PLANT HOLDING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding device for plants, comprising a mounting means (1) and a holding means (2) arranged inside the mounting means (1), wherein the holding means (2) comprises at least two holding elements (5), wherein each holding element (5) is connected to the mounting means (1) via a resilient connecting means (3), and wherein the mounting means (1), the holding means (2) and the connecting means (3) are formed integrally with each other.

Claims

1. A holding device for plants, comprising a mounting means (1) and a holding means (2) arranged inside the mounting means (1), wherein the holding means (2) comprises at least two holding elements (5), and wherein each holding element (5) is connected to the mounting means (1) via a resilient connecting means (3), characterized in that the mounting means (1), the holding means (2) and the connecting means (3) are formed integrally with each other.

2. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting means (1) is designed as a mounting ring (4).

3. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding elements (5) are substantially of circular arc-shaped design, wherein the holding elements (5) form a substantially circular holding means (2) with each other.

4. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (2) is substantially circular and has a holding opening (6).

5. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that clearances (12) are provided within the mounting means (1), which allow free movability of the holding elements (5).

6. The holding device means according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one connecting means (3) is designed as angled connecting strut (7).

7. The holding device means according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one connecting means (3) is designed as arcuate connecting strut (8).

8. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that each holding element (5) is connected to the mounting means (1) via a plurality of connecting means (3).

9. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting means (1), the holding means (2) and/or the connecting means (3) are made of or comprise a polymer material.

10. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (3) is made of or comprises an elastic material.

11. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting means (1), the holding means (2) and/or the connecting means (3) has/have cavities.

12. The holding device according to claim 4, characterized in that in the holding opening (6), a filler element (9) promoting plant growth is arranged, wherein the filler element (9) is preferably made of or comprises a water-soluble polymer material.

13. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device comprises a preferably cylindrical root cage (10), which is connected to the mounting means (1) or can be connected to the mounting means (1).

14. The holding device according to claim 13, characterized in that the root cage (10) has a preferably annular receiving area (11), which is designed to receive the mounting means (1).

15. The holding device according to claim 13, characterized in that the root cage (10) can be positively connected to the mounting means (1).

Description

[0041] In the figures:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention with a root cage.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention.

[0048] The holding device comprises an annular mounting means 1, which is designed as a mounting ring 4. On the inner surface of the mounting ring 4, three resilient connecting means 3 are arranged, On the opposite end of each connecting means, a holding element 5 is arranged. Together, the three holding elements 5 form a holding means 2.

[0049] In the view shown in FIG. 1, the holding device is shown in a completely relaxed position. Thus, the resilient connecting means 3 substantially do not exert any spring force respectively pressure on an element. In the completely relaxed position, the three holding elements 5 abut one another in the center of the holding device and form a substantially circular holding means 2. Since the holdings elements 5 are of wedge-shaped design, no opening is provided in the center of the holding means 2.

[0050] In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting means 3 are designed as angular connecting struts 7, wherein each connecting strut 7 has two bends 13. Clearances 12 are arranged between the connecting struts 7, enabling a free movability of the holding elements and the connecting struts 7.

[0051] For example, when a plant is introduced into the holding device at the transition between the above-ground and underground plant parts, it is secured by the interaction of the holding elements 5. The holding elements 5 are pushed towards the mounting ring 4, thereby applying a spring force to the holding elements 5 starting from the connecting means 3. The spring force acts substantially in the direction of the center of the holding device and is caused by the resilient properties of the connecting means 3. The plant is held by the frictional resistance between the holding elements 5 and the plant itself.

[0052] As the plant grows, there is usually an increase in its diameter, especially the diameter at the transition between above-ground and underground plant parts.

[0053] The resilient properties of the connecting means 3 allow the holding elements 5 of the holding means 2 to yield to this movement caused by growth, preventing constriction of the plant which is detrimental to further growth.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention. In the view shown in FIG. 2, the holding device is shown in a completely relaxed position.

