A Clip

Abstract

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Description

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a clip, for example for use in retaining a plant supporting wire to a stake in horticulture. BACKGROUND In the context of horticulture, support posts, eg stakes, are often used to support plants, to encourage vertical growth and to prevent wind damage, etc. When it comes to vineyards, vine wires are often suspended between large ground engaging posts and kept in horizontal spaced parallel relationship by smaller non-ground engaging stakes between the posts. The wires extend in horizontal parallel lines to support the vines as they grow while also maximising exposure to sunlight and air circulation. A problem with many existing wire clips is that they can be labour intensive to install or do not provide for easy removal when desired. OBJECT It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to address the above problem. While this applies to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the object of the invention in its broadest form is simply to provide a useful choice. Therefore, any object or benefit applicable to a preferred embodiment should not be seen as a limitation on claims expressed without reference to it. DEFINITIONS The term “comprises” or “has”, if and when used in this document in relation to one or more features, should not be seen as excluding the option of there being additional unmentioned features. The same applies to derivative terms such as “comprising” and “having”. The term “approximately” or “about” when used in relation to a numerical value means up to ±5% or up to ±10% of that value. 2026206093   25 Sep 2026 The term “loop” when used in this document should not be seen as limited to only closed shapes. It also includes open loops, for example a ring where there is a break in its perimeter to enable a thread to pass into the centre of the loop from its side. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Clip when Installed According to a first aspect, the invention is a clip comprising: • a closed fastener loop engaged with a stake or post such that the stake or post passes through the fastener loop; • a tail engaged with the stake or post below the fastener loop; and • a retainer loop which extends between the fastener loop and a distal end of the tail, and which has a perimeter opening such that the retainer loop is not closed; wherein the clip is arranged such that spring tension between the tail and the fastener loop serves to hold the clip in an elevated position along the stake or post, such that the perimeter opening of the retainer loop faces upwards, and a horticultural thread is located in the retainer loop and can subsequently be removed via the perimeter opening. Optionally the fastener loop is tilted with respect to the stake or post such that the fastener loop is wedged against the stake or post. Optionally the spring tension urges the tail against the stake or post. Optionally the fastener loop is coiled. Optionally the fastener loop comprises at least two coils. Optionally the clip has a shoulder extending between the fastener loop and the retainer loop. Optionally the shoulder extends outwardly from the stake or post. 2026206093   25 Sep 2026 Optionally the tail has a hooked end. Optionally the clip is formed from a single length of wire. Optionally the clip has a closed retainer loop between the tail and the stake or post, and the horticultural thread is retained in the closed retainer loop rather than in the open retainer loop. Clip Regardless of Whether it is Installed According to a further aspect of the invention clip comprising: • a closed fastener loop adapted to loop around stake or post when in use; • a tail adapted to be simultaneously engaged around the stake or post below the fastener loop; and • a retainer loop which extends between the fastener loop and a distal end of the tail, and which has a perimeter opening such that the retainer loop is not closed; wherein the fastener loop is adapted to be engaged with the stake or post such that the clip provides spring tension between the tail and the fastener loop to cause the clip to be secured along the stake or post, and so that the perimeter opening of the retainer loop faces upwards and the retainer loop is able to releasably receive a horticultural thread via the opening by downward movement of the thread through the perimeter opening. Optionally the fastener loop is coiled. Optionally the fastener loop comprises at least two coils. Optionally the clip has a shoulder extending between the fastener loop and the retainer loop. Optionally the tail has a hooked end. 2026206093   25 Sep 2026 Optionally the hook is formed from a single length of wire. Clip with Multiple Retainer Loops According to a further aspect, the invention is a clip comprising: • a closed fastener loop engaged with a stake or post such that the stake or post passes through the fastener loop; and • a tail engaged with the stake or post below the fastener loop to provide: o an open retainer loop having a perimeter opening; and o a closed retainer loop; arranged such that spring tension between the tail and the fastener loop serves to hold the clip in an elevated position along the stake or post, and wherein a horticultural thread can be located in any one of the retainer loops and is located in one of them. Any one or more of the options mentioned for the other aspects of the invention may be applied to this aspect equally, to the extent that they are not contradictory. DRAWINGS Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 illustrates a vineyard trellis showing vine wires held in vertical alignment with vertical stakes between the posts to help maintain the wires uniformly spaced; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a clip used to hold the wires to the stakes; Figure 3 is an isometric view of the clip; Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the clip; Figure 5 is a plan view of the clip; Figures 6-9 illustrate a sequence of steps for securing the clip to one of the stakes; Figure 10 is an isometric view of the clip when fitted to a stake; 2026206093   25 Sep 2026 Figure 11 is an alternative isometric view showing the same clip when fitted to the stake; and Figure 12 is an isometric view of the clip illustrating an alternative way of engaging it with a vine wire. