GB2338162A

GB2338162A - Plant support.

Info

Publication number: GB2338162A
Application number: GB9811412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Wallis Langham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-28
Filing date: 1998-05-28
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-28
Also published as: GB9811412D0; GB2338162B

Abstract

A plant support structure is built up from a number of similar modules (Fig. 3). Each module 11 comprises a column section 12 and a lateral arm section 13 extending from the top of the column section. At the end of the lateral arm section remote from the column section a coupling 14 is formed as an unclosed loop, the end of the lateral arm section 20 lying within the loop. A sequence of at least three modules can be used to form the plant support structure by inserting the column of one module through the coupling of another to form an encluosure defined by the lateral arm sections. To form a tall support structure (Fig. 6), a first sequence of modules of first height is formed into a support structure. Then a second sequence of modules of a second height is formed into a support structure, the second height being taller than the first height, and with the column sections of the second sequence of modules extending through the couplings of the first sequence.

Description

-11 2338162 1 PLANT SUPPORT MODULE This invention relates to a plant

support module. In particular it is concerned with a plant support module which can be assembled with another identical module and/or with another module to provide at least a part of a plant support structure.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a plant support module comprising a column section, a lateral section extending from the column section; the lateral section being attached at one end to the column; and a coupling provided at the opposite end of the lateral section to the one end, the coupling being in the form of an unclosed loop with the end of the lateral section lying within the loop and the closest juxtaposition of the loop with the remainder of the lateral section being at a location off set from the end of the lateral section.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the plant support module is formed of material of constant cross section such as wire. Typically in the case of wire a protective plastic coating is applied According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the loop of the coupling lies substantially in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the column.

According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the Column and the lateral section are each straight over at least the major part of their lengths and where the lateral section extends from the column they lie at an angle to one another greater than a right angle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a support structure for a plant comprising a plurality of plant support modules according to the first aspect of the present invention or any preferred version thereof wherein the column of a first module is inserted into the coupling of a second module.

2 According to a first preferred version of the second aspect of the present invention there is provided a support structure comprising a sequence of plant support modules wherein the column of the first module in the sequence is inserted into the coupling of the last module in the sequence to provided a closed support boundary defined by the lateral sections of the modules in the sequence.

According to a second preferred version of the second aspect of the present invention there is provided a support structure comprising:

a first sequence of plant support modules wherein the column of the first module in the first sequence is inserted into the coupling of the last module in the sequence to provided a closed support boundary defined by the lateral sections of the modules in the sequence; the columns of the modules, in the first sequence being of substantially similar first length; and a second sequence of plant support modules wherein the column of the second module in the first sequence is inserted into a coupling of a module in the first sequence and into a coupling on another module of the second sequence; the columns of the modules in the second sequence being of substantially similar second length and the second length being greater than the first length.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a support structure according to the second aspect or any preferred version thereof when the columns are located in a natural or artificial granular medium or plastics material.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of plant support modules of which: Figure 1 is a side view; and Figure 2 a plan view from above of a first embodiment; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a sequence of plant support modules described in connection with Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view from above of a second embodiment; and Figure 5 is a plan view from above of a third embodiment.; and 3 Figure 6 shows in elevation an arrangement of plant support modules supporting at different vertical levels.

In the case of all three embodiments the modules are fabricated from a nylon coated galvanised mild steel wire.

FIRST EMBODIMENT (FicuREs 1 AND 2) These figures variously show a plant support module 11 comprising a column 12, a lateral section 13 and a coupling 14.

Inner end 15 of lateral section 13 extends at bend 16 from top end 17 of column 12. The column 12 and lateral section 13 are each substantially straight with, respectively, longitudinal axis 12', 13'. The axis 12' and axis 13' are at an angle of 95' (that is to say slightly more than a right angle).

Coupling 14 is in the form of an un-closed loop 18 at outer end 19 of the lateral section 13.

Outermost end 20 of the lateral section lies within the loop 18 and lies at the end of a short straight section 21 which ends in a bend 22 which is separated by a gap C from the main part of the lateral section. This gap C represents the shortest distance between the loop 18 and is substantially less than the diameter of the wire from which the module is fabricated.

The loop 18 lies in a plane which is substantially horizontal when the module is viewed from the opposite side of column 12 to lateral section 13 when the column is positioned vertically.

