WO2020043446A1

WO2020043446A1 - Protection for plants and extension portion for protection for plants

Info

Publication number: WO2020043446A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/071151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lino Bordin; Alex PONTIN
Original assignee: Progress Plast S.N.C. Di Bordin Lino & C.
Priority date: 2018-08-31
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2020-03-05

Abstract

A protection (10) for plants, which comprises a self-supporting sheet element (11) to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant (12) and provided with openings (13) for the ventilation of the plant (12).

Description

PROTECTION FOR PLANTS AND EXTENSION PORTION FOR PROTECTION FOR PLANTS

The present invention relates to a protection for plants.

This protection is applied, in particular, in agriculture and in floriculture.

Currently, the need is felt to protect plants, such as vines and flowering plants, from any damage caused accidentally by lawn mowers and to separate them from different crops.

This need is currently met by using a tubular body made of plastic material to be arranged so as to surround the plant to be protected or separated.

The tubular body is not practical to use because of the flat bottom with which it is inserted into the soil, even though said bottom is open.

There are also on the market protections constituted by semicylindrical parts which are mutually hinged and are to be closed around the plant to be protected. Each part has, in a lower region, a downward spike-like portion, adapted to facilitate soil penetration.

This protection is not free from drawbacks, first and foremost being the fact that, as also happens with the tubular element, the plant is poorly ventilated.

Furthermore, the size of the protection is difficult to adapt to the size of the plant and in particular to the size of its stalk. In fact, the shape of the parts that compose it, allows to provide a protection that is cylindrical or formed by the joining of pairs of semicylindrical parts, so as to surround the plant.

Furthermore, as the plant grows, it is necessary to adapt the height of the protection to the height of the plant, but in order to be able to do so it is necessary to replace the applied protection with a new higher one.

Again, the different types of plant have different heights, and therefore it would be necessary to have a protection of a specific height for each type of plant.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a protection for plants that allows to adapt the height of the protection to the height of the plant to which is applied, while maintaining an adequate level of ventilation of the plant and adaptability to the dimensions of the stalk.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a protection for plants that does not prevent the ventilation of said plants and at the same time is easy to install and adaptable to the dimensions of the plants.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extension portion for a protection for plants that can modulate the protection in terms of height depending on the height of the plant to which it is applied, without removing the previous protection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protection for plants and an extension portion for a protection for plants that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide and at competitive costs.

The above aim of the invention and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a protection for plants, characterized in that it comprises a self-supporting sheet element to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant and provided with openings for the ventilation of said plant.

The aim of the invention and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are also achieved by an extension portion for a protection for plants, characterized in that it comprises a self-supporting sheet element to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant and provided with openings for the ventilation of said plant.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the protection for plants according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protection for plants according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a view of a part of the protection for plants;

Figure 3 is a view of the protection for plants according to the invention during its use;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an extension portion for a protection for plants according to the invention in an open configuration;

Figure 5 is an enlarged- scale view of a detail of the extension portion for a protection for plants of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view of the extension portion for a protection for plants of Figure 4 in an example of application.

With reference to the figures, the protection for plants according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a self-supporting sheet element 11, shown in Figure 1, to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant 12, as shown in Figure 3.

The self-supporting sheet element 11 is preferably made of medical- grade biological plastic material, suitable for contact with food substances, in accordance with Ministerial Decree 21 March 1973. In order to ensure self-support, it can be, for example, flexible, semirigid or foldable.

Said sheet element 11 is provided with openings 13 for the ventilation of said plant 12 and, in a lower region with respect to the position for use, with soil penetration means 14.

In particular, the openings 13 for the ventilation of the plant 12 comprise holes 15 and slots 16.

The protection 10 advantageously comprises means 17 for closing the sheet element 11 , which are adapted to allow a closure thereof having a width that can be modulated in relation to the dimensions of the plant 12.

In particular, such means 17 comprise in turn at least one hook 18, a pair in the illustrated example, extending from one side 19 of the sheet element 11. The pair of hooks 18 is shown in Figure 2. The side 19 is vertical with respect to the position of use of the protection 10, shown in Figure 3. The hooks 18 are adapted to be inserted with respective end portions 20 in corresponding slots 16 present in the sheet element 11 , the same ones that allow the ventilation of the plant 12. The end portions 20 are conveniently wider than the remaining part, in order to prevent accidental exit from the slots 16.

