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US 4,254,579 AGranted
Device for supporting and training plants
OwnerRichard Flynninventor
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OwnerRichard Flynninventor
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a device for supporting and training plants and in particular for layering tomato plants. It comprises a longitudinal stem portion formed with an integral hook which is adapted to grip and slide along a support wire which is mounted above and parallel to the plant row, and a spool rotatable about a cylindrical bearing surface of the stem portion. The spool carries a support cord which passes upwardly from the spool, through an aperture in the top of the stem portion and down through the hollow interior of the stem portion to where it is tied to the stem of the tomato plant. When it is desired to layer the plant the stem portion is moved along the wire and simultaneously the spool is rotated to pay out sufficient cord to layer the plant. Rotation of the spool is controlled by means of ribs on a flange of the spool which engage with the horizontal support wire.
A plant layering device comprising a body portion which has a hook portion which is adapted to grip a horizontal support wire mounted above and substantially parallel to a crop row such that the body portion is slidable along the horizontal wire, and in combination therewith a spool which is rotatable about the body portion and which is adapted to carry and pay out a plant support cord as the body portion is moved along the support wire such that the stem of the plant is layered along the plant row, and means responsive to downward pressure on the spool to retard rotation of the spool.
A plant layering device comprising a body portion which has a hook portion which is adapted to grip a horizontal support wire mounted above and substantially parallel to a crop row such that the body portion is slidable along the horizontal wire, and in combination therewith a spool which is rotatable about the body portion and which is adapted to carry and pay out a plant support cord as the body portion is moved along the support wire such that the stem of the plant is layered along the plant row, the body portion having a cylindrical bearing surface which engages within a bore of the spool such that the spool can rotate about the bearing surface, the body portion including a hook portion formed integrally therein, an outer surface of the spool having ribs or other protuberances which in one position of the spool are adapted to engage with the horizontal support wire to retard or prevent rotation of the spool.
A plant layering device comprising a body portion which has a hook portion which is adapted to grip a horizontal support wire mounted above and substantially parallel to a crop row such that the body portion is slidable along the horizontal wire, and in combination therewith a spool which is rotatable about the body portion and which is adapted to carry and pay out a plant support cord as the body portion is moved along the support wire such that the stem of the plant is layered along the plant row, the body portion having a cylindrical bearing surface which engages within a bore of the spool such that the spool can rotate about the bearing surface, the body portion including a hook portion formed integrally therein, the body portion including a handle which is grippable by the hand to facilitate sliding of the device along the support wire, including a second hook by means of which the device can be hung upside down on the support wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.