Grow casing for protecting plants against biting and bite-protection kit having such a grow casing
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023783303
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-14
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-23
AI Technical Summary
Conventional synthetic polymer growth covers for protecting plants from browsing are problematic due to their environmental persistence, release of microplastics, and migration of harmful components into the food chain, posing health and ecological risks, and are difficult to handle and maintain over their 3-7 year lifespan.
A growth cover designed with a film-shaped layer made of biodegradable polymers, featuring a geometry that allows easy assembly and secure locking, with a tab design that can be manually pushed through an insertion opening and locked, providing improved shape stability and simplified handling, and incorporating biodegradable materials to prevent long-term plastic residue.
The growth cover effectively protects plants for 3-7 years with enhanced stability and ease of use, while ensuring environmental compatibility by avoiding microplastic formation and ensuring complete biodegradability without harmful residues, thus minimizing ecological and health impacts.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001]Growth cover for protecting plants against browsing and browsing protection kit with such a growth cover The invention relates to a growth cover for protecting plants against browsing, comprising at least one flexible, essentially film-shaped layer made of a polymer material which has a proportion of between 10% by mass and 100% by mass.-% of at least one biodegradable polymer, wherein the film-like layer has a main section with two substantially parallel longitudinal sides and two substantially parallel transverse sides and is designed to be formed into a tube in order to surround at least the lower section of a plant, wherein the main section of the film-like layer has, on the one hand, on one of its longitudinal sides, at least one tab projecting outwards therefrom, and on the other hand, near its opposite longitudinal side, at least one insertion opening which is designed to insert the tab and to lock it to the insertion opening, wherein the tab has a terminal locking section and a connecting section connecting the main section of the film-like layer to the locking section of the tab, the connecting section having a low height compared to the length of the insertion opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section.The invention further relates to a browsing protection kit comprising at least one such growth cover. Growth covers, which are also referred to as browsing protection or sweeping protection and are to be understood as synonymous within the scope of the present disclosure, for protecting plants against browsing by animals are known in a wide variety of designs and are used particularly, although not exclusively, in forestry to protect young trees as they grow. Known growth covers are usually formed from flexible films made of polymer materials which are bent around at least the lower section of a plant, such as the trunk of a young tree, so that they are given a tubular shape in order to surround at least the lower section of the plant and prevent animals from eating or otherwise damaging the bark or other parts of the plant.The growth sleeve should ideally have a lifespan of between three and seven years, so that it can continue to fulfill its function until the plant to be protected has reached a sufficient age at which it has become less susceptible to browsing. In the past, growth sleeves were generally made of conventional synthetic polymer materials, a fundamental problem with which is their unavoidable contamination of the environment. This occurs not only during mechanical action by (wild) animals, but also purely through environmental influences prevailing in forests or nurseries, such as wind, rain, including artificial irrigation, and the like.On the one hand, relatively large plastic fragments can be released, which pose a danger, particularly to fauna, if animals ingest such plastic parts and the latter accumulate in their digestive systems. On the other hand, so-called "microplastics" can enter the environment. This refers to plastic particles up to 5 mm in size, which are created by physical, chemical, or biological decomposition and fragmentation of the plastic material of the growth cover. These particles pose an even greater threat to the environment, as they can accumulate in both fauna and flora. Another problem is the migration of harmful components from synthetic plastics in conventional growth covers, which can enter the food chain.For example, process oils can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and / or reproductively toxic. Furthermore, PAHs can be persistent, meaning they remain in the environment for a long time or are poorly degraded. They are also capable of bioaccumulating, meaning they accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and animals, making their health-threatening effects particularly severe. Furthermore, microparticles in particular can also have a direct impact on soil organisms and consequently on soil functionality. Among other things, reduced reproduction and reduced body length of nematodes have been observed as a result of the influence of microplastics.Consequently, the use of conventional plastics based on fossil raw materials and the resulting release of long-lasting (micro)plastics into the environment should be prevented as far as possible due to the environmental and health-related consequences for flora and fauna. Recently, growth covers based on biodegradable polymers, which are not of synthetic origin but are derived from natural resources, have been increasingly used. Such polymer materials have the crucial advantage that, with a sufficient service life, they can be decomposed or composted largely residue-free into degradation