GB2219479A - Carrier and support for plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant carrier comprises a frame (4) supported by two spaced end sections (2, 3). Each end section comprises a base, a first support (14) extending upwardly from the base and having a lower leg (14a) joined at its lower end to the base at an acute angle to the base in such a manner that the lower leg may resiliently deflect towards the base and an upper leg (14b) joined at its lower end to the upper end of the lower leg at an angle no greater than the value of said acute angle plus 90 DEG and a similar second support (15) of opposite hand also extending upwardly from the base. The legs of the supports cross cross-over points (16), (17). Each end of the frame has vertically spaced lower and upper locating members, the lower locating member (21, 21a) being releasably engaged with the first and second supports below the first cross-over point (16) and the upper locating member (18) releasably held above the second cross-over point (17). The vertical spacing between the locating members is less than the vertical spacing between the cross-over points when the supports are in an undeflected position relative to the base. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANT CARRIER This invention relates to plant carriers.

The use of grow bags in plant cultivation, particularly linnaeus plants such as tomatoes, is now widespread. The grow bag contains soil and nutrients and is simply laid flat, a cut made in the upper surface and the plants planted through the cut. It is necessary to support the plants during their growth and commonly this has been effected by canes stuck into the grow bag or by a mesh arrangement stuck into the grow bag. Such support leaves a lot to be desired and it is impossible for the combination of grow bag, support and plant to be transported.

The invention seeks to provide a plant carrier that will allow better plant support and more versatile use of the grow bag system.

According to the invention a plant carrier comprises a frame supported by two spaced end sections, one at each end of the frame; each end section comprising a base, a first support extending upwardly from the base and having a lower leg joined at its lower end to the base at an acute angle to the base in such a manner that the lower leg may resiliently deflect towards the base and an upper leg joined at its lower end to the upper end of the lower leg at an angle no greater than the value of said acute angle plus 900 and a second support extending upwardly from the base to cross the first support at a cross-over point; each end of the frame having vertically spaced lower and upper locating members, the lower locating member being releasably engaged with the first and second supports below the cross-over point and the upper locating member being releasably held above an engagement region of the upper leg, which engagement region lies substantially vertically above the cross-over point, the vertical spacing between the locating members being less than the vertical spacing between the engagement region and the cross-over point when the first support is in an undeflected position relative to the base.

In use, a grow bag is placed between the spaced end sections and below the frame. A cut is made in the upper surface of the grow bag, usually in the centre thereof, and plants are planted through that cut. Each plant will grow up to the support and may, unless it is self-clinging, be tied thereto. The resilience due to the holding of the supports in their deflected positions effectively applies a force that maintains the frame subtantially vertical even when the plants reach maturity and carry heavy fruit growth.

The carrier can be simply manufactured as a selfassembly kit comprising the end sections and the frame, and can then be assembled by engaging the locating members at each end of the frame with a respective end section, the first support of each end section being distorted as appropriate to allow the engagement, and then being allowed to return towards its undeflected position.

The second support may take any one of a number of different forms, as long as it defines the necessary crossover point with the first support. Thus, the second support may be rigidly or resiliently secured to the base of the frame. The engagement region of the upper leg of the first support may again take any one of the number of forms. For example, it may be an upwardly open cup or other receiving section carried at an upper end of the upper leg of the first support, or at some intermediate point on that leg.

Although structures as set forth in the preceding paragraph, are possible it is nevertheless preferred if the first and second supports are of similar configuration but opposite hand. Thus, the lower legs of the two supports will then be joined to opposite ends of the base at equal acute angles and will extend in opposite directions upwardly from and over the base to and past the cross-over point. The upper legs will then extend from free ends of the lower legs upwardly away from the lower legs and inwardly towards the vertical centre line of the frame, desirably sufficiently far to cross at a second cross-over point located substantially vertically above the first cross-over point. The second cross-over point then forms the engagement region for the upper locating member of the frame, which rests on the two upper legs immediately above the upper cross-over point.In graphic terms, the first and second supports of each end section then form an arrangement having the appearance of a "lazy tongs", capable of deflection at the points where the lower legs join the base.

Preferably the angle between the upper and lower leg of the first support (and of the second support if this is similar in form to the first support) is substantially equal to twice the acute angle made between the lower leg of that support and the base. Other angles are possible but this gives an optimum configuration.

