced positions along the length of the cover so that the edges can be attached to the uppermost wires (3a) using suitable fasteners (9) of any description. In particular, split metal rings of the type consisting of a ring of wire with overlapping ends are considered to be appropriate (certain types of curtain rings have been shown to be effective in the absence of other fasteners). The fasteners preferably pass through the eyelets and around the wire to firmly hold the cover in position along the entire length of the wire. The ends of the cover may be provided with additional eyelets (10) to enable them to be attached to other of the wires (3) to maintain the Vee shape to the cover.

The cover is provided along the centre with a series of spaced drainage perforations (12) that are preferably reinforced with a patch of material so that rainwater falling on the cover can drain down the centre of a row without coming into contact with the grapes themselves that will generally be offset laterally from the centre by virtue of the diverging configuration of the trellises.

It will be understood that when in position, the cover will substantially protect the fruit from becoming excessively wet and will prevent a substantial amount of water from coming into contact with the vines and fruit itself.

The exact shape, configuration and size of the cover can be varied widely as can the nature of the formations provided towards the edges of the cover; the nature of the fasteners; and the material from which the cover is manufactured. Also, overlapping ends of collinear covers could be attached together for example, by means of two-part fasteners of the hook and loop type (such as that sold under the trade name "VELCRO").

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated an elongate cover (20) held in a pitched configuration over a row of vines (21) supported on a diverging trellis assembly comprising supporting posts (22) and raised diverging support members (23). The longitudinal edges (24) of the cover (20) are attached to upper and outer longitudinally extending trellis wires (25) in a manner described above.

However, in this case, the upper ends (26) of the posts are positioned above the said trellis wires (25) and a longitudinally extending apex forming wire (27) lifts the centreline of the cover (indicated by numeral (28)) so that the cover assumes a double pitch configuration. Water falling on the cover can simply drain off the longitudinal edges thereof and no drainage perforations are required.

Figure 5 illustrates a similar arrangement with an added lateral cover member (29) supported at an operatively upper edge (30) by a selected trellis wire (31) such that it hangs down to provide lateral protection to vines supported on the trellis wires. The operatively lower edge (32) of the lateral cover can be held in position against the action of the wind in any suitable manner, typically using guy ropes as indicated by numeral (33).

Figure 6 illustrates a cover (34) similar to that illustrated in Figure 4 except that the cover is configured such that two channels (35) are formed, one on each side of the apex (26) and two series of drainage perforations (37) are provided in the cover to correspond with the channels and enable water falling on the cover to drain in positions laterally offset from the vines themselves. This arrangement has the advantage that water does not tend to accumulate at the base of the posts which may be undesirable.

Figure 7 illustrates a cover assembly, generally indicated by numeral (38), that can be composed of two or more narrow, longitudinally extending cover elements (39) joined together along contiguous edges (40) that may overlap.

Figure 8 illustrates a cover (41) held to a double pitch configuration by virtue of trellis wires (42) supported in such a configuration by support members (43) assembled in a gable configuration conveniently supported on two spaced rows of posts (44).

Reverting now to more detail of the first aspect of this invention, and with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, there is illustrated an elongate cover (45) that is preferably made of a suitable thickness or weight of a nonwoven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric. It has been found that such a sheet material, whilst being substantially waterproof, is of light weight, and furthermore breathes significantly by allowing at least a limited passage of air through it. It is presently believed that a minimum weight of 40 grams per square metre will prove to be effective but it may be that a somewhat heavier gauge will be required in certain cases. This material could be used in its natural colour state that is generally white. Alternatively, the cover may be made of a substantially colourless polyethylene plastics material.

In either case the longitudinal edges of the cover are doubled over to form seams with a reinforcing tape (46) held captive within the seam. The free edge (47) of the doubled over portion is, in the event that the waterproof sheet has appropriate properties, heat welded, as indicated by numeral (48), onto the material of the main cover as shown clearly in Figure 10. In other instances the free edge could be secured to the material of the main cover by stitching utilizing suitable thread, or further alternatively, utilizing a continuous or discontinuous stripe or band of a suitable adhesive, typically a hot melt adhesive.

As indicated above, by appropriate selection of a reinforcing tape that is substantially inextensible under operating conditions, apertures (49) cut through the tape and juxtaposed doubled over edge portions of the cover do not require any reinforcing or lining with metal or plastic eyelets and the simple cut aperture is used to attach the edge of the cover to its supporting trellis wire, in use. A suitable reinforcing tape, as indicated above, can be selected from those comprising a woven polyester fabric encased within a polyvinyl chloride material.

As indicated above, the covers of the invention are preferably attached to a trellis wire in positions spaced apart along the length of the cover by passing suitable fasteners through the eyelets or apertures formed adjacent the edge of the cover and attaching the fasteners to an appropriate longitudinally extending trellis wire.

It has been found that the type of metal ring referred to above and having overlapping ends preferably has such ends (50) overlapping by an appreciable extent that is greater than the overlap of commercially available rings such as curtain rings and the degree of overlap is preferably from 30 to 50 percent of the circumference of the ring, as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 12 illustrates an alternative fastener in the form of a squat triangular shaped link (51) wherein two spaced parallel passes (52) define the longest side. A trellis wire may thus be introduced along the space between the two passes into the interior of the triangular link laterally.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a still further suitable fastener link of elongate triangular shape in side elevation (as shown in Figure 13) with a narrow end (53) adapted to engage the cover adjacent the aperture and hold the fastener orientated roughly in a plane at right angles to the cover. A tension limb (54) connects the narrow end (53) with an opposite end (55) that assumes the form of a hook defined by a short transverse limb (56) for engaging the trellis wire. A third limb (57) is defined by two spaced parallel passes (58) (see Figure 13) of wire between which the trellis wire can be introduced into the interior of the link in an orientation in which said parallel passes are approximately parallel to the trellis wire during the attachment process.

