Plant support clip, kit and method therefor

1. A clip device adapted to interconnect a pair of elongate poles in spaced apart relation, comprising:

(A) an elongated beam portion extending generally linearly along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends arranged on said axis and separated from one another by a length of said beam portion; and

(B) a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end, each of said first and second clamp portions formed of a stiff yet resilient material and including:

(1) a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and

(2) a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair such that each of said first and second clamp portions has a generally cylindrical sidewall, said jaw pair including a detent structure associated therewith and having an inner edge formed along substantially a same radius of curvature as said sidewall.

2. The clip device according to claim 1 wherein each jaw pair has free end portions that first converge toward one another and then diverge from on another.

3. The clip device according to claim 2 wherein the free end portions of said jaw pairs diverge at an angle of between forty and fifty degrees.

4. The clip device according to claim 1 wherein said beam portion, said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion are formed as an integral one-piece molded construction.

5. A clip device adapted to interconnect a pair of elongate poles in spaced apart relation, comprising:

(A) an elongated beam portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends;

(B) a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end, each of said first and second clamp portions constructed of a stiff yet resilient material and including:

(1) a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and

(2) a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair defining a bay that has a generally cylindrical sidewall with a central axis that is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and that is sized to engage a portion of the elongated pole with an entryway thereto having an opening of reduced dimension relative to the bay, said entryway opening facing generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

each jaw pair including a detent structure having an inner edge formed on said bay to have a radius of curvature substantially the same as said generally cylindrical sidewall.

6. The clip device according to claim 5 wherein said beam portion includes a web extending in a web plane and first and second flanges spaced apart from one another, said first and second flanges extending transversely of said web plane.

7. The clip device according to claim 6 wherein said first flange is disposed on a first edge of said web and said second flange is disposed on a second edge of said web opposite said first edge, said first and second flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the web plane.

8. The clip device according to claim 6 including a central brace extending between said first and second flanges.

9. The clip device according to claim 5 wherein said elongated beam portion extends generally linearly along a longitudinal axis.

10. The clip device device according to claim 5 wherein each jaw pair has free end portions that first converge toward one another and then diverge from one another, said detent structure located between said converging and diverging portions.

11. A clip device adapted to interconnect a pair of elongate poles in spaced apart relation, comprising:

(A) an elongated beam portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends, said beam portion including a first flange that has a first flange width and a second flange that has a second flange width wherein the second flange width is less than the first flange width; and

(B) a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end, each of said first and second clamp portions formed of a stiff yet resilient material and including:

(1) a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and

(2) a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair defining a bay sized to engage a portion of the elongated pole with an entryway thereto of reduced dimension relative to the bay.

12. A clip device adapted to interconnect a pair of elongate poles in spaced apart relation, comprising:

(A) an elongated beam portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends; and

(B) a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end, each of said first and second clamp portions formed of a stiff yet resilient material and including:

(1) a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and

(2) a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair that has a C-shaped configuration to define a bay sized to engage a portion of the elongated pole with an entryway thereto of reduced dimension relative to the bay, each of said jaw pairs including a reinforcement collar extending around a portion of the C-shaped configuration.

13. A clip device adapted to interconnect a pair of elongate poles in spaced apart relation, comprising:

(A) an elongated beam portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends, said beam portion including a first flange that has a first flange width and a second flange that has a second flange width, said second flange width being less than said first flange width; and

(B) a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end, each of said first and second clamp portions being formed of a stiff yet resilient material and having a clamp width that is substantially equal to the first flange width, and including:

(1) a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and

(2) a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair.

14. A kit adapted for use in supporting a plant relative to a support surface, comprising:

a plurality of poles, each said pole adapted to be erected in an upright manner relative to a support surface in spaced-apart relation to one another; and

a plurality of clip devices adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of said poles, each said clip device including,

an elongated beam portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends to maintain said plurality of poles in said spaced-apart relation when connected thereto; and

a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and sized and adapted to grip one of a pair of said poles and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end and sized and adapted to grip another of said pair of said poles;

each of said first and second clamp portions formed of a stiff yet resilient material and including a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair defining a bay sized to engage a portion of the elongated pole with an entryway thereto of reduced dimension relative to the bay, said jaw pair including a reinforcement collar extending around a portion of said bay.

15. The kit according to claim 14 wherein said beam portion, said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion are an integral one-piece construction of molded plastic material.

16. The kit according to claim 14 wherein said beam portion includes a first flange having a first flange width and a second flange having a second flange width, a width of said clamp portions being substantially equal to said first flange width.

17. The kit according to claim 14 wherein said beam portion includes a first flange having a first flange width and a second flange having a second flange width, said second flange width being less than said first flange width.

18. The kit according to claim 14 wherein said poles are generally cylindrical and said bay has a generally cylindrical sidewall.

19. A clip device adapted to interconnect a pair of elongate poles in spaced apart relation, comprising:

an elongated beam portion extending generally linearly along a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second beam ends arranged on said axis; and

a first clamp portion supported on the first beam end and a second clamp portion supported on the second beam end, each of said first and second clamp portions including a stationary jaw section proximate to said beam and a flexing jaw section in spaced relation to said stationary jaw section to form a jaw pair, each of said first and second clamp portions having a generally cylindrical sidewall with a central axis that is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;

said beam portion and said first and second clamp portions being an integral one-piece construction of molded plastic material; and

a reinforcement collar extending around a portion of said sidewall.

20. The clip device according to claim 19 wherein said plastic material is polypropylene.

21. The clip device according to claim 19 wherein said elongate beam includes opposed flanges joined by central gussets for rigidity and strength.