DE9411844U1 - Protection device for the protection of crops - Google Patents

Description

Protective device for protecting crops

The present invention relates to a protective device for protecting cultivated plants from mollusks with a crawling sole for locomotion, in particular snails, wherein the device surrounds the cultivated plant(s) at least in part from the ground.

Such protective devices are intended to protect crops from damage by snails, particularly in gardens. In addition to being easy to use and functioning reliably, such protective devices should also be able to be produced economically as mass-produced items.

STATE OF THE ART

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To protect against snail damage, it is known to use snail poisons, which are spread on the ground around the crops. However, this is a measure that has come under increasing criticism for environmental reasons, as there is a risk that useful animals will be harmed by ingesting the poison and, in addition, a toxic substance that is difficult to break down is released into the environment.

In addition, snail protection devices are known that are placed over the crop in the form of a bag. It is also known to create a trough around the crop that is filled with liquid. However, the known measures to protect crops from snail damage are either harmful to the environment, relatively expensive or do not function reliably in the long term.

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STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, on the above-mentioned prior art, on the task or technical problem of specifying a protective device for protecting cultivated plants from mollusks with a crawling sole for locomotion, in particular snails, of the type mentioned at the beginning, which is environmentally friendly, can be handled in a simple manner, offers reliable protection from the above-mentioned mollusks and ensures economical production.

The protective device according to the invention for protecting cultivated plants is given by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The protective device according to the invention is accordingly characterized in that the device has a wall region that runs circumferentially around the plant and this wall region has, at least in some areas, a grid region that also runs circumferentially around the plant and has projecting tips arranged in a grid.

By providing a grid area all around with protruding tips arranged in a grid, it is not possible for the snails to overcome this area, since their crawling sole does not allow any surface adhesion to the ground for movement, so that their movement in this area is not possible overall.

Preferably, the tips of the grid area are designed as mandrels.

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In an alternative embodiment, the tips can each be formed by a sawtooth contour, whereby the sawteeth of adjacent contours can be offset.

A preferred embodiment of the protective device according to the invention is characterized in that the device consists of individual flat or curved wall elements that can be connected next to one another or one above the other, and the grid area is essentially formed by the outer wall of the wall elements. Due to the modular design of the protective device through the wall elements, these can be adapted to any circumferential contour. This can be used to effectively protect individual crops as well as beds or larger areas planted with crops.

A particularly preferred design in terms of handling is characterized in that the device or the individual wall elements have a floor insertion area, which is preferably spade-shaped. This allows the wall elements to be easily inserted into the floor, with the wall elements then being able to be connected to one another directly via a snap-in connection. This ensures that the wall elements can be set up easily and stably.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the protective device according to the invention for protecting cultivated plants is characterized in that the device has a first wall region and a second wall region which is substantially transverse to the first wall region and has the grid region, wherein the second wall region forms an overhang when the device is in place, i.e. the tips of the grid region point downwards.

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The downward-pointing tips of the second wall area make it virtually impossible for mollusks with crawling soles to cross this area. Firstly, it is not possible for the crawling sole of the mollusk to come into contact with the second wall area and secondly, gravity acts on the mollusk in this case, so that even if it penetrates the second wall area, it usually detaches itself from the second wall area and falls downwards due to insufficient adhesion.

A particularly simple development of the protective device according to the invention in terms of structural design is characterized in that the free edge of the first wall area is designed as a U-shaped cross section and the second wall area is formed by the web inner side of the U-shaped cross section.

As an additional safety measure, it has proven to be advantageous that, according to a further embodiment of the protective device according to the invention, the free edge of the device has a U-shaped cross-section, such that when the device is set up, a trough device is present which is open at the top.

A particularly simple and effective design aimed at individual crops is characterized in that the device is essentially designed as a tubular profile, preferably with a circular or square cross-section.

It has proven to be advantageous to provide the individual wall elements with a handle unit, preferably on the top, if a relatively low construction height is sufficient to protect the cultivated plants.

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In order to improve the stability of the device or the individual wall elements, the invention provides that stiffening ribs are present or formed in the wall area.

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A particularly economical embodiment is characterized by the fact that the device is made of plastic, whereby the device or the individual modular elements of the device are preferably manufactured using the injection molding process.

