Passion flower vine fixing device and climbing frame

Abstract

The utility model discloses a passionflower vine fixing device and a climbing frame, and belongs to the field of agricultural planting auxiliary tools. The fixing device comprises a body, a pair of clamping arms and a pair of connecting arms. Elastic pre-tightening force which enables the clamping arms to be away from each other is applied to the clamping arms, so that the device has an unfolded state and a folded state. In the unfolded state, the clamping arms keep a large distance so as to contain the stand column. The folding state can be switched by driving the body to rotate relative to the clamping arm, at the moment, the clamping arm overcomes elasticity to fold and clamp the stand column, and the body is parallel to the stand column. The device is further provided with a state maintaining mechanism to maintain the clamping state, and the body is provided with a vine guiding piece. The device is simple and convenient to operate, can be quickly assembled and disassembled through'clamping-rotating ', can be repeatedly used and does not damage vines. The climbing frame comprises at least one stand column and at least one fixing device, and orderly guiding and efficient fixing of vines are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of agricultural planting auxiliary tools, specifically, it is a device for fixing climbing plant vines, and more particularly a passion fruit vine fixing device and climbing frame. Background Technology

[0002] In the genus Passiflora ( Passiflora In the large-scale cultivation of vine crops, in order to guide the orderly growth of vines, improve ventilation and light penetration, facilitate field management, and improve fruit quality, it is usually necessary to build climbing frames (such as fence frames, flat-top frames, etc.) and manually fix the vines to the uprights of the frame.

[0003] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Currently, the most common and traditional method of securing vines is to use flexible materials such as straps, ropes, or strips of cloth to directly tie the vines to posts such as bamboo poles, wooden poles, or metal pipes. Although this method is inexpensive and the materials are readily available, it has significant drawbacks in practice: the binding operation itself is quite cumbersome, usually requiring the worker to hold the vine with one hand while wrapping and knotting it with the other, which is inefficient, especially when a large amount of securing work is needed, resulting in high labor costs; furthermore, the straps themselves are prone to aging and breakage when exposed to the outdoor environment for a long time, and cannot be easily adjusted or reused according to the growth of the vines. Usually, the old straps need to be cut and replaced with new ones, which not only wastes materials but may also cause secondary damage to the vines when removing them.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need in the existing technology for a vine fixing device that can replace the traditional binding method, is easy and quick to operate, and is reusable, in order to improve the efficiency and economy of field management of crops such as passion fruit. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of existing binding methods, such as cumbersome operation, difficulty in adjustment, easy damage to plants, and waste of materials, this utility model provides a passion fruit vine fixing device that is easy to operate, can be quickly installed and disassembled, can self-adaptive clamping, and can be reused, as well as a climbing frame containing the device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the first aspect of the present invention provides a passion fruit vine fixing device, which adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A passion fruit vine fixing device, comprising:

[0008] ontology;

[0009] A pair of clamping arms are used to clamp a column together;

[0010] A pair of connecting arms connect the body to the clamping arm, allowing the clamping arm to move relative to the body;

[0011] The pair of clamping arms are subjected to an elastic preload that causes them to move away from each other;

[0012] The vine fixing device is configured to have an unfolded state and a folded state;

[0013] In the unfolded state, the pair of clamping arms maintain a first distance under the action of elastic pre-tightening force, which is suitable for receiving the column; by driving the relative rotation between the main body and the clamping arms, the vine fixing device can be switched from the unfolded state to the folded state.

[0014] In the folded state, the pair of clamping arms overcome the elastic preload and move closer to each other, with a second gap between them that is smaller than the first gap, to clamp the column, and the extension direction of the body is substantially parallel to the extension direction of the column.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes a state-maintaining mechanism for maintaining the second spacing in the folded state;

[0016] The state maintenance mechanism includes a protrusion disposed on the clamping arm;

[0017] When in the folded state, the protrusion abuts against a first position of the connecting arm or the body to limit the rotation of the clamping arm under the elastic preload; when in the unfolded state, the protrusion abuts against a second position of the connecting arm or the body, the second position being configured to allow the clamping arm to unfold to the first spacing under the elastic preload.

[0018] Furthermore, the elastic preload is provided by an elastic element that acts on the clamping arm, and the direction of its elastic force is parallel to the rotation axis of the clamping arm.

[0019] Furthermore, the pair of connecting arms are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, and the clamping arm is rotatably mounted on the end of the corresponding connecting arm via a pivot.

