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US 11,304,383 B2Granted
Plant manipulator
AssigneeStephen J. Akana
InventorStephen Jay Akana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of a plant manipulator is disclosed, which may have a flexible cylindrical member that is bent to hold a plant in a particular configuration to train the plant. The plant manipulator may include a first end and a second end, a long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, a length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, and a slit along the length of the longest edge of the flexible cylindrical member. The plant manipulator may also have a malleable rigid member with a first and second end, a long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, and a length of the long edge of the malleable rigid member. The length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member may be coupled along the length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member.
Claims23
A plant manipulator, comprising:
- a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness, the wall having an exterior side and an interior side, a first end, a second end, a diameter, a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter, the length running along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, a slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall of the flexible cylindrical member wherein the slit is not covered;
- and
- a wire, the wire being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent into the shape, the wire not being hollow;
- wherein the wire is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the wire can be bent by hand, and wherein bending the wire causes the plant manipulator to bend, and as a result of the wire maintaining the shape into which the wire is bent, the wire causes the plant manipulator to stay in a shape into which the plant manipulator is bent;
- wherein the flexible cylindrical member flexes to open at the slit, so as to be capable of accepting a cylindrical portion of a plant, and then automatically reestablishes its original shape, so as to be capable of closing around the cylindrical portion of the plant.
2 more elements
A method for making a plant manipulator, comprising:
- coupling a wire to a flexible cylindrical member, in a direction such that a length of the flexible cylindrical member is parallel to a length of the wire when coupled, the wire being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent into the shape;
- wherein the flexible cylindrical member includes a slit running along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the slit is not covered, wherein the flexible cylindrical member flexes to open at the slit, so as to be capable of accepting a cylindrical portion of a plant, and then automatically reestablishes its original shape, so as to be capable of closing around the cylindrical portion of the plant;
- wherein bending the wire causes the plant manipulator to bend, and as a result of the wire maintaining the shape into which the wire is bent, the wire causes the plant manipulator to stay in a shape into which the plant manipulator is bent.
A plant manipulator, comprising:
- a flexible cylindrical member with a first end and a second end, a long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, a length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, and a slit along the length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member;
- a malleable rigid member with a first and second end, a long edge of the malleable rigid member, and a length of the long edge of the malleable rigid member, the malleable rigid member being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent into the shape;
- wherein the length of the long edge of the malleable rigid member is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member;
- and
- wherein the flexible cylindrical member is a soaker tube having the slit running along a length of the soaker tube;
- wherein as a result of the wire maintaining the shape into which the wire is bent, the wire causes the plant manipulator to stay in a shape into which the plant manipulator is bent.
3 more elements
A plant manipulator, comprising:
- a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness, the wall having an exterior side and an interior side, a first end, a second end, a diameter, a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter, the length running along a length of the plant manipulator when the plant manipulator is not bent, a slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the slit is not covered;
- and
- a wire, the wire being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent in the shape;
- wherein the wire is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the wire can be bent by hand;
- wherein the slit is located a distance from the wire, the distance being measured by an arc on a circumference of the flexible cylindrical member, the arc extending from the slit to a locus where the wire and the flexible cylindrical member are coupled, the arc having an angle being between 0.00001 degrees and 270 degrees;
- wherein as a result of the wire maintaining the shape into which the wire is bent, the wire causes the plant manipulator to stay in a shape into which the plant manipulator is bent.
3 more elements
A plant manipulator, comprising:
- at least one cylinder having at least
- a wall having a thickness and an exterior surface, a first end,
- a second end,
- a diameter,
- a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter,
- a slit running along the length of the cylinder, the slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall, the slit allowing a branch or stem to enter the at least one cylinder;
- and
- a shape maintaining malleable flexible piece of material of sufficient strength appropriate to maintaining a bend of the stem or branch:
- wherein the at least one cylinder is coupled to the shape maintaining malleable flexible material allowing secure attachment of the malleable flexible material to the stem or branch while bent.
6 more elements
A plant manipulator, comprising:
- a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness, the wall having an exterior side and an interior side, a first end, a second end, a diameter, a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter, the length running along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, a slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the slit is not covered;
- and
- a wire, the wire being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent into the shape;
- wherein the wire is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the wire can be bent by hand;
- wherein the slit is located a distance from the wire, the distance being measured by an arc on a circumference of the flexible cylindrical member, the arc extending from the slit to a locus where the wire and the flexible cylindrical member are coupled;
- wherein as a result of the wire maintaining the shape into which the wire is bent, the wire causes the plant manipulator to stay in a shape into which the plant manipulator is bent.
3 more elements
A plant manipulator, comprising:
- a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness, the wall having an exterior side and an interior side, a first end, a second end, a diameter, a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter, the length running along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, a slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the slit is not covered;
- and
- a malleable rigid member, the malleable rigid member being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent into the shape;
- wherein the malleable rigid member is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the malleable rigid member can be bent by hand;
- wherein the slit is located a distance from the malleable rigid member, the distance being measured by an arc on a circumference of the flexible cylindrical member, the arc extending from the slit to a locus where the malleable rigid member and the flexible cylindrical member are coupled;
- wherein as a result of the malleable rigid member maintaining the shape into which the malleable rigid member is bent, the malleable rigid member causes the plant manipulator to stay in a shape into which the plant manipulator is bent.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.