Abstract:
A landscape protection device and method are described. The landscape protection device includes two or more U-shaped members with footing portions adapted to insert into a ground surface. Attached between the U-shaped members are crossbar members that support the U-shaped members forming a frame suitable for receiving a material covering. The U-shaped members and crossbar members are designed for interconnect ability and customized extension and creation of a frame for landscape protection. A method provides for interconnect ability of the U-shaped members and crossbar members creating a landscape protection device of sufficient length.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a device for shielding and protecting landscaping, more particularly a device for interconnected structural protection of landscaping.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Protecting landscaping plants, particularly small decorative trees, shrubs, bushes, hedges, evergreens including arborvitae, is a challenge in geographical regions where the climate provides cool or hot weather. Traditionally, landscaping plants have been protected by an assembly of wooden stakes with burlap cloth attached. The stakes are driven into the ground by sledgehammer and the burlap is applied to the stake by nail or staple. There are many problems with this or similar forms of landscaping plant protection. Wooden stakes are difficult to position in the ground in an orderly manner and are prone to breakage and deterioration over time. Burlap, likewise, tends to sag and deteriorate quickly. As a result, wooden stakes and burlap tend to be unusable for more than one seasons and result in a less than desirable aesthetic appearance over time.  
         [0003]     Other forms of plant enclosures are also unsuitable for application in a typical landscaping setting where hedging, for example, curves. Protection devices adapted for protecting a single plant or grouping of plants are not capable of interconnected protection of plant rows especially if the rows form curved lines.  
         [0004]     Therefore, there is needed a landscaping protection device that provides an environmentally resistant sturdy structure that can be reused season after season. The landscaping protection device must allow for an ability to interconnect and an ability to traverse uneven terrain and curved landscaping. Further, it is desirable that such a structure be easily assembled and disassembled for further reuse. In addition, the device must be cost effective and provide a long term aesthetically pleasing appearance in addition to full coverage and protection of the landscaping plants.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is directed to a landscape protection device and method that provides a solution to the aforementioned problems associated with other landscape protection systems. The landscape protection device comprises at least two generally U-shaped members each having two footing portions for insertion into a ground surface. It further comprises at least two crossbar members for connecting between each of the at least two U-shaped members for supporting the at least two U-shaped members and forming a frame. In addition, it comprises a covering material for covering the frame wherein the at least two U-shaped members and the at least two crossbar members are at least partially enclosed by a covering material.  
         [0006]     Further, the at least two U-shaped members of the landscape protection device are interconnected with additional U-shaped members through attachment of additional crossbar members wherein said frame is extendable. Additional crossbar members may be curved and the footing portions of the U-shaped members may comprise a stake for insertion into the ground surface.  
         [0007]     A method for protecting landscaping with the landscaping protection device comprises providing a plurality of generally U-shaped members having holes for fasteners and at least two footing portions for insertion into a ground surface. Further, providing a plurality of crossbar members for attaching horizontally to the U-shaped members where the crossbar members vary in length and angle to allow for customized assembly of the landscape protection device. Then, positioning one of the plurality of U-shaped members in proximity to the landscaping. Next, positioning another of the U-shaped members in proximity to the landscaping. Then selecting at least two horizontal members of appropriate length and angle from the plurality of horizontal members, and attaching the selected crossbar members between two of the U-shaped members. This last set of steps are repeated at least two times until a frame of the landscaping protection device is constructed and then a covering is attached to the frame of the landscaping protection device.  
         [0008]     Thus, the invention advantageously provides for a cost effective efficient device and method for protecting landscaping. By providing for a frame that is easy to assemble and extend or modify to a desired length and angle while at the same time allowing for traversal of uneven grade, the invention provides an important alternative to existing systems and methods.  
         [0009]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the landscape protection device of the invention in an exemplar landscape setting;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective cutaway view of two sections of the embodiment of the landscape protection device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A  shows a crossbar member of the landscape protection device of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3B  shows a second embodiment of the crossbar member of the landscape protection device with a fastener screw disposed in one end;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3C  shows a 90° curved embodiment of the crossbar member of the landscape protection device;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3D  shows a 150° curved embodiment of a crossbar member of the landscape protection device;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3E  shows a 135° curved embodiment of a crossbar member of the landscape protection device;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3F  shows a 112.5° curved embodiment of the crossbar member of the landscape protection device;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a fastener connection in a cutaway fashion of the landscape protection device of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative fastener connection of the landscape protection device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the landscape protection device  100  of the present invention is shown. The landscape protection device  100  features a frame  102  with an external material covering  104 . The frame  102  features a plurality (two or more) of U-shaped members  106  with horizontal crossbar members  110  attached to the top and sides of the U-shaped members  106 .  
