Plant husbandry – Plant irrigators and/or fertilizers – apparatus or method
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-04-17
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Plant irrigators and/or fertilizers, apparatus or method
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216387
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device which holds plants or trees substantially vertical against wind and other forces of nature. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multifunctional device which supports the stem of a plant above ground level, protects the base of the stem from damage close to and at ground level, and efficiently applies fertilizer to the roots of the plant under ground level, which device is designed for maximizing access to the growing plants for both personnel and equipment.
It is common practice in commercial agriculture to grow young plants, such as tree plants, in one location at relatively high density and to transfer them later for cultivation in another location at a lower density. Depending on the type of plant involved, support of the main stem and/or branches may be required before transfer, after transfer, or both before and after transfer. For other plants no transfer is required but support of the young plants is necessary until the main stem or trunk becomes strong enough to resist wind and other natural forces.
The need for stabilizers or support devices for young plants being grown commercially is well recognized and many previous technologies have tried to address this need. The prior art can be divided into those devices which require multiple points of attachment to the ground (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 332,729; 4,562,662; 4,649,666; 4,870,781; 5,129,179; and 5,402,600) and those devices which require only a single point of attachment to the ground (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 349,435; 4,738,050; 4,881,342; 5,335,448; and 5,605,010).
Devices with multiple points of attachment to the ground are effective in preventing rotation of the supported plant with respect to the support device, however, they require more labor to install and make it more difficult for workers and equipment to move freely about the production area. Both additional labor and restriction of movement in the growing area therefore constitute an inherent disadvantage of such devices.
Prior art devices with single points of attachment to the ground allow the plant to rotate with respect to the support device, but are installed with less labor and allow more freedom of movement in the growing area after installation. Thus efficiency in preventing rotation of the plant has previously been sacrificed in order to reduce the labor associated with installation and permit greater freedom of movement in the growing area.
One device extant in the prior art combines the function of fertilizer application with the function of plant support (U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,781). This prior art device relies on multiple points of attachment to the ground, with the associated disadvantages described above. Furthermore, this device is ineffective with respect to fertilizer delivery because it relies on trios of stakes containing fertilizer which are installed at a great distance from the plant to be fertilized.
Since the fertilizer diffuses through the ground radially away from the stakes, roughly two thirds of the fertilizer from each stake moves away from the plant to be fertilized. The efficiency of delivery which may be achieved by placing a delivery device close to the base of a plant has been recognized in the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,010), but only with respect to water, not fertilizer.
The prior art also includes devices for protecting the trunks of trees (U.S. Pat. Nos. D403,929; 5,819,468; 5,048,229; and D298,998), although not in conjunction with the support of said trees. These prior art devices are designed primarily for use with adult trees which are growing slowly.
There is thus a great need for, and it would be extremely advantageous to have, a plant support device with a single point of attachment to the ground, capable of supporting the plant in a non-rotatable fashion while simultaneously delivering fertilizer to the supported plant in an efficient manner and protecting the base of the plant from mechanical and chemical damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for supporting and fertilizing trees or plants, the device comprising (a) a base element having walls defining a cavity for holding a releasable fertilizer therein, the walls being formed with at least one opening for releasing the releasable fertilizer, the base element being shaped and designed insertable into a ground through the ground's surface; (b) a pole being connected to, or integrally formed with, the base element through a first end of the pole; and (c) a plant engaging mechanism being connected to, or integrally formed with, the pole, the plant engaging mechanism being of a length such that a terminal end of the plant engaging mechanism is less than 50 cm away from the pole, such that when the device is used for supporting a plant, the base element is positioned less than 50 cm away from the plant, so as to provide for efficient fertilization of the plant by the releasable fertilizer.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of supporting and fertilizing a plant, the method comprising the steps of (a) engaging a protective sleeve having a spacer ending with a ring around a portion of the plant, the portion being close to, and above, a ground; (b) substantially vertically inserting into the ground, through the ring, a base element having walls defining a cavity holding a releasable fertilizer therein, the walls being formed with at least one opening for releasing the releasable fertilizer, the base element being shaped and designed insertable into a ground through the ground's surface; (c) connecting a pole to the base element through a first end of the pole; (d) connecting a plant engaging mechanism to the pole, the plant engaging mechanism being of a length such that a terminal end of the plant engaging mechanism is less than 50 cm away from the pole, such that the base element is positioned less than 50 cm away from the plant, so as to provide for efficient fertilization of the plant by the releasable fertilizer; and (e) engaging a second portion of the plant to the plant engaging mechanism.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the length of the plant engaging mechanism is selected such that the terminal end of the plant engaging mechanism is less than 40 cm away from the pole.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the length of the plant engaging mechanism is selected such that the terminal end of the plant engaging mechanism is less than 30 cm away from the pole.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the length of the plant engaging mechanism is selected such that the terminal end of the plant engaging mechanism is less than 25 cm away from the pole.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the length of the plant engaging mechanism is selected such that the terminal end of the plant engaging mechanism is less than 20 cm away from the pole.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the cavity is divided into an upper portion which serves for engaging the pole and a lower portion which serves for holding the releasable fertilizer, the base element includes a cover for covering the lower portion.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the base element includes longitudinal fins.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the base element is formed with a pointed end.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the base element includes a collar for preventing sinking of the base element into the ground.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the pole is polygonal in cross section.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the pole is hexagonal in cross section.
According to still further f
Curiel Rami
Stoller Nahum
Friedman Mark M.
Jordan Charles T.
Palo Francis T.
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