GB1598076A

GB1598076A - Device for protecting plants

Info

Publication number: GB1598076A
Application number: GB23264/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-06-01
Filing date: 1977-12-05
Publication date: 1981-09-16

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR PROTECTING PLANTS (71) I, REX HAYWARD FLETCHER, The Forge, West Chiltington, Pulborough, Sussex, of British nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- This invention relates to a device for protecting trees. bu.,, arrl the hole will fit more accurately around the plant stem.

The notch or notches may be of any shape but they are more effective if they are V shaped. (There could be a small radius at the apex of this V.) The V shape of a notch may be of any angle but the preferred angle is dependent upon the number f. ---'

ERRATA SPECIFICATION NO 1598076 Page 3, line 91, for 5 read I Page 3, line 130, for number read member THE PATENT OFFICE 24 June 1983 ,-.. Pidill pnjtccung device is made in more than one piece of sheet material and a notch or indentation is made in one edge of at least one of these pieces. In use, the pieces are brought together around the plant so that a variable sized hole is defined between the pieces by the notch or notches. This hole is fitted closely about the plant stem and the pieces are interlocked to seal the joint between them.

The device is intended to protect a single plant only and is not intended to be used or adapted for use with a number of plants collectively. It is also intended that the device is fitted after the act of planting.

To provide the variable sized hole, a notch is needed in at least one member of the device, but if there is a notch in each member ca eage or side of a member may be any shape that allows an overlap with a further member with which it is being brought together in use. But, if one imagines this side has not yet been notched, then, the preferred shape would be for this side itself to be in the form of a V. This V may be of any angle which will suit the outer shape and size chosen for the device as a whole. It may be formed at any position on that side, but preferably, the angle formed by this V would have its apex at or near the centre of the side in question.

When assembling the pieces to make up the device, the pieces may be laid simply one upon another where they overlap, but preferably they should be interlocked or interleaved so that, for example, if the device consists of two pieces only the limbs adjoining or flanking the indentation or notch (54) A DEVICE FOR PROTECTING PLANTS (71) I, REX HAYWARD FLETCHER, The Forge, West Chiltington, Pulborough, Sussex, of British nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- This invention relates to a device for protecting trees, bushes and shrubs, being a mat or mats, made of sheet material laid upon the soil in which the tree is growing, and made to fit around the tree to exclude the growth of unwanted weeds or grass within the close proximity of the tree, and, to reduce loss of soil heat'in cold weather and loss of moisture through evaporation in dry weather.

The device could also be used to protect other types of plant.

If such a device is made in one piece from sheet material it needs to have a slit leading to some form of central hole for fitting. It is difficult to close the slit effectively and it seems impossible to devise a satisfactory hole shape for differing sizes of tree.

According to the invention, a tree or plant protecting device is made in more than one piece of sheet material and a notch or indentation is made in one edge of at least one of these pieces. In use, the pieces are brought together around the plant so that a variable sized hole is defined between the pieces by the notch or notches. This hole is fitted closely about the plant stem and the pieces are interlocked to seal the joint between them.

To provide the variable sized hole, a notch is needed in at least one member of the device, but if there is a notch in each member the hole will fit more accurately around the plant stem.

The notch or notches may be of any shape but they are more effective if they are V shaped. (There could be a small radius at the apex of this V.) The V shape of a notch may be of any angle but the preferred angle is dependent upon the number of notched members making up the assembled device. For example, if there are two, the preferred angle formed by the V notch in each member would be not appreciably more nor less than 90 degrees. If there are more than two, the preferred angle would be greater.

A V notch in the edge or side of a member may be in any position on that edge or side, but preferably it should be at or near the centre of that edge or side, so that when the pieces of the device are brought together in fitting, the variable sized hole formed will be at or near the centre of the device, which is the preferred position, although the hole could be arranged to take up any desired position within the assembled device.

The remaining portions of a notched edge or side of a member may be any shape that allows an overlap with a further member with which it is being brought together in use. But, if one imagines this side has not yet been notched, then, the preferred shape would be for this side itself to be in the form of a V. This V may be of any angle which will suit the outer shape and size chosen for the device as a whole. It may be formed at any position on that side, but preferably, the angle formed by this V would have its apex at or near the centre of the side in question.