and / or metabolic products that are both health- and ecotoxicologically harmless, thus ensuring high environmental friendliness without the introduction of long-lasting or even ecotoxic microplastic particles.The polymer materials can contain a certain proportion of one or more fillers or fibers, particularly natural ones, in order to keep the polymer content, which is usually significantly more expensive, within limits. The geometry of the growth cover must be selected such that it can fulfill its intended function of browsing protection over the required service life, but subsequently decomposes largely residue-free in the manner described above. WO 03 / 061369 A1 describes a film-shaped growth cover comprising a fiber mat impregnated with and coated with biodegradable polymers.A main section of the growth sleeve comprises two parallel long sides and two parallel transverse sides and is designed to be formed into a tube in order to surround at least the lower section of a plant. The main section has, on one side, a plurality of tabs projecting outwards on one of its long sides, and, on the other side, a plurality of insertion slots near its opposite long side, which are designed for inserting a respective tab and for locking it into the associated insertion slot. The tabs have a terminal locking section and a connecting section connecting the main section to the locking section of the tab, with a height of the insertion opening that is low compared to the length of the main section extending in the longitudinal direction, in order to be able to thread the tab into the insertion slot.The main disadvantage is the handling of the growth sleeve, which requires threading the tabs into the insertion slots to form a tube. This is particularly time-consuming and laborious under adverse weather conditions, especially since the user usually wears protective gloves when covering young plants or trees with growth sleeves. Furthermore, there is a risk that the tabs will slip out of the insertion slots during the required service life of the growth sleeve of approximately 3 to 7 years, so that the growth sleeve can no longer fulfill its intended function. This can happen, for example, if the facing long sides of the growth sleeve, which are provided with the tabs or insertion slots, are shifted parallel to one another, as can happen, for example, under the influence of wind, (heavy) rain, or even mechanical action by (wild) animals.The invention is based on the object of developing a growth cover of the type mentioned at the outset in a simple and cost-effective manner while at least largely avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages in such a way that its handling is simplified while ensuring high environmental compatibility, which in particular prevents the formation of microplastics, and also ensuring the required service life.According to the invention, this object is achieved in a growth sleeve of the type mentioned at the outset in that the height of the locking section of the tab extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section is greater than the length of the insertion opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section, and in that the insertion opening has a width extending in the transverse direction of the main section which is at least 20% of the length of the insertion opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section, so that the locking section of the tab can be pushed manually through the insertion opening.The inventive design of the growth sleeve enables, on the one hand, due to the geometry of the at least one insertion opening, the width of which extending in the transverse direction of the main section is at least approximately 20% of the length of the insertion opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section, a very simple construction of the growth sleeve when the main section of its at least one, essentially film-shaped layer is formed into a tube, wherein the at least one tab protruding from one long side of the main section can be very easily inserted into the at least one insertion opening arranged near the opposite long side of the main section by merely being pushed, e.g. manually, through the insertion opening while deforming the tab, without having to laboriously thread it in.Due to the height of the locking section of the tab, which extends longitudinally along the main section and is greater than the length of the insertion opening, the tab can be very easily locked into the insertion opening (the connecting section of the tab then extends through the insertion opening), thus preventing the tab from accidentally slipping out of the insertion opening and maintaining the growth sleeve in its tubular configuration. Consequently, the growth sleeve is given improved dimensional stability over the required service life, which—as mentioned above—should generally be between approximately 3 and 7 years.In the context of the present disclosure, "longitudinal sides" of the main section refer to the sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section formed into a tube, while the "transverse sides" of the main section, which may otherwise have a substantially rectangular basic shape, refer to the sides of the main section extending in the circumferential direction of the tube.The insertion opening arranged "near" one longitudinal side of the main section of the growth sheath means, in the context of the present disclosure, that the distance of the insertion opening from its "near" longitudinal side is significantly smaller than from the opposite longitudinal side of the main section provided with the tab, wherein the "near" distance corresponds in particular to at least about five times, in particular at least about seven times, preferably at least about nine times, the distance of the insertion opening from the longitudinal side of the main section provided with the tab. The distance of the insertion opening from its "near" longitudinal side of the main