WO2007138475A2

WO2007138475A2 - Modular structure for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2007138475A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/001581
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romano Pizzigoni
Original assignee: Romano Pizzigoni
Priority date: 2006-05-28
Filing date: 2007-05-23
Publication date: 2007-12-06
Also published as: WO2007138475A3; ITIM20060002U1

Abstract

The modular structure (1) for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like, the structure being provided with at least two 5 supporting sticks (2) designed to be set vertically in positions adjacent to one another, at least one resting stick (3) set spanning th& two supporting sticks (2), and anchorage tabs (5) associated to each supporting stick (2) and interacting with the resting 0 stick (3) for supporting the resting stick (3) itself; each supporting stick (2) having a multi-faceted profile of a regular polygon, and being defined by a spiked base portion (21) designed to be stuck in the ground and provided with a continuous 5 side bracket or foot (22), and by at least one top portion (23), which can be fitted together with the base portion (21); the anchorage tabs (5) being elastic tabs (5) defining respective resting seats (6) and each being provided with one end constrained to the supporting stick (2) and one free end to facilitate insertion of the resting stick (3) in the corresponding resting seat (6),

Description

MODUIAR STRUCTURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OP FENCES OR FOR SUPPORTING CLIMBING PLANTS OR THE LIKE

DESCRIPTION

The present innovation relates to a modular structure for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like.

In the field of fences or the cultivation of climbing plants, modular structures are known that comprise: a given number of supporting sticks designed to be set vertically in positions adjacent to one another; a given number of resting sticks set

spanning the two supporting sticks; and, for each end of each resting stick, a respective anchorage element, fixed with respect to the supporting stick for supporting the resting stick itself.

Modular structures of the type described above are also illustrated, by way of example, in the U.S. patent No. US 5,966,867, and, usually, the use of these modular structures is rather complex both at the moment of their assembly and at the moment of

their disassembly. Furthermore, said modular structures are difficult to adapt to the requirements of users .

The purpose of the present innovation is to provide a modular structure for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like, which will not only be very simple to install and to be dismantled, but will also enable very flexible adaptation to the different requirements of the user or for being set in place .

According to the present innovation a modular structure is provided for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like, the>

structure comprising at least two supporting sticks, designed to be set vertically in positions adjacent to one another, at least one resting stick set spanning the two supporting sticks, and means of anchorage associated to each supporting stick and interacting with the resting stick for supporting the resting stick itself; the modular structure being characterized in that each supporting stick has a multifaceted profile of a regular polygon, and comprises a spiked base portion, designed to be stuck in the ground and provided with a continuous side bracket, and at least one top portion, which can be fitted together with the base portion; said anchorage means comprising, for each said resting stick, two elastic tabs defining respective resting seats, and each being provided with an end constrained to the supporting stick and a free end to facilitate insertion of the resting stick in the corresponding resting seat .

The innovation will now be described with reference to the annexed plate of drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment thereof, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a modular structure for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like according to the present

innovation;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a

detail of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail for assembly of the modular structure of Figure 1;

- Figures 5 and 6 illustrate, in perspective view and _.at an enlarged scale, respective alternative embodiments of a detail of Figure 1;

- Figure 7 is a top plan view of a detail of the modular structure of Figure 1; and

- Figure 8 is a top plan view of an alternative detail of the structure of Figure 1. With reference to Figure 1, the reference number 1 designates as a whole a modular structure for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like.

The structure 1 comprises at least two supporting sticks 2, designed to be set vertically in positions adjacent to one another, and at least one or more resting sticks 3, set spanning, parallel to one another, the two supporting sticks 2.

The structure 1 moreover comprises, for each stick 3, two elastic tabs 5 defining respective resting seats 6, each engaged by a respective free end of the stick 3 for supporting the stick 3 itself up against the two corresponding sticks 2.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 2, each supporting stick 2 is made of rigid plastic material and can be a hollow tubular element or else a full tubular element according to the uses and the needs. Each stick 2 has a multifaceted profile of a regular polygon, and comprises a spiked base portion 21, designed to be stuck in the ground and provided with a continuous side foot 22, designed to bestow greater stability on the structure 1, and a top portion 23, which can be fitted together with the base portion 21. The shape of a regular polygon, which, in the case in point, is a square, prevents relative rotation between the portions 21 and 23, once fitted to one another.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 3, the portion 23 can be defined either by a single section of the same height as the desired one or else also by a number of sections 23a fitted to one another, each of which has a male end, defined by an insert 26 of external dimensions smaller than the external dimensions of the portions 23a themselves, and a female end, defined by a cavity 27 of external dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of

the insert 26.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 4, the modular system 1 moreover comprises a cap 7 for facilitating driving of the stick into the ground, which can be fitted on the male end of the spiked base portion 21 or else on the male end of the supporting stick 2 itself for absorbing the driving stresses, so preventing the occurrence of any possible deformations.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 5, the resting sticks 3, which are set spanning the two adjacent supporting sticks 2, are made of substantially rigid plastic material, and have respective opposite ends 31, snap slotted within the resting seats 6. The resting sticks 3 can be made in a single hollow or full body that consists of, or else (as illustrated in Figure 6) can also be made up of two or more tubular sections 32, which can be coupled to one another by means of a pin 33 that can be inserted in two successive sections 32.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 7, the system 1 moreover comprises one or more straps 8 made of deformable plastic material, by means of which it is possible to tie the climbing plants quickly to the structure 1 itself and each of which has a plurality of through eyelets 81 made along its own length, and an end peg 82, which can be inserted in one of the through eyelets 81 for adjustment of

the length of the strap 8.

According to what is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each side of the stick 2 has one or more elastic tabs 5, set in an ordered row, or else, according to one embodiment (not illustrated) , also in two ordered rows set alongside one another. Each tab 5 has the function of enabling fast snap-action insertion of a corresponding end 31 within the corresponding resting seat 6, as well as of keeping the end 31 itself securely in the seat 6. Each tab 5 is fixed to the stick 2 by means of a pair of screws 51, inserted in purposely provided holes 52, and is provided with one end 53 constrained to the resting stick 2 by means of the screws 51, and one free end 54 to facilitate insertion of another stick. The end 53 is flattened and is traversed by the screws 51, whilst the end 54 is set inclined downwards and towards the face of the stick 2 so as to define a sort of V-shaped insertion point, designed to facilitate insertion in the corresponding seat 6 of a corresponding end 31.

The seat 6 is, instead, shaped like a C open towards the stick 2 and is connected to the end 53, whilst it is radiused to the end 54 in order to bestow upon the tab a substantially S shape.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 8, the modular structure 1 can also comprise, alternatively or also in co-ordination with the sticks 3, a netting 10 that can be folded in bellows fashion, available between the two adjacent supporting sticks 2 provided with respective resting ends 101, which can be inserted into the seats 6 or which can be coupled to respective resting ends 101 of other foldable netting 10 available between the same two supporting sticks 2. In other words, the modular structure 1 can be obtained by setting, between two sticks 2, a foldable netting 10 and is consequently not particularly affected by the distance between the two sticks 2, by setting also more than one netting 10 between two adjacent sticks 2. In the first case, the opposite end 101 of the netting 10 will be inserted in the seats 6 for fixing the netting 10 to the sticks 2, whilst, in the second

case, the end 101 of one side of the netting 10 will be coupled to the end 101 of one side of the other netting 10, and each netting 10 will have the end 101 of one side coupled to a corresponding stick 2.

The supporting stick 2, the resting stick 3, the straps 8, made of deformable plastic material, as also is the foldable netting 100, are all elements that enable extremely fast assembly of the resting elements for plants like tomatoes, vines, climbing plants, or else for the assembly of stakes for making fences of any shape .

