CA2438625C - A protective cover for a plant grazing container - Google Patents
A protective cover for a plant grazing container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2438625C CA2438625C CA 2438625 CA2438625A CA2438625C CA 2438625 C CA2438625 C CA 2438625C CA 2438625 CA2438625 CA 2438625 CA 2438625 A CA2438625 A CA 2438625A CA 2438625 C CA2438625 C CA 2438625C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- container
- openings
- plant variety
- dimensioned
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 238000009304 pastoral farming Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 title 1
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 244000075850 Avena orientalis Species 0.000 claims description 9
- 235000007319 Avena orientalis Nutrition 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 241000282326 Felis catus Species 0.000 abstract description 13
- 238000010899 nucleation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 3
- 241000209504 Poaceae Species 0.000 description 2
- 244000082988 Secale cereale Species 0.000 description 2
- NYPYHUZRZVSYKL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-azaniumyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)propanoate Chemical compound OC(=O)C(N)CC1=CC(I)=C(O)C(I)=C1 NYPYHUZRZVSYKL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- SUBDBMMJDZJVOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 5-methoxy-2-{[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]sulfinyl}-1H-benzimidazole Chemical compound N=1C2=CC(OC)=CC=C2NC=1S(=O)CC1=NC=C(C)C(OC)=C1C SUBDBMMJDZJVOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 244000161999 Acacia greggii Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000017771 Acacia greggii Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000501105 Aeshnidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 101150039167 Bex3 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241000518994 Conta Species 0.000 description 1
- 101710200331 Cytochrome b-245 chaperone 1 Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 102100037186 Cytochrome b-245 chaperone 1 Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 101710119396 Cytochrome b-245 chaperone 1 homolog Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241001505295 Eros Species 0.000 description 1
- ULGZDMOVFRHVEP-RWJQBGPGSA-N Erythromycin Chemical compound O([C@@H]1[C@@H](C)C(=O)O[C@@H]([C@@]([C@H](O)[C@@H](C)C(=O)[C@H](C)C[C@@](C)(O)[C@H](O[C@H]2[C@@H]([C@H](C[C@@H](C)O2)N(C)C)O)[C@H]1C)(C)O)CC)[C@H]1C[C@@](C)(OC)[C@@H](O)[C@H](C)O1 ULGZDMOVFRHVEP-RWJQBGPGSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000272476 Gyps Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000218652 Larix Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000005590 Larix decidua Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000014676 Phragmites communis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- JXVIIQLNUPXOII-UHFFFAOYSA-N Siduron Chemical compound CC1CCCCC1NC(=O)NC1=CC=CC=C1 JXVIIQLNUPXOII-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 244000269722 Thea sinensis Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000767684 Thoe Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003925 fat Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019988 mead Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
- A01K5/01—Feed troughs; Feed pails
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Birds (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
- Breeding Of Plants And Reproduction By Means Of Culturing (AREA)
- Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
- Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention provides a grazing container for growing a plant variety, such as grass, and making it accessible for a small animal to graze on while preventing access to the growing medium. The apparatus consists of a cover and a container, whereby the cover prevents the unwanted access of the small animal. The cover consists of a framed grid having a plurality of openings.
The container is filled with a growing medium, and seeded to grow one or more plant varieties. The plurality of openings in the cover is dimensioned to allow grass to grow through while preventing limbs of small animals from extending through the grid. These openings also allow watering of the growing medium without the need to remove the cover. The cover may also have a larger opening dimensioned to allow a person to extend a human finger through the larger opening to feel the growing medium for moisture content, yet prevent small animal limbs, such as cat paws, from entering the larger opening. The present invention may also include an attachment member or locking mechanism for securing the cover to the container.
The container is filled with a growing medium, and seeded to grow one or more plant varieties. The plurality of openings in the cover is dimensioned to allow grass to grow through while preventing limbs of small animals from extending through the grid. These openings also allow watering of the growing medium without the need to remove the cover. The cover may also have a larger opening dimensioned to allow a person to extend a human finger through the larger opening to feel the growing medium for moisture content, yet prevent small animal limbs, such as cat paws, from entering the larger opening. The present invention may also include an attachment member or locking mechanism for securing the cover to the container.
Description
~~~a~~c~6~
var iet~ avaiiabie to anirnais, such as cats, nor grazing ~~hiio preventing therr~ from digging into the groping racdi~m arid ~~liir~g opt the piarsts.
~~i'fi' 'tai"' Where is a r~~.srr~ber of grass kits avaiiabie ors the market that consist of a grouvir~g fray fiiied ~vath a groping r~odi~rr~. °~~~~icaii~, these kivs are i~~tended fo~~ use b~
cats arid are seeded pith grass s~;~~:d , ~as~a:i~ or the oats o:a rye variety. '~"hese prior art kits regoire the foii~~~ing s~te~sa 1 ) lacing the tray art the fioor, a) adding mater, arid 3) aiio~ing a cat access to the grass as it ie~ groaning.