An alternative embodiment of the protective device according to the invention, which is particularly environmentally friendly, is characterized in that the device is made of weatherproof, preferably flexible cardboard. Due to the flexibility of the cardboard, the device can be adapted to any circumferential contour.

In order to produce a simple and reliable connection between the wall elements, a preferred embodiment of the protective device made of cardboard according to the invention is characterized in that the wall element has at least one tab unit on one stop side and at least one corresponding tab receiving unit on the opposite stop side.

In order to be able to achieve a wide range of heights in the vertical direction, the invention provides for a coupling unit designed as a cover part that can be placed on the free edge area of the device, which in each case ensures the placement of another device with a predeterminable wall height. As a closing unit, this coupling unit can have a recess through which a rod can be guided, which rod serves to allow the cultivated plant to climb up it or to be stabilized on it. In addition, watering

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The plant can easily pass through this recess.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention result from the features further listed in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments given below. The features of the claims can be combined with one another in any way, provided they do not obviously exclude one another.
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SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention and advantageous embodiments and further developments of the same are described and explained in more detail below using the examples shown in the drawing. The features shown in the description and the drawing can be used individually or in groups in any combination according to the invention. They show:

Fig. la to c schematic longitudinal view, side view and top view of a straight wall element as a component of a protective device according to the invention

ment,

Fig. 2a to c schematic side view in a first

direction, schematic side view in a second direction and top view of a corner

wall element as a component of a protective device according to the invention,

Fig. 3a, b Section and plan view of a protective device according to the invention, designed as a cylindrical

tric hollow profile element with an overhanging grid area, _ ₇ _

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Fig. 4a to c schematic side, longitudinal and top view of a wall element according to the invention with a sawtooth structure, as a component of a protective device according to the invention, 05

Fig. 5a to c schematic side, longitudinal and top view of a wall element according to the invention with a mandrel structure, as a component of a protective device according to the invention,
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Fig. Ga to c schematic side, longitudinal and top view

a wall element made of cardboard, as a component of a protective device according to the invention,

Fig. 7a, b schematic view and section of a closed tab connection made of wall elements according to Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 schematic representation of the protective device made of elements according to Fig. 6 concerning a

encapsulation,

Fig. 9 schematic representation of a protective device with wall elements arranged on top of each other,

Fig. 10a, b schematic top view, section through a coupling unit designed as a cover part between two wall areas placed on top of each other,

Fig. 11a, b schematic plan view, section through a cover part with recess,

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Fig. 12 schematic section through a hollow cylindrical protective device with coupling units according to Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 schematic representation of stacked

Wall elements near a tree,

Fig. 14a, b schematic section, perspective view of a hollow cylindrical transparent device with externally arranged

Sawtooth structure and

Fig. 15 schematic section through a device

with stacked wall elements with sawtooth contour and a top cover

part with a recess.

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a flat wall element 10 which forms a building block of the device according to the invention. The flat wall element 10 is spade-shaped on the underside so that it can be easily inserted into a floor. The wall area 11 of the wall element 10 is provided on one side with stiffening ribs 12 arranged in a grid in the vertical direction and a stiffening rib 14 in the horizontal direction. The wall element 10 is shown in a position in which it can be inserted into a floor. A substantially U-shaped cross section is formed on the upper free end area of the wall element 10 in such a way that the flanges of the U-shaped cross section are formed on the one hand by the upper wall area 16 of the wall element 10 and on the other hand by a leg 18 which is spaced apart from the wall area 16. The inside of the web 23 of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile at the end area of the wall element 10 has a grid surface 20 which protrudes downwards.

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de, arranged in a grid pattern and designed as mandrels 22. On the upper side, a U-shaped design is formed onto the U-profile-shaped design, whereby the leg length of the flanges 25 of the U-shaped upper design is significantly smaller. This design creates a trough construction 24 on the upper side, which in individual cases can be filled with a liquid in particular.

The wall element 10 shown in Fig. 1 is part of a protective device for protecting cultivated plants from mollusks with a crawling sole that serves for locomotion, in particular snails. In order to ensure that the individual wall elements are joined together perfectly to form a peripheral structure around the cultivated plant or plants to be protected, the wall element 10 has a hook-shaped locking unit 28 in a first width connection area 26 that is present in the web width of the U-profile cross-section, which is designed as a hook unit and thus forms a groove into which corresponding spring units 32 present in the second width connection area 30 can be inserted in a locking manner. This makes it easy to join individual wall elements 10 together in a sealing manner in order to ensure that the cultivated plant is secured around its circumference.

