Stem support clips

Abstract

The present invention provides a resin stem support clip that, even after a period of time has elapsed since being attached to a hanging string and stem, allows the connected arms to open wide when the locking mechanism is released. [Solution] The stem support clip 1 for climbing plants has a pair of arms 2a and 2b that are connected at one end and curved in an arc shape so that they form a loop when the other ends are connected. The resin stem support clip is closed into a loop by bending the connected part at one end of the pair of arms and connecting the other ends at connecting parts 2g and 2h. An elastic body is provided at the bending part of the connected end to bias the arms to open. By adopting this configuration, the elastic body provided at the bending part of the pair of arms allows the arms to be opened wide even after time has passed, when the connection at the connecting part is released.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stem guiding clip for bundling a hanging string or a support column with a vine or a stem when growing a vine plant.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an openable and closable ring-shaped type of stem guiding clip described in Patent Document 1 is known (see FIG. 7).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The stem guiding clip is used to bundle together with a hanging string so that it grows straight when the vine or the stem is thin. However, when the plant grows and the vine or the stem becomes thick, it is removed once for height adjustment or the like, and then reattached.

[0005] The openable and closable ring-shaped type of stem guiding clip has a simple structure and is lightweight compared to, for example, a washing clip type of stem guiding clip, and is preferable for farmers with advancing age. In the case of this openable and closable ring-shaped type of stem guiding clip that uses no hinge and uses bent members, the structure is simpler than that using a hinge, which is preferable. However, due to the property of the resin that attempts to maintain its shape in the bent state, even if one tries to open the stem guiding clip after a lapse of time, it becomes less openable than at the start of use. When reattaching, since the stem has become thicker, it is necessary to open it wider. The stem guiding clip that has become less openable than at the start of use has a problem that it is troublesome to handle because it needs to be pinched and opened with both hands.

[0006] This invention was made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and aims to provide a stem support clip of the ring type that can be opened and closed, which opens wide on its own when the locking part of the clip is released, even after time has passed, and as a result can be handled with one hand, eliminating the need to pinch it with both hands. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a stem support clip for climbing plants, which has a pair of arms that are connected at one end and curved in an arc shape so as to form a loop when the other ends are connected, and is designed to be bent at the connected end of the pair of arms and connected at the connecting part to close into a loop, and is characterized in that an elastic body is provided at the bending part of the connected end that biases the arms to open.

[0008] Preferably, the portion of the pair of arms equipped with the elastic body is provided with a protruding locking portion for holding the elastic body even when the arms are open.

[0009] The elastic body is preferably a hollow silicone tube. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this invention, the elastic body provided at the bending portion of the pair of arms allows the arms to be opened wide even after time has passed, when the connection at the connecting part is released. As a result, when the vine or stem has thickened, the stem support clip can be removed and reattached for height adjustment, etc., and this can be done with one hand. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of a stem support clip according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the bent portion of the pair of arms into which the silicone tube is inserted. [Figure 2]Decomposed perspective view from a different angle than Figure 1. [Figure 3] Front view of a stem support clip. [Figure 4] The solid line shows the stem support clip in the closed position, and the dotted line shows the position after time has passed, when the connection of the stem support clip has been released and the pair of arms have been opened. [Figure 5] The solid line shows the closed state of the stem support clip without a silicone tube, and the dotted line shows the state after time has passed, when the connection of the stem support clip is released and the pair of arms are opened. [Figure 6] A diagram showing a modified configuration of a stem support clip. [Figure 7] (a) to (d) show examples of conventional stem support clips. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The stem support clip for climbing plants according to this invention has a pair of arms that are connected at one end and curved in an arc shape so as to form a loop when the other ends are connected. The connected portion of the pair of arms is bent, and the other ends are connected at a connecting part to close into a loop. The stem support clip is made of resin and is characterized in that an elastic body is provided at the bending portion of the connected portion of the arms to bias the arms to open. By adopting this configuration, the elastic body provided at the bending portion of the pair of arms allows the arms to be opened wide even after time has passed, when the connection at the connecting part is released. As a result, when the stem support clip is removed for height adjustment or other purposes when the vine or stem has thickened, it can be operated with one hand when reattaching it.

[0013] A stem support clip 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the stem support clip 1. The stem support clip 1 is composed of a main body 2 and a hollow silicone tube 3 as an elastic body. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view from a different orientation.

[0014] The main body 2 is made of an elastic resin, with one end 2c, 2d connected, and has a pair of arms 2a, 2b that are curved in an arc shape so that when the other ends 2e, 2f are connected, a ring is formed. By bending the connected part (indicated by arrow A) of one end 2c, 2d of the pair of arms 2a, 2b and connecting the other ends 2e, 2f at the connecting parts 2g, 2h (collectively indicated by reference sign B), it is closed in a ring shape. The dimensions are, for example, width W = 58 mm, height H = 50 mm, and thickness T1 = 10 mm. The connected part (indicated by arrow A) of one end 2c, 2d is bent in an arc shape with a diameter R1 = 4 mm, and locking protrusions 2i, 2j (located at a position facing the protrusion 2i. Refer to FIG. 2) are provided on the inner side thereof. Also, by closing the other ends 2e, 2f, hanging string fastening parts 4a, 4b with a thickness T2 = 4 mm each that approach and overlap are provided. Since the thickness T1 of the main body is 10 mm, even when the other ends 2e, 2f are connected and closed at the connecting parts 2g, 2h, a 2-mm gap remains between the hanging string fastening parts 4a, 4b. This gap dimension is appropriately set to a good retention value according to the thickness and hardness of the hanging strings in the market.

