TREE SUPPORT FIXING DEVICE

Abstract

Stake Fixing Device The present invention relates to a fixing device (1) arranged to be anchored in the ground in order to maintain a stake in a vertical position, notable in that it comprises at least: - a body (2) generally in the form of a vertical cylinder and provided with an opening on its upper face (4) and arranged to receive the lower end of said stake, - two tabs (5) each arranged along one side of the body (2) and each extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (6) thereof, and - a plurality of reinforcements (8) generally in the form of a disc arranged along the body (2), each extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (6) of said body (2) and joining each tab 5 to each adjacent tab 5. [Fig 1]

Description

Title of the invention: TUTOR FIXING DEVICE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of gardening. More specifically, it relates to a device for fixing a spiral stake for tomato plants in the ground. State of the art

[0002] In the field of tomato plant cultivation, it is known to use a stake to support each tomato plant during its growth and prevent it from breaking under the weight of the tomatoes. Advantageously, the stake must be resistant to overloading to support the plant and unaffected by moisture, its base being buried in the soil and regularly watered.

[0003] The supports exist in different materials: wood, bamboo, metal or even fiberglass, and in different shapes: straight, telescopic or spiral.

[0004] Metal stakes are the most resistant to weathering and overloading. Furthermore, although more expensive, spiral stakes are advantageous due to their ease of installation, the simplicity of staking without ties, and the vertical growth of tomato plants, which has the effect of: - optimizing space in the vegetable garden, - to prevent diseases by avoiding any contact between tomatoes and the soil, - to increase plant yield, with tomatoes receiving more light and air, and - to facilitate tomato harvesting.

[0005] However, spiral supports, which are planted directly in the ground, have the major disadvantage of tending to lean, especially when the wind rises and / or when the plants grow and are covered with tomatoes.

[0006] It is therefore necessary to develop a device for fixing the spiral stake in the ground, preventing any tilting of said stake, even when the wind rises and / or when the plants grow and are covered with tomatoes. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to propose a device for fixing in the ground a spiral stake for tomato plants, said device being compact, simple to implement and to manufacture, and guaranteeing not only the verticality of the stake regardless of the weather and / or the number of tomatoes on the plant, but also respect for the environment.

[0008] In accordance with the invention, a fixing device is therefore proposed, arranged to be anchored in the ground in order to maintain in a vertical position a stake notable in that it comprises at least: - a body generally shaped like a vertical cylinder and equipped with an opening on its upper face, arranged to receive the lower end of said support, - two tabs, each arranged along one side of the body and extending parallel to its longitudinal axis from its upper surface, and - a plurality of reinforcements in the general shape of a disc, arranged along the body, each extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said body and joining each tab to each adjacent tab.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, the body comprises four tabs distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis uniformly, so that the cross-section of the body is in the general shape of a cross.

[0010] Preferably, the tabs extend beyond the end of the body opposite its upper face.

[0011] Two tabs arranged opposite each other advantageously have a bevel at their end opposite the upper face of the body.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, one of the reinforcements is flush with the upper face of the body.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the body advantageously comprises recesses between the tabs so as to connect the orifice with the outside of said fastening device.

[0014] Preferably, the fastening device is made from recycled material from polyethylene and aluminum packaging waste. Brief description of the figures

[0015] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a fastening device according to the invention,

[0017] [Fig.2] is a front view of the fastening device of the [Fig.1],

[0018] [Fig.3] is a side view of the fastening device of the [Fig.1],

[0019] [Fig.4] is a vertical section of the fastening device of [Fig.1] along axis IV - IV' of the [Fig.2], and

[0020] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device fixation according to the invention in progress. Description of the implementation methods

[0021] With reference to figures 1 and 4, the invention relates to a fixing device 1 arranged to be anchored in the ground in order to maintain in a vertical position a stake, not shown, advantageously of the type metallic spiral stake.

[0022] The fixing device 1 comprises a body 2 in the general shape of a vertical cylinder and provided with an opening 3 arranged on its upper face 4 and arranged to receive the lower end of said stake.

[0023] The fixing device 1 is arranged to be anchored in the horizontal ground, but it goes without saying that it can be anchored in the more or less inclined ground, terms such as, for example, vertical, horizontal, superior or inferior will then have to be adapted.

[0024] Similarly, it goes without saying that the term "cylinder" does not exclusively refer to a cylinder of revolution but to any volume generated by a straight line moving parallel to an axis and along a curve such as, for example, an ellipse, or even a polygon.

[0025] Said fastening device 1 further comprises at least two tabs 5 arranged along and on one side of the body 2 and each extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 6 of the latter from its upper face 4 and, advantageously, beyond its end opposite to said upper face 4.

[0026] According to the embodiment shown, the body 2 of the fastening device 1 has four tabs 5 distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis 6 in a uniform manner, that is to say that each tab 5 forms with the adjacent tab 5 an angle of 90°, so that the cross section of the body 2 is in the general shape of a cross.

