Device for tensioning a trellis wire

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for tensioning a trellis wire (2) extending between two head posts (3). Said device (1) comprises a fixing means (4) on one of the head posts (3) and a tensioning means (5) for the trellis wire (2). The fixing means (4) comprises a hooking member (6) on the head post (3) and a holding member (7) for the tensioning means (5). The tensioning means (5) comprises a member (8) for gripping and rotating the tensioning means (5) by a user, a member (9) for locking the tensioning means (5) in rotation (R) on the fixing means (4) and a loop (10) for passing an end folded back on itself of the trellis wire (2) which is interposed between the gripping and rotating member (8) and the locking member (9). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Device for tensioning a trellis wire

[0001] The invention relates to a device for tensioning a trellis wire which extends at least partially between two head stakes. It relates to such a device. It also relates to a method for tensioning such a trellis wire.

[0002] A trellising installation consists of stakes spaced three to five meters apart depending on the type of installation and the type of vineyard. These stakes are aligned with the rows of vines planted for the production of vines and therefore grapes, these stakes being called intermediate stakes and these rows of vines being called vineyard roads.

[0003] On these stakes is attached a wire on which the frames of the previously mentioned vines are tied, this wire being called the binding wire. Each row of stakes is delimited by end and start stakes of the vineyard route, these stakes being called head stakes. Between the head stakes, taut wires are attached, generally in pairs by means of a slide, such as a U-shaped slide composed of two rods with at the end of these two rods a ring for attaching the taut wires, these taut wires allowing the different strands of the vines of the vine to be kept in a vertical position and allowing the strands not to collapse under the weight of the grapes until the harvest period. These taut wires are called lifting or trellising wires.To attach a lifting or trellis wire to a slide, you must pass the end of this lifting or trellis wire through the ring of the slide, then twist this lifting or trellis wire around itself for about thirty centimeters to prevent it from slackening or coming off the ring of the slide.

[0004] A first problem relating to such a practice is that it requires the use of a tool to stretch and twist the lifting or trellising wire, such as needle-nose pliers, multi-grip pliers or the like, which is restrictive.

[0005] A second problem with such a practice lies in the fact that the user must exert a certain amount of force to achieve this tension, which is exhausting in the long run over hectares of vines.

[0006] However, the tension of the lifting or trellising wires is important for the proper maintenance of the trellising installation. This makes the lifting and trellising work easier. This tension must therefore be carried out at least once a year.

[0007] Currently, for example in the French region of Champagne, the tension of the wires lifting or trellising wires is done manually and this task remains tedious and difficult. It is necessary to untwist the lifting or trellising wires, remove them from the rings of the slide, tighten them using only the strength of the arms using pliers, then finally, while keeping them taut, twist them back on themselves so that they do not come off the rings of the slide.

[0008] This practice remains tedious and unsuitable for modern viticulture.

[0009] An aim of the present invention is to propose a device for tensioning a lifting or trellising wire, which is simple, easy to produce and to use, and which makes it possible to tension said wire, without having to have an external tool and without deploying a significant force.

[0010] The present invention falls within this context and proposes a device for tensioning a trellis wire which extends at least partially between two head stakes. The tensioning device comprises a means for fixing to one of the head stakes and a means for tensioning the trellis wire.

[0011] According to the present invention, the fixing means comprises a member for attachment to the head post and a member for holding the tensioning means. The tensioning means comprises a member for gripping and rotating the tensioning means by a user. The tensioning means also comprises a member for locking the tensioning means in rotation on the fixing means. The tensioning means also comprises a loop for passing an end of the trellis wire folded back on itself. The passage loop is interposed between the gripping and rotating member and the locking member. The passage loop is preferably of a rectangular shape.

[0012] The tensioning device advantageously comprises at least one of the following technical characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

[0013] - the fixing means comprises a first arm which extends between the member attachment and a first loop of the holding member, and a second arm which extends between the attachment member and a second loop of the holding member. The first arm and the second arm are preferably coplanar,

[0014] - the first loop and the second loop are arranged around an axis of support which is orthogonal to a general extension axis of the fixing means along which the arms extend. The support axis and the general extension axis are preferably coplanar,

[0015] - the first loop has a first end which adjoins the first arm for form a closed loop and the second loop has a second end which is arranged at a non-zero distance from the second arm to form an open loop allowing assembly of the tensioning means and the fixing means. The second loop, open, advantageously allows insertion of a first amount of the tensioning means inside the second loop,

[0016] - the tensioning means comprises a first upright which extends between the member of gripping and rotation, and the passage loop along a first axis of elongation, and a second upright which extends between the blocking member and the passage loop along a second axis of elongation, the first axis of elongation and the second axis of elongation being distinct, parallel to each other and concurrent with the general extension axis,

