AU2021101761A4 - Ceramic insert for plant pot - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for a plant pot, the device comprising a planar body comprising wholly or primarily a ceramic, wherein the ceramic is at least partially unglazed :-Yve- t ED nL

Description

:-Yve- t

ED nL

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT

Ceramic insert for plant pot

The following statement is a full description of this invention including applications and variations

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Technical Field

The present invention relates to plant pots and, more particularly, to an insert for a plant pot

Background

The roots of pot plants are generally hidden from view yet are part of the plant and their health is important to the health of the plant. Disease problems often start with the roots, in part as many pots fail to provide ideal conditions for optimal root health. After watering a pot plant, the lowest parts of the medium are often left with a perched water table, which is the excess water retained in the medium due to capillary action, after gravity has caused water not retained by the medium to drain away. This perched water table can reduce aeration of the medium, increase the potential for rot to occur, and for fungal diseases to develop.

Furthermore, when removing plants from some types of pots, such as ceramic pots, the roots can be subjected to damage in favour of preventing damage occurring to the pot instead. This root damage can also lead to development of disease for the plant.

Many products created to improve plant heath in pots focus on monitoring water levels or on providing stores of water designed to help improve water availability to the plants in the pot. Types of plants that have high water requirements can benefit from these. Types of plants that have low water requirements, such as cactus and succulents, are more likely to suffer ill effects from anything that promotes the presence of excess water, especially around the root area.

There have been various devices made to try to improve the outcome for plants living in pots.

Currently on the market there are small plastic discs with a mesh like appearance that are designed to be placed at the bottom of a pot over the drainage hole, intended to reduce excessive loss of potting medium in pots, especially if the drainage hole is overly large. These are not claimed to serve any other purpose.

One such product, described by patent US6962022 B2, consists of a thermoplastic disc with several apertures, designed to be suspended in a plant pot with sloping walls, by resting on the sloped walls inside the pot. This creates an air cavity, said to improve drainage and access to air for the plant. This product also serves to reduce the amount of potting mix that would be required to fill a pot to the ideal level, so has some rigid strength.

Other products made of coconut fibre or assorted fabrics and non-ceramic materials are designed to sit at the bottom of a plant pot and provide improved drainage and access to air for the plant roots. Some of these are made of non rigid material that lacks the strength required to aide in removal of the plant from the pot when repotting. Some of these products are likely to start to break down over time, thereby ceasing to provide as much drainage benefit.

When the surface on which the potting medium rests is impermeable to water, for example plastic, it does not prevent the formation of a perched water table. Any holes present will allow excess water to drain away but if the surface on which the medium rests has no ability to wick away the perched water table, the capillary action of the potting mix will allow the perched water table to remain until it is removed by other processes such as evaporation through the holes, drying of upper

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layers of the medium, and being drawn up by plant roots. In fact, in the case where you may use a plastic device to effectively raise the floor of the pot, it can be damaging to the plant because it can effectively be bringing the perched water table closer to the base of the plant. For some plants, such as cactuses and succulents, this can increase the chance of rot or disease developing, as these sorts of plants are sensitive to problems caused by excess water and inadequate drainage and are likely to be healthier when their roots are not overly damp for prolonged periods.

In summary, while there are many products designed to alleviate either of these two problems, none can successfully perform both tasks. Products designed to hold soil in the pot and help wick away excess moisture do not have enough rigid strength to support the potting mix above the floor of the pot or to aid in removing the plant when it is time to repot; while the products that have the required mechanical strength to support soil and to aid in repotting are made of plastic and thereby have no wicking qualities and thus fail to protect the roots of susceptible plants from harm caused by excess water in the perched water table.

Drawings

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Detailed description

The device of this application is designed to improve the outcome for plants living in pots by reducing the likelihood of disease developing, or damage occurring to the roots. The device is inserted into an existing plant pot before the potting medium is added. It sits on the bottom of the pot, positioned over the drainage hole of the pot, in such a way as to form an air cavity under the device (Fig 1). The air in this cavity can exchange freely with the outside air through the pot drainage hole.

The device is formed in such a way as to allow excess water from the potting medium to readily flow out of the pot after watering. There are several ways to accommodate this outflow of excess water.

The device can have holes in it. These holes can be of any functional size or shape or number, and they form a channel between the potting medium and the air cavity under the device.

The device can have indentations of any shape around the edges, which can function the same way as the holes through the device.

