WO2013107517A1

WO2013107517A1 - Cloche as protection for garden plants during winter

Info

Publication number: WO2013107517A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/050849
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias MAIRHOFER
Original assignee: Stocker Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-01-20
Filing date: 2012-01-20
Publication date: 2013-07-25

Abstract

The invention relates to a cloche as protection for a garden plant during winter. The cloche (2) is in the form of a hollow body (14). The cloche (2) has a casing wall (24) formed from a sheet-like, flexible material (12), a cover element (20) and a closure element (30). The hollow body (14) extends along a centre axis (I). The hollow body (14) is formed from the casing wall (24) with a first end (16) and a second end (18) opposite the first end (16) and with the cover element (20). The first end (16) and the second end (18) extend essentially parallel to each other. The first end (16) is firmly closed by means of the cover element (20). The cover element (20) extends substantially transversally with respect to the centre axis (I). The cover element (20) is connected non-detachably to the casing wall (24). The second end (18) is open. The casing wall (24) encloses an angle (φ) with the centre axis (I), wherein the angle (φ) is smaller than 90°. The casing wall (24) has a line of separation (28) continuously from the second end (18) substantially as far as the first end (16). The line of separation (28) is at least partially closable by the closure element (30).

Description

Hood as winter protection for garden plants

State of the art

Even in northern latitudes, garden plants, such as common roses or small-sized Japanese maples, are planted in pots on terraces or directly in the ground. In many cases, however, these plants are incompatible with heavy frosts or snow, so that under the action of such rigors, the plants are affected or even freeze. It is known to protect such plants by putting jute sacks over these sensitive plants against the growth direction. In addition, most of the open bottom is closed by a cord.

However, it has been shown that it can be difficult to put such a bag over the garden plant, without this the plant is damaged, for example in the form of breaking off branches. Summary of the invention

Thus, an object of the invention may be to provide a hood for winter protection of a garden plant, which can be easily attached to the plant, without thereby damaging the garden plant.

The task can be solved by the object of the independent

Claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the subject matters of the dependent claims.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a hood is provided as winter protection for a garden plant. The hood is designed as a hollow body. The hood has a jacket wall formed from a flat, flexible material, a cover element and a closure element. The hollow body extends along a central axis. The hollow body is formed from the jacket wall with a first end and a first end opposite the second end and the lid member. The first end and the second end extend substantially parallel to each other. The first end is firmly closed by means of the lid member. The lid member extends in

Essentially transverse to the central axis. The cover element is insoluble in the

Mantelwandung connected. The second end is open. The jacket wall encloses an angle with the central axis, wherein the angle is smaller than 90 °.

The jacket wall has a dividing line continuously from the second end to substantially the first end. The dividing line is through the

Closing element at least partially closed.

By such a design of the hood this can be umgehängt the plant to be protected similar to a cloak, wherein the dividing line in this

Operation is open and can then be closed by means of the closure element. Closing the dividing line causes that from the hood enveloped plant is holistically protected from frost, icy wind and intense winter sun. Thus, by virtue of the dividing line passing through from the second end to substantially the first end, the hood can also be slipped over the plant to be protected transversely to the direction of growth of the plant. The plant to be protected is located in an interior, wherein the interior is bounded by an inner surface facing the interior of a shell wall of the hollow body and the two substantially mutually parallel ends, wherein one end is closed by the cover member. The jacket wall also has an outer surface opposite the inner surface and facing away from the inner surface, wherein the outer surface is exposed to wind, snow, frost and sun. The distance between the inner surface and the outer surface, ie the thickness of the jacket wall, is substantially constant. The jacket wall and the lid member may be designed such that the hollow body, respectively the hood, is designed as a cylinder, truncated cone or truncated pyramid. If the hood is designed as a cylinder, the included angle is 0 °. If the hood is designed as a truncated cone or truncated pyramid, the

included angle greater than 0 °. In one embodiment, the included angle may be about 5 °. An angle of about 3 ° to about 15 ° has proven itself. As a rule, the angle enclosed between the jacket wall and the central axis will be constant over the circumference of the jacket wall. The dividing line may extend substantially in the direction of the central axis of the frusto-conical hollow body, that is to say be substantially free from curvature or straight. However, the dividing line can also be curved. For example, the dividing line can separate the jacket wall spirally. The dividing line makes it possible to open the jacket wall along this.

