Abstract:
A vegetable and plant growing cage and method of use and manufacture comprising a tapered, flexible, and lightweight helical coil which is capable of attaching to a conventional stake and which allows a gardener, farmer, or grower to alleviate the need for tying a plant during the growing season. The device allows a plant to grow within the coil and further allows the coil to support the branches, stems, fruits, and flowers of the plant. The apparatus and method of use allows for the user to non-destructively collapse or compress the helical coil into a substantially flat helicoid for storage during the non-growing season.

Description:
This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/366,283, filed Mar. 22, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates in general to a device and method for optimally growing plants and vegetables and more particularly, to a device in the form of a tapered helical coil with a unique clamp and anchor peg system which mounts over a stake and allows plants and vegetables to grow upright without tying. The device of the present art is fully adjustable to accommodate plants having heights up to or above seven feet. 
   It is well known within the gardening and farming arts that many plants require support during the growth, flowering, and vegetable producing periods. That is, as many plants grow, they are unable to provide self support. This phenomena is especially true with vegetable producing plants such as tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers. Traditionally, gardeners and farmers utilize a stake driven into the ground and periodically tie the plants to said stake as the plant grows. This prior art technique is very time consuming and often does not promote optimum plant growth. 
   Numerous plant support cages have been shown and described in the prior art with a plurality of deficiencies relative to the present art. That is, the prior art devices utilize cages, racks, or trellises which have limited adjustability for short or tall plants. The present art device provides support for plants of very short height and for plants which are greater than seven feet in height. The prior art devices also limit the strength of support for the growing plant. That is, prior art devices are generally stand alone in structure, thus unless constructed with heavy non-user friendly materials, the prior art designs cannot reliably hold growing plants without failure. The present art utilizes a central stake commonly used by growers which is secured within the earth near the growing plant to securely hold the helical spiral of the present art. 
   The prior art devices also do not provide a convenient and easy to use universal adjustment method to accommodate different plant sizes. Prior art devices are generally of fixed dimensions or have complex or non-convenient adjusting mechanisms. The present art provides easy one handed adjustment of the helical coil via a thumbscrew on the clamp mounted upon the central stake. Prior art devices also present a problem for off-season storage. Since the prior art devices are generally not foldable into a flat form or have other hardware portions which are non collapsible, storage generally occupies much more space than is desirable. The present art helical coil is formed from a flexible material which allows it to collapse into a flat helicoid spiral which may be stacked or placed on a wall hook. Prior art devices are often aesthetically unpleasing and further detract from the beauty of the growing plant. The preferred present art device with its unique shape and integrally molded green color allows for the plant to grow into and through it whereby the cage is difficult to distinguish from the growing plant itself. 
   In its preferred embodiment, the present art comprises a uniquely lightweight and flexible coil having an anchor peg at a first exterior end with a universal clamp at another second interior end along with the traditional stake utilized for plant support. The anchor peg on said exterior end is preferably integrally mounted with said flexible coil with a “living” or flexible hinge between the coil and the stake. The universal clamp on said interior end preferably comprises a housing having a threaded hole and a threaded retainer or thumbscrew within said hole. Said housing fits over said stake and is compressively held thereon by tightening the threaded retainer or thumbscrew. Preferably the device is manufactured from a molded flexible polymer such as polypropylene but may also be manufactured from a plurality of other materials which provide the flexibility desired. Alternative embodiments may utilize materials such as wood, metals and alloys thereof, plastics, leather, rubber, and composites. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vegetable and plant growing cage which is capable of supporting growing plants without tying. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of supporting growing plants without tying. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a vegetable and plant growing cage which is able to easily and conveniently adjust to accommodate a plurality of plant heights. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a vegetable and plant growing cage which further allows for easy, convenient, and space minimizing flat storage during the non-growing season. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight vegetable and plant growing cage having sufficient structural strength to support any vegetable or flowering plant. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention there is provided a vegetable and plant growing cage and method of utilizing the same. The device and method provides for optimum and adjustable plant support without tying. The device and method may be utilized for a plurality of vegetables and flowering plants, including but not limited to tomatoes, peas, snow peas, cucumbers, dahlias, and morning glories. The art of the present invention is considered novel and claimed both in conjunction with and apart from the stake which is traditionally utilized for growing plants. 
   In its preferred form, the present invention comprises a flexible polypropylene coil of approximately 15 inches diameter with an anchor peg at a first exterior end and a universal clamp at another second interior end. Again in its preferred form, the universal clamp is attachable to a square, round, or other cross sectional shaped stake of up to 1⅝ inches in diameter. Alternative embodiments may utilize a plurality of other materials with coil diameters greater or lesser than 15 inches and clamping capability greater than 1⅝ inches. When clamped onto a conventional stake, the coil tapers from the aforesaid diameter at the base, near the base of the stake, to a smaller diameter at the top of the stake and finally terminates on the universal clamp. 