[0055] Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the holding device according to the second exemplary embodiment comprises a mounting means 1, which is designed as a mounting ring 4, on the inner periphery of which three connecting means 3 are arranged. The connecting means 3 are designed as angular connecting struts wherein each connecting strut 7 only has one bend 13.

[0056] On the other end of the connecting struts 7, a holding element 5 each is arranged. Together, the holding elements 5 form a holding means 2, which is designed as annular holding means 2 in this exemplary embodiment. Thus, the holding means 2 has a holding opening 6 in its center, which is adapted to receive a part of a plant. In this exemplary embodiment, the holding opening 6 is of circular design. A circular holding opening 6 distributes the pressure exerted on a plant part as evenly as possible.

[0057] Clearances 12 are arranged within the mounting ring 4, into which the holding elements 5 and the connecting means 3 can escape. The function of the holding device according to the second exemplary embodiment is analogous to that of the first exemplary embodiment and is therefore not explained in more detail here.

[0058] In this exemplary embodiment, a filler element 9 is arranged within the holding opening 6. The filler element 9 is made of an agar gel and serves to receive one or more seed/s. By influence of water, the filler element 9 dissolves over several days or weeks, completely releasing the holding opening for the germinating plant.

[0059] Preferably, the filler element 9 is designed such that it has not completely dissolved until the plant can be held by holding means 2. This is especially the case when the diameter of the plant is large enough.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention. In the view shown in FIG. 3, the holding device is shown in a completely relaxed position.

[0061] The elements of the holding device shown in FIG. 3 substantially correspond to those of FIG. 2. The difference to the second exemplary embodiment is that the diameter of the holding opening 6 is greater in the third exemplary embodiment, which enables a plant with a greater diameter to be received. In this exemplary embodiment, no filler element 9 is provided.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention. In the view shown in FIG. 4, the holding device is shown in a completely relaxed position.

[0063] The holding device according to the fourth exemplary embodiment comprises a mounting means 1, which is designed as a mounting ring 4. Four holding elements 5, which together form an annular holding means 2, are connected to the mounting ring 4 via connecting means 3. The holding means 2 has a holding opening in its center.

[0064] In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting means 3 comprise bent connecting struts 8, with two connecting struts 8 each connecting a holding element 5 to the mounting ring 4. The arcuate design of the connecting struts 8 together with the use of two connecting struts 8 per holding element 5 enhances the holding force of the holding device, since the spring force is increased. In this exemplary embodiment, each holding element 5 comprises a stabilizing element 14, which is connected to a holding jaw 16 via two connecting elements 15 each.

[0065] Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, each holding element 5 is formed by a stabilizing element 14, two connecting elements 15 and a holding jaw 16. In the completely relaxed position, the stabilizing elements 14 form a stabilizing ring 17. The connecting struts 8 are respectively arranged on the stabilizing elements 14. In the intended use of the holding device, only the holding jaws 16 are in direct contact with the plant.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the invention with a root cage 10. For presentation purposes, an exploded view of the two elements is shown. Except for the root cage 10, the holding device corresponds to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, which is not explained in detail here. For clarity, not all reference signs already shown in FIG. 4 are shown in FIG. 5.

[0067] The root cage 10 has a receiving area 11 for receiving the mounting means 1, in particular the mounting ring 4. The receiving area 11 enables a positive connection between the root cage 10 and the mounting means 1. The root cage 10 has, on its underside and its lateral surface, holes 18, which serve to drain off water and to improve air circulation.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0068] 1 Mounting means [0069] 2 Holding means [0070] 3 Connecting means [0071] 4 Mounting ring [0072] 5 Holding element [0073] 6 Holding opening [0074] 7 Angled connecting strut [0075] 8 Arcuate connecting strut [0076] 9 Filler element [0077] 10 Root cage [0078] 11 Receiving area [0079] 12 Clearance [0080] 13 Bend [0081] 14 Stabilizing element [0082] 15 Connecting element [0083] 16 Holding jaw [0084] 17 Stabilizing ring [0085] 18 Hole