# US 11,997,955 B2 · Agricultural clip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,997,955 B2 - Document ID: US11997955B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/961,678 - Filed: 2022-10-07 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-07 - Assignees: Kubota Corporation - Applicants: Kubota Corporation - Inventors: Roatchanatam Anattasakul; Pius Ng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11997955B2 ## CPC - A01G 17/08: Tools {e.g. clips} for attaching hops, vines, or boughs to trellis-work; Tying devices - A01G 9/128: {Fixing of plants to supports, e.g. by means of clips (tying devices in trellis-work A01G17/08)} - 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 agricultural clip includes a base portion, a left arm portion attached to the base portion, a right arm portion attached to the base portion, and a curved protrusion. The left arm portion and the right arm portion define a clip receiving space to receive the agricultural item of interest and the support structure, and the curved protrusion includes a first end attached to one of the left arm portion and the right arm portion, and a second end which is a free end that protrudes into the clip receiving space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An agricultural clip for fastening or attaching an agricultural item of interest to a support structure, the agricultural clip comprising: a base portion; a left arm portion attached to the base portion; a right arm portion attached to the base portion; and a curved protrusion; wherein the left arm portion and the right arm portion define a clip receiving space to receive the agricultural item of interest and the support structure; the curved protrusion includes a first end attached to one of the left arm portion and the right arm portion, and a second end which is a free end that protrudes into the clip receiving space; the left arm portion includes a first left portion and a second left portion connected to the first left portion by a left tapered portion; the right arm portion includes a first right portion and a second right portion connected to the first right portion by a right tapered portion; the first left portion is curved, includes a flat outer surface, and is connected to the base portion by a left connection portion; the first right portion is curved, includes a flat outer surface, and is connected to the base portion by a right connection portion; the left connection portion defines a first curved recess; the right connection portion defines a second curved recess; the first left portion includes a first middle portion located between the left connection portion and the left tapered portion, the first middle portion is thinner than a rear portion of the first left portion which is located closer to the left connection portion than to the left tapered portion, and is thinner than a forward portion of the first left portion which is located closer to the left tapered portion than to the left connection portion; and the first right portion includes a second middle portion located between the right connection portion and the right tapered portion, the second middle portion is thinner than a rear portion of the first right portion which is located closer to the right connection portion than to the right tapered portion, and is thinner than a forward portion of the first right portion which is located closer to the right tapered portion than to the right connection portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The agricultural clip according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is rectangularly shaped and includes a rear wall surface, a front wall surface, a left wall surface, and a right wall surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The agricultural clip according to claim 1, wherein the second left portion includes a first end attached to the left tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; the second left portion extends diagonally outward from the first end of the second left portion towards the second end of the second left portion; the second right portion includes a first end attached to the right tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; and the second right portion extends diagonally outward from the first end of the second right portion towards the second end of the second right portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The agricultural clip according to claim 3, wherein the second end of the second left portion includes a flat outer surface; and the second end of the second right portion includes a flat outer surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The agricultural clip according to claim 1, wherein the left arm portion includes a left protrusion attached to the first left portion; the left protrusion includes a first base attached to the first left portion and a main body that extends inwardly, towards the clip receiving space, from the first base to a tip of the left protrusion; the right arm portion includes a right protrusion attached to the first right portion; the right protrusion includes a second base attached to the first right portion and a main body that extends inwardly, towards the clip receiving space, from the second base to a tip of the right protrusion; and a space located between the tip of the left protrusion and the tip of the right protrusion defines an opening of the clip receiving space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The agricultural clip according to claim 5, wherein the left arm portion and the right arm portion define the clip receiving space such that movement of the clip towards the agricultural item of interest and the support structure pushes the agricultural item of interest and the support structure through the space located between the tip of the left protrusion and the tip of the right protrusion and into the clip receiving space. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The agricultural clip according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the curved protrusion is attached to the first left portion at a position located closer to the left tapered portion than to the left connection portion, or is attached to the first right portion at a position located closer to the right tapered portion than to the right connection portion. ### Claim 8 An agricultural clip for fastening or attaching an agricultural item of interest to a support structure, the agricultural clip comprising: a base portion; a left arm portion attached to the base portion; a right arm portion attached to the base portion; and a curved protrusion; wherein the left arm portion and the right arm portion define a clip receiving space to receive the agricultural item of interest and the support structure; the curved protrusion includes a first end attached to one of the left arm portion and the right arm portion, and a second end which is a free end that protrudes into the clip receiving space; the left arm portion includes a first left portion and a second left portion connected to the first left portion by a left tapered portion; the right arm portion includes a first right portion and a second right portion connected to the first right portion by a right tapered portion; the first left portion is curved and is connected to the base portion by a left connection portion; the first right portion is curved and is connected to the base portion by a right connection portion; and the first end of the curved protrusion is attached to the first left portion at a position located closer to the left connection portion than to the left tapered portion, or is attached to the first right portion at a position located closer to the right connection portion than to the right tapered portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The agricultural clip according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the curved protrusion protrudes into the clip receiving space such that the curved protrusion is flexible and able to bend when the agricultural item of interest grows. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The agricultural clip according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is rectangularly shaped and includes a rear wall surface, a front wall surface, a left wall surface, and a right wall surface; the second left portion includes a first end attached to the left tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; the second end of the second left portion includes a flat outer surface; the left wall surface of the base portion, the flat outer surface of the first left portion, and the flat outer surface of the second end of the second left portion are coplanar; the second right portion includes a first end attached to the right tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; the second end of the second right portion includes a flat outer surface; and the right wall surface of the base portion, the flat outer surface of the first right portion, and the flat outer surface of the second end of the second right portion are coplanar. ### Claim 11 An agricultural clip for fastening or attaching an agricultural item of interest to a support structure, the agricultural clip comprising: a base portion; a left arm portion attached to the base portion; and a right arm portion attached to the base portion; wherein the left arm portion and the right arm portion define a clip receiving space to receive the agricultural item of interest and the support structure; the left arm portion includes a first left portion and a second left portion connected to the first left portion by a left tapered portion; the right arm portion includes a first right portion and a second right portion connected to the first right portion by a right tapered portion; the first left portion is curved, includes a flat outer surface, and is connected to the base portion by a left connection portion; the first right portion is curved, includes a flat outer surface, and is connected to the base portion by a right connection portion; the left connection portion defines a first curved recess; the right connection portion defines a second curved recess; the first left portion includes a first middle portion located between the left connection portion and the left tapered portion, the first middle portion is thinner than a rear portion of the first left portion which is located closer to the left connection portion than to the left tapered portion, and is thinner than a forward portion of the first left portion which is located closer to the left tapered portion than to the left connection portion; and the first right portion includes a second middle portion located between the right connection portion and the right tapered portion, the second middle portion is thinner than a rear portion of the first right portion which is located closer to the right connection portion than to the right tapered portion, and is thinner than a forward portion of the first right portion which is located closer to the right tapered portion than to the right connection portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The agricultural clip according to claim 11, wherein the second left portion includes a first end attached to the left tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; the second left portion extends diagonally outward from the first end of the second left portion towards the second end of the second left portion; the second right portion includes a first end attached to the right tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; and the second right portion extends diagonally outward from the first end of the second right portion towards the second end of the second right portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The agricultural clip according to claim 11, wherein the left arm portion includes a left protrusion attached to the first left portion; the left protrusion includes a first base attached to the first left portion and a main body that extends inwardly, towards the clip receiving space, from the first base to a tip of the left protrusion; the right arm portion includes a right protrusion attached to the first right portion; the right protrusion includes a second base attached to the first right portion and a main body that extends inwardly, towards the clip receiving space, from the second base to a tip of the right protrusion; and a space located between the tip of the left protrusion and the tip of the right protrusion defines an opening of the clip receiving space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The agricultural clip according to claim 11, wherein the base portion is rectangularly shaped and includes a rear wall surface, a front wall surface, a left wall surface, and a right wall surface; the second left portion includes a first end attached to the left tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; the second end of the second left portion includes a flat outer surface; the left wall surface of the base portion, the flat outer surface of the first left portion, and the flat outer surface of the second end of the second left portion are coplanar; the second right portion includes a first end attached to the right tapered portion and a second end which is a free end; the second end of the second right portion includes a flat outer surface; and the right wall surface of the base portion, the flat outer surface of the first right portion, and the flat outer surface of the second end of the second right portion are coplanar.