   The universal clamp preferably comprises a housing having a threaded hole and a threaded retainer or thumbscrew within said hole. Said housing fits over said stake and is compressively held thereon by tightening the threaded retainer or thumbscrew. The housing in its preferred form has a substantially rectangular opening through which said stake fits but may be elliptical or any polygonal shape in alternative embodiments. In its preferred form, said opening has a bearing plate of approximately 1½ inches height on a first interior wall and said threaded hole on a second interior wall opposite said bearing plate. Said bearing plate preferably contains a “V”-shaped seat or channel substantially perpendicular with the plane of said opening. Said “V”-shape provides a seat or holding channel for the stake onto which the apparatus is attached when said threaded retainer or thumbscrew is tightened. Alternative embodiments may utilize bearing plates of different shapes, sizes, and with or without said “V”-shaped channel or forego use of the bearing plate altogether without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   The threaded retainer or thumbscrew, via mating with said threaded hole, provides the force to hold said clamp onto to the stake. The aforesaid holding function may be achieved with a plurality of other mechanisms such as clamps, pins, screws, adhesives, or frictional fits. The threaded retainer preferably has a head which is sized for easy rotation when attaching the universal clamp. 
   The anchor peg at the first exterior end preferably comprises a substantially pointed first end and a second end of said anchor peg attached via a flexible or, as known in the industry, a “living” hinge. The aforesaid hinge allows the anchor to be placed into the ground while not bending the coil of the device. In a preferred embodiment, near said hinge and near the second end of said anchor peg is a peg stop which limits the distance which the anchor peg may be pushed into the ground and provides a tab for driving said peg. Preferably said anchor peg is integrally molded with the plant growing cage and the universal clamp, but alternative embodiments may utilize clamps and pegs which are molded or formed separately and attached with said cage. Further alternative embodiments may not utilize said point on the first end or the peg stop on said second end. 
   In operation, a user simply drives a conventional stake into the ground next to the plant which requires support. The user then places the vegetable and plant growing cage over the stake and places the opening of the housing of the universal clamp over the top of the stake. The user then secures the universal clamp to the stake via the retainer or thumbscrew. Thereafter the user expands the coil toward the ground and drives the anchor peg into the ground to secure the base of the cage. Once the aforesaid is completed, the user simply waters and fertilizes the plant as usual and the plant grows within said vegetable and plant growing cage. As the plant grows, the branches and shoots of the plant grow through the openings between the helical coils and the coils thereby support said branches and shoots. No further tying or attachment is required during the growing season. 
   Upon completion of the growing season, the user loosens the universal clamp, removes the anchor peg from the ground, and easily collapses the vegetable and plant growing cage into a flat coiled helicoid form. Obviously, the user would also remove the stake and expired plant. Once collapsed into a flat helicoid form, the user may store the vegetable and plant growing cage by stacking or hanging on a hook. 
   The device may be manufactured from a variety of materials and in numerous shapes and styles. The coil may be of any flexible material including but not limited to plastics, metals, woods, cloths, leathers, or papers but is polypropylene in the preferred embodiment. The universal clamp and anchor peg may also be manufactured from a variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, leathers, woods, or metals but is also polypropylene in the preferred embodiment. The universal clamp and anchor peg are preferably of sufficient rigidity to hold the top and bottom of the vegetable and plant growing cage to the stake and ground respectively. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vegetable and plant growing cage assembled with a conventional stake with no plant or soil shown. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vegetable and plant growing cage assembled with a conventional stake and also showing a plant and soil base. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the vegetable and plant growing cage of the present invention in a collapsed flat form which is ready for storage. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the universal clamp of the vegetable and plant growing cage. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along lines A-A′of  FIG. 3  showing the coil, universal clamp, threaded hole, and threaded retainer or thumbscrew. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in  FIGS. 1–5  the vegetable and plant growing cage  10  which provides for optimum plant growth without the conventional tying requirement. The apparatus  10  is particularly adapted for supporting growing plants which cannot provide self support including but not limited to peas, tomatoes, snow peas, cucumbers, dahlias, and morning glories. The apparatus  10  provides easy, convenient, and effective use and storage for the aforesaid applications. 
   The drawings show the apparatus  10  comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a flexible polypropylene coil  12  of approximately 15 inches diameter with an anchor peg  38  at a first exterior end  36  and a universal clamp  16  at another second interior end  14 . Again in its preferred form, the universal clamp  16  is attachable to a square, round, or other cross sectional shaped stake  50  of up to 1⅝ inches in diameter. Alternative embodiments may utilize a plurality of other materials with coil  12  diameters greater or lesser than 15 inches and clamping capability greater than 1⅝ inches. When clamped onto a conventional stake  50 , the coil  12  tapers from the aforesaid diameter at the stake base  54 , to a smaller diameter at the top  52  of the stake  50  and finally terminates on the universal clamp  16 . In its flattened and unconnected form, the coil  12  spirals as a helicoid inward from the aforesaid diameter toward the universal clamp  16  located near the center of said spiral. 