[0020] Furthermore, the protrusion is disposed on the outer side wall of the clamping arm;

[0021] When in the folded state, the protrusion abuts against the inner wall of the connecting arm;

[0022] When in the unfolded state, the protrusion abuts against the end face of the connecting arm that is away from the body.

[0023] Furthermore, the main body is a vertical plate, with a vine guide on one side for guiding and restraining the vines.

[0024] Furthermore, the vine guide is one of the following: an annular hoop with an opening, a C-shaped clamp, a U-shaped clamp, or a guide hole penetrating the upright plate.

[0025] Furthermore, the main body is also provided with a connecting mechanism for assisting in fixing the relative position of the main body and the column in the folded state; the connecting mechanism is selected from one of the following: buckle, strap hole, Velcro, or friction pad.

[0026] A second aspect of this utility model provides a climbing frame, comprising at least one upright and at least one of the aforementioned vine fixing devices. The vine fixing device is detachably clamped and fixed to the upright via its clamping arms. The upright is made of widely compatible materials, such as bamboo, wood, metal, or plastic poles / tubes, giving the climbing frame system the advantages of low cost and ease of assembly.

[0027] The method of using the vine fixing device of this utility model is as follows:

[0028] Preparation: Position the vine fixing device in the extended position and open the clamping arms.

[0029] Placement: Insert the column between the open clamping arms.

[0030] Locking: The drive body rotates relative to the clamping arm and the column until the device switches to the folded state. During this process, the protrusion changes from abutting against the end face of the connecting arm to abutting against the inner side wall, forcing the clamping arm to overcome the elastic preload and retract to clamp the column, while the body rotates to be parallel to the column.

[0031] Guide the vines: Place the vines to be fixed into the vine guides on the main body.

[0032] Disassembly / Adjustment: When needed, simply rotate the main body in the opposite direction to return the device to the unfolded state. The clamping arms will automatically open, allowing the device to be easily removed from the column for reuse or repositioning.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has achieved the following significant beneficial effects:

[0034] This invention replaces the cumbersome binding with a two-step "clamp-rotate" operation, which can be completed quickly with one hand, greatly saving manpower and time. The combination of elastic pre-tightening force and state maintenance mechanism enables adaptive and reliable clamping of columns of different diameters, with gentle force to avoid damage to the vines or column surface. The device can be disassembled without damage, reused, and adjusted an unlimited number of times, with a long service life, completely avoiding the one-time waste of traditional binding straps. It also has broad requirements for column material and specifications, supporting the construction of climbing frames using low-cost local materials such as bamboo and wood, reducing the overall investment in planting facilities. The integrated vine guide helps the vines grow in an orderly manner, improves the field microclimate, facilitates agricultural operations, and improves crop quality and yield. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a passionflower climbing frame in the background art;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the method of fixing passionflower vines in the background art;

[0037] Figure 3 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the passionflower vine fixing device (in its unfolded state) in Example 1;

[0038] Figure 4 This is the second schematic diagram of the passion fruit vine fixing device (in its unfolded state) in Example 1;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping arm and its associated structure in Example 1;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the (exploded) structure of the clamping arm in Example 1;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting arm and rotating shaft in Example 1;

[0042] Figure 8 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the vine guide in Example 1;

[0043] Figure 9 This is the second schematic diagram of the vine guide in Example 1;

[0044] Figure 10a This is one of the working conditions diagrams for the passion fruit vine fixing device in Example 1;

[0045] Figure 10b This is the second diagram showing the working condition of the passion fruit vine fixing device in Example 1;

[0046] Figure 10c This is the third diagram showing the working conditions of the passion fruit vine fixing device in Example 1;

[0047] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the passion fruit vine fixing device and the column in Example 1;

[0048] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the passion fruit vine fixing device (in its folded state) in Example 2;

[0049] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the climbing frame in the application example;

[0050] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the method of fixing passionflower vines in an application example.

[0051] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0052] 1. Upright plate; 11. Dovetail groove; 2. Clamping arm; 21. Inner sleeve; 22. Outer sleeve; 23. Guide groove; 24. Guide strip; 3. Connecting arm; 31. Positioning groove; 4. Protrusion; 5. Elastic element; 6. Rotating shaft; 61. Limiting block; 62. Butterfly nut; 7. Vines guide; 71. Clamp body; 711. Opening; 712. Triangular baffle; 713. Through-hole; 8. Connecting mechanism; 81. C-type clamp; 82. Flexible strap; 821. Velcro; 83. Mounting block; 100. Upright column; 101. Horizontal connector; 200. Passionflower vine; 300. Binding rope. Detailed Implementation

[0053] The embodiments of this utility model will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Example 1

[0054] A passion fruit vine fixing device, the core of which is to achieve quick clamping and release of the upright 100 through a rotatable and foldable clamping mechanism, and integrate vine guiding function.

