TREE SUPPORTS TO GUIDE THE GROWTH OF CLIMBING PLANTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to supports for guiding the growth of creeping or climbing plants with twining stems. A tutor (400) comprises a support (410) fixed to the ground by means of clamps (411), to which is attached a first extension element (412) comprising fastening means (416), which consist of perforations in the first extension element (412), to which are attached flanges (418), which encircle the stem (420), and several secondary extension elements (414) attached to one end of the first extension element (412), said secondary extension elements (414) having attached extension elements TERMINALS (422), IN THE FORM OF VEGETABLE BRANCHES.

Description

DESCRIPTION Supports to guide the growth of climbing plants. Technical field of the invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of gardening and / or cultivation of agricultural or ornamental plants. In particular, the invention relates to auxiliary elements for the growth of climbing or creeping plants with twining stems, that is, stems that are not able to support the total weight of the plant by themselves, such as ivy, nasturtiums, tomato plants, jasmine, bougainvillea, etc., and therefore need supports to grow and develop properly. Background of the invention In gardening and agriculture, there are plants whose stems grow very long but not thick. These plants are known as creeping or climbing plants. This is because their long stems tend to twine around or climb onto nearby objects that can serve as support, such as a tree, a house wall, etc. Examples of these plants include nasturtiums, tomato plants, bougainvillea, ivy, etc. It is known that if left to grow on their own, these plants grow uncontrollably in all directions and end up looking unkempt, creating tangles with other adjacent plants. The result is an unsightly plant, as it remains tangled, which in turn makes pruning, harvesting fruits or flowers, etc., difficult. There are support elements that serve to guide the growth of creeping or climbing plants, such as tubular stakes, nets, trellises, etc. However, when creeping plants completely cover these support elements, they must be replaced with larger ones, which is a rather difficult task, or the plant will die. 2 / 8 of it needs to be pruned so that it doesn't grow beyond the limits of the support elements. Brief description of the invention The present invention provides a support for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants comprising a support configured to be coupled to a fixed structure and one or more extension elements, preferably elongated, with a first and a second end, which serve as support for the growth of the stems of climbing or creeping plants, including said extension elements, both at the first and second ends, connecting means for attaching to the support, or to other extension elements, at the first end, and to a fixed structure, or to other extension elements, at the second end. With a plant growth support, as described earlier, it is possible to increase its size and continue guiding climbing plants even after they have reached the length of the extension elements. Simply connect them to other extension elements or other fixed structures to continue guiding plant growth beyond the length of the first extension elements. The support can be a base anchored to the ground or a plant pot, or a hoop connected to a fixed structure, such as a trellis or the top of a pergola. The support can take on numerous different forms depending on each particular case. In a single embodiment, the tutor may comprise a first, more robust extension element, intended to provide mechanical support to a second extension element and also to the growth of the plant's primary stem. One or more extension elements may be connected to said first extension element, optionally in the form of a trellis or grid, to guide the growth of weaker or younger branches or stems (twining stems). 3 / 8 In this way, climbing plants with twining stems can be grown without needing to be near a fixed structure, such as a wall, trellis, or pergola, since the mechanical support is provided by the support base and the first and second extension elements. The first extension element and / or the second extension element may include means of securing the main stem or branches to them, for example, so that the main stem remains straight and does not twist, or conversely, so that it is constrained to a certain shape, such as a helix shape, or so that the branches adopt a shape similar to that of the second extension element, for example, a sphere, which imitates the crown of a tree. Optionally, the tutor may include some terminal extension elements, which lack means of connection at one of their ends. These terminal extension elements may be in the form of branches or leaves. The means of securing the restraint may comprise a split channel with flaps on one or both sides of the channel, which may be alternated respectively on both sides. Alternatively, the means of securing may comprise slits or holes in the surface of the extension elements for securing the stems or branches of climbing plants, by inserting U-shaped clamps or hooks into said holes or slits. Optionally, the U-shaped clamps or hooks may be used together with strips of fabric or plastic that encircle the stems or branches, leaving more room for them to thicken during their growth. Optionally, the tutors can be made from a single piece. Optionally, the tutors can present an aesthetic of plant forms or defined geometric shapes. 