Abstract:
A tomato stake is provided. The tomato stake includes an elongated insertion member having an insertion end and an exposed end having an outer diameter and an elongated tubular member having an inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The tubular member is disposed over the exposed end. The tubular member may optionally include a plurality of support pins extending therefrom. A method of installing the tomato stake is also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a stake used to support tomato or other plants.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Tomato stakes are used to support a tomato plant as the plant is growing. Tomato plants tend to grow fairly large, with some tomato plants growing at least as high as 2 meters (approximately 6 feet) into the air. Tomato growers tie the plants to stakes to prevent the weight of the plants from snapping the plant stems and ruining the plants, to prevent high winds from blowing the plants over, and to prevent plant fruit from weighing down their respective branches and engaging the ground, thus promoting fruit rot.  
         [0003]     In past tomato stakes, which consist solely of an elongated pole inserted into the ground next to the plant, difficulties have been encountered with both the installation and the use of the stakes. Due to the potential growth size of tomato plants, the traditional tomato stake is normally taller than the average person. This length makes the stake cumbersome to install, particularly for a person of relatively small stature, the elderly, and the disabled. One option for such a person is to climb a ladder to pound the stake into the ground, creating a potentially unsafe environment by putting a ladder on uneven ground, leading the installer to risk falling off the ladder while pounding the stake into the ground.  
         [0004]     In attempts to solve some of these problems, inventions have been provided in which multiple pieces are put together to form the stake. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,073 to Czebieniak, discloses an arrangement of pieces wherein a hollow top piece inserts into a hollow lower piece which is either at or below ground level. However, one obvious drawback is the potential for the introduction of dirt and debris inside the lower piece, which would inhibit the connection of the two pieces altogether and defeat the purpose of the stake.  
         [0005]     Also lacking in other tomato stakes is the presence of a device to securely fasten to the plant and keep the device from sliding up and down the plant stem in natural movement, thus causing damage to the plant stem.  
         [0006]     It would therefore be beneficial to provide a plant stake that is easily as well as safely installed.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Briefly, the present invention provides a tomato stake. The tomato stake comprises an elongated insertion member having an insertion end and an exposed end having an outer diameter and an elongated tubular member having an inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The tubular member is disposed over the exposed end.  
         [0008]     The present invention also provides a method of installing a tomato stake. The method comprises inserting an insertion end of an insertion member into ground, allowing there to be an exposed end; and disposing a tubular member over the exposed end of the insertion member.  
         [0009]     The present invention also provides a tomato stake comprising an elongated insertion member having an insertion end and an exposed end having an outer diameter, and an elongated tubular member having an inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The tubular member is disposed over the exposed end. A plurality of support pins extends generally transversely from the tubular member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tomato stake in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the tomato stake taken along lines II-II;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a first embodiment of an insertion member of the tomato stake of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a second embodiment of the insertion member;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a third embodiment of the insertion member;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the tomato stake taken at lines VI-VI of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of an alternative cross sectional shape of the tomato stake. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.  
         [0019]     Referring to,  FIG. 1 , a tomato stake  100  according to the present invention is shown. The stake  100  is used to support a tomato plant “P” as the tomato plant P grows. Although the stake  100  is preferably for use with tomato plants, those skilled in the art will recognize that the stake  100  may be used for other plants that require staking, such as pepper plants, etc.  
         [0020]     The stake  100  includes an insertion member  102 , shown in the sectional view of  FIG. 2 , as well as an elongated tubular member  104 . The tubular member  104  is disposed over the insertion member  102  such that the insertion member  102  supports the tubular member  104  in a vertical orientation relative to the ground “G”.  
