# US 4,395,844 A · Device to support flexible netting used to protect plants from damage by animals and adverse environmental conditions

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- Number: US 4,395,844 A
- Document ID: US4395844A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/307,346
- Filed: 1981-09-30
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1981-09-30
- Assignees: Fortech
- Inventors: Tom Jopson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395844A

## CPC

- A01G 13/28: protecting young plants
- A01G 13/10: Devices for affording protection against animals, birds or other pests (scaring or repelling devices A01M29/00)
- 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

A device to support flexible netting used to protect plants, especially seedlings, from browsing wildlife which comprises a metal or plastic wicket having two legs which are inserted in the ground and which is shaped to define a space within which the plant is shielded by the netting when the netting is disposed around and supported by the wicket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Means for protecting a growing plant from damage by browsing animals and rodents which comprises:
a wicket having two legs adapted to be inserted into the ground on opposite sides of the plant to be protected and having a cross bar connecting said two legs, each of said legs consisting of a straight vertical portion with a free and adapted to be inserted vertically into the ground and an inclined portion extending between said cross piece and said vertical portion and formed by bending the legs between their free end and the cross piece, said legs being spaced a sufficient distance from one another to define, with said crosspiece a growth space which permits unimpeded growth of the plant;
a tube of flexible plastic netting pulled down around said wicket and having its lower end at the level of the ground and extending upwardly a sufficient height above the bent portion of said wicket to afford protection to the leader of said growing plant whereby the growing plant is protected by the lower end of said netting from damage by rodents and from damage by browsing animals by the upwardly extending netting;
said wicket serving to maintain said net with a tubular shape to permit said leader to grow freely.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The means of claim 1 wherein the lowermost portion of the tube of plastic netting is buried in the ground at its lower end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 wherein the two legs are of equal length.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 wherein the two legs are of unequal length.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 including attachment means on said support for securing said netting to said support.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The support of claim 5 wherein the attachment means are integral with said support.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The support of claim 5 wherein the attachment means comprise at least one clip secured to said support.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 formed of metal rod.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 formed of synthetic resin.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The support of claim 1 wherein the legs are bent to form an acute angle.