In the lower part of the long leg there is a spade-shaped insertion area 21. The long leg in the ground prevents snails from crawling from one side to the other.

Overall, the construction of a protective device using these wall elements 10 shown ensures that the tips 22 of the grid surface 20 point downwards when installed, thus reliably preventing the mollusks in question from crawling over.

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Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a wall element 40 which basically has the same features as the wall element 10, whereby the wall element 40 is used as a corner element, i.e. the wall elements 10 can be connected to this wall element 40 in such a way that an angle of 90 degrees exists between the incoming wall element 10 and the outgoing wall element 10. The same components have the same reference numerals and are not explained again.

With the corner wall element, in conjunction with wall elements 10, it is possible to create square shapes of any size and thus, among other things, to reliably protect entire beds from snails. The presence of the grid units 28 and the spring units 32 enables the wall elements 10 and corner wall elements 40 to be easily and detachably connected to one another.

The protective device 45 shown in Fig. 3 has a hollow cylindrical cross section 4 6, which has a U-shaped circumferential collar device with a free flange 4 8 pointing downwards and a web 49 arranged transversely to the hollow cylindrical cross section 4 6 at its upper free end region. Downward-pointing mandrels 47 are arranged in a grid on the web 49. Above the U-shaped cross section, a U-shaped cross section that is open at the top is formed with a flange length that is shorter than the flange 48, this cross section having the web 4 9 in common, whereby an overall trough unit 44 that is open at the top is formed, which can be filled with a liquid that acts against the screws.

In Fig. 4, a flat wall element 50 is shown, on the underside of which a spade-shaped insertion area 51 is present. The remaining wall area of the wall element 50 is provided with tips arranged in a grid, which tips have a sawtooth contour 52, whereby adjacent

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Sawtooth contours 52 are offset by one tooth each. A handle unit 53 is molded onto the top of the wall element 50. On the right edge area, a locking unit 54 is provided, running from top to bottom, which has a bead-shaped recess 55. On the left edge area, a bead 56 is molded from top to bottom, which can be inserted into the respective bead-shaped recess 55 of an adjacent wall element 50, whereby a secure connection of the wall elements 50 to one another can be ensured.

In Fig. 5, a wall element 58 is shown which is constructed similarly to the wall element 50 according to Fig. 4. One difference, however, is that the grid area is provided with tips which are designed as mandrels 59. Identical components have the same reference numerals and are not explained again.

The flat wall element 60 shown in Fig. 6 is made of bendable material, in particular transparent plastic. On the outside, the wall element 60 has a sawtooth contour 61 arranged in a grid. In the edge area arranged at the top in Fig. 6, there are three protruding tabs 62.1, 62.2 and 62.3, with the middle tab 62.2 being longer than the other tabs and having a U-shaped cut 63 on the inside, so that an elastic barb element 64 is formed which is bent outwards.

In the edge area shown at the bottom of Fig. 6, the wall element 60 has attached tab receiving units 65.1, 65.2 and 65.3 into which the tabs 62 can be inserted. By forming the barb element 64, a reliable connection of individual wall elements 60 via the tabs 62 or tab receiving units 65 can be ensured. Fig. 7 shows such a tab connection of two wall elements 60.

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Fig. 8 shows how a bed enclosure 68 can be made from the wall elements 60, whereby any circumferential contour is possible due to the flexibility of the wall elements.

Fig. 9 shows a protective device which is designed in an extremely simple manner as a cylindrical hollow profile which is open on both sides and which has a sawtooth contour 71 on the outside. In Fig. 9, several protective devices 70 are arranged on top of one another, practically to create a small greenhouse. The arrangement of the protective devices 70 on top of one another is made possible by the interposition of a cover part 72 which is designed as a coupling unit and which is shown in more detail in Fig. 10. The cover part 72 has a base 73 designed as a circular disk, which is stiffened on the underside by two diagonally running stiffening ribs 74 arranged at right angles to one another.

An upwardly pointing, circumferential collar 75 and a downwardly pointing circumferential collar 76 are formed on the outer edge area of the cover part 72. The upper collar 75 has an outer diameter that is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the protective device 70. The lower collar 76 has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protective device 70. The different diameters of the collars 75 and 76 are clearly indicated in Fig. 10. In Fig. 9, the cover units are equipped with collars that have the same

30 diameter.