Each supporting stick 2 is made of recyclable plastic material, obtained in turn from recycled

plastic and can be produced in a large number of different sizes to meet different types of use, such as for supporting plants like tomatoes, or else vines, or else for fences. The fast-slotting conformation, defined both by the elastic tabs and by the shape of the sections of the sticks 2 and 3, enables both assembly and dismantling, as well as adaptation of the modular structure 1 with extreme speed and flexibility according to the requirements. The S-shaped tabs are used to insert the sticks 3 easily and keep them very firmly gripped.

The straps 8, which are made of recycled flexible plastic, as well as being recyclable, can also have different lengths for tying the plants to the supports in a fast way or for tying and gripping the sticks 2 and 3 possibly in the resting seats 6 to afford greater stability in the modular structure 1.

This modular system 1, thanks to its sectional elements, enables prevention of an extremely long job of looking for and cutting wooden sticks, enables saving of time for shaping said sticks and of time for tying them together, as well as all the time

necessary for their disassembly, which is usually long and in some cases even risky.

The different sticks 2 and 3 can have sizes of the spike that are different and ???slots that are deeper according to the diameter and weight that the sticks 2 and 3 may have and the use to which they will be put. As described above, all these elements are made of rigid plastic, but this does not exclude or limit the scope of the present patent, which can be made using any other material. Is understood that the invention is not limited

to the embodiment described and illustrated herein, which is to be considered merely as one example of embodiment of the modular structure for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like, which may, instead, undergo further modifications regarding the shapes and arrangements of parts, and details of construction and of assembly.

Claims

1. A • modular structure (1) for the construction of fences or for supporting climbing plants or the like, the structure comprising: at least two supporting sticks (2) designed to be set vertically in positions adjacent to one another; at least one resting stick (3) set spanning the two supporting sticks (2) ; and anchorage means (5) associated to each supporting stick (2) and interacting with the resting stick (3) for supporting the resting stick (3) itself; the modular structure

(1) being characterized in that each supporting stick

(2) has a multifaceted profile of a regular polygon, and comprises a spiked base portion (21) , designed to be stuck in the ground and provided with a continuous side bracket (22) , and at least one top portion (23) , which can be fitted together with the base portion

(21) ; said anchorage means (5) comprising, for each said resting stick (3) , two elastic tabs (5) defining respective resting seats (6) , and each being provided

with one end constrained to the supporting stick (2) and a free end to facilitate the insertion of the resting stick (3) in the corresponding resting seat (6) .

2. The modular structure according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of resting sticks (3) set spanning said two supporting sticks (2) and being snap slotted into the resting seats (6) .

3. The modular structure according to Claim

2, characterized in that said resting sticks (3) are made of substantially rigid plastic material and comprise a single body, or else a modular body defined by two or more tubular sections (32) , which can be coupled to one another by means of a pin (33) that can be inserted in two successive sections (32) .

4. The modular structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the supporting stick (2) has a sectional tubular body with a multifaceted profile made of rigid plastic material; each face of the supporting stick (2) being provided with at least one said elastic tab (5) or at

least one row of elastic tabs (5) .

5. The modular structure according any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a cap (7) for driving the stick in the ground, which can be fitted on the top end of the spiked base portion (21) or else on the top end of the supporting stick (2) itself for absorbing the driving stresses, preventing the occurrence of possible deformations.

6. The modular structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that it

comprises at least one strap (8) made of deformable plastic material, by means of which it is possible to tie the climbing plants rapidly to the modular

structure (1) itself.

7. The modular structure according to Claim 6, characterized in that said strap (8) has a plurality of through eyelets (81) made along its own length, and an end peg (82) that can be inserted in one of the through eyelets (81) for adjustment of the

length of the strap.

8. The modular structure according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in substitution or otherwise of the resting stick (3) , at least one foldable netting available between said two supporting sticks (2) , said netting being provided with respective resting ends that can be inserted in corresponding resting seats or that can be coupled to respective resting ends of other foldable nettings available between the same two supporting sticks (2) .

9. The modular structure according to any one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that said sectional tubular body with multifaceted profile is a full body.

10. The modular structure according to either Claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that said plastic material is recycled plastic material.