GB2149634A

GB2149634A - Improvements in or relating to horticultural products

Info

Publication number: GB2149634A
Application number: GB08330826A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward James Bellamy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-18
Filing date: 1983-11-18
Publication date: 1985-06-19
Also published as: GB8330826D0; GB2149634B

Abstract

A plant support system includes two pairs of selfstanding legs 11, 12 which are connected via brackets 23, 24 to a cross-bar 10. A cross-wire 13 assists rigidity and is held by the weight of the growing bag 18. An extension 35 from the bracket 23 acts as a support for a removable transparent 24 cover 20. Apertures in the cross-bar receive canes extending from the bag of growing medium. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION frnprovernents in or relating to horticultural products The invention relates to horticultural products.

There visa need when growing vegetables and flowers to support and protect these during the growing cycle.

In the past,greenhouses have supplied the necessary shelter and any supports used can be driven into the earth. Nowadays, however, many people do not have the benefit ofa garden amd must rely on only a patio or even a balcony to grow their produce.

The present invention is concerned with allowing growth of produce even under such restricted conditions.

According to the invention there is provided a support system comprising a demountableframe assembly adaptedto be self standing and including an interlocking crosspiece.

The system preferably includes a collapsible cover adapted to overlythesupports.

Further according to the invention there is provided a bracket assembly for a supportsystem including a first portion having a pair of apertured extensions each adapted to receive a support leg, and a second portion adapted to receive a cover support member.

The invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows an end view of an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a partialfrontview; FIGURE 3 shows a detail oftheupperbracketwith associated support wire; FIGURE 4 shows the brackets of Figure 1 in greater detail; and FIGURE 5 shows the lower bracket configuration.

The system ofthe present invention is designed to be entirely self supporting and give adequate protection.

The system basically consists of a cross-bar 10 terminating at each end with a bracket configuration carrying a pair of legs 11 and 12.Across-wire 13 for each respective pair of legs, fits into apertures 15 in the base of the legs and is sufficiently long as to cause the wooden Iegsto be undertension to give a more rigid construction. Agrowing bag 18 ofthe well known type comprisedyof plastics material and containing a growing medium is placed so as to extend just over each end of the support frame so that the bag weight overlies the cross-wires 13 and provides assistance in maintaining rigidity. A cover 20 is provided of transparent plastics material to provide protection and heat retention and can be slipped over the frame when required.Apertures 21 provide controlled ven dilation, The. l'racketconfigurations includes include an upper brack- et 23 and lower bracket 24 which both slot into groove 25 i;n the wooden cross-bar 10. The lower bracket 24 extends into a pair of rectangular tubes 26 and 27. See also Figures 4 and 5. The angle a of the tube gives the direction angle ofthe legs 11 and 12 when fitted. The angle b (e.g. 5 degrees) gives the slight angular displacement of the legs to ensure unsquewed interconnection when the lower end receives the bracing wire 13.

The bracket 24 may, for example, be formed integrally or as separate pieces brazed together.

The upper bracket 23, see also Figures 3 and 4, carriesthe domed shape cover support35. The wire support is retained in the brcket 23 by the cranked ends 36 co-operating with the belled portions 31 and plate 30 mated to the bracket by pins 32. This configuration resists anytendancy of the wire 35 to slip ortwist.

The slot 25 of the cross-bar 10 extends inwards only a sufficient distance to retainthetwo brackets 23 or 24.

Along the remaining length ofthe bar 10 at suitable intervals, apertures 37 for receipt of canes which can be inserted into the growing bag to provide support to the growing produce. The height of the system can be chosen for given applications. Typically the leg height can be 3-ft and the cross-bar length can be 3-ft also.

The plastics cover 20 can typically extend downwards to about 2/3rds ofthe height, the height extension of the domed supportwire 35 being typically 6". A shorter legged system with the cover and growing bag would be operableasa cíoche orcoldframeand a tallerconfiguration would be operable more closely to a greenhouse, dependent on space available to the grower.

The configuration described allows a flat pack system to be marketed, which after purchase can easily be stored in this condition atthe end of the growing season,withoutthe necessity to unscrew fittings.

1. Aplantsupportsystem comprising a demountable frame assembly adapted to be self standing including support legs and an interconnecting crosspiece, said legs being configured so asto extend over a bag of growling medium, in use, and said crosspiece includes means defining a plurality of apertures for receiving canes extending from the growing medium.