[0017] - the second amount adjoins a third amount which extends along a third elongation axis concurrent and orthogonal with the second elongation axis,

[0018] - the third upright carries an elbow provided with the locking member, the elbow comprising a fourth upright which adjoins the third upright and which extends along a fourth axis of elongation, and a fifth upright which carries the locking member and which extends along a fifth axis of elongation, the fourth axis of elongation and the fifth axis of elongation forming a first angle of 105°, at + / - 10%,

[0019] - the locking member comprises a locking hook which extends in a plane of blocking in which the fifth amount is inscribed, the blocking plane forming with the fourth axis of elongation a second angle which is of the order of 105°, at + / - 10%, and

[0020] - the third axis of elongation forms with the fourth axis of elongation a third angle which is of the order of 70°, at + / - 10%.

[0021] The present invention also relates to a method for tensioning a trellis wire extending between two head stakes by means of such a tensioning device, the tensioning device comprising a fixing means and a tensioning means, the fixing means comprising a hooking member and a member for holding the tensioning means, the tensioning means comprising a member for gripping and rotating the tensioning means, a member for locking the tensioning means in rotation on the fixing means and a loop for passing the trellis wire which is interposed between the gripping and rotating member and the locking member.The tensioning method comprises a first step of placing a fixing means on one of the head stakes by means of the attachment member, then a second step of placing a tensioning means inside the holding member, then a third step of passing the folded end of the trellis wire inside the passage loop, then a fourth step of rotating the tensioning means by means of the gripping and rotation member on which a user exerts a rotation, then a fifth step of locking the tensioning means in rotation on the fixing means by means of the locking member.

[0022] These arrangements are such that the tensioning device makes it possible to tension fa quickly and without any particular force the lifting or trellising wires at any time of the year, as part of vineyard work and without using tools external to this device.

[0023] The present tensioning device makes it possible to avoid all the restrictive actions inherent in the devices of the prior art. Indeed, the conformation, preferably rectangular, of the passage loop of the present tensioning device makes it possible to tension the lifting or trellising wire by a simple rotation thereof. This conformation of the passage loop also makes it possible to relax the lifting or trellising wire by a simple reverse rotation. Thus, each of the two lifting wires of the vineyard road is tensioned independently by each of the two tensioning devices present at each end of the vineyard road.

[0024] The first technical advantage of this tensioning device is that there is no longer any need to manipulate the lifting or trellising wires to tension them; the second technical advantage is that there is no longer any need for external tools to achieve this tension; the third technical advantage is that no significant force is required; and the last technical advantage is that it fulfills the role of the slides of the prior art.

[0025] The first technical feature of the tensioning device lies in the rectangular shape of the passage loop in which the end of the lifting or trellising wire folded back on itself is positioned by passing the end of the latter inside the passage loop after having folded this end back on itself by approximately two centimeters at most. Thanks to this central shape, preferably in the form of a rectangle, the lifting or trellising wire is offset from the axis of rotation of the assembly and can thus undergo a rotational torque. The gripping and rotation member in the form of a handle makes it possible to easily exert this rotational torque on the tensioning means for tensioning the lifting or trellising wire.

[0026] The second technical feature of the tensioning device lies in the shape of the locking member opposite the gripping and rotation member. The angles given to this locking member ensure the locking position of the tensioning device after rotation thereof. The V-shaped end of the locking member allows the tensioning device to remain locked and thus allows the lifting or trellising wire to remain taut.

[0027] The third particularity of the tensioning device is that its shape and overall design make it possible to do the reverse of all the manipulations mentioned above in order to relax the lifting or trellising wires if the tension exerted is too great.

[0028] The present tensioning device is preferably made of a rigid galvanized steel wire with a diameter of five millimeters, but can also be made of a five millimeter stainless steel wire.

[0029] 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:

[0030] [Fig. 1] represents a vineyard road which comprises at least one lifting or trellising wire and which is equipped with at least one device for tensioning the lifting or trellising wire.

[0031] [Fig.2] represents a first variant embodiment of the device for putting under tension shown in [Fig.l].

[0032] [Fig.3] represents a second variant embodiment of the device for putting under tension shown in [Fig.l].

[0033] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of the tensioning means constituting the powering device shown in the previous figures.

[0034] [Fig.5] represents a partial top view of the tensioning device illustrated in the previous figures.

[0035] [Fig.6] represents a side view of the tensioning means illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0036] In [Fig.l], a trellising installation 100 comprises intermediate stakes 101 aligned with rows of vines 102 planted for the production of grapes. Each row of intermediate stakes 101 is delimited by head stakes 3 arranged at the beginning and end of the trellising installation 100. Between the head stakes 3, at least one lifting or trellising wire 2, hereinafter referred to as trellising wire 2, is stretched at least partially, which makes it possible to maintain the different strands of the vines 102 in a vertical position, thus allowing the strands not to collapse under the weight of the grapes until the harvest period. This trellising wire 2 must be kept taut as the vines and grapes grow.

