EP3484270A1 - Arched stem support - Google Patents
Arched stem supportInfo
- Publication number
- EP3484270A1 EP3484270A1 EP17827123.5A EP17827123A EP3484270A1 EP 3484270 A1 EP3484270 A1 EP 3484270A1 EP 17827123 A EP17827123 A EP 17827123A EP 3484270 A1 EP3484270 A1 EP 3484270A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- plant
- stem
- supporting device
- plant stem
- wire
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/12—Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like
- A01G9/128—Fixing of plants to supports, e.g. by means of clips
Definitions
- the present invention pertains to apparatus for holding plants which are attached to trellising system and freely growing without treatment to the trellising system and plants after installing the apparatus. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a hanger-based device which is adapted to freely hold a stem of trellising plants during their continuous growth periods and prevent their breakage.
- This method is used for "non-ending" varieties in which the main stem continues to grow throughout the season, and as the plant grows, its petioles are removed and the main stem is attached to the trellis wire by various methods such as twining the stem or with various types of clips.
- twining the stem or with various types of clips When the plant reaches the horizontal cable, it is lowered by releasing more of the vertical trellis wire. This action is cyclic and continues throughout the growing season.
- Other alternative lowering methods include pruning the plant when it reaches the horizontal cable, also known as 'heading' method and allowing the fruits to ripe.
- the plant's growing season is short relative to other methods.
- the growing season is extended relative to the heading method and thus extra yield is gained, while lowering using the 'Dutch' method allows for extending the growing season to its maximum and thus achieving the maximum yield possible.
- tomatoes for example, the maximum growing season continues up to ten months and with cucumbers up to five months.
- an object of the present invention to provide device and apparatus that allow plants to continue to grow freely without adjusting the trellising above a certain height, maintaining their productivity and avoiding damage.
- the present invention provides a plant stem supporting device that comprises:
- a support part for holding the plant stem and enabling the plant to grow freely without damage to the plant and in particular to the plant stem;
- the present invention is a part of trellising system that comprises:
- this device comprises:
- a support part for holding the plant stem and enabling the plant to grow freely without damage to the plant and in particular to the plant stem;
- a locking part for manually locking the supporting device to enable holding of the plant stem within free volume enclosed by the device.
- the support part of the stem supporting device has an arched shape comprising:
- the closed support part encloses a structure that contains a space which is broad enough to allow the stem to pass through and 180° arched support area with a radius large enough to support the stem during its descent and avoid breakage.
- the support part of the stem supporting device comprises a set of holes located along the enclosed arched space that allow the ventilation of the stem that passes through the supporting device open volume. These ventilation holes prevent the accumulation of moisture and reduce the risk of diseases.
- the attachment part of the supporting device comprises a pivot that enables to close the parts of the arched support part for attaching it to the trellis wire.
- the attachment part is configured to be attached to the trellis wire at any point on the wire above the ground. This is advantageous, because it enables attaching the supporting device at any point on the trellis wire above the ground and providing support to a plant stem at any height and corresponding load of the plant or plant stem on the support part.
- the attachment of the supporting device may be adjusted by disconnecting its attachment part off of the trellis wire and reconnecting it at another point of the wire that is more suitable to carry the load of the plant or plant stem.
- the supporting part has a grip strength that is at least sufficiently high to carry the load of the plant or plant stem without yielding under the load and slipping down as a result.
- the support part of the supporting device has a curved shape which is broad enough to allow the stem to pass through it without any damage to the plant and in particularly to the plant stem.
- the attachment part of the supporting device is a hollow pivot enabling the insertion of the trellis wire to pass through and attach the supporting device to an elevated horizontal cable from which the trellis wire is dropped down.
- the present invention provides a method to freely grow plant without sustaining treatment to the plants after installing plant supporting device, which results from the plants growth.
- Such method comprises:
- the supporting device is a hanger-based device which is adapted to the plant growth during the plants life growing period and used in a variety of plant types that require support devices in areas where there is concern of breakage or any other damage as a result of a change in the stem's growth direction.
- the method and device allow plants to continue to grow freely without adapting the trellising system above a certain height, maintaining their productivity and avoiding damage.
- the device supports the plants and avoids breakage of the plants stem when the weight of the stem causes the support part to tilt downwards by gravity.
- the method and device provide a technical solution for optimal support for a plant stem and implementation of the free stem method regardless of the height of the horizontal cable. This removes the need for a lifting device and allows additional flexibility in growing decisions during the plant growing season.
- the method, apparatus and device are applied in a variety of plant types extending their growing life time period, reducing the sustaining treatment from an elevated cable of the supporting system and increasing yield.
- the supporting device is made of materials which are strong and flexible under increasing weight of the plant and durable under high temperature, humidity and mechanical stresses. Such materials may be selected from synthetic polymers, metal and metallic materials.