In order to modulate the width of the protection 10 and at the same time optimize the ventilation of the plant 12, the protection comprises a row of parallel and equidistant slots 16, into none of which the respective hook 18, aligned with said row of slots 16, is to be inserted selectively.

The soil penetration means 14 consist of spikes that protrude from the lower side of the sheet element 11, which is lower with respect to the position of use. In the example shown, the spikes are serrated at the sides in order to facilitate soil penetration and prevent accidental extraction.

The use of the protection, according to the invention, is as follows.

The sheet element 11 is folded so as to surround the plant 12 and the hooks 18 are inserted in respective slots 16.

Substantially, depending on the width of the plant around which the sheet element 11 is closed, the end portions 20 of the hooks 18 can be inserted in the slots 16 that are closest to them, in order to obtain narrower circumferences, or in more distant slots 16, in order to obtain wider circumferences. The part of the sheet element 11 that is not used, outside the circumference, can be cut.

The protection, arranged around the plant 12, is pushed into the soil, to penetrate it with the adapted penetration means 14, in order to anchor it to the soil and keep its position over time and in case of adverse weather and wind.

In one possible variation of the protection 10, hooks can be provided on the surface of the sheet element, for example as a replacement of rows of holes 15. In this manner, the parts cut after closure are in turn provided with means for closure and can be reused to create new protections or be joined to other sheet elements.

In fact, a wider protection 10 can be obtained by mutually joining multiple sheet elements 11 , then inserting the hooks 18 that protrude from one of said elements in the slots of a contiguous sheet element.

Furthermore, the sheet element can have various heights and lengths, as a function of the type of application.

In the figures, an extension portion for a protection for plants according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 100.

The extension portion 100 is applied to a protection 10 for plants, as shown in Figure 6.

The extension portion 100 comprises a self-supporting sheet element 111, to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant 112, as shown in Figure 6.

The self-supporting sheet element 111 is preferably made of medical- grade biological plastic material, suitable for contact with food substances, in accordance with Ministerial Decree 21 March 1973.

In order to ensure self-support, it can be for example flexible, semirigid or foldable.

The sheet element 111 has openings 113 for the ventilation of said plant 112.

The sheet element 111 has, in a lower region with respect to the position of use, means 114 for association with a protection 10 for plants and/or with another extension portion 100.

The association means 114 are constituted, for example, by clips and/or clamps, which are monolithic with the sheet element 111.

The association means 114 are shaped in order to grip stably the upper edge 130 of a protection 10 or the upper edge 131 of another extension portion 100. In particular, the upper edge 131 of the extension portion 100 has a circular profile and extends over the total length of the sheet element 111 , in the opposite portion with respect to the one provided with the association means 114.

In this manner it is possible to stack one or more extension portions 100, one on top of the other, starting from a base protection 10, in order to adapt the height of the protection to the height of the plant, even as it grows.

It is possible to associate the extension portion 100 with the base protection 10:

- both when the sheet element thereof is in the open configuration, to then close everything onto itself, around the plant;

- and when the protection 10 is already applied to the plant; in this case, the sheet element 11 of the extension portion 100 is first closed onto itself around the plant and then associated with the protection 10.

In particular, the openings 113 for the ventilation of the plant 112 comprise holes 115 and slots 116.

The extension portion 100 advantageously comprises means 117 for closing the sheet element 111, adapted to allow a closure thereof having a width that can be modulated as a function of the dimensions of the plant 112.

In particular, the means 117 in turn comprise at least one hook 118, a pair in the illustrated example, which extends from one side 119 of the sheet element 111.

The pair of hooks 118 is shown in Figure 5.

The side 119 is vertical with respect to the position of use of the extension portion 100, shown in Figure 6.

The hooks 118 are adapted to be inserted with respective end portions 120 in corresponding slots 116 present on the sheet element 111, the same ones that allow the ventilation of the plant 112.

The end portions 120 are conveniently wider than the remaining part, in order to prevent the accidental exit from the slots 116.

Each hook 118 has two mutually opposite protrusions 132a, 132b.

The protrusions 132a, 132b have the purpose of maintaining the insertion of the hooks 118 in the slots 116 and improve their interlocking coupling.

In order to modulate the width of the extension portion 100 and at the same time optimize the ventilation of the plant 112, the protection comprises a row of parallel and equidistant slots 116, into which the respective hook 118, aligned with the same row of slots 116, is to be inserted selectively.

One use of the extension portion 100 according to the invention is as follows.