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figure 1 the vineyard comprises lines of ground engaging posts 1, suspended stakes 2, and an array of horizontal vine wires 3 strung along them. The wires are held against the stakes by way of removable clips 4. The arrangement is such that the posts 1 take the weight of the wires and the stakes serve to maintain the wires in spaced parallel relationship. Grape plants growing up from ground level can be fastened to the wires and / or stakes and in that way trained to grow upwards and outwards as desired. Figures 2 - 5 show one of the clips 4 before it is engaged with a corresponding stake. It comprises a fastener loop 5 of sufficient size to enable the stake to pass through its eye with reasonably minimal clearance. In this embodiment the fastener loop 5 comprises a spring-like spiral having about two turns. The clip also has a tail 6 extending outwards and downwards from the loop 5. As shown, the tail 6 incorporates a shoulder 7 and a retainer loop 8 with an upwardly facing opening 9. The arrangement is such that the retainer loop 8 can releasably receive and retain one of the vine wires in a horizontal position. After the retainer loop 8, the tail continues downwards and is curved to provide a lower hook 10. In the embodiment shown, the hook 10 comprises two right-angle bends, but as will be appreciated, it may be modified to have an alternative shape. Referring to Figure 5, the end 11 of the hook 10 curves back on itself so as not to present a hazard. The manner of fitting the clip to a stake is as follows. Firstly, and referring to Figure 6, the eye of the clip’s fastener loop 5 is engaged with the stake 2. In other words, the stake passes through the fastener loop. Now referring to Figure 7, the clip 4 is then tilted downwards by hand force (clockwise in the drawing). This causes a degree of spring tension (eg a return or spring back bias force) to build at or adjacent the fastener loop 5, which for the time being is 2026206093   25 Sep 2026 overcome by the hand force. As shown, the tilting also causes the fastener loop to angle downwards to wedge against the stake, which prevents the clip from sliding out of position along the stake. Referring to Figure 8, the tilting motion by hand force is continued, with a slight sideways component (into the page), until the clip’s hook moves past the stake to a position behind it. At this point the degree of spring tension has increased to a substantial level. The hook is then pulled towards and around the stake (ie out of the page in the drawing, and then to the right) and released. As shown in Figure 9, this results in the spring tension pulling the hook 10 against and around the stake so that the clip is firmly secured by that spring tension and friction. As will be appreciated, the reference to the hook being pulled around the stake does not mean necessarily mean it extends completely around it. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the clip 4 when fastened to the stake as above, but from different perspectives. With the clip secured in this way, one of the vine support wires is located in the retainer loop to help keep it horizontal and uniformly spaced from other such wires, ie above and below it. The clip 4 can be released from the stake by, for example, by removing the wire from the retainer loop 8 and pressing on the looped end of the hook 11 (which provides a button of sorts) to counter the spring force and reverse-tilt the clip, so that the hook 10 is freed from the stake. This reverse-tilting also means that the fastener loop is no longer wedged against the stake and the clip can then be slid along and off the stake. Referring to Figure 12, in some applications of the invention, the horizontal vine wire (in this case 3a) may be located in a loop created between the clip’s 4 shoulder 7, the retainer loop 9 and the stake 2. Or, optionally, the horizontal vine wire (in this case 3b) may be located in a loop created between the retainer loop 9, the part of the tail 6 that extends from there down to the stake 2, and the stake itself. In either case the wire 3a, 3b is not free to be released from the clip via a permanent opening as at 9. The clip therefore allows a freely releasable engagement with the vine wire 3a where the hook 11 does not have to be unhooked to free the wire, or optionally an engagement with the vine wire 3b where the hook 11 first has to be unhooked from the stake to free the wire. Optionally the engagement of the clip 3 with the stake 2 is such 2026206093   25 Sep 2026 that when installed, a lower portion 8a of the retainer loop 8 may permanently press against the stake. Alternatively, or additionally, a lower portion 6a of the tail presses against the stake. This helps to close one or both loops described above for the wires 3a and 3b. Preferably the clip is formed from a single length of spring steel wire. Preferably the wire is approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm thick and approximately 250 mm to approximately 350 mm long before the clip is formed. Preferably the clip is formed by a CNC wire forming / bending machine as its known in the art. Although the clip has been described for use in a wire spacer stake, in other embodiments it way be used in the same way with a more substantial post, for example a ground engaging post. And while the clip has been described in relation to a vineyard, it may be used in the same way for other types of plant, for example kiwifruit, blueberries, raspberries, etc In terms of disclosure, this document envisages and hereby posits any feature mentioned herein in combination with any other feature or features mentioned herein, even if the combination is not claimed. While some forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A clip comprising:• a closed fastener loop engaged with a stake or post such that the stake or post passes through the fastener loop;• a tail engaged with the stake or post below the fastener loop; and• a retainer loop which extends between the fastener loop and a distal end of the tail, and which has a perimeter opening such that the retainer loop is not closed;wherein the clip is arranged such that spring tension between the tail and the fastener loop serves to hold the clip in an elevated position along the stake or post, such that the perimeter opening of the retainer loop faces upwards, and a horticultural thread is located in the retainer loop and can subsequently be removed via the perimeter opening.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the fastener loop is tilted with respect to the stake or post such that the fastener loop is wedged against the stake or post.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring tension urges the tail against the stake or post.

4. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener loop is coiled.

5. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fastener loop comprises at least two coils.

6. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a shoulder extending between the fastener loop and the retainer loop.

7. A clip according to claim 6, wherein the shoulder extends outwardly from the stake or post.

8. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end of the tail is hooked.

9. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims, formed from a single length of spring wire.

10. A clip comprising:• a closed fastener loop adapted to loop around a stake or post;2026206093   25 Sep 2026• a tail adapted to be simultaneously engaged around the stake or post below the fastener loop; and• a retainer loop which extends between the fastener loop and a distal end of the tail, and which has a perimeter opening such that the retainer loop is not closed;wherein the fastener loop is adapted to be engaged with the stake or post such that the stake or post passes through the fastener loop, the clip provides spring tension between the tail and the fastener loop to cause the clip to be secured along the stake or post, and so that the perimeter opening of the retainer loop faces upwards and the retainer loop is able to releasably receive a horticultural thread via the opening by downward movement of the thread through the perimeter opening.

11. A clip according to claim 10, wherein the fastener loop is coiled.

12. A clip according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the fastener loop comprises at least two coils.

13. A clip according to any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising a shoulder extending between thefastener loop and the retainer loop.

14. A clip according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the distal end of the tail is hooked.

15. A clip according to any one of claims 10 to 14, formed from a single length of spring wire.

16. A clip according to any one of claims 1-9, comprising a closed retainer loop between the tail and the stake or post, and wherein the horticultural thread is retained in the closed retainer loop rather than in the open retainer loop.

17. A clip comprising:• a closed fastener loop engaged with stake or post such that the stake or post passes through the fastener loop; and• a tail engaged with the stake or post below the fastener loop to provide:o an open retainer loop having a perimeter opening; ando a closed retainer loop;2026206093   25 Sep 2026arranged such that spring tension between the tail and the fastener loop serves to hold the clip in an elevated position along the stake or post, and a horticultural thread can be located in any one of the retainer loops and is located in one of them.

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