Modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus

Abstract

A modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus comprises interconnecting pieces that form a base flange and a central raised collar. A rim of the collar defines an interior channel configured to accommodate an irrigation hose around the inner periphery of the collar. This design allows the hose to drip water efficiently into the interior of the collar, providing both protection and irrigation for plants such as trees or shrubs. The apparatus is designed for easy assembly and secure installation, offering a concealed, integrated irrigation solution that ensures uniform water distribution and mechanical protection for the plant base.

Description

Modular Plant Protection and Irrigation ApparatusField of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of horticulture and landscaping, specifically to apparatuses designed for the protection of plants. More particularly, it pertains to modular devices that safeguard the base of plants such as trees and shrubs from mechanical damage caused by lawn mowers, line trimmers, and other gardening equipment.Background of the Invention

[0002] In horticulture and landscaping, protecting the base of plants, particularly young trees and shrubs, is a critical concern. Mechanical damage caused by lawn mowers and line trimmers can severely harm the base of these plants, leading to potential health issues and stunted growth. Conventional methods often involve makeshift barriers or guards that may not provide adequate protection and can be cumbersome to install and maintain.

[0003] Moreover, the close growth of grass and other vegetation around the base of plants can complicate maintenance efforts, requiring additional tools and time to manage effectively. Existing solutions typically lack a comprehensive approach to ensure both the protection of the plant base from physical damage and the ease of maintaining the surrounding area. There is a need for an efficient, user-friendly solution that combines robust plant protection with simplified maintenance, reducing the overall effort required while ensuring the health and growth of the plants.

[0004] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.Summary of the Disclosure

[0005] The describe modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus is designed to protect the base of a plant, such as a tree or shrub, while providing a concealed integrated irrigation solution. The apparatus comprises interconnecting pieces forming a base flange and a central raised collar. A rim of the collar defines an interiorchannel configured for the installation of an irrigation hose therein around an inner periphery of the collar allowing water to drip water into the interior of the collar.

[0006] The channel may be open at its underside, allowing for easy insertion and retention of the hose. The rim may further include a lower inner edge at the opening of the channel, configured to securely retain the hose within the channel with a press- fit engagement. The opening of the channel is preferably less than 13 mm wide to accommodate conventional garden hoses.

[0007] Adjacent edges of flange portions may be stepped to overlap and define interlocking keys and slots, which provide stability and ease of assembly. The collar portions may securely interlock with each other and may define adjacent rails that are held together by a sliding clip. This clip may be secured in place by screws engaging with the pieces when the rails are aligned.

[0008] An inside edge of the base flange may project within the interior of the collar and feature ground stake engaging holes, allowing the apparatus to be securely anchored into the ground using concealed ground stakes.

[0009] The rim may be defined by a separable ring which detachably engages the upper edge of the collar, wherein the channel is defined between the ring and the collar. This ring may be formed of interconnecting ring pieces, each coextensive with a respective collar portion and male ends of the ring pieces may inset within corresponding female ends to form a continuous structure concealing the hose there underneath. The ring may clip into the collar using outer projections that engage with inner recesses of the collar, aligning the ring pieces with the respective collar portions for proper alignment and secure attachment.

[0010] This apparatus offers a robust solution for plant protection and irrigation, featuring a well-integrated design that facilitates easy assembly, secure installation, and efficient water delivery.

[0011] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] Figure 1 shows a disassembled perspective view of modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus;

[0014] Figure 2 shows an assembled perspective view of the apparatus;

[0015] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an interconnecting piece of the apparatus;

[0016] Figure 4 shows a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus; and

[0017] Figure 5 shows a magnified view of a rim of the apparatus.Description of Preferred Embodiment

[0018] A modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus 10 according to the preferred embodiment shown is designed to protect the base of a plant, such as a tree or shrub, while providing a concealed integrated irrigation solution. As shown in Figure 1 , the apparatus 10 comprises interconnecting pieces 11 that form a base flange 12 and a central raised collar 14. Preferably, the apparatus 10 is bifurcated and therefore comprises two interconnecting pieces 1 1 which connect together. Interconnecting pieces 11 of various sizes may be provided to accommodate correspondingly sized plant stems. The apparatus 10 is preferably made of durable plastic.

[0019] The base flange 12 is relatively wide to prevent grass from growing too close to the collar 14, which can therefore be easily trimmed with a lawnmower without needing to use a line trimmer. In the embodiment shown, the base flange 12 is more than 10 cm wide, preferably approximately 11 cm wide. Further, according to the embodiment shown, the collar 14 has a radius of approximately 15 cm and is approximately 8.5 cm tall.

[0020] The central raised collar 14 features a rim 16 that defines an interior channel 18 configured to accommodate an irrigation hose 20 within an inner periphery of the collar 14. This hose 20 is installed within the channel 18 around the collar 14 tofacilitate the drip irrigation of water into the interior 22 of the collar 14. The elevation of the hose 20 within the upper channel 18 keeps it away from the ground, preventing potential fouling or reach interference. The hose 20 may comprise perforations spaced apart along its length or, alternatively, may be made of a permeable material.

