Key information

Title
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROTECTING ROOT AND TRUNK OF A PLANT
Application number
20231212
Case type
National
Status
19.10.2026 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
09.11.2023
Effective date
09.11.2023
Publicly available
12.05.2025
Next annual fee due
30.11.2026
Applicant
FRUKT AS (NO)
Owner
FRUKT AS (NO)
Inventor
Morten Blaauw (NO)
Agent
LIGL IP CONSULT AS (NO)
Granted
19.10.2026
Patent number
350218
Expiry date
09.11.2043

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
A device for protection of root, root collar, and trunk of a plant from animals. The device is cylindrical and made of knitted wire (1), and closed at one end and configured to receive the root (3) of the plant (2) and to cover the root (3), the root collar (4), and a predetermined length of the trunk (5), and to be manually shaped to fit the shape of a lower part of the plant (2) and maintain that shape over time. The knitted wire constitutes a mesh large enough to allow the root (3) to grow through, but small enough to prevent burrowing animals from passing through. The wire is selected to allow knitting on industrial knitting machines and manual shaping to fit the root (3), root collar (4), and trunk (5), and able to withstand bites from burrowing animals and to maintain its shape.

Publications

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 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 20.10.2026 15-01 Saksbehandling 20231212(350218) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20231212)
02.10.2026 14-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT PT Meddelelse om patent LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 24.09.2026 13-04 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav oversatt norsk LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 24.09.2026 13-03 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav final eng LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 24.09.2026 13-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO innsendelse krav oversatt norsk LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 24.09.2026 13-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.08.2026 12-06 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav revidert aug 26 markup LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.08.2026 12-05 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav revidert aug 26 clean LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.08.2026 12-04 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO Frivillige endringer av patentkrav LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.08.2026 12-03 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO beskrivelse tilpasset aug 26 markup LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.08.2026 12-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO beskrivelse tilpasset aug 26 clean LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.08.2026 12-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.01.2026 11-06 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO svar på uttalelse LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.01.2026 11-05 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav revidert jan 26 markup LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.01.2026 11-04 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav revidert jan 26 clean LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.01.2026 11-03 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO beskrivelse tilpasset markup LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.01.2026 11-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO beskrivelse tilpasset clean LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 14.01.2026 11-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 18.10.2025 10-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT Realitet patent LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 02.10.2025 09-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20231212) LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 05.04.2025 08-04 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO svar realitetsuttalelse LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 05.04.2025 08-03 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav todelt form revidert april 25 markup LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 05.04.2025 08-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav todelt form revidert april 25 clean LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 05.04.2025 08-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 06.01.2025 07-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT Realitet patent LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 21.06.2024 06-04 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO OA response LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 21.06.2024 06-03 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav todelt form markup LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 21.06.2024 06-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO krav todelt form clean LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 21.06.2024 06-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 08.05.2024 05-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN loggfil
