Tree protector

A protector for surrounding the base of a trunk of a tree (18) includes a base (2), a barrier wall (4) and, a slit (10) which extends, on a centerline, through the major portion of base (2). The central portion of base (2) is defined by a plurality of cresent shaped flaps (2), each attached to the next by a hinge (14), on each side of the centerline (10). The central base structure allows for case of installation and provides for tree growth while allowing capture and permeation of liquids held in the reservoir defined by the barrier wall (4) to the root zone. An outwardly directed flange (6) on base (2) serves as a mower track which can be anchored by pins (20) through punch out holes (24) defined on flange (6).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a permanently installed plant and tree 
protector device providing means for promoting growth of the plant or tree 
and capable of self adjustment or being manually adjustable to the 
enlarging diameter of the trunk of a plant or tree without removal of the 
protector. 
PRIOR ART 
It is well known in the art that two of the major causes of tree damage are 
lawn mower nicks and string trimmer burns. Irreparable tree damage can 
occur at any time during the life of a tree or a plant from lawn mower and 
edging damage. Accordingly, numerous devices have been proposed to protect 
trees from such damage. The most notable devices proposed have been of the 
type for closely mounting around the base of a plant or tree preventing 
close encroachment to the trunk by damaging machines. In general, the 
previously known devices, trunk base hugging devices comprise a 
substantially flat base member having a centrally located circular opening 
through which the trunk or stalk is passed. Many of the known type of 
protectors have a slit extending from the circular opening to the outer 
edge of the base member in order to facilitate the envelopement of the 
trunk or stalk. Others of these known type protectors are simply separable 
in two or more parts, the central opening for the trunk in each part being 
less than a circle depending upon the number of parts. The known devices 
also have incorporated various structural modifications for strength and 
other purposes, for example, wall and container devices constructed 
perpendicular to the base enclosing spaces in which various substances may 
be held in close proximity to the root system, for example, stones, mulch 
and fertilizer. The bases of such devices often have holes or tubular 
elements extending into the ground therefrom through which water or 
fertilizer trickles into the soil beneath. All of the known devices have 
contributed to the progress of the art in providing particular means of 
protection to the base of the tree. Another of the known type devices 
provides a construction which may be permanently installed around the base 
of the tree and comprises means whereby the growth of the trunk in 
diameter may be accommodated, without replacement of the device or being 
constructed in two parts. Such devices usually comprise fingers which 
extend up the tree or stalk from the periphery of the central opening and 
hug the tree, gradually splitting the base laterally outwardly as the tree 
diameter becomes larger. Such fingers themselves often become imbedded in 
the delicate bark of the tree causing considerable damage to the tree. 
Other devices allow for sections of the base to be cut out and removed as 
the diameter of the tree enlarges. 
Examples of the devices known in the art and discussed hereinabove are 
disclosed in, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,110,377; 1,130,545; 
1,931,602; 2,978,837; 3,005,287; 3,287,851; 3,305,969; 3,571,972; 
3,704,004; 3,775,965; 3,896,586; 4,268,992; and 4,308,688. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a tree or plant trunk 
and root protection device comprising a generally, flat ground engaging, 
base member having a centrally located opening for the tree or plant 
stalk, a barrier wall perpendicularly mounted on the base member away from 
its peripheral edge and away from the central opening, the area of the 
base member within the barrier wall forming a walled, tray-like area and 
the portion of the base member external to the wall forming a flange or 
apron extending beyond and surrounding the barrier wall. A median slit 
extends from one edge of the base through the wall and the tray to the 
centrally located opening in the base and for a distance beyond the 
central opening but not to the opposite barrier wall. Surrounding the 
central opening and within the tray area are a plurality of slits 
concentrically arranged with respect to the central opening forming a 
plurality of semi-circular, concentrically arranged flaps. Each flap is 
hinged to the adjacent flap. The plane of the flap hinges lies generally 
at a right angle to the median slit of the device. As the tree trunk or 
plant stalk enlarges in diameter, a hinge will allow the flap adjacent the 
tree trunk to open upwardly allowing the central opening to become larger 
to conform to the enlarged-trunk. One of the major advantages of the 
present invention is the provision of a permanent type protection device 
which fits closely to the trunk of the tree and is not affected by the 
climatic elements and soil conditions while not having to be replaced as 
the tree trunk grows enlarging in diameter. 
Another important advantage of the device of this invention is that any 
fertilizer or water fed to the tree installation of the device is evenly 
distributed and directly to the root system. 
It is an important advantage of the invention to provide a barrier to 
damage of tree trunks or plant stems from lawn mowers and string trimmers. 
Still another advantage of the invention is a device that provides a 
barrier to the evaporation of moisture from around the base of the tree or 
plant. 
A principal advantage of the device is the provision of a simple, practical 
and relatively inexpensive tree or plant protector that is readily 
adaptable to being produced by a vacuum forming and clicker pressing. 
Numerous other advantages of the invention will become readily apparent 
from the following detailed description and drawings in which like parts 
have been designated by the same numeral. 