~nforf~anatei~, the c~rrer~t cat grass kits do a~a~t ~re~er~v a cat frog diggi~ ~g i~~to the grouching rnedi~~°n. ~iso, ~ritho~t an~~ t~~e of ~rotecti4~e cover rr~ainfainir~g the grass ire the tray, cats viii afters p~li oat the grass rather than che~~ off the grass tips. 'thus, it is desirabie to have a giant grazing gro~in~i r~edi~rr~ tl~~at co~~tains and protects the ~iar~ts from the digging activivies of ar7ir~~ais, such .as cat:. there is aiso need to aiiour for moisture content testing of the growir~g raledi~I~y torch ~ithot the reed to remove the cover. ~'~rtherore, the grosser rr~a~ alt to wafer the giants a~aitho~st having to rerr~oere t~Ae oover each tune. ~~ch an a~~arat~~a o~id aiio~~
are arlimai to graze on a pian4, such as grass, without being abie to easii~~
r emove the grass from the tray.
ire w~iee~ of the above-noted shortcorr~irags, the present i3~ver~tiorE seeks to provide a piar~t-grov~ring r~edi~m having a cover which alio~s animal: such as cats to t~~~~~t ~.~~~
graze while preventing them ~ror~ pulling cj~t the piar~~t variety fr~srr~ the grron~iag medium.
1° F iiE iI~I~~
l'he present invention provides a grazing ~.cr~tair~ar for grov~~ir~g a plant variety;
such as grass, and r~akir~g it accessible for a small ar~lmal to graze on o~i~ilo preventlr~g acc~;ss to the growing rr;odi~~n. The apparatus cyonsists of a cover arid a container, ~rvhoroby the cover pr a~or~ts the ~sr wvar~tad across of the s~naAl animal. ~°ho cover consists of a framed grid having a plurality of openings. 'The container is filled v~r'stl~ a gror~i~~g r~~vcti~~, and soede~9 to gr~~r one or rnorv plant varieties. 'the plurality of openings in the ~~~er is dir~ser~sior~:d to allow g~~ass to grove through while preventing lirr~~s of srnail animals i~rcrn extending through the grids 'These openings also allo~r v~.~~~terir ~g ~~f the grov~ir~g rra~9di~r~~
witho~~t the need to rerr:ove the cover ~'I~~e cover ~~ay also Dave a larger opening dimensioned to allow a peg°sor~ to extend a h~rnan fir:c,~er thr~~agl g vhe largE~r opening to feel the gro~rving rnedi~r~a ~eor rr,c~ist~re cont~sr~tY yet pre~~er~t s~lall animal limbs, such as a cat's paw, frog entering the axrger o~er~ing. ~h,e pr°es~:r~t invention rr~ay also include an attachment rr~ernber or Is~c~inc~ r~echanisrr~
for securing the cover to the cor~taine~°o In a first aspect, the present invenEion provides an ap~~aratu:~ for growing at least ~~~ plait ~ar9~typ and r~alsinthe ~~ I~~~t o~~ plant ~arlty ~~~~~~so~l~ t~
~~ir~~l~
for grazing, corr~prisir~g: a ~.ontainea° having suitable rn~;rans v~~r grovvirag tl~~~ at least one plant varietyi and a ~ove~ for enclosing the ~;cntair°er, vl~e cover 3~aving a plurality of openings dis~er~sioned for pas:wage of the: at least ore plant variety through the plurality of openings while preventing limbs of the ar9irnals 'roe passing through the piuralay of openings.
in a second aspect, the present inventien provides a cover fr~r use with ~~
container having suitable rrseans for gro~~eir~g the at least one pier=:
variety 1 ~~ 9A~~ ~ ~~~i' accessible to anirnais for grazing, the cover dir~ensior~ed for saitabie ~~se pith the container, the cover having a plurality of openings being dimensioned to forrr~ a passage~~~ay for the at least piano ~~ariety grooving through the plurality of openings oohiie the cover pr~eventir~g ~ iirnh from an ar~irr~i i~"ram entering '~hrouc~h aE~y one os the plurality of o~.er~ir~gs.
rn a third aspect, the present irwer~tion provides a kit comprising: a container having means suitable for g~~o~rir~g at least one plant vari:ay; and a cover for enclosing ache container, the cover havi~~g ~a plurality ~a~~ openings dirs~ensionec9 for passage of the at feast arse plant oariety through the i~luraiity of openings ~hi9e preveratir~g limbs from ar~irr~als frc~r~ passing through the plurality of ope~iings.