08.05.2024 04-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT PT report 03:04:49
08.05.2024 04-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT Realitet patent LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 07.05.2024 03-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN logfil fra AbS
10.11.2023 02-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 UT Infobrev til oppfinner LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 09.11.2023 01-04 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Tegninger LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 09.11.2023 01-03 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN P10149NO application final LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 09.11.2023 01-02 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Frukt AS-NO_GeneralPoA_en_no - signert LIGL IP CONSULT AS
 09.11.2023 01-01 Saksbehandling 20231212 INN Søknadsskjema Patent LIGL IP CONSULT AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROTECTING ROOT AND TRUNK OF A PLANTTECHNICAL FIELD[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for protection of plants from vermin such as rodents and the like, including burrowing, terrestrial, and arboreal animals. BACKGROUND[0002] Fruit growers and foresters often experience problems with rodents and other animals that attack trees. For example, rodents such as common voles, water-voles, gophers, porcupines, and mice, as well as other animals including rabbits and hare, may cause significant costs associated with prevention as well as replanting. Damage results from feeding on roots and root bark – which can cause serious damage particularly when the tree is newly planted – and feeding on the inner bark of tree trunks and branches. The graft area where the upper part of one tree has been grafted on to the lower part of another tree, may be particularly vulnerable. Glyphosate based herbicides have been used to keep grass low below trees, but especially in organic farming, and also in conventional farming, this is no longer allowed or not recommended. Higher grass allows rodents to thrive, which in turn increases the damage they cause to trees. Since 2017 regulators, both in the US and Europe, have banned the use of pesticides as well as exhaust and carbide to combat burrowing animals, while glyphosate-based Roundup (a Monsanto owned trademark) is currently on a yearly temporal approval in the EU, leaving few other effective tools than traps, which require much more labor and are often considered cruel to animals, and trunk guards to combat rodent pests. The negative effect on insect life, including pollinators, in undertaking conventional rodent-pest control by frequent mowing is also a consideration.[0003] Various devices exist for protecting roots and trunks against animals by providing a physical barrier. Protection of roots often takes the form of a meshed metal bag into which the root of the tree is inserted before the tree is planted. Trunk protection is often provided by trunk guards, which are typically made of polyethylene material. They are widely used in orchards but offer limited ventilation and they have little flexibility as the tree grows and expands. Thus, there are a number of shortcomings associated with the existing means and methods for protection of trees against rodents and other animals. Some are simply toxic and harmful to the environment, some are harmful and cruel to the animals, some are ineffectual or labor intensive, and some cumbersome and not very adaptive to the shape and development of trees. None of the measures mentioned above provide any efficient protection of the intersection between the tree root and the tree trunk.[0004] There is therefore clearly a need for new methods and devices that alleviate some of the shortcomings described above. It would be particularly beneficial to find new solutions that are able to address several of these shortcomings in a manner where one or a few features address more than one problem such that the resulting device can remain simple such that few steps and materials are required during production, little manipulation and adaptation is required when put to use, and where adjustment isSUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE[0005] In order to address these needs a device for protection of a plant with root, root collar, and trunk, from animals, has been provided, the device comprising a cylinder of knitted wire, closed at one end and configured to receive the root of the plant and to reach from the bottom of the root, past the root collar, and upwards to protect a predetermined length of the trunk, and to be manually shaped to fit the shape of a lower part of the plant and maintain that shape over time. The knitted wire constitutes a mesh with aperture size selected to be within a range that is large enough to allow the root to grow out through the mesh, but small enough to prevent burrowing animals from passing through. The wire material and diameter is selected such that the wire is sufficiently pliable for knitting on industrial knitting machines and to allow manual shaping to fit the root, root collar, and trunk, and sufficiently strong and stiff to withstand bites from burrowing animals and to maintain its shape once shaped around root, root collar and trunk.