US2847799A - Shrub or tree splint and method of applying it - Google Patents

Description

J. J. WILSON Aug. 19, 1958 SHRUB OR TREE SPLINT AND METHOD OF APPLYING IT Filed Aug. 16, 1955 H TTORNE Y United States Patent 0.

SHRUB R TREE SPLINT AND METHOD OF APPLYING IT James J. Wilson, Seattle, Wash.

Application August 16,1955, Serial No. 528,694

2 Claims. (Cl. 47-58) This invention relates to a shrub or tree splint and method of applying it for use in shaping branches or small trunks of live shrubs or trees.

The term branch as hereinafter used is intended to refer also to the main trunk or stem of a small tree or shrub.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and efiicient splint which can be quickly and easily applied to a branch of a shrub or young tree to change the alignment of the same, that is to either straighten it or put a permanent curvature in it.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a splint of this type which is light in weight, strong but slightly resilient, neat in appearance, not expensive to manufacture, easy to apply and adjust and not liable to scar or injure a branch to which it is applied and one which is efficient in holding a branch to the desired alignment.

Another object is to provide a splint which is secured to a branch by a pliable tie member so that the force tending to hold the branch in a new alignment is evenly applied to the branch and the tie member tends to resist turning of the splint on the branch.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a splint constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same applied to a branch by means of a pliable lacing or tie member and with the branch held substantially straight.

Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1 but with a branch held under curvature.

Fig. 3 is a detached longitudinal sectional view of this splint.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of an end portion of the same looking in the direction of broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

This splint comprises a tubular medial portion 10 of substantially cylindrical cross section terminating in two similar end portions 11 each of trough shaped or approximately semi-cylindrical cross section. Preferably the splint including medial portion 10 and terminal portions 11 is formed of a single piece of plastic tubing split and expanded at the two ends and bent into the shape of a bow longitudinally considered. The trough shaped end portions 11 terminate in outwardly curved tips 12 which are adapted to engage with and press against a branch 13 without marring or digging into the same.

In making the splint from a piece of plastic tubing preferably the tube is first heated enough to soften it and .is then bent to the required curvature and the end portions 11 opened out to approximately semicircular shape and the tip parts 12 outwardly bent to provide smooth curved branch engaging surfaces. Usually each end portion of the tube is split from the end back a distance equal to about one fourth of the length of the tube. These splits may be made either before or after the tube is heated. The splits are on the side of the tube which faces inwardly toward the center about which the tube is curved when it is bent.. Thus the concave sides of the end portions 11 face toward and receive the branch 13 to which the splint is applied. The tube is strong in proportion to its weight and size and it has some resilience.

In applying the splint to a branch 13 the two trough shaped ends 11 are fitted over and placed against the branch so that the part of the branch to be permanently straightened or curved lies between the curved end parts 12 of the splint. With the splint thus applied the branch 13 is held in the position to which it is to be shaped and a pliable binding member 14 of fairly strong durable material, such as raffia, is wound tightly around the splint and branch and tied. When a pliable binding member 14 is thus applied said binding member has considerable friction on both the branch 13 and the splint and if the branch is substantially straight the splint will not turn on said branch. If the branch 13 is bound so that it is curved toward the splint, as illustrated in Fig. 2, then obviously the splint will not tend to turn on said branch.

The splint shown in the drawings can be used to impart to a branch a curvature up to about forty-five degrees and it will be understood that if more curvature is built into the splint then more curvature can be imparted to the branch to which it is bound.

This splint is useful in bontia culture in training plants to desired shapes and in forming espaliers in which plants or shrubs or trees are flattened so that their branches spread out fan shape approximately in a common plane.

The splint is left on the branch for as long: a period of time as is necessary to permanently straighten or bend the branch to the desired shape. This time may vary with different plants, shrubs and trees and may vary in proportion to the extent or degree of the change made. The binder can be adjusted from time to time if necessary. Enough turns of the binder are used to provide a fairly evenly distributed application of force to the branch and to minimize scarring effect on the branch. The use of raflia as a binder is desirable because rafiia is durable and long lasting and does not expand and contract greatly when subjected to moisture changes and reduces the danger of scarring the branch to a minimum.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of this invention but it will be understood that changes is the same may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shrub and tree shaper comprising a tubular splint curved in the shape of a bow longitudinally considered and terminating in two integral end portions of approximately semi-circular cross section with their concave sides facing inwardly toward the center of the longitudinal curvature of the splint, the extremities of the semicircularly shaped end portions of the splint being outwardly curved providing rounded branch engaging parts, said concave end portions receiving therein and contacting at spaced apart points a shrub or tree branch to which the splint is applied; and a pliable binding member extending around the branch and the splint when the splint is on a branch lacing the splint to the branch and applying evenly divided bending force at a plurality of points to the portion of the branch between the two ends of the splint, said pliable binding member frictionally engaging both the branch and the splint at a plurality of locations in resisting relative turning movement of the branch and splint.

the bow shaped splint to the branch with the end portions of the splint pressing against the branch at spaced apart locations; and lacing said splintto said branch with a pliable binding member laced to provide a plurality of spaced apart areas of contact of the pliable binding member with both the branch and the splintin applying evenly distributed bending force to the part of the branch between the two ends of the splint, and providing frictional contact between the binding member and both the splint and the branch preventing relative turning movement of the splint and the branch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kittinger Oct. 3, Dalchow Nov. 8, Fisher May 7, Groothedde Aug. 18, Menne Sept. 27,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 25, Germany Nov. 29,

Images