[0055] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The device mainly includes a body, a pair of clamping arms 2, a pair of connecting arms 3, and a state maintenance mechanism.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The main body is a vertically arranged plate 1, which serves as the main load-bearing structure of the device. One side of the plate 1 is used to install vine guiding components, and the other side is connected to the clamping arm 2 via a connecting arm 3. A C-shaped clamp is provided on the back of the plate 1, which can be fastened to the column 100 to provide auxiliary positioning.

[0057] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 A pair of connecting arms 3 are parallel and spaced-apart strip-shaped components. One end of each arm is fixedly connected to the upright plate 1, and the other end is rotatably connected to the clamping arm 2 via a pivot 6. This allows the clamping arm 2 to rotate relative to the upright plate 1.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6A pair of clamping arms 2 are key components for directly clamping the column 100. Both clamping arms 2 have sleeve structures at their ends; specifically, one clamping arm 2 has an outer sleeve 22 at its end, and the other clamping arm 2 has an inner sleeve 21 at its end. Their axes coincide and are perpendicular to the length direction of the clamping arms 2. The outer diameter of the inner sleeve 21 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer sleeve 22, and it can be axially slidably inserted into the outer sleeve 22. An elastic element 5, in this embodiment a compression spring, is located inside the cavity of the outer sleeve 22. This compression spring is pre-compressed by the end of the inner sleeve 21, and the resulting elastic restoring force is directed along the axial direction of the inner sleeve 21 / outer sleeve 22, pushing them away from each other. Through this structure, the elastic force is converted into a tensioning tendency that drives the ends of the pair of clamping arms 2 (i.e., the clamping ends) away from each other; this force is the elastic pre-tensioning force that causes the clamping arms 2 to open. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the clamping arm 2 can be set according to the specific material of the column 100. For example, the inner side of the clamping arm 2 can be set as an arc surface with a certain curvature to better clamp and cooperate with the cylindrical column 100. At the same time, friction-enhancing parts or anti-slip coatings can also be provided on the clamping arm 2 as needed.

[0059] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 The rotating shaft 6 structure includes a single rotating shaft 6 that sequentially passes through the connecting arm 3, outer sleeve 22, elastic element 5, and inner sleeve 21 on one side, and finally exits from the connecting arm 3 on the other side. One end of the rotating shaft 6 is equipped with a tapered limiting block 61 to prevent it from dislodging, and the other end is threadedly connected to a wing nut 62. Rotating the wing nut 62 adjusts the flexibility of the clamping arm 2's rotation.

[0060] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 The state maintenance mechanism includes a hemispherical protrusion 4 on the outer wall of the clamping arm 2 and a positioning groove 31 on the corresponding position on the inner wall of the connecting arm 3. The depth of the positioning groove 31 is slightly less than the height of the protrusion 4, so that the protrusion 4 can be pressed into and locked in the positioning groove 31 when folded, providing a sense of positioning and additional resistance.

[0061] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 8 and Figure 9On one side of the upright plate 1 used to guide the vines, a vine guide 7 is provided. This guide can be a C-shaped or U-shaped clamp with a lateral opening 711, which is fixed to the upright plate 1. The opening 711 is designed to facilitate the vines being inserted laterally into the inner cavity of the clamp, while the arc-shaped structure of the clamp can restrain the vines, allowing them to grow orderly along the direction of the upright plate 1 and preventing slippage. In this embodiment, the vine guide 7 is a U-shaped clamp made of elastic material, such as silicone rubber, and includes a clamp body 71 that is U-shaped in shape. The end of the clamp body 71 has an opening 711, and a pair of triangular baffles 712 are provided opposite each other on the inner side wall of the opening 711. The two triangular baffles 712 are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the clamp body 71. Through holes 713 are opened on both sides of the opening 711 to increase the overall deformability of the U-shaped clamp. The end of the clamp body 71 away from the opening 711 is fixedly connected to a mounting block 83 with a trapezoidal cross section by bolts. The side of the upright plate 1 has a dovetail groove 11 for the mounting block 83 to be inserted. In this embodiment, the dovetail groove 11 is a through groove and is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the length of the connecting arm 3. The vine guide 7 can be detachably connected through the cooperation of the mounting block 83 and the dovetail groove 11: First, multiple mounting blocks 83 can be set in the same dovetail groove 11 as needed, i.e., multiple vine guides 7 can be installed; second, the position of the mounting block 83 can be adjusted along the dovetail groove 11 to accommodate the fixing of the vine and reduce damage to the vine; third, if necessary, vine guides 7 of other sizes can be disassembled and replaced to meet the fixing needs of passionflowers of different ages. If necessary, a sealing piece can be installed at the opening of the dovetail groove 11 to prevent the mounting block 83 from detaching from the dovetail groove 11.