section facing it can be, for example, about 2 cm to about 10 cm, preferably, for example,approximately 3 cm to approximately 8 cm, so that tearing of the insertion opening up to the longitudinal side of the main section facing it is prevented both under wind and weather influences and under mechanical influences. In order to ensure a particularly simple construction of the growth sleeve, the insertion opening can, for example, have a width extending in the transverse direction of the main section which corresponds to at least approximately 25%, in particular at least approximately 30%, preferably at least approximately 40%, most preferably at least approximately 50%, e.g. at least approximately 60%, of the length of the insertion opening. The insertion opening can preferably be essentially circular or oval, although in principle any other geometries of the insertion opening which satisfy the aforementioned criteria are also conceivable.In order to particularly reliably prevent the tab from accidentally slipping out of the insertion opening during the service life of the growth sleeve and thus from "unrolling" its main section, which has been formed into a tube, the total width of the tab extending in the transverse direction of the main section can preferably be greater than the width of the insertion opening extending in the transverse direction of the main section. In this context, it can preferably be provided that - the height of the locking section of the tab extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section is at least about 1 cm, in particular at least about 2 cm, preferably at least about 3 cm, e.g.at least approximately 3.5 cm, is greater than the length of the insertion opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section, and / or - the total width of the tab extending in the transverse direction of the main section is at least approximately 1 cm, in particular at least approximately 2 cm, preferably at least approximately 3 cm, e.g. at least approximately 3.5 cm, greater than the width of the insertion opening extending in the transverse direction of the main section. The locking section of the tab, which is in particular both wider and longer than its connecting section, can, for example, essentially have the shape of a square, e.g. a square rotated by approximately 45° compared to the essentially rectangular basic shape of the main section, a rhombus, a triangle, e.g. an approximately isosceles triangle whose base extends approximately parallel to the long side of the main section, a circle or ellipse segment, etc.The main section of the film-shaped layer of the growth sleeve can preferably have, on the one hand, at least two, in particular at least three, e.g. at least four or exactly four, tabs projecting outwards from one of its long sides and arranged at a longitudinal distance from one another, and, on the other hand, at least two, in particular at least three, e.g. at least four or exactly four, insertion openings arranged near its opposite long side with a corresponding longitudinal distance from one another, which are each designed for inserting a tab and for locking the same at the respective insertion opening in order to connect the mutually facing long sides of the main section to one another at several points over the length of the growth sleeve when the main section has been formed into a tube. The longitudinal distance between the tabs on the one hand and the insertion openings on the other hand can preferably be selected to be substantially equidistant.According to an advantageous development, it can be provided that the main section further comprises at least one pair of fastening openings, which are arranged close to each of the opposite longitudinal sides of the main section and at substantially the same longitudinal distance from a respective transverse side of the main section and are designed for the passage of a fastening means, in particular in the form of cable ties. By means of the fastening openings, it is possible, on the one hand, to fasten the growth sleeve to a support post in a manner known per se with the aid of simple and convenient fastening means, such as in particular cable ties, which provides support to the young plant and prevents it from bending, e.g., in strong winds.On the other hand, due to the paired arrangement of the fastening openings, it is ensured that the fastening means passed through both fastening openings - in addition to the tab(s) inserted into the insertion opening(s) - permanently holds the growth sleeve in its tubular configuration, thus ensuring the greatest possible safety against premature failure of the growth sleeve.In the context of the present disclosure, the term "near" each fastening opening arranged on one of the opposite longitudinal sides of the main section means that the distance of the respective fastening opening from its "near" longitudinal side of the main section is significantly smaller than its far longitudinal side, wherein the "near" distance corresponds in particular to at least approximately five times, in particular at least approximately seven times, preferably at least approximately nine times, the distance of the respective fastening opening from the far longitudinal side of the main section. The respective distance of the fastening openings from their "near" longitudinal side of the main section can essentially correspond to the distance of the insertion opening(s) from the longitudinal side of the main section facing it / them (see above).The main section can preferably have at least two or more pairs of fastening openings arranged at a longitudinal distance from one another in order to ensure secure and permanent fastening of the growth casing to a support post, on the one hand, and of the longitudinal sides of the growth casing, which face one another after being formed into a tube, on the other. In this context, it can be provided, for example, that at least one pair of fastening openings is arranged near the upper transverse