         [0021]     The insertion member  102  includes an insertion end  106  and an exposed end  108  and a preferably cylindrical body  110 . The insertion member  102  is preferably constructed from steel, such as for manufacturing rebar, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the insertion member  102  may be constructed of any suitable metallic material or any other material of similar strength. Typically, the insertion member  102  is between the lengths of approximately 0.5 to 1 meter (approximately 1½ to 3 feet), but those skilled in the art will recognize that the insertion member may be less than 0.5 meter or more than 1 meter in length. The shape of the insertion member  102  is also preferably cylindrical but may also be rectangular, triangular, or any other suitable shape, as long as the tubular member  104  is able to be disposed over the exposed end  108  of the insertion member  102 .  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, the insertion end  106  includes a flat tip  107 , such as is shown in the enlarged perspective view of the insertion end  106  of  FIG. 3 . However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the insertion end  106  may include a pointed tip, such as the tips  207 ,  307 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , respectively. The tip  207  is sharply tapered off of the edges of the insertion member  102  to form a point, as to pierce the surface of the ground G more easily in harder ground conditions. The tip  307 , shown in  FIG. 5 , is also sharply tapered, however not to the same extent as the tip  207  shown in  FIG. 4 . Instead of forming one sharp point from being tapered evenly off of the edges of the insertion member  102 , the tip  307  forms a flat surface from a lower point on the insertion member  108  to a higher point of the insertion member  108 . The tips  107 ,  207 ,  307  are only three potential embodiments for the end of the insertion member  102  and those skilled in the art will recognize that design of the tip of the insertion member  102  design is not restricted to only those embodiments. Such pointed tips  207 ,  307  will assist in inserting the insertion member  102  into the ground G, as will be discussed in detail later herein.  
         [0023]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the elongated tubular member  104  includes a top end  112  and a bottom end  114 . A generally tubular body  116  extends between the top end  112  and the bottom end  114 . A longitudinal axis  118  extends along the body  116  between the top end  112  and the bottom end  114 . The top end  112  may be closed, or alternatively may be open, but the bottom end  114  must be open in order to allow the tubular member  104  to be disposed over the insertion member  102 .  
         [0024]     Preferably, the body  116  is approximately 2 meters (approximately 6 feet) in length, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the body  116  may be more or less than 2 meters. Although not shown, the body  116  may be constructed from a plurality of members that are able to be connected to each other to form a desired length.  
         [0025]     The tubular member  104  is preferably made of a light metal, such as aluminum, or a polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride, but any other suitable material of similar strength, length and rigidity may be used. Alternatively, the tubular member  104  may be constructed of wood or a composite material. However, for ease of manufacturing, a preferred material is one that may be extruded or molded.  
         [0026]     Preferably, the body  116  has a cylindrical cross section, such as is shown in  FIG. 6 , although other shapes may alternatively be used, so long as the bottom end  114  of the tubular member  104  is able to be disposed over the exposed end  108  of the insertion member  102  during use. For example, an alternative cross section for each of an insertion member  202  and a tubular member  204  are shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0027]     The inner diameter “ID” of the tubular member  104  is just slightly larger than that of the outer diameter “OD” of the exposed end  108  of the insertion member  102 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . For example, for an inner diameter of the tubular member  104  being approximately 1.2 cm (0.5 inches), the outer diameter of the exposed end  108  of the insertion member  102  is preferably approximately 1.0 cm (0.4 inches), although those skilled in the art will recognize that both the ID and the OD may be other values. An interference fit between the ID and the OD is not desired, as such a fit would make it difficult to insert the tubular member  104  over the insertion member  102  and to remove the tubular member  104  from the insertion member  102  after using the stake  100 .  
         [0028]     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plurality of support pins  120  extend from the body  116 , generally transversely to the longitudinal axis  118 . However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the support pins  120  may extend from the body  116  at an acute angle from the longitudinal axis  118 . While only two pins  120  are shown in  FIG. 1 , those skilled in the art will recognize that preferably more than two pins  120  are used. However, it is conceivable that even only one or no pins  120  may be used. The pins  120  are preferably spaced approximately 20 cm apart, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the pins  120  may be spaced more or less than 20 cm apart. If the top end  112  of the tubular member  104  is open, as discussed above, the support pins  120  may be symmetrically spaced along the length of the tubular member  104  such that the tubular member  104  may be disposed over the insertion member  102  “upside down” so that the top end  112  becomes, in effect, the bottom of the tubular member  104  and is inserted directly over the insertion member  102 .  