4 / 8 Optionally, the extension elements can be essentially rigid, such as metal or plastic rods, or they can be more flexible, such as cables, tapes, or wires. Optionally, the extension elements can be made of molded plastic. The extension elements can have an ornamental aesthetic, such as the shape of stems, trunks or branches or other plant forms, such as flowers, etc., or a spherical shape, imitating the crown of a tree, or other easily recognizable geometric shapes, such as a globe, an egg, a cone, a cube, etc., so that the extension elements fulfill the function of guiding the growth of climbing plants and simultaneously have an additional decorative or aesthetic function, to adorn balconies, terraces, gardens, etc. Optionally, the extension elements are made of perforated, cut and / or contoured wood, preferably with a laser. Fastening methods can take various forms, such as hooks, straps, U-shaped hooks, Velcro, clips, eyelets, so that the visual impact of the fastening elements is minimal and their presence is not noticeable. Brief description of the drawings For a better understanding of the present description, drawings are included, which represent preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1 represents a first support for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1B represents the means of securing the realization of Figure IA. 5 / 8 Figures 2I, 2B and 2C represent supports for guiding the growth of plants or creepers according to an embodiment of the invention adapted for pergolas. Figure 3 represents a support for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 represents a support for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to another alternative embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 represents a terminal extension element for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants, which is part of an alternative embodiment of the invention. Figures 6A, 6B and 6C represent embodiments of the present invention, in which the second extension elements adopt decorative or ornamental forms and have a lattice or grid structure. Detailed description of the invention Figure IA represents a first tutor (10) for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to an embodiment of the invention. The first tutor (10) comprises a support (12) in the form of a circular plate, to which is attached a first tutor extension element (14) in the form of a small tree trunk, made of molded plastic, although it may also be manufactured in another way. The first tutor extension element (14) is connected to the support (12) by means of a threaded joint, although it may also be a snap-fit ​​joint or other type. The first extension element of the first tutor (14) comprises means for securing the split channel (16) and the split channel (18) with alternating lateral flaps (20). The said means for securing the split channel (16) serve to house the stem of a climbing plant (not shown). 6 / 8 first tutor (10) comprises a second first tutor extension element (22) of spherical shape, connected to the first first tutor extension element by means of a threaded joint, which imitates the crown of a small tree. The second first tutor extension element (22) comprises on its surface first tutor fastening means (24) in the form of spikes (26), around which the younger stems and branches of a climbing plant can be entangled, so that the assembly of the first tutor (10) with the climbing plant once developed has the effect of a small decorative tree. Figure 1B is a detailed view of the means of securing the split canal (16) and the split canal (18) with alternating side flaps (20). Figures 2A, 2B and 2C represent supports for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to another embodiment of the invention, adapted for pergolas. The second tutor (200) of Figure 2A comprises a second tutor support (212) in the form of a ring, configured to be fixed to the top (208) of a fixed pergola structure (210), as shown in Figure 2C. The second tutor (200) comprises a series of second tutor extension elements (214), connected to the second tutor support (212) in the form of a hoop by hoop hooks (216) located at one end and which are connected to the edges of the pergola roof (210) by edge hooks (218) located at opposite ends. The second tutor extension elements (214) are telescopic rods. The second tutor (200) serves as a guide for the growth of a climbing plant (220), so that it covers the entire upper part of the pergola and serves as a roof to protect the lower part from wind, sun, rain, or dew. Figure 2B represents a third tutor (230) for mandrels, but the third tutor extension elements (232) are tapes instead of rods. Furthermore, the third tutor connection means (234) are Velcro strips at both ends of the third tutor extension elements. 