side of the main section, so that a user can easily and conveniently connect them to one another while standing using a suitable fastening means, such as cable ties or the like. Furthermore, it can prove useful if at least one pair or more pairs of fastening openings are arranged near an insertion opening or near a tab that can be inserted and locked into place therein.in order to reliably prevent the tab from slipping out of the insertion openings, even under very adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, with regard to the stability and durability of the growth sleeve and in view of the fact that a generally relatively rigid cable tie can be very easily guided through the fastening openings, e.g. manually, it can prove advantageous if the cross-section of the fastening openings is smaller than the cross-section of the at least one insertion opening, wherein the cross-section of the fastening openings can in particular amount to at most 20%, in particular at most 15%, preferably at most 10%, of the cross-section of the at least one insertion opening.Furthermore, depending on the air permeability of the film-shaped layer of the growth cover, it can be provided that the main section further comprises a plurality of ventilation openings, of which in particular at least some are arranged near the lower transverse side of the main section, so that natural ventilation of a plant provided with the growth cover can occur from bottom to top in the manner of a chimney effect. The cross-section of the ventilation openings can advantageously also be smaller than the cross-section of the at least one insertion opening, wherein the cross-section of the ventilation openings can in particular amount to at most about 40%, preferably at most about 30%, e.g., at most about 20%, of the cross-section of the at least one insertion opening. The total thickness of the growth cover, ie of its at least one, essentially film-shaped layer, is preferably between about 0.2 mm and about 3 mm, in particular between about 0.5 mm and about 2.5 mm, e.g.between approximately 0.8 mm and approximately 2 mm, so that, on the one hand, its desired service life of approximately 3 to 7 years is achieved, and, on the other hand, the fastest and most complete biodegradation possible is achieved thereafter. Regarding the polymer material of the growth cover according to the invention, with a proportion of between approximately 10% by mass and approximately 100% by mass of at least one biodegradable polymer, the invention makes it possible for the polymer material to decompose, after the required service life of the growth cover, largely residue-free into degradation and / or metabolic products that are both harmless to health and ecotoxicologically, in order to ensure perfect environmental friendliness without any significant introduction of long-term stable or even ecotoxic microplastic particles."Biodegradable" in the sense of the invention means that the at least one polymer of the polymer material can be completely degraded by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, or by enzymes. The microorganisms use the polymer as food or as an energy source. During this metabolism, the polymers must be completely degraded under aerobic conditions into carbon dioxide (CO), water (HO), mineral salts, and new biomass. Without oxygen supply, i.e., under anaerobic conditions, a complete conversion into carbon dioxide, mineral salts, biomass, and methane (CH) must take place. The at least one biodegradable polymer of the polymer material can preferably be compostable according to DIN EN 13432 or the US standard ASTM D6400, whereby composting represents a special case of biodegradability.During industrial composting, the compostable polymer must be completely degraded within a comparatively short period of time of a maximum of two years under controlled conditions (i.e. a temperature of approximately 60°C and a defined humidity). In an advantageous embodiment, the polymer material of the film-shaped layer of the growth casing can have a proportion of the at least one biodegradable polymer of at least approximately 20% by mass, in particular of at least approximately 30% by mass, preferably of at least approximately 40% by mass, most preferably of at least approximately 50% by mass. Particularly preferred are proportions of the at least one biodegradable polymer of at least approximately 60% by mass, in particular of at least approximately 70% by mass, preferably of at least approximately 80% by mass, most preferably of at least 90% by mass, wherein the proportion of the at least one biodegradable polymer can also be at least almost 100% by mass.-%. In a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that at least one biodegradable polymer of the polymer material of the at least one film-shaped layer of the growth casing is selected from the group of at least partially or preferably also substantially completely bio-based polymers, which are polymers that can be produced completely or partially from renewable raw materials, as explained in more detail below. The polymer matrix of the at least one film-shaped layer of the growth casing should expediently also have a water solubility of at most about 0.5 g / l, e.g. of at most about 0.3 g / l, in particular of at most about 0.1 g / l, so that the growth casing is largely insoluble in water and, under the influence of precipitation, such as rain or snow, is dimensionally stable over a longer period of between about 3 and 7 years and does not dissolve.In a further advantageous embodiment of the growth sleeve according to the invention, it can be provided, in particular, that its at least one, essentially film-like layer is designed to be elastically flexible, wherein the polymer material of the film-like layer has, in particular, an elastic modulus of 0.1 GPa to 8 GPa, preferably 0.2 GPa to 5 GPa. The growth sleeve can be given a certain resilience by the elastic resilience of its film-like layer, which represents additional security