~~ti~~= ~~,S~~iP'°f~t3~ ~ 'i'~E ~iiN~
°~he present invention gill r~r~~~~ be described with refer°~;nce to draings9 in ~hic~:
~i~~~E ~ is an exploded perspective eTieoof a cover and a grazing container suitable for use pith the cover in accordance with a first ernbodis~ent of the present ir3vention;
il~~ is an e~piodeperspective ~~iew of a cover ar~~i a grazing co~~~ ainer ~it~u a ret~ovabfe grooving tray in accordance rn~ith a s~;cor~d smbodimer~~:
of the present invention;
i~ is a perspective ~:°ivvv of a cover according to a second ec~bodirnent of the present invention vuhere s=he co~!ee~ is attchec~i to tg ~e c.or~~kainer throg..~gh use: of hinges and a locking rr~ecsa~ fern in accorrtoce o~ith a third err~bodirnent of p~he present invention; and i~ is a perspective vev~ ref an embodiment of a co~>er of the prc~se~i invention placed over a grazi~~g container r~here grass is grovoirzg therethro~gh.
~.~ ~~~ 1 ~~~
The in°van~icn ~iil be desc7i~aod fog t~ac purposes of ili~~stration cnl~,~ in ccn~ecction with certain ar~bodirr~cr~ts. 1°~o~irvop, it is to be ~ndor~~~cocl that oti7er objects a~~d ad~~antagcs of'che present ir~vo~ti~°~r~ v~ill b~: made appror~t !b~
thoe fc~iir~ir~g description of the drawings according to the present ii~~v~;nti~~n. ~lVi~ile ~
preferred es~bodiment is disclosed, this ~s nc~t intended to be iin~~itir~g. i~aialer, the general principles set forth i°~erein aye convider ed to be rr~erei~f iiiustrative of the scope of the preserut invention and it is to be f~ar~her ~nderstooc~ that c~ca~e~°ous charges ~a~ be ~~nade without straining from the scrape of tire ~s~~esenv inventior<.
for the purposes ~f the present invention, v;t is understood that there ar s:
a variety of plants v~>hich are suitable for animal graying. Howe~~er, the present invention ~~riii rraainiy refer to grass, as vhis is the preferred plant of cats. ~rowin rnediu~s, such as soil, peat joss, verr:~icuiite, periite., or some oobir~ation of the many different types of gro~nring ~edi;a~s, a~ be suitable for the purposes of the present invention. for grass, seeds such as oats, r~~e, or ar~~ other member- of the grass famii~~, are also seitable. fats are usuail~
recorrr~ended because of their wide, fender leaf blades.
F~G~~ shows a corer of the present invention fog use with a container ~~.
The container ~ D has a base end and four side wails 2~a, 25 0~, ~d, for growing therein a plant variety, such as grass. °~i~e corer ~ i Eas a frame 2and a grid surface 3. The frame 5 suppor is the grid surface ~~D. 'the s~rid surface ~~
is important in that there is a plurality of openings ~ dimensioned for the purposes of the present in~~ention. The grid surface 3i~ is made of suitable rnateriai, such as a ra~etas, to withstand the ~~.~eight of a srnail anirnai ors the cover in ~iC~~~, t'he cover is shown witi~ a frame havging side waifs which are dimensioned to rr~ate with the corresponding four side ~~~ails ~Qa, , ~c, ~0 t~~9~~1~~~1 of the container ~0. ~tlihiie there is no loci~ir~g device ;~ho~a~~, the present ir'~rer~tiorz rnay further include an attachment means, such as hinges, or a it~cf~$rag mechanism, well known in the art, to securely attach 'the cover to the cor3tair~er ~~. "f-he locking mechanism would be ~se~=~I ire prever~tir~g a small animal from rer~ovir~g the cover ~ afiter it has h~er~ piac~:d over tt3e cor~tair~er ~~.
the openings ~ ire the grid s~rfsce are dire=: r~sic~r~ed to er~atee grass s~~;h as oats, rye, or some other r~er~:ber cf the grass family, to ~r~oep~ through the oper~ir3gs ~~. The cover also has a urge ope~°~ir~g ~.~~ darner~sior~ed to alioa~r a person to extend his or her fer~ger through the large opening to fee; the growing medium for rr~oist~~-e content. ~'et, the large ~t~penir~g 4~~ must fee dimensioned small er3o~gh to prevent iimBs, such as a paw, from exter~direg thr ough the large oper~ir;g to p~f! ors the grass.
The process of grov~ir~g and air~taini~~g the grass in ~;i~e co~~~tainer ~~ is detailed in the foifov~ir~g explar~atios~. :groea~virrg d~ediue~ ~no~t shc~~nis placed a th~
container ~to a depth of approxi~~~a~tefy ~ cer~tir°netres. Typically the container is filled witty a grov~ir~g medium; such as garden soil. The gro~n~ir~g mediL~r~
is then heavily seeded with some member o~' the grass family, prefe:rahl~r oats. After seeding, are additional 1 centimetre approxir~nately of growing medium is pieced on top of the seeds to cover them. ~i~°~alfy, the cover ~ is placed over the co~~tainer to protect the growir°~g rraedi~r~. Ire a preferred emf~odir°~er~t; the distance Between the top surface c~ tf ge grcwir~g .~edi~~sr~~~ arid the cover ~ is approximately 1 to 2 cenairr~etres. The nur~eros openings in the co ~e~
aiio~sr for watering the grc~~~~ing medium ~~rifihout ~°er~ovir~g the cover 5.
