trellising clip

Abstract

The invention relates to a trellising clip (1) comprising a plate (2), the plate (2) having two longitudinal edges (3, 4) and two lateral edges (5) arranged in opposite pairs, a notch (6) being formed at the level of a first longitudinal edge (3), the notch (6) having an opening (7) formed at the level of the first longitudinal edge (3) and extending into two branches (9), the trellising clip (1) having a plane of symmetry intersecting the first (3) and second (4) longitudinal edges and passing through its center, characterized in that the clip (1) further comprises a gripping portion (12) disposed at the level of the second longitudinal edge (4) of the plate (2). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Trellising staple

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of trellising devices and relates more particularly to a trellising staple used for trellising vines.

[0002] It is known to use trellis staples in the form of a small, substantially rectangular plate having a generally T- or Y-shaped notch allowing two wires to pass through and be secured at the bottom grooves of the notch. Such staples are made from plastic, metal or cardboard and are shaped, for example, by punching or cutting.

[0003] In use, staples are often manually drawn from a container where they are stored in bulk. Because they have a flat, rectangular geometry, the user does not feel the orientation of the staple when grasping it and must often turn it over in his hand to orient the notch facing the wires to be attached. This operation constitutes a waste of time which proves significant when repeated to install a very large number of staples and is also particularly inconvenient under restrictive climatic conditions. Furthermore, when the staples are shaped by cutting, the material removed to create the notch is not used and is therefore lost.

[0004] There is therefore a need for a trellis staple which is easy to handle and furthermore generates minimal waste during its manufacture.

[0005] The Applicant therefore proposes to meet these needs by using a trellis staple whose body is provided with a gripping part. Preferably, the gripping part is made from the material taken to make the notch.

[0006] The present invention therefore relates to a trellising staple comprising a plate having two so-called longitudinal edges and two so-called lateral edges opposite each other in pairs, a notch being provided at a first longitudinal edge, the notch comprising an opening made at the first longitudinal edge and extending into two branches extending in divergent directions, the trellising staple having a plane of flat symmetry intersecting the first and second longitudinal edges and passing through its center, characterized in that the staple further comprises a gripping part arranged at the second longitudinal edge of the plate.

[0007] Thus, the fact that the trellis staple includes a gripping portion makes it possible, when grasped by the user, to directly orient the staple into the correct position in order to wedge the wires, without any other manipulation.

[0008] The plate, without taking into account the gripping part, may, for example, be substantially rectangular, but the present invention is not limited to such a contour. Thus, the term "longitudinal edges" is understood above to simply mean edges which extend generally along a length direction of the plate, and "lateral edges" means edges which extend generally along a width direction of the plate. The longitudinal and lateral edges may thus be curved edges. In the case of a substantially rectangular plate, the edges will be rectilinear and the plane of plane symmetry will be perpendicular to the longitudinal edges.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the gripping portion is contained in the plane of the plate and has a negative shape relative to the notch. This means that the shape of the gripping portion is the complementary shape of that of the notch.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the gripping portion comprises a foot extending from the plate and from which extend two lateral branches oriented in divergent directions.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the gripping part is made in one piece with the plate.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the gripping part is an attached part secured to the plate.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the trellis staple is made of a biodegradable material, for example wood or compressed wood chips.

[0014] Thus, such a staple after use on the one hand does not generate non-recyclable waste or waste to be recycled and, on the other hand, does not pollute the soil.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the opening has rounded or beveled walls.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the notch has a Y shape.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the notch has a T shape.

[0018] Also disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing staples of trellising as defined above, preferably in which the gripping part is made in one piece with the plate, the method comprising:

[0019] a) providing a strip of material;

[0020] b) cutting the strip widthwise according to a defined cutting pattern, way to obtain a plate;

[0021] c) repeat step b) at a predefined distance from the cutout of step b), so as to obtain a second plate.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the method comprises repeating steps b) and c).

[0023] Thus, the process does not generate any lost material since the material taken for The notch of a trellis staple forms the gripping part of the adjacent trellis staple. In this way, no material is lost, which makes the manufacturing process which is particularly advantageous from both an economic and an ecological point of view.

[0024] To better illustrate the object of the present invention, several embodiments will be described below, for informational and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] In these drawings:

[0026] [Fig. 1] is a front view of the trellis staple according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] [Fig.2] is a front view of the trellis staple according to a first variant of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] [Fig.3] is a front view of the trellis staple according to a second variant of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] [Fig.4] is a perspective view in use of the trellising staple according to the present invention.