to prevent the tab(s) guided through the insertion opening(s) from slipping out of the insertion opening(s).With regard to the at least one biodegradable polymer of the polymer material used for the at least one film-shaped layer of the growth sleeve, it can be provided in an advantageous embodiment that at least one biodegradable polymer of this polymer material is selected from the group of thermoplastic polymers, so that on the one hand a simple production of the growth sleeve by means of known thermoplastic processing methods (e.g. by means of injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, deep drawing, pressing, melt layers, such as by means of 3D printing methods, or the like) is possible, and on the other hand a simple recycling of the growth sleeve is also provided if required.Advantageous biodegradable polymers include in particular those according to the above-cited standard DIN EN 13432, in particular from the group of - polyhydroxyalkanoates, in particular polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), polyhydroxyacetic acid, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH) and / or polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO); - polylactide (PLA); - starch and / or derivatives thereof; - polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and / or polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA); - polysaccharides and / or derivatives thereof; - Lignin and / or its derivatives; - Polycaprolactones (PCL); - Proteins and / or their derivatives, including their blends. Biodegradable polymers can therefore be those synthesized from monomers.As mentioned above, the biodegradable polymers can advantageously be bio-based polymers, such as preferably polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), e.g. polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), starch and / or lignin including their derivatives, etc., as well as non-bio-based polymers, such as polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polycaprolactones (PCL), etc. In addition, the biodegradable polymers can also be partially bio-based, for example in the case of polybutylene succinate (PBS) or polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA). Examples of polysaccharide derivatives include those in which functional groups of the natural polymer, e.g. the OH and / or the NH2 groups, are partially or completely substituted, such as in the case of cellulose esters (such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, etc.), starch esters (such asStarch acetate, acetylated distarch adipate, etc.) or partially deacetylated chitin and its derivatives. In particular, several biodegradable polymers can be used in the form of a blend or polymer mixture, each of which can be bio-based, non-bio-based and / or partially bio-based. This can also prove advantageous in view of the fact that some biodegradable polymers are difficult to process on conventional thermoplastic processing machines, such as single- or twin-screw extruders, and / or the properties of the pure polymers alone are unsatisfactory. If, on the other hand, several polymers are physically mixed in the melt to form a blend, it is possible to generate, for example, starch-PBAT blends or PLA-PBAT blends, which are easy to process.In addition to the possible addition of additives, fillers, and the like (see below), the advantages of various biodegradable polymers can be combined in this way and any disadvantages, such as the dominant brittleness of a blend partner, can be compensated for. Furthermore, with regard to the aforementioned elastic compliance of the at least one film-like layer of the growth sheath, it can preferably be provided that at least one biodegradable polymer of its polymer material is selected from the group of elastomeric polymers, in particular from the group of natural rubber (e.g. from rubber plants and / or dandelion milk), in order to impart the respectively desired elasticity to the growth sheath. The elastomeric polymers can in particular be mixed with one or more of the above-mentioned thermoplastic polymers in order to achieve the desired elasticity.Furthermore, a covalent integration of a soft phase into the at least one biodegradable polymer of the at least one film-shaped layer of the growth casing is also conceivable in order to adjust the resiliently elastic properties. Examples of such a soft phase include the integration of low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycols (PEG), which are biodegradable up to an average molecular weight of approximately 1,500 g / mol. The polymer material of the at least one film-shaped layer of the growth casing should also have a melting point of at least 70°C, in particular of at least 80°C, preferably of at least 90°C, e.g. of at least approximately 100°C, in order to prevent the growth casing from partially or completely melting, even at very high ambient temperatures and / or direct sunlight.In a further advantageous embodiment, the polymer material of the at least one film-shaped layer of the growth cover can have at least one filler embedded therein. The filler can be essentially powdered, particulate, or fibrous fillers, which should preferably be of natural origin and biodegradable. Examples of possible fillers include, in particular, fibrous or powdered and particulate natural materials, such as cellulose, lignin, wood, reeds, miscanthus, hemp, seaweed, nutshells, crushed fruit kernels, and the like, but also, for example, mineral substances such as ash. The natural materials used as fillers are—like the polymer material of the growth cover itself—practically completely biodegradable and thus neither accumulate over time nor degrade into environmentally harmful micro- or nanoparticles.They are also freely available in large quantities. In the case of crushed fruit stones, these can also give the growth casing greater hardness than plant fibers and thus greater resistance to mechanical impact, such as when a (wild) animal rubs against the growth casing or bites into it. Examples of suitable fruit stones include stones from olives, cherries, apricots, mirabelle plums, plums, damsons, peaches, nectarines, dates, almonds, coffee berries, mangoes, apples, pears, oranges, grapes, melons, lemons, avocados, papayas and the like. The invention also relates to a browsing protection kit which comprises at least one growth casing of the aforementioned type provided with fastening openings and a number of cable ties corresponding at least to the number of pairs of fastening openings in the growth casing(s). The cable ties are made of a polymer material which has a proportion of between 10 Mass.