Patent Publication Number: US-2012023818-A1

Title: Plant support device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to plant supports, more particularly, an adjustable plant support device used for supporting the vertical growth of plants. 
     Many plants need to be supported to keep them from falling over when they get too tall or top-heavy. Conventional plant supports include stakes and rings. Stakes are used by inserting the stake into the soil next to the stem of a plant. The stem must then be secured to the stake with string or clips. A common problem with stakes is that, as the plant grows, the stake or stakes supporting the plant need to be repositioned and re-secured to the plant. If a plant is allowed to grow without repositioning the stake, then the stem of the plant can be damaged. This is especially true when the plant is tied to the stake and the string is not loosened, thereby allowing the string to dig into the growing plant. On the other hand, rings are only available in a fixed diameter. Therefore rings can restrict the horizontal growth of a plant. A smaller ring can be replaced with a larger ring as a plant grows. However, the smaller ring must be pulled up over the top of the plant to remove it, which can constrict and damage the vegetation on the plant, especially the larger vegetation at the top of the plant. This is also true when placing the larger ring over the top of the plant. An even further problem with conventional ring supports is that they encircle the entire plant and, thus detract from the aesthetic beauty of a plant. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a plant support device that supports the vertical growth of a plant, is size adjustable, can be placed on a plant without harming the plant&#39;s vegetation and does not detract from the aesthetic beauty of a plant. 
     The relevant prior art includes the following patent references: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Patent/Serial No. 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue/Publication Date 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 2006/0254137 
                 Lin 
                 Nov. 16, 2006 
               
               
                   
                 7,043,876 
                 LaPelusa 
                 May 16, 2006 
               
               
                   
                 7,020,998 
                 Kirkland et al. 
                 Apr. 04, 2006 
               
               
                   
                 2006/0042159 
                 LaPelusa 
                 Mar. 02, 2006 
               
               
                   
                 6,912,809 
                 Malofsky et al. 
                 Jul. 05, 2005 
               
               
                   
                 6,681,520 
                 Kleinert 
                 Jan. 27, 2004 
               
               
                   
                 2003/0159347 
                 Malofsky et al. 
                 Aug. 28, 2003 
               
               
                   
                 6,408,569 
                 Obregon 
                 Jun. 25, 2002 
               
               
                   
                 6,389,743 
                 Stephenson 
                 May 21, 2002 
               
               
                   
                 D411,722 
                 Grimes 
                 Jun. 29, 1999 
               
               
                   
                 4,750,293 
                 Dyke 
                 Jun. 14, 1988 
               
               
                   
                 5,595,019 
                 Foreman 
                 Jan. 21, 1997 
               
               
                   
                 5,542,210 
                 Hupfl 
                 Aug. 06, 1996 
               
               
                   
                 5,327,678 
                 Schweiker 
                 Jul. 12, 1994 
               
               
                   
                 4,534,129 
                 Stuckey 
                 Aug. 13, 1985 
               
               
                   
                 4,519,162 
                 Stuckey 
                 May 28, 1985 
               
               
                   
                 4,503,636 
                 Stuckey 
                 Mar. 12, 1985 
               
               
                   
                 FR2,536,247 
                 Vatan 
                 May 21, 1984 
               
               
                   
                 3,778,929 
                 Pearson 
                 Dec. 18, 1973 
               
               
                   
                 3,471,968 
                 Letz 
                 Oct. 14, 1969 
               
               
                   
                 2,782,561 
                 Smith 
                 Feb. 26, 1957 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a plant support device that supports the vertical growth of a plant. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant support device that supports a plant without damaging the plant. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a plant support device that can be placed on a plant from the side and does not have to be put over the top of a plant. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant support device that does not detract from the aesthetic beauty of a plant. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a plant support device wherein the diameter of the device may be adjusted. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a plant support device that is height adjustable. 
     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a plant support device comprising a horizontal support having a outer surface, a inner surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end and a second end. At least one vertical stake extends downward from the bottom edge of the horizontal support. The at least one stake may be inserted into the soil around a plant being supported. The stakes may be height adjustable, such as a telescoping stake, to accommodate various heights of different plants and to allow a user to increase the height of the plant support device as a plant grows. The horizontal support is preferably made of a flexible material that allows a user to curve it around an entire plant to create a ring that encircles the entire plant. The first end of the horizontal support may then be attached to the second end of the horizontal support via an attachment means, such as a hook and loop fastener, snaps, a tab and slots, adhesive, etc. The attachment means allows a user to adjust the diameter of the ring created by the horizontal support to accommodate various widths of different plants and to allow a user to increase the diameter of the ring as a plant grows. 
     A user may also create a larger ring by placing multiple plant support devices end to end. The multiple plant support devices may be placed next to each other or attached to each other via the attachment means in order to strengthen the ring created by the multiple horizontal sections. 
     In situations where a plant is only leaning to one side, a partial ring may be created by only curving the plant support device partially around the plant. This also allows a user to position the plant support device so that it is hidden behind a plant and out of sight so that the plant support device does not detract from the aesthetic beauty of the plant. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of the a plant support device of the present invention fully encircling a plant; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of multiple plant support devices of the present invention attached to each other and fully encircling a plant; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of a plant support device having a horizontal support extension attached thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of a plant support device of the present invention partially encircling a plant; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is side view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device of the present invention having a tab and slots as an attachment means; 
         FIG. 7  is a side plan view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device of the present invention having a hook and loop fastener as an attachment means; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device of the present invention having snaps as an attachment means. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1. 
                 plant support device 
               