[0030] Referring to [Fig. 1], it can be seen that a trellis clip 1 is shown there according to a first embodiment. The trellis clip 1 comprises a plate 2 which is here substantially rectangular, having two longitudinal edges 3, 4 and two lateral edges 5, opposite each other in pairs. As is known, a notch 6 is made in the plate 2 from a first longitudinal edge 3. The notch 6 comprises an opening 7 made in the center of the first longitudinal edge 3. The opening 7 extends between two walls 8 towards the center of the plate 2 and is divided into two branches 9 ending in rounded bottoms 10 in the form of grooves. The branches 9 extend in divergent directions, preferably each in the direction of the lateral edges 5. According to the first embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the notch 6 has a substantially Y shape.

[0031] As is known, the trellis clip is configured to bring two trellis wires F together, as can be seen in [Fig. 4]. To do this, the wires F are brought together and passed through the opening 7 then held in the bottoms 10 of the branches 9.

[0032] According to the first embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the walls 8 of the opening 7 are rounded so as to have a curved surface. Such a geometry facilitates the bringing together of the wires and their passage through the opening 7 during their insertion into the notch 6. Advantageously, the greatest distance between the bottoms 10 is greater than the shortest distance between the walls 8 of the opening 7. Thus, due to the presence of a neck thus formed between the two walls 8, the geometry of the opening 7 also prevents the untimely exit of the wires F from the notch 6.

[0033] Furthermore, the notch 6 comprises a wall 11, connecting the bottoms 10 and facing the opening 7. According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the wall 11 is curved and points towards the center of the opening 7. Such a geometry also contributes to guiding and holding the trellis wires F in the bottoms 10 of the branches 9.

[0034] The trellis staple 1 according to the present invention comprises a gripping part 12. The gripping part 12 is contained in the plane of the plate 2, is arranged centered at the level of the second longitudinal edge 4 of the plate 2, opposite the first longitudinal edge 3. As can be seen in [Fig.l], the gripping part 12 comprises a foot 13 extending from the second longitudinal edge 4 and two branches 14 oriented in divergent directions.

[0035] The gripping and manipulation of the trellis staple 1 is enabled by means of the gripping part 12, as can be seen in [Fig.4] where the user's fingers D hold the staple by its branches 14.

[0036] Thanks to the presence of the gripping part 12, the user can immediately grasp the trellis staple 1 in the orientation suitable for installation, without even needing to see it and, consequently, carry out the installation of the trellis staple 1 immediately. Thus, the trellis staple 1 according to the present invention is convenient to use and allows, in use, to generate a particularly appreciable saving of time for the user.

[0037] Furthermore, and generally, the gripping part 12 has a negative shape relative to the notch 6.

[0038] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the trellis staple 1 has a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal edges 3, 4 and passing through its center.

[0039] Preferably, the trellis staple 1 according to the first embodiment has a length of 35 mm, a width of 30 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, the tolerance being ± 0.5 mm. The width of the plate 2 is 20 mm. At the wall 11, the angle formed by the branches 9 is 155°. Furthermore, the shortest distance between the walls 8 of the opening 7 is 10 mm and the greatest distance between the bottoms 10 of the branches 9 is 20 mm.

[0040] It should be noted that the gripping part may have a shape different from a negative of the notch 6 provided that it performs the function of allowing the trellis staple to be grasped.

[0041] It should however be noted that to produce the gripping part 12 as described below, it is particularly advantageous to use the material taken to produce the notch 6.

[0042] The trellis staple 1 according to the present invention can be made, for example, of metal, of plastic, of a material comprising wood, and in particular Most preferably, made of biodegradable materials such as wood or compressed wood chips. The present invention is however not limited to the use of a specific material.

[0043] In [Fig. 2], it can be seen that a trellis clip 101 is shown according to a first variant of a second embodiment. The trellis clip 101 is similar to the trellis clip 1 according to the first embodiment described above. Elements of the trellis clip that are identical or similar to the elements of the trellis clip of the first embodiment, and described with reference to [Fig. 2], will bear the same reference number increased by 100, and will not be described in more detail here.

[0044] The trellis clip 101 according to the first variant of the second embodiment differs from the trellis clip 1 according to the first embodiment by the geometry of the notch 106, and consequently of the gripping part 112 since the gripping part 112 has, as for the first embodiment, a negative shape with respect to the notch 106.

[0045] According to the first variant of the second embodiment, the notch 106 has a substantially Y shape.

[0046] Preferably, the trellis staple 101 according to the first variant of the second embodiment has a length of 50 mm, a width of 40 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, the tolerance being ± 0.5 mm. The width of the plate 102 is 25 mm. The distance between the first longitudinal edge 103 and the point of the notch 106 furthest from the first longitudinal edge 103 is 15 mm. At the wall 111, the angle formed by the branches 109 is 155°. Furthermore, the shortest distance between the walls 108 of the opening 107 is 15 mm and the greatest distance between the bottoms 110 of the branches 109 of the notch 106 is 30 mm.

[0047] In [Fig. 3], it can be seen that a trellis staple 101' is shown according to a second variant of the second embodiment.

