Plant training device

A plant training device includes a first portion including a first portion base and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart first indexing elements extending along an exterior of the first portion base. A second portion includes a second portion base having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The second portion base defines an interior cavity structured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base therein, the interior cavity including a plurality of angularly spaced-apart recesses. Each recess is structured to complementarily slidingly engage and receive therein a first indexing element of the first portion whenever at least a portion of the first portion base is received in the second portion interior cavity at the second portion base first end, to rotationally secure the first portion and the second portion with respect to each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to devices for facilitating and enhancing the growth of plants and, more particularly, to a plant training device enabling the growth directions of plant stems to be reoriented or adjusted to a variety of directions.

BACKGROUND

The natural growth of a plant tends to be upward towards a light source, whether it is natural sunlight or an artificial light source. In many cases, the top leaves receive most of the available light. The lower plant leaves may then be in full shade from the leaves above, or these leaves may not be facing the light source. This may result in low levels of chloroform production as a result of reduced photosynthesis. Controlling the growth footprint of the plant allows available growing space to be utilized more efficiently, by directing various portions of the plant into spaces that receive greater amounts of light. In addition, redirecting certain plant stems and leaves away from what would otherwise be their natural growth directions may provide photosensitive locations and fruit/bud sites with more sunlight. Higher levels of photosynthesis also result in high levels of plant growth and increase growth in locations of the flower and colas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the embodiments described herein, a plant training device includes a first portion including a first portion base and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart first indexing elements extending along an exterior of the first portion base. The device also includes a second portion having a second portion base with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The second portion base defines an interior cavity structured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base therein. The interior cavity includes a plurality of angularly spaced-apart recesses, with each recess structured to complementarily slidingly engage and receive therein a first indexing element of the first portion whenever at least a portion of the first portion base is received in the second portion interior cavity at the second portion base first end, to rotationally secure the first portion and the second portion with respect to each other.

In another aspect of the embodiments described herein, a plant training device includes a first portion having a first arm including a first part, a second part extending from the first arm first part, and a radiused portion formed at an intersection between the first arm first part and the first arm second part. The radiused portion has a radius of at least 7 millimeters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one or more arrangements described herein, a plant training device is provided. The device includes a first portion including a first flat stem guiding surface, and a second portion including a second flat stem guiding surface. The first portion and second portion are structured to be rotationally securable with respect to each other so as to provide any angle of a plurality of predetermined angles formed by an intersection of a first plane defined by the first guiding surface and a second plane defined by the second guiding surface. Adjustability of the angles between the first and second planes enables a plant stem secured in the plant training device to be bent or redirected to any of a variety of selectable angles, to facilitate exposure of all portions of the plant to sunlight, thereby promoting growth of the plant.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements and/or features. In addition, similar reference numerals in different figures refer to elements common to the different figures. Also, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details.

FIGS. 1-4show various views of a plant training device20in accordance with an embodiment described herein. In one or more arrangements, the plant training device may include a first portion22having a first plant stem guiding surface22aand a second portion24including a second plant stem guiding surface24a. The stem guiding surfaces22aand24amay be flat.

Referring in particular toFIGS. 1-1A, the first portion22and second portion24may be structured to be rotationally securable with respect to each other so as to provide any angle θ of a plurality of predetermined angles formed by an intersection of a first plane P1defined by the first guiding surface22aand a second plane P2defined by the second guiding surface24a. In particular arrangements, successive predetermined angles of the plurality of predetermined angles may be spaced apart 30°. However, angular increments or spacings other than 30° may be used in alternative arrangements. The first and second portions22and24are considered to be rotationally secured with respect to each other if the first and second portions are unable to rotate with respect to each other when at least part of a base22bof the first portion is inserted into an interior cavity24cof the second portion24as described herein. When the first and second portions are not rotationally secured with respect to each other, they may be rotated with respect to each other to provide a desired plant stem redirection angle, as described herein.

Referring to the drawings, in one or more arrangements, the first portion22may include a generally cylindrical first portion base22bhaving a central axis X1and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart first indexing elements22cextending along an exterior of the first portion base22b. An associated first portion recess22rmay be defined between indexing elements22cof each pair of adjacent or successive indexing elements. In one or more particular arrangements, each first portion recess22rmay be semi-cylindrical and complementary to second indexing elements24d(described below). In one or more arrangements, the indexing elements22cof the plurality of angularly spaced-apart first indexing elements may extend along a portion of a length L1of the first portion base22bto a second end22sof the base, which is structured for insertion into a plant training device second portion interior cavity as described herein.

