Device for protecting a plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (1) delimiting an enclosure (2) intended to house a plant seedling and comprising two strands (3a, 3b) of identical conformation. Each strand (3a, 3b) comprises two parallel feet (4a, 4b) arranged in a first direction (A1). Each strand (3a, 3b) comprises two arms (5a, 5b) which are arranged inside a first plane (P1) orthogonal to the first direction (A1). Each arm (5a, 5b) adjoins a respective foot (4a, 4b). Each strand (3a, 3b) comprises a loop (6a, 6b) which is interposed between the two arms (5a, 5b) of said strand (3a, 3b). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for protecting a plant seedling

[0001] The invention relates to a device for protecting a plant seedling. Its subject is such a device. It also relates to a method for assembling such a device.

[0002] When planting a new plot of vines or when interplanting, namely an action which consists of replacing dead plants in a plot of vines which has reached maturity, the winegrowers place one or more iron or wooden articles around the plant to protect the plants from the constraints linked to the passage of soil working tools used for mechanical weeding of vineyard roads.

[0003] Currently, the iron articles used only protect the plants in a single plane perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the direction of advance of the soil working tools. This is not sufficient to protect the plants from external mechanical stresses. It is necessary, given the size and strength of the mechanical and / or hydraulic tools used to weed vineyard roads, to protect the plants in three dimensions along two perpendicular planes, one parallel and the other perpendicular to the direction of advance of the soil working tools, both being perpendicular to the ground.

[0004] Currently, to protect plants in three dimensions, it is necessary to use the same article at least twice and, above all, to carry out an external intervention on these two articles to secure them together, for example, to carry out a weld or a wire tie, so that the three-dimensional protection according to the two planes perpendicular to each other remains in place throughout the life of the young plants. These external interventions on the article are tedious, long, technical and very expensive for the winegrower and must be checked over time to check for wear on the wire tie and / or breakage of the weld.

[0005] Certain solutions are offered to winegrowers directly in three dimensions but these solutions are bulky in terms of transport and logistics, and expensive because the manufacturer must carry out external interventions on behalf of the end user, such as welding which, in the long term, can give way under the repeated constraints of soil working tools.

[0006] An aim of the present invention is to provide a protection device which is simple to produce, inexpensive, easy to use, easy to assemble and disassemble, such a protection device requiring no tools or additional links to enable its assembly.

[0007] The present invention falls within this context and proposes a protection device delimiting an enclosure intended to house a plant seedling. The protective device comprises only, in other words, in total, two strands of identical conformation. Each strand has two parallel feet arranged in a first direction. The two feet of the same strand constitute the two ends of the strand. Each strand has two arms which are arranged within a first plane orthogonal to the first direction. Each arm adjoins a respective foot.

[0008] According to the present invention, each strand comprises a loop which is interposed between the two arms of said strand.

[0009] The protection device advantageously comprises at least one of the following technical characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

[0010] - the loop extends inside a second plane which forms with the first plane a first angle which is between 130° and 140°, preferably equal to 135°;

[0011] - a first loop of a first strand houses a second loop of a second strand;

[0012] - the first loop of the first strand delimits a space which accommodates a portion of the second loop;

[0013] - a first distance measured between two feet of the second strand in a plane parallel to the first plane is less than or equal to a second distance taken between a first foot of the first strand and a second foot of the second strand in a plane parallel to the first plane;

[0014] - a ratio between the first distance and the second distance is between 70% and 100%, preferably between 80% and 90%, more preferably equal to 85%;

[0015] - each strand is made of a metallic material.

[0016] According to another approach of the present invention, the protection device comprises only a first strand and a second strand which are identical.

[0017] The first strand comprises a first loop interposed between a first arm of the first strand and a second arm of the first strand. The first arm of the first strand is extended by a first foot of the first strand and the second arm of the first strand is extended by a second foot of the first strand.

[0018] The second strand comprises a second loop interposed between a first arm of the second strand and a second arm of the second strand. The first arm of the second strand is extended by a first foot of the second strand and the second arm of the second strand is extended by a second foot of the second strand.