Both the fastener of Figure 12 and that of Figures 13 and 14 can be configured so that the fastener link can be rigid and need not be made of spring steel or other resiliently deformable material as the trellis wire can be introduced into the interior without any deformation being required of the link.

Numerous other variations of the various aspects of the invention described above are possible and the aforegoing is not to be interpreted as being limiting on the scope hereof.

In particular, and as illustrated in Figure 9, the cover could comprise one or more additional layers such as a layer of a suitable netting (60) for the purpose of providing protection against hail and attack of the fruit on the vines by birds. Alternatively, or in addition, a layer having light filtering characteristics for filtering out unwanted wavelengths of the suns radiation could be employed.

Also, various other arrangements may be made to prevent the covers from billowing in the wind and possibly becoming damaged as a result. One such arrangement may include transverse overhead straps (61) (see Figure 6).

Alternatively, longitudinally extending ropes such as those indicated by numeral (62) (see Figure 7) could be threaded through a series of apertures

(63) extending along the length of the cover in a zone that is to be a channel or trough, in use. The rope could be tied around the posts, generally below any transverse support members. The perforations used for this purpose may, in fact, be drainage perforations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A waterproof cover (5, 28, 34, 41 , 45) comprising an elongate flexible substantially waterproof sheet adapted to be suspended over a row of trellis supported vines (22) the waterproof cover being characterized in that it has along at least its longitudinal edges (6) an elongate, substantially inextensible reinforcing element (46) attached to, or held captive relative to, the elongate flexible sheet and wherein attachment formations (8, 49) are associated with the reinforcing element at spaced intervals along the length of said longitudinal edges, the attachment formations being adapted to cooperate operatively with fasteners (9, 50, 51 , 54) that in turn cooperate operatively with a vine trellis wire (3, 31) to attach said longitudinal edges to the vine trellis wire.

2. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 1 in which the reinforcing element is in the form of a tape (46).

3. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 2 in which the reinforcing element is a fibre or fabric reinforced plastic tape.

4. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 3 in which the reinforcing element is a polyester fabric encased within a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix.

5. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the attachment formations are simple holes (49) cut through the waterproof sheet and reinforcing tape.

6. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the attachment formations are eyelets (8) installed in apertures cut through the waterproof material and reinforcing tape.

7. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the reinforcing element is located in a doubled over seam (47) formed along the edge of the waterproof sheet with the free edge (48) of the doubled over portion of the waterproof sheet overlying, and being secured to, the sheet (45) itself.

8. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 7 in which the free edge is attached to the sheet itself by an appropriate method is selected from stitching, a continuous stripe or band or a series of spaced spots of hot melt adhesive, and thermal welding.

9. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the waterproof sheet material is a suitable thickness polypropylene fabric.

10. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 9 in which the polypropylene fabric is a nonwoven fabric.

11. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 10 in which the polypropylene fabric is a spunbonded fabric.

12. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the waterproof sheet material is a substantially translucent generally substantially colourless polyethylene or polypropylene material.

13. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the waterproof sheet material has extending over the surface area thereof, one or more additional layers of sheet material (60) that are selected from physically protective material such as a suitable netting selected to render the cover hail proof and to protect fruit on the vines against birds and a layer of optically active material for filtering the suns rays in a required manner, or both.

14. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the waterproof sheet has one or more series of drainage perforations (12, 37) therethrough the positioning of which across the width of the waterproof cover is dependent on the configuration that the cover is to assume in use, the drainage perforations being located so as to drain rainwater from longitudinally extending channels that are formed in consequence of the cross-sectional shape that the cover adopts in use by virtue of the trellis wires that support it.

15. A waterproof cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the length of the cover is from 25 to 100 m.

16. A waterproof cover as claimed in claim 15 in which the length of the cover is about 50 m.

17. A method of combating the ill effects of excessive rain on diverging trellis supported vines (21), the method comprising attaching an elongate waterproof cover (5, 28, 39, 41 , 45) over the trellis (3, 25,31) with one longitudinal edge (6, 24) of the cover attached to an upper and outer elongate wire (3a, 25) on one side of the trellis and the other longitudinal edge of the cover attached to an upper and outer elongate wire on the other side of the trellis, the cover being dimensioned such that either a central region (7) or two laterally spaced regions (35) between the said edges hangs or hang down below the level of the supporting elongate wires and the operatively lower region or regions of the cover is or are provided with drainage perforations (12, 37) therethrough.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which an additional elongate cover (29) is supported along an outer extremity of a trellis assembly along one or both longitudinal edges thereof so as to afford lateral protection to vines supported by the trellis assembly.

19. A method as claimed in either one of claims 17 or 18 in which the elongate covers are stabilized against being lifted by the wind by installing either transverse overhead straps (61) at spaced intervals along the length of the cover between the two outer trellis wires employed to suspend the cover in position or, alternatively, a longitudinally extending lower region of any of the covers can be provided with a series of apertures (63) therethrough (drainage perforations could be employed for this purpose) through which an elongate tension member (62) such as a rope or cord can be threaded and secured to supporting posts in a suitable position, typically a position below a transverse support member.