[0048] The trellis clip 101' according to the second variant of the second embodiment differs from the trellis clip 101 according to the first variant of the second embodiment by the geometry of the notch 106', and consequently of the gripping part 112' since the gripping part 112' has, as for the first variant of the second embodiment, a negative shape with respect to the notch 106'.

[0049] According to the second variant of the second embodiment, the notch 106' also has a substantially Y shape.

[0050] Preferably, the trellis staple 101' according to the second variant of the second embodiment has a length of 30 mm, a width of 30 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, the tolerance being ± 0.5 mm. The width of the plate 102' is 20 mm. The distance between the first longitudinal edge 103' and the point of the notch 106' furthest from the first longitudinal edge 103 is 10 mm. At the wall 111', the angle formed by the branches 109' is 155°. Furthermore, the shortest distance between the walls 108' of the opening 107' is 5 mm and the greatest distance between the bottoms 110' of the branches 109' of the notch 106' is 20 mm.

[0051] In [Fig.4], it can be seen that a trellis staple 1 is shown according to the present invention in use, at the end of the installation operation / start of the removal operation. The fingers D of the user sandwich the gripping part 12 at the ends of the branches 14 and the wires F are held in the bottoms 10 of the branches 9 of the notch 6.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a trellis staple 1, 101 according to the present invention.

[0053] The method comprises the following steps:

[0054] a) providing a strip of material;

[0055] b) cutting the strip widthwise according to a defined cutting pattern;

[0056] c) repeat step b) at a predefined distance from the cutout of step b).

[0057] Thus, the trellis staples 1, 101, 101' are made by successive cuts in a strip. The cutting line in the width direction and going from one edge to the other of the strip then delimits the notch 6, 106, 106' of a first trellis staple 1, 101, 101' and the gripping part 12, 112, 112' of a second adjacent trellis staple 1, 101, 101', in the manner of a puzzle. Thus, the material taken for the notch 6, 106, 106' of a trellis staple 1, 101, 101' constitutes the gripping part 12, 112, 112' of the adjacent trellis staple 1, 101, 101' in the successive order of cutting in the strip. In this way, no material is lost, which makes the manufacturing method particularly advantageous both from an economic and an ecological point of view.

[0058] It should be noted that the gripping portion 12, 112, 112' can be obtained from the portion of the plate 2, 102, 102' cut to produce the notch 6, 106, 106'. To do this, a cut is made in a plate 2, 102, 102' according to a predefined notch pattern 6, 106, 106'. Then the resulting offcut is brought to the level of the second longitudinal edge 4, 104, 104' of the plate 2, 102, 102', the edge of the offcut initially corresponding to the first longitudinal edge 3, 103, 103' of the plate 2, 102, 102' being brought opposite the second longitudinal edge 4, 104, 104' of the plate 2, 102, 102'. Then the offcut is secured to the plate 2, 102, 102' by any suitable means, by gluing for example, to constitute the gripping part 12, 112, 112'.

[0059] It is understood that the embodiments which have just been described have been given for informational and non-limiting purposes and that embodiments may be provided without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. A trellis staple (1; 101; 101') comprising a plate (2; 102; 102') having two so-called longitudinal edges (3, 4; 103, 104; 103', 104') and two so-called lateral edges (5) opposite each other in pairs, a notch (6; 106; 106') being provided at a first longitudinal edge (3; 103; 103'), the notch (6; 106; 106') comprising an opening (7; 107; 107') made at the first longitudinal edge (3; 103; 103') and extending into two branches (9; 109; 109') extending in divergent directions, the trellis staple (1; 101; 101') having a plane of plane symmetry intersecting the first (3; 103; 103') and second (4; 104; 104') longitudinal edges and passing through its center, the clip (1; 101; 101') further comprising a gripping portion (12; 112; 112') arranged at the second longitudinal edge (4; 104; 104') of the plate (2; 102; 102') and contained in the plane of the plate (2; 102;102'), characterized in that the gripping part (12; 112; 112') has a shape complementary to that of the notch (6; 106; 106').;

2. Staple (1; 101; 101') according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping part (12; 112; 112') comprises a foot (13) extending from the plate (2; 102; 102') and from which two lateral branches (14) extend in divergent directions.

3. Trellising staple (1; 101; 101') according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the gripping part (12; 112; 112') is made in one piece with the plate (2; 102; 102').

4. A trellis staple according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gripping part is an attached part secured to the plate.

5. A trellis staple (1; 101; 101') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the trellis staple (1; 101; 101') is made of a biodegradable material, for example wood or compressed wood chips.

6. A trellis staple (1; 101; 101') according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the opening (7; 107; 107') has rounded walls.

7. A trellis staple (1; 101; 101') according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the notch (6; 106; 106')

8. has a Y shape. A trellis staple according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the notch has a T shape.

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