Collapsible plant support

• US 10,034,436 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chad M. Legus
• Original Assignee: Chad M. Legus
• Inventors: Legus, Chad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley, David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clerkley, Danielle A
• Application Number:
  US15/660,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 47 241, 47 296, 47 31, 47 311, 47 44- 47, 47 70
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0243 Protective shelters for young plants, e.g. tubular sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 17/00 Cultivation of hops, vines, fruit trees, or like trees
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 17/04 Supports for hops, vines, or trees
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 17/06 Trellis-work
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/00 Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses of mushrooms A01G18/00; soilless cultivation A01G31/00; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C45/1671 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14622 Lining the inner or outer surface of tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/06 Rods, e.g. connecting rods , rails, stakes shafts B29L2031/75; poles, masts, posts B29L2031/766
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7004 for plants or flowers

Abstract

A novel collapsible plant support includes a collapsible coil adapted to rest on a flat surface. In a particular embodiment, the collapsible plant support includes a plurality of vertical support structures coupled to the collapsible coil so as to provide additional support. In another particular embodiment, a collapsible plant support includes plant receptacle receiving element that supports both a collapsible coil and also a plant receptacle. In a more particular embodiment, the plant receptacle receiving element includes fluid ducts for connecting multiple plant receptacle receiving elements into a fluid network. In another embodiment, the coil is disposed within a helical sleeve coupled to a flexible, cylindrical mesh.

Claims

1. A collapsible plant support structure comprising:

a coil having an axis, a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end being configured to rest on a planar surface, said coil being collapsible along said axis; and

a flexible material coupled to said coil and defining a plurality of openings to facilitate the passage of significant parts of a plant therethrough, said flexible material configured in a generally cylindrical shape and being coupled to said coil at a plurality of locations to limit the expansion of said coil and the movement of said material with respect to said coil; and

wherein

said coil is self-supporting in an expanded state when said bottom end of said coil is resting on said planar surface;

said coil has sufficient resistance to compression to provide support for said significant parts of said plant passing through said plurality of openings without fully collapsing said coil; and

said collapsible plant support structure has an open bottom.

2. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said coil includes a substantially straight wire that is secured in a helical position at least in part by said flexible material.

3. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 2, further comprising a flexible sleeve, and wherein:

at least a portion of said coil is disposed in said flexible sleeve; and

said flexible material is fastened to said flexible sleeve.

4. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 2, further comprising a flexible sleeve, and wherein:

at least a portion of said coil is disposed in said flexible sleeve; and

said flexible sleeved is fastened to said flexible material in a helical configuration around said generally cylindrical shape of said flexible material.

5. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 3, wherein said flexible material is in a mesh configuration.

6. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 5, wherein said plurality of openings includes a uniform array of rectangular openings, said openings being wider and taller than a portion of said material between said openings.

7. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 3, wherein said openings are wider and taller than portions of said flexible material between adjacent ones of said openings.

8. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of openings occupies a majority of a surface of said flexible material configured in said generally cylindrical shape.

9. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said coil includes a wire having a natural helical shape.

10. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 9, wherein said flexible material is connected directly to said wire.

11. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, further comprising a retaining feature operative to retain said coil in a compressed position when said collapsible plant support structure is not in use.

12. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 11, wherein said retaining feature includes a toggle button and loop fastener.

13. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said coil is formed from spring steel.

14. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of openings includes a uniform array of rectangular openings.

15. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein:

said flexible material includes a plurality of horizontal sections and a plurality of vertical sections of said material;

said plurality of horizontal sections intersect said plurality of vertical sections to define said plurality of openings; and

said plurality of horizontal sections are fixed to said plurality of vertical sections where said horizontal sections intersect said vertical sections.

16. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said openings have a size sufficient to allow enough of a portion of a plant to pass therethrough to provide support to said plant by said flexible material.

17. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said openings define an area greater than an area of said flexible material between said openings.

18. The collapsible plant support structure of claim 1, wherein said openings have a width greater than a width of said flexible material between adjacent ones of said openings.