Patent ID: 9060470
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
1. A plant support system for providing support to a plant, comprising: (a) a first rod that includes a first longitudinal length; wherein said first rod includes a hollow elliptical or oval center that extends along at least a portion of said first longitudinal length and wherein said hollow elliptical or oval center includes a first inside diameter that extends across a greater inside diameter of said elliptical or oval center and a second inside diameter that extends across a lesser inside diameter of said elliptical or oval center; (b) a second rod that includes a second longitudinal length, wherein said second rod includes an elliptical or oval exterior when taken in cross-section that extends along at least a portion of said second longitudinal length, and wherein a first outside diameter extends across a greater outside diameter of said second rod and wherein a second outside diameter extends across a lesser outside diameter of said second rod; (c) wherein said first outside diameter is less than said first inside diameter and wherein said second outside diameter is less than said second inside diameter, and wherein said first outside diameter is greater than said second inside diameter; (d) wherein when said first outside diameter is in alignment with said first inside diameter and said second outside diameter is in alignment with said second inside diameter, said second rod is able to be inserted into said first rod and wherein said second rod is able to be displaced in said first rod along said first longitudinal length; (e) wherein when a portion of said second rod is disposed in a portion of said first rod and said second rod is rotated around a common center longitudinal axis of said first rod and said second rod a sufficient amount, a portion of said first outside diameter of said second rod engages with a portion of said hollow elliptical or oval center of said first rod to create a friction fit between said first rod and said second rod that is sufficient to secure said second rod in position with respect to said first rod; (f) wherein a portion of the plant is secured to said first rod or to said second rod; (g) wherein said first rod and said second rod forms an upright rod assembly; (h) wherein said system includes at least two upright rod assemblies that are disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other and at least two clips, wherein a first of said at least two clips is attached to a first of said upright rod assemblies and wherein a second of said at least two clips is attached to a second of said upright rod assemblies; (i) wherein said first of said at least two clips and said second of said at least two clips each include a post that protrudes from said first clip and from said second clip and wherein each of said posts includes an elliptical or oval cross-section; (j) wherein said post of said first of said at least two clips extends in a direction toward said second of said at least two clips, and wherein said second of said at least two clips is oriented so that said post of said second of said at least two clips extends in a direction toward said first of said at least to clips, and including a horizontal member that extends between said first of said at least two clips and said second of said at least two clips, and including means for securing opposite ends of said horizontal member to said post of said first of said at least two clips and to said post of said second of said at least two clips, said horizontal member comprises a horizontal rod assembly including a pair of inner horizontal rods having an elliptical or oval cross-section and an outer horizontal rod having an elliptical or oval cross-section, at least a portion of said inner horizontal rods being telescopically arranged within said outer horizontal rod at either end and wherein rotation of either of said inner horizontal rods relative to said outer horizontal rod creates a friction fit for securing and adjusting the overall length of the horizontal rod assembly; and (k) wherein said means for securing includes a hollow center at said opposite ends of said horizontal member that includes an elliptical or oval cross-section, and wherein a size of said hollow center of said horizontal member is greater than a size of said exterior of said posts sufficient to permit said opposite ends of said horizontal member to be disposed over each of said posts, and wherein when said horizontal member is rotated about a center axis thereof with respect to said posts, said horizontal member is simultaneously secured at each of said opposite ends of said horizontal member to each of said posts.