[0037] In Figures 2 and 3, a tensioning device 1 for the trellis wire 2 is illustrated, the tensioning device 1 illustrated in [Fig.2] being designed to be attached to a wooden head post 3 while the tensioning device 1 illustrated in [Fig.3] is designed to be attached to a steel head post 3.

[0038] Whatever the variant, the tensioning device 1 comprises a fixing means 4 on the head stake 3 and a tensioning means 5 of the trellis wire 2.

[0039] The fixing means 4 comprises a hooking member 6 on the head stake 3 and a holding member 7 for the tensioning means 5. The hooking member 6 has the function of attaching the tensioning device 1 to a head stake 3. The holding member 7 has the function of carrying the tensioning means 5 of the trellis wire 2.

[0040] The fixing means 4 comprises a first arm 41 which extends between the attachment member 6 and a first loop 71 of the holding member 7. The fixing means 4 also comprises a second arm 42 which extends between the attachment member 6 and a second loop 72 of the holding member 7. Preferably, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 are parallel to a general extension axis A2 of the tensioning device 1. The first loop 71 and the second loop 72 are arranged around a holding axis A1 which is orthogonal to the general extension axis A2 of the fixing means 4 along which the arms 41, 42 extend. The holding axis A1 and the general extension axis A2 are coplanar and inscribed in a first plane PI, in which the arms 41, 42 are also inscribed.

[0041] The first loop 71 comprises a first end 73 which adjoins the first arm 41 to form a closed loop and the second loop 72 comprises a second end 74 which is arranged at a non-zero distance D from the second arm 42 to form an open loop allowing assembly of the tensioning means 5 and the fixing means 4.

[0042] The attachment member 6 comprises a semi-circular portion 60. According to the variant illustrated in [Fig. 3], the semi-circular portion 60 is connected on the one hand to the first arm 41 and on the other hand to the second arm 42. According to the variant illustrated in [Fig. 2], an intermediate portion 61 is interposed between the semi-circular portion 60 and each of the arms 41, 42. Each intermediate portion 61 comprises a first portion 611 and a second portion 612 which form between them a portion angle δ strictly between 90° and 180°. It is noted that the semi-circular portion 60, the arms 41, 42, and possibly the intermediate portions 611, 612 are coplanar and inscribed in the first plane PL

[0043] The tensioning means 5 comprises a gripping and rotation member 8 for the tensioning means 5, a locking member 9 for rotation R of the tensioning means 5 on the fixing means 4 and a loop 10 for passing an end folded back on itself of the trellising wire 2. The passage loop 10 is interposed between the gripping and rotation member 8 and the locking member 9. Preferably, the passage loop 10 has a substantially rectangular shape. It is understood that the gripping and rotation member 8 is the member that the user grasps to apply a rotation on itself of the tensioning means 5 around the holding axis AL

[0044] In [Fig. 4], the tensioning means 5 comprises a first upright 51 which extends between the gripping and rotation member 8, and the passage loop 10 along a first elongation axis B1. The tensioning means 5 also comprises a second upright 52 which extends between the blocking member 9 and the passage loop 10 along a second elongation axis B2. The first elongation axis B1 and the second elongation axis B2 are distinct, parallel to each other and concurrent with the general extension axis A2, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

[0045] Referring again to [Fig.4], the second upright 52 adjoins a third upright 53 which extends along a third concurrent elongation axis B3 and thogonal with the second axis of elongation B2. The third upright 53 carries an elbow 11 provided with the locking member 9. The elbow 11 comprises a fourth upright 54 which adjoins the third upright 53 and which extends along a fourth axis of elongation B4. The third axis of elongation B3 and the fourth axis of elongation B4 are preferably orthogonal. The elbow 11 also comprises a fifth upright 55 which carries the locking member 9 and which extends along a fifth axis of elongation B5. The fourth axis of elongation B4 and the fifth axis of elongation B5 form a first angle a of 105°, at + / - 10%.

[0046] The locking member 9 comprises a locking hook 91 which extends in a locking plane P2 in which the fifth upright 55 is inscribed, the locking plane P2 forming with the fourth axis of elongation B4 a second angle [3 which is of the order of 105°, at + / - 10%.

[0047] The third axis of elongation B3 forms with the fourth axis of elongation B4 a third angle y which is of the order of 70°, at + / - 10%.

[0048] These arrangements are such that a method for tensioning a trellis wire 2 by means of such a tensioning device 1 comprises a first step of placing the fixing means 4 on one of the head stakes 3 by means of the hooking member 6, then a second step of placing the tensioning means 5 inside the holding member 7, then a third step of passing the folded end of the trellis wire 2 inside the passage loop 10, then a fourth step of rotating the tensioning means 5 by means of the gripping and rotation member 8 on which a user exerts rotation R, then a fifth step of locking the tensioning means 5 in rotation on the fixing means 4 by means of the locking member 9.