The second portion24may include a generally cylindrical second portion base24bhaving a central axis X2and defining an interior cavity24cstructured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base22btherein. A plurality of angularly spaced-apart second indexing elements24dmay extend along the interior cavity24c. In one or more particular arrangements, each second indexing element24dmay be semi-cylindrical and complementary to the first portion semi-cylindrical recesses22r. An associated second portion recess24rmay be defined between indexing elements24dof each pair of adjacent indexing elements, the second portion recesses24rcombining to form a plurality of angularly spaced-apart recesses extending along the interior cavity24c. The first and second portions22,24may be structured so that the respective central axes X1, X2are coaxial or at least substantially coaxial (within manufacturing tolerance limits of the pertinent part dimensions) when at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in the interior cavity24c. In one or more arrangements, each recess24rof the plurality of angularly spaced-apart recesses in the second portion base interior cavity24cmay extend along an entire length L2of the second portion base interior cavity24c.

The second indexing elements24dand the first portion recesses22rmay be structured so that each second portion indexing element24dmay complementarily slidingly engage (and be received within) an associated first portion recess22rwhen at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion interior cavity24cas described herein. Similarly, the first indexing elements22cand the second portion recesses24rmay be structured so that each first indexing element22cmay complementarily slidingly engage and be received within an associated second portion recess24rwhen at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion interior cavity24cas described herein. Complementary engagement between the first indexing elements and the second portion recesses and between the second indexing elements and the first portion recesses may rotationally secure the first portion22and the second portion24with respect to each other.

The angular spacing between adjacent first indexing elements22cmay be constant or the angular spacing may vary. In particular embodiments, the angular spacing is constant, with all of the first indexing elements22cbeing angularly spaced 30° apart and, consequently, all adjacent first portion recesses22rbeing angularly spaced 30° apart. Similarly, all of the second indexing elements24dmay be angularly spaced 30° apart and, consequently, all of the second portion recesses24rmay be angularly spaced 30° apart. This enables the first and second portions22,24to be indexed with respect to each other at 30° increments, permitting a large degree of control over the effective angle by which the plant stem is redirected or diverted.

Referring toFIG. 2, the first portion base22bmay have a first end22fand a second end22sopposite the first end22f. The first portion22may also have a first arm22gextending from the first portion base22b, with a first part22jof the first arm extending generally radially outwardly from the first portion base22b, and a second part22hof the first arm22gextending from the first part22jin a direction D1toward the first portion base second end22s. The first guiding surface22amay be formed along the second part22hof the first arm22gand may reside opposite the first portion base22b. In one or more particular arrangements, part22hof the first arm22gmay extend parallel with an exterior surface of the first portion base22b.

As seen in the drawings, a radiused portion22zmay be formed at an intersection between the first arm first part22jand first arm second part22h. The radiused portion22zmay be configured to maximize the contact area between a plant stem extending into the space26(FIG. 1) between the first portion arm22gand the second portion base24bwhen at least a part of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion interior cavity24c. It has been found that maximizing the contact area between the plant stem and the first portion arm22goperates to prevent undesirable bruising of the plant stem when the plant stem is mounted in the plant training device. The contact area between the plant stem and the radiused portion22zof the first arm22gmay increase as the radius of the plant stem approaches the radius of the radiused portion22z, with the radius of the radiused portion22zinitially being larger than the radius of the plant stem (and where the radius of the plant stem is a radius of a cross-section taken through the plant stem, i.e., a radius of the outer surface of the plant stem). It has been found that a radiused portion22zhaving a radius of at least 7 millimeters will provide a surface having a larger radius than most plant stems which the plant training device is designed to accommodate. It has also been found that a radiused portion22zhaving a radius in the range 7-15 millimeters inclusive will aid in maximizing the average contact area between the plant stem and the first arm radiused portion22zfor the range of plant stem radii which the plant training device is designed to accommodate.

As seen inFIG. 3, the second portion base24bmay have a first end24fand a second end24sopposite the first end24f. In addition, as seen inFIGS. 4, 7A, and 7B, the second portion interior cavity24cmay be structured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base22binto the interior cavity through any of the second portion base first end24fand the second portion base second end24s. The second portion24may also have a second arm24gextending from the second portion base24b, with a first part24jof the second arm24gextending generally radially outwardly from the second portion base24b, and a second part24hof the second arm24gextending from the first part24jin a direction D2toward the second portion base second end24s. The second guiding surface24amay be formed along part24hof the arm24gand may reside opposite the second portion base24b. In one or more particular arrangements, part24hof the second arm24gmay extend parallel with an exterior surface of the second portion base24b.

