Patent Abstract:
A plant cage for placement about a plant for assisting in plant growth. At least three vertical rods are arranged relative to one another to define a three-dimensional area into which the plant is locatable. One or more ring members have a circular shape and are formed from two separate components that are pivotal relative to one another to provide an open position for the cage. Two fasteners are connectable to each of the two ring ends. Grommets are disposed on the rods and connect to the ring member, and are positioned at a vertical height along the rods.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to application Ser. 61/901,980 having a filing date of Nov. 8, 2013, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    [Not Applicable] 
       MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
       [0003]    [Not Applicable] 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a plant cage, and more particularly, to a plant cage that may be assembled from component pieces that may lie flat during storage. 
         [0005]    Plants may be caged by a support structure which is purchased by the user in a fully assembled state, having lateral supporting arms welded to vertical supports. Such support structure is pulled down over the top of a plant which is then allowed to grow up into the cage. The width or “bushiness” of the plant about which the support structure is positioned, makes the positioning of such support structure difficult. Plant branches may be broken or bent during cage positioning. Further, at the end of the plant growing season, the support structures are grouped together and stored in a large area to receive the structures. 
         [0006]    It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful plant cage. 
         [0007]    It is a further object to provide a plant cage that may be assembled and disassembled from discrete components. 
         [0008]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a plant cage from discrete components. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a plant cage of at least three rods, at least two rings and grommets for securing the rings to the rods. In one embodiment, circular shaped rings have two separate sections that are connected at the ends of the sections. The connectors provide a pivoting mode to present the cage in an open position to allow the cage to be positioned around the plant, and thereafter permit the cage to be closed to surround the plant. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plant cage according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1  shown in an open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a hinge mechanism of the plant cage of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a rod and grommet of the plant cage of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of four rods and one ring being assembled into the plant cage of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a plant cage embodiment having three rods and two rings, and showing the separated components of a hinge mechanism. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1  shown in an open position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows a partial perspective view of one rod, one ring and one grommet of the plant cage of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a partial perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1  and showing the separated components of the hinge mechanism. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1  shown in an open position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the plant cage of  FIG. 1  shown in a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plant cage  11  aids in crop growing by providing a support structure to the limbs and the stalk of a plant. Cage  11  may be totally free standing, or it may be anchored into soil. Cage  11  may be located out of doors in an open field, for example, or may be located in a greenhouse free from weather concerns. Cage  11  is free standing and thus, serves to eliminate any stress on the limbs or on the roots of the plant that is caged. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , cage  11  is formed of four separate rods  13  and three separate rings  15 ,  17  and  19 . Rods  13  and rings  15 ,  17  and  19  are of a green color. 
         [0025]    Rods and rings  13  are cylindrical in shape, and may be formed from metal, wood, plastic, or any other material that will provide sufficient strength to allow the cage to stand upright, to hold the three rings, and to be sturdy against plant movement caused by the wind or weather. The length of each rod  13  may vary depending on the type of plant involved, but as an example, may be 36 inches in length. The diameter of each rod  13  is continuous along its length, and may be of various dimensions, for example, ¼ inches, ⅜ inches, ½ inches, ⅝ inches. Of course, smaller diameters may be used, again depending on the plant, the weather, etc. Larger diameters may also be used. 
         [0026]    Rings  15 ,  17  and  19  are each circular in shape having, for example, a 20 inch diameter. The rings are vertically adjustable along the rods  13  and may thus be positioned at several different heights. The user places the rings on rods  13  at a height that is needed. In view of the location of plant limbs, the rings may be located accordingly, making pruning and harvesting more easy, and removing stress on plant limbs. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , each ring  15 ,  17 ,  19  is constructed of two separate portions that are pivotally mounted together. For example, ring  19  includes two portions  19 A and  19 B. The separate portions  19 A,  19 B are connected together at their ends. A hinge mechanism  21  is shown in  FIG. 2  being located at one point along the circumference of ring  19  so as to permit ring  19  to be openable within the plane of the ring&#39;s circumference. Each of the two separate portions  19 A,  19 B are moveable relative to one another and may be opened to  180  degrees. The portions  19 A,  19 B pivot at the one point on the ring&#39;s circumference. Each ring  15 ,  17 ,  19  is formed of two separate portions, and thus, cage  11  may be completely opened in half, in two like-size segments as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0028]    Cage  11 , in its open position of  FIG. 2 , may be placed up against a plant, with portion  19 A located adjacent the plant. Thereafter, the open cage  11  is closed, by moving portion  19 B to pivot on hinge mechanism  21  and meet with portion  19 A to form a continuous circular or cylindrical shape about the plant. Once the rings are moved to a closed position, the other ends of the ring portions are secured together holding the rings closed. The cage, thus located around the plant, may be forced vertically into the soil, if so desired. 