[0062] Reference Figure 10a , Figure 10b , Figure 10c and Figure 11 The device has two operating states:

[0063] Deployed State: In this state, the elastic preload keeps the clamping arms 2 open against their own weight and friction, forming a large initial gap between the ends of the two clamping arms 2. This gap is larger than the diameter of the common column 100, allowing the column 100 to be easily inserted between the two arms. At this time, the protrusions 4 on the clamping arms 2 abut against the free end face of the connecting arm 3 away from the main body. This abutment position is designed to allow the clamping arms 2 to fully open to the maximum gap.

[0064] Folded State: When a fixing device is required, the operator holds the upright plate 1 and rotates it relative to the clamping arm 2 and the placed column 100 (usually about 90 degrees). As the upright plate 1 and connecting arm 3 rotate, the inner wall of the connecting arm 3 begins to contact and press against the protrusion 4 on the clamping arm 2. This pressure forces the inner sleeve 21 of the clamping arm 2 to retract inward against the elastic force of the elastic element 5. The inner sleeve 21 and the outer sleeve 22 move closer to each other axially, resulting in the end of the clamping arm 2 retracting inward. This reduces the distance between the ends of the two clamping arms 2 to a smaller second gap, thus tightly holding and clamping the column 100. When the upright plate 1 rotates to be substantially parallel to the extension direction of the column 100, the protrusion 4 is completely abutted and locked by the inner wall of the connecting arm 3, effectively preventing the clamping arm 2 from rebounding under the elastic preload, and the device is stabilized in the folded clamped state. The protrusion 4 engages with the positioning groove 31, which increases the stability of the folded clamped state. Meanwhile, the C-shaped clamp on the back of the upright plate 1 is fastened to the upright column 100, and together with the clamping arm 2, it provides a fixing force to maintain the stability of the folded state.

[0065] Accordingly, the operation steps for guiding and fixing the passion fruit vine 200 using the passion fruit vine fixing device of this embodiment are as follows:

[0066] Preparation and placement: With the device in the extended position, align the extended clamping arm 2 with and insert it into the target column 100.

[0067] Rotation locking: Hold the upright plate 1 and rotate it approximately 90 degrees in one direction. During the rotation, the clamping arm 2 automatically retracts and clamps the upright column 100, while the upright plate 1 rotates to be parallel to the upright column 100, and the device enters the folding locking state.

[0068] Guide the vines: Insert the passionflower vines 200 into the vine guides 7 on the upright plate 1 from the side.

[0069] Disassembly and Adjustment: When it is necessary to move or remove the device, rotate the upright plate 1 in the opposite direction by about 90 degrees. The protrusion 4 is released from the constraint of the inner wall of the connecting arm 3. Under the action of the internal elastic element 5, the clamping arm 2 automatically springs open and returns to the unfolded state, so that the device can be easily removed from the column 100 for reuse or position adjustment. Example 2

[0070] Based on the basic structure of Embodiment 1, this embodiment modifies the connecting mechanism 8 used to assist in fixing the relative position of the upright plate 1 and the column 100 in the folded state. (Refer to...) Figure 12In this embodiment, the C-type clamp 81 structure in Embodiment 1 is replaced with a binding rope 300 fixing mechanism. Specifically, a mounting base is fixed to the back of the upright plate 1, and the middle part of a flexible binding strap 82 is fixed to the mounting base. The two free ends of the binding rope 300 extend out and are respectively provided with mutually cooperating Velcro 821 (hook side and rough side). When the vine fixing device clamps the upright 100 through the clamping arm 2 and is in a folded state, the binding rope 300 can be wrapped around the upright 100, and then the free ends can be pulled back, so that the Velcro 821 on the binding rope 300 stick together, thereby further securing the upright plate 1 to the upright 100. This design enhances the adaptability of the device to uprights 100 with different cross-sectional shapes, and the tightness is adjustable, making it easy to operate. In other embodiments, based on Embodiment 2, the Velcro 821 can also be replaced with snaps, etc., to achieve a similar effect.

