Abstract:
A plant stake support and deep root feeder sleeve contains structure that provides insertion of the sleeve into a soil volume adjacent young bushes, plants and trees without digging an adjacent hole. The sleeve is inserted directly by impact force, whereby minimum soil disturbance occurs in the plant root region. The sleeve further contains structure that provides moisture and nutrients to the plant&#39;s deep roots while serving to support a plant support stake when needed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention described herein relates to apparatus for supporting and deeply feeding plants, such as shrubs, flowers or trees, which have roots of a certain degree of maturity; for example, plants such as are nurtured in five-gallon containers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A number of plant irrigation and feeder apparatus as well as a number of plant support systems are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,279, for a plant irrigation apparatus, belonging to the inventor herein, describes one such system. Water is provided to the upper portion of the assembly in the &#39;279 disclosure through an externally connected hose. A cap closes off the upper end of the assembly to prevent entry of debris. Holes are provided in the part of the apparatus that enters the ground so that the water provided at the upper portion of the apparatus may flow downward and through the holes into the surrounding soil. A plant food basket may be provided disposed beneath the cap so that plant food placed in the basket may be carried by the flowing water through the previously mentioned holes into the soil surrounding an adjacent plant.  
         [0003]     A tree support apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,125, also owned by the inventor herein. Various embodiments are disclosed for supporting immature plants and small trees to assure healthy stem and trunk growth, together with plant feeding features incorporated in the support stakes. Stabilizing structure for the support stakes is also disclosed for the support members that are associated with the plants and trees. A one piece garden support stake is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,302, also owned by the inventor of the apparatus described herein. The one piece stake of the &#39;302 patent is described as having a wedge shaped lower end and a reinforced upper end that serves to receive impact blows for driving the wedged end of the stake into the ground surface adjacent plants to be supported.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A ground insertion plant stake support and deep root feeder for retaining a plant support stake within an underlying soil volume includes a tubular sleeve having a closed lower end, an open upper end and an inside diameter that is configured to accept and retain the plant support stake in substantially fixed position. A taper is formed on the closed lower end of the sleeve together with means for securing the plant support stake in the tubular sleeve. Further, means is provided for receiving impact force, wherein the latter named means is located within the tubular sleeve. Impact force is applied until the open upper end of the tubular sleeve is positioned substantially adjacent the surface of the underlying soil.  
         [0005]     In another aspect of the invention, a ground insertion plant stake support and deep root feeder is provided for retaining a plant support stake within an underlying volume of soil having a soil surface, wherein a tubular sleeve is provided with an open upper end, a closed lower end and an inside diameter. The tubular sleeve further has a plurality of axially extending paths adjacent the inside diameter. A tapered shape is formed on the closed lower end of the sleeve having at least one hole extending through the tapered shape. The at least one hole is in communication with the plurality of axially extending paths. In addition, means is provided for driving the tapered shape into the underlying soil surface until the open upper end of the sleeve is adjacent to the surface of the soil. The tubular sleeve has a plurality of holes therein that communicate the plurality of axially extending paths with the exterior of the tubular sleeve.  
