Arbor stake stabilization member

In one embodiment of an arbor stake stabilization member, a body includes an annular ring of a biodegradable material having an axial passageway therethrough. A locking member is coupled to the annular ring and extends radially inward into the axial passageway. A plate of a biodegradable material extends circumferentially outwardly from the annular ring. The perforated plate includes multiple openings. In use, the arbor stake stabilization member may be placed underground and on or above a rootball of a tree. The locking member is sized to accept an arbor stake therethrough in an interference fit. The arbor stake may extend from the top of the rootball through the rootball and into the undisturbed soil at a point below the rootball. Over time, the arbor stake stabilization member biodegrades.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to landscaping and, in particular, an arbor stake stabilization member that provides a physical security to trees, shrubs, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Landscape contractors often work on projects that include planting trees, shrubs, or other items. Trees are typically received with their root mass in a container or wrapped in burlap and the roots will be in a compact cluster called a rootball. The rootball is placed into a hole and covered with soil. Newly installed tall trees and shrubs typically benefit from the use of various stabilization techniques to ensure an upright habit during establishment, even in spite of periodic strong winds and other stimuli. After one to two years, the roots of most plants will have become established to the point that there is no need for external stabilization.

The most popular tree stabilization technique is the use of metal fencing T-posts that are driven into the ground and stick up out of the ground by about three to five feet. Each T-post may have a guy wire, rope or other supporting structure that is attached to the trunk of the tree and operates to stabilize the tree. However, this above-ground staking technique has several disadvantages. One of the major disadvantages of above-ground staking methods is the effect on the physiology of trees—the methods may inhibit tree growth and structural strength. Above-ground staking acts as a crutch by preventing the trunk from swaying in the wind. Such swaying is believed to stimulate and grow bark cambium to add to the trunk strength. This natural movement also triggers growth and root proliferation of the rootball into the surrounding soil structure. Above-ground staking greatly inhibits this natural adaptation. Further, the people who maintain these traditional methods are often careless and fail to remove the staking structures after they are not needed. A tree that is left indefinitely with support structures on or around its trunk will attempt to defend itself by compartmentalizing (covering the foreign object with callus material eventually overcoming the foreign object). Wires and other surrounding support structures left on a tree trunk may girdle the tree whereby causing a permanent inclusion which often leads to catastrophic structural failure and death of the tree.

Further, above-ground staking is unsightly and hazardous to humans and machinery. For instance, in an open space environment such as a park, there will be children running around. Oftentimes, trees are planted near playgrounds, trails and other recreational activities. The height of vertical posts and support structures are coincidentally installed at or about the height of a child's torso, head or face, making collisions with above ground staking methods quite dangerous. Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and methods for providing enhanced tree stabilization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to achieve an arbor stake stabilization member that would improve upon existing limitations systems and methods for providing enhanced tree stabilization. It would also be desirable to enable an eco-friendly and sustainable solution that would provide enhanced aesthetics, safety with no impact to the health and success of the tree. To better address one or more of these concerns, an arbor stake stabilization member is disclosed. In one embodiment of the arbor stake stabilization member, a body includes an annular ring of a biodegradable material having an axial passageway therethrough. A locking member is coupled to the annular ring and extends radially inward into the axial passageway. A plate of a biodegradable material extends circumferentially outwardly from the annular ring. The perforated plate includes multiple openings. In use, the arbor stake stabilization member may be placed underground and on or above a rootball of a tree. The locking member is sized to accept an arbor stake therethrough in an interference fit. The arbor stake may extend from the top of the rootball through the rootball and into the undisturbed soil at a point below the rootball. Over time, the arbor stake stabilization member biodegrades. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIG.1, therein is depicted one embodiment of a system10for landscape stabilization. A tree T includes a rootball B, which is disposed in hole H under the surface S. Placing a rootball in a hole is a common scenario in landscaping when planting trees, shrubs, and other plants. In the presently illustrated embodiment after the hole H has been dug, the tree T is installed. Arbor stakes12and Arbor stake stabilization members14are utilized to stabilize the tree T. More specifically, arbor stake stabilization members14are positioned at or under the surface S and then respective arbor stakes12driven through rootball B into native, undisturbed soil U so that rootball B is held in place by the arbor stakes12. Typically, the arbor stakes12are driven in as far as possible so that the tree T will experience increased stability versus having no stabilization system10at all. The arbor stake stabilization members14provide stability for the arbor stakes12by holding the arbor stakes12in place, preventing lateral movement.

The system10shown inFIG.1may be analogized to a system for stabilizing a ball (rootball B) in a socket (hole H). Generally speaking, if there is a ball in a socket and pins are run through that ball and into the socket, that ball will not typically roll around in the socket. Embodiments of the invention offer additional stability in the form of the arbor stake stabilization members14. The arbor stake stabilization members14provide a way of securing the pins (arbor stakes12) against ball and socket movement. Generally, the more arbor stakes12and arbor stake stabilization members14that are used, the more stability that is imparted to the tree T (or other plant).

