BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a tree stake;
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the tree stake of the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the tree stake of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the tree stake of the present invention holding a tree;
FIG. 5 illustrates a exploded view of the tree stake of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the tree stake of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the tree stake 200 of the present invention. The tree stake 200 may be formed from rigid rods of metal including steel, plastic, wood or other such suitable material. The tree stake 200 includes a first anchor member 202, a second anchor member 204 and a third anchor member 206. The first anchor member 202, the second anchor member 204 and the third anchor member 206 may be formed from rigid rods which are positioned so that the first anchor member 202, the second anchor member 204 and the third anchor member 206 surround the periphery of the root ball of the young tree without the need to penetrate the root ball. The anchor members 202, 204, 206 are formed in the general longitudinal direction of the tree stake 200. The anchor members 202, 204, 206 form a stable base for the tree stake 200. The central longitudinal member 208 is formed in the general longitudinal direction of the tree stake 200. The central longitudinal member 208 can be connected to the young trees by various straps at varying heights.
The central longitudinal member 204 and the first anchor member 202 are connected to the first traverse member 210 at opposing ends of the first traverse member 210, and the central longitudinal member 204 and a second anchor member 204 are connected to the second traverse member 212 at opposing ends of the second traverse member 212. The central longitudinal member 204 and the third anchor member 206 are connected to the third traverse member 214 at opposing ends of the third traverse member 214. The central longitudinal member 214 forms approximately a right angle with the first traverse member 210, the second traverse member 212, and the third traverse member 214. The first anchor member 202, the second anchor member 204 and the third anchor member 206 form a approximate right angle with the first traverse member 210, the second traverse member 212 and the third traverse member 214, respectively. Other angles are within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention and illustrates that the present invention may have fewer or greater number of anchor members. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a first anchor member 302 and a second anchor member 304.
FIG. 4 illustrates that the first anchor member 202, the second anchor member 204 and the third anchor member 206 are placed around and in close proximity to the periphery of the tree ball, and as a consequence, the central longitudinal member 208 is positioned close to the tree.
FIG. 5 illustrates one method of constructing the tree stake 200 by forming the first anchor member 200 integral with the first traverse member 210 and the central longitudinal member of 208. The second anchor member 204 and the second traverse member 212 are integral with the third anchor member 206 and the third traverse member 214. The first connecting point 502 between the second traverse member 212 and the third traverse member 214 is connected to the second connection point 504 between the first traverse member 210 and the central longitudinal member 208.
FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the tree stake 200 and showing the first traverse member 210, the second traverse member 212 and the third traverse member 214.
FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the tree stake 200 showing the first anchor member 202, the second anchor member 204, the third anchor member 206, the central longitudinal member of 208, the first traverse member 212 and the third traverse member 214.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Patent Application
20080092439