7 / 8 tutor (232) way that they can be connected to the third tutor support (236) in the form of a hoop and to the beams of a pergola. Figure 3 depicts a fourth tutor (300) for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The fourth tutor (300) comprises a fourth tutor support (310) with a circular base shape, configured to be fixed in the ground by means of hooks (not visible). The fourth tutor (300) also comprises a first fourth tutor extension element (312) connected to the base of the fourth tutor (310) by means of a snap-fit ​​joint (not visible). The fourth tutor 300 further comprises several fourth tutor extension elements (314) rotatably connected to one end of the first fourth tutor extension component (312), so that they can be fanned out to guide the growth of a climbing plant with a semicircular shape. Figure 4 depicts a fifth tutor (400) for guiding the growth of climbing or creeping plants according to another alternative embodiment of the invention. The fifth tutor (400) comprises a circular fifth tutor support (410) that is fixed to the ground or in a plant pot by means of large metal fifth tutor clamps (411). The fifth tutor (400) also comprises a first fifth tutor extension element (412), connected to the fifth tutor base (410) by a union of tabs, which are inserted into a circular groove (not visible). The fifth tutor (400) further comprises several secondary fifth tutor extension elements (414) connected to one end of the first fifth tutor extension element (412). Said secondary fifth tutor extension elements (414) are in the form of plant branches, which are connected to the first fifth tutor extension element (412) by tabs inserted into the grooves. The first fifth tutor extension element (412) comprises the fifth tutor fastening means (416), which consist of perforations in the first fifth tutor extension element (412), to which the fifth tutor tabs (418) are attached by means of clamps inserted into the perforations, which wrap around the stem (420) of the climbing plants and fasten them. 8 / 8 the same in the first element of the fifth tutor extension (412). fifth tutor (400) comprises fifth tutor terminal extension elements (422) in the form of branched ends, an example of which is shown in Figure 5. Said fifth tutor terminal extension elements (422) comprise fifth tutor connection means (424) in the form of tongues at one end, which are inserted into grooves in the fifth tutor secondary extension elements (414). The fifth tutor extension elements (412, 414, 422) are made of molded plastic. Figures 6A, 6B and 60 represent embodiments of the present invention, in which the extension elements (512), (514) and (516) adopt decorative forms with defined geometric shapes or plant forms, and have a reticulated or trellis structure, such as a sphere, a flower and a leaf, which perform a dual function: guiding the growth of climbing plants and providing mechanical support to twining stems, and an ornamental or decorative function.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants, characterized by comprising a support (12, 212, 236, 310, 410) configured to be coupled to a fixed structure and to one or more extension elements (14, 214, 232, 312, 412, 414) with a first and a second end, which serve as support for the growth of the stems of climbing or creeping plants, the said extension elements (14, 214, 232, 312, 412, 414) comprising at both the first and second ends means of connection to the support (12, 212, 310, 410) or to other fifth support extension elements (412), at the first end, and to a fixed structure (210) or to other extension elements (22, 314, 422, 414) at the second end. 2 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is a base anchored in the ground (12, 310, 410) or in a plant pot, or in a support bracket (212, 236) in the form of a ring, coupled to a fixed structure of a pergola (210). 3 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising a first, more robust extension element (14, 312, 412), intended to guide the growth of the main stem of a climbing plant, to which one or more second extension elements (22, 314, 414, 422), optionally in the form of branches or trellis or reticulate, are attached to guide the growth of the weaker or younger branches or stems of the climbing plant. 4 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to claim 3, characterized in that the first extension element and / or the second extension element comprise means of attachment (16, 24, 416). 5 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any previous claim, 2 / 2 characterized in that the extension elements (14, 214, 232, 312, 314, 412, 414, 422, 512, 514, 516) are essentially rigid. 6 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the extension elements of the third support (232) are flexible. 7 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any previous claim, characterized in that the extension elements (14, 312, 314, 412, 414, 422, 512, 514, 516) are made of molded plastic or perforated, cut and / or contoured wood, preferably with a laser. 8 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by being made of a single piece. 9 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any previous claim, characterized by presenting an aesthetic of plant forms or defined geometric shapes. 10 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any previous claim, characterized in that the extension elements (22, 512, 514, 516) have an aesthetic of plant forms or defined geometric shapes. 11 - Supports for guiding the growth of climbing plants according to any previous claim, characterized in that the fastening means are such as hooks, straps, U-shaped hooks, staples, Velcro, clips, eyelets, so that their visual impact is minimal.

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