# US 2019/0376644 A1 · Apparatus and methods for attaching objects to trees > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376644 A1 - Document ID: US20190376644A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/519,826 - Filed: 2019-07-23 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-21 - Assignees: Thomas J. Edgington - Inventors: Thomas J. Edgington; Bradley T. Edgington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376644A1 ## CPC - F16M 13/022: {repositionable} - A01G 13/00: Protection of plants (greenhouses A01G9/14) - A01G 17/12: Tree-bands - B42F 5/00: Sheets and objects temporarily attached together; Means therefor; Albums (bookbinding aspects of albums B42D1/08; advertising or display aspects G09) - F16B 2/02: Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening - F16B 2/08: using bands - F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)} - G09F 7/18: Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure - G01B 5/0035: {Measuring of dimensions of trees} - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - 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) - B42F: SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING (reading desks A47B19/00; book rests A47B23/00) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract Devices and methods for attaching objects to living trees. Various forms of the devices employ a flexible member and mounting member that are configured to be looped and secured around a tree portion at a beginning of a predetermined time period. The mounting member and flexible member are configured to slide relative to each other to accommodate growth of the tree portion such that the device remains secured to the tree portion for at least the duration of the predetermined period of time without the need for human intervention. In other embodiments, the mounting member is integrally formed with the object or no mounting member is employed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for securing an object to a portion of a living tree, said apparatus comprising: a cable including a first end and a second end and a length that is greater than an expected circumference of the tree portion at an end of a predetermined period of time; a mounting member having a first portion secured to said first end of said cable, said mounting member further having an opening therethrough that is dimensioned to receive said second end of said cable therethrough after the cable has been wrapped around a portion of the tree portion; and at least one friction generating member configured to be secured in a sliding frictional engagement onto a portion of said cable extending beyond said opening in said mounting member to cinch the cable around the tree portion, said at least one friction generating member dimensioned so as to interact with said mounting member as the tree portion expands to thereby permit said cable portion to frictionally slip relative to said friction generating member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one friction generating member is configured relative to said opening in said mounting member such that said at least one friction generating member is unable to pass through said opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting member defines a receiving area and wherein said at least one friction generating member is sized to be seated in the receiving area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting member comprises a portion of the object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting member is configured to support the object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hanger member supportable on at least one of said mounting member and said cable and wherein the hanger member is configured to support the object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the object is attachable to the hanger member with a fastener arrangement selected from the group of fastener arrangements consisting of screws, bolts, adhesive, clamps, paper fastener brads, and double-sided tape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one friction generating member comprises at least one ferrule. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of said at least one friction generating members comprises: a disc-like body; and a friction hole through said disc-like body, said friction hole sized relative to said cable portion to establish said sliding frictional engagement therewith as said cable portion extends therethrough. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an access slot extending from an outer perimeter of said disc-like body to said friction hole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said mounting member includes a cup-like body portion that includes a tapered annular wall that defines said receiving area and wherein an outer edge of the disc-like body of said friction generating member is formed at a taper. ### Claim 12 Apparatus for securing an object to a portion of a living tree at a fixed elevation, said apparatus comprising: a cable including a first end and a second end and a length that is greater than an expected circumference of the tree portion at an end of a predetermined period of time; a mounting member secured to said first end of said cable; a friction generating hole through said mounting member sized to receive therein a portion of said cable therethrough in sliding frictional engagement, said friction generating hole defining a hole axis; and an access slot extending from an outer perimeter of said mounting member to said friction generating hole along a slot axis that is substantially transverse to said hole axis to enable the cable portion to be inserted into said friction-generating hole in said frictional sliding engagement therewith to cinch the cable to the tree portion such that as the tree portion expands, the cable is configured to frictionally slide through said friction generating hole while remaining cinched to the tree portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the access slot has a first width at the outer perimeter of the mounting member and a second width wherein the access slot meets the friction generating hole and wherein the second width is less than the first width. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second width is less than a diameter of the friction generating hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the friction generating hole extends through the mounting member at an acute angle relative to at least one outer surface of the mounting member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the access slot has opposing teeth formed on each side thereof. ### Claim 17 Apparatus for securing an object to a portion of a growing tree for at least an expected period of time, said apparatus comprising: a flexible member having a length that is greater than an expected circumference of the tree portion at an end of the expected period of time; and a mounting member configured to movably engage a first portion of said flexible member and a second portion of said flexible member such that when said first and second portions of said flexible member are extended around the tree portion in opposite directions and brought into sliding frictional engagement with the mounting member, the apparatus is secured to the tree portion and said first and second portions of said flexible member can move relative to the mounting member without human intervention as the tree portion expands to enable the flexible member and mounting member to continue to be secured to the tree portion for at least the expected period of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising at least one hanger member supported on said flexible member and being configured to support the object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said object is attached to said hanger member by a fastener arrangement selected from the group of fastener arrangements consisting of screws, bolts, adhesive, clamps and double-sided tape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mounting member comprises at least a portion of the object.