Figure 3 shows a support structure comprising three plant support modules 31, 32, 33 identical in form to that described ion connection with Figures 1 and 2. Column 31C of module 31 is inserted in loop 33L of module 33; column 32C of module 32 is inserted in loop 31L of column 31; and column 33C of module 33 is inserted in loop 32L of module 1\ 4 32. In this way a closed support boundary made up of lateral sections 31S, 32S, 33S is provided around area A through which stems of plants to be supported extend. The form of each of the loops 31L, 32L, 33L is such as to allow for a degree of movement of a column retained in the loop without allowing the column to become disengaged from the loop. The open nature of each loop also provides for a degree of resilient action to be applied to a column with which the loop is engaged making up a sequence. Such resilient action serves to resist deformation of the support boundary when plant stems are driven into contact with a part of the boundary (such as can arise with a bushy plant subject to wind movement).

SECOND EMBODIMENT (Fic;uRE 4) 1 This shows a plant support module 41 in a similar view to that of Figure 2. However in this case coupling 44 is in the form of an un-closed loop 48 at outer end 49 of lateral section 43. Outermost end 50 of the lateral section 43 lies within loop 48 and lies at the end of a short straight section 51 which ends in a bend 52 which is separated by a gap G from the main part of the lateral section. This gap G represents the shortest distance between tlae loop 48 and is substantially less than the diameter of the wire from which the module 41 is made.

In contrast to the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 where loop 18 lies to one side of the longitudinal axis 13' of lateral section 13 in this second embodiment the loop 48 lies on either side of longitudinal axis 43' of lateral section 43. In certain circumstances of use this more symmetrical configuration of coupling 44 relative to the remainder of lateral section 43 in comparison with the configuration of the first embodiment provides visual and /or working advantages.

THIRD EMBODIMENT. (FicURE 5) This shows a plant support module 61 when viewed in a similar manner to that of Figure 2. However in this case coupling 64 is in the form of a triangular un-closed loop 68 at outer end 69 of lateral section 63. Outermost end 70 of the lateral section 63 lies within loop 68 and lies at the end of a short straight section 71 which ends in a bend 72 which is separated by a gap C from the main part of the lateral section. This gap C represents the shortest distance between the loop 68 and is substantially less than the diameter of the 10 wire from which the module 61 is made.

Figure 6 This shows a two tiered arrangement of plant support where a boundary B2 established by modules M1, M2, M3 similar to that discussed in relation to Figure 3 is repeated at a higher level as a boundary B1 by inserting columns of modules N1, N2, N3 with columns of greater length than those on the modules making up the lower boundary BL Some or all of the columns of modules N1, N2, N3 can be inserted into the couplings of the lower modules M1, M2, M3. In this way it is possible to configure boundary B2 either to be similar to the configuration of boundary B1 or to be similar for a section and thereafter to 20 follow a different path.

It will apparent that the invention provides a wide range of module types and plant support configurations provided by way of the modules.

Claims

6 1 A plant support module comprising a column section, a lateral section extending from the column section; the lateral section being attached at one end to the column; and a coupling provided at the opposite end of the lateral section to the one end, the coupling being in the form of an unclosed loop with the end of the lateral section lying within the loop and the closest juxtaposition of the loop with the remainder of the lateral section being at a location off set from the end of the lateral section.
A plant support module as claimed in Claim 1 when formed of a material of constant cross section such as wire.
3 A plant support module as claimed in any preceding claim having a protective plastic coating.
4 A plant support module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the loop of the coupling lies substantially in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the column.
A plant support module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the column and the lateral section are each straight over at least the major part of their lengths and where the lateral section extends from the column they lie at an angle to one another greater than a right angle.
6 A support structure for a plant comprising a plurality of plant support modules as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the column of a first module is inserted into the coupling of a second module.
7 A support structure as claimed in Claim 6 comprising a sequence of plant support modules as claimed in any of preceding claims 1 to 5 wherein the column of the first module in the sequence is inserted into the coupling of the last module in the 7 sequence to provided a closed support boundary defined by the lateral sections of themodules in the sequence.
8 A support structure comprising a first sequence of plant support modules as claimed in any of preceding claims 1 to 4 wherein the column of the first module in the first sequence is inserted into the coupling of the last module in the sequence to provided a closed support boundary defined by the lateral sections of the modules in the sequence; the columns of the modules in the first sequence being of substantially similar first length; and a second sequence of plant support modules as claimed in any of preceding claims 1 to 4 wherein the column of the second module in the first sequence is inserted into a coupling of a module in the first sequence and into a coupling on another module of the second sequence; the columns of the modules in the second sequence being of substantially similar second length and the second length being greater than the first length.
9 A support structure as claimed in any of preceding claims 5 to 8 wherein the columns are located in a natural or artificial granular medium or plastics material
10 A support module as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
11 A support structure as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of he accompanying drawings.