Abstract:
A fastener and method of securing a plant to a wire is described. The fastener may be used, for example, to secure a grapevine to a foliage wire. In one embodiment, a flexible fastener is provided that can secure the plant. The fastener includes two convex portions for attaching to the wire, and can deform to restrain the plant against the wire. In one embodiment, the fastener is deformable to allow the two convex portions to overlap and accept the wire, thus restraining a plant. In another embodiment, a biodegradable fastener is provided that can easily secure a plant to a wire, and which can be left in the field to decompose.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/117,691, filed Nov. 25, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to devices used for supporting plants, and more particularly to a fastener to support foliage on a wire and a method of fastening foliage to a wire. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Background 
         [0005]    The conventional method of raising grapes or raisins in vineyards is to grow the grape vines in separate, parallel rows utilizing a trellis system of foliage wires that are suspended above the ground. The vines are secured to the foliage wires with ties, which may be formed from string, wire, or plastic. Typically the tie material is supplied from spools. 
         [0006]    While the use of such prior art ties is effective, the use of these ties has several problems. First, using the ties tends to be time consuming work. If the tie material is provided on spools, the ties must be cut to length as needed, and are tied using both hands. Further, the ties need to be removed using cutting tools at the end of the growing season and disposed of. 
         [0007]    Thus there is a need in the art for an apparatus that permits for the easy and quick fastening of plants in the field. Such an apparatus should require less work and tools than current fastening systems, and should preferable produce less waste or residue. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art by providing individual fasteners that can be used to secure a plant to a wire. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a flexible fastener is provided that can secure a plant to a foliage wire. The fastener is configured to receive a foliage wire and a vine, and may easily be deformed to attach the vine to the wire. In one embodiment, the fastener has two arms that are joined at a proximal, that are generally parallel, and which each include a portion near a distal end to attach to the wire. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a fastener is provided to that is attachable to a wire having a diameter. The fastener is generally planar and flexible, said includes a fastener end, a first portion attached to the fastener end. The first portion is attached to the fastener end and includes a first convex portion. The second portion is attached to the fastener end and includes a second convex portion. The first portion and said second portion form an open aperture through said fastener, with said first convex portion and said second convex portion opening into said aperture. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment, a fastener attachable to a wire having a diameter is provided. The fastener includes a body, where the body has a proximal portion, where the body is generally planar, and where the body includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is joined to the proximal portion and includes a first convex portion, and the second portion is joined to the proximal portion and includes a second convex portion. The body is sufficiently flexible to overlap the first convex portion and the second convex portion to form a closed configuration, where the closed configuration includes a closed aperture bounded by the first portion and the second portion. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, fastener includes two arms that are each flexible and which can be closed about a wire to attach the vine to a wire. The fastener deforms between the overlapped notches and the third portion to force the plant against the wire. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, a method of securing a vine to a wire using a fastener is provided. The fastener is planar and includes a central portion, a first portion extending from the central portion and including a first wire fastener, and a second portion extending from the central portion and including a second wire fastener. The method includes placing a fastener over the wire, placing the first portion over the vine, attaching the first wire fastener to the wire, placing the second portion over the vine, and attaching the second wire fastener to the wire. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, a biodegradable fastener is provided that can easily secure a plant to a wire, and which can be left in the field to decompose. 
         [0015]    These features, together with the various ancillary provisions and features which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, are attained by the plant fastener of the present invention, preferred embodiments thereof being shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of first embodiment of a fastener in an open configuration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1B  is side view of the fastener of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the fastener of  FIG. 1A  in a closed configuration; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  is side view of the fastener of  FIG. 1A ; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D illustrate one use of the fastener for the securing of a vine to a foliage wire, where  FIG. 3A  is a front view of the fastener partially put in place,  FIG. 3B  is a front view of the next step at securing fastener, and  FIGS. 3C and 3D  are front and rear views, respectively, of the secured fastener. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Reference symbols are used in the Figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects or features shown therein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Embodiments are presented herein for fasteners which may be used, for example and without limitation, to facilitate the positioning of plants. As one example of the use of such fasteners, grape vines are typically grown by attaching the vine to a wire of a grape trellis. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a top view and  FIG. 1B  is a side view of first embodiment of a fastener  100  as shown in an open, relaxed configuration. Fastener  100  is preferably formed from a flexible sheet or planar piece of material having an opposing top surface  102  and bottom surface  104 . In general, fastener  100  has a proximal, or back end  101  and distal, or front end  103  that includes an opening  105  that provides access to an open aperture, or interior area  140 . In the specific embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , fastener  100  includes a fastener end  110  that includes back end  101 , and a first arm  120  and a second arm  130  that include front end  103  and opening  105 . As described subsequently, a plant and a foliage wire may be inserted into opening  105 , and restrained within interior area  140 . 
         [0024]    As is further shown in  FIG. 1A , arms  120 ,  130  each include corresponding proximal portions  121 ,  131  that meet at a proximal end  107  of interior area  140 , and which extend a length X from proximal end  107  to concave portions  125 ,  135 , and also include distal portions  123 ,  133  that extend a length V from the portions to front end  103 . Concave portions  125 ,  135  each open into interior area  140 . Arms  120 ,  130  meet at fastener end  110  and are otherwise separate from each other to form opening  105 . 