         [0006]     In yet another aspect of the invention, a ground insertion plant stake support for retaining a plant support stake and for deep root feeding of a plant within an underlying soil volume having a soil surface is provided that includes a tubular support and feeding sleeve having a tube wall, an open upper end, a closed lower end and a plurality of axially extending feeder paths along the tube wall. The tube wall further has a plurality of holes therethrough that communicate the plurality of feeder paths with the exterior of the tubular support. A diminishing cross section member is attached to and extends from the closed lower end of the tubular support, having at least one passage therethrough that communicates the plurality of feeder paths with the exterior of the diminishing cross section member. Means is provided for driving the tube wall into the underlying soil surface to a position where the open upper end of the tube is substantially adjacent to the soil surface.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a plant in underlying soil supported by a stake in conjunction with the ground insertion plant stake support and deep root feeder of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2A  shows a basic embodiment of the present invention supporting a plant support stake.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a section along the line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3A  is an elevation of an alternate embodiment of the present invention within a volume of soil.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a section along the line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3C  is a section along the line  3 C- 3 C of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0013]     Detail  3 D in  FIG. 3A  is shown rotated through 90° C. in the section of  FIG. 3B .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of one of the embodiments of the plant stake support and deep root feeder of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a plan view of another embodiment of the plant stake support and deep root feeder of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a section along the line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a partial perspective of yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a section taken along the line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6A .  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a partial exploded view of an additional embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of a collar for use with the embodiment of  FIG. 7 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Young plants and trees that reach a relatively young state of maturity often need support to attain optimum growth.  FIG. 1  of the drawings depicts a stake support and deep root feeder  10  in an environment including a relatively young plant  11 , such as may be grown in a volume of soil  13  having an upper surface  13   a.  The support and deep root feeder  10  may be used to support a plant support stake  14  having a tie  16  at the upper end thereof that contacts and supports the young growing plant  11 . The ground insertion plant stake support and deep root feeder is seen inserted into the volume of soil  13  until the upper end thereof is approximately at the same level as the soil surface  13   a.  The young plant  11  has a root system  11   a  within the volume of soil  13 . The ground insertion device of this invention is positioned to serve the plant  11  as both a support for the support stake  14  and as a deep root feeder for the root system  11   a.    
         [0022]     In  FIG. 2A , the device  10  is shown having a tubular member  17  inserted within the volume of soil  13  to a point where the upper end of the tubular member  17  is almost even with the surface of the soil volume  13   a.  The lower end of the tubular member  17  is closed, as depicted in  FIG. 2A , and has a lower diminishing cross section member  18  attached to and extending from the closed lower end. The resulting pointed lower end formed by the member  18  on the tubular member  17  facilitates entry of the plant stake support  10  into the soil volume  13 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , the plant support stake  14  may be a wooden pole that is held within the tubular body  17  by means of a pair of fasteners  19  inserted through holes  21  formed in the tubular wall.  
         [0023]     As seen in  FIG. 2B , the wall of the tubular member  17  is of substantial thickness and may be made of an appropriate material, such as a reasonably strong plastic or a plastic coated metal member. A material is used to fabricate the device  10  that is corrosion resistant. The relatively thick wall on tubular member  17  diminishes in cross section at the lower end to form the lower member  18 . Thus, the lower member appears as a pointed member or wedge. The plant support stake  14  is stopped by the convergence of the walls of the tubular member and the lower member  18  attached to the bottom of the tubular member  17 . As a result, the plant support stake  14  (or some other member having an appropriate shape on the lower end), may be used to impart impact blows to the lower portion of the tubular member  17 , either by the inertia of downward motion imparted to the support stake  14  or by means of delivering impact blows to an upper accessible end of the support stake. In this fashion, the ground insertion plant stake support  10  is driven into the volume of soil  13  until the upper end of the tubular portion  17  is approximately at the soil surface  13   a , as hereinbefore described.  
         [0024]     The embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 3A  shows a plant support stake  14  within the inside diameter of the tubular member  17 . A series of holes  22  are formed through the wall of the tubular member dispersed between an open upper end of the tubular member and the closed lower end to which the diminishing cross section member  18  is attached.  FIG. 3A  also shows a hole  23  through the wall of the lower member  18 . A cap  24  is shown on a hinge member  26  that may take the form of a thin flexible plastic member. The hinge member attaches the cap to the upper end of the tubular member  17 . The section of  FIG. 3B  shows the plant support stake  14  placed inside the tubular member  17 . Spaces  27  are created between the surface of the plant support stake  14  and the inner wall surface of the member  17  by a series of lands  28  ( FIG. 3C ) extending axially along the inside diameter of the member  17 . The spaces  27  are formed by the lands  28  as they provide displacement of the inside diameter of the tubular member from the outside diameter of the stake  14 . This displacement creates the paths or passages  27  for the flow of moisture that enters the interior of the member  17  through the holes  22 . The moisture is then provided a continuous flow path through a hole  30  in a “washer-like” member  29  fixed within the tubular member  17  adjacent to the diminishing cross section member  18 . Moisture is further allowed to flow outwardly to the exterior of the lower member  18  through the hole  23  therein. In this fashion, moisture gathered from the top of member  17  and/or through the holes  22  from the surrounding soil is delivered to the lower reaches of the device  10  to be discharged therefrom in the immediate area of the deep roots of any adjacent plant. The “washer-like” member  29  lodged in the lower portion of the tubular member  17  serves as an impact absorbing member in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A , B and C, so that impact force delivered to the impact absorbing member as described hereinbefore serves to insert the device  10  within the soil volume  13  until the upper end of the tubular member  17  is approximately at the level  13   a  of the soil surface.  