The device can also have raised portions around the edges which, if not in contact with the pot, can allow excess water to flow into the cavity and out of the pot.

The device also consists either mostly or wholly of unglazed ceramic. When the device is correctly placed in the pot, under the potting medium, it will be in direct contact with the lowest parts of the potting medium where the perched water table is. Unglazed clay absorbs water through capillary action, and this will absorb some of the excess water in the perched water table. Furthermore, because the underside of the device will be exposed to the air cavity created by the device, it will effectively result in a greater surface area from which water could evaporate into the cavity if the air is allowed to freely exchange with the air outside the pot. This will increase the rate at which any excess water, which may still be in the potting medium, reduces to less overly saturated levels.

The device can also improve aeration of the potting medium because the multiple holes, indentations, and/or raised portions which serve to allow excess water to escape after watering, will tend to create a greater total area of direct contact between the potting medium and air in the cavity under the device, than there would be between the potting medium and outside air through the drainage hole of the pot alone.

Most ceramic pots tend to have a single drainage hole in the bottom. Pots like these can be difficult to remove plants from without damaging the pot or the plant roots. This device is created with enough rigid strength that it can be used to aid in safe plant removal. All that is required is an appropriate tool such as a piece of bamboo or rod that can fit through the pot's drainage hole. Pushing up on the device through the drainage hole will aid in removing the plant (Figure 6)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1.

Figure 1 depicts a cross section of a plant (3) in its pot (2) with the device (1) in position. The positioning of the device (1) is right over the drainage hole (6) of the pot (2). This creates an air cavity (7) right over the pot drainage hole (6). Any perched water table (8) would be in contact with the device (1). After excess water moves through the various possible channels, such as a hole in the

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device (9), and then out through the air cavity (7) under the device, and then out through the drainage hole of the pot (6), the remaining water would be wicked away into the device (1).

The surface area of the device (1) that is exposed to the air cavity (7) underneath it could allow a greater rate of drying of excess water than through the pot's drainage hole (6) could if there were no device (1) used.

This would help reduce excess wetness and increase aeration of the potting medium (5), which would help reduce the incidence or disease affecting the roots (4)

Figure 2.

Figure 2 depicts three examples of how the device could be shaped as viewed from above. Examples a and b depict a roundish shaped polygon, whereas example c is squarish. The shape of the device can be variable, in response to the various shapes of existing pot plants, but as pot plants bases are usually round, the device will also most commonly be round, and made in a range of sizes to cater to different pot sizes. The shapes are not required to be exact, as the device is able to function once in position in an appropriate pot. Examples a and c depict holes (9) & (10), which pass through the device. These holes form a channel through which excess water can pass from the potting medium in the pot to the outside of the pot. They can be round (9) or squarish (10) or any shape. They will typically be between approximately 5 and 8 mm in diameter as this is a useful size range that allows water to flow out without excessive loss of potting medium, however smaller or larger holes could also be used in various circumstances. The number of holes in each device can vary from zero to many, depending on the size of the device, as long as excess water is allowed to flow freely from the potting medium to the drainage hole of the pot without excess loss of medium. Typically, there will be one hole per several squared centimetres.

Example b depicts an alternative route for excess water to drain away. They are, in this example, slits (11) on the edges of the device. Any indentations of any shape or size around the edges could create a channel for water to pass through and are an acceptable feature if they don't allow excessive loss of potting mix.

All three examples of Figure 2 feature rows of ridges (12) on the upper surface of the device. These increase the surface area of ceramic in contact with the potting medium, which will aid in the wicking of moisture from the potting medium. These are optional as unglazed ceramic surface will readily absorb water regardless of the presence of the ridges.

Figure 3.

Figure 3 depicts three examples of the device as viewed from the side, as they would appear lying on a flat surface (15). Example a Is a smaller one and is essentially a flat planar object bent along one axis. This creates an elongated cavity which sits over the pot's drainage hole. This example also has two drainage holes (9) through the device, and only one is partially visible in the drawing. Because of how this example is shaped, it has two points (21) at which the edges touch the surface on which the device rests (15). This also results in two raised areas around the edges (13) of the device which also function as drainage channels through which excess water can drain from the pot, and only one of these is depicted in this drawing. The cross section of the device, perpendicular to the axis along

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which it is bent, would have the similar U shape as the edge of the device (14) appears in the image. The ridges (12) can also be seen.

