Method of guiding plant stem and branch growth

Abstract

A method for guiding a growing plant includes the steps of providing a guiding member having a predetermined length and a plurality of locking teeth spacedly formed along a longitudinal edge of the tail portion of the guiding member; twisting the tail portion of the guiding member to substantially align with a longitudinal length of a locker slot longitudinally formed at the head portion of the guiding member; slidably inserting the tail portion of the guiding member through the locker slot to form a binding loop around the growing plant with a supporter; and twisting the tail portion of the guiding member back to its original orientation such that a holding neck portion of the corresponding locking tooth is locked at the locker slot by a transverse width thereof to retain the loop diameter of the binding loop to bind the growing plant with the supporter.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The method, as recited in claim  1 , wherein said locker slot, having a rectangular shaped, has an even width longitudinally extended along said head portion of said guiding member, wherein said longitudinal length of said locker slot is defined at a longitudinal edge thereof and said transverse width of said locker slot is defined at a transverse edge thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method, as recited in claim  4 , wherein said locker slot, having a rectangular shaped, has an even width longitudinally extended along said head portion of said guiding member, wherein said longitudinal length of said locker slot is defined at a longitudinal edge thereof and said transverse width of said locker slot is defined at a transverse edge thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said tail end of said guiding member has a tapered shape having a width substantially smaller than said transverse width of said locker slot such that said tapered tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot when said tail end of said guiding member is inserted therethrough.  
   
   
       18 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said tail end of said guiding member has a tapered shape having a width substantially smaller than said transverse width of said locker slot such that said tapered tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot when said tail end of said guiding member is inserted therethrough.  
   
   
       19 . The method, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein each of said locking teeth is formed by an elongated slit inclinedly cut on said tail portion of said guiding member from said longitudinal edge thereof, wherein each of said locking teeth has a guiding edge having an outer end formed at said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member and an inner end inclinedly and inwardly extended on said guiding member towards said tail end thereof to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said inner end of said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       20 . The method, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein each of said locking teeth is formed by an elongated slit inclinedly cut on said tail portion of said guiding member from said longitudinal edge thereof, wherein each of said locking teeth has a guiding edge having an outer end formed at said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member and an inner end inclinedly and inwardly extended on said guiding member towards said tail end thereof to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said inner end of said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       21 . The method, as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth is extended inclinedly at a direction corresponding to an inserting direction of said tail portion of said guiding member such that said locking teeth are allowed to slide through said locker slot at said inserting direction while said locking teeth are blocked up at said transverse width at an ejecting direction which is opposed to said inserting direction.  
   
   
       22 . The method, as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth is extended inclinedly at a direction corresponding to an inserting direction of said tail portion of said guiding member such that said locking teeth are allowed to slide through said locker slot at said inserting direction while said locking teeth are blocked up at said transverse width at an ejecting direction which is opposed to said inserting direction.  
   
   
       23 . The method, as recited in claim  1 , wherein said locker slot has a longitudinal engaging portion having a width larger than said thickness of said guiding member and a longitudinal locking portion said integrally extended from said engaging portion towards said head end of said guiding member, wherein said locking portion has a width gradually increasing from said engaging portion in such a manner that when said respective locking tooth said is locked at said locker slot said after said tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot via said engaging portion thereof, said holding neck portion of said respective locking tooth is retained at said locking portion of said locker slot.  
   
   
       24 . The method, as recited in claim  4 , wherein said locker slot has a longitudinal engaging portion having a width larger than said thickness of said guiding member and a longitudinal locking portion said integrally extended from said engaging portion towards said head end of said guiding member, wherein said locking portion has a width gradually increasing from said engaging portion in such a manner that when said respective locking tooth said is locked at said locker slot said after said tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot via said engaging portion thereof, said holding neck portion of said respective locking tooth is retained at said locking portion of said locker slot.  
   
   
       25 . The method, as recited in claim  4 , wherein said locking teeth, having even thickness, are parallelly extending to said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member to form as a comb shape so as to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said root portion of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       26 . The method, as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said locking teeth, having even thickness, are parallelly extending to said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member to form as a comb shape so as to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said root portion of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       27 . A method for guiding a growing plant via a supporter, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a guiding member having a length substantially long enough to bind around said growing plant with said supporter, wherein said guiding member has a head portion defining at a head end, a tail portion defining at a tail end, and a plurality of locking teeth spacedly formed along a longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member;    (b) twisting said tail portion of said guiding member to substantially align with an adjacent edge of a locker slot, having a triangular shape, formed at said head portion of said guiding member, wherein said adjacent edge of said locker slot is substantially larger than a width of said guiding member, wherein said locker slot has a width gradually increasing towards said head end of said guiding member;    (c) slidably inserting said tail portion of said guiding member through said locker slot to form a binding loop around said growing plant with said supporter, wherein said tail portion of said guiding member is slid along said adjacent edge of said locker slot to adjust a loop diameter of said binding loop corresponding to a distance between said growing plant and said supporter; and    (d) twisting said tail portion of said guiding member back to its original orientation such that a holding neck portion of said corresponding locking tooth is locked at said locker slot by a transverse width thereof so as to retain said loop diameter of said binding loop to fittingly bind said growing plant with said supporter, wherein said transverse width of said locker slot is larger than a thickness of said guiding member and is larger than a width of said holding neck portion of each of said locking teeth.    
   
