Patent Application
20200060104
The present invention relates generally to tree supports, and particularly to a telescopic tree support.
As trees age, oftentimes, their branches become less healthy and vigorous and, without suitable intervention, oftentimes would break away from the main trunk of the tree. This can also occur with healthy branches that may be unduly stressed by weight. For example, as fruit develops on the branches of a fruit bearing tree stress is created that the branch or limb must support.
There are many reasons why one may wish to save a tree limb under distress rather than to simply remove it from the main trunk system. If the limb is fruit bearing, the distress would be removed once the fruit is harvested. Even in situations where a limb is less than vigorous, it is oftentimes desirable to save it rather than to prune or remove it. For example, such a limb could aesthetically add to the visual appearance of a tree or provide shade or privacy which the tree owner would wish to maintain if possible.
Several prior techniques have been employed in attempts to save distressed limbs. It is not uncommon to see braided wire fixed between the limb and load bearing trunk portions of the tree which, although are functional, further provide distress as such braided wire is generally screwed into the bark and limb of the trunk. Further, such guide wires are often unsightly and prove to be aesthetically detracting from the tree's overall appearance in many instances.
It is also oftentimes desirable to provide a limb support system on a temporary basis only to be removed once distress is no longer placed upon the limb. For example, when the tree is fruit bearing, once the fruit is harvested, there is oftentimes not a need to continue supporting the limb, at least until fruit reemerges in the following growing season.
What is needed is to provide a device capable of supporting a limb of a tree, and to provide a device for supporting a limb without involving the trunk or bark portion of the tree and without fixing the support device permanently proximate the distressed limb.
Yet another need is to provide a limb supporting device capable of being adjustable in height and capable of residing upon uneven terrain to enable the device to function appropriately proximate a distressed limb regardless of surrounding conditions.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. All terms in the plural shall also be taken as singular and vice-versa. Further, any reference to he shall also be applicable to she and vice-versa.
Referring now to
The tree limb support 100 has a pole 110. The pole is generally straight and made of a material which is strong and ecologically friendly. The material may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wood, heavy plastic, etc.
The pole 110 is adjustable and has a first portion 120 and a second portion 130. The first portion 120 has a proximal end 140 and a distal end 150. The proximal end 140 of the first portion is generally attachable to a support fork 160.
The first portion 120 of the pole 110 may have one or more holes 170. The one or more holes 170 may be any size and any shape that is conducive to providing a secure pole 110. The one or more holes 170 may form a straight line or may be off centered through the first portion 120 of the pole 110.
The second portion 130 of the pole 110 has a proximal end 180 and a distal end 190. The proximal end 180 of the second portion 130 of the pole 110 has a connector below the end of the proximal end 180 of the second portion 130 of the pole 110. The connector 192 may be any size or shape but must be compatible with the one or more holes 170 of the first portion 120 of the pole 110. The connector 192 must fit securely into the one or more holes 180 of the first portion 120 of the pole 110.
To create the entire pole 110, the proximal end 180 of the second portion 130 of the pole 110 is slid into the distal end 150 of the first portion 120 of the pole 110. The determination of how long to make the pole 110 is made by measuring the distance from where the tree limb needs to be relative to the ground. The measurement is used to then slide the proximal end 180 of the second portion 130 of the pole 110 into the distal end 150 of the first portion 120 of the pole 110 until the desired length is reached. The connector 192 of the second portion 130 of the pole 110 is then released into one of the one or more holes 170 at the desired or substantially near the desired length. Once the connector 192 of the second portion 130 of the pole 110 is set in the one of the one or more holes 170 of the first portion 120 of the pole, the pole 110 is secure.
At the proximate end 140 of the first portion 120 of the pole 110 is a fork connection 142. The fork connection is coupled to the proximate end 140 of the pole 110 on a first side 143 and to the support fork 160 on a second side 144. The fork connector 142 may have any kind or type of connector that would securely couple the fork support 160 to the proximal end 140 of the first portion 120 of the pipe 110.
The distal end 190 of the second portion 130 of the pipe 110 is coupled to a support leg 194. The support leg 194 may be any secure structure, such as a trip-pod, a round base, etc. The
The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