         [0025]     The cap  24  is shown in  FIG. 3B  rotated through 90° in the section view, to show that it has a land  24   a  thereon. The cap is configured to fit within the inside diameter (indicated at  31  in  FIG. 3C ), as it is swung to a closed position around hinge member  26  when the plant support stake  14  is withdrawn from the inside diameter of the member  17 .  FIG. 3C  clearly depicts the manner in which the holes  22  extend through the wall of the tubular member  17  communicating the outside of the tubular member with the inner diameter  31  thereof through the wall of the tubular member to form the axially extending paths  27  within the tubular member. It should be noted that the inside diameter of the tubular member  17  is formed so that an alternating array of lands  28  and grooves  28   a  extend axially therealong.  
         [0026]     With reference now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the inside diameter  31  of the tubular member  17  is shown extending between the innermost points on a plurality of lands  32  on the inside surface of the tubular member. The plan depiction of the tubular member  17  further shows a hollow wall in the tubular member having a number of connecting members  33  between the inner wall  17   a  and the outer wall  17   b  and forming a plurality of axially extending paths  33   a  through the double wall of the tubular member. A pair of opposing somewhat triangular flanges  34  (best seen in  FIG. 5B ) extend from the exterior surface of the tubular member  17 . The tops of the flanges  34  are positioned at or near the top of the tubular member  17 , depending on the positioning of a cap  35  to be described in conjunction with  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 6A , a perspective of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  shows the tubular member having a plurality of holes  36  extending through the double wall to communicate the exterior of the tubular member with the axially extending paths  33   a  as well as with the inside diameter  31  of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . The exterior wall  17   b  and the interior wall  17   a  (shown in phantom lines) are shown in  FIG. 6A  wherein the cap  35  is positioned on top of the tubular member  17 . The cap  35  also has an inner wall  35   a  and an outer wall  35   b.  The inner and outer walls are joined by a support member  37  extending therebetween so that a space  38  exists between the inner and outer walls. The space is better seen in  FIG. 6B  as a circumferential chamber extending around the cap  35  between the inner and outer walls thereof A flexible hinge  39  extends from the periphery of the cap  35  to join a cover  41  thereto.  
         [0028]     The cap  35  is disposed for positioning between an open position away from the opening in the top of the cap to a closed position illustrated in  FIG. 6B . The cap  35  is configured so that the outer diameter of the inner wall  35   a  contacts the inside surface of the inner wall  17   a  in the member  17  and the inside surface of the outer wall  35   b  of the cap  35  contacts the outer surface of the wall  17   b  of the member  17 , as is best seen with reference to  FIG. 6B . The chamber  38  in the cap  35  is in communication with the axially extending paths or passages  33   a  extending through the tubular sleeve  17 . An inlet  42  extends from the outside of the cap  35  to communicate with the space or chamber  38  for providing moisture to the chamber that may subsequently flow through the paths  33   a  toward the lower end of the tubular sleeve to exit in the region of the lower roots of an adjacent plant through hole  23  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ) in the diminishing cross section member  18 . Thus, when the cover  41  is open on the cap  35 , a plant support stake is insertable through the upper opening therein into the interior of the tubular sleeve. The stake  14  is spaced from the inside diameter of the inner wall  17   a  by the lands  32  formed thereon. Flanges  34  extend from the opposing sides of the tubular sleeve  17  and serve to prevent axial rotation of the tubular sleeve after it has been inserted into an underlying volume of soil  13  as described hereinbefore.  
