Tomato vine supporting device

• US 4,914,857 A
• Filed: 01/09/1989
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dodgen Industries
• Original Assignee: Dodgen Industries
• Inventors: Dodgen, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US07/294,775
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.8, 248/153, 248/156, 248/175, 248/302, 248/213.2, 47/47
• US Class Current: 47/47
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/12 Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like trellis-work for vines A01G17/06; stays for trees, props for vines A01G17/14

Abstract

A tomato vine supporting device having a plurality of spaced vertically elongated rods equally spaced in a circular configuration. The upper ends of the rods terminate in an outwardly and downwardly extending arm with the outer ends of the arms terminating in upwardly extending hook elements. A first circular horzontal ring is removably nested in these hook elements. Second hook elements are mounted on the upper ends of the rods, and third hook elements are secured to the rods intermediate their upper and lower ends. Second and third rings are removably nested in the second and third elements, respectively. The lower ends of the rods can be inserted into the ground, mounted in sockets within an earth container, or otherwise secured to the rim of an earth container.

Claims

1. A vine support device, comprising,

a plurality of spaced vertical elongated rods equally spaced in a circular configuration, with each of said rods having upper ends terminating in outwardly and downwardly extending arms with outer ends terminating in upwardly extending first hook elements,

a first circular horizontal ring removably nested in said first hook elements,

second hook elements extending inwardly from the upper ends of said rods,

third hook elements extending inwardly from said rods intermediate the upper and lower ends of said rods,

and second and third rings removably nested in said second and third hook elements, respectively.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said third hook elements are vertically adjustably secured to said rods.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second and third hook elements are vertically adjustably secured to said rods.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first, second, and third rings are in tight engaging relationship with said first, second and third hook elements, respectively, to stabilize the vertical position of said rods.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said third hook elements are comprised of an L-shaped bracket comprised of a horizontal portion and an upstanding portion, an aperture in said horizontal portion slidably receiving the rod upon which said bracket is mounted, said aperture being slightly larger than the diameter of said rods so that the weight and presence of said third ring between said rods and the upstanding portion of said brackets will bind said brackets on said rods to hold said brackets against sliding motion on said rods.

6. The device of claim 7 wherein said second hook elements are identical to said third hook elements.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said lower ends of said rods are secured to a container.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said lower ends of said rods are received within vertically disposed sockets within said container.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said container has an upper perimeter edge, and fourth hook elements interconnect said rods to said upper perimeter edge of said container.