~eriodicaffy, the growing medium should be checked for moisture content by extending ones finger thro~.~gh the larger opening ~ ire the cover ~ and feeling the grov~ir~g rr~edic~m ire the cc~r~tair~er 'l ~. .r~.~'ter several days, the grass, elemer~v ~ in ~iU ~, germinates 3~r~d gro~.~s through the oper~ir~gs dire the cover .
it is f ecomrrnertded to ai8o~d tf 8e grass to gro~~~ tc~ a height of approxirr~ateiy v ~.n to 12.~ ce~1'~imetres, frorr~ the Base end °lo~f tf°~e cor~tair~E;r , Before aliowiing a cat access to the container 1. ~y doing so, the grass is gi°~era sufficient tire to estabiish a secure root systems that vr~ili made it Larder for oats ~~ poll tl~e grass oaf of ~~he grov~i~g r~edi~r~. If oats are ~se~, the desia~ed height is achieved ~s~aally within g days of sot~ri,~g the seeds. The cover of the present ir~~~e~~tior~
thus enables cats to graze ors the grass vvl~ile pre~rer~ting them from digging in the growing medium or polling out the grass. It is recomrner~ded that a ne~~~
batch of grass seeds be planted every three weeks., either by puiiing out the old grass arid re-seedirDg the growing rnedi~~~m, o~° replaci~~g the gro~r~~ir~g medi~orn and re-seeding. ~ his re-seeding is recom~~er~ded at tlree-vvee~ intervals as the grass will tend to wilt due to the shalloes~ tray and indoor sighting cc~nditior~s being less Than optirr~al for grass gro~eetl~.
In a f:~rl:her embodiment, ~~C~f~~ iliustrates a removable growing tray 4~
placed witl~ir~ the container . The g~-owir~g medium arsd grass seeds c~~ld be placed in vle rernovable grog°~ing ~~ray ra'.ller t~~an directly o~itinin the container . If the confiainer 1~ were made of mafie~~ials such a;~ v~ood, the removal of soil would be difficult. The use or a re~ao~~abie growing trey ~.is advantageous i~a that it facilitates the cleaning of the container 1.
in are alternative embodiment, the cover ~ r~r~ay be a grid vlai~ extends over, car along; tae side e~alfs of tl~e c~ntair°~er. 1~~~~ ~ sho~~PS a rr;~odified cov~:r ~a having a r~nodi~ed grid surface ~~a which extends beyond the side walls of the container 1a. The grid surface 3~a does not have a frame 2as Ire ~I~~1~ 1.
T he cover a is attached to the container 1 through use of twro hinges has 45b.
!~'~hile hinges 4.a, ~ are s~wown i~~ hlr~D:, scre~rs, larches, or the like, may be utilized by the present invention. -l~here is alsr~ shcav~n ~Ic~cking rnec'har~ism for locking the cover a to the container ~~. ~'he locklr~g u~~ec,hanisrn his usef~a9 in preventing small anl~mals ~ror~ ~~em~aving or 1i~11ir~g the cover ~~.
It should be mentioned that the cover can be attaehed to the container by several other mead's, such as a latching mechanisrr~; hook arid loop taster~ers, such as t ~3~9~01 ~A~1 !>oHcro~"~ straps, elastic straps, or'~ia a snap-ors echa~isrrsimilar to the gay a co~ar r~ith dish snaps closes a conta'sr~or, such as T'~.~ppor~P~ro~' ~.
illustrates a co~o=° of the p~°as~~nt ir~~~onti~sr~ placed odor a gra~ir~g cor~tainor knot clearly sho~~r~~ wl~oro grass ~~ is gror~~ing through the pl~sr~lity of opersings ~ in the grid su3~face ~.
With respect to materials used, the co~e~- and container of the present:
ir~~antior~
made be of, but not limited tea, army gyps of plastic, metal, or F~rood.
1t is understood that the co~~r of the preset ~r~~er~tio~~ ~~ay be utiC~i~ed ~rarit~~ rnar~y commercially available grasp grorn~x~g fits. ~'or e~ampleg i:ho cor~fainer Coould be army shape, ~e.g., opal-shaped ~~viti'~ a s~~apnon coyer ~~Nith r~~me~°o~s openings.
The openings mould be dimensioned large ec~ough to alloy grass ~co gr o~
through and a person to extend his or her finger through to feel a groping medium for moisture conter;t, yet haying openings s~iaii enc~~sgh to pre~eer~t cats pav~fs from passing through. T he openings geed not be in a grid formatioro beat ray be oositior~ed rando~~ly or in s~any different patt~;~~~s.
it should be understood that rl~ae pre3erred ~:rr~bodimerrLs me~~tioned here are merely illustrative of the present in~er~tion. 'numerous ~°ariatior~s is°~ design arid use of the present invention may be contemplated in ~aiev~ of thp fofio~ing claims v~itho~at straying from the intended scope arid field of the Invention herein disclosed.
var iet~ avaiiabie to anirnais, such as cats, nor grazing ~~hiio preventing therr~ from digging into the groping racdi~m arid ~~liir~g opt the piarsts.