The upper locating members at each side of the frame are desirably regions of a cross-member of that frame where the cross-member is joined to respective end members of the frame. That join may be at right angles, but preferably the cross-member is upwardly deflected at its end to join the end member at an acute angle. A recess is thus formed to assist location and retention of the cross-member on the engagement region of the upper leg of the first support.

Conveniently the lower locating member at each side of the frame is an upwardly directed hook at the lower end of an end member of the frame, capable of hooking beneath the cross-over point between the lower leg of the first support and the second support.

Each end section may have a base that is formed so that the end section may be free-standing. Alternatively, each end section may be provided with means enabling it to be secured to an end of a grow bag in order to give the necessary support to the end section. In the preferred embodiment, however, the base of each end section is a bar, and the carrier includes a base frame that is superposed on, and extends between, the bars of the two end sections.

Locating means may be provided on the end section bars and/or on the base frame to ensure accurate relative location of these parts. Once a grow bag has been placed on the base frame the weight of the bag is sufficient firmly to hold the end sections in the required upright positions so that the frame may be supported thereon in a vertical orientation, and the necessary stability imparted to the whole of the carrier. The complete assembly of carrier and grow bag can then be lifted by lifting the frame, whatever may be the stage of development of plants planted in the bag, and if required transported to a different location.

The parts of the carrier may be formed from any suitable materials, and for example all parts may be of steel wire coated with a weather-resistant material, for example by galvanising, painting or coating with a suitable plastics. Steel wire is the preferred material in order to provide the required strength in the structure, it also imparts sufficient strength for the carrier to be lifted with a grow bag in place.

In order that the invention may be better understood a specific embodiment of a plant carrier in accordance therewith will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the plant carrier; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the carrier of figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of part of the carrier of figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings these show an assembled plant carrier comprising four components, a base frame shown generally as 1, two spaced end sections shown generally as 2 and 3 and a frame shown generally as 4. The frame is shown in two sub-sections, an upper section 5 joined to a lower section 6.

The base frame 1 is of substantially rectangular form, with longer arms 9 and 10 extending above bases 11, 12 of the two end sections, the arms 9 and 10 being formed with location indentations such as 13 where they cross the bases 11 and 12. Thus, the bases 11 and 12 and the majority part of the base frame 1 can lie in contact with a flat surface.

The two end sections are substantially identical, and only section 2 will be described in greater detail. As already mentioned, that section comprises a base, and first and second supports 14 and 15 extending upwardly from the base. The supports have lower legs 14a and 15a respectively and upper legs 14b and 15b respectively, and are formed so as to be mirror images of the each other.

The lower legs 14a, 15a are joined to opposite ends of the base at an acute angle ot in such a manner that each lower leg may resiliently deflect towards the base. Each upper leg is joined to its associated lower leg at an angle / that should be no greater than ( OC + 90)0 so that the upper legs 14b and 15b converge towards each other. A preferred value forms 2 2 c -, as shown in figure 1.

As will be seen from figure 1 each end section has the appearance of a "lazy tongs" arrangement, with the lower legs 14a and 15a crossing each other at a first cross-over point 16, with the upper legs 14b and 15b also crossing each other at an upper cross-over point 17.

Each end of the frame 4 has two vertically spaced locating members, an upper locating member formed by an end section 18 of a lowermost cross-bar 19 of the frame where this joins an end member 20, 20a of the frame, and a lower locating member formed by a hook 21, 21a at the lower part of the respective end member 20 or 20a. When assembled, as shown in figure 1 the part 18 of the cross-bar 19 engages in the upper fork of the upper cross-over point 17 of the end section, and the hook 21 engages in the lower fork below the lower cross-over point 16 of the end section.

Each end of the cross-bar 19 is displaced slightly upwards as shown more clearly in figure 2 to join the respective end member 20 or 20a, in order to form a recess in which the upper legs 14b, 15b of the respective end sections are received.

The vertical distance between the locating portion 18 and the hook 21 is designed to be less than the vertical spacing between the two cross-over points 16 and 17 when the end section is in an undeflected position relative to the base. Thus, in the undeflected position the angle is greater than shown in figure 1, and in order to mount the frame onto the end section the part 18 of the cross-bar is engaged with the cross-over point 17 and pushed downwardly so that the two lower legs 14a and 15a deflect towards the base 11 in order to reduce the angle cA-to a value less than that shown in figure 1. When the legs have been deflected sufficiently far the hook 21 may be passed beneath the cross-over point 16 and the downward pressure then removed from the frame.The hook will thus engage beneath the cross-over point as the legs tend to return to their undeflected position, but the engagement of the frame above and below the upper and lower cross-over points will prevent a full return to that undeflected position. The force due to the resilient joint between the lower leg and the frame will thus tend to maintain the frame in a vertical position.

