WO2010022905A1

WO2010022905A1 - A plant protecting device

Info

Publication number: WO2010022905A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/006123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mervyn Smyth
Original assignee: University Of Ulster
Priority date: 2008-08-26
Filing date: 2009-08-24
Publication date: 2010-03-04
Also published as: GB0815460D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a plant protection device (10), for example for use with young plants (P) or vines or the like, which consists of a mulch base (16) through which the plant projects directly from the ground, and to which base is fixed a transparent cylindrical sidewall (12) which surrounds the plant (P), and from the top of which the plant (P) can extend in order to allow unhindered growth.

Description

A Plant Protecting Device

Field of the invention

The present invention is concerned with a device for protecting a plant, in particular a device commonly referred to as a "grow tube" for use with young plants, for example vines, to provide protection and to enhance the growth conditions of the plant.

Background of the invention

Young plants, such as grapevines, require a certain amount of protection. The use of some form of shelter can have many benefits. A shelter protects vines against small mammals, herbicide drift, desiccating winds and weather damage. It can also reduce evapotranspiration, increase growth rate and reduce labour for vine training. The most common form of shelter is the "grow tube". These factors often make grow tubes a good choice for new vineyards and especially for replacement vines in established vineyards. With proper use, a vineyard could be in full production a year earlier than normal. A grow tube conventionally takes the form of a cylinder of transparent plastic that is wrapped around the base of the vine in order to provide protection against both the weather and small animals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for protecting a plant. Summary of the invention

The present invention therefore provides a plant protecting device comprising a wall portion and a base, the device being displaceable between an erected state and a collapsed state.

Preferably, the wall portion, when in the erected state, is in the form of a truncated pyramid or cone.

Preferably, the base comprises mulch material.

Preferably, the device, when in the collapsed state, is in sheet form.

Preferably, the base comprises an opening through which, in use, a plant may project.

Preferably, the wall portion, when the device is in the erected state, defines an aperture opposite the base through which a plant may extend out of the device.

Preferably, the wall portion is substantially light transmissive.

Preferably, the wall portion comprises a plurality of wall panels hingedly connected to one another.

Preferably, adjacent wall panels are connected by means of a respective flexible hinge.

Preferably, the wall portion is of double wall construction defining a cavity therebetween. Preferably, the device comprises a support frame secured to the wall portion and displaceable between collapsed and expanded states, the wall portion comprising material which is deformable with the support frame during said displacement.

Preferably, the support frame comprises a coil spring.

Preferably, the coil spring is connected at a first end to the base and at a second end about the aperture opposite the base.

Preferably, the base comprises at least one base portion hingedly mounted to the wall portion.

Preferably, the base comprises one or more fluid filled cavities.

Preferably, the device comprises venting means in the wall portion.

Preferably, the device comprises attachment means projecting from the wall portion.

As used herein, the term "mulch" is intended to mean a material or mixture of materials applied to soil in order to benefit plant growth and minimize labor, in particular via the conservation of soil moisture, the moderation of soil temperature, and the suppression of weeds, and may consist of a variety of materials, for example organic residues such as bark, wood chips, grass clippings or leaves, compost, and rubber or plastic mulch.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a device for protecting a plant according to the present invention, located in situ surrounding a young plant;

Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 illustrates a development of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a plant protecting device according to the present invention, in an erected state; and

Figure 5 illustrates the plant protecting device of Figure 4 in a collapsed state.

Detailed description of the drawings

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a plant protecting device, generally indicated as 10, for protecting a plant P such as a vine or the like, and which creates a mini greenhouse environment around the plant P, thereby improving the conditions for growth and preferably reducing the time taken for the plant to reach maturity or product fruit or the like.

The device 10 comprises a wall portion 12 which, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, comprises four wall panels 14 hingedly mounted to one another. The wall portion 12 could be of any other suitable shape, for example conical, as will become apparent from the following description of the configuration and operation of the device 10. In addition the wall portion 12 may be substantially rigid, or may be formed from a deformable or flexible material.

The wall panels 14 are light transmissive, and preferably formed from a transparent plastic, although any other suitable material may be employed. The device 10 further comprises a base portion 16 which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a pair of base panels 18, but could equally be a single panel or more than two panels. The device 10 is displaceable between an erected state as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and a collapsed state as illustrated in Fig. 3. In the erected state the device 10 is in the form of a truncated pyramid which includes an aperture 20 at the top thereof, in order to allow the plant P to grow upwardly out of the device 10. The base portion 16, and in particular each base panel 18, is also provided with an opening in the form of a slot 22 therein, which allows the plant P to pass upwardly from the ground, through the base portion 16, into the device 10. Although the preferred embodiment of the device 10 is pyramidal in form and having four sides, it will be appreciated from the following description that the device 10 could be provided with three sides or more than four sides. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the wall portion 12 could be conical in shape, in which case the base portion 16 would be circular, or the wall portion 12 could be of any other suitable shape such as a triangular prism or the like.

