The present invention relates to a reconfigurable enclosure assembly for enclosing a space, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a reconfigurable enclosure assembly for enclosing a space within a garden such as a flower bed or pond.

It is often required to erect an enclosure within a garden to protect a plant or flower bed, for example. Many plants, particularly younger plants, are vulnerable to damage from pests, wind, frost or the like. In addition, the fruit of certain plants is often eaten by birds or other animals. This must be prevented if the plants are grown for the purpose of harvesting the fruit. It is therefore common to enclose such plants within a greenhouse, polytunnel or other transparent or translucent enclosure.

Garden enclosures are also required in order to prevent children for example, from accessing dangerous areas such as ponds. In this respect, it is often necessary to erect a barrier around a pond or similar in order to prevent children for example, from falling into the water.

The above-mentioned enclosures are typically only required for a limited period of time, for example during the early stages of a plant's growth or when young children play in the garden. It would therefore be advantageous for such enclosures to be removable, transportable and reconfigurable, such that one enclosure could fulfil many purposes.

In accordance with the present invention, as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a reconfigurable enclosure assembly for enclosing a space, the enclosure comprising a primary support and a plurality of secondary supports for supporting a cover, wherein the cover is arranged to retractably extend from the primary support such that the cover is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the cover is supported by the primary support and a second configuration in which the cover is supported by the primary support and at least one of the plurality of secondary supports, to enclose the space.

The primary and at least one secondary supports are preferably arranged to extend along a substantially common direction. Preferably, the cover is arranged to retractably extend from the primary support along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the common direction.

Preferably, the cover is coupled along a proximal portion thereof to the primary support.

Preferably, the enclosure comprises a distal portion which is arranged to detachably couple with the primary support. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the distal portion is arranged to detachably couple with the proximal cover portion. Preferably, the cover comprises strengthening means which is arranged to preserve the shape of the cover under the force of gravity, wind or the like. Preferably, the strengthening means comprises at least one support rib detachably coupled to the cover. Preferably, the cover comprises at least one channel for receiving the at least one rib.

Preferably, the at least one channel is disposed along a longitudinal edge of the cover such that the at least one rib is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to the primary support and at least one secondary support.

Preferably, the strengthening means comprises at least two support ribs and the cover comprises at least two channels. The at least two channels are preferably arranged to extend along opposite longitudinal edges of the cover. Preferably, the opposite longitudinal cover edges comprise an upper and lower edge of the cover.

Preferably, the cover comprises a mesh or a membrane.

In accordance with the present invention, as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a reconfigurable enclosure assembly for enclosing a space, the enclosure comprising at least two reconfigurable supports and a cover which is arranged to extend between the at least two supports, wherein the at least two supports are separately reconfigurable between a substantially linear configuration for storage and an arcuate configuration, in which the at least two supports are arranged to arc over said space. Preferably, the at least two supports separately comprise a first and second end which are arranged to detachably couple with a base member.

Preferably, the cover further comprises a peripherally extending anchor for anchoring the cover to the ground. The anchor preferably comprises a peripherally extending channel which is arranged to receive a fluid, such as water or sand.

Further preferred features of the reconfigurable enclosure assembly of the second aspect may comprise one or more of the preferred features of the reconfigurable enclosure assembly of the first aspect.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, arranged in the first configuration;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figure 1 , arranged in the second configuration;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figures 1 and 2, arranged intermediate the first and second configurations;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figures 2, further comprising a closure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an enclosure according to a second embodiment of the invention, with the support poles arranged in a linear configuration; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figure 5, with the support poles arranged in a separated configuration; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the enclosure illustrated in figure 6, with the support poles arranged in an arcuate configuration. Referring to figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a reconfigurable enclosure assembly 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for enclosing an area such as a garden pond or flower bed (not shown). The enclosure 10 comprises a primary support 1 1 , a plurality of secondary supports 12, 13, 14 (only three of which are illustrated for clarity) and a flexible mesh cover sheet 15.

The primary 1 1 and secondary supports 12, 13, 14 may separately comprise an elongate pole for example, and the cover 15 is secured along a proximate edge thereof along the length of a tubular member (not shown) which is arranged to extend along the primary pole 1 1 . The tubular member (not shown) is arranged to extend substantially co- axially of the primary pole 1 1 and is coupled to the primary pole 1 1 via a coil spring (not shown), which is arranged to bias the member (not shown) to rotate with respect to the pole 1 1 . Accordingly, the tubular member (not shown) and coil spring (not shown) enable the cover 15 to retractably extend from the pole 1 1 between a first configuration in which the cover is substantially wrapped around the primary pole 1 1 and a second configuration in which the cover 15 extends from the primary pole 1 1 .

