Patent Application
20090172999
This device is related to weed inhibitors for garden plants, and especially for gardens which are further covered by weed barriers. The device is further related to devices which outline and protect definitive holes in weed barriers, thereby providing access to such holes for earth working and growing garden plants and bushes. The device is still further related to weed inhibitors having access apertures which, themselves, may be covered to selectively inhibit plant growth thereunder.
Weed barriers have long been used to inhibit weed growth. Weed barriers are widely used in areas such as perennial gardens where earth working is rarely needed to stimulate new growth and above-ground vegetation is present all year round. Annual gardens, however, are benefited by earth working for planting new vegetation or introducing soil-enhancing nutrients. Furthermore, vegetation with limited growing periods leave exposed soil open to weeds during non-growing periods. Disturbing unsecured weed barriers may lead to fraying or tearing resulting in a compromised weed barrier and weed growth.
In the past, weed inhibitors have addressed issues related to perennial plant growth with emphasis on weed inhibition around a tree or shrub trunk. None include applying a reusable aperture cover to inhibit all plant growth or removing such a cover to permit plant growth as desired. Some known related art weed inhibitors include a number of U.S. patents related to protecting space around tree trunks. Examples of these are:
U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,054 to Gary LeRoy Smiley (Jan. 9, 2007) discloses a weed inhibitor which expands to accommodate the growth of tree or shrub trunks. Smiley (054) discloses covering the soil as the tree trunk expands; having a designed purpose is to prevent all weed growth around the trunk. U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,731 to Steve E. Byrne (Mar. 14, 1995) discloses a mulch pad with a central trunk receiving aperture and a partially pre-cut, relockable slit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,992 to Raymond J. Scharf, Sr. (May 26, 1981) discloses a tree protector with hollow, hold-down spikes for watering the tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,969 to Merle E. Mattson (Feb. 28, 1967) discloses a weed inhibitor mulch pad with a slit used to place the device around an existing tree or shrub. U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,869 to Kuniaki Yakushinji (Aug. 21, 2001) discloses a weed control plate formed conically to cover tree roots and ground. U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,044 to Francis C. Clancy (Mar. 16, 2004) discloses adjustable landscaping ergonomic pads of various shapes adapted for covering the soil around the trunks of shrubs, trees, and garden plants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,001 to Michael S. Crawley (Feb. 4, 1992) discloses a mulch skirt with serrations to custom-size the opening to fit a post or tree trunk. U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,176 to Gene C. Suttle (Jun. 4, 1996) A flexible landscaping ground cover to be placed around a base of an object, such as a tree or shrub, to prevent the vegetation growth with drainage holes which permit water and air to pass into the soil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,688 to Thomas L. Revane (Jan. 5, 1982) discloses two or more fiberglass preformed sections interfit to form a cover about the base of a tree. Sections are removed as the tree grows. A framework is used as a concrete form to ensure the cover sections fit together properly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,203 to Michael Worzek (Mar. 10, 1987) discloses a protector for surrounding the base of a trunk of a tree with a barrier wall and outwardly extending flange which serves as a mower track. Pins anchor the device to the soil.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,557 to Donald J. Sonntag (Jun. 28, 1994) discloses a landscaping mat with a flexible inner portion with a concentric rib between inner and outer peripheries to retain ornamental landscaping materials. U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,586 to Edward Neal Caldwell (Jul. 29, 1975) discloses a system for promoting plant growth wherein a ground engaging member having a peripheral trough and depending root feeder elements is anchored in the ground and has a raised, apertured, central portion which overlies a plant, and wherein a cover member having a lower peripheral generally V-shaped trough is cooperatively received within the trough of the ground engaging member, the cover member also having a raised central shield portion providing protection for the plant as it protrudes upwardly through the central aperture in the ground engaging member during growth.
It may be noted that none of the above U.S. patents disclose or address problems related to annuals or planting in areas which may, from time to time, be vacated and in which it is desired, in those areas, to inhibit plant growth.
The present invention is a landscaping weed barrier securement device which may be constructed in varying sizes. This device secures plastic, fabric or other like membrane weed barrier around an open aperture in a plastic, fabric or other like membrane weed barrier. An aperture in the base of the device allows earth working while minimizing damage or disruption of the weed barrier. A reusable aperture cover allows closure of the base aperture to inhibit undesired plant growth. Conversely, the cover may be removed for access to the opening of the base aperture and allow plant growth. When applied, the reusable aperture cover and base create a light barrier and tortuous path to inhibit plant growth between the cover and base. Weed barrier securement posts secure the weed barrier to the base. Anchors disposed through the base secure the base and weed barrier to the soil.
The present invention helps maintain the integrity of the weed barrier by minimizing manipulation of the weed barrier whilst permitting vegetation growth when desired, or by means of the reusable aperture cover, the inhibiting same. Devices made according to the invention provide a means for maintaining weed barrier integrity whilst permitting earth working within the apertures of the weed barrier and base. Furthermore, the device provides a means for inhibiting weed growth with reusable aperture cover.
It is, therefore, the object of the invention to provide a device for securing a weed barrier, for providing a coverable aperture which may be exposed for earth working and plant growth.
It is another object to provide selective access through an orifice in the device to soil beneath the device for earth working.
Another object of the invention is to reduce or eliminate disturbance or damage to the weed barrier when planting or earth working through the orifice.
It is an important object of the invention is to inhibit vegetation growth by means of a removable and replaceable cover for the device aperture.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a tortuous path to inhibit vegetation growth between the reusable aperture cover and base.
It is yet another object to provide a tortuous path between anchors and anchor slots to inhibit vegetation growth between the base and anchors.
It Is still another object provide a manufacturing design by which parts may be made by injection molding, compression molding or vacuum molding.
It is another object to provide a device base which is secured to soil by plastic or metal anchors.
It is another object to provide multi-seasonal location for planting annuals year-to-year in order to maintain a consistent landscape design.
Another object of the invention is to prevent water from pooling on the base or aperture cover.
It is another object to provide a low-to-the-ground silhouette of the base such that the device is easily covered by mulch, bark, gravel or rock.
Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in
Device 10 comprises an aperture 70 which surrounds hole 50 such that base 20 provides protection for mat 40 about hole 50. Though not necessary within the scope of the present invention, hole 50 and aperture 70 are preferred to be somewhat circular in construction. As seen in
Further protection of mat 40 is afforded by securely affixing base 20 to soil 60 by stakes 30, each driven through an open stake aperture 80 in base 20, although, other ways of staking base 20 to soil 60 may be accomplished within the scope of the invention. For example, a “U” shaped stake may be affixed about an outwardly extending flange, such as flange 90. With a base 20 and hole 50 provided, a plant 100 may be planted and grown as seen in
A clearer view of stakes 30 is seen in
In
Cover 110 has an outer ring surface 160 which is complementary in size and width to surface 150 such that when cover 10 is disposed within surface 150 upon shelf 140, a circular tortuous pathway is defined from aperture 70 upward and outward to inhibit plant growth therethrough. As noted in
Further, as seen in
A stake 30 which is formed and in molded to be used with base 20 is seen in
As seen in
It is important that cover 110 be light inhibiting to reduce plant growth thereunder. Also, it is preferred that base 20 be similarly light inhibiting. It is therefore preferred that both cover 110 and base 20 be molded (e.g. injection molded) from synthetic resinous material which is weather resistant and substantially opaque. Such materials are widely available currently in the plastic molding art.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