               
                 2. 
                 plant 
               
               
                 3. 
                 horizontal support 
               
               
                 4. 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                 5. 
                 inner surface 
               
               
                 6. 
                 top edge 
               
               
                 7. 
                 bottom edge 
               
               
                 8. 
                 first end 
               
               
                 9. 
                 second end 
               
               
                 10. 
                 stake 
               
               
                 11. 
                 soil 
               
               
                 12. 
                 telescoping stake 
               
               
                 13. 
                 ring 
               
               
                 14. 
                 attachment means 
               
               
                 15. 
                 adhesive 
               
               
                 16. 
                 hook and loop fastener 
               
               
                 17. 
                 snap 
               
               
                 18. 
                 tab 
               
               
                 19. 
                 slot 
               
               
                 20. 
                 horizontal support extension 
               
               
                 21. 
                 partial ring 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective side view of the a plant support device  1  of the present invention fully encircling a plant  2  is shown. The plant support device  1  comprises a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4 , a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edge  7  of the horizontal support  3 . The vertical stakes  10  are inserted into the soil  11  around plant  2  being supported. The stakes  10  may be height adjustable. As shown here, the stakes may be telescoping stakes  12  to accommodate various heights of different plants  2  and to allow a user to increase the height of the plant support device  1  as the plant  2  grows. The horizontal support  3  has been curved around the entire plant  2  so that the horizontal support  3  creates a ring  13  encircling the entire plant  2 . The first end  8  has been attached to the second end  9  via an attachment means  14 , such as an adhesive  15 , a hook and loop fastener  16  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), snaps  17  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), a tab  18  and slots  19  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), etc. The attachment means  14  allows a user to adjust the diameter of the ring  13  created by the horizontal support  3  to accommodate various widths of different plants  2  and to allow a user to increase the diameter of the ring  13  as the plant  2  grows. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a perspective side view of multiple plant support devices  1  of the present invention attached to each other and fully encircling a plant  2  is shown. The plant support devices  1  each comprise a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4 , a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal supports  3 . The horizontal supports  3  of the plant support devices  1  have been curved and the first ends  8  of the horizontal supports  3  have been attached to the second ends  9  of the horizontal supports  3  via an attachment means  14  to create a ring  13  that encircles the entire plant  2 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a perspective side view of a plant support device  1  having a horizontal support extension  20  attached thereto is shown. The plant support devices  1  each comprise a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4 , a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal supports  3 . A horizontal support extension  20  having a outer surface  4 , a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9  has been attached to the horizontal support  3  via an attachment means  14  to create a ring  13  around a plant  2 . The horizontal support extension  20  allows a user to adjust the diameter of the ring  13  to accommodate various widths of different plants  2  and to allow a user to increase the diameter of the ring  13  as the plant  2  grows. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a perspective side view of a plant support device  1  of the present invention partially encircling a plant  2  is shown. The plant support devices  1  each comprise a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4 , a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal supports  3 . The horizontal plant support device  1  may be used to support a plant  2  that is only leaning to one side, a partial ring  21  may be created by only curving the plant support device  1  partially around the plant  2 . This also allows a user to position the plant support device  1  so that it is hidden behind the plant  2  and out of sight so that the plant support device  1  does not detract from the aesthetic beauty of the plant  2 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a side view laid flat of the inner surface  5  of a plant support device  1  of the present invention is shown. The plant support device  1  comprises a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4  (as shown in the  FIGS. 1-4 ), a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal support  3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a side view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device  1  of the present invention having a tab  18  and slots  19  as an attachment means  14  is shown. The plant support device  1  comprises a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4  (as shown in the  FIGS. 1-4 ), a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal support  3 . The tab  18  and slots  19  allow a user to attach the first end  8  of the horizontal support  3  to the second end  9  of the horizontal support  3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , a side plan view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device  1  of the present invention having a hook and loop fastener  16  as an attachment means  14  is shown. The plant support device  1  comprises a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4  (as shown in the  FIGS. 1-4 ), a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal support  3 . The hook and loop fastener  16  allows a user to attach the first end  8  of the horizontal support  3  to the second end  9  of the horizontal support  3 . 
     Finally with reference to  FIG. 8 , a side view laid flat of the inner surface of a plant support device  1  of the present invention having snaps  17  as an attachment means  14  is shown. The plant support device  1  comprises a horizontal support  3  having a outer surface  4  (as shown in the  FIGS. 1-4 ), a inner surface  5 , a top edge  6 , a bottom edge  7 , a first end  8  and a second end  9 . Vertical stakes  10  extend downward from the bottom edges  7  of the horizontal support  3 . The snaps  17  allow a user to attach the first end  8  of the horizontal support  3  to the second end  9  of the horizontal support  3 . 
     It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts or use herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.