GB1580934A

GB1580934A - Plant growing euipment

Info

Publication number: GB1580934A
Application number: GB2519977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Salt B H
Current assignee: Salt B H
Priority date: 1977-12-12
Filing date: 1977-12-12
Publication date: 1980-12-10

Description

(54)IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PLANT GROWING EQUIPMENT (71) I, BERNARD HENRY SALT, a British Subject, of 77 Lawnswood Avenue, Chasetown, Walsall, Staffordshire, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to plant growing equipment.

It is customary to raise seedlings, cuttings and young plants in pots prior to or instead of planting directly in the soil. In the event that plants are grown in or transferred to the soil, it is usual to protect them as necessary from the elements by the use of a so-called propagator. Suitable equipment may be a cloche or a small greenhouse. Ths requires the use of a number of different items of gardening equipment at various stages in the development of the plant.

The invention therefore provides an article for use in the raising of plants comprising a container of rigid non-opaque synthetic plastics material having a base portion provided with apertures and externally surrounded by a peripheral rim, said container having a mouth portion having a constant cross-section, a thin edge or lip to facilitate entry of the mouth portion into the soil when the container is inverted, and at least one wall having one or more weakened areas so that one or more of these areas of the walls may be perforated to allow ventilation when the article is used in an inverted position as a propagator.

The article may suitably be made from transparent plastics material, and preferably the weakened areas are provided by areas of the wall of reduced thickness.

In a preferred example of the invention, the article has at least one inwardly-directed projection in the base portion thereof, said aperture being provided at the tip of the projection or projections. The peripheral rim is provided to support the container in the upright position and to trap rain water (or retain tap water) when in the inverted position.

It will thus be seen that the article may be used, with its mouth portion uppermost, as a container for one or more plants in the manner of a plant pot or alternatively the article may be used inverted in the manner of a cloche or propagator.

A number of inwardly-directed projections may be provided, each projection having one or more apertures at the tip thereof. Alternatively one or more annular channels may be formed in the base portion of the container and extending thereinto, the or each chnnnel being provided with a number of apertures therein at portions in the wall thereof furthest from the base portion of the container.

Advantageously, part of the articles may be of colourless transparent plastics material and at least a part of the article's surface may be tinted to afford protection from strong sunlight when in use in the inverted position as a propagator.

The shape of the base portion may be chosen as required, for example, square or round. If there is a single plant to be covered by the articles when inverted as a propagator, then the round configuration may be chosen with the apertures positioned at margins thereof, since water collecting within the peripheral rim will reach the soil around the plant and not fall directly on to it. Where several small plants are to be covered by a single article, then the square configuration may be preferable for reasons of space, and the apertures may then be arranged over the entire base portion.

It will be apparent that the articles may readily be stacked one within another when not in use. The presence of the peripheral rim avoids the risks of the articles being jammed too tightly together for ease of removal and of consequent damage.

There now follows a detailed description of several articles according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, is given by way of example only, not by way of limitation.

In the drawings; Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section through an article; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the base portion of the article; Figure 3 shows a plan of an alternatively shaped article; Figure 4 shows a plan of an article according to a most preferred example of the invention, and Figure 5 shows a perspective view shown partly cut away of the article shown in Figure 4.

The article shown in Figure 1 in an inverted position comprises a transparent plastics container 2 having a base portion 4; A peripheral rim 6 surrounds the base portion 4 and acts to retain water. Projections 8 are moulded in the base portion and apertures 10 are provided, one at the tip of each projection, through which the retained water may pass to the plants and soil enclosed by the article. The article is also provided with a weakened area (not shown) in the wall thereof, being an area at which the wall material is relatively thin and may easily be perforated to provide ventilation when the article is used as a propagator.

Where there is a single plant, the round configuration may be preferred as shown in Figure 2, which avoids water falling on the actual leaves or flowers of the plant. Otherwise, the square plan article shown in Figure 3 may be preferred.

If desired, a tint may be applied to one side and the base portion of the article by a suitable technique.

