WO2018197841A1

WO2018197841A1 - End support

Info

Publication number: WO2018197841A1
Application number: PCT/GB2018/051041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rolly WHATTON
Original assignee: Haygrove Limited
Priority date: 2017-04-26
Filing date: 2018-04-20
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: GB201706653D0; GB2561876A; GB2561876B

Abstract

An end support (10) is described comprising an inverted U-shaped support member (14), the ends of the limbs (16) of which are fitted, in use, to a gutter element (12), and an inverted U-shaped brace member (24), the ends of the limbs (26) of which are fitted, in use, to the gutter element (12), wherein the support member (14) is shaped to define retaining regions (20) cooperable with the brace member (24) such that the brace member (24) serves to support the support member (14) in an upstanding configuration.

Description

END SUPPORT

This invention relates to an end support, and in particular to an end support of a crop growing and support system.

The use of gutters or similar supports to contain a growing medium in which crop plants are grown is well known. For example, they are in widespread use within polytunnels and the like, typically comprising a row of legs anchored to the ground and arranged in an upstanding configuration, the legs each carrying a respective gutter support bracket. The gutter support brackets, in turn, support an elongate gutter element, for example of a suitable plastics material or of a rolled steel form, the gutter adopting a desired cross sectional shape to contain the growing medium, and also serving to conduct irrigation water draining from the growing medium to a remote location for collection.

In addition to supporting the gutter element, the gutter support brackets often also support other elements of the system. By way of example, it is known to provide elongate foliage or crop supporting tapes or wires, extending along the length of the gutter and positioned at a spaced location relative to the side walls of the gutter to provide support for plant foliage and/or crops. By way of example, each gutter support may be provided with brackets or clips to allow the tapes or wires to be supported thereby.

The weight applied to the wires or tapes, in use, can be significant, and so the wires or tapes may be under a significant tension, in use. It is usual to provide brackets or supports at or near the ends of the gutter which are designed in such a fashion as to accommodate and withstand the tension within the wires or tapes. However, these supports or brackets tend to be of a relatively complex form, being time consuming and relatively expensive to manufacture, and complex to fit to the end part of the gutter. It is an object of the invention to provide an end bracket or support suitable for use in such applications and in which at least some of the disadvantages associated with known arrangements are overcome or are of reduced effect.

According to the invention there is provided an end support comprising an inverted U-shaped support member, the ends of the limbs of which are fitted, in use, to a gutter element, and an inverted U-shaped brace member, the ends of the limbs of which are fitted, in use, to the gutter element, wherein the support member is shaped to define retaining regions cooperable with the brace member such that the brace member serves to support the support member in an upstanding configuration.

Such an arrangement is of simple construction, and so it relatively quick and simple to fabricate in an inexpensive manner, and is quick to assemble.

Preferably, the support member and the brace member are of a stiff wire material. Conveniently, the material is bent to the desired shape.

Conveniently, the ends of the limbs of the support member and the ends of the limbs of the brace member are of bent form and are attached to the gutter element by extending through openings formed in the gutter element.

Preferably, the brace member is shaped to define a recessed part within which part of the support member is received, in use.

The support member could be shaped to define attachment regions to which wires, tapes or the like may be attached. However, preferably, an anchor member is attachable to the support member to which wires, tapes or the like may be attached. Conveniently, the anchor member is attachable to the support member at a range of different heights. The anchor member conveniently takes the form of a bent length of a stiff wire material. The invention further relates to a crop growing and support system comprising a gutter element and an end support as defined hereinbefore attached thereto.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which illustrates an end support in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in Figure 1, an end bracket or support 10 is shown attached to an end section of an elongate gutter element 12. Although not shown, the gutter element 12 will typically be supported above the ground using suitable brackets carried by a row of legs. By way of example, it may be located within a polytunnel or the like. The end support 10 is intended for use in supporting the end parts of elongate tapes, wires or the like which extend, in use, alongside the gutter element 12, providing support to plant foliage or crops associated with plants growing in a growing medium contained within the gutter element 12.

The end support 10 comprises a support member 14 of generally inverted U-shaped form. The support member 14 is of bent stiff wire or similar material form. By way of example, it may be of a suitable stiff steel wire. If desired, it may be galvanised or have a coating applied thereto to enhance its corrosion resistance. The support member 14 defines a pair of limbs 16 which extend substantially parallel to one another and which are spaced apart by a distance that is similar to the width of the gutter element 12. The limbs 16 are interconnected by an integral upper section 18. As shown, the upper ends of the limbs 16 are bent to define retaining regions 20, and as a result the upper section 18 is offset from the limbs 16.