When assembling the pieces to make up the device, the pieces may be laid simply one upon another where they overlap, but preferably they should be interlocked or interleaved so that, for example, if the device consists of two pieces only the limbs adjoining or flanking the indentation or notch should be laid with one over and one under the piece with which they are being brought together. A slit or slits may be provided in any of the members so that an overlapping portion of a member may be tucked into an overlapped member.

The perimeter or outside edge, or edges, of the combined pieces when fitted together to make the device may be of any suitable shape or proportions, but preferably they should form a symmetrical six-sided figure, when the assembled pieces remaining visible are viewed in plan.

The whole device is anchored by surrounding vegetation, or by placing a layer of soil or turf around and over the perimeter area, or part of that area.

The device may be made from any suitable sheet material, but preferably the material should be both flexible and bio-degradable.

If it is desired to have more than one hole in the central area of the device for any reason, for example, two holes, one for a tree or plant and another for a supporting stake, additional pieces, (hereafter in this description called Additional Pieces) of suitable sheet material, should be placed on the soil so that they cover the soil between the tree (or plant) and the stake and overlap one another in the area between the tree (or plant) and the stake when introduced from opposite sides of the tree (or plant) and the stake. The main pieces, similar to those already described in the preceding paragraphs above (hereafter in this description called Main Pieces) are then fitted in the same way as described in the preceeding paragraphs above.

There may be any number of these Addi- tional Pieces but preferably there should be at least two and they should be large enough to be securely held in position by the Main Pieces of the device when the latter are fitted over them. They may be of any shape which will allow them to protrude into the space between the objects to be protected, i. e. the space between the holes formed.

If it is desired to vary the shape of the variable sized holes in these devices, (i. e. they may be four-sided, six-sided, eight-sided etc., or, if desired, may have any number of sides, even or odd) this may be done either by increasing the number of Main Pieces and/or by the use of suitably shaped Additional Pieces. (Although the preferred shapes for these holes should be formed by a number of straight sides, the lines making those sides may be straight or not straight.) The reason for using an increased number of sides on a hole in this way is to maintain an effective seal when protecting larger objects.

By the use of suitably shaped Additional Pieces, it is possible to make up devices with more than two holes and/or with various hole shapes, using either two, or more, Main Pieces.

The hole shape for a single-hole device made simply from two Main Pieces, both notched, will be square if the V notches are 90 degrees (or a diamond shape if the notches are varied from 90 degrees). The 90 degree notch gives the preferred hole shape in this case. If such a device was made with three Main Pieces, the preferred hole shape would be a hexagon and with four Main Pieces an octagon and so on.

By varying the shape of the notches, or indentations, holes of any desired shape may be achieved, and, by varying the shape of these indentations further, in multi-hole devices, the positions of the holes may be altered as well. Thus widely-spaced objects may be accommodated without increasing the overall dimensions of a device. This is achieved by increasing the depth of the notches or indentations towards the central part of the Main Pieces, making these indentations more slot-shaped.

In the case of a two-hole device made simply from two Main Pieces and two Additional Pieces, the Additional Pieces may be of any shape which will allow part of each Additional Piece to protrude into the space between the holes (the space between the objects to be protected), but preferably they should have at least one portion on each Additional Piece which corresponds with a notch in a Main Piece as if that portion of the Additional Piece had been the piece removed to form the notch, or approximately so. Thus, this protrusion on an Additional Piece in this case would preferably be V shaped and in this case the preferred angle would be not appreciably more nor less than 90 degrees.

The preferred shape of the notches in the Main Pieces in this case would be 90 degrees V, as described previously above, although they could be varied from this as could the shape of the protrusion on the Additional Pieces, if desired.

Made to the shapes described above, single-hole devices will have an infinitely variable size hole, within the range provided, without changing the hole shape. Both holes, in the case of a two-hole device, and all the holes in the case of a device with more than two holes, will be infinitely variable in size, either independently or together throughout their range, and the distances apart of these holes will also be infinitely variable within the range of dimensions provided in any individual device, and without these holes changing their shape.

Although the preferred shape of the limbs or wings left by notching the Main Pieces is that shape caused by making a V notch in a V shaped side, and the preferred shape for the perimeter of the assembled device is a symmetrical six-sided figure, any shape or characteristic of the overlap when bringing the Main Pieces together, and any variety of shape required for the overall peripheral shape may be achieved simply by altering the shape of the notched side and/or the shape of the perimeter, as necessary to obtain the desired results.

