Plant husbandry – Cover – shade – or screen – Open top
Patent
1987-06-02
1990-02-13
Yu, Mickey
Plant husbandry
Cover, shade, or screen
Open top
47 23, 47 42, A01G 1302
Patent
active
048994863
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to tree shelters.
A tree shelter is a usually tubular, but sometimes conical, structure formed of translucent plastics material that is disposed around a newly-planted tree and secured to a skate extending inside or outside the structure. Since their introduction in 1979 tree shelters have proved their value in promoting the growth of a young tree by establishing a favourably micro-climate; supporting the tree; protecting the tree from wind or animal damage; and enabling the intervening ground to be treated chemically to deter the growth of competing vegatation. Currently available pre-formed tubular tree shelters may be of one of the following types:
(1) A tube of square or hexagonal cross-section formed by folding corrugated polypropylene sheet and joining the longitudinal edges with a lap seam secured by welding or stapling.
(2) A rigid cylinder of extruded polypropylene.
(3) A flexible tube of circular cross-section having circumferential ridges which is extruded from polypropylene and resembles a land drainage pipe.
All the above types of tree shelter are normally secured to the stake, whether this is located internally or externally, by wire ties. These have the disadvantages of being difficult and time-consuming to apply, particularly when they have to be threaded round an internal stake; of allowing pivotal movement of a shelter secured to an external stake; of being liable to become embedded in the trunk of a growing tree; and of being a danger to animals on the eventual disintegration of the shelter.
According to a first aspect of the present invention these disadvantages are overcome by a tree shelter comprising a hollow, elongate, open-ended body, formed of translucent or transparent plastics material and having a longitudinally-extending external channel or a socket no additional fastening is required and in the case where the stake is located in a channel two simple straps or ties are adequate to secure the shelter. In place of the normal horticultural or arboricultural type, it is preferred to use, according to the present invention, a non-releasable cable tie.
Preferably the body is a tube and is formed by extrusion of a plastics material such as a polypropylene, polystyrene or polycarbonate. In a preferred construction the tube generally has twin walls connected by radially disposed webs, while the walls of the socket or channel are solid.
Young trees are very susceptible to chafe damage from the upper edge of the shelter and according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a tree shelter formed at one end with a lip or flange extending outwardly beyond the outer surface of the body. Advantageously such a shelter is also in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
A shelter according to the present invention may be provided with upper and lower circumferential indentations for reception of a strap or tie.
Moreover, the shelter according to the present invention is preferably camouflaged by painting the external surface of the tube in green and brown by means of silk screen printing.
One of the advantages of the aforementioned lay-flat square or hexagonal cross-section shelter over a rigid extruded shelter of circular cross-section is that the sleeve may be packed and transported in flat condition thus enabling a very favourable packing ratio of eight folded tubes to one open tube to be achieved. The achievement of a favourable packing ratio is particularly important where the shelters are to be established at a remote or inaccessible site, besides reducing normal packing and transport costs.
According to the present invention the aforementioned disadvantage of rigid shelters is greatly alleviated by the provision of a set of shelters, each comprising a hollow body preferably formed with a channel for reception of a stake, and having different cross-sectional dimensions so chosen that the set may be nested.
Preferably, such an assembly of nesting shelters has four members, the smallest one of which has a diameter of the optimum minimu
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patent: 361241 (1887-04-01), Rugg
patent: 645518 (1900-03-01), Watt
patent: 770461 (1904-09-01), Haggerty
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patent: 3384992 (1968-05-01), Heffron
patent: 3816959 (1974-06-01), Nalle, Jr.
patent: 4596106 (1986-06-01), Kunczynski
patent: 4699347 (1937-10-01), Kuhnley
patent: 4711051 (1987-12-01), Fujimoto
Rooney Kevin G.
Yu Mickey
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