The cover according to Fig. 10 is now placed in a simple manner on an already arranged protective device 70. The next protective device can then be placed on the cover part 72 without any problem, since there is a projection 77 lying in the plane of the cover part 72 between the upper collar 75 and the lower collar 76. -13-

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Fig. 11 shows a further variant of a cover part 80 which is used as an upper cover. The cover part 80 has an outer circumferential ring 81, from the upper edge of which the cover base 82 is formed, slanting inwards. In the center of the cover part 80 there is a recess 83 which is surrounded by an upwardly pointing nozzle 84.

As shown in Fig. 12, such a cover part 80 can be placed on a protective device 70 in a simple manner. Liquid 85 can preferably be filled into the area between the nozzle 84 and the base 82, which further increases safety against crawling pests. The recess 83 ensures sufficient ventilation of the interior. At the same time, the cultivated plant 86 can be watered easily through the recess 83.

Fig. 13 shows schematically the use of a protective device 70 around the trunk of a tree 90, whereby three protective devices 70 arranged one above the other are used.

Fig. 14 schematically shows a protective device 70 which is made of transparent plastic and thus allows sufficient light to pass through the cultivated plant 92 arranged inside the device 70.

Figure 15 shows the use of three protective devices 70 arranged one above the other, each with a cover part 72 arranged between them, which surrounds a cultivated plant 94 that requires a climbing rod 96 for its growth. The upper end is formed by the cover part 80, whereby the climbing rod 96 can be guided through the recess 83 of the cover part 80, i.e. the cover part 80 can also be used at the stage in which, for example, only one protective device 70 is present, but the climbing rod 96 can already be used.

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The cover part according to Fig. 11 can also be designed as a hood, in which the circular ring is continued downwards and in this area the grid area with the tips is then present.
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Claims (1)

PRIE-OSgDE July 21, 1994 · &id;· ! &igr; » '· ·"«: -1-CLAIMS 01) Protective device for protecting cultivated plants from mollusks with a crawling sole for locomotion, in particular snails, whereby the device surrounds the cultivated plant(s) at least in part from the ground, characterized in that the device has a wall region which extends circumferentially around the plant and this wall region has, at least in regions, a grid region which also extends circumferentially around the plant and has projecting tips (22; 47; 52) arranged in a grid. 02) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tips are designed as mandrels (22; 47). 03) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tips are each formed by a sawtooth contour (52). 04) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the device consists of individual flat or curved wall elements that can be connected next to one another or one above the other and the grid area is essentially formed by the outer wall of the wall elements (10; 40; 45; 50; 58; 60). 05) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the device has a base insertion area (51) which is preferably spade-shaped. PRIE-OGgDE July 21, 1994 .:*.:. y : *· : :: -2- 06) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the device (10; 40; 50) has a first wall region (11) and a second wall region (23; 49) which is substantially transverse to the first wall region and has the grid region (20; 43) at a predeterminable inclination, wherein in particular the second wall region (23; 49) forms an overhang when the device is in place, i.e. the tips (22) of the grid region (20; 43) point downwards. 07) Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the free edge of the first wall region is designed as a U-shaped cross-section and the second wall region is formed by the web (20; 4 9) of the U-shaped cross-section. 08) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the free edge of the device has a U-shaped cross-section, such that when the device is set up a trough device (24) open at the top is present. 09) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the device is essentially designed as a hollow tubular profile (40; 70), preferably with a circular or square cross-section. 10) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wall element has a handle unit (53). 35 PRIE-OSgDE 21 July 1994 .· * S I ', .* : :;, -3- 11) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the wall region (11) has stiffening ribs (12; 14). 12) Device according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the device is made of plastic, in particular transparent plastic.
10 13) Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device (60) consists of weatherproof, preferably flexible cardboard. 14) Device according to claim 4 and 13, characterized in that the wall element (60) has at least one tab unit (62) on one stop side and at least one corresponding tab receiving unit (65) on the opposite stop side. 15) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover unit (80) which can be placed on the free end region of the circumferential wall region is present, which preferably has at least one recess (83). 16) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has at least one coupling unit (72) that can be placed on the free end region of the wall region, so that the arrangement of wall regions one above the other is possible. _4_ PRIE-OSgDE 21 July 1994 17) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is designed as an injection-molded part.