Any of the above described devices may be used to prevent unwanted growth of weeds or vegetation in the proximity of trees, bushes, shrubs, plants or other forms of vegetation, and in the proximity of stakes, posts, pipes or other objects, placed, situated or growing so as to rest upon or protrude from the ground, soil or vegetation supporting substance, whether that object to be protected be live or not live. They may also be used to retain moisture or heat within the proximity of the objects mentioned. The devices may be of any size to suit their applications.

Drawings are attached to illustrate :- Sheet 1. A single-hole device made simply from two Main Pieces. Drawing A shows the device assembled, B partly assembled with part of a Main Piece under and part over the other Main Piece, and C separate. The numbers show :- 1, the hole for the tree or plant to be protected. 2, the overlapping Main Pieces tucked into one another. 3, the Main Pieces. 4, the notches made in one side of each Main Piece 3 to form the variablesize hole I when the device is assembled. 5, the side of a Main Piece 3 in which the notch 4 is formed and which itself should preferably be V shaped. 6, the slits into which to tuck the overlapping extremities of the Main Pieces.

Sheet 2. Two examples of shapes for Additional Pieces which may be used for a twohole device.

Sheet 3. A two-hole device with two Main Pieces and two Additional Pieces, the latter being the lower of the two examples shown on Sheet 2. D shows the device assembled, E partly assembled with the Additional Pieces overlapped to their final position and the Main pieces with part of one over and part under the other Main Piece, and F all parts separate. The numbers show :- 7, the two adjustable holes. 8, the overlapping Main pieces tucked into one another. 9, the overlap on the Additional Pieces, which can be brought together either as shown, on a line at right angles to the line on which the two Main Pieces are brought together, or on the same line on which the Main Pieces are brought together. 10, the Main Pieces. 13, the slits into which to tuck the overlapping extremities of the Main Pieces 10. 12, the notches made in one side of each Main Piece 10 to form the two adjustable holes 7 when the device is assembled. 11, the side of a Main Piece 10 in which the notch 12 is formed and which itself should preferably be V shaped. 14, the Additional Pieces.

Sheet 4. G shows an example of an eightsided variable-size hole in a single-hole device with only two Main Pieces made by using two Additional Pieces, the latter being the lower of the two examples shown on sheet 2 but assembled the opposite way from the example of their use to form a two-hole device shown on sheet 3.

Sheet 5. Drawings K show an example of how a device may be made, using the principles of this invention, which has three holes, for a tree and two stakes, with sixsided shaped holes and where the stakes are widely spaced. The pieces are also designed to hold one another in place when fitted.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS :- 1. Apparatus for protecting a single plant comprising at least two members at least one of which has a notch or indent in a side thereof and means for interlocking the members so that a variable sized hole is defined between the members by the notch or notches, the arrangement being such that in use the members are assembled around the plant with the hole about the plant stem.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one indent is V shaped.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claims I or 2 wherein at least two members overlap and at least one member has at least one slit into which at least one other member may be inserted.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the notched side of at least one member is V shaped or approximately so, disregarding the shape of the notch itself.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 inclusive wherein the side opposite the notched side of at least one member is V shaped or approximately so.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 inclusive wherein the outer shape in plan view of the assembled apparatus forms a symmetrical six sided figure or hexagon or approximately so.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 6 inclusive wherein elements are provided for dividing the hole whereby a plant stake or stakes in addition to the plant stem or further stems of the plant can be accommodated.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I or 3 to 7 inclusive wherein the notch or indent formed in the side of at least one member is recessed substantially towards the centre of the member in the form of a slot which may be V shaped at its inner end whereby the apparatus can be used to protect widely spaced objects without necessarily increasing the overall size of apparatus with a divided hole.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 inclusive wherein the shape of a number or members in plan view is such that the profile of the notched side would fit in contact with the profile of the side opposite the notched side along a common line, whereby in manufacture members may be produced by an operation which forms the notched side of a member and the opposite side to the notched side of another member in one cutting operation.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 9 inclusive wherein at least two members are of similar shape.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least two elements are of similar shape.
12. Apparatus for protecting a tree or plant or a tree or plant with supporting stake or stakes substantially as herein before described and as shown in the accompanying descriptions and drawings.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 12 inclusive wherein the material is flexible.
14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 13 inclusive wherein the material is bio-degradable.