As seen in the drawings, a radiused portion24zmay be formed at an intersection between the second arm first part24jand second arm second part24h. The radiused portion24zmay be configured to maximize the contact area between a plant stem extending into the space25(FIG. 1) between the second portion arm24gand the second portion base24bwhen at least a part of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion interior cavity24c. It has been found that maximizing the contact area between the plant stem and the second portion arm24goperates to prevent undesirable bruising of the plant stem when the plant stem is mounted in the plant training device. The contact area between the plant stem and the radiused portion24zof the second arm24gmay increase as the radius of the plant stem approaches the radius of the radiused portion24z, with the radius of the radiused portion24zinitially being larger than the radius of the plant stem. It has been found that a radiused portion24zhaving a radius of at least 7 millimeters will provide a radiused surface having a larger radius than most plant stems which the plant training device is designed to accommodate. It has also been found that a radiused portion24zhaving a radius in the range 7-15 millimeters inclusive will aid in maximizing the average contact area between the plant stem and the second arm radiused portion24zfor the range of plant stem radii which the plant training device is designed to accommodate.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one or more particular embodiments, the first portion22and the second portion24may be structured so that an angle θ of the plurality of predetermined angles formed at an intersection of the planes P1and P2has a value of 97.9°.

FIGS. 1 and 1Ashow views of the plant training device20with the first portion base22binserted into the second portion interior cavity24cat the second end24sof the second portion base24b. However, the same angular arrangement between the planes P1and P2may also be achieved by inserting the first portion base22binto the second portion interior cavity24cat the first end of the second portion. Thus, embodiments of the plant training device20may be structured so that sliding engagement between the first indexing elements22cand the second portion recesses24rand between the second indexing elements24dand the first portion recesses22ras described herein may be achieved both when a portion of the first portion base22bis inserted into the second portion interior cavity24cat the second end24sof the second portion base24b, and also when a portion of the first portion base22bis inserted into the second portion interior cavity24cat the first end24fof the second portion base24b.FIG. 1also shows an example of redirection or bending of a plant stem99by an embodiment of the plant training device.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 1A, in some arrangements, the first and second portions22,24may be structured so that when at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion base interior cavity24cthrough the second portion base second end24s, the second part22hof the first portion arm22gincluding the first guiding surface22aand the second part24hof the second portion arm24gincluding the second guiding surface24aextend in opposite directions. As seen fromFIG. 1, when parts22h,24hof the first and second portion arms extend in opposite directions, the portion99aof the plant stem99residing in the space25between the second portion arm24gand the second portion base24bmay have difficulty moving in direction D2out of the space25due to retention forces exerted by the first portion arm22gon the stem portion99a. Similarly, the portion99bof the plant stem99residing in the space26between the first portion arm22gand the second portion base24bmay have difficulty moving in a direction D1out of the space26due to retention forces exerted by the second portion arm24gon the stem portion99b. Thus, the opposed directions of the second parts22h,24hof the first and second portion arms22g,24ghelp secure the plant stems99to the plant training device20.

Adjustment and operation of the plant training device20may be understood with reference to the drawings, especiallyFIGS. 1 and 4. Referring toFIG. 4, the plant training device may be adjusted to provide a desired plant stem redirection angle by removing first portion base22bfrom second portion interior cavity24cand rotating the one or more of the parts with respect to each other to achieve a desired stem redirection angle. As seen fromFIGS. 1 and 4, as the first portion22may be rotated in direction D3with respect to the second portion24, the degree to which the stem will be redirected will increase. When a desired angle is achieved, the first and second portions22,24may be mated as previously described by inserting the first portion base22binto the second portion interior cavity24cto secure the parts in position to maintain the desired angle. Alternatively, the first portion22may be rotated in an opposite direction D5to achieve a desired stem redirection angle.

Portion99aof the plant stem99may then be inserted into space25, wrapped around the engaged base portions22b/24b, then passed through space26between the first portion arm22gand the second portion base24b. In the structure described, forces produced by resistance of the plant stem to bending may aid in maintaining the first and second portions in a mated condition.