Referring now toFIG.2throughFIG.9, the arbor stake12may be made of any of a variety of materials, and in some embodiments the arbor stake12may be made from a biodegradable material, such as wood, for example. In fact, the arbor stake12may be made of any material with enough longitudinal rigidity to allow the arbor stake12to be forced through a tree's rootball and into the underlying ground. Each arbor stake12includes tapered end20and a flat end22. The tapered end20may include a point24for driving the arbor stake12into the tree's rootball B and the underlying soil S. The flat end22, on the other hand, can, for example, be hit with a hammer or other object in order to drive tapered end20through a rootball B and into the soil S. An end cap26(shown inFIG.2and not shown inFIG.3) may be placed over the flat end22during hammering in order to protect flat end22from direct hammer blows. The end cap26may stay on the arbor stake14or, alternatively, be removed after the arbor stake14is driven to its desired depth. The end cap26may be composed of a biodegradable material or a different, non-biodegradable material. As alluded, the arbor stake12may be referred to as providing vertical support. However, it is not required that the arbor stake12be arranged exactly vertically, as substantially vertically is within the scope of embodiments.

The arbor stake stabilization member14may also be made out of a variety of materials, and especially biodegradable materials, such as wood, bamboo, biodegradable plastic (hereinafter referred to as “bioplastic,” an example of which is the corn-based plastic available under the name MIREL™), and the like. As shown inFIG.10, the benefit of using a biodegradable material for the arbor stake stabilization member14and components thereof, is over time the arbor stake stabilization member14will degrade as shown by degradation D. Therefore, no need exists to return to the tree T to remove the arbor stake stabilization member14from the ground.

Referring again toFIG.2throughFIG.9, typically, the arbor stake stabilization member14is a long strip-like form of material with a thicknesses much smaller than a length and a width dimensions. The dimensions of each arbor stake stabilization member14can be tailored for its intended use. Further, embodiments presented herein are not limited to any dimension for arbor stakes12or arbor stake stabilization members14, as dimensions may differ for different applications. The arbor stake stabilization member may be referred to as providing horizontal support. However, it is not required that the arbor stake stabilization member14be arranged exactly horizontally, as substantially horizontally, or otherwise conforming to a top surface of a rootball, is within the scope of embodiments.

In various embodiments, the arbor stake12is driven through a rootball of a newly-planted tree, while the arbor stake stabilization member14is placed parallel to the soil to provide lateral stability to the arbor stake12. In one embodiment, the arbor stake stabilization member14includes a body30that is an annular ring32having a length34from an upper end36to a lower end38. As shown, the annular ring32includes an exterior surface40and an axial passageway42therethrough. The annular ring32may be a biodegradable material.

The axial passageway42is sized to accept the arbor stake12therethrough. As depicted, the axial passageway42includes a periphery44and a center46. A locking member50is coupled to the annular ring32and the locking member50extends radially inward into the axial passageway42. The locking member50may partially obstruct the axial passageway42at the periphery44thereof and the locking member50is unobstructing of the center46of the axial passageway42. The locking member50includes a contact material52with a contact surface54having, in one embodiment, a toothed-profile56. In one implementation, the toothed-profile may make a biting engagement into the arbor stake12. The contact material52may be different than the biodegradable material of the annular ring32. In one implementation, the contact material52may be an unfinished metal.

As shown, the locking member50is sized to accept the arbor stake12therethrough in an interference fit with the toothed-profile56of the contact surface54of the locking member50. In one embodiment, a plate60extends circumferentially outwardly from the annular ring32. The plate60may have multiple openings62. In one embodiment, the plate60may be composed of the same material as the annular ring32or another biodegradable material. The multiple openings62increase the exposed surface area of the plate60to increase the rate of biodegradation, when the arbor stake stabilization member14is beneath the surface of the ground. In one embodiment, the multiple openings62are non-arbor stake openings that are not sized to engage an arbor stake. In another embodiment, the multiple openings62may be at least 30% of the surface area of the plate60. In still another embodiment, the multiple openings62may be at least 50% of the surface area of the plate60.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plate60has a diamond-like shape64with a length greater than a width. The plate60may have an upper side66and a lower side68. As shown, the plate60extends circumferentially outward from the annular ring32at an angle to span the length34of the annular ring32. Multiple gussets70join the lower side68of the plate60to the exterior surface40of the annular ring32. The gussets70provide additional support. It should be appreciated that other designs of plates60for the arbor stake stabilization member14are within the teachings presented herein. The size and shape of the plate60will vary depending on application and landscape design criteria. By way of example and not by way of limitation, with reference toFIG.11, the plate60may have a form bounded by arcuate sides80,82.

The order of execution or performance of the methods and techniques illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, elements of the methods and techniques may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and that the methods may include more or less elements than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular element before, contemporaneously with, or after another element are all possible sequences of execution.