In the present connection, the term protective device should be understood in very wide terms, because it is possible to use a device according to the invention in many applications that might not always be included in the term protective device. Examples of protective devices that fa) ! within the scope of this invention are those used to protect plants, particularly seedlings, from weather and natural phenomena and also from other, smothering plants, aswell asfrom destruction by animals. Another group are those used to enclose any goods at all, particularly elongated goods, i. e. to function as some kind of package or storage device, or even as a mould.

Each year, millions of tree and other seedlings are planted. Some of the seedlings, in particular tree seedlings, are planted on felling sites, which traditionally become densely grassed over after removal of the trees, so strongly and densely that the tree seedlings that are planted have little chance to grow normally, becoming stunted, deformed, and often so starved of nutrients and space to grow that they simply die.

However, there are many other situations, in which young plants require protection, for example, against strong sunlight, high winds, or other natural forces. This kind of protection may be required as much in the middle of nature as in, for example, a garden.

Many different attempts have been made to provide this protection. One way is to destroy the other vegetation in the specific area in which the seedling will be planted. However, this is naturally extremely laborious, and it is obvious that, if it is wished for a tree seedling to grow in a certain area, conditions must be such that weeds will also grow there.

Various mechanical devices intended to protect seedlings are also known. One basic type is a length of plastic piping, with the seedling planted inside it. If the pipe is not secured to the ground, it is sure tofall over and damage the seedling.

The pipe can be secured by pushing it into the ground for some distance, but, in this case, there is the problem that ground is often stony and in any event hard, making it very difficult to push the end of the pipe into the ground.

Another mechanical device for protecting seedlings is also known, comprising a sheet made into slightly conical shape, with a hole in the centreforthe seedling to come through. Though this type of solution will probably keep the vicinity of the seedling free from other vegetation, it does not actually protect the seedling in any way. Indeed, it can be a danger to the seedling, which can be rubbed and damaged by the edges of the small hole.

In addition to the above, there are also conical devices, with a flange around their lower edge, through which the device can be secured to the ground with pin-like devices.

Thus, many of the devices described above have drawbacks, either by not remaining in place, by being difficult to secure, and also by many of them having a fixed structure that cannot be adapted, and therefore requiring a large space that makes them difficult to store and transport.

A numerous group of various packages and protections for various goods is also know. Many of them have the drawback of a complicated and fixed construction, preventing their adaptation in any way.

The present invention is intended to eliminate the drawbacks of the aforemen- tioned state of the art and create such a protective device for plants, particularly for seedlings, which will effectively protect a seedling from its infancy until it becomes quite large, and which forms a general-purpose, simple, cheap and highly adaptable solution. An additional intention is to create an adaptable, cheap

and easy-to-use package, protection or mould for various purposes. In ail applications, the device can be stored in a small space, so that storage and transportation costs are low. Yet another advantage of this invention is that the device is suitable for continued reuse. The device is easy to assemble and dismantle.

The above and other advantages and benefits of this invention have been achieved in the manner described as characteristic in the accompanying Claims.

In the following, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment of the invention.

Thus: Figure 1 a shows an angled view of one protective device according to the invention ; Figure 1 b shows the securing device of the device; and Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the protective device in Figure 1.

Thus, Figure 1 shows one possible embodiment of the invention. It is clear, that it is not intended to limit the invention in any way to the embodiment shown, the intention being only one functional embodiment.

Thus, in this embodiment, the device 1 comprises two halves 2 and 3 of the device, which are advantageously identical, and securing devices 4, by means of which device 1 can be secured to its base. The model of the securing devices is shown in Figure 1 b and is principal rod-like. One end of the securing devices has a bent loop 4', which is meant to make it easier to use and also possibly to act as a stop, when the device is being pushed onto the ground.

Not only are the securing devices 4 intended to secure device 1 to the ground, they also fulfil the important function of holding components 2 and 3 of the device in the desired shape, should the device comprise two or more sections. As will be described later, the device will certainly remain in shape, even without the securing devices, but securing device 4 is used when it is wished to ensure the sturdiness of the device.

