GB2462889A

GB2462889A - Guard for protecting trees from grass trimmers

Info

Publication number: GB2462889A
Application number: GB0815924A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Leckie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-02
Filing date: 2008-09-02
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Also published as: GB0815924D0

Abstract

A guard for protecting the trunks of trees and hedges from the effects of lawn trimmers or of a Strimmer® comprises a tube1a longitudinally open side having two long edges, the edges overlapping2. The tube1may have ground retaining means which may comprise a flange3having at least one hole4through which pegs or pins5may be pushed. The flange3may have reinforced edges6and the flange3may be at right angles to the tube. Alternatively the retaining means may be spikes7which are integral to the tube1, on a side opposite the overlapping edges2. The device therefore will expand with the stem of the plant over time. The tube1made be made of plastics, metal or cardboard and may be biodegradable.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. .... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GBO8 15924.6 RTM Date:16 November 2009 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Strimmer Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk Plant Guard for Protection from Strimming The invention relates to a specific means of protecting plants, particularly hedging plants, from the action of a cord trimmer (or strimmer') when weeds are being cleared from around the plants.

There are many types of protection for young woody plants especially trees, but these protectors tend to be tall in height (say 60cm or more) and tubular in form. These protectors are not suitable for plants whose lower branches are being encouraged to grow, as in hedging plants such as holly, cypress leylandli and laurel.

The idea behind this invention is to protect hedge plants in particular, but also individual bush type plants, in locations such as gardens, parks and other amenity areas when the grass and weeds growing beside and among the hedge plants and/or bushes are being strimmed', i.e. cut back by a petrol engined or electric cord trimmer or strimmer'. If the cord of the strimmer' hits the stem of the hedge plant or bush, the skin or bark of the stem is likely to be completely removed near the base of the stem. If this happens, the plant will die.

My invention consists of a short, but of any suitable length, plastic (or other suitable material) tube with a vertically open side with an overlapping edge.

The material used would be such that the device could be cut to an appropriate length. A range of diameters would be available to suit different sizes of plants. An option is to make the tube of a material which will biodegrade of its own accord after a number of years. The tube will be fixed to the ground by pins pushed into the ground through holes in an integral flange to the tube. Alternatively, integral spikes could be used to hold the tube in position. The tube will thus not itself rotate when hit by the strimmer' cord, thereby eliminating damage to the plant caused by the inadvertent rotation of the tube.

It is important that the device is designed in a way that will allow several to be packaged together for storage and sale. A small degree of tapering of the tubes themselves may be necessary to facilitate this.

The device could be produced in different colours -to allow the device to blend in with the vegetation, or to allow the device to be highly visible, as required by the user.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a front view of the device Figure 2 shows a rear view of the device Figure 3 shows a plan view of the device Figure 4 shows the flange and pins from the side Figure 5 shows a variation of the device with integral spikes Figure 6 shows the device in position around a plant.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the device consists of a short tube 1 made of a strong but flexible material such as plastic, thin metal or possibly cardboard.

An important feature of the tube is that it is open at the front side with a considerable overlap 2.

The purpose of the overlap 2 is to allow the plant to grow, i.e. for the circumference of its stem to increase over time, but remaining within the confines and therefore protection of the tube. After a number of years, the device will either biodegrade if it is made of biodegradable material; or it can be physically removed when the hedge or plant is large enough to provide enough shade to discourage grass and weeds, or when its stem is tough enough to withstand strimming'. The overlap will also allow the device to be retro-fitted after the plant has been placed in the ground, simply by opening the tube and placing it around the stem of the plant before securing the tube to the ground (see below). It will also be possible to temporarily remove and replace the device to allow any weeds growing within the confines of the tube to be pulled out by hand.

One method of fixing the device to the ground is to use pins pushed or tapped through holes on an integral flange. Figures 2 and 3 show the flange 3 at the rear of the tube. In operation the flange will lie fiat on the ground, at an angle of 90 degrees to the vertical tube. There will be two small holes 4 with raised, reinforced edges 6 on the flange, as shown on Figure 4. Figures 2 and 4 show the plastic, metal or wooden pins 5 of a suitable diameter to fit inside the holes, and of a suitable length.

A possible alternative method of fixing the device to the ground is by the use of integral spikes 7. This variant of the device is shown on Figure 5.

The purpose of the pins 5 or spikes 7 is to keep the device in position. It is particularly important that the tube itself does not rotate when hit by the fast-moving cord of the strimmer', because if the tube did rotate its top edge of would be likely to cause damage to the plant stem. Keeping the tube in position will also provide continuous protection for the base of the plant stem from damage by gnawing animals, and may sustain a beneficial micro-climate' at the base of the plant.

Claims

Claims 1. A protection for plants from the action of a cord-trimmer or strimmer', consisting of a tube with a vertically open side with an overlapping edge, and incorporating a means of fixing the tube to the ground.
2. The tube, as claimed in Claim 1, to have a vertically open side with an overlapping edge to allow the stem of the plant being protected to expand in diameter over time while still having the protection of the tube.
3. The tube, as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, to be short, possibly around lOcms, but of any suitable length, so that the plant being protected can have branches and leaves close to the ground, e.g. as required in a hedge.
4. The tube as claimed in the preceding Claims to be made of plastic, thin metal, cardboard or other suitable material strong enough to withstand the action of the cord of the strimmer' upon it.
5. The tube as claimed in the preceding Claims to be made of such material as to allow the tube to be cut to a suitable length as required.
6. The tube as claimed in the preceding Claims to be made in a range of diameters to suit different sizes of plants.
7. An option for the tube as claimed in the preceding Claims is for it to be manufactured in a material which will be biodegradable of its own accord after a number of years.
8. An essential feature of the tube as claimed in the preceding claims to be that it is designed to be fixed to the ground so that it does not rotate and damage the stem of the plant being protected when hit by the strimmer' cord; this fixing being achieved either by pins pushed into the ground through reinforced holes in a flange at right angles to the vertical side of the tube, or by means of spikes integral to the tube.
9. The overall device, including the means of fixing it to the ground as described in Claim 7, to be designed in such a way that several can be packaged together for ease of storage.
10. The overall device as claimed in the preceding Claims to be made available in different colours -to allow the device to blend in with the plants being protected, or to allow the device to be highly visible, as required by the user.
11. A plant guard for protection from strimming' substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.