[0049] It is understood that such a tensioning device 1 finds its application for tensioning a single trellis wire 2, a first end of which is folded over the passage loop 10. The other end of the trellis wire 2 is indifferently fixed directly to the other head post 3, or fixed to the other head post 3 by means of another tensioning device 1, as illustrated in [Fig.l], to facilitate the tensioning of the single trellis wire 2 equipping a long trellis installation 100.

[0050] It is also understood that in the case where the trellising installation 100 comprises two separate trellis wires 2, the trellising installation advantageously comprises at least two tensioning devices 1 as described above, or even three or four or more depending on the number of trellis wires to be considered if the trellising installation 100 comprises more than two trellis wires 2.

Claims

Claims

1. Tensioning device (1) for a trellis wire (2) extending between two head stakes (3), the tensioning device (1) comprising a fixing means (4) on one of the head stakes (3) and a tensioning means (5) for the trellis wire (2), in which the fixing means (4) comprises a hooking member (6) on the head stake (3) and a holding member (7) for the tensioning means (5), the tensioning means (5) comprising a member for gripping and rotating (8) the tensioning means (5) by a user, a locking member (9) for locking the tensioning means (5) in rotation (R) on the fixing means (4) and a loop (10) for passing an end folded back on itself of the trellis wire (2) which is interposed between the gripping and rotating member (8) and the locking member (9).

2. A tensioning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means (4) comprises a first arm (41) which extends between the hooking member (6) and a first loop (71) of the holding member (7), and a second arm (42) which extends between the hooking member (6) and a second loop (72) of the holding member (7).

3. Tensioning device (1) according to claim 2, in which the first loop (71) and the second loop (72) are arranged around a holding axis (Al) which is orthogonal to a general extension axis (A2) of the fixing means (4) along which the arms (41, 42) extend.

4. Tensioning device (1) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, in which the first loop (71) has a first end (73) which adjoins the first arm (41) to form a closed loop and in that the second loop (72) has a second end (74) which is arranged at a non-zero distance (D) from the second arm (42) to form an open loop allowing assembly of the tensioning means (5) and the fixing means (4).

5. A tensioning device (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the tensioning means (5) comprises a first upright (51) which extends between the gripping and rotation member (8) and the passage loop (10) along a first axis of elongation (B1), and a second upright (52) which extends between the locking member (9) and the passage loop (10) along a second axis of elongation (B2), the first axis of elongation (B1) and the second axis of elongation (B2) being distinct, parallel to each other and concurrent with the general axis of extension (A2).

6. A tensioning device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the second upright (52) adjoins a third upright (53) which extends along a third axis of elongation (B3) concurrent and orthogonal with the second axis of elongation (B2).

7. A tensioning device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the third upright (53) carries an elbow (11) provided with the locking member (9), the elbow (11) comprising a fourth upright (54) which adjoins the third upright (53) and which extends along a fourth axis of elongation (B4), and a fifth upright (55) which carries the locking member (9) and which extends along a fifth axis of elongation (B5), the fourth axis of elongation (B4) and the fifth axis of elongation (B5) forming a first angle (a) of 105°, at + / - 10%.

8. Tensioning device (1) according to claim 7, in which the locking member (9) comprises a locking hook (91) which extends in a locking plane (P2) in which the fifth upright (55) is inscribed, the locking plane (P2) forming with the fourth axis of elongation (B4) a second angle (|3) which is of the order of 105°, at + / - 10%.

9. A tensioning device (1) according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the third elongation axis (B3) forms with the fourth elongation axis (B4) a third angle (y) which is of the order of 70°, at + / - 10%.

10. A method of tensioning a trellis wire (2) extending between two head stakes (3) by means of a tensioning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the tensioning device (1) comprising a fixing means (4) and a tensioning means (5), the fixing means (4) comprising a hooking member (6) and a holding member (7) for the tensioning means (5), the tensioning means (5) comprising a gripping and rotation member (8) for the tensioning means (5), a locking member (9) for locking the tensioning means (5) in rotation (R) on the fixing means (4) and a loop (10) for passing the trellis wire (2) which is interposed between the gripping and rotation member (8) and the locking member (9), in which the tensioning method comprises a first step of placing a fixing means (4) on one of the head stakes (3) via the hooking member (6), then a second step of placing a tensioning means (5) inside the holding member (7), then a third step of passing the folded end of the trellising wire (2) inside the passage loop (10), then a fourth step of rotating the tensioning means (5) via the gripping and rotation member (8) on which a user exerts a rotation (R), then a fifth step of locking the tensioning means (5) in rotation on the fixing means (4) via the locking member (9).

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