-% and 100 mass% of at least one biodegradable polymer, so that the cable ties are also unable to release any long-term stable (micro)plastic particles. The cable ties can preferably be made of a polymer material of the type described above, e.g., from essentially the same polymer material as the growth sleeve. Furthermore, the browsing protection kit can further comprise at least one support post, in particular made of a wood material, as is known per se for supporting young plants or trees provided with growth sleeves. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a growth sleeve according to the invention in a flat state; Fig.2 is a schematic perspective view of the growth cover shown in FIG. 1, broken off at the bottom, after it has been formed into a tube and fastened to a support post; FIG. 3 is a schematic detailed view of a design of a tab that is alternative to the tabs of the growth cover shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a schematic detailed view of a design of a further tab that is alternative to the tabs of the growth cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show an embodiment of a growth cover according to the invention for protecting plants, such as trees, against browsing, the growth cover being shown in FIG. 1 in an essentially planar state, in which it can be stacked close together, for example for transport purposes, whereas in the state shown in FIG.2, has been formed into a tube in order to surround at least the lower section of a plant (not shown in the drawing). The growth sheath has one or more, e.g. sandwich-like laminated and preferably elastically flexible layers 1 made of a polymer material based on biodegradable polymers, as described in detail above, wherein the polymer material can be mixed with fillers and / or additives of the type also explained above. As can be seen in particular from Fig.1, the film-shaped layer 1 has a main section 2 with two essentially parallel longitudinal sides 3a, 3b and two essentially parallel transverse sides 4a, 4b, so that the main section 2 has approximately the shape of a rectangle, wherein it can be converted into the tubular configuration of Fig. 2 by deforming such that the two longitudinal sides 3a, 3b are arranged approximately next to one another and parallel to one another. The main section 2 of the film-shaped layer 1 has on its one longitudinal side 3a, which is the left one in Fig. 1, a plurality of - here, for example, four - outwardly projecting tabs 5, which are arranged at approximately the same longitudinal distance from one another along the longitudinal side 3a of the main section 2 of the film-shaped layer 1. Near its opposite side, which is shown in Fig.1 right-hand longitudinal side 3b, the main section 2 of the film-shaped layer 1 is provided with a plurality of - here also four - insertion openings 6, which are arranged at the same longitudinal distance from one another as the tabs 5 and are designed for inserting one of the tabs 5 and for locking the same at the respective insertion opening 6. The distance of a respective insertion opening 6 from the longitudinal side 3b of the film-shaped layer closest to it, which is on the right in Fig. 1, can be, for example, between approximately 0.5 cm and approximately 4 cm, in particular between approximately 1 cm and approximately 4 cm, preferably between approximately 2 cm and approximately 4 cm.The insertion openings 6 have a width b extending in the transverse direction of the main section 2, which is at least approximately 20% of the length l of the respective insertion opening 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, the insertion openings 6 have a width b approximately corresponding to their length l and are essentially circular, but can also have other shapes, as described in particular further above. The tabs 5 have a terminal locking section 5a and a connecting section 5b connecting the main section 2 of the film-shaped layer 1 to the locking section 5a of the respective tab 5, said connecting section having a height h that is small compared to the length l of the insertion openings 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section 2. The height H of the locking section 5a of the tabs 5 extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section 2 is, for example,by about 3 cm to about 4 cm, greater than the length l of the insertion openings 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section 2. In addition, the total width B of the tabs 5 extending in the transverse direction of the main section 2 is, for example, again by about 3 cm to 4 cm, greater than the width b of the insertion openings 6 extending in the transverse direction of the main section 2. In this way, the locking section 5a of a respective tab 5 can be pushed very easily manually through a respective insertion opening 6, in particular with elastic deformation thereof, in order to lock it to the respective insertion opening 6 and to hold the growth sleeve 1 in its tubular state of Fig. 2, wherein the risk of the tabs 5 slipping out of the insertion openings 6 prematurely is minimized. The tabs 5 are in the illustrated embodiment of the growth sleeve 1 e.g.essentially in the form of squares with rounded corners rotated by 45° compared to the rectangular shape of the main section, but can also have other shapes and, for example, be