As Figures 1 a, 1 b and 2 show, the device is suitably assemble so that, in the form shown, halves 2 and 3, which are approximately in the shape of a semicircle, are placed so that they overlap at folds 6 and 7, when components 2 and 3 are attached to each other. This is due to the fact that, in the form it is shown, the fold is such that, if the folds are set on top of each other, a certain force will be required, before they snap into a position one inside the other.

Components 2 and 3 preferably have edges of slightly different sizes, so that a connection is naturally formed, when fold 6, which has a larger diameter, is pressed on top of fold 7. In this case, components 2 and 3 are preferably identical.

After joining folds 6 and 7, the protective device is secured to the ground by pushing the securing rods 4 inside the folds and then into the ground. The best thickness of securing device 4 is such that, when device 4 is pressed into the ground, it also slightly expands the fold that it runs through, thus strengthening the joint.

Though the best shape of folds 6 and 7 is undoubtedly more or less circular, functioning joints can also be created using folds of other shapes. In particular, when it is not intended to press one fold inside the other, but to make the joint by threading a joint member with a smaller dimension inside a larger one, there is actually no restriction on the shape of the joint. However, it should be noted that many of the possible cross-sectional shapes of the joint do not permit the components to turn in relation to each other, which limits their application. Certain

other shapes, on the other hand, permit tuming, but only in stages and not stepiessly.

In Figure 1a, the reference number 8 marks a device, especially a mat-like, opaque device, that can be used to protect the immediate surroundings of the seedling from the growth of weeds. Reference number 5, there again, signifies the perforation in the jacket surfaces of components 2 and 3. Perforation, or other forms of treatment can be used if desired. One form could be, for example, giving the jacket a reflective surface, or making components 2 and/or 3 opaque or transparent.

It is obvious that a protective device according to the invention can be given many different shapes, without deviating in any way from the basic inventive concept. This being the case, it is even possible to make fences, using components with a particularly large radius, by linking a suitable number of components sequentially. The fence can be a closed, ring-like construction or open. The construction is sturdy in itself, with the securing devices making it even more so.

If a protective mat 8 or similar is used, as described above, on the surface of the ground, the securing devices of a device according to the invention will not only secure the device to the ground, but also hold the protective mat or similar in place, as, in this case, they are pushed through the mat.

A device according to the invention can be manufactured to desired dimensions, not only in circumference, but also in length (height). The material of manufacture is especially sheet plastic, which can be transparent, translucent or opaque. In addition, a reflecting or other special surface treatment can be applied. For example, in the case of plants needing a great deal of heat or light, two halves can be used, one of transparent plastic and the other with a reflecting surface, which effectively reflects the heat and light of the sun ontothe plant. On the other hand, if the intention is particularly to avoid excessive heat and light, the outer surface of a device according to the invention can be treated to reflect light.

It is obvious that the curved shape shown in the figures is suitable for many different applications. However, the components may have any shape at all, with even flat components being possible. When flat components are used, a protective ring is created by forming it from three or more components. In the same way, when flat components are used, a fence-like structure can be created just as easily as when using components of other shapes.

The components of a device according to the invention will fit into a very small space, if they are stacked on top of each other, resulting in low storage and transportation costs. A fence-like structure can also be simply rolled up from its installed state, so that it can be easily and quickly removed by only removing the securing devices, and secured again in the desired shape at the place of use.

Ease of transportation and storage are also important characteristics when using a protective device according to the invention to make a package or a storage enclosure. A few components will give many possible variations for forming different kinds of closed or open structures. A device according to the invention is particularly suitable for elongated goods. One possible such use is a protective trough or pipe for electrical cables or pipes or similar.

Because plastic is the probable material of manufacture of a device according to the invention, the device can be preferably made using any manufacturing method well known to those versed in the arts of the plastics sector.