[0019] The first loop of the first strand comprises a first first loop vertex which is interposed between a first first loop portion and a second first loop portion. Similarly, the second loop comprises a second second loop vertex which is interposed between a first second loop portion and a second second loop portion.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a method of assembling such a protection device, the protection device comprising two strands of identical conformation, including a first strand and a second strand, each strand comprising two parallel feet arranged in a first direction, each strand comprising two arms which are arranged inside a first plane orthogonal to the first direction, each arm adjoining a respective foot, each strand comprising a loop which is interposed between the two arms of said strand, the assembly method advantageously comprising the following successive steps: - a first step of positioning a first foot of the second strand inside a first loop of the first strand, - a second step of moving the first loop of the first strand along the first foot of the second strand to a first arm of the second strand, - a third stage of rotation of +90° of the first strand around the first arm of the second strand, - a fourth step of inserting the first loop of the first strand inside a second loop of the second strand, - a fifth step of rotation of the first strand by -90° relative to the second strand, and - a sixth step of placing the feet of the strands parallel to each other.

[0021] The specific shape of this protective device designed in three dimensions makes it possible to create the enclosure, in other words a volume for protecting young plants without resorting to external intervention.

[0022] The U-shaped loop tightened on itself allows the two strands to be joined together after assembly. Note that there is only one way to carry out this assembly.

[0023] The primary technical advantage of the protective device is that there is no longer any need for external intervention to ensure that the strands are secured together when the protective device is installed. The second technical advantage compared to existing three-dimensional and very bulky solutions is that this protective device remains two-dimensional until it is installed around the plant, thus significantly reducing the constraints and costs associated with its transport and storage.

[0024] Variants of this protection device can be proposed in terms of wire diameter and length according to the needs of the different vineyards, without deviating from the stated rules of the present invention.

[0025] The invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will be better understood upon reading the description and the non-limiting embodiments which follow, with regard to the appended figures in which:

[0026] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a protection device of the present invention.

[0027] [Fig.2] represents a top view of the protection device illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0028] [Fig.3] represents a first side view of the protection device illustrated in the previous figures.

[0029] [Fig.4] represents a second side view of the protection device illustrated in the previous figures.

[0030] In the figures, a protection device 1 is illustrated delimiting an enclosure 2 intended to house a plant seedling. The protection device 1 is intended to prevent intrusion of a work tool inside the enclosure 2 that the protection device 1 delimits. For this purpose, the protection device 1 comprises in all and for all two strands 3a, 3b, preferably made of a metallic material, which are of identical conformation. In other words, the protection device 1 consists solely and advantageously of two identical strands 3a, 3b. This results in ease of production, referencing, storage and manufacturing costs which are optimized.

[0031] Each strand 3a, 3b comprises two feet 4a, 4b which form the two ends of each strand 3a, 3b. The feet 4a, 4b are parallel and arranged in a first direction AL. Each strand 3a, 3b comprises two arms 5a, 5b which are arranged inside a first plane PI orthogonal to the first direction AL. Each arm 5a, 5b adjoins a respective foot 4a, 4b. In other words, each arm 5a, 5b extends a respective foot 4a, 4b. Preferably, the arms 5a, 5b of the same strand 3a, 3b are arranged orthogonally to each other.

[0032] Each strand 3a, 3b comprises a loop 6a, 6b which is interposed between the two arms 5a, 5b of said strand 3a, 3b. Each loop 6a, 6b extends inside a second plane P2 which forms with the first plane PI a first angle α which is between 130° and 140°, preferably equal to 135°.

[0033] It is noted that each loop 6a, 6b is formed of two loop portions 6d, 6e which are connected by a vertex 6f. Preferably, a first portion 6d and a second portion 6e of the same loop 6a, 6b form between them a second angle [3 which is between 9° and 11°. These arrangements aim to reinforce an assembly of the loops 6a, 6b between them. It is also noted that a loop distance D between the first portion 6d and the second portion 6e of a first strand 3a is less than a diameter of the feet 4a, 4b of a second strand 3b.

[0034] Thus, a first loop 6a of the first strand 3a houses a second loop 6b of the second strand 3b. In other words, the loops 6a, 6b of the strands 3a, 3b together constitute a means of connecting the strands 3a, 3b together, excluding any welding or added connection. For this purpose, the first loop 6a of the first strand 3a delimits a 6c spacing which accommodates the first portion 6d of the second loop 6b.

[0035] It is understood that the protection device 1 comprises only the first strand 3a and the second strand 3b which are identical.

[0036] The first strand 3a comprises a first loop 6a interposed between a first arm 5a of the first strand 3a and a second arm 5b of the first strand 3a. The first arm 5a of the first strand 3a is extended by a first foot 4a of the first strand 3a and the second arm 5b of the first strand 3a is extended by a second foot 4b of the first strand 3a.

[0037] The second strand 3b comprises a second loop 6b interposed between a first arm 5a of the second strand 3b and a second arm 5b of the second strand 3b. The first arm 5a of the second strand 3b is extended by a first foot 4a of the second strand 3b and the second arm 5b of the second strand 3b is extended by a second foot 4b of the second strand 3b.

