GB2223921A

GB2223921A - Slug barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2223921A
Application number: GB8923337A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Rankin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-19
Filing date: 1989-10-17
Publication date: 1990-04-25
Also published as: GB8923337D0; GB8824416D0

Abstract

A barrier for preventing slugs and the like from damaging plants, vegetables and fruits utilises a harmless compound which slugs and the like will not cross. One embodiment of the barrier consists of a device comprising a series of sections which are connected together to define a protected area in which plants can be grown free from attack from slugs and the like. Each section of the device has a cross-section comprising a first substantially planar portion (23) and an arcuate portion (24). The inside surface of the arcuate portion (24) and the upper region of the planar portion down to a point (25) are coated with the compound and the planar portion is pushed into the ground (7) almost to the point (25). The arcuate portion (24) extends from the side of the planar portion (23) which faces away from the area which is to be protected. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: SLUG BARRIER This invention is concerned with the protection of plants from damage by slugs and the like and aims to provide a device which will form a protective barrier to slugs and the like.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a barrier which is used in conjunction with a harmless compound that slugs and the like will not cross thus preventing damage caused by them to plants, vegetables and fruits.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for protecting plants from damage by slugs and the like, said device having a cross-section comprising a substantially planar first portion and a second portion extending from an edge of the first portion at an angle to the plane in which said first portion is located, the first portion being designed to be pushed into the ground adjacent to but spaced from one or more plants to be protected with the second portion extending above the ground in a direction away from the plant(s) and at least the second portion being adapted to be coated with a compound which prevents or deters slugs and the like from crawling along it.

Preferably, the second portion is arcuate but other sections are possible within the scope of the invention.

The compound may take any convenient form but it has been found that a jelly-type material is most suitable.

Paraffin jelly is desirably used as the compound and one convenient form which is readily available is a hand cleanser sold under the Trade Mark SWARFEGA. It has been found that slugs will not go near this substance so that it has the desired effect of protecting plants without killing the slugs. This is important because slug predators such as birds and frogs are not poisoned by the slugs should they eat them.

The device itself may have an annular configuration to form a bottomless pot which can be placed around an individual plant to be protected.

Alternatively, the device may be formed from a series of straight sections fastened together at abutting ends to form two parallel rows. The ends of the rows can be connected together by curved sections of the same device to form an oval bed. As a further alternative, a square or rectangular bed can be formed from two pairs of rows of sections which are connected together by corner members which may be right-angled or curved.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each section is formed with integral fastening means comprising a male fastening member at one end and a female fastening member at the other end whereby adjacent sections can be connected together by engaging the male member of one section in the female member of an adjacent section. As an alternative, the device may be manufactured in sections with two different forms which are adapted to be clipped together.

According to a further alternative, adjacent sections may be fastened together by means of separate clips.

The compound may be applied by any convenient means although it has been found that paraffin jelly can easily be painted on the second portion of the device.

Preferably, the compound is also applied to the upper region of the first portion.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention consisting of a series of sections connected together to form a substantially rectangular slug barrier with rounded corners; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line II-II in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention again consisting of a series of sections connected together to form a substantially rectangular slug barrier with rounded corners; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line V-V in Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows;; Fig. 6 is an end view of a clip for fastening together two adjacent sections of the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an end view of a clip for fastening to a section of the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line IX-IX in Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 10 is a section, corresponding to Fig. 9, but showing a modification of the device shown in Fig. 8.

Reference will first be made to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings in which the device consists of two straight sections 1 each having a substantially planar portion 2 and an arcuate portion 3. Adjacent to the junction with the arcuate portion 3, a projecting bead member 4 is provided on the planar portion 2 on the side to which the arcuate portion extends. A channel member 5 is provided along the edge of the arcuate portion 3 remote from the junction with the planar portion 2. The inside surface of the arcuate portion 3 and the facing surface of the upper region of the planar portion 2 down to the point 6 are coated with a slug resisting compound such as paraffin jelly as above referred to. The planar portion 2 is designed to be pushed into the ground 7 to a point ar which the bead member 4 is just above the ground surface as shown in Fig. 2.