[0015] The silicone tube 3 is, for example, a hollow tube with a diameter R2 = 4 mm and a thickness T3 = 1.5 mm, and a tube with a length L = 10 mm is used. Note that the elastic body to be used is not limited to the silicone tube, and as long as it acts to expand the pair of arms 2a, 2b, an elastic rubber mass or a small metal spring, etc. may be used.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the stem attracting clip 1 with the silicone tube 3 set. In the initial state, the arms 2a, 2b are open to the extent shown in the figure.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows, in solid lines, the state where the pair of arms 2a, 2b are closed by connecting them at the connecting parts 2g, 2h to form a ring shape, and, in dotted lines, the degree of opening of the pair of arms 2a, 2b when the connecting parts 2g, 2h are opened after, for example, the passage of time such as January.

[0018] Figure 5 shows, with a solid line, the state in which a pair of arms 2a and 2b are closed and formed into a ring shape by connecting them with connecting parts 2g and 2h without setting the silicone tube 3, and the dotted line shows the degree to which the pair of arms 2a and 2b are opened when the connecting parts 2g and 2h are opened after a period of time, such as one month.

[0019] Comparing Figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that the use of the silicone tube 3 allows the arm to open widely even after time has passed. Also, as shown in the figures, after one month, even with the silicone tube 3, the arm does not open to the initial degree, but it opens sufficiently to allow reattachment to a thickened stem. In addition to this fact, with the stem training clip 1, the locking projections 2i and 2j provided on the inside of the connected part of one end 2c and 2d bite into the silicone tube 3 and create a recess, for example, after one month has passed. This recess remains as a mark, so when the plant grows and the vine or stem thickens (for example, after one month has passed), the silicone tube 3 will not fall off when the stem training clip 1 is removed and reattached for height adjustment or other purposes. The function of these locking protrusions 2i and 2j eliminates the need to provide a lid to close both sides of the silicone tube 3 housed inside the connected portion of one end 2c and 2d, thereby simplifying the mold used in manufacturing the stem support clip 1 and reducing costs.

[0020] Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above various embodiments, and various modifications are possible without changing the gist of the invention. For example, FIG. 6 shows a stem attracting clip 11 according to a modified example of the stem attracting clip 1. The same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the stem attracting clip 1, and duplicate descriptions are omitted here. In the stem attracting clip 11, instead of the silicon 3, a plate-like or linear small metal spring 13 having the shape shown in FIG. 6 is adopted. The spring 13 is provided with depressions that fit the protrusions 2i and 2j of the main body 2. This prevents the spring from falling off during reattachment. The shapes of the hanging string fastening portions 4a and 4b are not limited to those shown in this embodiment as long as the stem attracting clip can be locked to the hanging string. For example, a shape in which the gap interval is set close to 0 mm and the hanging string is sandwiched at this portion may be adopted. Further, the tips 12e and 12f of the stem attracting clip 11 adopt a shape that extends in the spreading direction as shown in FIG. 6. By adopting this configuration, when the stem attracting clip 11 is pressed against the stem, the arms of the stem attracting clip are more likely to spread. That is, when the stem attracting clip 11 used for about one month is removed once and reattached to the stem again, further convenience is achieved.

Industrial Applicability

[0021] The stem attracting clip of the present invention can be used in various ways regardless of the type of vine plant as long as it is used for fixing the position on the hanging string and surrounding one or more stems.

Explanation of Signs

[0022] 1, 11 Stem attracting clip 2 Main body 2a, 2b Arms 2c, 2d Ends on the side where the arms are connected 2e, 2f Ends on the side where the arms are connected 2g, 2h Connection part 2i, 2j Protrusions 3 Silicon tube 4a, 4b Hanging string fastening part 13 Small metal spring

Claims

1. A resin stem support clip has a pair of arms that are connected at one end and curved in an arc shape so as to form a loop when the other ends are connected, and the connected portion of the pair of arms at one end is bent and the other end is connected at the connecting part to close it into a loop, A stem support clip for climbing plants, characterized in that it is provided with an elastic body at the bending portion of the connected end that biases the arm to open.

2. In the stem support clip for climbing plants according to claim 1, A stem support clip for climbing plants, characterized in that the portion of the pair of arms equipped with the elastic body is provided with a protruding locking portion for holding the elastic body even when the arms are open.

3. In the stem support clip for climbing plants according to claim 2, The stem support clip for climbing plants is characterized in that the elastic body is a hollow silicone tube.

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