[0006] In some embodiments the cylinder is closed at one end by sewing with wire, or by staples, while in other embodiments the cylinder is closed at one end by the knitting process which may be one of a 3D knitting process or a toe-up knitting process.[0007] A device according to the invention may have an aperture size between 5 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 20 mm, and optionally between 9 mm and 15 mm.[0008] In some embodiments the wire is stainless steel grade 304. Other embodiments may have wire of stainless steel grade 308.[0009] The wire may have a diameter between 0.20 mm and 0.50 mm, and preferably between 0.23 mm and 0.30 mm.[0010] A device according to one of the previous , wherein the cylinder has a diameter of between 300 mm and 500 mm and a length of between 400 mm and 800 mm prior to being shaped to fit the lower part of the plant, and capable of being stretched between 25% and 100%.[0011] In another aspect of the invention a method of protecting the root, root collar and trunk of a plant is provided. Such a method includes providing a cylinder of knitted wire closed at one end and configured to receive the root of the plant and to reach from the bottom of the root, past the root collar, and upwards to protect a predetermined length of the trunk, and to be manually shaped to fit the shape of the trunk and maintain that shape over time; inserting the root of the plant into the cylinder of knitted wire; shaping the cylinder to fit the shape of the root, root collar, and trunk by pushing, stretching, and twisting; and planting the plant by inserting the root into a hole in the ground and filling the hole with earth.[0012] In some embodiments the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire includes knitting the cylinder using circular knitting to provide a cylinder, and closing the cylinder at one end by sewing with wire, or by using staples. The step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire may also include knitting the cylinder using a knitting process which inherently produces a cylinder closed at one end, selected from the group consisting of a 3D knitting process or a toe-up knitting process.[0013] The step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire may further include knitting the cylinder using a knitting process which produces a knitted mesh wherein the aperture size is between 5 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 20 mm, and optionally between 9 mm and 15 mm.[0014] The step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire may also include the selection of an appropriate material, which in some embodiments may be wire made of stainless steel grade 304, or optionally stainless steel grade 308. The diameter of the wire may be between 0.20 mm and 0.50 mm, and preferably between 0.23 mm and 0.30 mm.[0015] The final dimensions of the cylinder of knitted wire may vary according to needs (e.g., type of tree or plant to be protected, types of rodents or other animals present in the area where the device will be used), but in some embodiments the cylinder may be knitted such that it has a diameter of between 300 mm and 500 mm and a length of between 400 mm and 800 mm prior to being shaped to fit the lower part of the plant, and capable of being stretched between 25% and 100%.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS[0016] The invention will now be described in further detail by way of examples and with reference to the enclosed drawings, where:[0017] FIG.1a is an illustration of the present invention in use;[0018] FIG.1b is an illustration of the prior art;[0019] FIG.2 is an illustration of a cylinder of knitted wire, or bag, constituting a protective device according to the invention;[0020] FIG.3a shows a detail of a protective device according to the invention where one end of a cylinder of knitted wire is closed by sewing;[0021] FIG.3b shows a detail of a protective device according to the invention where one end of a cylinder of knitted wire is closed as a result of the knitting process used; and [0022] FIG.4 is an illustration of the process of using a protective device according to the invention when planting a tree.DETAILED DESCRIPTION[0023] In the present disclosure the following terminology will be used. Tree will be used to refer to the plant that is to be protected by a protective device according to the invention. This is intended to include plants which are, strictly speaking, not trees, but have a similar general shape and a need for protection against animals as described herein. Root will be used to refer to the parts of the tree that are able to grow in the soil and soak up moisture. For the purposes of this disclosure, no distinction will be made between the root as such, and the root ball, which is the root and any earth that is included with the root when it is moved and replanted. Trunk will be used to refer to the part of the tree that grows above ground and from which branches may extend. Root collar will be used to refer to the area of transition between root and trunk. It should be understood that while the root collar, also often referred to as root crown or root flare, is an area of transition between different properties of a tree, namely the root’s ability to absorb moisture and the trunk’s ability to move oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of the phloem, or inner bark, for the purposes of the present invention the root collar primarily refers to the location and shape of this part of the tree. As such the root is the part that may be attacked by burrowing animals, the root collar is the part that may primarily be attacked by terrestrial animals, and the trunk is the part that may be attacked by arboreal animals. There are, of course, animals that are able to move between these parts of the tree and thus attack more than one part.