GB2502770A

GB2502770A - Method of forming an enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2502770A
Application number: GB201207643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Morgan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-02
Filing date: 2012-05-02
Publication date: 2013-12-11
Also published as: GB201207643D0

Abstract

A method of forming an enclosure using a reconfigurable enclosure assembly 10 is disclosed. The reconfigurable assembly includes at least two reconfigurable supports 12 and a cover 13 arranged to extend between the supports, the supports being separately reconfigurable between a substantially linear configuration and an arcuate configuration, the supports being resiliently biased to the linear configuration. The method includes the steps of: securing a first end of each support to the ground at spaced apart locations along one side of the space 11 to be enclosed; reconfiguring each support to the arcuate configuration such that each support extends over the space; and securing a second end of each support to the ground at spaced apart locations along at the opposite side of the space. The assembly may further comprise a peripherally extending channel 15 arranged for receiving a fluid to anchor the cover to the ground.

Description

Method of Forming an Enclosure The present invention relates to a method of forming an enclosure and particularly, but not exclusively, to a method of forming an enclosure for enclosing vegetation.

It is often required to erect an enclosure within a garden to protect a plant or flower bed, for example. Many plants, particularly younger plants, are vulnerable to damage from pests, wind, frost or the like. In addition, the fruit of certain plants is often eaten by birds or other animals. This must be prevented if the plants are grown for the purpose of harvesting the fruit. It is therefore common to enclose such plants under netting or within a polytunnel for example.

Once the enclosure has been erected over the plants however, it is often difficult to access the plants for watering and the like, without first removing the enclosure.

Accordingly, it is often a time consuming task to nurture the plants since it is necessary to disassemble and then reassemble the enclosure each time access is required to the plants.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of forming an enclosure, the method comprising the use of a reconfigurable enclosure assembly for enclosing a space, the assembly comprising at least two reconfigurable supports and a cover which is arranged to extend between the at least two supports, the at least two supports being separately reconfigurable between a substantially linear configuration for storage and an arcuate configuration, in which the at least two supports are arranged to arc over said space, the at least two supports being resiliently biased to the linear configuration, the method comprising the steps of: securing a first end of each support to the ground, at spaced apart locations along one side of the space to be enclosed reconfiguring the at least two support to the arcuate configuration, so that the supports extend over the space and securing a second end of each support to the ground, at spaced apart locations along at the opposite side of the space to be enclosed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method may comprise simply inserting the first and second ends of the supports in the ground at each side of the space to be enclosed. In an alternative embodiment however, the assembly may further comprise first and second anchor members which are arranged to anchor with the ground at each side of the space. Accordingly, the method further comprises initially securing the first and second anchor member to the ground at opposite sides of the space and then subsequently detachably coupling the first and second end of the supports to the respective anchor member.

The cover of the assembly preferably further comprises a peripherally extending channel which is arranged to receive a fluid, such as water or sand. Accordingly, the method further comprises anchoring a periphery of the cover to the ground, and conveniently comprises filling the channel with a fluid, to weigh down the periphery of the cover.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure according to an embodiment of the invention, arranged in a folded configuration for storage; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figure 1, with the support poles arranged in a separated configuration for use; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figure 2, with the support poles arranged in an arcuate configuration; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the enclosure with the support poles arranged in a separated configuration for use, together with anchor members; Figure 5a is a flow chart sequencing the steps associated with the method according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and, Figure Sb is a flow chart sequencing the steps associated with the method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated an enclosure 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, for enclosing an area such as a garden pond or flower bed 11. The enclosure 10 comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible support poles 12, which are reconfigurable between a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, substantially arcuate configuration, and which are biased to adopt the first configuration. The enclosure 10 further comprises a cover 13, which may comprise a flexible transparent or translucent and/or waterproof material. The cover 13 comprises a plurality of channels 14 formed therein which extend across the width of the cover 13 in spaced relation along the length of the cover 13, and are arranged in substantially parallel configuration. The channels 14 are arranged to separately receive a support pole 12, the latter of which comprise a length which is greater than the width of the cover 13. In this respect, a portion of the support poles 12 is arranged to extend out from opposite longitudinal edges 13a, 13b of the cover 13.