~~i'fi' 'tai"' Where is a r~~.srr~ber of grass kits avaiiabie ors the market that consist of a grouvir~g fray fiiied ~vath a groping r~odi~rr~. °~~~~icaii~, these kivs are i~~tended fo~~ use b~
cats arid are seeded pith grass s~;~~:d , ~as~a:i~ or the oats o:a rye variety. '~"hese prior art kits regoire the foii~~~ing s~te~sa 1 ) lacing the tray art the fioor, a) adding mater, arid 3) aiio~ing a cat access to the grass as it ie~ groaning.
~nforf~anatei~, the c~rrer~t cat grass kits do a~a~t ~re~er~v a cat frog diggi~ ~g i~~to the grouching rnedi~~°n. ~iso, ~ritho~t an~~ t~~e of ~rotecti4~e cover rr~ainfainir~g the grass ire the tray, cats viii afters p~li oat the grass rather than che~~ off the grass tips. 'thus, it is desirabie to have a giant grazing gro~in~i r~edi~rr~ tl~~at co~~tains and protects the ~iar~ts from the digging activivies of ar7ir~~ais, such .as cat:. there is aiso need to aiiour for moisture content testing of the growir~g raledi~I~y torch ~ithot the reed to remove the cover. ~'~rtherore, the grosser rr~a~ alt to wafer the giants a~aitho~st having to rerr~oere t~Ae oover each tune. ~~ch an a~~arat~~a o~id aiio~~
are arlimai to graze on a pian4, such as grass, without being abie to easii~~
r emove the grass from the tray.
ire w~iee~ of the above-noted shortcorr~irags, the present i3~ver~tiorE seeks to provide a piar~t-grov~ring r~edi~m having a cover which alio~s animal: such as cats to t~~~~~t ~.~~~
graze while preventing them ~ror~ pulling cj~t the piar~~t variety fr~srr~ the grron~iag medium.
1° F iiE iI~I~~
l'he present invention provides a grazing ~.cr~tair~ar for grov~~ir~g a plant variety;
such as grass, and r~akir~g it accessible for a small ar~lmal to graze on o~i~ilo preventlr~g acc~;ss to the growing rr;odi~~n. The apparatus cyonsists of a cover arid a container, ~rvhoroby the cover pr a~or~ts the ~sr wvar~tad across of the s~naAl animal. ~°ho cover consists of a framed grid having a plurality of openings. 'The container is filled v~r'stl~ a gror~i~~g r~~vcti~~, and soede~9 to gr~~r one or rnorv plant varieties. 'the plurality of openings in the ~~~er is dir~ser~sior~:d to allow g~~ass to grove through while preventing lirr~~s of srnail animals i~rcrn extending through the grids 'These openings also allo~r v~.~~~terir ~g ~~f the grov~ir~g rra~9di~r~~
witho~~t the need to rerr:ove the cover ~'I~~e cover ~~ay also Dave a larger opening dimensioned to allow a peg°sor~ to extend a h~rnan fir:c,~er thr~~agl g vhe largE~r opening to feel the gro~rving rnedi~r~a ~eor rr,c~ist~re cont~sr~tY yet pre~~er~t s~lall animal limbs, such as a cat's paw, frog entering the axrger o~er~ing. ~h,e pr°es~:r~t invention rr~ay also include an attachment rr~ernber or Is~c~inc~ r~echanisrr~
for securing the cover to the cor~taine~°o In a first aspect, the present invenEion provides an ap~~aratu:~ for growing at least ~~~ plait ~ar9~typ and r~alsinthe ~~ I~~~t o~~ plant ~arlty ~~~~~~so~l~ t~
~~ir~~l~
for grazing, corr~prisir~g: a ~.ontainea° having suitable rn~;rans v~~r grovvirag tl~~~ at least one plant varietyi and a ~ove~ for enclosing the ~;cntair°er, vl~e cover 3~aving a plurality of openings dis~er~sioned for pas:wage of the: at least ore plant variety through the plurality of openings while preventing limbs of the ar9irnals 'roe passing through the piuralay of openings.
in a second aspect, the present inventien provides a cover fr~r use with ~~
container having suitable rrseans for gro~~eir~g the at least one pier=:
variety 1 ~~ 9A~~ ~ ~~~i' accessible to anirnais for grazing, the cover dir~ensior~ed for saitabie ~~se pith the container, the cover having a plurality of openings being dimensioned to forrr~ a passage~~~ay for the at least piano ~~ariety grooving through the plurality of openings oohiie the cover pr~eventir~g ~ iirnh from an ar~irr~i i~"ram entering '~hrouc~h aE~y one os the plurality of o~.er~ir~gs.
rn a third aspect, the present irwer~tion provides a kit comprising: a container having means suitable for g~~o~rir~g at least one plant vari:ay; and a cover for enclosing ache container, the cover havi~~g ~a plurality ~a~~ openings dirs~ensionec9 for passage of the at feast arse plant oariety through the i~luraiity of openings ~hi9e preveratir~g limbs from ar~irr~als frc~r~ passing through the plurality of ope~iings.