   The universal clamp  16  preferably comprises a housing  18  having a threaded hole  30  and a threaded retainer  32  or thumbscrew within said hole  30 . Said housing  18  fits over said stake  50  and is compressively held thereon by tightening the threaded retainer  32  or thumbscrew. The housing  18  in its preferred form has a substantially rectangular opening  20  through which said stake  50  fits but may be elliptical or any polygonal shape in alternative embodiments. In its preferred form, said opening  20  has a bearing plate  24  of approximately 1½ inches height on a first interior wall  22  and said threaded hole  30  on a second interior wall  28  opposite said bearing plate  24 . Said bearing plate  24  preferably contains a “V”-shaped cross-section seat  26  or channel substantially lengthwise perpendicular with the plane of said opening  20 . Said “V”-shape provides a seat  26  or holding channel for the stake  50  onto which the apparatus  10  is attached when said threaded retainer  32  or thumbscrew is tightened. Alternative embodiments may utilize bearing plates  24  of different shapes, sizes, and with or without said “V”-shaped channel  26  or forego use of the bearing plate  24  altogether without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Said seat  26  or channel may further be positioned at various angles relative to the plane of the opening  20  or be of “U”, rectangular, or other cross sectional shapes. 
   The threaded retainer  32  or thumbscrew, via mating with said threaded hole  30 , provides the force to hold said clamp  16  onto to the stake  50 . The aforesaid holding function may be achieved with a plurality of other mechanisms such as clamps, pins, screws, adhesives, or frictional fits. The threaded retainer  32  preferably has a head  34  which is sized for easy rotation when attaching the universal clamp  16 . 
   The anchor peg  38  at the first exterior end  36  preferably comprises a substantially pointed  42  first end  40  and a second end  44  of said anchor peg  38  attached via a flexible or, as known in the industry, a “living” hinge  48 . That is, the hinge  48 , coil  12 , and anchor peg  38  are molded together in a preferred embodiment. The aforesaid hinge  48  allows the anchor  38  to be placed into the ground or growing medium while not bending the coil  12  of the device  10 . In a preferred embodiment, near said hinge  48  and near the second end  44  of said anchor peg  38  is a peg stop  46  which limits the distance which the anchor peg  38  may be pushed into the ground and also allows for a hammer to be used to drive said peg  38  into the ground, soil, earth, or growing medium. Said peg stop  46  preferably is formed as a flat wall which is substantially perpendicular with the length axis of said peg  38  and extends from said peg  38 , but may be of any geometric form which limits the peg  38  travel into the ground or provides for driving into the soil. As aforesaid, preferably said anchor peg  38  is integrally molded with the plant growing cage  10  and the universal clamp  16 , but alternative embodiments may utilize clamps  16  and pegs  38  which are molded or formed separately and attached with said cage  10  or coil  12 . Further alternative embodiments may not utilize said point  42  on the first end  40  or the peg stop  46  on said second end  44 . 
   A unique aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the aforesaid integral molding allows for all of the aforesaid components to be molded and created with one mold. That is, the coil  12 , universal clamp  16 , bearing plate  24 , threaded hole  30 , thrumbscrew  32 , and anchor peg  38  are all formed together with small plastic connections or sprues between each of the aforesaid components. This unique formation allows the complete cage  10  to be removed from the mold as a substantially flat form, placed in packaging, and sold. 
   In operation, a user simply drives a conventional stake  50  into the ground, soil, or growing medium next to the plant which requires support. The user then simply breaks the plastic connections or sprues to separate the aforesaid components, installs the thumbscrew  32  into the threaded hole  30  and begins placement. Thereafter, the user places the vegetable and plant growing cage  10  over the stake  50  and places the opening  20  of the housing  18  of the universal clamp  16  over the top  52  of the stake  50 . The user then secures the universal clamp  16  to the stake  50  via the retainer  32  or thumbscrew, thereby compressibly holding the clamp  16  to the stake  50 . Thereafter the user expands the coil  12  toward the ground and drives the anchor peg  38  into the ground to secure the base of the cage  10 . Once the aforesaid is completed, the user simply waters and fertilizes the plant as usual and the plant grows within said vegetable and plant growing cage  10 . As the plant grows, the branches and shoots of the plant grow through the openings between the helical coils  12  and the coils  12  thereby support said branches and shoots. No further tying or attachment is required during the growing season. Although the device  10  may be manufactured in any color, the preferred green color allows for the device  10  to mask itself with the green plant leaves and stems so that the device  10  becomes inconspicuous as the plant grows. 
   Upon completion of the growing season, the user loosens the universal clamp  16 , removes the anchor peg  38  from the ground, and easily collapses or non-destructively compresses the vegetable and plant growing cage  10  into a flat coiled form. Obviously, the user would also remove the stake  50  and expired plant. Once collapsed into a flat form, the user may store the vegetable and plant growing cage  10  by stacking or hanging upon a hook. 
   From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that all objects of the present invention are realized. An apparatus, method of use, and method of manufacture for a vegetable and plant growing cage has been shown and described. The apparatus provides convenient and lightweight plant support and off season storage at a minimum of cost. 
   Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made of the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described. Rather it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.