Patent Application
20090044446
The present invention is related generally to plant husbandry, and more specifically to a collapsible plant support structure or stand.
Collapsible plant stands have been desirable, and indeed employed, for decades. Generally, prior plant stands involve two methods of collapsibility, both of which have their respective drawbacks.
First, many prior collapsible plant stands comprise only a plurality of rigid support members. While offering the benefits of suitable plant support and collapsibility, there are at least two potential disadvantages to such devices. One disadvantage of using collapsible plant stands incorporating several rigid members is that such stands may create a safety concern. Plant stands may be used in a garden. In a garden, it is common for gardeners to pull weeds while standing and bending their torsos to an inverted position. While not a desirable consequence, a gardener may lose balance and accidentally fall onto nearby plant stands. Plant stands incorporating rigid components may cause severe injury, depending on the contact. Similar unsafe contact may occur if supported plants are near areas in which children engage in play.
Another disadvantage of using plant stands incorporating rigid structural members is the required assembly and disassembly during setup and storage, respectively. For a given plant stand structure, as the desired storage size of a given plant stand decreases, the required number of pieces into which it must be broken down increases, as does the time required for assembly and disassembly.
Second, some prior collapsible plant stands utilize a combination of rigid support members and several interconnecting flexible members such as rope, cable or twine. Again, similar to plant stands employing only rigid support members, these prior devices offer suitable plant support and collapsibility; however, sacrifice is often made during storage. The flexible members of prior devices tend to become entangled during the non-growing season, often causing frustration during preparation for the next season's use. In addition, depending upon the design of the plant support, the same safety concerns mentioned above may be present with stands of this second type.
Therefore, the art of plant husbandry would benefit from an improved collapsible plant stand that addresses at least the stated safety, assembly, and storage concerns surrounding prior devices.
The present invention provides an improved collapsible plant stand that addresses at least the stated safety, assembly, and storage concerns surrounding prior devices.
In one embodiment, a collapsible plant support is provided that includes at least three side panels, having a flexible material coupled to a frame member which has a folded and an unfolded configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the material is indirectly coupled to the frame member by use of a pocket. The flexible material assumes the configuration of its associated frame member in its unfolded configuration. Each side panel has generally opposing top and bottom portions. Each side panel is coupled to at least two others, thereby generally forming a ring when the support is fully deployed. At least one of the side panels includes a plurality of apertures formed through its flexible material. The apertures formed in the flexible panel material may be unobstructed holes, which may be circular, or the apertures may be arcuate or curvilinear slits. If the apertures are holes, a flap may be secured to the panel material that enables selective closure of the holes. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible panel material is a string reinforced polyethylene sheet material.
Additional support structures may be provided, such as stake loops coupled to the lower portion of the panels and reinforcement gussets coupled to adjacent panels. The gussets may have a further hole formed therein to accept additional support mechanisms such as stakes or tie-down ropes.
In addition to the side panels, an embodiment of a plant support according to the present invention may incorporate a top panel coupled to the top portions multiple side panels. This top panel may include a top aperture. To enable selective closure of the top panel aperture, a top flap may be provided as hingedly coupled to the top panel, itself, or to the top portion of one of the side panels.
A flexible bottom panel may also be provided. A preferred bottom panel is formed of a fluid pervious material and includes an aperture, in the form of a slit, to enable plant growth therethrough.
In an alternative embodiment, a plant support according to the present invention may include at least three side panels and a plurality of flexible shelves. Each side panel includes a flexible pocket coupled to a frame member having a folded and an unfolded configuration. Each side panel is coupled to at least two others, thereby generally forming a ring when the support is fully deployed. The flexible shelves, which are preferably formed from a fluid pervious material, are selectively coupled to a plurality of said side panels. Each shelf may further include an aperture.
To maintain selective engagement between the plurality of shelves and the frame structure, a plant stand according to the present invention may further include a plurality of toggle clasps. Each toggle clasp has a toggle and a cooperating loop. The toggle may be operatively attached to a shelf and the loop may be operatively attached to at least one of the pockets, or vice versa. Alternatively, rather than being completely removable from all side panels, one or more of the shelves may be relatively permanently fastened to a side panel, such as being sewn thereto.
A still further embodiment of a collapsible plant stand according to the present invention may combine previous embodiments. In other words, a further embodiment may include at least three side panels that have a flexible material coupled to a flexible pocket, the flexible material assuming the configuration of its associated side panel frame member in its unfolded configuration. At least one of said side panels may include a plurality of apertures formed through said flexible material. Added to this structure may be a plurality of flexible shelves as previously described.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Turning now to the figures,
Other components may be provided as a part of, or fastened to, one or more of the side panels 110. For instance, stake loops 122 may be provided proximate the bottom portion 113 of one or more panels 110. Through the stake loops 122, a stake 124 may be inserted, thereby cooperating with the ground or other support surface to maintain the plant stand 100 in a desired location. In addition to the stake loops 122, reinforcement gussets 126 may be added as a part of or fastened to a plurality of side panels 110. These gussets 126, while aiding in maintaining structural integrity, may also provide an alternate or additional stake aperture 127 (see
While the flexible material 114 may be any material suitable for supporting a given type of plant, the material preferably comprises a reinforced flexible plastic material such as a string reinforced polyethylene sheet material. The side panels 110 are generally arranged in a ring configuration so that a given panel 110a is coupled, directly or indirectly, to two other panels 110b,110c. At least one, but preferably all, of the side panels 110 include a plurality of apertures 118 formed through the flexible material 114. While the shape of the apertures 118 may be a matter of design choice, the apertures 118 are preferably circular openings 120 of suitable size, preferably about two to three inches in diameter.
To use this first embodiment 100 of a collapsible plant stand according to the present invention, the stand 100 is simply placed, in its uncollapsed configuration, over a young plant, such as a tomato plant, and preferably staked to the ground or tied to an existing support structure. As the plant matures, branches extending from the main stem of the plant may protrude through the apertures 118 in the side panels 110 and be supported thereby. The top aperture 132 allows sunlight and water to reach the plant generally free from obstruction.
A second embodiment 200 according to the present invention is shown in
To use this second embodiment 200 of a collapsible plant stand according to the present invention, the stand 200 is, like the first embodiment, simply placed over a plant to be supported and preferably staked to the ground or fastened to another support structure. When a greenhouse effect is desired, the top flap 234 may be positioned over the top aperture 232, thereby closing off a primary heat vent. As the plant grows, branches may protrude through any aperture 218 formed in the side panels 210 and may then be supported thereby. If the stand 200 is placed over a more mature plant, existing branches may be manually fed through the apertures 218.
A third embodiment 300 according to the present invention is shown in
A fourth embodiment 400 according to the present invention is shown in
To use the fourth embodiment 400, the stand is arranged as previously described with reference to other embodiments 100 and 200. Additionally, as the plant about which the stand has been placed begins to grow, its shoot will proceed through the apertures 442 provided in the fruit shelves 440, thereby allowing the shelves 440 to assist in supporting the plant and fruit depending from any branches thereof.
A fifth embodiment 500 according to the present invention is shown in
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