~~ti~~= ~~,S~~iP'°f~t3~ ~ 'i'~E ~iiN~
°~he present invention gill r~r~~~~ be described with refer°~;nce to draings9 in ~hic~:
~i~~~E ~ is an exploded perspective eTieoof a cover and a grazing container suitable for use pith the cover in accordance with a first ernbodis~ent of the present ir3vention;
il~~ is an e~piodeperspective ~~iew of a cover ar~~i a grazing co~~~ ainer ~it~u a ret~ovabfe grooving tray in accordance rn~ith a s~;cor~d smbodimer~~:
of the present invention;
i~ is a perspective ~:°ivvv of a cover according to a second ec~bodirnent of the present invention vuhere s=he co~!ee~ is attchec~i to tg ~e c.or~~kainer throg..~gh use: of hinges and a locking rr~ecsa~ fern in accorrtoce o~ith a third err~bodirnent of p~he present invention; and i~ is a perspective vev~ ref an embodiment of a co~>er of the prc~se~i invention placed over a grazi~~g container r~here grass is grovoirzg therethro~gh.
~.~ ~~~ 1 ~~~
The in°van~icn ~iil be desc7i~aod fog t~ac purposes of ili~~stration cnl~,~ in ccn~ecction with certain ar~bodirr~cr~ts. 1°~o~irvop, it is to be ~ndor~~~cocl that oti7er objects a~~d ad~~antagcs of'che present ir~vo~ti~°~r~ v~ill b~: made appror~t !b~
thoe fc~iir~ir~g description of the drawings according to the present ii~~v~;nti~~n. ~lVi~ile ~
preferred es~bodiment is disclosed, this ~s nc~t intended to be iin~~itir~g. i~aialer, the general principles set forth i°~erein aye convider ed to be rr~erei~f iiiustrative of the scope of the preserut invention and it is to be f~ar~her ~nderstooc~ that c~ca~e~°ous charges ~a~ be ~~nade without straining from the scrape of tire ~s~~esenv inventior<.
for the purposes ~f the present invention, v;t is understood that there ar s:
a variety of plants v~>hich are suitable for animal graying. Howe~~er, the present invention ~~riii rraainiy refer to grass, as vhis is the preferred plant of cats. ~rowin rnediu~s, such as soil, peat joss, verr:~icuiite, periite., or some oobir~ation of the many different types of gro~nring ~edi;a~s, a~ be suitable for the purposes of the present invention. for grass, seeds such as oats, r~~e, or ar~~ other member- of the grass famii~~, are also seitable. fats are usuail~
recorrr~ended because of their wide, fender leaf blades.
F~G~~ shows a corer of the present invention fog use with a container ~~.
The container ~ D has a base end and four side wails 2~a, 25 0~, ~d, for growing therein a plant variety, such as grass. °~i~e corer ~ i Eas a frame 2and a grid surface 3. The frame 5 suppor is the grid surface ~~D. 'the s~rid surface ~~
is important in that there is a plurality of openings ~ dimensioned for the purposes of the present in~~ention. The grid surface 3i~ is made of suitable rnateriai, such as a ra~etas, to withstand the ~~.~eight of a srnail anirnai ors the cover in ~iC~~~, t'he cover is shown witi~ a frame havging side waifs which are dimensioned to rr~ate with the corresponding four side ~~~ails ~Qa, , ~c, ~0 t~~9~~1~~~1 of the container ~0. ~tlihiie there is no loci~ir~g device ;~ho~a~~, the present ir'~rer~tiorz rnay further include an attachment means, such as hinges, or a it~cf~$rag mechanism, well known in the art, to securely attach 'the cover to the cor3tair~er ~~. "f-he locking mechanism would be ~se~=~I ire prever~tir~g a small animal from rer~ovir~g the cover ~ afiter it has h~er~ piac~:d over tt3e cor~tair~er ~~.
the openings ~ ire the grid s~rfsce are dire=: r~sic~r~ed to er~atee grass s~~;h as oats, rye, or some other r~er~:ber cf the grass family, to ~r~oep~ through the oper~ir3gs ~~. The cover also has a urge ope~°~ir~g ~.~~ darner~sior~ed to alioa~r a person to extend his or her fer~ger through the large opening to fee; the growing medium for rr~oist~~-e content. ~'et, the large ~t~penir~g 4~~ must fee dimensioned small er3o~gh to prevent iimBs, such as a paw, from exter~direg thr ough the large oper~ir;g to p~f! ors the grass.