         [0029]     An alternative embodiment of the invention is seen in plan view in  FIG. 5A . The flanges  34  are present as in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . A plurality of inwardly extending lands  43  are seen in  FIG. 5A  as somewhat tiangular in cross section. The lands have enclosed paths or passages  44  running axially relative to the tubular sleeve  17 . An additional plurality of holes  46  extend from the exterior of the tubular sleeve  17  into the passages  44  of  FIG. 5A . Another plurality of holes  47  extend through the wall of the lands  43  to communicate with the inside of the tubular member or sleeve  17 . As a consequence, moisture contained within the volume of soil  13  surrounding the tubular sleeve may enter through the holes  46  into the passages  44 , and as well from the passages  44  through the holes  47  into the interior of the tubular sleeve. Moisture introduced into the passages  44  and the interior of the tubular sleeve  17  consequently flows downwardly when the tubular sleeve is positioned as previously described in the volume of soil  13  to exit hole  23  in the diminishing cross section member  18  at the bottom of the sleeve. The moisture thus enters the soil in the region of the deeper roots of a plant to which the sleeve is adjacent. A cap, similar to the cap  24  in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  is attached by a flexible member  48  to the tubular sleeve in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  so that the opening in the upper end of the sleeve may be closed to prevent the entry of debris when a plant support stake  14  is absent.  FIG. 5B  is presented to show more clearly the manner in which holes in the wall of the tubular sleeve and the lands  43  allow moisture external of the sleeve to enter the passages  44  as well as the interior of the sleeve as described hereinbefore. The opposing flanges  34  extending from the exterior of the sleeve  17  are for the purpose of preventing axial rotation of the sleeve  17  once it is inserted within the volume of soil as described hereinbefore.  
         [0030]     Turning now to the exploded depiction of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 , the tubular sleeve  17  is shown in its most rudimentary form, having the aforementioned inside diameter  31  (in the open upper end thereof). The lower end of the tubular sleeve is closed by the diminishing cross section member  18 . The member  18  has external threads  48  thereon, as seen in  FIG. 7 . The diminishing cross section member  18  is shown in  FIG. 7  detached from the lower end of the tubular sleeve  17  so that a cross-shaped depression  49  is visible in the upper end of the lower member  18 . The cross-shaped depression is for the purpose of receiving the cross shaped end of a tool or a plant support stake such as that shown in the drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,302. As a result when the tubular sleeve  17  is assembled to the lower member  18  by appropriate means, such as the fasteners  51  that pass through mating holes  52  and  53  in the sleeve and lower member respectively, the assembly of the tubular sleeve and the lower member may be advanced into the underlying volume of soil  13  by rotation of the assembly to advance the threads  48  into the soil. Alternatively, the assembly of  FIG. 7  may be embedded in the volume of soil by fixing a collar  54  (seen in  FIG. 8 ) at the open upper end of the tubular sleeve  17  and rotating the handle  56  attached to the collar in a direction to advance the threads  48  into the volume of soil. In this fashion, the ground insertion plant support and deep root feeder assembly of  FIG. 7  is inserted into the volume of soil until the upper end of the tubular sleeve  17  is approximately adjacent the soil surface  13   a.  Once achieving this relative position with the soil surface, the tubular sleeve is prevented from rotating further by insertion of a pin  57  through a hole  58  in the handle  56 . When the pin is entered into the underlying soil surface, the plant support and deep root feeder is stabilized rotationally in the soil volume. The collar  54  is fixed rotationally to the tubular sleeve  17  by appropriate means such as pins  59 , shown in  FIG. 8  passing through holes  61  in the collar for entry into a hole or holes  62  in the upper end of the wall of the tubular sleeve  17 . As recited for the previous embodiments of the invention described in this disclosure, holes  63  are formed through the wall of the sleeve  17  to provide passage of moisture through the wall of the sleeve for purposes hereinbefore described. Moisture may then flow into the interior of the sleeve toward the cross shaped depression  49  and onward toward the exterior of the diminishing cross section member at the lower end of the sleeve through a hole  64  therein. It should also be noted that the top surface of the lower member  18  seen in  FIG. 7  serves as an anvil member to receive impact force delivered thereto as described hereinbefore in the event such force is necessary to insert the sleeve  17  sufficiently deep into the soil volume. Note that the lower end  18  in the disclosed embodiments may have a wedge or conical shape sharper than that shown in the figures to facilitate entry into the underlying soil volume of the ground insertion plant stake support and deep root feeder due to impact force.  
         [0031]     Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been shown and described herein, it will be understood that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.