Referring now to Figure 3, it can be seen that each wall panel 14 includes a lower edge 24 and an upper edge 26, which upper edges 26, in use together define the aperture 20. Adjacent wall panels 14 are secured to one another along a common side 28, which sides 28 are in the form of a flexible hinge in order to allow the wall panels 14 to be folded relative to one another. The sides 28 may be perforated in order to ease the folding of adjacent wall panels 14 relative to one another. Each of the two base panels 18 are secured to a respective wall panel 14 in similar fashion, along the lower edge 24 of that wall panel 14. Again the flexible hinge defined between each base panel 18 and respective wall panel 14 may be perforated. It will however be appreciated that the base portion 16, comprising the two base panels 18, could be fixed to the wall portion 12 by any other suitable means.

From Figure 3 it can be seen that the device 10, as a result of the configuration thereof, can be developed into a collapsed state which is flat pack in form. This ability to be flat packed significantly reduces the cost and complexity of manufacturing the device 10, and is beneficial for transport and/or storage purposes. In addition, the collapsible nature allows the device 10 to be retro fitted around an existing plant P, simply by folding or forming the device 10 into the erected state about the plant P.

In order to secure the device 10 in position, the device 10 is preferably provided with attachment means in the form of one or more fixing tabs 30 projecting from the wall portion 12, each having a hole therein. Thus once the device 10 is erected around the plant P, as illustrated in Figure 1 , a fixing pin or the like can be passed through the hole in each tab 30, in order to secure the device 10 to the ground. This will ensure that the device 10 remains in position during strong wind or rain. In addition, the two wall panels 14 disposed at either end are provided with one or more aperture 32 which, when the device 10 is folded into the erected state illustrated in Figure 1, will be located adjacent to one another. A simple fixing such as a length of twine, a zip-tie, clippings means or the like can then be used to secure these two wall panels 14 to one another, in order to provide stability to the erected pyramidal form of the device 10.

Thus, in use, the device 10 is folded into position about a plant P, and the slots 22 in the base panels 18 are located about the plant P in order to accommodate same. In this way, and as illustrated in Figure 1 , the two base panels 18 abut against one another to form an essentially continuous base portion 16 covering the ground around the plant P, beneath which the roots of the plant P are located. As mentioned above, the wall portion 12 is preferably substantially light transmissive, and more preferably formed from a transparent plastic such as single or twin walled polycarbonate sheeting or the like, although any other suitable material may be employed, for example polypropylene, polyester or the like. The wall portion 12 should preferably incorporate ultra violet light blockers to ensure the longevity of the device 10. The transparent wall portion 12 thus allows solar radiation to pass therethrough to the interior of the device 10. This solar radiation is then trapped within the device 10, increasing the local ambient temperature around the plant P. The use of the pyramidal shape for the wall portion 12, which slope outwardly towards the base portion 12, provide a greater surface area than conventional cylindrical grow tubes, thus increasing the heating affect which can be realised.

The base 16 is preferably formed from a plastic mulch, but could equally be of any other suitable material. For example, a fibrous material such as coconut husk or the like could be employed. Alternatively, the base 16 could be formed from quilt like material, similar in form to "bubblewrap" and defining a number of fluid filled cavities. In use the cavities could contain for example air, water, a gel or a phase change material, in order to improve the heat retention properties of the base 16. The base 16 is also preferably solar absorptive, for example by being of a dark colour, preferably black, on at least the upper surface thereof. Thus solar radiation passing through the wall portion 12 will be incident on the base portion 16, heating same. The dark or black colouring of the base portion 16 maximises this affect. The heated base portion 16 will in turn heat the soil located directly beneath the base portion 16, thus increasing plant root growth.

The base 16 also suppresses the growth of weeds by use of the mulch, and water retention is also improved. A mini greenhouse effect is therefore created within the enclosed space defined by the device 10, improving the growth rate of the plant P. The wall portion 12 may be provided with venting means (not shown), preferably adjacent the base 16, in order facilitate a level of ventilation of the device 10 in order to prevent overheating. The venting means (not shown) may take the form of one or more perforations or slots in the wall panels 14, although any other suitable arrangement may be employed.

Thus it can be seen that the device 10 of the present invention provides a number of benefits over conventional grow tubes. In particular, a greater amount of heat is collected as a result of the shape of the wall portion 12, and the dark colouration of the base portion 16. In addition, the addition of the base portion 16 significantly reduces, if not eliminates, the common occurrence of increased weed growth around the young plant P. The dimensions of the device 10 may be varied to suit different plants or applications.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 there is illustrates a second embodiment of a plant protecting device according to the present invention, generally indicated as 1 10. In this second embodiment like components have been accorded like reference numerals, and unless otherwise stated perform a like function.