- This type of a hanger device can be adapted for use in a variety of plant types, vegetable, fruit or other plants that require arched support in areas where there is concern of breakage as a result of a change in the stem's direction.
- Figs. 1A-E show perspective and zoom-in views of schematic illustrations of the arched stem supporting device, in its open state, with two different locking designs of the device locking part, demonstrating two different embodiments of the present invention.
- Figs. 2A-B show side and perspective view illustrations of the arched stem supporting device, presented in Fig. 1, in its closed state, respectively.
- Fig. 3 shows a front view image of attachment configuration of the arched stem supporting device for cucumber plants connected to the a vertical trellis wire.
- Figs. 4A-B show front and perspective view images of the arched stem supporting device in Fig. 3.
- FIG. 1 to 4 Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are schematically illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. These figures are for illustration purposes and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the below description in any form.
- Figs. 1A-B show perspective view schematic illustrations of the arched stem supporting device (100) in its open state, with two different locking designs of the device locking parts (4, 5) representing two different embodiments of the present invention.
- Figs. 2A-B show side and perspective view illustrations of the arched stem supporting devices (100), presented in Fig. 1, in their closed state, respectively.
- Fig. 2A also shows the connection scheme between the arched stem supporting device (100) and the corresponding vertical trellis wire (12).
- the support part in the arched stem supporting device (100) comprises two supporting arms (6) shown in its open and closed states in Figs. 1-2, respectively.
- the arched stem supporting device is designed so that its two support arms (6) form a structure that encloses a space (11) that is broad enough to allow the stem to pass through.
- a 180° arched support area (7) is formed from the attachment of two parts (1, 2) to each other upon closing the device.
- the support part formed with closing is with a radius of support large enough to support the stalk during its descent and avoid breakage.
- the pivot (3) comprises a channel through which the trellis wire (12) can be inserted and locked.
- This locking mechanism (14) comprises two matching locking parts (4, 5) as shown in the closed state of the arched stem supporting devices (100) in Fig. 2A.
- Fig. 1A shows the first optional locking design of the two locking parts (4, 5) comprising two females (4a), (4b) and two matching males (5a), (5b) locking elements.
- the two males locking elements (5a), (5b) comprise a snap-fit and a tooth shape male element, which are inserted and locked into corresponding matched female slots elements, (4a), (4b), achieving a sufficiently strong mechanical connection between the two arched arms.
- the tooth (5b) also serves as reference to guide the snap-fit locking of (4a) within (5a) and prevent shaking of the supporting device (100) in its closed state.
- Figs. ID and IE show illustration of the second optional locking mechanism which is based on a mechanical cross locking principle of the two locking parts (4, 5).
- These locking parts comprise female and male shape elements configured on each side of the locking parts (4, 5).
- the left part (4) comprises two teeth shape male elements (4a) and (4b) which are inserted into two corresponding female slots (5a) and (5b), which are located on the right locking part (5).
- An additional locking element comprising rectangular tongue shaped male element (5c) is configured with a snap-fit locking mechanism and located on the right arm locking part (5). This element is inserted into a matched slot female element (4c) located on the left arm (4) locking part.
- This cross locking configuration provides a highly strong mechanical attachment between the left and the right locking parts (4, 5) of the mechanical supporting device (100).
- the teeth shaped elements labeled (5b), in Figs. 1A and ID and (4b) in Figs. IB and IE are also used for alignment of the snap-fit female and male elements, labeled (4a) and (5a) in Figs. 1A-B and 1D-E, respectively.
- the middle part of the device (100) may further comprise a set of matching sets of bumps (3d) and (3e) in a zipper configuration as shown in Fig. 1C. These two sets of matching bumps (3d) and (3e) provide a better grip to the vertical trellis wire (12) to the device (100) in its closed state.
- two additional teeth shaped elements, (3a) and (3b) are provided in the middle of the device (100) at the right arm edge at the arched stem device pivot (3). these teeth elements are used to align the vertical trellis wire (12) to the said device (100) when installing it on the vertical trellis wire (12).
- the matching sets of bumps (3d) and (3e) and teeth shaped elements, (3a) and (3b) are intended to prevent the wire from being released from its place and prevent the product from sliding down
- the matching locking parts (4, 5) that interlock with each other are ergonomically suited for being manually held and closed.
- the holes (8) in the spouts and arms (6) allow for the ventilation of the stem that passes through the support part formed by arms (6) and locking parts (4, 5), thereby preventing the accumulation of moisture and reducing the risk of diseases in the plants. As shown in Figs.
- the arched stem supporting device (100) is configured such that its support arms (6) are connected to the area of attachment to the wire, and incline downwards at an angle (10) relative to the longitudinal axis of the trellis wire (12).
- the support arms (6) are attached with a solid triangle (9) at a certain relative angle in a manner that is adjacent to the sidewalls of the arched support area.
