GB2130415A

GB2130415A - Plant identifying means

Info

Publication number: GB2130415A
Application number: GB08232674A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gertrud Maria Hahn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-16
Filing date: 1982-11-16
Publication date: 1984-05-31

Abstract

Apparatus 1 for identifying a plant or a part of a plant comprises a three-dimensional dimensional representation 2 of a portion of the plant and a means 3 for securing it to a support. Figure 1 illustrates a representation of a tomato, for use in identifying tomato seeds after they have been sown but before a recognizable part of the tomato plant has emerged above the soil surface, and Figure 2 illustrates a representation of a leek which may be used by a greengrocer to identify, and indicate the price of, produce for sale. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plant identifying means This invention relates to a plant identifying means.

In a variety of circumstances, one may wish to identify a plant for easy recognition. One particular such circumstance would be when seeds are sown, for example by a amateur gardener, and the gardener wishes to identify the seeds which has has sown, during the period between sowing and the time at which a recognizable portion of the plants produced by the seeds appears above the soil surface. At present, this is frequently achieved by placing plastics material peg in the soil and writing the name of the plant on the peg with, for example, a felt tip pen, or by spearing the anti-seed packets with a peg and pushing the peg into the soil. The present invention seeks to provide an improved means for identifying seeds when sown.

In another situation, a greengrocer may wish to provide an eye-catching means of displaying the price of produce offered for sale in his shop. This is commonly done merely by writing the price on some form of planar display means. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means suitable for identifying the produce and the price at which it is offered for sale.

Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for identifying a plant or a part of a plant, the apparatus comprising a three-dimensional representation of a portion of the plant and a means for securing the said three-dimensional representation to a support.

Preferably. the said means for securing comprises a peg adapted to be buried at least partially in soil.

Alternatively, the said securing means comprises a peg adapted to be inserted into plant material or into a container for plant material. In either case, the peg preferably has a sharpened point remote from the said three-dimensional representation.

Conveniently, the said three-dimensional representation is made of a plastics material, for example polyethylene. Advantageously, the means of securing is formed integrally with the three-dimensional representation.

Suitably, the said three-dimensional representation incorporates a planar region adapted to be written upon or to receive a label.

So that the present invention may be more readily understood and so that further features may be appreciated, two embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for identifying tomato seeds when sown in the ground; and.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for identifying leeks on sale in a greengrocer's shop.

Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 1 for identifying tomato seeds when sown in the ground or in seed trays until such time as a recognizable portion of the tomato plant emerges above the soil surface. The apparatus 1 comprises a three-dimensional representation 2 of a tomato, injection-moulded or blowmoulded from a plastics material such as polyethylene (preferably coloured red), and, integ rally formed with the th ree-dimensionai representation 2, a peg 3 tapering downwardly from the bottom of the three-dimensional representation to a relatively sharp point 4.

Once the tomato seeds are sown, the apparatus 1 is inserted at an end of one of the rows of seeds by placing the peg 3 into the soil or seed tray, the level of the soil or the like being indicated by dashed iines at 5, so that the three-dimensional representation 2 of the tomato is visible above the soil level 5.

As stated above, existing means for identifying seeds include planar plastics pegs adapted to be written upon by, for example, a felt-tip pen and pegs adapted to spear the empty seed packet and then to be inserted into the soil at the end of the row of seeds. The former apparatus suffers from two main disadvantages. Firstly, the pegs are normally relatively small and the gardener must peer at them closely in order to read what is written on the pegs and, secondly, the writing on the pegs is easily rubbed or washed away, for example by rain, so that the writing is no longer legible. The use of the second said apparatus also suffers from two disadvantages. Firstly, the empty seed packets are easily blown away by wind and, secondly, being made of paper, they deteriorate rapidly as a result of the action of the weather.

In contrast, it is possible to provide apparatus in accordance with the invention which is easily recognised from a distance and which is durable, probably lasting for several seasons. Furthermore, a splash of colour may be brought to the soil or seed beds at the time when gardens or greenhouses are relatively dull and unattractive.

Figure 2 illustrates an apparatus 6 for use by a greengrocer in identifying produce for sale and the price of the produce. The apparatus comprises a three-dimensional representation 7 of a leek, formed from a plastics material, and, integrally formed with the representation of the leek, a peg 8 which merges with the body of the representation of the leek and tapers downwardly to a point. Approximately at the middle of the representation 7 of the leek, there is a generally rectangular planar area 9 on which the price of the leeks may be written with, for example, a felt-tip pen or on which area an adhesive label indicating the price can be fixed. When a green grocer is offering leeks for sale, the apparatus 6 may be used to provide an eye-catching way of quickly identifying the produce for sale and the price at which it is to be sold.To achieve this, the peg 8 may be inserted into a leek or into a box containing the leeks or into some suitable receiving member such as a block of wood or a block of foamed plastics material.

Clearly, a wide range of such apparatus can be produced, for use with many different types of produce. The provision of the rectangular area 7 for the price indication is an advantageous option. It has been found that an attractive and eye-catching sales device can be produced in accordance with the invention.

In either embodiment, the peg may be any of a wide variety of configurations and may, for example, comprise a long cylindrical part between the sharp point and the three-dimensional representation. Instead of a peg it is possible to provide any other suitable means for securing the three-dimensional representation to a support. For example, a clip could be used to secure the Figure 1 embodiment to a pole or the Figure 2 embodiment to a box of vegetables or fruit.

Claims

1. Apparatus for identifying a plant or a part of a plant, the apparatus comprising a three-dimensional representation of a portion of the plant and a means for securing the said three-dimensional representation to a support.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said means for securing comprises a peg adapted to be buried at least partially in soil.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said securing means comprises a peg adapted to be inserted into plant material or into a container for plant material.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the peg preferably has a sharpened point remote from the said three-dimensional representation.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the said threedimensional representation is made of a plastics material.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for securing is formed integrally with the three-dimensional representation.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the said threedimensional representation incorporates a planar region adapted to be written upon or to receive a label.

8. A means for identifying plant seeds when sown in the ground substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A means for identifying produce for sale substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.