Abstract:
A fruit tree protector has a plurality of stretchable netting pieces fastened together by hooks which may be C-shaped, and made of plastic, or copper wire, and the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention herein disclosed relates to devices for protecting the fruit in trees from birds. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Prior Art 
     For many years efforts have been made to protect the fruit ripening in the orchard from the depredations of birds, which are disposed to eat the fruit just as it ripens and before it can be picked. This is a particularly vexing problem to homeowners and small orchard proprietors. Whereas large commercial growers solve the problem by picking the green fruit long before it becomes attractive to birds, specialty growers and homeowners prefer to pick the fruit at its peak of ripeness (the quality of fruit picked green is not as good as tree-ripened fruit) for immediate consumption or for sale to the premium fruit market. 
     Consequently, there is a long history of efforts to find an ideal fruit tree protector: Typical of such efforts are patents to Hale, Pat. No. 2,197,929; Stevason, Pat. No. 1,780,950; Liljegran Pat. No. 1,072,339; McAdie, Pat. No. 994,083; Morris, Pat. No. 633,528; Zimmerman, Pat. No. 614,921; Shepherd, Pat. No. 427,921; Crow, Pat. No. 343,533 and Stahl Pat. No. 349,066. Although designed primarily for fumigating rather than protection, Culver, Pat. No. 367,134; Miller Pat. No. 510,079 and Scheuermann, Pat. No. 1,108,521 also show tree covers. Many provide access to the fruit without removing the entire cover but none provides a convenient, effortless access to the fruit in various parts of the tree. Some devices require machinery to install and remove, and many are awkward to handle. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a tree protector that keeps birds away from the ripe fruit, is simple to install on the tree, is convenient to remove, but permits easy access by the grower to selected parts of the tree. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I provide a tree protector that is constructed with a desired number of individual pieces or swatches of light-weight netting, held together by hooks, preferably C-shaped, which may cover all or a significant part of the tree. The netting is, preferably, stretched at least to some extent when the hooks are fastened. The resulting tension firmly holds the hooks and netting together, but does not hamper access between the hooks to a human hand to pick the fruit. If need be, one or more hooks may be removed, whereupon the netting may be turned back and rehooked in a temporary open position for fruit harvesting. Thus, the fruit may be selected and removed from any part of the tree when ideally ripe. 
     Because the swatches may be made a convenient size for individual handling, clothing a fruit tree with the protective covering is feasible by one person without the use of machinery. On larger trees, ladders and other supports may be required to reach the tops of the trees. Disassembly is equally simple and can be handled by one person working alone. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a form of netting usable in the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows hooks suitably shaped for use in the invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows netting fastened in place on a fruit tree; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of area IV; 
     FIG. 5 is a view in section of FIG. 4 taken along the line 5--5; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of area VI. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, which show a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a tree T is covered by independent, elongated swatches of netting N (as in FIG. 3, A, B, C, D and E) the sides of which are held together in stretching tension (FIG. 4) solely by C-shaped hooks H (FIG. 2). The elasticity of the netting puts tension on the hooks which fasten the swatches of netting around the tree (FIG. 3). Any number of swatches may be employed, depending on the size of the tree and the need for access to the fruit. The number shown in the drawings is merely exemplary. 
     In FIG. 6, for example, the edges 7, 8 of swatches C and D of netting N are easily unfastened and turned back on the swatches C and D and re-fastened by hooks 2 to permit convenient access to the fruit F. The edges of the netting N are closed by hooks 2 when picking is not in progress, so that the birds cannot gain entrance. Thus, fruit may be left on the tree until it ripens to the stage desired without being eaten or spoiled by birds. For small quantity picking the picker&#39;s hand may be inserted between the hooks and the closed swatches of netting to reach nearby selected fruit, but the birds will not force an entry in that fashion. 
     The presently preferred embodiment employs hooks H made of plastic. The hooks may be white or colored, e.g. in a distinctive color such as international orange, to identify their locations. The plastic hooks may be U.V. protected to add to longevity. Copper wire, bare or coated, is one of several acceptable alternatives to plastic. 
     The embodiment of the best mode is plastic netting to take advantage of the stretch tension property and low cost. Suitable netting having satisfactory values of strength, tension and flexibility may be obtained from the following firms, among others: Ross-Daniels, Inc., 1720 Fuller Road, P.0. Box 65430, West Des Moines, Ia. 50265; Dalen Products, Inc., 11110 Gilbert Drive, Knoxville, Tenn. 37932; Weather Shade Corp., Apopka, Fla. 32703. 
     Persons ordinarily skilled in the art will understand the range of structures and materials equivalent to those discussed in the foregoing specification, all of which equivalents are embraced in the invention as defined in the appended claims.