Example b is a slightly larger version which has a more triangular shaped cavity. The edges of the device (14) touch down on the surface the device rests on (15) at three places (21), with only two of these visible in this drawing. This gives three raised areas (13) which create gaps around the edges of the device. This example would be made with three drainage holes (9), two of which are depicted in the image. Again, the ridges (12) are visible in the drawing.

Example c is larger again with four touch down points (21), and four raised areas (13) around the edges. The air cavity underneath the device would have a more squarish shape. This version would have eight drainage holes (9), three of which are visible in the drawing. The ridges (12) are again included in this version.

Figure 4.

Figure 4 depicts the underside of the device. There are two examples, each depicted from two angles. Drawing a depicts the underside of the first example of the device from an angle, and drawing b depicts the underside of this same example from directly perpendicular to the bottom of the device and these are a larger squarish version of the device. This version has eight drainage holes (9) in it. The shape of the device, when positioned appropriately in a pot, would create an air cavity under the device (7). It would also have four raised areas (13) which would allow excess water to drain out of the pot. The ridges (12) are visible in drawing a but not in drawing b. The raised areas around the edge of the device (13) are also not visible in drawing b because of the angle.

Drawings c and d depict a different smaller, rounder example of the device from the same angles as the larger squarer example. This example has four drainage holes (9), and four raised areas (13). The air cavity (7) which would be under the device, once in place, is indicated.

Neither example of figure 4 has any significant textures on the underside of the device.

Figure 5.

Figure 5 depicts some of the variations that might be made without significantly affecting the functioning of the device. Drawing a depicts an example which is flat and has no ridges (16) but has legs (17). The edge of the device (14) is also flat. The presence of drainage holes (9) would still allow water to drain from the potting medium in the pot and into the air cavity under the device (7). The legs (17) on this version could be made of ceramic as an extension of the rest of the device, but they could also be made of another appropriate material such as rubber or plastic, and attached to the ceramic disc to create the air cavity (7) without significantly reducing the functioning of the device. The legs would have to be of an appropriate length to be able to create and hold an air cavity.

Drawing b depicts a similar device to previous example and is shown looking at the underside from a diagonal angle. It has the addition of legs (17) on the underside of the device. These can be useful for larger versions, particularly in the manufacturing of them, as clay is soft and larger objects may need additional support. As in previous examples, drainage holes (9), an air cavity (7), ridges (12) and the edge of the device (14) and touchdown points (21) are visible.

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Drawing c depicts a version that uses less ceramic in the construction. It is simply a ceramic disc (18) held by a ring (19) with legs (17). This ring could be made of thermoformed plastic or rubber or any other appropriate material. The legs of the ring (19) would allow the formation of an air cavity. The ceramic disc (18) in this version has drainage holes (9) to allow for water drainage, and the ring itself could also be formed to include drainage holes.

However, this version would have less ceramic and therefore less capability to wick away excess water from the potting medium. It would have less surface area to absorb water and to evaporate water underneath the disc. Further, the plastic would degrade much faster than the ceramic and therefore have a much shorter useful lifespan.

All versions presented have four important features in common:

1. They are made entirely or mostly of at least partially unglazed ceramic, which can wick away water from the potting medium. 2. They are formed in such a way as to create an air cavity under the device and over a drainage hole or holes in the pot they are placed into. 3. They have various channels which allow for excess water to flow freely from the potting medium to the air cavity and then out of the pot, without excessive loss of potting medium. 4. They have rigid strength which could accommodate being pushed on by an appropriate tool to aid in the removal of the plant from the pot.

Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows how the device (1) can be used to assist in the removal of the plant (3) from the plant pot (2) without excess damage to the roots (4).

An appropriate tool such as a rod (20) could be inserted through the drainage hole (6) of the plant pot (2) and used to simply push on the device (1). This should help lift the plant from the pot with minimal disturbance to the roots (4).

Claims (1)

1. EDITORIAL NOTE

   2021101761

   THERE IS ONE PAGE OF CLAIMS ONLY

   6.Claims

   1. A device for a plant pot, the device comprising a planar body comprising wholly or primarily a ceramic, wherein the ceramic is at least partially unglazed

   2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is shaped to form a water channel for water drainage

   3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the body has a substantially convex shape to form a cavity within the underside of the body when the device in is position in the plant pot.

   4. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises at least one aperture.

   5. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the body has a top surface, and wherein the top surface is shaped to have at least one ridge or channel.

   6. The device of any of the preceding claims further comprising a base for supporting the body.