[0024] If the tree is grafted, the root collar is intended to also refer to or include the graft area, i.e., the area where the scion and the rootstock have grown together.[0025] The present invention addresses the problem of protecting the root of a tree, the root collar, and the trunk using only one device. There is very few solutions available for protecting the root of a tree at all, and the few that exist are limited to protecting only the root for example with some sort of meshed bag. In order to also protect the trunk an additional device, a so called trunk protector, is required. A trunk protector is usually a plastic cylinder of some sort. Such an arrangement leaves the root collar unprotected and requires separate operations for the installation of the devices that protect the root and trunk, respectively. In addition, the devices often have little flexibility for adaptation to tree growth, and installation, particularly of a trunk protector, may involve separate fasteners.[0026] The present invention addresses these issues by providing a device that is made substantially from a single material, namely a metal wire (or metal wires) knitted such as to form a bag into which the root of a tree may be inserted. Thanks to the properties in terms of dimensions, choice of material, and assembly, the device is able to provide protection of the root, the root collar, and the trunk, and it may be installed without the use of fasteners or tools. The device allows free movement of water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. [0027] Reference is first made to FIG.1a, which shows a device 1 according to the invention in use. The device is substantially a cylinder of knitted wire 1 closed at one end. A tree 2 is inserted into the device 1. The tree includes three parts, or general areas, namely the root 3, the root collar 4 and the trunk 5. Additional parts such as branches, twigs, and leaves will not be discussed in this disclosure. The part of the device that surrounds the trunk 5 is twisted in order to bring it into close proximity to the trunk. The tree 2 with the protective device 1 is placed in a hole 6 in the ground 7. The ground 7 should consist of soil that is capable of providing the tree 2 with moisture and nutrients through the root 4. It should be noted that the terms cylindrical and cylinder are not intended to imply that the device approximates the mathematical shape of a cylinder, since it is pliable and can be formed into different shapes. The device does, however, have the topology of a cylinder – just like a sock or a back – in the sense that it is tubular and can substantially be shaped into a cylinder.[0028] The solution provided by the present invention can be favorably compared to the prior art as illustrated in FIG.1b. This drawing shows a planted tree 2 where the root 3 is protected by a root protection device 10 and the trunk 5 is protected by a trunk guard 11. As the drawing clearly illustrates, the root collar 4 remains unprotected. This means that the root collar 4, including any graft area, may be attacked by terrestrial animals. It also means that burrowing animals may attack the root 3 from above, by burrowing into the ground 7 from inside the perimeter of the root guard 10. The root collar 4 is also unprotected against damage from tools such as edge cutters and lawn mowers. The trunk guard 11 may be a flexible plastic device which folds around the trunk of a tree. Other alternatives include bands that are wrapped around the trunk like a bandage, and medal cylindrical fences with a diameter slightly bigger than that of the trunk. Some of these devices require fastening with clamps, fasteners, or wires, others need to be anchored to the ground. Many of them restrict airflow and prevent sunshine from reaching the bark of the tree, and they typically cannot be reshaped to fit the tree as the tree grows. None of them provided any substantial protection to the root collar area of the tree.[0029] FIG.2 shows a protective device 1. The device 1 is made from steel wire 8 that has been knitted in an industrial knitting machine configured for circular knitting. It will be understood by those with skill in the art that the dimensions of the protective device 1 and the size of the loops depend on the knitting machine, the number of needles, and the extent to which the knitting machine can be adjusted to vary these parameters. Consequently, an appropriate knitting machine must be chosen based on the required dimensions and materials, as will be discussed further below.