Plant husbandry – Tree supports – Props
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2002-04-16
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Tree supports
Props
C024S019000, C024S273000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06370817
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tree bracing assembly and method for supporting a tree in a substantially vertical position such as with a young tree or newly planted tree which requires stabilization.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bracing of trees is well known, and is generally accomplished by using several stakes pounded into the ground at a distance from and around the periphery of the base of the tree, generally using a series of ropes, flexible lines, wood, guy wires, or the like which are connected to the tree's trunk or limbs at a point spaced above the ground and extended downwardly and outwardly in an inclined angular direction for adjustable attachment to a ground inserted stake. While these arrangements function fairly well the installation of the anchoring devices or tie downs is time consuming as the length of the lines, guy wires, or supports must be adjusted or assembled together while they are being attached to the ground anchor often requiring more than one laborer and multiple tools. These systems may also entail wrapping the circumference of a tree trunk segment with a protective material, such as burlap, in an attempt to protect the tree trunk from scarring at the point where the anchoring component encircles the tree trunk. It is not uncommon for such tree bracing construction and wrapping to take 30 minutes or more per tree and to require more than one laborer, particularly with larger trees.
Wooden blocks engaging the tree trunk which are spatially positioned about the wrapped tree trunk segment and in overlying relation to the protective covering surrounding the trunk segment have also been used with one or more metal bands which are then positioned to surround all of the aforementioned trunk engaging members through frictional engagement or fixed attachment to an outer surface thereof. The metal bands are thereby forced into in confronting engagement with each of the trunk engaging members so as to substantially fix their positions relative to the tree trunk. A supportive force is applied to the tree at the points of engagement of the trunk engaging members by the application of an elongated board or like structure which fixedly attaches, such as by nailing, the bracing boards directly to the trunk engaging blocks. Other types of fixed engagement of the corresponding ends of the bracing members are also utilized.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,590 to Schuh discloses a circular, staked ground mounted base spaced from the tree, a pair of opposing brace members having a pair of upwardly extending legs and a rubber tubing cushioned collar of a width so as to not place it in direct and constant contact with the trunk. The collar width provides substantial space between collar and tree trunk and permits movement of the tree trunk within thereby decreasing the stability of the upright support and creating the potential for a less than vertical tree anchoring. It is also thought that the pair of brace members each with a parallel pair of upward leg extensions is not as stable to outside forces, e.g. wind and debris due to its parallel planar arrangement not being as able to withstand forces perpendicular thereto. Other collar like devices such as the adjustable, padded trunk holding ring and tree stakes in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,027 to Skierwiderski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,214 to Caldwell, U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,622 to Ten Pas and a hinged foam-lined collar in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,600 to Tompkins have also been used to support young trees. Hooks and rings attached to stakes to support trees have also been described such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,666 to Ness and U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,179 to Kronmiller.
Design U.S. Pat. Nos. 310,769, and 310,948 to Jensen, disclose double and single clamp tree braces respectively, which are structurally dissimilar to the present invention, however, depict an apparent disadvantage of not providing support to the tree in all planes thereby subjecting the tree to instability and movement in the direction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane created by the ground support(s). These patents and others such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,246 to Jungbluth and U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,428 to Fox reveal configurations of strap-like anchoring in direct contact with the tree trunk which has been known to cause damage to the exterior surface of the tree trunk.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,359 to Pivnik describes a tree staking system with a plurality of padded support members movably positioned and spaced apart along the length of an attachment assembly about the circumference of a tree and including an equal number of brace members disposed in abutting engagement with the support members so as to exert a supportive, bracing force on tree trunk. Although the Pivnik system protects the tree trunk from scarring and can be mounted by a single laborer, its means for tightening the support members against the tree trunk is restricted to and limited by the amount of manual pulling, pushing and gripping strength of the laborer on narrow cable-like ties and has narrow strap gripping area as well. Also, heavy wood pieces and nails remain necessary to adequately secure the bracing members to the support members which makes transporting the assembly unwieldy for one laborer and time consuming to assemble and disassemble.
A more primitive variety of tree brace arrangement has been frequently used over the years and consists merely of nailed 2×4 type boards for bracing against the ground and the support members with metal bands wrapped around the wooden block support members placed against the tree. This is a relatively inexpensive assembly which adequately functions, however, due to high labor costs there is no motivation to disassemble it and remove the parts when the need for support no longer exists. This leaves unsightly support assemblies in place, often years after tree stabilizing has been accomplished.
Although a variety of tree bracing systems exist, disadvantages abound. For instance, thin guy wires or ropes pose a physical danger to people and animals because the wires and ropes are difficult to see and can easily be unknowingly and dangerously encountered. Single use application systems, full on site assembly, and multiple laborers and tools required for proper installation make many systems expensive. Failure to disassemble and remove the supports when support is no longer necessary is unsightly and polluting to the environment and time consuming to install. Physical injury to the tree arises many times from stiff straps or metal bands in firm direct contact with the trunk. Also encountered has been physical injury to the laborers during installation of the tree brace assemblies using metal bands when the band breaks, slips or grip is lost, the metal bands have been known to flip back impacting and injuring the worker. Single, double, or only planar staking creates stability problems when a destabilizing force e.g. wind, is imposed against the tree from a plane perpendicular to the staking. Loss of stability also occurs due to a “push-pull” effect on the fastening members, usually nails holding both the ground base arrangement and the arrangement against the tree trunk itself in the prior devices, from wind or other forces against the tree which loosens these fastening members on the side opposite the destabilizing force. Leaning and less than a vertical arrangement may result where direct contact with the tree is not present such as in the spaced collar type devices. The burlap or other material used to cushion the tree trunk is time consuming to install and often allows moisture to accumulate and mildew to form causing an eroded or blemished region on the outer surface of the tree trunk as well as requiring additional time and labor to wrap the tree at the point where the anchoring device contacts the tree. Heavy wood bracing boards prove to be unwieldy requiring full on site assembly which is time consuming and often requires multiple workers. Most Difficulty also arises in anchoring the bracing members
Brooks Alvin E.
Ferrie Dean R.
Main, Haley + DiMaggio, P.A.
Nguyen Son T.
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