GB2218886A

GB2218886A - Support arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2218886A
Application number: GB8911197A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Todd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-23
Filing date: 1989-05-16
Publication date: 1989-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-16
Also published as: GB8812158D0; GB2218886B; GB8911197D0

Abstract

A support arrangement for an elongate article, the arrangement comprising a main support (1) and at least one article engagement or attachment device (4) which is adapted for slidable engagement with the main support (1) wherein the main support and any associated article engagement or attachment device are plastics mouldings which are initially moulded as interconnected components by means of frangible webs (6) adapted for subsequent separation by the user of the support arrangement, whereby an associated article engagement or attachment device cannot be readily lost prior to its being required for use. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to support elements for supporting elongate articles in an upright position.

In particular, the present invention is concerned with an arrangement for facilitating the support of articles ofvariable height.

In this specification the term article is to be considered as embracing growing plants the height of which at least during some st-age of a plants growth progressively increases.

As is well known growing plants develop and grow at differing rates, and grow to various sizes which rates and sizes are not only governed according to the type of the plant involved but also according to the conditions under which the plants are grown and to prevailing climatic conditions.

In practice, as is well known, two plants of the same variety grown at the same time and place and under identical conditions may well grow to widely differing heights and at differing rates.

A direct consequence of this situation is that if it is considered desirable to support a plant stem a common solution is to provide a plant support and to tie the plant stem to the support. With known constructions of plant supports having positionally adjustable stem engagement means it is frequently found to be difficult to be able to mount the engagement means to the plant support at a location or at locations which is or are non-damaging to the plant. Because of this it is not normally possible to adopt a standard height stem engagement means for the obvious reason that such a constant height engagement means could well lead to damage to the plant as it grows.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an overcome such difficulties.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a support arrangement for an elongate article, the arrangement comprising a main support and at least one article engagement or attachment device which is adapted for slidable engagement with the main support wherein the main support and any associated article engagement or attachment device are plastics mouldings which are initially moulded as interconnected components adapted for subsequent separation by the user of the support arrangement, whereby an associated article engagement or attachment device cannot be readily lost prior to its being required for use.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect refeence will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of an article support arrangement incorporating the concepts of the invention, the Figure illustrating the support arrangement as supplied; Figure 2 is an elevation to an enlarged scale of a detail of the support arrangment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation illustrating the article support arrangement of the invention when utilised for the support of a growing plant.

Figure 4 is an elevation, part in section, of a means of providing the support column with an extension element.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 this illustrates an embodiment of a support arrangement intended for supporting a growing plant. The support arrangement includes a main support column 1 having a non-circular, generally cruciform, transverse section. The support column 1 has at its lower end 2 a pointed region to facilitate penetration of the lower end into the ground, and at its upper end a domed cap 3 which is integral with the column 1. The main support column is moulded from a plastics material i.e., polypropylene.

In accordance with the concepts of the invention article attachment/engagement devices 4 which are intended to connect an article to be supported to the main support column 1 are simultaneously moulded with the main support column. I-n the embodiment of the drawings there are two of such connection devices 4. If desired, more or less than two devices could be provided. Each such device 4 comprises a main section 5 which is coupled to the main support column by a narrow easily frangible web 6.

The main section 5 has a central bore 7 having a cross-section complementary to the profile -of the main support column 1. In the arrangement shown the bore 7 has a cross-shaped, cruciform, transverse section and is complementary to the transverse section of the main support element. The function of the shape is inter-alia to ensure that the attachment devices 4 cannot rotate with respect to the column 1.

In addition, each connection/attachment device 4 incorporates a second section 8 which is intended to be connectable in a readily releasably manner to the article to be supported. In the Figure this second section 8 comprises a pair of arms 9 which combine to provide generally C-shaped flexible ring jaws 10.

As so far described the support arrangement is packaged as illustrated in Figure 1. Thus when a user first receives the article support arrangement of the invention it is necessary to break the attachment devices 4 away from the main support column by breaking the frangible webs 6 and then mounting the devices to the main support column 1 by slidably engaging the main section 5 onto the support column 1. In practice, the devices 4 are a firm slidable fit on the support column 1 so that they will not slide down the support column after having been set to a particular position on the support column.

The Figure 3 illustrates the support arrangement of the invention when in use as a support for a growing plant.

It will be noted that the lower end 2 of the column I has been pushed into the soil 11 provided within a pot 11 in which a plant 13 is growing. The flexible ring jaws 10 are engaged with the plant stem 14 at any convenient place by merely sliding the attachment devices 4 to convenient locations lengthwise of the support column 1, opening the jaws 10, entering the stem 14 into the mouth of the opened jaws 10 and then releasing the jaws so that the stem is effectively retained within the jaws 10 without being subjected to pressures which could interfer with the growth or development of the plant.

In use, as the plant grows the devices 4 are moved suitably lengthwise of the support column 1.

Since, particularly in the case of plants, it is often regarded as a matter of importance to be able identify the growing plant, the main support column is shown to have a stippled strip 15 whereby the support column 1 can be marked with the requisite identification information for the plant.

To accommodate taller growing plants extension elements 16 may be used. One such extension element is shown in Figure 4. The extension element 16 has a pointed end (not shown) for embedding in the soil 11 or other support medium and an adaptor cap 18 having an internal bore 19 complementary to the profile of the main support column 1 the latter being a firm push fit into the bore 19 of the extension element.

It will be appreciated that the devices can be readily released from the plant if this is found to facilitate the resetting of the devices.

It will be understood that the profile of the column 1 can be selected as thought convenient.

Claims

1. A support arrangement for an elongate article, the arrangement comprising a main support and at least one article engagement or attachment device which is adapted for slidable engagement with the main support wherein the main support and any associated article engagement or attachment device are plastics mouldings which are initially moulded as interconnected components adapted for ready subsequent separation by the user of the support arrangement, whereby an associated article engagement or attachment device cannot be readily lost prior to its being required for use.

2. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein article engagement or attachment deices are initially connected to the main stem by way of a frangible web or the like.

3. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the main support has a non-circular cross-section, and the article engagement or attachment device has a portion presenting a bore having a shape complementary to the cross-section of the main support, and thereby adapted to be lengthwise positionable upon the main support.

4. A support arrngement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main support has a cruciform cross-section.

5. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4, wherein the article engagement or attachment device includes a pair of resilient arms which combine to provide means enabling an article to be supported to be entered by way of the mouth of the jaws into the jaws to be freely accommodated therein.

6. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 1,2,3,4 or 5 and including an extension means for the main support whereby the overall length of the support arrangement can be selectively increased.

7. A support arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the extension means includes a member into which the main support can be telescopically engaged.

8. A support arrangement, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,2 and 3, of Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.