The device 1 10 comprises a wall portion 112 which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a single wall panel 1 14 which, when in the erect state as shown in figure 4, is of frusto-conical shape. The wall panel 1 14 is again formed from a light transmissive material, preferably a transparent plastic, and in the embodiment illustrated a deformable plastic which is capable of collapsing on itself in order to permit displacement of the device 1 10 between the erected state shown in figure 4 and the collapsed state shown in figure 5, as described in detail hereinafter.

The device 1 10 further comprises a base portion 116 which is fixed to the wall portion 114, preferably along the entire circumference of the base portion 1 16. The base portion 116, as with the first embodiment above, is preferably formed from a mulch material, and most preferably a plastic mulch having a dark or black upper surface in order to maximise solar radiation absorption. Located opposite the base portion 1 16, when the device 1 10 is in the erected state, is an aperture 120 defining the top of the device 1 10 and from which a plant P can extend during use as the plant P undergoes growth beyond the initial height of the protecting device 1 10. The base portion 116 is also provided with a slot 122 therein, which allows the plant P to pass upwardly from the ground, through the base portion 1 16, and into the interior of the protecting device 1 10.

The device 1 10 further comprises a support frame which is in the form of a spring like coil 40 preferably formed from wire or other resiliently deformable material, and which is preferably located against the interior surface of the wall panel 1 14 and secured thereto by suitable means. The support frame 40 further comprises a lower ring 42 which is secured about the outer circumference of the base portion 1 16, from which the helical portion of the coil 40 extends. Located at the opposed end of the coil 40 is an upper ring 44 which is secured about the aperture 120 at the upper end of the wall portion 112. The lower ring 42 and upper ring 44 serve to maintain the overall shape of the device 1 10, in combination with the helical portion of the coil 40.

The resilience of the coil 40 is selected such as to be capable of supporting the device 1 10 in the erected state shown in figure 4, but will still allow manual pressure to collapse the device 110 into the collapsed state illustrated in figure 5. This is achieved by simply pressing downwardly on the upper ring 44, in order to displace same towards the base portion 1 16. This will have the effect of compressing the coil 40 against the base portion 116, which will also result in the wall panel 1 14 collapsing along with the coil 40.

Thus when in the collapsed state as illustrated in figure 5 the device 1 10 will be in the form of an essentially flat disk, which is beneficial for both transport and storage purposes. Suitable means may be provided to retain the device 1 10 in the collapsed state, as the resilience of the spring 40 will bias the device 110 towards the extended or erected state. This could simply take the form of a piece of adhesive tape used to secure the upper ring 44 to the base portion 1 16 once the device 1 10 has been displaced into the collapsed state. It is then simply a matter of removing this adhesive tape or other fixing means, following which the device 1 10 will automatically extend into the erected state, under the influence of the resilient coil 40.

The benefits of the light transmissive wall portion 112, in addition to the dark or black mulch base portion 1 16 are the same as those detailed above with respect to the first embodiment. This second embodiment again provides a simple yet efficient means of providing protection for a young plant P such as a vine or the like. The device 1 10 can be very quickly and easily displaced between the collapsed and extended states, and is extremely compact and light-weight, in particular when in the collapsed state, for transport and storage purposes.

Claims

1. A plant protecting device comprising a wall portion and a base, the device being displaceable between an erected state and a collapsed state.

2. A plant protecting device according to claim 1 in which the wall portion, when in the erected state, is in the form of a truncated pyramid or cone.

3. A plant protecting device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base comprises mulch material.

4. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim which, when in the collapsed state, is in sheet form.

5. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the base comprises an opening through which, in use, a plant may project.

6. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the wall portion, when the device is in the erected state, defines an aperture opposite the base through which a plant may extend out of the device.

7. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the wall portion is substantially light transmissive.

8. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the wall portion comprises a plurality of wall panels hingedly connected to one another.

9. A plant protecting device according to claim 8 in which adjacent wall panels are connected by means of a respective flexible hinge.

10. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the wall portion is of double wall construction defining a cavity therebetween.

1 1. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim comprising a support frame secured to the wall portion and displaceable between collapsed and expanded states, the wall portion comprising material which is deformable with the support frame during said displacement.

12. A plant protecting device according to claim 1 1 in which the support frame comprises a coil spring.

13. A plant protecting device according to claim 12 in which the coil spring is connected at a first end to the base and at a second end about the aperture opposite the base.

14. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the base comprises at least one base portion hingedly mounted to the wall portion.

15. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim in which the base comprises one or more fluid filled cavities.

16. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim comprising venting means in the wall portion.

17. A plant protecting device according to any preceding claim comprising attachment means projecting from the wall portion.