         [0029]    Cage  11  is easily disassembled into its component parts of four rods  13  and three rings  15 ,  17  and  19 . The separate component parts may be stored flat when not in use. 
         [0030]    As will suggest itself, less than or more than three rings may be positioned onto the rods  13  to form plant cage  11 . Also, rings  15 ,  17  and  19  may be designed by the inclusion of less than or more than four rod-receiving holes to accept, for example three rods  13  or more than four rods  13 , if desired. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  8  and  11 , hinge mechanism  21  is formed from a bolt  23  and a wing nut  25 . Wing nut  25  mates with bolt  23  to screwingly turn along the threads of bolt  23  to tighten or loosen the bolt to the wing nut, i.e., to vary the spacing between the head of the bolt and the wing nut. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the ends  27 ,  29  of ring portions  19 A,  19 B are shaped in an L-shape to mate ends  27 ,  29  with one another. A pair of holes  31 ,  33  are formed in each end of ring portions  19 A,  19 B respectively, and are alignable and of a size for receiving bolt  23 . Corners  35 ,  37  of ends  27 ,  29  of ring potions  19 A,  19 B are shaped or rounded so as to permit rotational movement of one ring portion relative to another ring portion. As understood, the location of holes  31 ,  33  and the dimension of the shape of L-shaped ends  27 ,  29  allow free rotation to a certain angle, preferably 180 degrees in a full open position. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 8  at reference numeral  41 , the other two ends of ring portions  19 A,  19 B also have a hinge connection with similar bolt and wing nut connection and similar end shapes. Thus, either side of the cage may be opened and rotated. One of the bolts  23  and wing nut  25  is removed and the other bolt and wing nut is loosened to permit rotation on the bolt about the bolt&#39;s axis. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  8  and  10 , a plurality of grommets  51  are slidable over rods  13 , and serve to hold a ring to a rod, in a secure fashion. Grommet  51  is sized with an aperture to engage and elastically mate with the rod  13  to grasp the rod. Grommet  51  is also sized at its outer periphery to engage the ring via an aperture  53  formed in the ring. 
         [0035]    Grommet  51  may be made from rubber, plastic or other rubber like material that may elastically deformed and mate with the structure of the ring forming aperture  53  to hold the grommet in place and tightly to the ring. Thus, grommet  51  is formed of rubber or plastic that is inserted into a hole in a ring and frictionally retained there, while presenting an aperture to receive a rod and frictionally retain the rod. The grommets may be placed on the rods first and then the rings secured or located to the ring. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 9 , four grommets  51  are initially slid over an end  55  of each of four rods, and each grommet is positioned approximately four inches from each end  55  of the rod. After which, a single ring  15 , including its two portions  15 A and  15 B, is slid over the four rods, the four rods slide through the holes  53  in ring  15  until ring  15  sets onto the four grommets as shown in  FIG. 9 . The grommet may be pressed into the hole  53  so as to engagingly grasp the ring. Alternatively, as will suggest itself, the grommet may merely provide a rest stop for the ring to lie on top of the grommet. 
         [0037]    After the first ring  15  is in place on the four rods and secured by the four grommets, the structure is stood upright. The cage at this point may be in an open or closed position. Then, another four grommets are slid over the four rod, about half way down the length of the rods. The second ring  17  is then slid onto the four rods until the ring  17  rests on the grommets. The rings are oriented so that the bolts are on the lower side of the rings, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0038]    After the second ring  17  is in place on the four rods, four more grommets are placed on the rods at a desired height, and the final ring  19  is slid over the rods and mated with the grommets. Thereafter, final adjustments may be made as to the height of each ring. The open cage is then placed relative to a plant and closed around it. 
         [0039]    Alternatively, the four rods may first be placed around the plant and forced down into soil; thereafter, each of rings  15 ,  17 ,  19  in their closed circular state may be positioned and secured with grommets about the four rods and about the plant. 
         [0040]    While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, modifications such as those suggested above, but not limited thereto, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8