[0030] FIG.2 shows in a section 8 a closer view of the knitting stitches in the form of interlocking loops of wire. Typically, the knitting machine may use even stitching with multiple feeds (for example six). A machine with 60 needles (or hooks) that are 1.1 cm apart would produce a tube or sock of knitted mesh with a circumference of about 66 cm (0.9 stitches/cm). Some methods of knitting can produce tubes that are closed at one end, for example by using the toe-up technique, or specially designed 3D knitting machines. Otherwise, if the knitting machine produces a knitted tube open at both ends, the tube will have to be closed at one end to produce a bag. This can be done by sewing, stitching, staples, or the like. The wire or staples used to close the end (bottom) of the device should be at least as strong as the wire used for knitting but does not necessarily have to have the same flexibility.[0031] Since each loop is bent and the meshes are relatively large, this results in high resilience since the mesh will rarely be shaped, adjusted, or deformed enough to result in tensile forces acting upon the wires in the mesh. The shape of the loops also makes adjustment of the shape of the protective device 1 easy.[0032] The illustration in FIG.2 shows a single layer of stitching. However, the protective device may comprise several layers. Other options include crimping by passing the mesh through rollers. Crimping will give the mesh additional depth and facilitate adjustment of shape further.[0033] A number of parameters must be selected in a non-trivial way in order to produce a protective device 1 that provides the advantages of the invention. One such parameter is aperture size. It should be noticed that stich size, or loop size, mesh size and aperture size are closely related. As used in the present disclosure, stitch size is the distance between adjacent points where wires are looped together to form a stitch, and typically measured in millimeters or inches. Mesh size is measured as the number of stitches per unit length, so it is inversely related to stitch size. Aperture size refers to the space between the wires in the mesh. It is essentially the hole or opening size in the mesh structure. Aperture size is inversely related to the mesh size – a finer mesh has smaller apertures, while a coarser mesh has larger apertures. Aperture size can also be measured in millimeters or inches. Aperture size will determine the extent to which burrowing animals will be able to penetrate the subterranean part of the protective device 1, and also the extent to which roots are able to grow out of the protective device.[0034] An aperture size of between 9 mm and 15 mm diameter has been found to satisfy these requirements. Depending on circumstances, including the types of burrowing animals existing in the area and the type of tree the protective device 1 should protect, other sizes may be suitable and even preferrable. For example, the invention is consistent with aperture sizes of between at least 5 mm to 25 mm. If the aperture size is less than 5 mm this may impact the growth of the tree 2, and tests have shown that with smaller aperture size shoots will be significantly shorter. Similarly, an aperture size of 15 mm or larger may be large enough for vole to get through. A lower limit to the aperture size may thus be 5 mm, 7 mm or 9 mm, and an upper limit may be 15 mm, 20 mm or even 25 mm depending on the types of burrowing animals that exist in the area where the protective device will be used.[0035] Another parameter that must be considered is the diameter and material of the thread used when knitting the protective device 1. Again, this may vary with circumstances, but in most situations a wire of stainless steel grade 304 or 308 may be used. These grades are defined by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Stainless steel 304 has excellent corrosion resistance and good formability. Stainless steel 308 is somewhat less common and may be more expensive but may provide added strength. Other materials, for example synthetics or composites, with similar characteristics in terms of elasticity and strength, may also be used. The material should, however, be one that does not release toxins or otherwise interferes with the health of the tree 2 or harms the environment.[0036] The material is not the only concern when choosing an appropriate wire for the protective device 1. The material in combination with thickness (diameter) will determine strength as well as how easy it is to produce the device in industrial knitting machines and how easy they are to use. The wire needs to be sufficiently pliable for knitting on industrial knitting machines, while ease of use particularly relates to how easy it is to shape and deform the device in accordance with the shape of the trunk of the tree as well as the extent to which it maintains the shape without use of fasteners. In other words, a suitable compromise be found between pliability and plasticity on the one hand and strength and stiffness on the other. With one of the steel grades mentioned above a wire with diameter between 0.20 mm and 0.50 mm is suitable, and particularly between 0.23 mm and 0.30 mm.