[0021] The channel 18 may define an underside opening 24, which is preferably continuous around the entire periphery of the collar 14, allowing for the hose 20 to be easily inserted and retained with a press-fit engagement. The rim 16 may further include a lower inner edge 26 at the opening of the channel 18, which is configured to securely retain the hose 20 within the channel 18. The opening of the channel 18 is preferably less than 13 mm wide to accommodate conventional 13 mm diameter garden hoses. An underside opening 24 around the entire periphery of the collar 14 ensures that the plant retained within the apparatus 10 is evenly watered from all sides.

[0022] Flange portions 28 preferably clip together. The adjacent edges 30 of these flange portions 28 may be stepped to overlap, defining interlocking keys 32 and slots 34 respectively. This configuration provides stability and ease of assembly.

[0023] The collar portions 36 may securely interlock with each other. These collar portions 36 may define adjacent rails 38 that are held together by a sliding clip 40. The clip 40 may be secured into place by screws 42 that engage with buttresses 43 of the pieces 1 1 when the rails 38 are held together by the clip 42.

[0024] In embodiments, an inside edge 44 of the base flange 12 projects within the interior 22 of the collar 14 and features ground stake engaging holes 46. These holes 46 allow the apparatus 10 to be anchored securely into the ground using a series of concealed ground stakes (not shown).

[0025] The rim 16 may be formed by a separable ring 48 which detachably engages the upper edge 50 of the collar 14, with the channel 18 being defined between the ring 48 and the collar 14. The ring 48 itself may be composed of interconnecting ring pieces 52, each coextensive with a respective collar portion 36. The ends of the ring pieces 52 may comprise male ends 54 that inset within corresponding female ends 56 to form a continuous structure.

[0026] The ring 48 preferably clips into the collar 14 via outer projections 58 that engage with inner recesses 60 of the collar 14. These projections 58 and recesses 60 are aligned with the ring pieces 52 and the respective collar portions 36 to ensure proper alignment and secure attachment.

[0027] Utilisation of the modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus 10 comprises selecting the appropriate size interconnecting pieces 1 1 based on the diameter of the plant stem. The flange portions 28 are connected together around the stem of the plant ensuring the interlocking keys 32 and slots 34 are properly engaged and the and collar portions 36 are locked together using the clips 40 which are screwed into place. This configuration provides a stable and easily assembled base flange 12 and central raised collar 14, which effectively protects the plant from mechanical damage. The flange 1 1 may be concealed under a thin layer of soil. Furthermore, the wide base flange 12, which is preferably more than 10 cm wide and more preferably approximately 1 1 cm wide, prevents grass from growing too close to the collar 14. This feature allows for easy maintenance with a lawnmower and reduces the need for a line trimmer. The apparatus 10 may be securely anchored into the ground using concealed ground stakes inserted through the ground stake engaging holes 46 located on the inside edge 44 of the base flange 12.

[0028] The separable ring 48 is attached to the upper edge 50 of the collar 14. The ring 48, composed of interconnecting ring pieces 52 with male ends 54 inset within corresponding female ends 56, forms a continuous structure. The outer projections 58 on the ring 48 clip into the inner recesses 60 of the collar 14, aligning the ring pieces 52 with the collar portions 36 for proper alignment and secure attachment.

[0029] The irrigation hose 20 is then pressed into the interior channel 18 defined by the rim 16 and the lower inner edge 26 of the channel 18 securely retains the hose 20, preventing it from becoming dislodged during use. The irrigation hose 20 may run between the channel 18 and a water supply by being concealed under the flange 14.

[0030] The design of the channel 18, featuring an underside opening 24, allows for easy insertion and ensures even water distribution around the entire periphery of the collar 14, thereby providing uniform irrigation to the plant.

[0031] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims1. A modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus comprising interconnecting pieces forming a base flange and a central raised collar, wherein a rim of the collar defines an interior channel configured for the installation of an irrigation hose therei n around an inner periphery of the collar allowing water to drip into an interior of the collar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the channel is open at an underside thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rim defines a lower inner edge at an opening of the channel configured to retain the hose within the passage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the opening is less than 13 mm wide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein flange portions of the pieces clip together.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein adjacent edges of the flange portions are stepped to overlap and define keys and slots that interlock respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein collar portions of the pieces interlock together.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the collar portions define adjacent rails that are held together by a clip sliding thereon.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the clip is screwed into the pieces when engaging the rails.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inside edge of the flange projects within the interior of the collar and defines ground stake engaging holes.1 1 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rim is defined by a separable ring which detachably engages an upper edge of the collar and wherein the channel is defined between the ring and the collar.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 1 , wherein the ring is formed of interconnecting ring pieces, each coextensive with a respective collar portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein male ends of the ring pieces inset within respective female ends.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 1 , wherein the ring clips into the collar.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the ring defines outer projections that clip into inner recesses of the collar.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the projections and recesses align ring pieces with respective collar portions.

17. A method of protecting and irrigating a plant using the modular plant protection and irrigation apparatus of claim 1 , the method comprising: assembling the interconnecting pieces to form the base flange and the central raised collar; installing the irrigation hose within the interior channel around the inner periphery of the collar; and connecting the hose to a water supply to enable the irrigation hose to drip water into the interior of the collar.

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