Plant husbandry – Cover – shade – or screen – Open top
Patent
1998-08-17
2000-07-18
Carone, Michael J.
Plant husbandry
Cover, shade, or screen
Open top
A01G 1302
Patent
active
060889527
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to plant protectors, and more particularly to protective sleeve-like members for mounting by means of support-wire attachment to protect vines, trees and other growing plants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a plant protector comprising a flexible sheet which is adapted to be deformed to surround an upstanding vine, tree or other growing plant to constitute a vertically elongate protective sleeve, said sheet having opposed elongate side edges which, when the sleeve is assembled around the plant, are in adjacent relationship, and means for releasably securing the adjacent elongate side edges of the assembled sleeve, said securing means comprising a series of spaced projecting tabs along each of said edges so arranged that the respective tabs of the two series interengage, with the edge portions of adjacent tabs interengaging one behind the other.
Further according to the present invention, there is provided a plant protector comprising flexible sheet which is initially substantially flat and is adapted to be folded to surround an upstanding vine, or other growing plant to constitute a vertically elongate protective sleeve, means for sealingly and releasably securing the adjacent side edges of the sheet in assembled relation, and an integral securing flap at the upper end of the protector, said flap being foldable about a horizontal crease line alignable with a horizontal supporting wire whereby the securing flap may be folded over the wire to an operative position at which releasable locking means on the securing flap retains the flap in position to secure the plant protector to the wire.
Preferably in a practical embodiment of the invention, the flexible sheet is made of material such as plastic flute board for example "CORFLUTE" (with the flute lines running vertically) or any other material having such characteristics that edge tabs on the sheet will exhibit retention resilience when engaged with and between other edge tabs.
Preferably the releasable locking means on the securing flap comprises a medially-disposed T-shaped tab at the uppermost extremity of the flap and adapted to register with a locking slot through which the tab ends may be passed and resiliently retained.
The protective sleeve could be designed to be of any one of a number of cross-sections. However, it is preferred that the sheet forming the sleeve has longitudinal crease lines which permit the sheet to be folded into a triangular formation, although other polygonal formations could alternatively be used.
In a preferred embodiment, the elongate side edges of the sheet are secured together by spaced tabs along said edges with indents or spaces between tabs corresponding to the positions of the tabs on the other edge such that a dove-tail closing mechanism is achieved with the tabs of the two edges interlocking when pulled across each other, the tabs being designed so that they hold tightly but releasably and without leaving gaps through which a plant could grow, the releasability permitting opening and closing as frequently as desired for access to the plant but without likelihood of damage.
Additional features may be provided as required. For example, the protector can be so made and arranged that it can be stapled or tied to a stake adjacent thereto when the protective sleeve is operative. Preferably, the lower end of the sleeve has at least one hole for the passage of a steel pin or equivalent means for hammering in and anchoring to the ground. Also, suitable tie wire holes are provided near to each side edge of the sheet in register with one another and adjacent the lower ends of inclined upper edge portions which permit access to the upper end of the protective sleeve, the tie wire holes being usable in the unlikely event of damage to the lower closure means or if a training string is to be attached to take a vine to a higher wire. Preferably the protector is formed with air holes to permit a cooling air flow through the interior to pr
REFERENCES:
patent: 1747967 (1930-02-01), Bell
patent: 2007088 (1935-07-01), Jones
patent: 4059221 (1977-11-01), Olson et al.
patent: 5471783 (1995-12-01), McLean
patent: 5809690 (1998-09-01), Due et al.
patent: 5842633 (1998-12-01), Nurse
Carone Michael J.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
Rossmarg Pty. Ltd.
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