         [0029]     Preferably, each support pin  120  extends outwardly from the body  116  approximately 2.5 cm (approximately 1 inch). Support pins  120  may be disposed 180 degrees apart from each other around the body  116  of the tubular member, as is shown in  FIG. 1 , or the support pins may be disposed less than 180 degrees apart from each other. For support pins  120  that are disposed 180 degrees apart from each other, a single pin member  122  may be inserted completely through the interior of the body  116  and extend exteriorly from the body  116  in two opposing directions, such as is shown in  FIG. 2 . The support pins  120  and the alternative pin member  122  may have a generally cylindrical cross section, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the support pins  120  and the pin member  122  may have other cross sectional shapes as well.  
         [0030]     The support pins  120  may be inserted into the body  116  after manufacture of the body  116 , such as by drilling or otherwise forming a hole in the body  116  and inserting each support pin  120  therein. Alternatively, if the single pin member  122  as described immediately above is used, two opposing holes may be formed in the body  116 , with the pin member  122  inserted through both holes and extending from either side of the body  116 . Alternatively, if the tubular member  104  is manufactured by molding, the support pins  120  may be molded directly onto the body  116 . The support pins  120  or the pin member  122  are preferably constructed from the same material as the body  116 , although those skilled in the art will recognize that the pins  120  and the pin member  122  may be constructed from other materials, as well.  
         [0031]     Since the stake  100  is intended to be used to support vegetation, it is preferred that the tubular member  104  has an earth tone color, such as green or brown, in order to blend in with the vegetation and not be easily visible. Such an earth tone color may be sprayed on or otherwise applied to the exterior of the tubular member  104  after manufacturing. Alternatively, particularly if the tubular member  104  is constructed from a polymer, an earth tone pigment may be applied to the polymer material prior to manufacturing the tubular member  104 , so that the earth tone color extends completely through the tubular member  104 . Still alternatively, the tubular member  104  may not have coloring added at all.  
         [0032]     To use the stake  100 , the insertion member  102  is inserted into the ground G, with the insertion end  106  inserted into the ground G and the exposed end  108  extending above the ground G, as shown in  FIG. 2 . If the tip of the insertion end  106  is a tapered tip  207 ,  307 , as described above and is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the insertion member  102  will likely be inserted into the ground G much more easily than if the flat tip  107  shown in  FIG. 3  is used. Preferably, the insertion member  102  is pounded into the ground G with a hammer or mallet. However, if the insertion member  102  with either pointed tip  207 ,  307  is used, and is the ground G is sufficiently soft, it may be possible to insert the insertion member  102  without the need for a hammer or mallet.  
         [0033]     The insertion member  102  is inserted into the ground approximately half way, or enough so that the insertion member  102  is securely embedded in the ground G and will be able to support the tubular member  104 . In this manner, the exposed end  108  extends above the ground G.  
         [0034]     The bottom end  114  of the tubular member  104  is disposed over the exposed end  108  so that the tubular member  104  extends upward from the ground G, as is shown in  FIG. 1 . The plant P may be planted before or after inserting the stake  100 .  
         [0035]     The plant P, as it grows, is then tied to the stake  100  through the use of securing devices  124 , such as string, ties, or other known securing devices. The securing devices  124  are preferably tied around both the plant P and the support pins  120  so that the securing devices do not slide down the body  116  of the tubular member  104 .  
         [0036]     At the end of the growing season, or after the plant P dies, plant P is cut away from the stake  100  and removed. The tubular member  104  is lifted from the insertion member  102  and stored away until the next season. The insertion member  102  may be removed from the ground G and stored with the tubular member  104 , or, alternatively, the insertion member  102  may remain in the ground G. If so, for the next growing season, the tubular member  104  need only be disposed over the insertion member  102  and the stake  100  is installed and ready to be tied to a new plant P.  
         [0037]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.