[0027] The body 2 of the fastening device 1 may comprise three, five, six, ... tabs 5, and these may be distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis 6 in a non-uniform manner, without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, it is understood that this cross-shaped design increases the holding power of the fastening device 1 in the soil by significantly limiting its ability to pivot around the longitudinal axis 6 of the body 2.

[0028] According to a limited embodiment not shown, the tabs 5 do not extend beyond the end of the body 2 opposite its upper face 4, but stop at said end. However, this embodiment does not guarantee that the support will remain in a vertical position, unless the body 2 is unnecessarily lengthened.

[0029] According to an advantageous embodiment, each tongue 5 has a bevel 7 at its end opposite the upper face 4 of the body 2. This particular configuration makes it easier to penetrate the fixing device 1 into the soil.

[0030] Furthermore, the fastening device 1 comprises, along the body 2, a plurality of reinforcements 8 in the general shape of a disc, each extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 6 of said body 2 and joining each tab 5 to each adjacent tab 5.

[0031] The phrase "along the body 2" here refers to the fact that the reinforcements 8 are arranged not only along the body 2 but also along the tabs 5 when the latter extend beyond the end of the body 2 opposite its upper face 4.

[0032] Moreover, it goes without saying that the term "disk" does not exclusively designate a flat circular element but any flat element of cross-section having a shape such as, for example, an ellipse or a polygon.

[0033] Preferably, one of the reinforcements 8 is flush with the upper face 4 of the body 2 so as to reinforce the latter to increase its resistance when the fixing device 1 is put in place in the ground using, for example, a hammer.

[0034] This configuration with the reinforcements 8 makes it possible to increase the holding of the fixing device 1 in the soil by greatly increasing the resistance to displacement of the latter along the longitudinal axis 6 of the body 2, and therefore to the pulling out of said fixing device 1. This also has the effect of guaranteeing the vertical maintenance of the stake received in the orifice 3 of the body 2 of the fixing device 1.

[0035] Advantageously, and with a view to environmental protection, the fastening device 1 according to the invention is made by injection molding from recycled material derived from polyethylene and aluminum packaging waste. To this end, the injection point is preferably located at the junction of the tabs 5 on the side opposite the upper face 4 of the body 2. Thus, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, it is therefore preferable that only two tabs 5 arranged opposite each other bevel at their end opposite the upper face 4 of the body 2, in order to have a sufficiently large area to allow optimal injection of the material.

[0036] Finally, having a body 2 with a section less wide than the overall section of the tabs 5 makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid an excess thickness of material which would have the consequence of having to cool part of the mold and therefore increase the cost of manufacturing the fastening device 1 according to the invention and, on the other hand, to have an area which can be used to engrave or stick a barcode to identify said fastening device 1.

[0037] Furthermore, according to another embodiment, with reference to [Fig. 5], the body 2 of the fastening device 1 according to the invention advantageously comprises recesses 9 between the tabs 5 so as to connect the orifice 3 with the exterior of said fastening device 1. This configuration not only further accentuates the phenomenon described above, namely having to cool part of the mold, but also reducing the amount of material to be used, in order to have an eco-responsible design of said fixing device 1.

[0038] In this configuration, the fastening device 1 is shaped to advantageously have at least two reinforcements 8 along the body 2 in order not to degrade the mechanical resistance of the assembly due to the presence of the recesses 9.

[0039] The fixing device 1 according to the invention applies more particularly to anchoring a metal spiral stake for tomato plants in the ground in order to keep it in a vertical position, but it is understood that said fixing device 1 can be adapted to hold a shaped support element for other plants or flowers.

[0040] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of fastening device 1 according to the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A fixing device (1) arranged to be anchored in the ground in order to maintain in a vertical position a stake characterized in that it comprises at least: - a body (2) in the general shape of a vertical cylinder and provided with an opening (3) arranged on its upper face (4) and arranged to receive the lower end of said stake, - two tabs (5) each disposed along and on one side of the body (2) and each extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (6) of the latter from its upper face (4), and - a plurality of reinforcements (8) in the general shape of a disc, disposed along the body (2), each extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (6) of said body (2) and joining each tab 5 to each adjacent tab 5.

2. A fastening device (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the body (2) has four tabs (5) distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis (6) in a uniform manner, so that the cross-section of the body (2) is in the general shape of a cross.

3. A fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the tabs (5) extend beyond the end of the body (2) opposite its upper face (4).

4. A fastening device (1) according to claims 2 and 3 characterized in that two tabs (5) arranged opposite each other each have a bevel (7) at its end opposite the upper face (4) of the body (2).

5. Fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that one of the reinforcements (8) is flush with the upper face (4) of the body (2).

6. A fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the body (2) has recesses (9) between the tabs (5) so as to connect the orifice (3) with the outside of said fastening device (1).

7. A fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that it is made from recycled material from polyethylene and aluminium packaging waste.

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