[0071] Application example:

[0072] Reference Figure 13 and Figure 14 A climbing trellis system for large-scale passion fruit cultivation is disclosed, integrating the aforementioned vine fixing device. The climbing trellis includes several uprights 100 serving as a support structure, and at least one passion fruit vine fixing device, as described in Embodiment 1 or 2, installed on them. The uprights 100 can be made of materials such as bamboo poles, wooden poles, metal pipes, or plastic poles, depending on the actual situation. In the field, multiple uprights 100 are typically installed in rows and columns, and connected at their tops or at appropriate heights by horizontal connectors 101 such as wires, ropes, or crossbars to form a stable frame (such as a fence or pergola).

[0073] In practice, multiple vine fixing devices can be installed at different heights on a single support post 100, depending on the vine growth. In use, the device is first unfolded and fitted onto the support post 100 at a predetermined height, then the support plate 1 is rotated to lock it in a folded state. Subsequently, the growing vines are guided one by one into the vine guide 7 of each fixing device. As the vines continue to grow upwards, the height of existing fixing devices can be loosened and adjusted at any time, or new fixing devices can be added, thereby achieving continuous and orderly guidance and fixing of the vines, significantly improving field management efficiency and crop growth quality.

[0074] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A device for fixing passionflower vines, characterized in that, include: ontology; A pair of clamping arms (2) are used to jointly clamp a column (100); A pair of connecting arms (3) connect the body and the clamping arm (2), so that the clamping arm (2) can move relative to the body; The pair of clamping arms (2) are subjected to an elastic preload that causes them to move away from each other; The vine fixing device is configured to have an unfolded state and a folded state; In the unfolded state, the pair of clamping arms (2) maintain a first distance under the action of elastic pre-tightening force, which is suitable for receiving the column (100); by driving the body and the clamping arms (2) to rotate relative to each other, the vine fixing device can be switched from the unfolded state to the folded state. In the folded state, the pair of clamping arms (2) overcome the elastic preload and move closer to each other, with a second gap between them that is smaller than the first gap, to clamp the column (100), and the extension direction of the body is substantially parallel to the extension direction of the column (100).

2. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a state-maintaining mechanism for maintaining the second spacing in the folded state; The state maintenance mechanism includes a protrusion (4) disposed on the clamping arm (2); When in the folded state, the protrusion (4) abuts against the first position of the connecting arm (3) or the body to restrict the rotation of the clamping arm (2) under the action of the elastic preload; when in the unfolded state, the protrusion (4) abuts against the second position of the connecting arm (3) or the body, the second position being configured to allow the clamping arm (2) to unfold to the first spacing under the action of the elastic preload.

3. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic preload is provided by an elastic element (5), which acts on the clamping arm (2), and the direction of its elastic force is parallel to the rotation axis of the clamping arm (2).

4. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The pair of connecting arms (3) are parallel to each other and spaced apart, and the clamping arm (2) is rotatably mounted on the end of the corresponding connecting arm (3) via a pivot (6).

5. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The protrusion (4) is provided on the outer side wall of the clamping arm (2); When in the folded state, the protrusion (4) abuts against the inner wall of the connecting arm (3); When in the unfolded state, the protrusion (4) abuts against the end face of the connecting arm (3) away from the body.

6. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main body is a vertical plate (1), and a vine guide (7) is provided on one side for guiding and restraining the vines.

7. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The vine guide (7) is one of the following: an annular hoop with an opening (711), a C-shaped clamp, a U-shaped clamp, or a guide hole penetrating the upright plate (1).

8. The passion fruit vine fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The main body is also provided with a connecting mechanism (8) for assisting in fixing the relative position of the main body and the column (100) in the folded state; the connecting mechanism (8) is selected from one of buckle, strap hole, Velcro (821) or friction pad.

9. A climbing frame, characterized in that, include: At least one column (100); At least one passion fruit vine fixing device as described in any one of claims 1-8; The vine fixing device is detachably clamped and fixed to the column (100) by its clamping arm (2).

10. The climbing frame according to claim 9, characterized in that: The column (100) is one of the following: bamboo pole, wooden pole, metal pole, metal pipe, plastic pole, or plastic pipe.

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