[0038] It is also noted that the first loop 6a of the first strand 3a comprises a first vertex 6f of first loop 6a which is interposed between a first portion 6d of first loop 6a and a second portion 6e of first loop 6a. Similarly, the second loop 6b comprises a second vertex 6f of second loop 6a which is interposed between a first portion 6d of second loop 6b and a second portion 6e of second loop 6b.

[0039] It is noted that a first distance DI measured between two feet 4a, 4b of the second strand 3b in a plane parallel to the first plane PI is less than or equal to a second distance D2 taken between a first foot 4a of the first strand 3a and a second foot 4b of the second strand 3b in a plane parallel to the first plane PL.

[0040] It is also noted that a ratio between the first distance DI and the second distance D2 is between 70% and 100%, preferably between 80% and 90%, more preferably equal to 85%.

[0041] These arrangements are such that a method of assembling such a protection device is simple, quick to carry out and does not require any external tool, in particular a welding tool, or assembly link to connect the strands 3a, 3b together to form the protection device 1.

[0042] Thus, the assembly method successively comprises: - a first step of positioning a first foot 4a of the second strand 3b inside a first loop 6a of the first strand 3a, - a second step of moving the first loop 6a of the first strand 3a along the first foot 4a of the second strand 3b to a first arm 5a of the second strand 3b, - a third step of rotation of +90° of the first strand 3a around the first arm 5a of the second strand 3b, - a fourth step of inserting the first loop 6a of the first strand 3a inside a second loop 6b of the second strand 3b, - a fifth step of rotation of the first strand 3a by -90° relative to the second strand 3b, and - a sixth step of placing the feet 4a, 4b of the strands 3a, 3b parallel to each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Protective device (1) delimiting an enclosure (2) intended to house a plant seedling and comprising two strands (3a, 3b) of identical conformation, each strand (3a, 3b) comprising two feet (4a, 4b) parallel and arranged in a first direction (Al), each strand (3a, 3b) comprising two arms (5a, 5b) which are arranged inside a first plane (PI) orthogonal to the first direction (Al), each arm (5a, 5b) adjoining a respective foot (4a, 4b), characterized in that each strand (3a, 3b) comprises a loop (6a, 6b) which is interposed between the two arms (5a, 5b) of said strand (3a, 3b).

2. Protective device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the loop (6a, 6b) extends inside a second plane (P2) which forms with the first plane (PI) a first angle (a) which is between 130° and 140°.

3. Protective device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first loop (6a) of a first strand (3a) houses a second loop (6b) of a second strand (3b).

4. Protective device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first loop (6a) of the first strand (3a) delimits a spacing (6c) which houses a portion (6d, 6e) of the second loop (6b).

5. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that a first distance (Dl) measured between two feet (4a, 4b) of the second strand (3b) in a plane parallel to the first plane (PI) is less than or equal to a second distance (D2) taken between a first foot (4a) of the first strand (3a) and a second foot (4b) of the second strand (3b) in a plane parallel to the first plane (PI).

6. Protective device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a ratio between the first distance (D1) and the second distance (D2) is between 70% and 100%.

7. Protective device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each strand (3a, 3b) is made of a metallic material.

8. Method of assembling a protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the protection device (1) comprising two strands (3a, 3b) of identical conformation, including a first strand (3a) and a second strand (3b), each strand (3a, 3b) comprising two feet (4a, 4b) parallel and arranged according to a first direction (Dl), each strand (3a, 3b) comprising two arms (5a, 5b) which are arranged inside a first plane (PI) orthogonal to the first direction (Al), each arm (5a, 5b) adjoining a respective foot (4a, 4b), each strand (3a, 3b) comprising a loop (6a, 6b) which is interposed between the two arms (5a, 5b) of said strand (3a, 3b), characterized in that the assembly method successively comprises: - a first step of positioning a first foot (4a) of the second strand (3b) inside a first loop (6a) of the first strand (3a), - a second step of moving the first loop (6a) of the first strand (3a) along the first foot (4a) of the second strand (3b) to a first arm (5a) of the second strand (3b), - a third step of rotation of +90° of the first strand (3a) around the first arm (5a) of the second strand (3b), - a fourth step of inserting the first loop (6a) of the first strand (3a) inside a second loop (6b) of the second strand (3b), - a fifth step of rotation of the first strand (3a) by -90° relative to the second strand (3b), and - a sixth step of placing the feet (4a, 4b) of the strands (3a, 3b) parallel to each other.

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