The device further consists of four straight sections 11 each having a substantially planar portion 12 and an arcuate portion 13 connected to the planar portion 12 by a bridging portion 14 which defines a receiving channel 15. The radius of curvature of the arcuate portion 13 is slightly less than that of the arcuate portion 3 so that when a section 11 is butted up to a section 1, the end 16 of the arcuate portion 13 is receivable in the channel 5 and the bead member 4 on the first section 1 is receivable in the channel 15 on the section 11. The sections 1 and 11 can thus be fitted together in a telescopic manner.Again, the inside surface of the arcuate portion 13 is coated with a slug resisting compound down to the upper edge of the bridging portion 14 and the planar portion 12 is designed to be pushed into the ground 7 down to the lower region of the bridging portion 14 as shown in Fig. 3.

Although the device shown in Fig. 1 has only two straight sections 1 and four straight sections 11 arranged in two parallel rows, it will be appreciated that more sections may be added with sections 1 and 11 alternating in each row. However, the rows should terminate at each end with sections 11. Arcuate sections 10 having the same cross-section as the sections 1 are then fitted to the end sections 11 in a similar manner and the sections 10 at each end of the rows are connected together by short straight sections -17 having the same cross-section as the sections 11 to form the device shown in Fig. 1.

The arcuate portions and the upper regions of the planar portions of each section are coated with the slug resisting compound to form an effective slug barrier for plants which are to be grown in a bed 8 surrounded by the device. Minor adjustments to the size of the barrier can be made by virtue of the telescopic engagement of adjacent sections but any major alteration in size must be made by adding sections or by taking some sections away.

Turning now to Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings, in this embodiment the device consists of four straight sections 21 arranged in pairs in two substantially parallel rows.

The ends of the rows are interconnected by arcuate sections 26 and one or more additional straight sections 27 may be located between the arcuate sections to surround a bed 28 in which plants are to be grown. As can be seen from Fig. 5, each of the sections has a substantially planar portion 23 and an arcuate portion 24 and adjacent sections are fastened together by means of separate clips 22. This embodiment is considerably simpler to manufacture since it consists only of the substantially planar portion 23 and the arcuate portion 24. The inside surface of the arcuate portion 24 and the upper region of the facing surface of the planar portion 23 down to the point 25 are coated with a slug resisting compound and the planar portion 23 is designed to be pushed into the ground 7 almost to the said point 25 as shown in Fig. 5.

Although the device shown in Fig. 4 has only four straight sections arranged in two parallel rows, it will be appreciated that more sections may be added. The sections 26 and 27 have a similar cross-section to the sections 21. The inner surfaces of the arcuate portions and the upper regions of the facing surfaces of the planar portions are likewise coated with the slug resisting compound to form an effective slug resisting barrier for the bed 28.

As shown in Fig. 6, each of the clips 22 has a configuration conforming to that of the cross-section of the sections 21, 26 and 27 and is provided at one end with a first U-shaped channel 29 for clipping over the bottom of the planar portions 23 of two adjacent sections and at its other end with a second U-shaped channel 30 for clipping over the remote end of the arcuate portions 24 of the same adjacent sections.

The device according to the invention may further be provided with a series of clips adapted to be fitted to the device to enable netting or sheeting to be attached to the device. As shown in Fig. 7, each clip 31 is arcuate in cross-section and terminates at one end in a U-sectioned channel 32 which is adapted to clip over the end of the arcuate portion 3, 13 or 24 of the sections 1, 11, 17, 21 or 27. The other end of the clip is provided on its outer, upper, surface with a button-like projection 33 by means of which netting or sheeting can be installed over the device. Netting would provide protection against birds, dogs, cats, rabbits etc. On the other hand, if flexible sleeting made from a material such as polythene is attached to the clips, the device can also be used as a cold frame, cloche or protection against frost.Rigid plastics sheeting could be used as an alternative to flexible sheeting.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a further embodiment according to the invention in which the device consists of an annular, arcuate member 34 with an annular planar portion 35 extending downwardly from the inner surface of the arcuate annulus. The planar portion 35 is adapted to be fitted into the top of a plant pot or like container 36 as shown in Fig. 9. The inner surface of the arcuate portion 34 and the facing surface of the planar portion 35 down to the rim of the pot 36 are coated with a slug resisting compound to protect any plants in the pot from slugs and the like.