         [0025]    In certain embodiments, arms  120  and  130  may be are generally similar in shape and may be mirror images of one another. Thus, for example and without limitation,  FIG. 1A  illustrates an axis A that extends from back end  101  to front end  103 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, fastener end  110  may be sized to be conveniently gripped between the thumb and the index finger. Thus, for example and without limitation, one or both of W and Z may each be between approximately 20 mm and approximately 50 mm. Thus for example, and without limitation, either W or Z may be approximately 20 mm, approximately 25 mm, approximately 30 mm, approximately 35 mm, approximately 40 mm, approximately 45 mm, or approximately 50 mm. In addition, while fastener end  110  is shown as being approximately square, the fastener end may be rectangular, oval, or any other shape that can connect arms  120  and  130 . 
         [0027]    Proximal portions  121 ,  131  may be sized and positioned such that area  140  has a length X and width U sized to bend around a plant of interest. For grapevines, X may be between 35 and 75 mm. In general, length X may be, for example and without limitation, between approximately 25 mm and approximately 100 mm, and may be, approximately 25 mm, approximately 35 mm, approximately 50 mm, approximately 75 mm, or approximately 100 mm. Width U may have a minimum size that may be between 0 mm and 20 mm. and may be, for example and without limitation, approximately 0 mm, approximately 2 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 8 mm, approximately 10 mm, approximately 12 mm, approximately 14 mm, approximately 16 mm, approximately 18 mm, or approximately 20 mm. Further, while area  140  is shown as having a wedge shape and a semicircular end, the area may be rectangular, square, have sharp edges, or other shapes that permit portions  125  and  135  to overlap. 
         [0028]    Distal portions  123 ,  133  may be sized to provide overlap when portions  125  and  135  overlap, and have a length V that may be between approximately 0 mm and approximately 40 mm. 
         [0029]    Convex portions  125  and  135  are sized to restrain a wire. Foliage wires of 13 gauge are common, and thus convex portions  125  and  135  may have a diameter of approximately 3 mm. Other size convex portions  125  and  135  may be chosen for use with different sized wires. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 1B , fastener  100  has a thickness between top surface  102  and bottom surface  104 . The thickness may be from 0.25 mm to 1.50 mm. Thus in various embodiments, thickness is 0.25 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.75 mm, 1.00 mm, 1.25 mm, or 1.50 mm. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2A  is a top view and  FIG. 2B  is a side view of fastener  100  in a closed configuration  100 ′. As shown in  FIG. 2B , fastener  100 ′ aligns portions  125 ,  135  by overlapping with distal ends  123 ,  133 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the alignment of portions  125 ,  135  warps the shape of fastener  100 ′, resulting axis A being bent into a curve A′ which is out of the plane of fastener  100 . Fastener  100 ′ thus configured forms an enclosed aperture or area  240  that is bounded by fastener end  110  and proximal ends  121  and  131 , and which extends from proximal end  107  to aligned portions  125 ,  135 . 
         [0032]    One example of the use of fastener  100 ′ is illustrated in  FIG. 2B . Fastener  100 ′ may restrain a vine that is placed approximately perpendicular to a foliage wire, by having the wire pass within enclosed area  240  near proximal end  107  and through aligned portions  125 ,  135 , and having the vine secured between fastener  100 ′ and the wire. In certain embodiments, the shape of portions  125  and  135  act to fasten the wire to arms  120  and  130 , respectively. With wire against proximal end  107  and through aligned portions  125 ,  135 , fastener  100 ′ is bent out-of-plane by a distance d, which may accommodate the vine. 
         [0033]    Fastener  100  may be manufactured from a variety of materials. In one embodiment, fastener  100  is biodegradable. In another embodiment, fastener  100  is formed from a paper or hemp product, such as card stock or cardboard. In another embodiment, fastener  100  is formed from a paper or hemp product having a waxed finish. In one embodiment, fastener  100  is formed from a plastic. In yet another embodiment, fastener  100  is formed from a biodegradable plastic. 
         [0034]    As a further example of the user of fastener  100 ,  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D illustrates one use of the fastener for the securing of a vine to a foliage wire. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a front view of fastener  100  partially put in place. Prior to the illustration of  FIG. 3A , the hand H of the user has forced the wire through opening  105 , and positioned the wire against proximal end  107 . In the view of  FIG. 3A , fastener end  110  is in front of the wire, and arms  120  and  130  are behind the vine and the wire. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a front view of the next step at securing fastener  100 . Arm  120  is bent forward in front of the wire, and the wire is placed within portion  125 , securing the arm to the wire. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 3C and 3D  illustrate the final step in securing fastener  100 , where  FIG. 3C  is a front view and  FIG. 3D  is a rear view. In  FIGS. 3C and 3D , arm  130  is bent in front of the wire and arm  120 , and the wire is placed within portion  135 . The fastener is thus generally configured the same as fastener  100 ′ of  FIG. 2A and 2B , which aligned portions  125  and  135 . 
         [0038]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. 
         [0039]    Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.