2. Asystem as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said support legs include an interconnecting base portion which is configured so asto generally underlie and be retained bythe weight ofthe bag of growing medium.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said base portion includes a resilient memberfor maintaining the support legs undertension to aid rigidity.

4. A system as claimed in Claim 1,2 and 3, including a collapsible cover of plastics material adapted to overlie the assembly.

5. A system as claimed in Claim 4, including an extension member for increasing the headroom provided, and forsuporting the cover.

6. A system as claimed in ClaimS, wherein the extension member is generally semicircular in shape.

7. A bracket assembly for the support system claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, including a first portion having a pairofapertured extensions each adapted to receive a support leg, and a second portion adapted to receive a cover support member.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION frnprovernents in or relating to horticultural products The invention relates to horticultural products. There visa need when growing vegetables and flowers to support and protect these during the growing cycle. In the past,greenhouses have supplied the necessary shelter and any supports used can be driven into the earth. Nowadays, however, many people do not have the benefit ofa garden amd must rely on only a patio or even a balcony to grow their produce. The present invention is concerned with allowing growth of produce even under such restricted conditions. According to the invention there is provided a support system comprising a demountableframe assembly adaptedto be self standing and including an interlocking crosspiece. The system preferably includes a collapsible cover adapted to overlythesupports. Further according to the invention there is provided a bracket assembly for a supportsystem including a first portion having a pair of apertured extensions each adapted to receive a support leg, and a second portion adapted to receive a cover support member. The invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows an end view of an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a partialfrontview; FIGURE 3 shows a detail oftheupperbracketwith associated support wire; FIGURE 4 shows the brackets of Figure 1 in greater detail; and FIGURE 5 shows the lower bracket configuration. The system ofthe present invention is designed to be entirely self supporting and give adequate protection. The system basically consists of a cross-bar 10 terminating at each end with a bracket configuration carrying a pair of legs 11 and 12.Across-wire 13 for each respective pair of legs, fits into apertures 15 in the base of the legs and is sufficiently long as to cause the wooden Iegsto be undertension to give a more rigid construction. Agrowing bag 18 ofthe well known type comprisedyof plastics material and containing a growing medium is placed so as to extend just over each end of the support frame so that the bag weight overlies the cross-wires 13 and provides assistance in maintaining rigidity. A cover 20 is provided of transparent plastics material to provide protection and heat retention and can be slipped over the frame when required.Apertures 21 provide controlled ven dilation, The. l'racketconfigurations includes include an upper brack- et 23 and lower bracket 24 which both slot into groove 25 i;n the wooden cross-bar 10. The lower bracket 24 extends into a pair of rectangular tubes 26 and 27. See also Figures 4 and 5. The angle a of the tube gives the direction angle ofthe legs 11 and 12 when fitted. The angle b (e.g. 5 degrees) gives the slight angular displacement of the legs to ensure unsquewed interconnection when the lower end receives the bracing wire 13. The bracket 24 may, for example, be formed integrally or as separate pieces brazed together. The upper bracket 23, see also Figures 3 and 4, carriesthe domed shape cover support35. The wire support is retained in the brcket 23 by the cranked ends 36 co-operating with the belled portions 31 and plate 30 mated to the bracket by pins 32. This configuration resists anytendancy of the wire 35 to slip ortwist. The slot 25 of the cross-bar 10 extends inwards only a sufficient distance to retainthetwo brackets 23 or 24. Along the remaining length ofthe bar 10 at suitable intervals, apertures 37 for receipt of canes which can be inserted into the growing bag to provide support to the growing produce. The height of the system can be chosen for given applications. Typically the leg height can be 3-ft and the cross-bar length can be 3-ft also. The plastics cover 20 can typically extend downwards to about 2/3rds ofthe height, the height extension of the domed supportwire 35 being typically 6". A shorter legged system with the cover and growing bag would be operableasa cíoche orcoldframeand a tallerconfiguration would be operable more closely to a greenhouse, dependent on space available to the grower. The configuration described allows a flat pack system to be marketed, which after purchase can easily be stored in this condition atthe end of the growing season,withoutthe necessity to unscrew fittings. CLAIMS

8. A bracket as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the bracket portions are arranged to slot into a groove in ihe crosspiece.

9. A bracket as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the extensions are angularly displaced relative to the longitudinal direction ofthe crosspiece.

10. A bracket as claimed in Claim 7,8 or9, wherein the support membercomprisesa domed shaped wire permanently retained in the bracket portion.

11. A plant support system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.