- the uniqueness of the "Arched Support” device (100) is its attachment to the vertical trellis wire (12). This way the grower can choose the upper support point of the plant, independent of the height of the trellis wire, as shown in Fig. 2A.
- the product is provided in its open form. The worker doing the trellising operations in the greenhouse closes the device on the trellis wire and the plant together, thereby attaching the product to the vertical trellis wire and trapping the plant stem within the arched support area.
- Fig. 3 shows perspective images of the actual attachment configuration in case of a cucumber plant comprised of the arched stem supporting device (100), the vertical trellis wire (12) and a cucumber plant (13).
- Figs. 4A-B show perspective zoom-in images of Fig. 3.
- the cucumber stem (13a) passes through, the 180° arched support area (7) shown in Fig. 2B and is bent down by the cucumber plant gravity.
- the specific configuration of the 180° arched support area (7) holds the cucumber stalk (13a) during its descent down and eliminates a sharp bending angle and the stem direction which may result in further damage to the cucumber plant (13), such as stalk breakage.
- the hold of the arched stem supporting device (100) to the vertical trellis wire (12) at the pivot (3) enables closing the device with the locking elements (4, 5) as shown in Figs. 1-2 in their opened and closed states.
- the present configuration of holding the plant by the trellis wire through the arched stem supporting device (100) enables the cucumber plant to grow freely for a further period of time without any required sustaining treatments to both the trellising system and cucumber plant, resulting in the free stem inclining downwards.
- the grip of the pivot (3) to the trellis wire (12) is sufficiently strong to hold the supporting device (100) in place carry the load that the stalk (13a) applies on its support part (1, 2) and prevent it from slipping down. It is clear from the demonstration in Figs. 3, 4A and 4B that the supporting device (100) can be relocated to any point on the trellis wire with a simple action of releasing the locking and reconnecting it again.
- This provides flexibility in adjusting the support that the device (100) provides with the growth of the plant (13) and its changing weight.
- This type of a hanger as described in Figs. 1-4, can be adapted for use in a variety of plant types that require arched support in areas where there is concern of breakage as a result of a change in the stem's direction, be they vegetables, fruits or other plants.
- the described technical solution provides optimal support for the stem and allows for the implementation of the free stem method regardless of the height of the horizontal cable and thus removes the need for a lifting device and allows additional flexibility in growing decisions.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Supports For Plants (AREA)
- Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201662361021P | 2016-07-12 | 2016-07-12 | |
PCT/IL2017/050782 WO2018011797A1 (en) | 2016-07-12 | 2017-07-11 | Arched stem support |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3484270A1 true EP3484270A1 (en) | 2019-05-22 |
EP3484270A4 EP3484270A4 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
Family
ID=60952912
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17827123.5A Withdrawn EP3484270A4 (en) | 2016-07-12 | 2017-07-11 | Arched stem support |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3484270A4 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2019000434A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018011797A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL2022145B1 (en) * | 2018-12-06 | 2020-06-30 | Visser S Gravendeel Holding B V | Graft system |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1273231A (en) * | 1969-03-31 | 1972-05-03 | James Harvey Blagdon | A plant support for clipping engagement to a stake |
BE1003242A3 (en) * | 1989-04-07 | 1992-02-04 | Koordenfabriek Saey W & F Nv | Plant clamp |
EP0494482B1 (en) * | 1991-01-09 | 1995-03-22 | Yasuhiro Nasuno | Clamp for fixing plant stem to support wire |
US6378175B1 (en) * | 1997-08-01 | 2002-04-30 | Doorframer, Inc. | Resilient fastening clip for plants |
ES1038189Y (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 1998-12-01 | Ruiz Carmona Manuel | SUPPORT AND SUPPORT DEVICE FOR VEGETABLES PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE. |
JP3940494B2 (en) * | 1998-03-25 | 2007-07-04 | ナスニックス株式会社 | How to grow tomatoes and cucumbers |
US20050044786A1 (en) * | 2002-03-27 | 2005-03-03 | Plasponics [2003] Inc. | Plant support ring |
US20140144076A1 (en) * | 2012-11-26 | 2014-05-29 | Robert Deeb | Apparatus and method for an adjustable plant support |
WO2014115132A1 (en) * | 2013-01-28 | 2014-07-31 | Paskal Technologies Agricultural Cooperative Ltd | Self-adjustable tomato clip |
-
2017
- 2017-07-11 WO PCT/IL2017/050782 patent/WO2018011797A1/en unknown
- 2017-07-11 MX MX2019000434A patent/MX2019000434A/en unknown
- 2017-07-11 EP EP17827123.5A patent/EP3484270A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2018011797A1 (en) | 2018-01-18 |
EP3484270A4 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
MX2019000434A (en) | 2019-09-19 |
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