Patent Description:
The building of systems for supporting fruiting plants arranged in rows is a well-known practice in the farming field. Such systems are generally made up of a vertical grid consisting of a plurality of rods driven vertically into the ground and connected to each other by means of movable and/or fixed wires stretched horizontally. Said rods differ conventionally in head poles on which said wires are tied, in a movable or fixed manner, and intermediate poles arranged in rows between said head poles to guide the wires. This grid has the fundamental function of supporting the branches, vine-shoots or fruiting shoots of the plants for the purpose of sustaining then during their growth and allowing the best exposure to the sun of both leaves and fruit, to as to achieve the best possible growing conditions.

The grid supporting structure is completed, particularly in the case of grapevines, with rods for supporting the portion of the wooden shaft of the plant, which is the portion that does not bear leafing branches. The rods are substantially rigid elongate elements that are driven into the ground next to the plant and that can have a cylindrical, oval, quadrangular, triangular, or T-shaped cross section, all of them substantially regular in the case of rods made of metallic, plastic or other preformed material. Alternatively, in the case of wooden support rods, the cross sections can be similar to the ones specified above, but irregular.

One or more metal or plastic wires are then extended horizontally between said rods and reversibly associated to the same, so as to allow the fruiting shoot to be tied along said wires and supported during the growth of the branches that that will bear the leaves and fruits.

A tool according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is known from document <CIT>.

Various methods are generally used to stably and firmly connect the vertical rods with the fixed horizontally extending wires.

A first one of said methods requires the use of common portions of metal wire that are wound around the regions where each horizontal wire crosses each vertical rod, so that each wire portion is then tightened and attached by means of tongs, grippers or pincers so as to hold the horizontal wire and the vertical rod firmly joined to each other.

Another method provides for the use of vertical blocking elements consisting of vertical clips provided with a saddle portion adapted to lean on a rounded arc of a rod, connected to two folds, each adapted to receive a portion of a horizontal wire symmetrically with respect to the rod and on its opposite side with respect to the engagement of the saddle portion. Two rectilinear arms run parallel to each other with respect to the rod and end with two rounded ends adapted to engage the rod from the side of the saddle portion. This element is, for example, described in the patent <CIT>.

This element solves most of the above drawbacks and enables a strong tightening of the wire on the rod. It should be noted that its installation requires a certain attention since each of the two branches and the relative rounded ends must be handled individually and correctly. This obviously implies a certain demand of time and fine manual ability that the operator must acquire with practice. Moreover, after a few pieces, the installation by hand becomes practically impossible due to the efforts and pressure to which the fingers are subjected. Or else, the use of an accessory such as a screwdriver or a curved grapple, on one hand does not completely eliminate the use of the fingers, and on the other, if it is not properly handled risks straining the two arms and nullifying their hold on the rod. In other words, if the deformation of the two arms is not properly calibrated, both the installation using accessories or performed manually can cause an insufficient tightness of the clip.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore to devise a practical tool that avoids the straining of the clip and at the same time allows a fast and easy installation without demanding strenuous maneuvers on the part of the operator.

This problem is solved with a tool for the installation of an elastic and reversible blocking element for horizontal metal or plastic wires on vertical rods that allows the fast and safe installation of the element even by non-specialized personnel.

Thus, a first objective of the present invention is a particularly handy tool for mounting an elastic and reversible blocking element for horizontal metal wires on vertical rods.

A second objective is a tools that does not fatigue the operator.

A third objective is a tool calibrated in such a way as not to cause excessive and harmful stresses to the blocking element.

A further objective is a tool that is particularly simple to manufacture.

A still further objective is a method for building a support grid for fruiting plants comprising the fixing of a horizontal wire on a vertical rod through the application of a blocking element installed with said tool.

Further characteristics and the advantages of the tool for the installation of a cross-locking of the horizontal wires on the vertical rods for supporting a row of plants according to the invention will become more evident from the following description of an embodiment given purely by way of a non-restrictive example with reference to the following figures, wherein:.

With reference to <FIG>, reference numeral <NUM> indicates a tool for reversibly blocking a wire on a rod for plants. The tool <NUM> comprises a command handle extending along a rectilinear axis X-X, a first portion <NUM> being one piece with said handle and a second portion <NUM> hinged onto said first portion by means of a rotating pin <NUM>.

In particular, the first portion <NUM> is in one piece with a first end <NUM> of the handle <NUM> and comprises a fork <NUM> for pushing a blocking element C of a wire W on a support rod R for plants (<FIG>) and, preferably, a centring fork <NUM> onto said rod R. The centring fork <NUM> extends substantially along the same axis X-X of the fork, while the pushing fork <NUM> extends away from said axis X-X. Both said forks delimit a space <NUM> for receiving the rod R with the blocking element C fitted on it to be activated in the operative position. In other words, the two branches of each fork are equally spaced from each other.

Advantageously, each branch of the pushing fork <NUM> comprises a first portion <NUM> extending inclined with respect to the axis X-X of the handle <NUM> and in opposite direction with respect to its first end <NUM>, and a second portion <NUM> that is instead substantially parallel to said axis and turned in the opposite direction with respect to the handle. The second portion <NUM> has the free end provided with a protrusion <NUM> bent in an opposite direction with respect to the space <NUM> defined by the engaging fork <NUM> to form an edge <NUM> (<FIG>) pushing the blocking element C, as described later with reference to the fastening of the element on the rod R for locking the horizontal wire W.

The second portion <NUM> of the tool also includes two forks: a first fork <NUM> for centring the rod R and for engaging with the horizontal wire W to lock the rod R and a second fork <NUM> for engaging with the blocking element C. In particular, each branch of the second engaging fork <NUM> with the blocking element is one piece with a corresponding branch of the first fork <NUM> for engaging with the wire by means of a bridged portion <NUM>. The bridged portion is then rotatably fixed to the first portion <NUM> of the tool through said pin <NUM> so that the first fork <NUM> is generally external to the first portion <NUM> and the second fork <NUM> is internal to the fork <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>. Preferably, the bridged portion is rotatably fixed to the centring fork <NUM> so that the first fork <NUM> is external to said centring fork.

In particular, the first fork <NUM> has respective branches extending generally rectilinear and inclined with respect to said axis X-X of the handle to extend the space <NUM> for receiving the rod R and the blocking element C. Each of said branches is connected with the bridged portion <NUM> defining a notch <NUM> to receive the wire W. The respective branches of the second fork <NUM> extend instead generally parallel to said axis X-X and internally with respect to the corresponding branches of the fork <NUM> pushing the blocking element C of the first portion <NUM> of the tool. Thus, the bridged portion <NUM> is connected with each branch of the second fork <NUM> by means of a bend <NUM> that brings the same second fork to a more internal plane with respect to the fork <NUM> engaging with the blocking element <NUM> of the first portion of the tool (<FIG>).

From what has been described and shown above, particularly in <FIG>, it is evident that between the first fork <NUM> and the second fork <NUM> is formed a space <NUM> that allows the tool to engage the wire W to insert it into the notch <NUM> described above, as explained in detail below.

In addition, each branch of the second fork <NUM> has an edge <NUM> defining a space <NUM> comprising in sequence a first portion <NUM> bent outwardly with respect to the space, a second portion <NUM> lying on the plane of said branch and is inclined away from said bridged portion <NUM>, a third portion <NUM> bent again outwardly of the space, and preferably toward the handle <NUM>, and a fourth portion <NUM> bent toward the rotating pin <NUM>. In practice, the third <NUM> portion and the fourth <NUM> portion of the edge form a side wing protruding outwardly located at the protrusion <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> of each branch of the fork <NUM> of the first portion <NUM> of the tool, and below said protrusion when the forks of each portion are turned toward the ground. Moreover, in the space between said wings is fixed a stop element <NUM> for abutting against the rod R, as will be explained below.

The second portion <NUM> of the tool can comprise an extension 4A being one piece with the first <NUM> and second <NUM> forks that is rectilinear and forms and acute angle with the handle <NUM>. This extension has the function of helping to maintain the vertical position of the tool in the movement made toward the rod. In fact, with the palm of the hand pressing against the handle <NUM> and with the four fingers of the hand open and resting on the extension 4A it is possible to give more stability to the operation of inserting the blocking element.

An elastic element <NUM> (<FIG>) is mounted on the pin <NUM> between the two branches of the centring fork <NUM> of the first portion <NUM> for the return to the rest position of the two portions <NUM> and <NUM>, as explained below.

With reference to <FIG>, will now be described the operation of the tool <NUM>.

Firstly, the clip or blocking element C, as described for example in the Patent <CIT>, is fitted onto the rod R in a completely conventional manner, that is, with its saddle portion C1 surrounding the rod and the two rounded ends C2 of the ends of the saddle (only one is shown in <FIG>) resting on the wire W arranged horizontally crosswise on one side of the rod. In this position, the two arms C3 of the clip are turned on the opposite side of the rod with respect to the one of the saddle portion and with the respective rounded ends C4 crossing and overlying each other.

The tool <NUM> is now moved near the rod from the protruding side of the arms C3 (<FIG>) so that the space <NUM> of the centring fork <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>, and consequently also of the first fork <NUM> of the second portion <NUM>, receives the rod above the blocking element C. With said automatic centring on the rod, it is sufficient to lower the tool so as to set the notch <NUM> of the first fork <NUM> on the wire W (<FIG>). At the same time, the blocking element C is received in said space <NUM>.

Following a first downward rotation of the tool with respect to said wire W, the second portion <NUM> of the edge <NUM> of each second fork <NUM> is inserted between the two arms C3 of the blocking element C (<FIG>). Continuing the rotation, said arms abut first against the first portion <NUM> of the edge and then they are pushed to spread apart from said third portion <NUM> that extends away from the rod (<FIG>). It should be noted that near the two rounded ends C2 of the blocking element C, the first portion <NUM> of the edge <NUM> provides a further stop point to avoid yield stresses along said arms.

In other words, the first portion <NUM> of the edge <NUM> favors the initial contact with the arms C3 and facilitates the movement of the same arms toward the rod R, while the third portion <NUM> straddles them (<FIG>). It should be noted that the fourth portion <NUM> of the edge <NUM> is a safety bend that avoids the accidental disengagement of the arms C3 to the extent they are pushed to spread apart as they could move past the third portion <NUM> and close back behind it.

Continuing to push the tool in a rotation movement, the second fork <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> receives in its space the rod R until the stop element <NUM> abuts against the rod itself and, at the same time, the first fork <NUM> moves past the rod (<FIG>). In this movement, the two rounded ends C4 of the blocking element C are also spread apart and separated but not sufficiently to straddle the rod R and lean against it. The second portion <NUM> therefore cannot continue to rotate on the wire W and, therefore, the stop <NUM> element becomes a sort of travel limit.

Thus, continuing the push on the handgrip <NUM>, the first portion <NUM> rotates on the pin <NUM>, overcoming the spring force of the elastic element <NUM> and, consequently, the centring fork <NUM> for engaging with the rod leaves the engagement with the latter (<FIG>), while the fork <NUM> for engagement with the blocking element C rotates toward the rod so that the edge <NUM> pushing the protrusion <NUM> of the free end <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> of each branch of the fork goes into abutment with the arms C3 of the blocking element C, pushing them to go past the rod R from the same side of the saddle portion C1. At the same time, the two rounded ends C4 are first forced against the rod from the opposite side with respect to the saddle portion C1, undergoing an elastic torsion that causes the arms C3 to spread apart further. Once these ends have moved past the maximum diameter of the rod, the blockage that maintains the ends C4 spread apart is exceeded, and so are also the arms C3, which are free to return elastically to approach each other, favored also by the inclination of the fourth portion <NUM> (<FIG>). The ends C4 can thus cross each other on the rod from the same side of the saddle portion C1, while the arms approach each other again in a position parallel to the side of the rod R (<FIG>).

The tool can now be removed from its resting position on the wire W by simply lifting it because it is completely free from the engagement with the blocking element C.

It is evident from the above description that the tool allows, in an automatic, simple and fast manner the correct and accurate installation of the blocking element without requiring manual operations or the use of devices that however require a certain manual skill and contact with the blocking element on the part of the operator. Moreover, it is constructively very simple, being essentially formed by two portions jointed with two shaped forks.

A further objective of the present invention is then a method for reversibly cross blocking a horizontal metal wire W on a rod of bar through the use of the tool of the present invention.

In other words, the method requires the use of the tool according to the present invention to install a blocking element for a horizontal wire on a rod for plants driven vertically into the ground.

A further objective of the invention consists of a method for building a support grid for rows of plants comprising the steps of:.

Preferably, the method comprises additional steps of building the grid like the ones described in the introductory part of the present description, that is, for example driving into the ground head poles on which to fasten the ends of said metal wires, laying out a plurality of movable wires to support the growing vegetative part of the plant, applying elastic compensation devices for the movable wires, and other known steps.

From what has been described above, it can be seen that the drawbacks of the prior art connected with the methods of blocking the wires on the rods have been overcome and at the same time important advantages have been achieved.

In fact the tool makes it possible to avoid acting manually on the blocking element and thus subjecting the operator to fatiguing strains.

In addition, it is no longer necessary to resort to fine manual operations in the installation because the operations are practically automated.

The serious drawback of the danger of wearing out the blocking element is also prevented thanks to controlled and correctly calibrated operations.

The tool is constructively simple to make, with the great advantage of having few pieces that interact with movements subject to low wear-out. Therefore, the duration of the tool is guaranteed against wear, as is the facility and economy of production.

Many variants of the blocking elements according to the present invention can be achieved by a technician skilled in the field, without however departing from the scope of protection of the enclosed claims.

For example, the shapes of each component shown in the figures can vary according to particular requirements or preferences without affecting their functionalities as previously described.

Claim 1:
Tool (<NUM>) for fastening an element (C) adapted to reversibly block a horizontal wire (W) onto a rod (R) for plants, said rod being vertically stuck into the ground, comprising a command handle (<NUM>) extending along a rectilinear axis (X-X), a first portion (<NUM>) being one piece with said handle and a second portion (<NUM>) hinged onto said first portion by means of a rotating pin (<NUM>), wherein said first portion (<NUM>) and said second portion (<NUM>) delimit a space (<NUM>) for receiving said rod (R) and said blocking element (C), said first portion (<NUM>) comprising a fork (<NUM>) for pushing arms (C3) of said blocking element (C) and said second portion (<NUM>) comprising a first fork (<NUM>) for centring the rod (R) and for engaging in rotation with said wire (W), said first fork being rotatable fixed outwardly to said first portion (<NUM>) characterised in that a second fork (<NUM>) for partially diverging said arms (C3), which second fork is rotatable fixed internally to said fork (<NUM>) for pushing of said first portion (<NUM>).