approximately circular segment-shaped (cf. Fig. 3), approximately triangular (cf. Fig. 4) or designed in the manner described above. In the case of the present growth cover 1, its main section 2 is further provided with - here, for example, two - pairs of fastening openings 7 arranged at a longitudinal distance from one another, which are arranged near each of the opposite longitudinal sides 3a, 3b of the main section 2 and essentially at the same longitudinal distance from a respective transverse side 4a, 4b of the main section 2, i.e., at a common height level, wherein the distance of a respective fastening opening 7 from the longitudinal side 3a, 3b of the main section closest to it is, for example,can be between about 0.5 cm and about 4 cm, in particular between about 1 cm and about 4 cm, preferably between about 2 cm and about 4 cm. The fastening openings 7 arranged in pairs serve, on the one hand, to pass through a fastening means 8 - here, for example, in the form of cable ties (cf. Fig. 2) - in order to fix the growth sleeve 1, which has been converted into a tube and envelops a plant (not shown in the drawing), to a support post 9 known as such. On the other hand, the fastening means 8, after it has been guided through both of the paired fastening openings 7, in addition to the tabs 5 locked at the insertion openings 6, is able to permanently hold the growth sleeve 1 in its tubular configuration according to Fig. 1, so that the greatest possible security is provided against the growth sleeve 1 unrolling.For this purpose, the pairs of fastening openings 7 can preferably be arranged near at least one or more of the insertion openings 6 or near at least one or more of the tabs 5 that can be inserted and locked therein. The cross-section of the fastening openings 7 is expediently smaller than that of the insertion openings 6 and, in the present embodiment, is less than 10% of the cross-section of a respective insertion opening 6. Furthermore, the main section 2 of the film-shaped layer 1 of the growth cover can be equipped with a plurality of ventilation openings 10, at least some of which should preferably be arranged near the lower transverse side of the main section 2 in order to ensure good ventilation of a plant protected by the growth cover from bottom to top due to a chimney effect.The cross section of the ventilation openings 10 can expediently also be selected to be smaller than that of the insertion openings 6, the cross section of the ventilation openings 10 in the present case being, for example, between approximately 10% and approximately 20% of the cross section of the insertion openings 6.
Claims
1. A growth cover for protecting plants against browsing, comprising at least one flexible, substantially film-like layer (1) made of a polymer material which has a proportion of between 10% by mass and 100% by mass of at least one biodegradable polymer, wherein the film-like layer (1) has a main section (2) with two substantially parallel longitudinal sides (3a, 3b) and two substantially parallel transverse sides (4a, 4b) and is designed to be formed into a tube in order to surround at least the lower section of a plant, wherein the main section (2) of the film-like layer has, on the one hand, on one of its longitudinal sides (3a) at least one tab (5) projecting outwards therefrom, and on the other hand, near its opposite longitudinal side (3b), at least one insertion opening (6) which is used for inserting the tab (5) and for locking it to the insertion opening (6) is formed,wherein the tab (5) has a terminal locking section (5a) and a connecting section (5b) connecting the main section (2) of the film-shaped layer (1) to the locking section (5a) of the tab (5) with a height (h) which is small compared to the length (l) of the insertion opening (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section (2), characterized in that the height (H) of the locking section (5a) of the tab (5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section (2) is greater than the length (l) of the insertion opening (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section (2), and in that the insertion opening (6) has a height which extends in the transverse direction of the main, section (2) extending width (b), which amounts to at least 20% of the length (l) of the insertion opening (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section (2), so that the locking section (5a) of the tab (5) can be manually pushed through the insertion opening (6).
2. Growth sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion opening (6) has a width (b) extending in the transverse direction of the main section (2), which corresponds to at least 25%, in particular at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, most preferably at least 50%, of the length (l) of the insertion opening (6).
3. Growth sleeve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insertion opening (6) is substantially circular or oval. 4.Growth sleeve according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the total width (B) of the tab (5) extending in the transverse direction of the main section (2) is greater than the width (b) of the insertion opening (6) extending in the transverse direction of the main section (2).
5. Growth sleeve according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that - the height (H) of the locking section (5a) of the tab (5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the main section (2) is at least 1 cm, in particular at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm, greater than the height in the longitudinal direction of the main section (2). extending length (l) of the insertion opening (6), and / or - the total width (B) of the tab (5) extending in the transverse direction of the main section (2) is at least 1 cm, in particular at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm, greater than the width (b) of the insertion opening (6) extending in the transverse direction of the main section (2).