Referring to figure 5a of the drawings there is illustrated a flowchart sequencing the steps associated with a method 100 of forming an enclosure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. During use, a user (not shown) positions a support pole 12 within each channel 14 formed within the cover 13 and inserts a first end of the support poles 12 within the ground at spaced locations along one side of the area 11 to be enclosed, at step 101, such that the cover 13 extends in a substantially taught vertical plane, as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings. The support poles 12 are inserted into the ground to a depth which substantially corresponds with the extension of the first end of the support poles 12 from the cover 13, so that the cover 13 extends in contact with the ground along a first longitudinal edge 13a thereof The user (not shown) then separately arcs the support poles 12 over the area 11 and inserts a second end of the support poles 12 within the ground at the opposite side of the area hat step 102, to form a tunnel enclosure over the area 11. The second end of the support poles 12 are similarly inserted into the ground to a depth which substantially corresponds with the extension of the second end of the support poles 12 from the cover 13, so that the cover 13 extends in contact with the ground along a second longitudinal edge thereof 12b.

The support poles 12 disposed proximate opposite longitudinal ends of the cover 13 are separated from the respective longitudinal end of the cover 13 by a distance which corresponds at least to the maximum height of the enclosure above the ground, when arranged in the second configuration, such that the entire periphery of the cover 13 may contact with the ground when the enclosure 10 is arranged in the second configuration.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in figure 4 of the drawings, the assembly further comprises a first and second elongate anchor member 16a, 16b which are arranged to couple with the ground via stakes 17, for example. The anchor members 16 are arranged to separately extend along opposite side of the area 11 and comprise apertures 18 equally spaced along the length thereof which are arranged to receive a longitudinal end of the support poles. Accordingly, referring to figure Sb of the drawings, the method 200 of forming an enclosure of the alternative embodiment first comprises securing the anchor members along opposite sides of the area to be covered at step 201. The user then inserts the first end of each support pole 12 in a respective aperture 18 along the first anchor member 16a at step 202, so that the cover 13 extends in a substantially taught vertical plane. The user (not shown) subsequently separately arcs the support poles 12 over the area 11 and inserts a second end of each support pole 12 within a corresponding aperture 18 of the second anchor 16b member at step 203, to form a tunnel enclosure over the area 11. This embodiment obviates the requirement for a user to insert the ends of the support poles 12 directly into the ground and thus minimises any damage to the poles 12 and prevents the poles 12 from accumulating dirt and the like.

The cover 13 further comprises a peripherally extending channel 15 which is arranged to receive a fluid, such as water or sand to anchor the periphery of the cover 13 to the ground. In this respect, it is envisaged that the channel 15 disposed along the periphery of the cover may comprise an adapter (not shown) for coupling a garden hose (not shown) thereto, for example for filling the channel and thus weighing down the periphery of the channel at step 103, 204.

When it is necessary to access the area 11, the support poles 12 may be uncoupled from the ground along one side of the area 11 and the resilient bias of the poles 12 ensures that the poles 12 and thus the cover 13, recover to a substantially linear configuration and extend in a vertical plane at the other side of the area 11. Such an enclosure 10 is thus easily opened, closed and repositioned according to the needs of the user. Furthermore, whilst the second configuration of the enclosure 10 substantially encloses the plants and thus offers protection against frost, pests etc, the first configuration of the enclosure 10 offers a further form of protection; it may be positioned to protect plants from a prevailing wind, or to protect plants from direct sunlight without completely enclosing the plants.

Claims

Claims 1. A method of forming an enclosure for enclosing a space, the method comprising the use of a reconfigurable enclosure assembly, the assembly comprising at least two reconfigurable supports and a cover arranged to extend between the at least two supports, the at least two supports being separately reconfigurable between a substantially linear configuration for storage and an arcuate configuration, the at least two supports being resiliently biased to the linear configuration, the method comprising the steps of: securing a first end of each support to the ground, said first ends being secured at spaced apart locations along one side of the space to be enclosed; reconfiguring each support to the arcuate configuration such that each support extends over said space; and, securing a second end of each support to the ground, said second ends being secured at spaced apart locations along at the opposite side of said space.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises inserting the first I_C) and second ends of the supports in the ground at each side of the space to be enclosed. CJ2o
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises first and second anchor members arranged to anchor with the ground at each side of the space and the method comprises initially securing the first and second anchor members to the ground at opposite sides of the space and subsequently detachably coupling the first and second end of the supports to the respective anchor member.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the assembly further comprises a peripherally extending channel arranged for receiving a fluid and the method further comprises filling the channel with a fluid to anchor the periphery of the cover to the ground.
5. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 5a of the drawings.
6. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 5b of the drawings. C')LU (4