In particular, the dividing line separates the second end such that the second end can be opened when the closure element is released or opened. In other words, the parting line separates the second end into a first end piece and a first end piece opposite to the first end piece

Closing element separated second end piece, with the open Closing element, the two end pieces can be moved away from each other. By moving the two end pieces away from each other, a slipping over or capping of the hood can be facilitated either transversely to the central axis or along the central axis of the hollow body over the plant to be protected. The plant to be protected may be a plant planted in a tub or pot, or plant planted in the ground. The closure element can be designed to run continuously along the dividing line, for example in the form of a zipper or a continuous hook-and-loop fastener. Of course, the zipper will be arranged such that movement of the slider of the zipper from the first end to the second end closes the dividing line and the dividing line is opened by movement of the slider from the second end to the first end. The closure element can be arranged along the dividing line such that the dividing line can be closed only at regular or even irregular intervals. This can be the

Closing element, for example, as arranged at regular intervals Velcro, button-buttonhole connection or toggle-loop closure be formed. The cover element can, depending on the material used on the jacket wall by means of sewing, gluing or

Welding connected. The cover element will usually also be made of the sheet-like, flexible material from which the jacket wall is formed. The material of the cover element may also be different from the material of the jacket wall. For example, the lid member may also be rigid. The interior experiences in the region of the first end by the cover element an increase in volume compared to the known from the prior art hood, in which only the inside is connected to each other. The shape of the

Lid element essentially predetermines the shape of the hollow body. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical hollow body can be designed by the cover element, for example, round, elliptical, polygonal or rectangular. By a circular configuration of the lid member, the hood

be formed rotationally symmetrical. Due to the volume increase of the interior due to the lid member, the hood can be umgehängt with open closure element transverse to the central axis of the hollow body similar to a cape of the plant to be protected. By means of the transposition transverse to the central axis of the hollow body, the plant can be better protected from damage than by a prior art hood which runs along the

Beginning of the central axis of the crown, ie opposite to the direction of growth of the plant, would be placed over the plant to be protected.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is designed as a truncated cone.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is designed as a truncated pyramid. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is designed as a cylinder.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover element is formed from the flat, elastic material.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hood has a band. The band spans the hood substantially at the second end such that the cylindrical hollow body is closable at the second end. The sealed by the band second end prevents heat from the limited by the hood interior in the direction of the bottom is removed from the interior. The band may be made of reversible elastic material such as a rubber band in the longitudinal direction of the strip. Also, the band can be made of a fabric. In particular, tissue in the weft direction of the thread is at least largely non-stretchable. Also can at least one end of the band be equipped with a clasp or buckle, by means of which the band can be fixed in its chosen length. By means of such a band, the second end can be fixed from fully open to fully closed in any intermediate position. Also, the band can be designed such that it can be fixed by means of a loop or a knot in a predetermined position, so for fixing no further aids such as the buckle needed. Also, the band can be performed in tightly connected to the hood loops. Also, the band may be retracted in a hem formed at the second end. Also, the tape by means of only a portion, for example, with the center of the tape, insoluble in the

be connected cylindrical hollow body.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the

Mantelwandung has a closable pouring opening.

