Line attachment mechanism and systems and methods for using the same
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A01G-009/12
F16B-002/08
출원번호
US-0676343
(2015-04-01)
등록번호
US-9532511
(2017-01-03)
발명자
/ 주소
Parrish, David
출원인 / 주소
Parrish, David
대리인 / 주소
Miller, Mark D.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
20
초록▼
The present invention provides improved attachment devices fort support lines in plant growth support systems (e.g., trellis systems) and methods of using the same, and offers significant improvements efficiency with regard to assembling and disassembling the support systems for plant and crop growt
The present invention provides improved attachment devices fort support lines in plant growth support systems (e.g., trellis systems) and methods of using the same, and offers significant improvements efficiency with regard to assembling and disassembling the support systems for plant and crop growth. The attachment devices may be advantageously used for various vine and low-lying plants (e.g., grapes, tomatoes, etc.) that can be grown in a trellis system or other vertical growth support system. The anchoring devices may include a wire loop for slipping over an end post and a wire strainer bracket attached to the wire loop.
대표청구항▼
1. An attachment device, comprising: a. a wire loop having a loop portion and two attachment portions, wherein i. said loop portion has a circular open loop shape for engaging an anchoring post;ii. said loop portion is rigid and maintains its shape and diameter under tension; andiii. said two attach
1. An attachment device, comprising: a. a wire loop having a loop portion and two attachment portions, wherein i. said loop portion has a circular open loop shape for engaging an anchoring post;ii. said loop portion is rigid and maintains its shape and diameter under tension; andiii. said two attachment portions each having an extension portion and an anchor, said anchor having an angle in a range of about 40° to about 100° relative to said extension portion;b. a wire strainer bracket having first and second sidewalls and a rear wall connecting the first and second sidewalls, wherein said two attachment portions pass through a passage in said rear wall and each of said anchors engage with one of said sidewalls and connect said wire loop to said wire strainer bracket without any additional connection points between said wire loop and said wire strainer bracket; andc. a spool for attaching and tightening a support line for supporting vertical growth of a plant wherein said spool is rotatably connected to said first and second sidewalls of said wire strainer. 2. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said wire loop comprises a heavy gauge metal wire or a rigid composite material, and has an internal diameter that is substantially greater than the outer diameter or width of said anchoring post. 3. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said anchor has an angle of about 90° relative to said extension portion. 4. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said attachment device can tighten said support line to a tension in a range of about 20 lbs. to about 2000 lbs. 5. The attachment device of claim 4, wherein said tension creates sufficient friction to hold said wire loop in place on said anchoring post. 6. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said attachment device can tighten said support line to a tension in a range of about 500 lbs. to about 1500 lbs. 7. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said attachment device can tighten said support line to a tension in a range of about 1000 lbs. to about 2000 lbs. 8. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said engagement of said anchors with said sidewalls is sufficiently strong to prevent pullout of said anchors under a tension in a range of about 20 lbs. to about 2000 lbs. 9. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said spool comprises a gear which functions as a portion of a ratchet mechanism. 10. The attachment device of claim 9, further comprising a spring attached to said wire strainer bracket which functions as a pawl of said ratchet mechanism, wherein said spring engages with a set of teeth of said gear. 11. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said passage in said rear wall includes two lateral slots, each for receiving said extension portion of one of said attachment portions, and said lateral slots prevent vertical movement of said attachment portions of said wire loop relative to said wire strainer bracket. 12. The attachment device of claim 1, further comprising a first hole in said first sidewall and a second hole in said second sidewall, wherein said anchors engage with said first and second holes. 13. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said loop portion comprises a textured surface for engagement with said anchoring post. 14. An attachment device for connecting at least one plant support line to an end post to thereby suspend said at least one support line over a crop row, the attachment device comprising: a. an open wire loop structure having a substantially circular portion for engaging with said end post, and first and second anchoring portions having laterally flared ends; andb. a wire strainer bracket for applying tension to said support line, said wire strainer bracket having a spool, two lateral sidewalls, each sidewall having an anchor receiving hole, and each anchor receiving hole having one of said first and second flared ends inserted therein, said wire strainer bracket further including a rear wall connecting said two lateral sidewalls, said rear wall having a passage having a central opening with first and second lateral slots, said lateral slots having a width slightly larger than a diameter of said anchoring portions of said open wire loop structure and said first anchoring portion is positioned within said first lateral slot and said second anchoring portion is positioned within said second lateral slot, wherein the connection between said open wire loop structure and said wire strainer bracket is sufficiently strong to withstand separation when said strainer bracket applies a tension to said support line of up to 2000 lbs., wherein said first and second lateral slots prevent vertical movement of said anchoring portions of said open wire loop structure relative to said wire strainer bracket, and said substantially circular portion of said open wire loop structure substantially maintains its shape when said tension is applied to said support line. 15. The attachment device of claim 14, wherein said spool is a ratcheting spool for connecting to said at least one plant support line and applying tension to said at least one plant support line. 16. The attachment device of claim 14, wherein said laterally flared ends each have an angle in a range of about 70° to about 100° relative to said anchoring portion. 17. The attachment device of claim 14, wherein said laterally flared ends each have an angle in a range of about 90° relative to said anchoring portion. 18. The attachment device of claim 14, wherein said wire loop comprises a heavy gauge metal wire or a rigid composite material, and said wire loop has an internal diameter that is substantially greater than the outer diameter or width of said end post. 19. A method of installing a plant support system, comprising: a. laying out at least one support line along a crop row;b. attaching a first end of said at least one support line to an attachment device of claim 1;c. attaching a second end of said at least one support line to a first end post;d. engaging the wire loop of said attachment device with a second end post; ande. applying a predetermined tension to said at least one support line using said attachment device. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined tension is in a range of about 20 lbs. to about 2000 lbs.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (20)
Chou, Yeh-Chien, Auxiliary member for ratchet buckle.
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