In use, the primary pole 1 1 and the plurality of secondary poles 12, 13, 14 are partially inserted into the ground, at spaced locations around the periphery of the area 16 which is to be enclosed or cordoned off, such that the poles 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 extend in a substantially vertical orientation. The cover 15 is then extended from the primary pole 1 1 around the secondary poles 12, 13, 14 and back to the primary pole 1 1 , to form a loop around the area 16. In the embodiment illustrated, the cover 15 is arranged to extend along a substantially rectangular path and the coil spring (not shown) on the primary pole 1 1 helps maintain the cover 15 in a substantially taught configuration. The distal end of the cover 15 comprises coupling means, such as a plurality of ties or a Velcro strip 17 which is arranged to couple with the primary pole 1 1 and/or a portion of the cover 15 disposed proximate to the primary pole 1 1 .

The cover 15 further comprises a channel 18 which is arranged to extend along the length of the upper and lower edges 19a, 19b of the cover 15. The channel 18 disposed along the upper edge 19a of the cover 15 is arranged to receive one or more support ribs (not shown) which help minimise any sagging of the cover 15 under its own weight or any deformation of the cover 15 under the force of the wind, for example. The channel 18 disposed at the lower edge 19b of the cover 15 may similarly comprise one or more support ribs (not shown) to minimise any movement of the cover 15. It is also envisaged however, that the channel 18 disposed at the lower edge 19b may further receive a fluid, such as water or sand to anchor the bottom of the cover 15 to the ground, as illustrated in figure 4 of the drawings. In this respect, it is envisaged that the channel 18 disposed at the lower edge 19b of the cover 15 may comprise an adapter 20 for coupling a garden hose 21 thereto. Upon referring to figure 4 of the drawings, if required a flexible mesh closure 22 for example, may then be support over the area 16 by coupling the closure 22 along a periphery thereof, along the upper edge 19a of the cover 15.

Referring to figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated an enclosure 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, for enclosing an area such as a garden pond or flower bed 31 . The enclosure 30 comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible support poles 32, which are reconfigurable between a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, substantially arcuate configuration, and which are biased to adopt the first configuration. The enclosure 30 further comprises a cover 33, which may comprise a flexible transparent or translucent and/or waterproof material. The cover 33 comprises a plurality of channels 34 formed therein which extend across the width of the cover 33 in spaced relation along the length of the cover 33, and are arranged in substantially parallel configuration. The channels 34 are arranged to separately receive a support pole 32, the latter of which comprise a length which is greater than the width of the cover 33. In this respect, a portion of the support poles 322 is arranged to extend out from opposite longitudinal edges 33a, 33b of the cover 33.

In use, a user (not shown) positions a support pole 32 within each channel 34 formed within the cover 33 and inserts a first end of the support poles 32 within the ground at spaced locations along one side of the area 31 to be enclosed, such that the cover 33 extends in a substantially taught vertical plane, as illustrated in figure 6 of the drawings. The support poles 32 are inserted into the ground to a depth which substantially corresponds with the extension of the first end of the support poles 32 from the cover 33, so that the cover 33 extends in contact with the ground along a first longitudinal edge 33a thereof. The user (not shown) then separately arcs the support poles 32 over the area 31 and inserts a second end of the support poles 32 within the ground at the opposite side of the area 31 , to form a tunnel enclosure over the area 31. The second end of the support poles 32 are similarly inserted into the ground to a depth which substantially corresponds with the extension of the second end of the support poles 32 from the cover 33, so that the cover 33 extends in contact with the ground along a second longitudinal edge thereof 32b.

The support poles 32 disposed proximate opposite longitudinal ends of the cover 33 are separated from the respective longitudinal end of the cover 33 by a distance which corresponds at least to the maximum height of the enclosure above the ground, when arranged in the second configuration, such that the entire periphery of the cover 33 may contact with the ground when the enclosure 30 is arranged in the second configuration (as illustrated in figure 7 of the drawings).

The cover 33 further comprises a peripherally extending channel 35 which is arranged to receive a fluid, such as water or sand to anchor the periphery of the cover 33 to the ground. In this respect, it is envisaged that the channel 35 disposed along the periphery of the cover may comprise an adapter (not shown) for coupling a garden hose (not shown) thereto, for example. Such an enclosure 30 is thus easily opened, closed and repositioned according to the needs of the user. Furthermore, whilst the second configuration of the enclosure 30 substantially encloses the plants and thus offers protection against frost, pests etc, the first configuration of the enclosure 30 offers a further form of protection; it may be positioned to protect plants from a prevailing wind, or to protect plants from direct sunlight without completely enclosing the plants.