The pouring opening may be arranged in the direction of or transverse to the central axis of the hollow body. In this case, the pouring opening can be designed to be closable by means of a configuration of the closure element described above. The pouring opening can ensure that during the winter, the closing element of the continuous dividing line does not need to be opened in order to cast the plant surrounded by the hood. Watering the plant in winter prevents the plant from drying out. In the case of particularly sensitive plants, the heat extraction through the opened closure element could be so great that frostbite symptoms may develop on the plant. Thus, the closeable pouring opening can ensure that the plant can be poured during the winter, without substantially removing heat from the interior space. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the lateral surface has a first closable pouring opening and a second closable pouring opening. Here, the first and the second pouring opening may be arranged substantially opposite each other. In particular, if the plant to be hibernated is unfavorable, for example because the container plant has been changed in position after having been fitted with the hood and thus possibly one pouring opening became inaccessible, two closable pouring openings allow at least one pouring opening to be generally accessible. The two

Casting openings may be arranged opposite one another, that is to say at an angle of approximately 180 °, or also substantially at right angles to one another, that is to say at an angle of approximately 90 °. Of course, the two pouring openings may also be positioned such that an arbitrary angle is created between the two pouring openings. Also, the pouring openings, in particular when the hollow body is designed as a truncated cone, may be arranged at any distance from the dividing line of the casing wall.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first

Casting opening arranged at a first distance from the second end. The second pouring opening is arranged at a second distance from the second end. The first distance and the second distance are different from each other.

Because of the winter watering to avoid dehydration of the plant, the pouring orifice will be located near the surface of the earth so as to be able to selectively supply water to the earth by means of a watering can. In potted plants, the hood will usually be pulled over the bucket to its bottom, so that the second end is located substantially at the level of the bottom of the bucket or pot. This is the top of the soil of the container plant in

Essentially around the bucket height from the second end towards the first At the end of the distance. By contrast, in the case of plants set in the ground, the second end is generally substantially flush with the top of the plant

Ground. Since the distance of the pouring orifice from the top of the soil may be substantially the same for both the plant set in the pot and the plant put into the soil to allow the plant to pass into the plant

Targeted supply of water, the two distances of the respective pouring openings may differ substantially around the bucket height. Incidentally, the pouring openings will generally be designed such that only the spout of a watering can can be guided through the pouring opening into the interior. Typically, the length of an engagement opening is about 10-20 cm.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first end defines a first surface. The second end defines a second surface. The first area is smaller than the second area.

Thus, the surface area of the lid member is smaller than the surface area of the second end. Thus, the hood surrounds the spot with the larger one

Area the lower part of the plant and the place with the smaller one

Area of the upper part of the plant. As a rule, plants are wider in the lower area than in the upper area. Thus, the hood is adapted to the natural growth of the plant in an advantageous manner. For example, the hood may be dimensioned such that the first end and the second end are spaced about 2 meters apart along the central axis. In particular, if the

Hollow body is formed as a truncated cone, the surface of the lid member may have a diameter of about 1.0m and the area bounded by the second end of a diameter of about 1.3m.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hood has an outer side, wherein the outside is colored. Here, for example, the entire flat, flexible material may be colored so that the outside is colored, or even the outside be provided with color. As color all colors of the color circle are suitable. Preferably, however, the outside will be offered in the colors red, green, beige or white.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hood has an outer side, wherein the outer side is printed. For example, the outside may be printed with plant motifs, such as the pattern of a lily or the pattern of a maple leaf. Also, the outside can be printed with other motifs such as that of an ice crystal. The motifs can be real or stylized. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hood has an outer side, wherein on the outside of a loop is arranged.

In general, the loop is permanently connected to the outside of the hood. The loop may allow the hood to be fixed after it has been slipped over or hung over the plant to be protected. For example, a rod can be pushed into the loop, which can be anchored accordingly in the ground. Also, a cord can be pulled into the loop, through which the hood can be supported similar to a tent. Also, the hood may be self-supporting formed by the loop in conjunction with a rod and a cord. By fixing the hood to, for example, a rod, for example, it can be ensured that a load acting on the hood, such as wind pressure or snow load, is kept away from the plant to be protected. The loop may be arranged on the outside of the hood or on an inside opposite the outside. Also, the loop can to the first end closing lid member and / or to the

Mantelwandung be inextricably linked.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the loop is arranged on the jacket wall.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sheet-like, flexible material is breathable. The hood may be made of a membrane in the form of a breathable film, a nonwoven fabric or a fabric. Due to the breathability, a gas exchange between the interior and the environment can take place. As a breathable film, for example, Goretex material can be used. As a result, condensation can be avoided. Especially on the inside of the hood forming and dripping on the plant condensation, combined with a freezing due to heavy frost, can lead to damage to the plant. Breathability effectively prevents such condensation. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the flat, flexible material is a fabric.