The lower ends of the limbs 16 are bent to include outwardly directed stubs 22 which extend, in use, through appropriately positioned openings formed in the gutter element 12 to attach the support member 14 to the gutter element 12. The end support 10 further comprises a generally inverted U-shaped brace member 24. Like the support member 14, the brace member 24 is of bent stiff wire form, bent to define limbs 26 interconnected by an end part 28. The end part 28 is shaped to define a recess 30. At their lower ends, the limbs 26 are bent to define inwardly directed stubs 32 which extend through appropriately positioned openings provided in the gutter element 12.

In use, in order to assemble the end support 10 and attach it to the gutter element 12, the support member 14 is secured to the gutter element 12 by deflecting the limbs 16 towards one another by a degree sufficient to allow the stubs 22 to be inserted into and through the respective openings formed in the gutter element 12. Release of the limbs 16 allows them to deflect back to their original positions, thereby securely attaching the support member 14 to the gutter element 12. The brace member 24 is attached to the gutter element 12 in a similar manner. However, as the stubs 32 are inwardly directed rather than outwardly directed, the assembly operation involves displacing the limbs 26 away from one another.

It will be appreciated that the limbs 26 of the brace member 24 are located outside of the channel defined by the gutter element 12, and so do not interfere with the location of the growing medium therein, or interfere with the cultivation of plants in the growing medium. They do not take up potential crop growing space. The limbs 16 of the support member 14, on the other hand, are located within the channel defined by the gutter element 12, and may serve as end stops restricting the movement of growing medium containing bags or containers, or blocks of growing medium relative to the gutter element 12.

Once the support member 14 and brace member 24 have been attached to the gutter element 12, they can be moved relative to one another to insert the upper section 18 of the support member 14 into or through the recess 30 defined by the brace member 24, the end part 28 of the brace member 24 resting against the retaining regions 20 of the support member 14. The location of the upper section 18 of the support member 14 within the recess 30 of the brace member 24 resists significant relative lateral movement between the parts of the support member 14 and the brace member 24 remote from the gutter element 12. The cooperation between the brace member 24 and the retaining regions 20 holds the support member 14 in an upright configuration relative to the gutter element 14.

As shown in Figure 1, the end support 10 further comprises an anchor member 32 attached to the support member 14. Like the other parts of the end support 10, the anchor member 32 is of bent stiff wire material form. The anchor member 32 includes a pair of limbs 34 shaped to cooperate with the limbs 16 of the support member 14, and a connecting part 36 interconnecting the limbs 34. The shape of the anchor member 32 is such that it can be fitted to the support member 14, frictional resistance between the anchor member 32 and the support member 14 resisting movement of the anchor member 32, in use. The anchor member 32 can be fitted at a range of positions along the lengths of the limbs 16.

Once fitted to the support member 14, elongate tapes, wires or the like may be attached to the anchor member 32, the tapes, wires or the like serving as foliage and/or crop supports. It will be appreciated that tension in the tapes, wires or the like can be borne by the end support 10, the tension placing the limbs 26 under compression. The end support 10 thus provides a relatively robust anchor for the tapes, wires or the like.

With the wires, tapes or the like fitted, the height of the anchor member 32 can be adjusted, if desired.

The end support 10 is of simple and convenient form. Including the anchor member 32, it is of three part form, each of which is of simple bent wire or the like form, the parts interengaging with one another without requiring welding or the like. Fitting of the end support 10 to the gutter element 12 is straightforward, not requiring the use of tools and not requiring attachment fittings such as nuts and bolts, which may be fiddly to fit and easy to lose. Accordingly, manufacture and assembly and fitting of the end support 10 are all relatively simple. Whilst a specific embodiment of the invention is described hereinbefore, it will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An end support comprising an inverted U-shaped support member, the ends of the limbs of which are fitted, in use, to a gutter element, and an inverted U-shaped brace member, the ends of the limbs of which are fitted, in use, to the gutter element, wherein the support member is shaped to define retaining regions cooperable with the brace member such that the brace member serves to support the support member in an upstanding configuration.

2. A support according to Claim 1, wherein the support member and the brace member are of a stiff wire material.

3. A support according to Claim 2, wherein the stiff wire material is bent to the desired shape.

4. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ends of the limbs of the support member and the ends of the limbs of the brace member are of bent form and are attached to the gutter element by extending through openings formed in the gutter element.

5. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the brace member is shaped to define a recessed part within which part of the support member is received, in use.

6. A support according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an anchor member is attachable to the support member to which wires, tapes or the like may be attached.

7. A support according to Claim 6, wherein the anchor member is attachable to the support member at a range of different heights.

8. A support according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the anchor member takes the form of a bent length of a stiff wire material.

9. A crop growing and support system comprising a gutter element and an end support according to any of the preceding claims attached to the gutter element.