Improvements in Grape Trellises.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 8th Nov., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grape Trellises.
I, WILLIAM NORRIS of 20 Wellington Street East Toronto in the Dominion of
Canada, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
The invention consists in the construction of a grape trellis composed of a hurdle,
with supports, made of spiral or twisted galvanised steel wire or other suitable wire.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of one form
of trellis and Fig. 2 of another with inclined transverse stays for additional
security against wind etc.
In both figures like letters represent like parts. H are the sides, K the main
back supports, L the looped feet, M horizontal bars, O top- or hinge-bar, P vertical
mid bar, N inclined wind stays and supports. I prefer to erect these improved
trellises at an angle and to construct them as shown, but I may prolong the bar P
and fit it with a looped foot, and I may fix an additional back support K from the
centre of each hurdle, also I may use fewer or more cross-bars and, when several
trellises are used,i n rows or otherwise, I may employ horizontal cross stays arranged
to fit on the bars O.
HERBERT & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: I WILLIAM NORRIS of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to trellises, or frames, for supporting during growth vines
and similar plants or trees, and it consists in an improved trellis which shall be cheap
in manufacture, light but rigid in construction, easily erected and taken down, and
which shall afford a firm support for the vine or other plant.
The accompanying drawing illustrates in two perspective views two modifications
of the improved trellis.
It consists essentially of a flat frame having feet adapted to be pressed into the
ground, and two or more supporting rods hinged at or near the upper part of said
frame, said rods having also feet adapted to be pressed into the ground and
supported thereby.
The material of which the trellis is composed is preferably galvanised iron wire bent
into a wavy or spiral form in the manner indicated.
The frame consists of side bars H formed of one piece with the top rail O, said side
bars bent below to form a loop or ring L lying perpendicular (or substantially so)
to the bars, the free end of the bar being continued from such loop in a line with
the main part of the bar and forming a prong adapted to enter the ground, the
ring Laforesaid being supported on the surface thereof. To the bars H are fastened
cross rails M; these may be fastened as in Fig. 1, in which the side bars H are
looped at intervals and the cross rails M passed through said loops, or the cross
rails M may be fastened to the bars H by wires Q as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the
first instance the cross bars M may be formed in pairs as shown in Fig. 1 by bending
a piece of the wire so that the ends may pass through two adjacent loops in the one
side bar H and out through the two corresponding loops of the opposite side bars,
the ends of the rails M being then bent away to prevent the ends from passing
through the loops. To further fix said cross rails M, a wire P may be wound about
them to connect the centre of each cross bar M and the centre of the top rail O.
The rear supporting bars K are provided with loops L and prongs thereunder as
aforesaid in relation to the bars H. The bars K are substantially equal in length to the
bars H, and they are connected by the top rail O' formed in one part with said
bars KK, the top rail O¹ is substantially equal in length to the top rail O,
and the two are entwined together or pass spirally about each other in the manner
shown, the said bars forming a hinge..
Fig. 2 shows additional supporting bars N N, having likewise pronged feet and
loops L. These bars are formed in one piece with the higher cross rail M¹ passing
through loops in the bars H, and may be bent to enter the ground wherever their
support may be most needed.

page_text: When out of use, the rear bars K K and N N are folded down upon the rear of
the frame and the whole occupies comparatively small compass. When they are to
be fixed, the feet of the bars H are driven into the ground by pressure of the foot of
the operator on the loop L or otherwise, and the feet of the bars K are similarly
fixed at a suitable distance behind according to the inclination to be given to
the trellis.
I do not confine myself to using spiral or wavy wire, but may use any wire for
the trellis or supports, spiral wire is however believed to be more convenient for
attachment of creepers or tendrils of plants. I may also make the rear supporting
bars longer or shorter than the bars H to adapt the trellis for any desired angle of
support.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare, that what I claim is:
1) A trellis composed of a wire frame A, having wire supporting bars K hinged
thereto.
2) The combination of a wire frame A having spiral top rail O, with wire
supporting bars K having spiral rail 0 substantially as set forth.
3) In a wire trellis pronged feet having loops L, substantially as set forth.
4) In a wire trellis side bars H H, and head rail O in part with said side bars,
in combination with cross rails M. fixed to said side bars.
5) In a wire trellis side bars H H having loops therein, in combination with cross
rails M passing through said loops and secured, substantially as set forth.
6) In a wire trellis having head rail O and cross rails M, or wire P connecting
said head and cross rails substantially as set forth.
7) The combination with trellis A and supporting bars K of supporting bars N
substantially as set forth.