WO2020183447A1

WO2020183447A1 - Plant support device

Info

Publication number: WO2020183447A1
Application number: PCT/IL2020/050192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roi David CASTEL; Eyal RONEN
Original assignee: Castel Roi David; Ronen Eyal
Priority date: 2019-03-08
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2020-09-17
Also published as: IL265244B

Abstract

A plant shaping device comprising shaping wire with compatible clamps is presented. The wire is made of malleable enough to be bent by hand, while being rigid enough to maintain its shape. Support clamps can be attached to the shaping wires, where a support clamp can also be attached to a branch of the plant. In addition, main clamp can be attached to plurality of shaping wires, where this clamp can be attached to main stem of the plant. This structure enables one to shape one branch relative to another branch, an also shape a branch relative to the main stem. Note that plurality of shaping wires can be used in the same plant.

Description

PLANT SUPPORT DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of cultivation in receptacles and more particularly to the field of plant support.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] It is well known to provide certain plants with a support structure to hold them in desired position or orientation as they grow. This is often necessary with plants having stems which are unable to maintain upright growth of the plant. In some cases, there is a need to control the orientation of the stems so that there is a bigger distance between the leaves to enable proper ventilation as also to enable sun light to reach all leaves. Traditional support structures include stakes, trellises and cages.

[0003] For example, US patent 5640802 discloses a modular support assembly that consists of multiple horizontally spaced members for aiding the growth of tomato plants. However, a problem associated with the use of horizontal support members is that the plant may not be able to reach the next member before the stems collapse or breaks. Furthermore, the distance allocated between each support member will limit the application of the assembly. It will only be used with certain types of plants that can support themselves over that distance.

[0004] US patent 7,331,140 by P.G. Mason“Plant Stake With Wires And Pegs In Vertically Spaced Holes” discloses a support stake that has a bottom point or insertion in the ground and a series of vertically spaced holes along the length of the stake spaced at intervals appropriate for securing a plant at different stages in the grows of the plant. A plant support tie, preferably a wire, has one end inserted in a hole at a desired height and a peg inserted in the hole to bind the end of the wire in the hole with an outer portion of the peg protruding from the opening so that the tie encircles the plant and secures it to the protruding end of the peg with a tie to prevent the tie from slipping off. This is an acceptable solution to hold the central stem. [0005] There is a need for a cheap easy and flexible way to support the growth of a plant and shaping its stems and leaves relative to each other, so that light and air can reach its innermost leaves..

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a plant shaping device that can be easily installed and reused. It can support branches of the plant relative to the main stem or relative to other branches. It is an object of the disclosed invention to shape the plant so that light and air can penetrate its innermost leaves, thus improve the growth of the plant.

[0007] The plant support device disclosed is comprised of shaping wires and clamps. The wires are made of a material which is malleable enough to be bent by hand, while being rigid enough to maintain its shape. There are two types of clamps, namely main clamp and support clamp. The main clamp is designed to be attached to main stem of the plan and can be connected to plurality of shaping wires. The support clamp is attached to the shaping wire and can be attached to branches of the plant.

[0008] Multiple shaping wires can be used on one plant in order to achieve the desired shaping results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Fig 1 presents structure of one embodiment of the device.

[0010] Fig 2 shows isometric view of end clamp.

[0011] FIG 3 shows side view of main clamp.

[0012] FIG 4 presents main clamp and two shaping wires attached to it.

[0013] FIG 5 shows example of use of the device on a plant. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The invention will be described more fully hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain possible embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0015] In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are embodiments only, given solely for exemplification purposes.

[0016] Figure 1 presents structure of one embodiment of the plant support device. The device 100 is comprised plurality of shaping wires 110, main clamp 120 and plurality of support clamps 130. The shaping wire is soft and malleable enough for shaping and bending with just hands, whilst still being rigid enough to maintain its shape. In the preferred embodiment the shaping wire is coated by plastic or silicon layer. However bare wire, such as modelling wire can also be used. It is recommended that the thickness of the shaping wire will be greater than 1.5 mm. On the edges of each shaping wire 100 there is a support clamp 130. In the preferred embodiment the support clamp is made of silicon. The shaping wire is inserted into a hole in the end clamp so it can rotate relative to the shaping wire.

[0017] Structure of preferred embodiment of a support clamp is shown in fig 2. The support clamp 200, made of silicon or rubber, has a hole 210 to which the shaping wire is inserted. Note that the diameter of the hole 210 should match the external diameter of the shaping wire. Being made of flexible material, the side opposite the hole 210, operates as a pliers having two flexible jaws 220 surrounding a pipe grip 222. Note that plurality of support grips can be mounted on a single shaping wire.

[0018] A side view of preferred embodiment of a main clamp is presented in fig 3. The main clamp 300 is shaped as a spring clamp having handles 310, jaws 320, and spring 330. The jaws 320 include holes 322 that can grip the shaping wire and the central part 324 that can be clamped to the stem of the plant. An example of a main clamp with shaping wires attached to it is presented in fig 4. Note that the main clamp can be attached to the stem of a plant and at the same time firmly hold two wires. A skilled man can configure the main support in many various ways, if it can be connected both to plant stem and plurality of shaping wires.

[0019] An example of the use of the device to shape a plant is demonstrated in fig 5. The plant 500 has few stems. The main clamp of the device 520 is attached to one stem 510. The support clamp of 524 of shaping wire 522 is supporting a branch of the plant (the other support clamp of that wire is not shown). Similarly, the one support clamp 528 of shaping wire 526 supports another branch of the plant.

[0020] It is important to note that the user can cut the length of a shaping wire as required, connect as many support clamps as needed, and locate the main clamp where it suits the shaping he is designing. Also note that the clamps gently hold the plant, so no harm is done to the plant. This is important since when tie wire is used for the shaping, the tying force can do harm to the plant. Of course, the shape of the wire can be easily modified to suit the final shaping of the plant.

[0021] In some cases, a wire having only support clamps can be used to form the relations between branches of the plant.

[0022] What has been described above are just a few possible embodiments of the disclosed invention. It is of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A plant support device for configuring the shape of a plant, said device is comprised of:

a. plurality of shaping wires made of a material which is malleable enough to be bent by hand, while being rigid enough to maintain its shape; b. main clamp having a spring that can be clamped to main stem of the plant and to which plurality of shaping wires can be attached; and

c. plurality of support clamps made of rubber or silicon, that can be attached to both to the shaping wire and to branches of the plant.

2. The plant support device as in claim 1 whereas the shaping wire is coated by plastic or silicon layer.

3. The plant support device as in claim 1 whereas the support clamp has a hole through which the shaping wire can be pushed with force and has flexible jaws that can surround plant branch.