         [0023]     The U-shaped members  106  and crossbar members  110  are formed of a rigid tubular material preferably tubular galvanized steel. Alternatively, a ridged tubular plastic material may be used. The tubular galvanized steel is coated with a finish preferably a powder coating. Other coating options, for example, enamel paints, are appropriate to the extent that they resist corrosion. The external material covering  104  is made of a material suitable for the outside. Preferably the material is of a polymetric type.  
         [0024]     The U-shaped members  106  feature a footing portion  112  for insertion into a ground surface. Footing portion  112  is formed by collapsing the tubing of the U-shaped members  106  to create a pointed end for easier insertion into the ground surface. Crossbar members  110  are fastened to U-shaped members  106  by screws  111  and wing nuts  113 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3F , embodiments of the crossbar member  110  include the standard crossbar member  110   a  featuring a straight pipe section with tapered end portions  114 . The tapered end portions  114  have fastener holes  116  therethrough for fastening to the U-shaped members  106  (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0026]     An alternative crossbar member  110   b  features an attached screw  118  at one end of a pipe section. The attached screw  118  is held in place by a retention pin  120  that allows the attached screw  118  to rotate freely within the retained fastener hole  116   b  of alternative crossbar member  110   b . The other end of the alternative crossbar member  110   b  has a fastener hole  116  suitable for receiving the attached screw  118  of another of the alternative crossbar members  110   b . This embodiment advantageously allows for a chain connection of two alternative crossbar members  110   b  to one of the U-shaped members  106  at any one connection location on one of the U-shaped members  106 . Thus, a desired number of U-shaped members  106  and alternative crossbar members  110   b  are easily attached together without the necessity of loading screws in holes for fastening to the U-shaped members  106 .  
         [0027]     Additional embodiments of the crossbar member  110  feature curvature of the crossbar member  110  to allow for construction of the frame  102  in a landscape environment having a curved or uneven arrangement of plantings.  
         [0028]     Crossbar members of various angles include a 90° crossbar member  110   c , a 150° crossbar member  110   d , a 135° crossbar member  110   e  and a 112.5° crossbar member  110   f . Crossbar members  110  are also of varying lengths to allow for connection to both sides of the frame  102  in a non-linear assembly of the frame  102  (see  FIG. 1 ). In addition, a crossbar member  110  on top of the U-shaped members  106  that is curved must have the curve coincide with the flattened end portions  114  for proper attachment to the U-shaped member  106 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a first crossbar member  110 ′ and a second crossbar member  110 ″ are attached to a U-shaped member  106  by a threaded screw  111 . The threaded screw  111  traverses a hole  117  from one side of the U-shaped member  106  and passes through a first fastener hole  116 ′ and a second fastener hole  116 ″ in the first crossbar member  110 ′ and second crossbar member  110 ″ respectively. A wing nut  113  is rotated onto the screw  111 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , alternative crossbar members  110   b ′ and  110   b ″ are attached to a fastener retaining U-shaped member  106 ′ by a screw  111 ′. The screw  111 ′ attaches both the first alternative crossbar member  110   b ′ and the second alternative crossbar member  110   b ″ to the fastener retaining U-shaped member  106 ′. Disposed in the fastening retaining U-shaped member  106 ′ is a rivet nut  126  for receiving the screw  111 ′ through the first alternative crossbar member  110   b ′ and second alternative crossbar member  110 ′.  
         [0031]     In usage, at least two U-shaped members  106  are positioned in proximity to landscaping to be protected. Crossbar members  110  are attached to the at least two U-shaped members  106  to form a frame  102 . The crossbar members are attached to the frame  102  through a screw and nut application either using a screw  111  and wing nut  113  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4  or as an attached screw  118 ′ to one of the alternative crossbar members  110   b ′ as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Selection of either straight or various angled crossbar members  110  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3F  allows for interconnecting and extending the frame  102  of the landscape protection device  100  to a desired length and angled structure. After having constructed the frame  102 , material covering  104  is applied over the frame  102  to protect the landscaping beneath.  
         [0032]     Thus, a relatively inexpensive yet durable solution is provided for landscape protection. This landscape protection device  100  further offers the advantage of an ability to interconnect allowing for virtually unlimited options for combining and extending the length and angle of the structure to the application desired. Once in place, the landscape protection device is solid and secure and resilient to environmental conditions including snow, wind and rain. Further, the landscape protection device by advantageously offering easy disconnect is readily reusable season after season.  
         [0033]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.