[0037] Some tries have indicated that 0.28 mm diameters stainless steel 304 with aperture size 10 mm may be particularly suitable for the conditions under which they were tried, but as mentioned above, different situations may require some adjustments to these parameters. As with aperture size the selection of wire diameter is a tradeoff. On the one hand, thinner wire increases the risk that burrowing animals will be able to bite through it, and it becomes less stiff and may not as readily allow itself to be shaped around the trunk 5 of the tree 2 and maintain its shape rather than simply falling down.0.23 mm diameter may be at the lower end of the usable range, and below this the problems just described may become significant. On the other hand, a thicker wire will be more expensive, more difficult to knit (or require more heavy duty knitting machines) and less flexibility. The latter means that while a device 1 made with thicker wire will readily maintain its shape, it may be more difficult to actually obtain the desired shape in the first place.0.30 mm may be at the higher end of the usable range. Of course, as with all trade off situations there may be situations where some advantages or disadvantages become more or less important, and a different choice of material may change the usable range in terms of wire diameter.[0038] It should be noted that parameters like mesh size and wire diameter are not the problems that need to be solved, but parameters that need to be tuned in order to achieve the benefits provided by the present invention. It is the overall design and structure of a device according to the invention that makes this possible and that represents the solution provided, while a skilled person readily understands that different plants and different animals will mean that a designer may have to choose different dimensions than those suggested in the examples described herein. [0039] In production the protective device 1 is knitted on an industrial knitting machine configured to be able to knit steel wire. The configuration of the knitting machine will impact the resulting dimensions of the device. A knitting machine used to produce a device 1 according to the invention may have in the range of 40 to 80 needles spaced 0.2 to 1.2 cm apart. An example of a commercially available knitting machine is Metal Circular Wire Mesh Knitting Machine from Tianjin Tianyin Tengxiang Technology Co., Ltd. This machine has been used with 60 needles 1.1 cm apart and with six spools of wire to produce a knitted mesh with a width of 430 mm. The result is a cylindrical mesh which may be extended by stretching 25% -100%. Desired width may vary, but may, for example, be between 300 mm and 500 mm before stretching.[0040] As illustrated in FIG.3a, when a knitting machine that produces a cylindrical mesh is used, the bottom of the cylinder must be closed. This can be done with a seam 9, i.e. by sewing. Alternatively, other means could be used, such as staples or claims.[0041] FIG.3b shows an example where a 3D knitting machine, or an alternative knitting technique like the toe-up technique mentioned above, has been used. In this case the result is a bottom area 10 that is already closed, and no additional sewing or stitching is necessary.[0042] The protective device according to the invention may also be made in different lengths depending on how wide and deep the root 4 is when the tree 2 is planted and how far up on the trunk 5 it is necessary to provide protection. As an example, a device 1 according to the invention may be 500 mm in length after it has been produced, and before stretching.[0043] Reference is now made to FIG.4a-4d which illustrates the process of inserting a tree 2 into a protective device 1 and planting the tree 2. Fig 4a shows the tree 2 next to the protective device 1. The protective device 1 has been stretched as necessary and how has the shape of a cylindrical bag. FIG 4b shows the tree 2 after it has been inserted into the protective device 1. FIG.4c shows how the part of the protective device above the root can be twisted around the trunk of the tree 2. Due to the materials and production method described above the protective device 1 has the required flexibility to allow itself to be shaped this way, and at the same time the necessary rigidity to maintain the shape into which it is brought. Consequently, the upper part of the protective device 1 remains in place and does not fall down, without requiring any fastener or other attachment. The tree 2 can now, as shown in FIG.4d, be placed in a hole 6 in the ground 8, and the hole can be filled with earth.[0044] The tree 2 is now protected from the bottom of the root and as far up on the trunk as the length of the protective device 1 will allow. There are no parts between these that are unprotected, including the root collar 4 and any graft area. At the same time, the aperture size of the mesh allows moisture to reach the root, and the root may grow out of the protective device in time, without being prevented therefrom by the device 1 itself.[0045] This protection is complete in the sense that it provides protection against burrowing animals, terrestrial animals, arboreal animals, and birds, as well as tools like edge cutter and lawn mowers. Furthermore, the protection device 1 does not require any use of fasteners or other additional means or measures, and the protection is passive in the sense that it does not require maintenance or additional measures such as trimming of grass around the tree 2 or use of glyphosate or other herbicides or pesticides.