According to an alternative embodiment, the pot 36 may be dispensed with and the planar portion extended downwards for a considerable distance as shown by the portion 37 in Fig. 10. In this case, the portion 37 can simply be pushed into the ground to surround and protect a single plant.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of making the sections 1 and 11 in different sizes, a single section may be produced having a bead member 4 and channel member 5 at one end and a receiving channel 15 at the other end. In that case, one of the ends must be made larger or smaller than the remainder of the section to fit over or into the other end of an adjacent section. Similar modification would be required for the curved sections 10 and short straight sections 17.

Claims

1. A barrier used in conjunction with a harmless compound that slugs and the like will not cross thus preventing damage caused by them to plants, vegetables and fruits.

2. A device for protecting plants from damage by slugs and the like, said device having a cross-section comprising a substantially planar first portion and a second portion extending from one edge of the first portion at an angle to the plane in which said first portion is located, the first portion being designed to be pushed into the ground adjacent to but spaced from one or more plants to be protected with the second portion extending above the ground in a direction away from the plant(s) and at least the second portion being adapted to be coated with a compound which prevents or deters slugs and the like from crawling along it.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the second portion is arcuate in cross-section.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the device has an annular configuration to form a bottomless pot for placing -around a plant to be protected.

5. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the device is formed from a series of straight sections fastened together at abutting ends to form two parallel rows, the ends of the rows being connected together by further sections of the device.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the ends of the rows are connected together by curved sections to define an oval bed in which plants can be protected.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the device further comprises further straight sections extending in two substantially parallel rows approximately at right angles to the first two parallel rows, adjacent rows being connected together at their ends by corner sections to define a substantially square or rectangular bed in which plants can be protected.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the corner sections are right-angled.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein the corner sections are curved.

10. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein each section is provided with integral fastening means comprising a male fastening member at one end and a female fastening member at the other end whereby adjacent sections can be connected together by engaging the male member of one section in the female member of an adjacent section.

11. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the device consists of sections with two different forms which are adapted to be clipped together, the second portion of each form being arcuate in cross-section.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein one form of section is provided with a projecting bead and a channel and wherein the arcuate portion of the other form of section has a smaller radius than that of the arcuate portion of said first form of section and said other form of section also has a channel, the bead on said one form being receivable in the channel of said other form and the remote end of the arcuate section of said other form being receivable in the channel of the said one form whereby adjacent sections can be fastened together.

13. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the ends of adjacent sections are connected together by means of clips and wherein each clip has a configuration corresponding to the cross-section of the sections and is provided at one end with a first Ushaped channel adapted to receive an edge of the substantially planar portions of the sections and at its other end with a second U-shaped channel adapted to receive an edge of the second portions of said sections.

14. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein a series of clips are provided which are adapted to be clipped to the sections of the device and are provided with means to enable netting or sheeting to be attached to the device.

15. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the device has an annular configuration and wherein the first portion is adapted to be fitted in a plant pot or like container.

16. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 15, wherein the upper region of the second portion as well as the second portion are coated with said compound.

17. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the compound is applied by means of a paint or like brush.

18. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compound consists of paraffin jelly.

19. A device for protecting plants from damage by slugs and the like, said device being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs.

8 and 9 of the drawings.

20. A device for protecting plants from damage by slugs and the like, said device being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 4 to 7 or Fig.

10 of the drawings.