In some arrangements, as seen inFIGS. 7A and 7B, the first and second portions22,24may also be structured so that when at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion base interior cavity24cthrough the second portion base first end24f, the part22hof the first portion arm22gincluding the first guiding surface22aand the part24hof the second portion arm24gincluding the second guiding surface24aextend in the same direction.

Referring now toFIG. 6, an alternative embodiment124of the second portion may be structured the substantially the same as previously described embodiment24. The second portion124may include a generally cylindrical second portion base124bhaving a central axis X2′ and defining an interior cavity124cstructured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base22btherein. A plurality of angularly spaced-apart second indexing elements124dmay extend along the interior cavity124c. In one or more particular arrangements, each second indexing element124dmay be semi-cylindrical and complementary to the first portion semi-cylindrical recesses22r. An associated second portion recess124rmay be defined between indexing elements124dof each pair of adjacent indexing elements.

As seen inFIG. 6, the second portion base124bmay have a first end124fand a second end124sopposite the first end124f. In addition, the second portion interior cavity124cmay be structured to receive at least a portion of the first portion base22binto the interior cavity through any of the second portion base first end124fand the second portion base second end124s. However, in the second portion124, ends of the second indexing elements124dmay be spaced apart a predetermined distance d4from the second end124sof the base124b. This feature also has the effect of spacing the recesses124rformed between pairs of adjacent second indexing elements124dapart a distance d4from the second end124sof the base124b. The second portion124may be structured to mate and engage with the first portion22as previously described. However, because the ends of the second indexing elements124dare spaced apart from base second end124s, each first indexing element22cmay complementarily slidingly engage and be received within an associated second portion recess124ronly when the first portion base22bis inserted into the cavity124cat the base second end124sto a depth greater than the distance d4. Similarly, the second indexing elements124dand the first portion recesses22rmay complementarily slidingly engage only when the first portion base22bis inserted into the second portion interior cavity124cto a depth greater than the distance d4. Also, it is only necessary to partially withdraw the first portion base22bfrom the second portion interior cavity124cin order to rotate the first portion22with respect to the second portion124. This feature enables a user to maintain engagement between the first and second portions22and124during rotation of the first and second portions relative to one another when the first portion is inserted into the second portion base second end124s. Thus, the user does not need to separate the first and second portions and then re-align and re-insert the first portion22into the second portion124when adjusting the redirection angle.

Opposite ends of the second indexing elements124dmay be positioned at or near the second portion first end124fso that, when a portion of the first portion base22bis inserted into the second portion interior cavity124cat the second portion base first end124f, the first indexing elements22cand the second portion recesses124rmay complementarily slidingly engage as soon as the first portion base22bis inserted into the second portion interior cavity124c. Thus, in both embodiments24,124of the plant training device second portion, the first indexing elements22cand the second portion recesses24r,124rmay complementarily slidingly engage whenever at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in a second portion interior cavity24cor124cat the respective second portion base first end.

The first and second portions22,124may be structured so that the respective central axes X1, X2′ are coaxial or at least substantially coaxial (within manufacturing tolerance limits of the pertinent part dimensions) when at least a portion of the first portion base22bis received in the interior cavity124c. Complementary engagement between the first indexing elements and the second portion recesses and between the second indexing elements and the first portion recesses may rotationally secure the first portion22and the second portion124with respect to each other, as previously described. Also, all of the second indexing elements24dmay be angularly spaced 30° apart and, consequently, all of the second portion recesses124rmay be angularly spaced 30° apart, as previously described. This enables the first and second portions22,124to be indexed with respect to each other at 30° increments, permitting a large degree of control over the effective angle by which the plant stem is redirected or diverted.

The second portion124may also have a second arm124gextending from the second portion base124b, with a first part124jof the second arm124gextending generally radially outwardly from the second portion base124b, and a second part124hof the second arm124gextending from the first part124jin a direction D2toward the second portion base second end124s. The second guiding surface124amay be formed along part124hof the arm124gand may reside opposite the second portion base124b. In one or more particular arrangements, part124hof the second arm124gmay extend parallel with an exterior surface of the second portion base124b.

As seenFIG. 6, and as previously described with respect to second portion24, a radiused portion124zsimilar to radiused portion24zmay be formed at an intersection between the second arm first part124jand second arm second part124h. The radiused portion124zmay be configured as previously described to maximize the contact area between a plant stem extending into the space between the second portion arm124gand the second portion base124bwhen at least a part of the first portion base22bis received in the second portion interior cavity124c.