초록 ▼

An embodiment of a plant manipulator is disclosed, which may have a flexible cylindrical member that is bent to hold a plant in a particular configuration to train the plant. The plant manipulator may include a first end and a second end, a long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, a length of t

An embodiment of a plant manipulator is disclosed, which may have a flexible cylindrical member that is bent to hold a plant in a particular configuration to train the plant. The plant manipulator may include a first end and a second end, a long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, a length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, and a slit along the length of the longest edge of the flexible cylindrical member. The plant manipulator may also have a malleable rigid member with a first and second end, a long edge of the flexible cylindrical member, and a length of the long edge of the malleable rigid member. The length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member may be coupled along the length of the long edge of the flexible cylindrical member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plant manipulator, comprising: a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness, the wall having an exterior side and an interior side, a first end, a second end, a diameter, a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the dia

1. A plant manipulator, comprising: a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness, the wall having an exterior side and an interior side, a first end, a second end, a diameter, a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter, running along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, a slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall of the flexible cylindrical member wherein the slit is not covered; anda wire with a first and second end, a length of the wire, the wire being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent in the shape;wherein the wire is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, wherein the wire can be bent by hand, wherein the flexible cylindrical member flexes to open at the slit, so as to be capable of accepting a cylindrical portion of a plant, and then automatically reestablishes its original shape, so as to be capable of closing around the cylindrical portion of the plant;wherein the flexible cylindrical member has illustrations on the flexible cylindrical member's exterior side with lines marking locations where an end user may cut the flexible cylindrical member to allow the plant manipulator to bend at particular angles, each set of lines representing a different angle to which the plant manipulator may conform, wherein the lines are drawn in a manner indicating the wire is not cut when the end user cuts the flexible cylindrical member. 2. A plant manipulator, comprising: a flexible cylindrical member having at least a wall having a thickness and an exterior surface,a first end,a second end,a diameter,a length spanning from the first end to the second end, the length being perpendicular to the diameter,a slit running along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, the slit completely penetrating the thickness of the wall of the flexible cylindrical member,a notch penetrating the wall of the flexible cylindrical member, allowing the plant manipulator to bend at a particular angle; anda shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material having at leasta first and second end,a length extending from the first end to the second end,the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material being made of a material that maintains a shape after being bent in the shape;wherein the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material is coupled to the flexible cylindrical member along the length of the flexible cylindrical member, andwherein there is a space on the exterior surface of the wall that is located between the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material and the slit. 3. The plant manipulator of claim 2, the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material being a wire, wherein the wire and the flexible cylindrical member are coupled such that the length of the flexible cylindrical member and the length of the wire runs parallel to one another. 4. The plant manipulator of claim 2, the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material being a wire, wherein the wire is made of a metallic material. 5. The plant manipulator of claim 2 the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material being a wire, wherein the flexible cylindrical member is divided into two or more segments, the two or more segments being spaced from one another, the two more segments being attached to one another by the wire. 6. The plant manipulator of claim 2, wherein the slit has an arc angle, the ratio of the arc angle of the slit without a plant element in the plant manipulator to a circumference of the flexible cylindrical member without a slit being between 0.49999999 to 0.0000001. 7. The plant manipulator of claim 2, wherein the first end and the second end of the flexible cylindrical member are not covered when the plant manipulator is in use. 8. The plant manipulator of claim 2 the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material being a wire, wherein the plant manipulator only has one wire. 9. The plant manipulator of claim 2, wherein the flexible cylindrical member is a soaker tube. 10. The plant manipulator of claim 2, wherein the slit has an arc angle, the ratio of the arc angle of the slit without a plant element in the plant manipulator to a circumference of the flexible cylindrical member without a slit being less than 0.5 and greater than 0. 11. The plant manipulator of claim 2 the shape-maintaining malleable flexible piece of material being a wire, wherein the wire is made of aluminum. 12. The plant manipulator of claim 2, the notch having a v-shape.