The upper and lower frame sections 5 and 6 are joined together by eyes 30, 30a carried at the upper ends of members 20 and 20a and engaged over the ends of an elongated bar 31 of the frame section 5 and by hooks 32, 32a on the lower ends of uprights 33, 33a of section 5 and engaged beneath a bar 34 of the frame section 6.

In use, the carrier will be supplied as a fold-flat kit, and can simply be assembled as described. When so assembled a grow bag can be placed between the end sections on top of the arms 9 and 10 of the base frame 1, the effect of the weight of the bag being to maintain the base frame and the end sections in their required respective positions. An opening is cut in the top of the grow bag and plants planted as required. When growth commences it will be seen that the plants can readily be trained onto the frame or tied to the frame as required, so that the plant will have full support, even when it becomes fruitbearing.

The frame may readily be manufactured from plastic coated steel wire, which will have the natural resilience required at the junction between the lower legs and the base of the end sections, without the necessity to provide any particular additional means for giving the required resiliency.

Although in the example described the two end sections are of similar form, and the supports of each end section are substantially a mirror image one of the other it will be appreciated that this relationship is not necessary.

Thus, in one modified version one of the legs 14, 15 may be terminated immediately after the point where it crosses over the other leg, and the other leg may then be formed at its free end with an upwardly facing cup in which the lower cross-bar 19 of the frame may be located. The base frame 1 is not necessary, and in another modification each of the end sections may be formed so that it is free-standing.

However, this would detract from the fold-flat quality of the carrier and is not preferred. Other modifications will be apparent.

Claims (11)

1. A plant carrier comprises a frame supported by two spaced end sections, one at each end of the frame; each end section comprising a base, a first support extending upwardly from the base and having a lower leg joined at its lower end to the base at an acute angle to the base in such a manner that the lower leg may resiliently deflect towards the base and an upper leg joined at its lower end to the upper end of the lower leg at an angle no greater than the value of said acute angle plus 900 and a second support extending upwardly from the base to cross the first support at a cross-over point; each end of the frame having vertically spaced lower and upper locating members, the lower locating member being releasably engaged with the first and second supports below the cross-over point and the upper locating member being releasably held above an engagement region of the upper leg, which engagement region lies substantially vertically above the cross-over point, the vertical spacing between the locating members being less than the vertical spacing between the engagement region and the cross-over point when the first support is in an undeflected position relative to the base.

2. A plant carrier according to claim 1 in which the first and second supports are of similar configuration but opposite hand.

3. A plant carrier according to claim 2 in which the lower legs of the two supports are joined to opposite ends of the base at equal acute angles, and extend in opposite directions upwardly from and over the base to and past the cross-over point, and the upper legs extend from free ends of the lower legs upwardly away from the lower legs and inwardly towards the vertical centre line of the frame.

4. A plant carrier according to claim 3 in which the upper legs extend sufficiently far to cross at a second cross-over point located substantially vertically above the first cross-over point, the second cross-over point forming the engagement region for the upper locating member of the frame, which rests on the two upper legs immediately above the upper cross-over point.

5. A plant carrier according to any one of the preceding claims in which the angle between-the upper and lower legs of at least one of the supports is substantially equal to twice the acute angle made between the lower leg of that support and the base.

6. A plant carrier according to any one of the preceding claims in which the upper locating members at each side of the frame are regions of a cross-member of that frame where the cross-member is joined to respective end members of the frame.

7. A plant carrier according to claim 6 in which the cross-member is upwardly deflected at its end to join the end member at an acute angle.

8. A plant carrier according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lower locating member at each side of the frame is an upwardly directed hook at the lower end of an end member of the frame, capable of hooking beneath the cross-over point between the lower leg of the first support and the second support.

9. A plant carrier according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base of each end section is a bar, and the carrier includes a base frame that is superposed on, and extends between, the bars of the two end sections.

10. A plant carrier according to claim 9 in which locating means are provided on the end section bars and/or on the base frame to ensure accurate relative location of these parts.

11. A plant carrier substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.