Claims
CLAIMS1. A device for protection of a plant with root, root collar, and trunk, from animals, comprising:a cylinder (1) of knitted wire, closed at one end and configured to receive the root (3) of the plant (2) and to reach from the bottom of the root (3), past the root collar (4), and upwards to protect a predetermined length of the trunk (5), and to be manually shaped to fit the shape of a lower part of the plant (2) and maintain that shape over time;wherein the knitted wire constitutes a mesh with- aperture size selected to be within a range that is large enough to allow the root (3) to grow out through the mesh, but small enough to prevent burrowing animals from passing through; and- wire material and diameter selected such that the wire is sufficiently pliable for knitting on industrial knitting machines and to allow manual shaping to fit the root (3), root collar (4), and trunk (5), and sufficiently strong and stiff to withstand bites from burrowing animals and to maintain its shape once shaped around root (3), root collar (4) and trunk (5).2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder (1) is closed at one end by sewing with wire, or by staples.3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder (1) is closed at one end by the knitting process which is one of a 3D knitting process or a toe-up knitting process.4. A device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the aperture size is between 5 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 20 mm, and optionally between 9 mm and 15 mm.5. A device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the wire is stainless steel grade 304, or optionally stainless steel grade 308.6. A device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the wire is selected to have a diameter between 0.20 mm and 0.50 mm, and preferably between 0.23 mm and 0.30 mm.7. A device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the cylinder (1) has a diameter of between 300 mm and 500 mm and a length of between 400 mm and 800 mm prior to being shaped to fit the lower part of the plant, and capable of being stretched between 25% and 100%.8. A method of protecting the root (3), root collar (4) and trunk (5) of a plant, comprising:providing a cylinder (1) of knitted wire, closed at one end and configured to receive the root (3) of the plant (2) and to reach from the bottom of the root (3), past the root collar (4), and upwards to protect a predetermined length of the trunk (5), and to be manually shaped to fit the shape of the trunk (5) and maintain that shape over time;inserting the root (3) of the plant (2) into the cylinder (1) of knitted wire;shaping the cylinder to fit the shape of the root (3), root collar (4), and trunk (5) by pushing, stretching, and twisting; andplanting the plant (2) by inserting the root (3) into a hole (6) in the ground and filling the hole with earth.9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire (1) includes knitting the cylinder (1) using circular knitting to provide a cylinder, and closing the cylinder (1) at one end by sewing with wire, or by using staples.10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire (1) includes knitting the cylinder (1) using a knitting process which inherently produces a cylinder closed at one end, selected from the group consisting of a 3D knitting process or a toe-up knitting process.11. A method according to any one of the claims 8 – 10, wherein the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire (1) includes knitting the cylinder (1) using a knitting process which produces a knitted mesh wherein the aperture size is between 5 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 20 mm, and optionally between 9 mm and 15 mm.12. A method according to any one of the claims 8 – 11, wherein the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire (1) includes knitting the cylinder (1) using wire made of stainless steel grade 304, or optionally stainless steel grade 308.13. A method according to any one of the claims 8 – 12, wherein the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire (1) includes knitting the cylinder (1) using wire with a diameter between 0.20 mm and 0.50 mm, and preferably between 0.23 mm and 0.30 mm.14. A method according to any one of the claims 8 – 13, wherein the step of providing a cylinder of knitted wire (1) includes knitting the cylinder (1) such that it has a diameter of between 300 mm and 500 mm and a length of between 400 mm and 800 mm prior to being shaped to fit the lower part of the plant, and capable of being stretched between 25% and
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Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classesA01G 13/27A01G 13/00CPC classesA01G 13/27A01G 13/00

Citations

US 9398746 B1 (B1)SE 446804 B (B)JP 61108311 A ( A)US 2013139436 A ( A)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
FRUKT AS
Storsandveien 26 3475 SÆTRE NO (ASKER Municipality, Akershus county)Org. number: 923365001Inventors
Morten Blaauw
Normannsgata 30 0655 OSLO NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)

Agent

LIGL IP CONSULT AS
LIGL IP CONSULT AS

Org. number: 922948836

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Fridtjof Nansens plass 4 0160 OSLO NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)
Org. number: 922948836
Reference: P10149NO

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