Here, fibers are woven into a fabric. Fibers can be artificial or natural fibers. Fabric is usually breathable and thus prevents condensation in winter. Furthermore, when stretched in the warp or weft direction of the fibers, the fabrics stretch only slightly or not at all. Fabrics are very resistant and durable at high thread densities. Resistance and durability can be increased by using twists instead of simple yarns. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the fabric is made of jute.

Jute is completely biodegradable, has a high water absorption and a good decomposability. Thus, the complete hood including the

Closure elements of the dividing line and the closure element of the pouring opening are made of natural fibers, which, when the hood has become unusable, is compostable. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the flat, flexible material is a nonwoven fabric.

The nonwoven fabric is usually breathable. This in turn prevents condensation. The nonwoven fabric is made of fibers, wherein the position of the fibers can be described only by statistical methods. Thus, nonwoven fabric is distinguished from woven, knitted or crocheted fabrics, which are characterized by the production of certain laying of individual fibers or threads. In particular, the nonwoven fabric can be made translucent. Thus, the plant receives even dim light from the environment surrounding the hood.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the nonwoven fabric is made of polypropylene fibers. Polypropylene is resistant to almost all organic solvents and fats as well as most acids and alkalis. Because of its low

Surface energy makes it almost impossible for dirt to adhere to it. In addition, polypropylene is UV-stable. Furthermore, polypropylene is odorless, skin-friendly and physiologically harmless. It is noted that thoughts on the invention herein are described in the context of a hood as winter protection for a garden plant. a

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the individual features described can be combined with one another in various ways so as to also lead to other embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures are only schematic and not to scale.

FIG. 1 shows a hood enveloped by a frustum-shaped hood

Container plant in a 3D view; and

Figure 2 shows a wrapped by a cylindrically shaped hood

Container plant in a 3D view.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

Figure 1 shows a hood 2 as winter protection for a container plant 4, wherein the container plant 4 from an inserted into a filled with soil 8 bucket 10

Plant 6 exists. Here, the container plant 4, the plant 6 and the bucket 10 are shown in dashed lines. The hood 2 has a jacket wall 24 and a cover element 20. The jacket wall 24 has a first end 16 and a second end 18 opposite the first end 16 Both ends 16, 18 extend substantially parallel to each other. The first end 16 is firmly closed by means of a cover element 20. The Cover element 20 is bounded by an edge 22. The second end 18 is open to an environment 100 surrounding the hood 2. In the present embodiment, the flat, flexible material 12, from which both the casing wall 24 and the lid member 20 are made, one from

Polypropylene fibers made breathable nonwoven fabric. Of course, the hood 2 could be made of, for example, a fully biodegradable fabric, such as jute. In the present embodiment, the edge 22 of the cover member 20 is welded to the first end 16 and thus inextricably connected to the jacket wall 24. The jacket wall 24 is divided by a dividing line 28, wherein the dividing line 28 extends along a central axis I of the frusto-conical hollow body 14 from the second end 18 to the first end 16. Here, the dividing line 28 at the first end 16 or possibly for production reasons may end shortly below the first end 16. Along the dividing line 28, the jacket wall 24 can be opened. The parting line 28 is at least partially by means of a closure element 30

closable. In the present embodiment, this is the

Closure element 30 is a continuous zipper, through which the

Dividing line 28 is closed throughout. Here, a zipper actuated and not shown here slider is arranged such that upon movement of the slider from the second end 18 to the first end 16 of the

Mantle wall 24 is opened continuously, while in a movement of the slider from the first end 16 to the second end 18, the jacket wall 24 is closed. The frusto-conical hollow body 14 is formed substantially rotationally symmetrical about the central axis I. The substantially circular lid member 20 has a first diameter d of about 1.0 m. The second end 18 has a second diameter D of about 1.3m when the closure member 30 is closed. The hood 2 has a height h of about 2 m, measured along the central axis I. The jacket wall 24 has a first pouring opening 36, which is closable by means of a zipper 40. The first pouring opening 36 opposite is in the casing wall 24 a second pouring opening 38 is arranged, which is also closed by means of a zipper 40. Both pouring openings 36, 38 extend along the

Central axis I and each have a length of about 10 - 20 cm. The first pouring opening 36 is spaced from the second end 18 at a distance Ai. The second pouring opening 38 is spaced from the second end 18 at a second distance A ₂ . Here, the first distance Ai is greater than the second distance A ₂ , wherein substantially a sum of the second distance A ₂ and a bucket height H gives approximately the first distance Ai. Furthermore, the second end 18 has a seam 42. In the seam 42, a band 44 is drawn in the form of a cord. When the closure element 30 is opened, the band 44 is arranged such that the jacket wall 24 can be folded back on both sides of the separation line 28. At the

Mantelwandung 24 are in the vicinity of the first end 16 two each other

opposite loops 46 undetachably connected to the jacket wall 24. Furthermore, the hood 2 has an outer side 48 which is colored, in particular in the colors red, green, white or beige. Furthermore, the

Outside 48 also be printed by means of a motif such as a lily, a maple leaf or an ice crystal.

The hood 2 is intended as a winter shelter for delicate garden plants, the hood 2 can be used for planted in pots or pots 10 plants 6 or even directly planted in the garden soil plants. In order to envelop the plant 6 with the hood 2, the closure element 30 is completely opened along the parting line 28. Then, the hood 2 is substantially transverse to the

Center axis I placed around the plant 6. Subsequently, the dividing line 28 is closed by means of the closure element 30. By means of the belt 44, the second end 18 is closed in such a way that the second end 18 rests against the bottom of the bucket 10 in the container plant 4. In particular, in a plant planted in the garden, the second end 18 is closed by means of the band 44 such that the second end 18 rests against the stem of the plant. The band 44, if the second Closed at the end of 18, to be fixed in this position. To close the second end 18 is pulled only on the band 44.

In contrast to Figure 1, the hollow body 14, respectively the hood 2 is formed as a straight cylinder in Figure 2, wherein the lid member 20 has a rectangular cross-section. The jacket wall 24 has in the illustrated here

Embodiment a front surface 26, a first side surface 32 and a first side surface 32 opposite second side surface 34. The dividing line 28 is formed approximately in the center of the front surface 26 and extends from the first end 16 to the second end 18. Further, the The first pouring opening 36 approximately centrally in the first side surface 32 and the second pouring opening 34 approximately centrally in the second side surface 34. The two pouring openings 32, 34 extend substantially along the central axis I. Of course, the lid member 20 could also have a different geometric figure. The loops 46 are permanently connected to the side surfaces 32, 34.

During the winter, but especially during the spring, when there are plus degrees during the day and night frosts can occur at night, the plants protected by the hood 2 may be threatened by dehydration. In order to supply water to the plant, it is not necessary to open the closure element 30 extending along the parting line 28. In this case, only a partial opening of the closure element 30, in particular in the case of sensitive plants 6, could lead to heat being removed by the opened one

Closure element 30 the plant gets 6 frostbite symptoms. Instead, the water may be supplied to the plant 6 through the first pouring opening 36 or the second pouring opening 38. Of course, the first pouring opening 36 and the second pouring opening 38 may each be equally spaced from the second end 18. However, since the hood 2 is intended for plants planted directly in the garden soil as well as for potted plants 4, the two pouring openings 36, 38 are preferably spaced apart from each other with respect to the second end 18 in a preferred manner. So is the first pouring opening 36 preferably to the container plant 4 am

Transition 50 of the plant 6 in the soil 8 water. In order to selectively supply water to a plant planted in the garden soil at the transition 50 to the ground, the second pouring opening 38 is preferably used for a garden plant planted in the garden. The distance of the transition 50 to the first pouring opening 36 with respect to the container plant 4 is the same as for the second pouring opening 38 with respect to a plant planted in the ground. Furthermore, the hood 2 can be stabilized against wind pressure or snow load by rods, for example, are inserted through the loops 46 or the loops 46 are otherwise fixed, for example by means of strings. The loops 46 may be arranged on the hood 2 such that loads acting on the hood 2, such as snow load or wind pressure, are not transmitted to the plant enveloped by the hood 2. Furthermore, the hood 2 is made of breathable nonwoven fabric or jute fabric, so that on an inner side of the hood 2 no

Condensation can form. Especially on plants dripping condensation in conjunction with frost can cause the plant to be protected

Has frostbite symptoms.

Reference number:

2 hood

4 container plant

6 plant

8 earth

10 tubs

12 flat, flexible material

14 hollow bodies

16 first end

18 second end

20 cover element

22 edge of the lid member 20th

24 jacket wall of the hollow body

26 front surface

28 dividing line

30 closure element in the form of a zipper

32 first side surface

34 second side surface

36 first pouring opening

38 second pouring opening

40 zipper

42 hem

44 band in a design of a cord

46 loop

48 outside of the hood 2

50 Transition of the visible plant 6 into the earth 8

100 environment first distance second distance

bucket height

Centerline first diameter second diameter

Height of the hood 2

Claims

claims

1. hood as winter protection for a garden plant,

wherein the hood is formed as a hollow body (14) having the hood:

one formed from a flat, flexible material (12)

Shell wall (24);

a lid member (20); and

a closure element (30);

the hollow body (14) extending along a central axis (I);

wherein the hollow body (14) is formed from the jacket wall (24) having a first end (16) and a second end (18) opposite the first end (16) and the lid member (20);

wherein the first end (16) and the second end (18) extend substantially parallel to each other;

wherein the first end (16) is tightly closed by means of the cover element (20);

wherein the lid member (20) is substantially transverse to the

Center axis (I) extends;

wherein the cover element (20) is permanently connected to the jacket wall (24);

the second end (18) being open;

wherein the jacket wall (24) encloses an angle (φ) with the central axis (I),

the angle (φ) being less than 90 °;

wherein the jacket wall (24) from the second end (18) to in

Substantially to the first end (16) has a dividing line (28) throughout;

wherein the parting line (28) is at least partially closable by the closure element (30). Hood according to claim 1,

further comprising a band (44),

wherein the band (44) spans the hood (2) substantially at the second end (18) such that the cylindrical hollow body (14) is closable at the second end (18).

Hood according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the jacket wall (24) has a closable pour opening (36, 38).

Hood according to claim 3,

wherein the jacket wall (24) has a first closable pouring opening (36) and a second closable pouring opening (38).

Hood according to claim 4,

wherein the first pouring opening (36) is disposed at a first distance (Ai) from the second end (18),

wherein the second pouring opening (38) is disposed at a second distance (A ₂ ) from the second end (18),

wherein the first distance (Ai) and the second distance (A ₂ ) are different from each other.

Hood according to one of the preceding claims,

the first end (16) defining a first surface,

the second end (18) defining a second surface,

wherein the first area is smaller than the second area.

7. Hood according to one of the preceding claims,

the hood (2) having an outer side (48),

wherein the outer side (48) is colored. 8. Hood according to one of the preceding claims,

the hood (2) having an outer side (48),

wherein the outside (48) is printed.

9. Hood according to one of the preceding claims,

the hood (2) having an outer side (48),

wherein on the outer side (48) has a loop (44) is arranged.

10. Hood according to claim 9,

wherein the loop (44) on the jacket wall (24) is arranged.

11. Hood according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the sheet-like, flexible material (12) is breathable.

12. Hood according to claim 11,

wherein the sheet-like, flexible material (12) is a fabric.

13. Hood according to claim 12,

the fabric being made of jute. 14. Hood according to claim 11,

wherein the sheet-like, flexible material (12) is a nonwoven fabric.

15. Hood according to claim 14,

wherein the nonwoven fabric is made of polypropylene fibers.

16. Use of a hood according to one of claims 1 to 15.