   
       28 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (e) when said growing plant grows to increase a diameter thereof to a grown diameter, releasing said guiding member from said growing plant by twisting said tail portion of said guiding member to align with said adjacent edge of said locker slot to unlock said respective locking tooth with said locker slot such that said tail portion of said guiding member is allowed to slidably eject from said locker slot;    (f) slidably releasing said tail portion of said guiding member along said adjacent edge of said locker slot such that said binding loop of said guiding member is adjusted for fitting said grown diameter of said growing plant with respect to said supporter; and    (g) twisting said tail portion of said guiding member back to its original orientation such that said locking neck portion of said adjacent locking tooth is locked at said locker slot so as to retain said loop diameter of said binding loop to fittingly re-bind said guiding member around said growing plant with said supporter.    
   
   
       29 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , wherein a height of said locker slot at least equals to said width of said guiding member.  
   
   
       30 . The method, as recited in  claim 28 , wherein a height of said locker slot at least equals to said width of said guiding member.  
   
   
       31 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , wherein a plurality of elongated slit are spacedly and inclinedly cut along two longitudinal edges of said tail portion of said binding member respectively to form said locking teeth and to define said holding neck portion on said binding member at a root portion of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       32 . The method, as recited in  claim 28 , wherein a plurality of elongated slit are spacedly and inclinedly cut along two longitudinal edges of said tail portion of said binding member respectively to form said locking teeth and to define said holding neck portion on said binding member at a root portion of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       33 . The method, as recited in  claim 29 , wherein a plurality of elongated slit are spacedly and inclinedly cut along two longitudinal edges of said tail portion of said binding member respectively to form said locking teeth and to define said holding neck portion on said binding member at a root portion of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       34 . The method, as recited in  claim 30 , wherein a plurality of elongated slit are spacedly and inclinedly cut along two longitudinal edges of said tail portion of said binding member respectively to form said locking teeth and to define said holding neck portion on said binding member at a root portion of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       35 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , wherein each of said locking teeth has a guiding edge having an outer end formed at said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member and an inner end inclinedly and inwardly extended on said guiding member towards said tail end thereof to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said inner end of said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       36 . The method, as recited in  claim 29 , wherein each of said locking teeth has a guiding edge having an outer end formed at said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member and an inner end inclinedly and inwardly extended on said guiding member towards said tail end thereof to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said inner end of said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       37 . The method, as recited in  claim 32 , wherein each of said locking teeth has a guiding edge having an outer end formed at said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member and an inner end inclinedly and inwardly extended on said guiding member towards said tail end thereof to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said inner end of said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       38 . The method, as recited in  claim 34 , wherein each of said locking teeth has a guiding edge having an outer end formed at said longitudinal edge of said tail portion of said guiding member and an inner end inclinedly and inwardly extended on said guiding member towards said tail end thereof to define said holding neck portion on said guiding member at said inner end of said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       39 . The method, as recited in  claim 35 , wherein said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth is extended inclinedly at a direction corresponding to an inserting direction of said tail portion of said guiding member such that said locking teeth are allowed to slide through said locker slot at said inserting direction while said locking teeth are blocked up at said transverse width at an ejecting direction which is opposed to said inserting direction.  
   
   
       40 . The method, as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth is extended inclinedly at a direction corresponding to an inserting direction of said tail portion of said guiding member such that said locking teeth are allowed to slide through said locker slot at said inserting direction while said locking teeth are blocked up at said transverse width at an ejecting direction which is opposed to said inserting direction.  
   
   
       41 . The method, as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth is extended inclinedly at a direction corresponding to an inserting direction of said tail portion of said guiding member such that said locking teeth are allowed to slide through said locker slot at said inserting direction while said locking teeth are blocked up at said transverse width at an ejecting direction which is opposed to said inserting direction.  
   
   
       42 . The method, as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said guiding edge of each of said locking teeth is extended inclinedly at a direction corresponding to an inserting direction of said tail portion of said guiding member such that said locking teeth are allowed to slide through said locker slot at said inserting direction while said locking teeth are blocked up at said transverse width at an ejecting direction which is opposed to said inserting direction.  
   
   
       43 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said tail end of said guiding member has a tapered shape having a width substantially smaller than said transverse width of said locker slot such that said tapered tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot when said tail end of said guiding member is inserted therethrough.  
   
   
       44 . The method, as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said tail end of said guiding member has a tapered shape having a width substantially smaller than said transverse width of said locker slot such that said tapered tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot when said tail end of said guiding member is inserted therethrough.  
   
   
       45 . The method, as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said tail end of said guiding member has a tapered shape having a width substantially smaller than said transverse width of said locker slot such that said tapered tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot when said tail end of said guiding member is inserted therethrough.  
   
   
       46 . The method, as recited in  claim 42 , wherein said tail end of said guiding member has a tapered shape having a width substantially smaller than said transverse width of said locker slot such that said tapered tail portion of said guiding member is guided to slide through said locker slot when said tail end of said guiding member is inserted therethrough.