STAKE SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR PLANTS

Abstract: A stake support for plants comprises a tubular support upstanding from a base on which, in use, a grow-bag is positioned with the tubular stake support penetrating and passing through the lower and upper surfaces of the grow-bag to form openings in the bag surfaces. The surface of the base which surrounds the lower end of the tubular stake support is raised to lift the opening formed in the undersurface of the grow-bag to a height which is above the level of the base when a grow-bag is supported thereon. In cross section, the tubular stake support is preferably circular. The raised base surface is preferably of semi-spherical shape.

Description: STAKE SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR PLANTS This invention relates to stake supporting apparatus for plants and more especially for use with plants bedded in a growing medium contained within a sealed plastic bag (hereinafter referred to as a "grow-bag") . Grow-bags are used extensively to foster plant growth. One problem to be found when using grow-bags is that the depth of growing medium is insufficient to support stakes which may be required to support plants as their growth advances. This is, of course, particularly the case when a grow-bag is supported on a hard surface such as a patio or a greenhouse table which prevents penetration of a stake beyond the base of the bag. If grow-bags are placed on soil or other surfaces into which stakes can penetrate the opening created by the stake as it passes through the grow- bag base enables moisture to be lost from the bag which, over a period of time, can be detrimental to plant growth. The present invention sets out to provide plant support apparatus for use with grow-bags which does not suffer from, or at least alleviates, the disadvantages discussed above. According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided stake supporting apparatus for plants which comprises a tubular stake support upstanding from a base on which, in use, a grow-bag is positioned with the tubular stake support penetrating and passing through the lower and upper surfaces of the grow-bag to form openings therein, the surface of the base which surrounds the lower end of the tubular stake support being raised to lift the opening formed in the undersurface of the grow-bag to a height which is above the level of the base when a grow-bag is supported thereon. In cross-section, the tubular stake support is preferably circular. The raised base surface is preferably of semi-spherical shape. The outer surface of the stake support may be tapered. This taper may extend over the entire height of the stake support or over a low part thereof. The taper is such that the boundary of the opening formed in the base of a grow-bag is stretched as it passes along the tubular stake support to define a tight fit therewith. In another aspect the invention provides stake supporting apparatus for plants which comprises a base from which is upstanding a tubular stake support, the surface of the base which encompasses the lower end of the tubular holder being raised above the overall level of the base. In a further aspect, the present invention provides stake support apparatus for plants which comprises a base and a tapered tubular stake support of circular cross-section upstanding from the base, the diameter of the tubular stake support progressively increasing from a minimum value at the top of the support to a maximum at its base. Two or more tubular stake supports may be upstanding from the base. These tubular supports may be formed integral with the base or may be detachably connected thereto. The shape of the base may, for example, be circular, square or rectangular. One or more apertures may be formed in the base capable of receiving a stake holder or stake holders of another stake supporting apparatus for stacking purposes. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 is side view in section of stake supporting apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figures 2 and 3 are respectively isometric and plan views of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 . As will be seen from the drawings, the apparatus has two tubular stake supports 1 upstanding from a generally circular base 2. The upper end 3 of each tubular support 1 is sharpened to define a cutting edge and the supports are tapered outwardly from their upper ends to define a progressive increase in diameter along the length of the support from its upper end to its lower end. In an alternative arrangement, the taper extends only over the lower section of each support 1 . The stake supports 1 may be formed integral with the base 2 or may be separable therefrom. The width of the base is sufficient to provide adequate lateral stability to the stake holders. Semi-spherical dome-like projections 4 project upwardly from the surface of the base to surround the lower end of each tubular stake holder thereby raising the level of the base in the immediate vicinity of each support 1 . Bores 5 formed in the projections provide anchors for the tubular stake supports 1 thereby preventing or minimising lateral movement in use. The projections may be hollow or solid in cross section and may be either open or close-ended. These projections 4 may be formed integral with the base 2 and/or supports 1 or may be separable therefrom. The base includes four apertures 6 for ease of stacking. The apparatus may be produced from plastics, metal or indeed any other suitable material and the base may be circular, square or rectangular. Other shapes may however be adopted. The height of each stake support 1 is generally greater than the thickness of any grow-bag to be supported thereby. Each stake holder may protrude to a position just above the upper surface of the grow-bag or to a height of, say, four or five feet above the grow bag surface. In the former case, the intention is to place one end of a stake (eg a cane) in the bore of the stake support Wedges may be provided to hold a cane tightly within the holder. In the latter case, the upstanding holder may itself define a supporting stake for a plant In use, the base 2 supports the under surface of a grow-bag with the tubular stake supports 1 penetrating and passing through the upper and lower surfaces of the bag. Removable caps may be provided to prevent growing medium entering the tubular supports as these pass through the grow-bag. These caps may be pointed to assist the penetration process. The taper applied to the tubular supports 1 ensures a close fit between the under surface of the grow-bag and the support, and the raised projections 4 on the base act to lift the boundaries of the holes pierced in the base of the bag The applied taper and the projections act to prevent, or at least inhibit, loss of moisture and water from the bag interior. Stakes, e.g canes, are then positioned within the supports 1 . It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of plant support apparatus in accordance with the invention and that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. Thus, one or more than two tubular supports 1 may be upstanding from the base 1 .

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . A tubular stake support upstanding from a base on which, in use, a grow-bag is positioned with the tubular stake support penetrating and passing through the lower and upper surfaces of the grow-bag to form openings therein, the surface of the base which surrounds the lower end of the tubular stake support being raised to lift the opening formed in the undersurface of the grow-bag to a height which is above the level of the base when a grow-bag is supported thereon. 2. A support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tubular stake support is circular in cross-section. 3. A support as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the raised base surface is of semi-spherical shape. 4. A support as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the outer surface of the stake support is tapered. 5. A support as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the taper extends over the entire height of the stake support or over a low part thereof. 6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the taper is such that the boundary of the opening formed in the base of a grow-bag is stretched as it passes along the tubular stake support to define a tight fit therewith. 7. Stake supporting apparatus for plants which comprises a base from which is upstanding a tubular stake support, the surface of the base which encompasses the lower end of the tubular holder being raised above the overall level of the base. 8. Stake support apparatus for plants which comprises a base and a tapered tubular stake support of circular cross-section upstanding from the base, the diameter of the tubular stake support progressively increasing from a minimum value at the top of the support to a maximum at its base. 9. Support apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein two or more tubular stake supports are upstanding from the base. 10. Support apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the or each tubular support is integral with the base. 1 1 . Support apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the or each tubular support is detachably connected to the base. 12. Support apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the shape of the base is circular. 1 3. Support apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein one or more apertures are formed in the base capable of receiving a stake holder or stake holders of another stake supporting apparatus for stacking purposes. 14. Tubular stake supporting apparatus as herein described and as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-

Inventors: BRINKHURST NORMAN ERIC, BRINKHURST, NORMAN, ERIC
Applicants: BRINKHURST NORMAN ERIC, BRINKHURST, NORMAN, ERIC
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01G9
IPC codes: A01G9