The sheet element 111 is folded to surround the plant 112 and the hooks 118 are inserted in respective slots 116.

Substantially, as a function of the width of the plant around which the sheet element 111 is to be closed, the end portions 120 of the hooks 118 can be inserted in the slots 116 nearest to them, in order to obtain narrower circumferences, or into more distant slots 116, in order to obtain wider circumferences.

The extension portion 100 is then associated with a protection 10 or with another extension portion 100, previously applied to the plant, by means of the engagement between the association means 114 and the upper edge 130 or 131 of the underlying element.

The unused part of the sheet element 111, on the outside of the circumference, can be cut.

In one possible variation of the extension portion 100, hooks can be provided on the surface of the sheet element, for example replacing the rows of holes 115.

In this manner, the parts cut after closure are in turn provided with means for closure and can be reused to create new extension portions or be joined to other sheet elements.

In fact, a larger extension portion 100 can be obtained by mutually joining multiple sheet elements 111, then inserting the hooks 118 that protrude from one of said elements into the slots of a contiguous sheet element.

Furthermore, the sheet element can have different heights and different lengths, as a function of the type of application.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a protection for plants that does not prevent the correct ventilation of the plant and is easy to use and apply.

The protection according to the invention is capable of protecting the plant during the mowing of the surrounding grass and at the same time protects its stalk and roots from winter frost, without preventing correct ventilation by virtue of the presence of the adapted openings.

Furthermore, the same protection can be used also to separate different plants in a same soil or in a same flower bed, in order to indicate small plants that can be difficult to identify among the rest of the vegetation and in order to protect the bark of shrubs from accidental damage due to the close passage of lawn mowers.

Furthermore, by means of the invention an extension portion for a protection for plants has been provided which allows to adapt the height of the protection to the height of the plant to which is applied, while maintaining an adequate level of ventilation of the plant and adaptability to the dimensions of the stalk.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Applications No. 102018000008263 and No. 102019000002069 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A protection for plants, characterized in that it comprises a self- supporting sheet element (11) to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant (12) and provided with openings (13) for the ventilation of said plant (12).

2. The protection according to claim 1, characterized in that said self- supporting sheet element (11) is provided in a lower region, with respect to the position of use, with soil penetration means (14).

3. The protection for plants according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said openings (13) comprise holes (15) and slots (16).

4. The protection for plants according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (17) for closing said element in sheet form (11) having a width that can be modulated.

5. The protection for plants according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (17) for the closure of said sheet element (11) comprise at least one hook (18) which extends from one side (19) of said sheet element (11) and is to be inserted with an end portion thereof (20) in a slot (16) provided on said sheet element (11).

6. The protection for plants according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on said sheet element (11), a plurality of said slots (16), which are parallel and into which said hook (18) is to be inserted selectively in one of them.

7. The protection for plants according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said soil penetration means (14) consist of spikes that protrude from the lower side, with respect to the position of use, of said sheet element (11).

8. An extension portion (100) for a protection (10) for plants, characterized in that it comprises a self-supporting sheet element (111) to be closed onto itself so as to surround a plant (112) and provided with openings (113) for the ventilation of said plant (112).

9. The extension portion (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means (114) for association with said protection (10) for plants and/or with another extension portion (111).

10. The extension portion (100) according to one or more of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said association means (114) are constituted by clips and/or clamps, which are monolithic with said sheet element (111).

11. The extension portion (100), according to one or more of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said association means (114) are shaped so as to grip stably the upper edge (130) of said protection (10) and/or the upper edge (131) of another unit of said extension portion(lOO).

12. The extension portion (100) according to one or more of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said upper edge (131) has a circular profile.

13. The extension portion (100) according to one or more of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that said openings (113) comprise holes (115) and slots (116).

14. The extension portion (100) according to one or more the claims 8 to 13, characterized in that it comprises means (117) for closing said sheet element (111) having a width that can be modulated.

15. The extension portion (100) according to one or more of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that said means (117) for the closure of said sheet element (111) comprise at least one hook (118) which extends from one side (119) of said sheet element (111) and is adapted to be inserted with an end portion thereof (120) in a slot (116) provided on said sheet element (111).

16. The extension portion (100) according to one or more of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that it comprises, on said sheet element (11), a plurality of said slots (116), which are parallel and adapted to accommodate selectively in one of them said hook (118).

17. The extension portion (100) according to one or more of claims 8 to 16, characterized in that said at least one hook (118) is provided with two mutually opposite protrusions (132a, 132b).