The process of grov~ir~g and air~taini~~g the grass in ~;i~e co~~~tainer ~~ is detailed in the foifov~ir~g explar~atios~. :groea~virrg d~ediue~ ~no~t shc~~nis placed a th~
container ~to a depth of approxi~~~a~tefy ~ cer~tir°netres. Typically the container is filled witty a grov~ir~g medium; such as garden soil. The gro~n~ir~g mediL~r~
is then heavily seeded with some member o~' the grass family, prefe:rahl~r oats. After seeding, are additional 1 centimetre approxir~nately of growing medium is pieced on top of the seeds to cover them. ~i~°~alfy, the cover ~ is placed over the co~~tainer to protect the growir°~g rraedi~r~. Ire a preferred emf~odir°~er~t; the distance Between the top surface c~ tf ge grcwir~g .~edi~~sr~~~ arid the cover ~ is approximately 1 to 2 cenairr~etres. The nur~eros openings in the co ~e~
aiio~sr for watering the grc~~~~ing medium ~~rifihout ~°er~ovir~g the cover 5.
~eriodicaffy, the growing medium should be checked for moisture content by extending ones finger thro~.~gh the larger opening ~ ire the cover ~ and feeling the grov~ir~g rr~edic~m ire the cc~r~tair~er 'l ~. .r~.~'ter several days, the grass, elemer~v ~ in ~iU ~, germinates 3~r~d gro~.~s through the oper~ir~gs dire the cover .
it is f ecomrrnertded to ai8o~d tf 8e grass to gro~~~ tc~ a height of approxirr~ateiy v ~.n to 12.~ ce~1'~imetres, frorr~ the Base end °lo~f tf°~e cor~tair~E;r , Before aliowiing a cat access to the container 1. ~y doing so, the grass is gi°~era sufficient tire to estabiish a secure root systems that vr~ili made it Larder for oats ~~ poll tl~e grass oaf of ~~he grov~i~g r~edi~r~. If oats are ~se~, the desia~ed height is achieved ~s~aally within g days of sot~ri,~g the seeds. The cover of the present ir~~~e~~tior~
thus enables cats to graze ors the grass vvl~ile pre~rer~ting them from digging in the growing medium or polling out the grass. It is recomrner~ded that a ne~~~
batch of grass seeds be planted every three weeks., either by puiiing out the old grass arid re-seedirDg the growing rnedi~~~m, o~° replaci~~g the gro~r~~ir~g medi~orn and re-seeding. ~ his re-seeding is recom~~er~ded at tlree-vvee~ intervals as the grass will tend to wilt due to the shalloes~ tray and indoor sighting cc~nditior~s being less Than optirr~al for grass gro~eetl~.
In a f:~rl:her embodiment, ~~C~f~~ iliustrates a removable growing tray 4~
placed witl~ir~ the container . The g~-owir~g medium arsd grass seeds c~~ld be placed in vle rernovable grog°~ing ~~ray ra'.ller t~~an directly o~itinin the container . If the confiainer 1~ were made of mafie~~ials such a;~ v~ood, the removal of soil would be difficult. The use or a re~ao~~abie growing trey ~.is advantageous i~a that it facilitates the cleaning of the container 1.
in are alternative embodiment, the cover ~ r~r~ay be a grid vlai~ extends over, car along; tae side e~alfs of tl~e c~ntair°~er. 1~~~~ ~ sho~~PS a rr;~odified cov~:r ~a having a r~nodi~ed grid surface ~~a which extends beyond the side walls of the container 1a. The grid surface 3~a does not have a frame 2as Ire ~I~~1~ 1.
T he cover a is attached to the container 1 through use of twro hinges has 45b.
!~'~hile hinges 4.a, ~ are s~wown i~~ hlr~D:, scre~rs, larches, or the like, may be utilized by the present invention. -l~here is alsr~ shcav~n ~Ic~cking rnec'har~ism for locking the cover a to the container ~~. ~'he locklr~g u~~ec,hanisrn his usef~a9 in preventing small anl~mals ~ror~ ~~em~aving or 1i~11ir~g the cover ~~.
It should be mentioned that the cover can be attaehed to the container by several other mead's, such as a latching mechanisrr~; hook arid loop taster~ers, such as t ~3~9~01 ~A~1 !>oHcro~"~ straps, elastic straps, or'~ia a snap-ors echa~isrrsimilar to the gay a co~ar r~ith dish snaps closes a conta'sr~or, such as T'~.~ppor~P~ro~' ~.
illustrates a co~o=° of the p~°as~~nt ir~~~onti~sr~ placed odor a gra~ir~g cor~tainor knot clearly sho~~r~~ wl~oro grass ~~ is gror~~ing through the pl~sr~lity of opersings ~ in the grid su3~face ~.
With respect to materials used, the co~e~- and container of the present:
ir~~antior~
made be of, but not limited tea, army gyps of plastic, metal, or F~rood.
1t is understood that the co~~r of the preset ~r~~er~tio~~ ~~ay be utiC~i~ed ~rarit~~ rnar~y commercially available grasp grorn~x~g fits. ~'or e~ampleg i:ho cor~fainer Coould be army shape, ~e.g., opal-shaped ~~viti'~ a s~~apnon coyer ~~Nith r~~me~°o~s openings.