6. Growth sleeve according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking section (5a) of the tab (5) essentially has the shape of a square, a rhombus, a triangle, a segment of a circle, or an ellipse. 7.Growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the main section (2) of the film-shaped layer (1) has, on the one hand, at least two, in particular at least three, tabs (5) projecting outwards from one (3a) of its long sides (3a, 3b) and arranged at a longitudinal distance from one another, and on the other hand, at least two, in particular at least three, insertion openings (6) arranged near its opposite long side (3b) at a corresponding longitudinal distance from one another, which are each designed for inserting a tab (5) and for locking the same to the respective insertion opening (6).
8. Growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the main section (2) further has at least one pair of fastening openings (7), which are each arranged near one of the opposite long sides (3a, 3b) of the main section (2) and in the... arranged at substantially the same longitudinal distance from a respective transverse side (4a, 4b) of the main section (2) and are designed for the passage of a fastening means (8), in particular in the form of cable ties.
9. Growth sleeve according to claim 8, characterized in that the main section (2) has at least two pairs of fastening openings (7) arranged at a longitudinal distance from one another.
10. Growth sleeve according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that - at least one pair of fastening openings (7) is arranged near the upper transverse side (4a) of the main section (2), and / or - at least one pair of fastening openings (7) near an insertion opening (6) oris arranged near a tab (5) that can be inserted and locked therein, and / or - the cross section of the fastening openings (7) is smaller than the cross section of the at least one insertion opening (6), wherein the cross section of the fastening openings (7) is in particular at most 20%, preferably at most 10%, of the cross section of the at least one insertion opening (6).
11. Growth sleeve according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the main section (2) further has a plurality of ventilation openings (10), of which in particular at least some are arranged near the lower transverse side (4b) of the main section (2).
12. The growth casing according to claim 11, characterized in that the cross-section of the ventilation openings (10) is smaller than the cross-section of the at least one insertion opening (6), wherein the cross-section of the ventilation openings (10) is in particular at most 40%, preferably at most 30%, of the cross-section of the at least one insertion opening (6).
13. The growth casing according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that its at least one substantially film-shaped layer (1) has a total thickness of between 0.2 mm and 3 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm.
14. Growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) has a proportion of the at least one biodegradable polymer of at least 20 mass%, in particular of at least 30 mass%, preferably of at least 40 mass%. 15.The growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least one biodegradable polymer of the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) is selected from the group of at least partially bio-based polymers.
16. The growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) has a water solubility of at most. 0.5 g / l, in particular of at most 0.1 g / l.
17. The growth casing according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that its at least one, substantially film-shaped layer (1) is elastically flexible, wherein the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) has, in particular, a modulus of elasticity of 0.1 GPa to 8 GPa, preferably of 0.2 GPa to 5 GPa. 18.Growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least one biodegradable polymer of the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) is selected from the group of thermoplastic polymers, in particular from the group - of polyhydroxyalkanoates, in particular polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), polyhydroxyacetic acid, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH) and / or polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO); - polylactide (PLA); - starch and / or derivatives thereof; - Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and / or polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA); - Polysaccharides and / or their derivatives; - Lignin and / or its derivatives; - Polycaprolactones (PCL); - Proteins and / or their derivatives, including their blends.
19. The growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that at least one biodegradable polymer of the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) is selected from the group of elastomeric polymers, in particular from the group of natural rubber.
20. The growth cover according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) has a melting point of at least 70°C, in particular of at least 80°C, preferably of at least 90°C.
21. A growth cover according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the polymer material of the film-shaped layer (1) has at least one filler embedded therein, in particular from the group of natural fillers, such as cellulose, wood, lignin, reed, miscanthus, hemp, seaweed, nutshells, crushed fruit kernels, and the like. 22.A browsing protection kit comprising at least one growth sleeve according to claims 1 and 8 and a number of cable ties (8) made of a polymer material corresponding at least to the number of pairs of fastening openings (7) in the growth sleeve(s), said number comprising between 10% and 100% by mass of at least one biodegradable polymer.
23. A browsing protection kit according to claim 22, characterized in that - the growth sleeve further comprises the features of at least one of claims 2 to 7 and 9 to 21, and / or - the cable tie (8) is made of a polymer material according to. one of claims 14 to 21.
24. Bite protection kit according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that it further comprises at least one support post (9), in particular made of a wooden material.