A lip 12 is formed on a vertical mouth portion 14 of the container and is arranged to have a narrow cross-section to facilitate entry into the soil when in the inverted position to ensure stability. The remainder of the container wall is tapered to facilitate stacking.

The article shown in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to those shown in Figures 1 to 3, and similar reference numerals have been used in Figures 4 and 5 to indicate parts similar to those in Figures 1 to 3.

Instead of the individual prqjections 8 shown in the article in Figures 1 to 3, the article shown in Figures 4 and 5 has an annular projection 8a, within which are provided apertures 10 in a wall thereof furthest from the base portion 4. The article is also provided with a wall having two weakened areas 16 therein (only one of which is visible in Figure 5), these being areas similar to the area referred to above at which the wall material is relative]y thin so that the areas may easily be perforated to provide ventilation when the article is used as a propagator.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An article for use in the raising of plants comprising a container of rigid non-opaque synthetic plastics material having a base portion provided with apertures and externally surrounded by a peripheral rim, said container having a mouth portion having a constant crosssection, a thin edge or lip to facilitate entry of the mouth portion into the soil when the container is inverted, and at least one wall having one or more weakened areas so that one or more of these areas of the walls may be perforated to allow ventilation when the article is used in an inverted position as a propagator.

2. An article for use in the raising of plants as claimed in claim 1 which has at least one inwardly directed projections in the base portion thereof, said aperture being provided at the tip of the projection or projections.

3. An article for use in the raising of plants as claimed in claim 2 in which the or each projection is provided by an annular channel formed in the said base portion of the container and extending thereinto, the or each channel being provided with a number of apertures therein at portions in the wall thereof furthest from the base portion of the container.

4. An article for use in the raising of plants as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each weakened area is provided by an area of the wall of reduced thickness.

5. An article for use in the raising of plants as claimed in claim 1 which is made of transparent plastics material.

6. An article for use in the raising of plants as claimed in claim 4 having at least a part of its surface area which is tinted.

7. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. partly cut away of the article shown in Figure 4. The article shown in Figure 1 in an inverted position comprises a transparent plastics container 2 having a base portion 4; A peripheral rim 6 surrounds the base portion 4 and acts to retain water. Projections 8 are moulded in the base portion and apertures 10 are provided, one at the tip of each projection, through which the retained water may pass to the plants and soil enclosed by the article. The article is also provided with a weakened area (not shown) in the wall thereof, being an area at which the wall material is relatively thin and may easily be perforated to provide ventilation when the article is used as a propagator. Where there is a single plant, the round configuration may be preferred as shown in Figure 2, which avoids water falling on the actual leaves or flowers of the plant. Otherwise, the square plan article shown in Figure 3 may be preferred. If desired, a tint may be applied to one side and the base portion of the article by a suitable technique. A lip 12 is formed on a vertical mouth portion 14 of the container and is arranged to have a narrow cross-section to facilitate entry into the soil when in the inverted position to ensure stability. The remainder of the container wall is tapered to facilitate stacking. The article shown in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to those shown in Figures 1 to 3, and similar reference numerals have been used in Figures 4 and 5 to indicate parts similar to those in Figures 1 to 3. Instead of the individual prqjections 8 shown in the article in Figures 1 to 3, the article shown in Figures 4 and 5 has an annular projection 8a, within which are provided apertures 10 in a wall thereof furthest from the base portion 4. The article is also provided with a wall having two weakened areas 16 therein (only one of which is visible in Figure 5), these being areas similar to the area referred to above at which the wall material is relative]y thin so that the areas may easily be perforated to provide ventilation when the article is used as a propagator. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An article for use in the raising of plants comprising a container of rigid non-opaque synthetic plastics material having a base portion provided with apertures and externally surrounded by a peripheral rim, said container having a mouth portion having a constant crosssection, a thin edge or lip to facilitate entry of the mouth portion into the soil when the container is inverted, and at least one wall having one or more weakened areas so that one or more of these areas of the walls may be perforated to allow ventilation when the article is used in an inverted position as a propagator.