The openings mould be dimensioned large ec~ough to alloy grass ~co gr o~
through and a person to extend his or her finger through to feel a groping medium for moisture conter;t, yet haying openings s~iaii enc~~sgh to pre~eer~t cats pav~fs from passing through. T he openings geed not be in a grid formatioro beat ray be oositior~ed rando~~ly or in s~any different patt~;~~~s.
it should be understood that rl~ae pre3erred ~:rr~bodimerrLs me~~tioned here are merely illustrative of the present in~er~tion. 'numerous ~°ariatior~s is°~ design arid use of the present invention may be contemplated in ~aiev~ of thp fofio~ing claims v~itho~at straying from the intended scope arid field of the Invention herein disclosed.
Claims (18)
1. An apparatus for growing at least one plant variety, and making the at least one plant variety accessible to animals for grazing, comprising:
a container having means suitable for growing the at least one plant variety; and a cover for enclosing the container, the cover having a plurality of openings dimensioned for passage of the at least one plant variety through the plurality of openings while preventing limbs of the animals from passing through the plurality of openings.
a container having means suitable for growing the at least one plant variety; and a cover for enclosing the container, the cover having a plurality of openings dimensioned for passage of the at least one plant variety through the plurality of openings while preventing limbs of the animals from passing through the plurality of openings.
2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the container has a bottom wall and four side walls and wherein the cover extends downwardly alongside the four side walls.
3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the cover is made of material suitable for supporting weighty applied on the cover by a cat.
4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the cover has at least one opening of the plurality of openings dimensioned to allow a person to extend a finger through the at least one opening to determine moisture content.
5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the at least one plant variety is grown from at least one grass seed selected from the group consisting of:
oats, rye, and another member of a grass seed family.
oats, rye, and another member of a grass seed family.
6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the cover has an attachment means for connecting the cover to the container.
7. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the cover has an attachment means for connecting the cover to the container.
8 8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes means for locking the cover to the container.
9. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the apparatus further includes means for locking the cover to the container.
10. A cover for use with a container having suitable means for growing at least one plant variety accessible to animals for grazing, the cover dimensioned for suitable use with the container, the cover having a plurality of openings being dimensioned to form a passageway for the at least one plant variety growing through the plurality of openings while the cover preventing a limb of an animal from entering through any one of the plurality of openings.
11. The cover as in claim 10, wherein the cover has at least one large opening dimensioned to allow a person to extend a finger through the at least one large opening to determine moisture content.
12. The cover as in claim 10, wherein the cover is made of material suitable for supporting weight applied on the cover by a cat.
13. A kit comprising:
a container having means suitable for growing at least one plant variety;
and a cover for enclosing the container, the cover having a plurality of openings dimensioned for passage of the at least one plant variety through the plurality of openings while preventing limbs from animals from passing through the plurality of openings.
a container having means suitable for growing at least one plant variety;
and a cover for enclosing the container, the cover having a plurality of openings dimensioned for passage of the at least one plant variety through the plurality of openings while preventing limbs from animals from passing through the plurality of openings.
14. The kit as in claim 13, wherein the container has a bottom wall and four side walls and wherein the cover extends downwardly alongside the four side walls.
15. The kit as in claim 13, wherein the cover is made of material suitable for supporting weight applied on the cover by a cat.
16. The kit as in claim 13, wherein the cover has at least one opening of the plurality of openings dimensioned to allow a person to extend a finger through the at least one opening to determine moisture content.
17. The kit as in claim 13, wherein the at least one plant variety is grown from at least one grass seed selected from the group consisting of: oats, rye, and another member of a grass seed family.
18. The kit as in claim 13, wherein the cover has an attachment means for connecting the cover to the container.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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CA 2438625 CA2438625C (en) | 2003-09-05 | 2003-09-05 | A protective cover for a plant grazing container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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CA 2438625 CA2438625C (en) | 2003-09-05 | 2003-09-05 | A protective cover for a plant grazing container |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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CA2438625A1 CA2438625A1 (en) | 2004-03-01 |
CA2438625C true CA2438625C (en) | 2004-08-10 |
Family
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CA 2438625 Expired - Fee Related CA2438625C (en) | 2003-09-05 | 2003-09-05 | A protective cover for a plant grazing container |
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Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP1737288B1 (en) * | 2004-04-19 | 2007-11-21 | ENGELNS, Christiane | Growth platform for greenery, designed for use as a feeding base for animals |
DE202006009310U1 (en) * | 2006-01-09 | 2006-11-02 | Gees, Wolfgang | Growth platform for plants for animal consumption comprises a cover above the substrate, with holes not larger than absolutely necessary for penetration of plant stems |
CN112913506A (en) * | 2021-01-27 | 2021-06-08 | 周寒星 | Plain zebra is bred and grows groove with forage |
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2003
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