One of the major advantages of the present invention is the provision of a 
permanent type protection device which fits closely to the trunk of the 
tree and is not affected by climatic elements and soil conditions while 
not having to be replaced as the tree trunk grows in diameter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 there 
are shown embodiments of the invention having a substantially flat base 2 
adapted to closely hug the ground when installed. A barrier wall 4 is 
intergrally mounted on the base 2 at such a distance from the outer edge 
of the base that the area of the base between the barrier wall 4 and the 
edge of the base forms an outwardly extending flange or apron 6. In the 
preferred embodiment where the device of the invention is molded from a 
single sheet of material, the barrier wall will, of course, be coextensive 
with the base. The area of the base enclosed by barrier wall 4 is 
designated as tray area 16. 
The base 2 is provided with a central opening 8 through which the trunk of 
the tree or plant to be protected projects. A slit 10 is provided in the 
base 2 which slit extends from the outer edge of the base to opening 8 and 
continues on the other side of opening 8 for a distance defined by the 
number of flaps 12 in the base. The tray area 16 of the base comprises a 
plurality of closely adjacent concentrically arranged semi-circular flaps 
12. Each semi-circular flap 12 is attached to the adjacent flap by a hinge 
means 14. It will be observed from the drawing that the flaps 12 are 
semi-circular by virtue of the fact that they are cut generally in half by 
slit 10 forming paris of opposing semi-circular flaps hinged close to 
their respectively adjacent flap or flaps. It will be readily observable 
that as a tree trunk enlarges in diameter each pair of opposed flaps may 
be opened or will automatically open to expand the diameter of the central 
opening. If desired, the opened flaps may be simply removed by cutting or 
removing the hinge connecting the opened flap to the next adjacent closed 
flap. 
Referring particularly to FIG. 2 one can perceive the ease in installing 
the tree protector of the invention. The slit 10 permits the installer to 
spread the abutting edges of the slit sufficiently to straddle the trunk 
18 of the tree whereby the central opening of the protector may be slipped 
around the trunk and the protector slipped down to lie flat on the ground 
gently enclosing the tree at its base. The size of the tree trunk at 
installation solely determines the number of flaps 12 to be initially 
opened, if any. 
The closed flaps will hug the base of the trunk. As mentioned hereinbefore, 
the flaps opened to accommodate the tree trunk may be left hinged opened 
or simply removed by cutting or removing the hinge holding the opened 
flap. In the preferred embodiments, the slit 10 and the circular slits 22 
are as narrow as possible in order that any nutrient material fed to the 
tree through the protector will slowly pass through the slits. 
After the protector flaps have been fitted around the trunk of the tree and 
the abutting edge of slit 10 realigned, the device will lie substantially 
flat and hug the ground. The device becomes a permanent fixture when 
anchor pins 20, are driven through the punch out holes 24 positioned at 
measured intervals in apron 6. FIG. 6 illustrates an anchoring pin 
suitable for use in the permanent installation of the device of the 
invention. The anchoring pin illustrated designated as pin 20 comprises a 
shank portion 26, a head portion 28, a pointed end 30 and a plurality of 
hook type members 32 and 33 extending laterally and upwardly from the 
shank firmly anchoring the base to the ground and preventing removal of 
the protector after installation. 
While the device of the invention may be manufactured by a variety of 
techniques and from a variety of materials, the simplicity of the devices 
readily lends itself to assembly line manufacture consisting of vacuum 
forming followed by clicker die pressing to simply cut and form the slits, 
flaps, and hinges of the device. For permanent installation, the device 
should be manufactured using water and not proof, flexible but relatively 
rigid material, for example, high density polyethylene. In the preferred 
embodiments an ultra violet inhibitor is incorporated in the material to 
prevent fading or discolorization during use over a long period of time. 
As described hereinbefore, barrier wall 4 serves, not only to prevent 
damage by a lawn mower or string type cutting devices, but to also contain 
within the tray area 16 fertilizer, mulch, insecticides or other plant and 
soil conditioners beneficial to the growth and health of the tree. Any 
nutrients, fertilizer or the like placed in the tray 16 will slowly filter 
through slit 10 and circular slits 22 directly feeding the roots of the 
tree in a highly desired uniform generally circular pattern around the 
base of the tree. 
The height of barrier 4 wall is a matter of choice so long as it is of 
sufficient height to prevent any contact with the base of the tree or 
plant by, for example, lawn mower, string edgers, cutters and the like. 
The width of flange 6 is also a matter of choice so long as sufficiently 
wide to allow for anchor pins to be driven therethrough into the ground 
for stable and permanent installation. In the preferred embodiments 
thereof, flange 6 is of such width as to prevent grass or weeds growing so 
close to barrier wall 4 as to hinder mowing around the protector and 
enable the wheels of a mower or edger to move along the surface of the 
flange ensuring the cutting of grass or weeds adjacent to the protector as 
illustrated in FIG. 1. As depicted in the drawing, the barrier wall 
configuration may be square, rectangular (FIGS. 1 and 2), or circular 
(FIGS. 3 and 4). It will be appreciated that the barrier wall may take 
other forms so long as fulfilling the criteria and purpose of construction 
set out herein. 
Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred 
embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other 
modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood 
that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative 
embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims