# US 10,765,071 B2 · Enclosing vegetative sheath

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- Number: US 10,765,071 B2
- Document ID: US10765071B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/712,205
- Filed: 2017-09-22
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-29
- Assignees: Mariplast North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Mariplast North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Francesco Bottari
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765071B2

## CPC

- A01G 13/27: protecting specific parts of plants, e.g. roots, trunks or fruits
- A01G 13/105: {Protective devices against slugs, snails, crawling insects or other climbing animals}
- A01G 13/28: protecting young plants
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)

## Abstract

An enclosing plant sheath for encircling and protecting a plant stem or vine, which may be joined with other similar sheaths, to create a beneficial microenvironment for developing plants.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A protective sheath comprising:
an enclosing body capable of being repeatedly opened and closed;
at least one locking tab defined on the enclosing body;
at least one locking slot, defined within the enclosing body, that accommodates the locking tab;
at least one flexible hinge defined in the enclosing body;
at least one engagement nib formed on the enclosing body;
at least one engagement orifice, defined in the enclosing body, that accommodates the at least one engagement nib; and
wherein the enclosing body closes to define an interior diameter and forms a column shape with opposing first open aperture and second open aperture located at both ends of the enclosing body, wherein first open aperture also forms a recessed, substantially circular securement ridge on an exterior of the first open aperture for engagement with the second open aperture of a second protective sheath.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath opens to form a flat configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein there are at least two flexible hinges.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein the engagement nib comprises at least one angled face.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein the engagement orifice is non parallel to an end of the protective sheath.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein a first sheath vertically engages with a second sheath via the at least one engagement nib of the first sheath and the at least one engagement orifice of the second sheath in association with the securement ridge supporting the uppermost sheath of the vertically engaged sheaths.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein the internal diameter defined by the enclosing body expands or contracts and locks in the expanded or contracted position via the at least one locking tab engaging different locking slots defined within the enclosing body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein a first sheath laterally engages to a second sheath via the at least one locking slot of the first sheath engaging with the at least one locking tab of the second sheath.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein voids are defined within the enclosing body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The protective sheath of claim 9, wherein potions of the voids are at least partially filled.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The protective sheath of claim 1, wherein the enclosing body comprises at least two body segments.

### Claim 12

A microenvironment container comprising:
an encompassing body having an adjustable internal diameter, wherein the encompassing body forms a column shape with opposing first open aperture and second open aperture located at both ends of the encompassing body, wherein first open aperture also forms a recessed, substantially circular securement ridge on an exterior of the first open aperture for engagement with the second open aperture of a second encompassing body;
at least one locking prong defined on the encompassing body;
at least one locking trench, defined within the encompassing body, that accommodates the locking prong;
at least two flexible hinges defined in the encompassing body;
at least one extension prong formed on the encompassing body; and
at least one extension orifice, defined in the encompassing body, that accommodates the at least one extension prong.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein the encompassing body opens to form a substantially flat configuration.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein the extension prong comprises at least one face that forms an obtuse angle with an exterior of the encompassing body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein engagement orifice is located adjacent an end of the encompassing body and is non parallel to the end of the encompassing body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein a first encompassing body vertically engages a second encompassing body via the at least one extension prong of the first encompassing body and the at least one extension trench of the second sheath.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein the internal diameter defined by the encompassing body expands or contracts and disengagingly locks in an expanded or contracted position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein a first enclosing body laterally affixes to a second enclosing body via the at least one locking prong of the first sheath engaging with the at least one locking orifice of the second sheath.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein depressions are defined within the encompassing body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The microenvironment container of claim 19, wherein potions of the depressions are at least partially open.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The microenvironment container of claim 12, wherein the encompassing body comprises at least three body segments.

### Claim 22

An adjustable containment barrier comprising:
at least one nib and at least one orifice for vertical extension of the containment barrier;
at least one slot and at least one tab for lateral extension of the containment barrier;
a recessed, substantially circular securement ridge for accommodating vertical extension;
at least two flexible hinges formed in the containment barrier; and
wherein the containment barrier forms an adjustable internal diameter, wherein the adjustable containment barrier locks into place to define at least two different internal diameters; and
the adjustable containment barrier forms a column shape with opposing first open aperture and second open aperture located at both ends of the adjustable containment barrier, wherein first open aperture also forms the securement ridge on an exterior of the first open aperture for engagement with the second open aperture of a second adjustable containment barrier.