Plant husbandry – Tree supports – Props
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2001-10-16
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Tree supports
Props
C052S148000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301830
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to guy line systems for supporting newly planted trees as well as other objects and more particularly to guy line systems which will accommodate external forces applied to a tree due, for example, to winds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is common practice to support newly planted trees to control their direction of growth and prevent them from falling or being knocked down by external forces resulting from wind, etc. The most common practice is to set a vertically oriented support post next to the tree and tie the tree to the post by means of a wire inserted through a collar of rubber tubing, such as a garden hose. This type of system, while simple and generally inexpensive, may (and often does) adversely affect the growth of the tree unless the tree is periodically retied and the post removed after the tree has achieved sufficient growth to remain stable independently of the support post. One disadvantage of this conventional system is that it is unyielding and may result in the supported tree breaking above the supporting tie line under extreme wind conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,198 (“'198 patent”) discloses a tree support system for alleviating this problem. According to the '198 patent, two compression springs are disposed in the collar with one end of each spring abutting a spool like stop retained in the ends of the collars.
Two wires which pass through passageways in the stops are secured to separate washers which abut the opposite ends of the springs. The two wires are looped around a vertically oriented post and twisted together. While the springs and tie lines of the '198 patent provide a yielding support for the tree, both this system and the more conventional system suffer from shortcomings.
As an example, the support provided to the tree is limited to a force with which the single post can withstand before losing its footing in the ground.
Another use of springs as applied to a tree stabilizing system is identified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,936 (“'936 patent”). In the '936 patent a tubular rubber synthetic polymer forms a collar and supports the rod ends of a compression spring assembly. The same material is also used as a tether. The tether houses the opposing spring ends of four compression spring assemblies. Two of the ends connect to the collar and the other two connect to rods that are tied to the stakes.
This system is complicated and could inevitably be self defeating. The numerous uses of compression spring assemblies allows for a degree of yielding that could fail to support the tree adequately in windy conditions or tend to oscillate the tree to an unacceptable degree as winds rise and subside. Furthermore, this system requires two stakes for each resilient tree guy assembly. This requires more effort, is more time consuming, and more difficult to obtain the correct tension in the tether.
Another, although less used system, employs several stakes or posts which are set into the ground at spaced points around the tree with wires or ropes tied between the stakes and the tree. While this guy line type of system is capable of resisting appreciably more external force than a single post, it is time consuming to adjust the length of the separate lines during installation so that when the tree is in its desired position, little, if any, slack remains in the tie lines. This would be a particular problem for the '198 system where two lines extend from the post to the tree with the ends of the lines being twisted together after being looped around the supporting post. Turnbuckles, which are frequently used to adjust the length of tie lines, would be an improvement over simply twisting a pair of wires together or one wire back on itself. However, the use of turnbuckles is also time consuming and they have a tendency to corrode and freeze-up.
Another yieldable tree support system utilizing coiled extension springs connected between the supporting posts and the tree is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,666 (“'666 patent”). This type of system suffers not only from the length of the line adjustment problem, but may provide little protection for the tree once the elastic limit of the springs is exceeded by a strong wind gust and the like. The use of extension springs like that shown in the '66 patent has been used with stakes embedded entirely in the ground with the same shortcomings.
Others have used ground anchors to tie down articles such as the one identified in U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,864 (“'864 patent”). The '863 patent is not directed to use for securing trees and does not anticipate such application. The anchor is of a triangular shape that has a body, holes for receiving the guy line and a reduced extension end for receiving a device to drive the anchor in the ground.
The '864 patent anchor has drawbacks. This anchor has a large body area in relation to the sides which could result in more difficulty in driving the anchor into the ground and less resistance for holding the tree in place when the anchor is turned. Furthermore, the body does not accommodate the guy line with any indentation. This could allow the guy line to slip from the anchor as the anchor is driven into the ground and possibly resulting in a less secure arrangement. Finally, the shape of the edges does not taper from the body to the ends. This creates a less secure edge than one that does taper.
Still others have use a tension bar to tighten a line as in U.S. Pat. No. 278,097 (“'097 patent”). The '097 patent does not identify an application for a tree support system. The tension bar is composed of not only two holes but at least four alternating notches in the side edges.
This arrangement has a number of drawbacks. First, since neither end of the line is secured at the tension bar, the bar can potentially slide along the line if given enough force. Secondly, the bar is cumbersome and complicated. The line must be weaved through the bar. This is time consuming and not given to easily changing the tension in the line at a later time. Finally, the numerous notches in the bar could undermine the structural integrity of the bar where large forces are used. Such a condition could exist in gusty wind areas.
Another tension bar arrangement is identified in U.S. Pat. No. 2,229,935 (“'935 patent”). This bar overcomes one of the short comings of the '097 patent by securing one end of the line to the bar. However, as in the '097 patent, the use of a notch creates problems. In particular, the use of the bar is complicate by a need to bend the bar to enclose the line into the notch. Furthermore, should the line slip form the notch the bar could become dislodged allowing for the line to slip.
There is a need for a tree guy line system which overcomes the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tree guy line system, in accordance with the present invention, employs a plurality of guy lines, made, for example, of wire rope. Each guy line includes a first and a second end with a limited expansion spring disposed between the ends thereof to allow a limited increase in the distance between the ends of the guy line in response to tensile force applied to the line. A plurality of anchors are adapted to be inserted into the ground at spaced locations around the tree with the second end of each line secured to a respective anchor. A flexible collar, to act as a protective buffer between the guy line and the tree bark, is preferably positioned over each guy line adjacent the first end for extension around the trunk or a limb of a tree to be supported. A tension bar has a line engaging end slidably mounted on the line adjacent the first end thereof below the collar and another end secured to the first end of the line. The line engaging end of the tension bar is arranged to slide along the line towards the second end thereof to remove slack and place the line in tension and to grasp the line when placed at a predetermined angle to the line to maintain the tension in the line.
The features
Jackson Harold L.
Jordan Charles T.
Nguyen Son T.
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